Develop Bugs

Anyone can answer about data connection?

When I read the HTC Desire user manual, it said that I need to turn on the "Data Connection" setting to have internet connection.
Well, this is understandable ... but, does it has automatic connection on demand?
On Windows Mobile, I dont have to specifically turn on data connection. Whenever an app is trying to reach the internet, it will turn on the data connection automatically.
And of course, it will turn-off the data connection automatically as well, when there is no internet network activity.
Does this also the same in Android?

It should turn on automaticly when you try to use online services...
But you can turn it on in Wireless & Network

You have to option to turn mobile data off, that is why it specifies that you need a data connection.
If you do not turn it off, apps that require internet access will use it with no further interaction.

By default MENU -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile network was off on my device, meaning it would not connect to internet via 3G (I could still make/receive calls). However, I chose to use WiFi for set-up when I first started the phone, so maybe that's why.
Anyway, I guess that is the setting they are talking about.

Thanks for your information, but that raise a question:
When I switch off the data connection and also switch off the background data option.
Will the HTC Weather widget (and other similar widget) still work with auto-updating periodically?
Zappza said:
You have to option to turn mobile data off, that is why it specifies that you need a data connection.
If you do not turn it off, apps that require internet access will use it with no further interaction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

gogol said:
Thanks for your information, but that raise a question:
When I switch off the data connection and also switch off the background data option.
Will the HTC Weather widget (and other similar widget) still work with auto-updating periodically?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO... they need either 3G or WiFi connection to update...

So, that means ... those apps cannot wake up (turn-on) the data connection automatically if needed (on-demand) ...
pantera70 said:
NO... they need either 3G or WiFi connection to update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I do remember the old days of the HTC Hero which had the option of background data usage. I think that was more to do with the version of Android than anything else. I recently had the Nexus One and on the new 2.1 version of Android, you can either switch data on or off, no automated connections on data usage.

When the phone is sleeping (screen off) nearly everything is powered down anyway, even if the data connection is 'on'. Apps will wake the device (an power up radios as required) to do their updates when they need to.

gogol said:
So, that means ... those apps cannot wake up (turn-on) the data connection automatically if needed (on-demand) ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The whole idea of being able to turn your mobile data connection off is to disable mobile data completely. This is a very good option if you are roaming in a foreign country or don't have a fixed data plan.
If you leave the mobile data connection to enabled, applications will "turn-on" the data connection if needed (on-demand). In other words, if the mobile data connection is enabled, the mobile data connection will be in standby, waiting for applications to request use of the connection.
Hope this clarifies it for you, as you appeared to misunderstand my last post.

Ok then
I think it has different meaning compared to the Windows Mobile.
In the COMM MANAGER, there is "Data Connection" toggle which normally is OFF. And this does not mean that the device cannot use 3G data connection.
While on Android, its data connection toggle setting means to enable or disable 3G data connection completely.
I think that is the difference, if we look from Windows Mobile point of view.
Thanks.
Zappza said:
The whole idea of being able to turn your mobile data connection off is to disable mobile data completely. This is a very good option if you are roaming in a foreign country or don't have a fixed data plan.
If you leave the mobile data connection to enabled, applications will "turn-on" the data connection if needed (on-demand). In other words, if the mobile data connection is enabled, the mobile data connection will be in standby, waiting for applications to request use of the connection.
Hope this clarifies it for you, as you appeared to misunderstand my last post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Is the desire always connected ?

Hi,
Coming from an HTC HD1 and HD2, I've just bought my HTC Desire yesterday. And wooow, it's amazing ! Really faster than the HD2 !
It seems that my Desire is always connected to the 3G/EDGE network. How can I see if I'm connected or not ? I've set "enable always on mobile" to OFF, and "Auto Sync" to OFF. But I still see the E icon with grey up and down arrows.
Is there an app to disconnect data after x minutes, if the device is not used ? On windows mobile, I was using WM Long Life to do that trick. I don't know if there is something similar, because I'm very new to Android.
Thanks

Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile Networks toggle to turn it off. Alternatively, you can use the mobile network toggle widget, from HTC, on one of your homescreens.
About turning off the data after x amount of MB - I use 3G Watchdog. Search for it in the market, it's really good, plus comes with a useful homescreen widget etc etc. lol
Hope that helps.

pim said:
I still see the E icon with grey up and down arrows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Grey means they're not doing anything. They turn white when transmitting/receiving.

dpk said:
Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile Networks toggle to turn it off. Alternatively, you can use the mobile network toggle widget, from HTC, on one of your homescreens.
About turning off the data after x amount of MB - I use 3G Watchdog. Search for it in the market, it's really good, plus comes with a useful homescreen widget etc etc. lol
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx for the answer. I went through Settings -> Wireless & Networks and turned off the connection. But this option totally prevents the phone from being connected to the 3G network. When I turn it back ON, then the phone automatically connects to the network.
What I want is the phone being able to connect but not permanently.
For example, I check my mails, the phone connects, retrieves the emails, and when no more data is being downloaded, disconnects after xx seconds.
It would drain less battery than being always connected.
I've searched for watchdog, but it isn't what I'm looking for.

Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile Networks toggle to turn it off. Alternatively, you can use the mobile network toggle widget, from HTC, on on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx for the answer. I went through Settings -> Wireless & Networks and turned off the connection. But this option totally prevents the phone from being connected to the 3G network. When I turn it back ON, then the phone automatically connects to the network.
What I want is the phone being able to connect but not permanently.
For example, I check my mails, the phone connects, retrieves the emails, and when no more data is being downloaded, disconnects after xx seconds.
It would drain less battery than being always connected.
I've searched for watchdog, but it isn't what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its not transmitting data, it does not use any more power then if disconnected. Don't worry about it.
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

would highly recommend juice defender. managers disconnection of data at set times to conserve battery.

I have found APNDroid widget to work quite nice. Click to network on, check mail, update everything, then click off. Still not quite what you are looking for, but perhaps a solution. I am currently on 6 month contract in India & the mobile data rates here is ridiculously expensive. 1mb = 40min phone call in price. So it works quite well for the battery drain & cost saving here.

Why use APNdroid when there is a native widget, which does the exact same thing? (add widget, settings, mobile network)
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

thanks. Didn't see that far.

KrewCial said:
Why use APNdroid when there is a native widget, which does the exact same thing? (add widget, settings, mobile network)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, didn't know that
anyway I use apndroid also, because when I click the Htc gadged, the apn connection is estabilished.
Apndroid adds a suffix to the apn name, thus it's impossible to connect (and pay fees ) if I don't want to

Turning off mobile internet

My wife has a problem with her EVO. Not so much with the EVO itself, but with Sprint service.
Within the building she works, she has terrible reception. Because of this, if she leaves mobile internet enabled, after a 6 hour day, her battery will be at 30%.The battery status says that she spent 60% without signal. I did do the "trick" to change her phone from GSM to CDMA using that diag menu from the dial menu, but again, the issue with her is that when she is deep in her building, she doesn't have any reception.
And of course, if she disables mobile internet before she gets to work, her battery is just fine when she leaves work.
Now, I am aware that you can either hold down the power button and turn it off and/or go into the options and enable it. We use LauncherPro, so we lost the ability to add the HTC sense mobile internet toggle widget.
Here are a few questions:
1. Does the Locale application work on the EVO, and if so, does it allow you to turn on/off mobile internet on a CDMA phone based on your location?
2. Is there a widget for the HTC EVO that lets you turn on/off mobile internet that works if you're not using HTC sense? The few I've found don't appear to work on a CDMA phone, or had reported problems.

just out of curiosity... You can't use the power button because your launcher does not have that feature? ... or you are looking for an automated way?

Does verizon have better coverage there? You could always try using their towers.

Locale does indeed work on the Evo, however it might be because I don't have the specific plugin, but i don't see any parameters to just turn off mobile internet. I think you can alternatively turn on wifi and have it auto connect to wifi at her work if they have it, since having wifi connected turns off mobile internet.
Another alternative is settings profile, which i haven't used myself but from the description it looks like it functions like locale, but also has a widget.
Lastly, when I need to toggle mobile internet, i'm using switchpro widget, which does have a toggle for mobile internet, as well as 4g and a few other options.

jigglywiggly said:
Does verizon have better coverage there? You could always try using their towers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you use their towers but wouldn't that be roaming ??

Try Timerrific. It let's you use time base profiles to enable and disable stiff and its free.

I use a widget called Dazzle.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

verse187 said:
How do you use their towers but wouldn't that be roaming ??
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Click to collapse
Yes. Which is free. I do this all day every day. Where I work, service for both Sprint and Verizon suck. However I usually have one or the other and it will pick whichever one is better. Also, in the metro tunnels (subwway in Washington DC), Verizon has great service so I maintain a connection through them almost the whole way home.
Menu > Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks
- Check data roaming
- Uncheck the guards and the sound
- Click Roaming and set it for automatic

Tip: Market app (wireless access)

As I mentioned in my earlier thread I recently bought a Motorola Defy. Like many other users that I read about before purchasing my first android smartphone I was not able to open Google Market app after a factory reset.
My hint is based on my own experience and I hope it serves someone else well with similar issue.
As I write this message I have no data plan on my contract and I intend to use wireless connection for emailing, internet browsing, and the Market app. Once I completed the initial setup I put my handset's network mode to 2G only. I was worried to be charged for accessing data on 3G.
I had no problem using the Market app initially over the wireless connection until I did a refactory reset to re-setup my handset properly second time round. It was then the Market app stopped working and not even a master reset resolves the problem and then I was considering to root the handset to remove certain folders as a solution to the problem.
Everytime I laucnhed the Market app it stuck at Terms and Services page. It then occurred to me to change the network mode to Automatic and switch off the wireless connection to see what would happen. Next time I laucnhed the Market app it took me straight to the market's home page. It took me two days to figure this out : (
Once I was in the market I switched the network mode back to 2G only and turned on the wireless again. Everything is working just fine now. For the porpose of this thread I powered off the handset and turned it on again to see if my last settings i.e. 2G only still launches the Market app successfully or not. I can confirm that the Market app works just fine over the wireless connection just fine with 2G only network mode.
BTW, the batter life of this handset is so impressive. I used it one and half day very extensively (over 20 times of restarting the handset alone) and I was very surprised lasted that long. On moderate use and proper battery management (no widgets, no 24 wireless connection), and putting it on air plane mode at nights I would get over 2.5 days before charging is required.
I can't wait for Android 2.2 release to make this handset even more productive for me : )

CSharpHeaven said:
As I write this message I have no data plan on my contract and I intend to use wireless connection for emailing, internet browsing, and the Market app. Once I completed the initial setup I put my handset's network mode to 2G only. I was worried to be charged for accessing data on 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you may have a misconception of 2G versus 3G. They are different technologies. When your phone is in 2G mode, it uses one type of network for both voice and data. In 3G mode it uses another type which provides better voice quality and faster data speeds.
Either way your phone will still try to access data unless you turn off mobile data. If it's in 2G mode and you see the little "E" icon up in the notification area, it's still accessing mobile data - just at a slower rate.

cmstlist said:
I think you may have a misconception of 2G versus 3G. They are different technologies. When your phone is in 2G mode, it uses one type of network for both voice and data. In 3G mode it uses another type which provides better voice quality and faster data speeds.
Either way your phone will still try to access data unless you turn off mobile data. If it's in 2G mode and you see the little "E" icon up in the notification area, it's still accessing mobile data - just at a slower rate.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your inputs. I'm very new in the world of smartphones but learning fast.
I searched around to find out how to disable Mobile data and chosen this method *#*#4636#*#* and changed my network type to GSM for best coverage and battery life now. I can confirm the Masrket app still works with wireless connection.

Changing to GSM only does not disable mobile data.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

cmstlist said:
Changing to GSM only does not disable mobile data.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disabled the Mobile Data option by pressing the Settings button then More>Disable Mobile Data. It was then I noticed the options for changing my network type beyond just 2G and 3G.

CSharpHeaven said:
I disabled the Mobile Data option by pressing the Settings button then More>Disable Mobile Data. It was then I noticed the options for changing my network type beyond just 2G and 3G.
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Click to collapse
Did that work then? You no longer connect with mobile date, I'm asking because I have now ordered my Defy but like you don't have a network plan so need a workaround.

CSharpHeaven said:
I disabled the Mobile Data option by pressing the Settings button then More>Disable Mobile Data. It was then I noticed the options for changing my network type beyond just 2G and 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right ok, thanks for clarifying
In Froyo there is a mobile data toggle in the regular menus, and on all Sense phones too. Is there one on Blur phones? I guess not.
Another way to block data is to go to your APN list and fudge the entry (e.g. change epc.tmobile.com to epc.tmobile.com.nodata).

jk1234 said:
Did that work then? You no longer connect with mobile date, I'm asking because I have now ordered my Defy but like you don't have a network plan so need a workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way I can assure you I have successfully disabled Mobile Data by looking at the reception icon in notification bar that no longer displays G, H, E, and 3G at anytime.

[Q] Concerns about data roaming

I hope I'm posting this in the proper category.
Namely, I'll be leaving my home country very soon and travel abroad and I will most certainly need to occasionally do SSH connection to my server over 3G, which leads me to data roaming. Now, data roaming at my carrier is super expensive, so I was wondering if there is a way to completely disable data while in roaming, but still be able to connect to 3G and EDGE when I explicitly tell the phone to do so (eg. for SSHing somewhere or checking in on Foursquare, refreshing Twitter timeline, etc).
I saw that there's an option to uncheck Data Roaming in Wireless & Network settings, but I would say that will completely turn off all data connections and NOT allow me to manually and explicitly initiate data connections. Is that true? Is there a way to make it connect to 3G only when I explicitly tell it to while remaining disconnected otherwise?

Allow all phone data settings on. Download APNdroid or similar (APN on off widget) from the market. Open app and set any preferences, then add widget to home screen. Activate by tapping on off on (or something like that). Green on, red off.
All it does is rename the APN settings so it "fails" to connect.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

petarpetrovic said:
I hope I'm posting this in the proper category.
I saw that there's an option to uncheck Data Roaming in Wireless & Network settings, but I would say that will completely turn off all data connections and NOT allow me to manually and explicitly initiate data connections. Is that true? Is there a way to make it connect to 3G only when I explicitly tell it to while remaining disconnected otherwise?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your quite correct in that it will stop data connections, but why not turn it back on when you want to connect?, the other possibly cheaper option would be to, as long as your phone is not networked locked, buy a local PAYG sim with data and use that in your phone when you want to use 3G

Buying local sim would be wise option....
Sent from my Desire HD

A local prepaid SIM is a good idea, far cheaper than using data roaming.
Additionally, to avoid background data usage, you might want to install Droidwall and allow only the SSH app to connect to the internet.

ghostofcain said:
Your quite correct in that it will stop data connections, but why not turn it back on when you want to connect?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I want only that one application to use the data connection when I want it to, without all other apps opening their own connections for sync and other stuff, since I have a lot of apps and accounts that sync in certain periods of time (this is an Android device, after all ).
frosty_ice said:
Additionally, to avoid background data usage, you might want to install Droidwall and allow only the SSH app to connect to the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what I needed! Many thanks for the suggestion, I'll try it out!