When you have both wireless and 3G enabled, if you are connected to a wireless network, my Desire turns off 3G (or at least disconnects it).
My question is, does my Desire actually turn off the 3G, or just stop it from connecting? I'm asking this with reference to battery usage, would it be more beneficial for me to properly disable 3G myself when I know I am using WiFi, or is that exactly what Android does?
Apologies if this has been asked before, I did do a quick search and had a look at the similar threads XDA found for me but couldn't find my question anywhere!
Thanks.
It disables mobile data (internet), not the singal type with which you make phone calls and so on. If you make phone calls on 3g you will lose battery faster, even if you are on wifi. 3g (wcdma) is still enabled.
Related
I noticed that when i am on a call my data connection dissapears and when i hang up the connectino returns.. is this a known issue? or does anyone know how to fix this?
Also the connection drops a couple of times a day (random intervals) and i have to enable and disable airplane mode to reinstate the connection..
if you got only a 2G signal, this is normal and has been asked multiple times.
It also depends on your network. Some networks don't allow simultaneous voice and data, even on 3G!
as for the random drops, that ain't normal but can be the network killing the connection from their end to free up bandwidth on a inadequate network or cell.
of course, it could also be a dodgy phone :-(
It's normal in 2 situations:
- you are on 2G (GPRS, EDGE)
- you have poor signal and the phone can't cope and prefers to keep the voice connection.
Have you tried to browse while talking and it didn't work or is it just the indicator that disappears?
Works for me, called my landline from mobile, dropped to the home screen once the call connected, then loaded google in the internet browser (and it even detected my location!) Oh I was on hsdpa btw.
I know that Orange phones wont allow data and voice simultaneously
Im on orange and i just tested it on a 3g connection, it does work for me
I'm on t mobile UK, as I said above works here.
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Does the Wifi Calling app save more battery? I've noticed the network signal turns off when I enable Wifi Calling
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Yes, saves LOTS of battery. Big difference when wifi calling is on.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Expanding on OP:
Does WiFi automatically supersede data as well? And if so, is there battery saving in that case?
alpharomero said:
Expanding on OP:
Does WiFi automatically supersede data as well? And if so, is there battery saving in that case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you turn on WiFi, all data goes through WiFi assuming that there is a good signal on it (aka if WiFi is so bad there is no data throughput, the phone will turn mobile data back on). The phone will always choose WiFi and turn off mobile data. Some/most people say that this saves battery because the phone isn't always searching for mobile data. I'd say that this is more true if you're in a situation where there is poor/low 3G reception but good WiFi reception. I almost never use WiFi because I get full bars and good 3G speed at home. I see no reason to use WiFi in this situation as my phone isn't searching for better networks.
As far as WiFi Calling goes, in the settings of the app you can choose to have the phone "Prefer WiFi"/"Prefer Cellular"/"WiFi Only". Same thing here. If I use WiFi calling, I choose "Prefer WiFi" because if for some reason my WiFi goes down while I'm not using the phone I want the mobile network to come on so I can receive calls without having to toggle back. A situation I could see where "WiFi Only" would be applicable is if you're traveling and want to use WiFi for calls if you have a data-only prepay SIM, or if you're in an area with only Roaming coverage and you would want to just use WiFi to make calls.
I am completely ignorant of the WiFi configuration and purpose on this phone. Can anyone help?
1) I have an unlimited data plan. Should I care about using WiFi at all?
2) If I have a 4G/3G signal loss, will WiFi automatically kick in to sustain a signal?
3) I currently have no WiFi networks attached, and a scan returns nothing.
Should I be attaching WiFi networks manually. If so, how?
4) Should I just allow my battery optimizer app to disable WiFi?
mds54 said:
I am completely ignorant of the WiFi configuration and purpose on this phone. Can anyone help?
1) I have an unlimited data plan. Should I care about using WiFi at all?
2) If I have a 4G/3G signal loss, will WiFi automatically kick in to sustain a signal?
3) I currently have no WiFi networks attached, and a scan returns nothing.
Should I be attaching WiFi networks manually. If so, how?
4) Should I just allow my battery optimizer app to disable WiFi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) That's upto you. If your speeds suck, or are in a terrible reception area (switching between 4G and 3G a lot, or stuck in 3G), then Wifi can be faster.
2) If you lose 3G/4G data, it may not connect to wifi unless your configured network is nearby. Normally, wifi will be always connected unless you're out of range of that particular signal.
3) Make sure Wifi is switched on. (switch will be blue in the on position). If you don't see any networks, then there are none. You may have to add networks manually, but thats because its not broadcasting its SSID (ie making itself visible), but thats usually in like a corporate environment.
4) I have noticed that being on Wifi saves me some battery than being on 4G, but your results may vary.
I can only offer advice on the first one. I also have unlimited data but I use wifi whenever possible. Wifi doubles my battery life. Using 4g all the time kills it way too quickly.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
mds54 said:
I am completely ignorant of the WiFi configuration and purpose on this phone. Can anyone help?
1) I have an unlimited data plan. Should I care about using WiFi at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you're happy with your speeds then no. WiFi does save battery though.
2) If I have a 4G/3G signal loss, will WiFi automatically kick in to sustain a signal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, because WiFi isn't always on (or shouldn't be), and won't automatically turn on. You'll have to turn it on manually if 3G/4G isn't available.
3) I currently have no WiFi networks attached, and a scan returns nothing. Should I be attaching WiFi networks manually. If so, how?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If there's no WiFi around you, then there's no WiFi around you... The only reason you'd have to manually enter a network is if you're at home and aren't broadcasting your SSID, so you won't pick it up on a scan. You should elaborate more on this.
These comments make me think you don't understand how WiFi works....
4) Should I just allow my battery optimizer app to disable WiFi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery optimizer apps don't always know what's best. Usually how they work is they'll turn off WiFi when you get out of range of your house or other specific location (via GPS). Then enable when they "know" you're at home (again, by GPS). Usually its easier to just have a toggle widget for WiFi and turn it on when you're at home if you want it.
I think this additional info may be useful:
Wifi is not a feature of your phone service through your provider. It is a completely different technology that replaces, not amplifies, your 3g/4g connection when it is on and connected. When you are using your phone's data connection, you are connected to the internet through your phone provider, which is also functioning as your Internet Service Provider (in your case, Verizon).
A wifi signal only exists when a wireless device is broadcasting it locally. Most often this is a wireless router in someone's home, office, or a store that offers wifi for its customers. In this case, your internet connection goes through the router, then to a hard-wired internet connection off to whatever ISP the service is paid for through.
It is a much shorter-range technology than your cell service. As such, while your phone will eat through your battery boosting its signal if it can't connect to a cell tower, your phone will use much less energy looking for wifi signals.
If you are absolutely sure that you will not be connecting to wifi networks in your daily travels, you should turn wifi off and not worry about it. If you have an existing wifi connection at home/work, then leaving wifi on and letting it connect will save you battery when you are within range. The idle drain of wifi when it is looking for networks is fairly low, so if you are going to be spending large amounts of time in wifi zones, you might as well just always leave it on.
If your phone shows no wifi available by a scan, chances are very slim that there is a non-broadcast network that you would be able to connect to manually; someone is keeping it hidden and it is most likely password-protected as well. Most private networks will be visible to a scan, but are probably password protected. You will need to connect to these manually; your phone will not alert you to their presence. Your phone will automatically let you know if there is an unprotected network in range. By default, if wifi is enabled, it will automatically connect to any network that comes into range that you have already connected to.
Wow, you guys are good! Thanks!
I want my phone to turn off 3g connectivity automatically and go to 2g only when I connect to a wifi network and then back to 3g connectivity when i disconnect from wifi. Does anyone have a profile for this already set up and if so would you mind sharing. Im terrible at setting up tasker. Thank you in advance.
Isn't 3g automatically turned off when connected to wifi?
Swyped on my CM9 Galaxy Nexus
the reason i ask is because i get terrible reception in my apt. when on 3g signal...if i turn off the 3g connectivity and go 2g only, then my signal increases to full strength. this remains true with wifi enabled or disabled. I'm not doing it for the data connection as I am connected to wifi...i want it for the basic cell signal so i can make and recieve phone calls and sms's. does this make any sense at all...i fell like im rambling.
Anyway, do this:
New profile - state - wifi connected - don't put anything in the next screen.
New task - net - mobile data 2g/3g - 2g only
You have to make a task to turn it on again as well. Gl hf
Swyped on my CM9 Galaxy Nexus
Thanks for the help...it was much appreciated...it works great and i figured out how to get it to work in reverse as well.
I don't mean to hi-jack this thread, but I am hoping that some smart folks could give me some ideas or help with creating a Tasker profile.
where I work there are areas where the signal is great and other areas where it's non-existent or very weak. I am hoping to devise a profile that will cause the phone to turn of the radio if the signal is very low or none than turn the radio on again in 10 or 15 minutes to see if the signal is better. If it is still weak than.... you get the point, right? I'm not sure where start. There's a variable that contains the signal so I know that I will check it than run a task if it's low, but I'm not sure how to proceed from there and implement a timer.
any help please?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
the signal strength can be used as a context in state>phone>signal strength
I've read (and THINK I understand) what smart switch is supposed to do (going all the way back to the Note4.
And it seems like the complete opposite of what wifi calling does.
Anyone care to explain the difference or real reasons one is used over the other?
Also on a related note, in the developer options category there is an option to turn on "Aggressive Wi-Fi cell h.."
With the explanation "switch from wifi to mobile networks more quickly when wifi signal is weak"
Kind of self explanatory and my question would be real work use. If you have unlimited data, any reason you would NOT want to check this?
Unless this just sounds great, but doesn't work well......
Thoughts?
vtcats said:
I've read (and THINK I understand) what smart switch is supposed to do (going all the way back to the Note4.
And it seems like the complete opposite of what wifi calling does.
Anyone care to explain the difference or real reasons one is used over the other?
Also on a related note, in the developer options category there is an option to turn on "Aggressive Wi-Fi cell h.."
With the explanation "switch from wifi to mobile networks more quickly when wifi signal is weak"
Kind of self explanatory and my question would be real work use. If you have unlimited data, any reason you would NOT want to check this?
Unless this just sounds great, but doesn't work well......
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smart switch imports the data from your old phone when you switch to a Samsung phone; WiFi calling routes voice traffic over WiFi when available.
Sorry, I meant to say Smart NETWORK Switch. It says your phone will be connected to a mobile network if Wifi becomes unstable.
And Wi-fi calling kinda of says the exact opposite. If mobile becomes unstable, it will switch to Wifi......
Anyone?
Many times.. even when the wifi signal is weak, as long as wifi is turned on, the phone will remain connected to it. This especially happens when you are just pulling out of your house and you are trying to get to google maps for directions or something.. but because the phone is still connected to your home wifi, it'll remain so and since the connection is weak, you won't be able to browse or anything and google maps may say "no network connection".
I believe what Smart Network Switch does, is that in such cases, it'll immediately switch to mobile data.
androidbuff123 said:
Many times.. even when the wifi signal is weak, as long as wifi is turned on, the phone will remain connected to it. This especially happens when you are just pulling out of your house and you are trying to get to google maps for directions or something.. but because the phone is still connected to your home wifi, it'll remain so and since the connection is weak, you won't be able to browse or anything and google maps may say "no network connection".
I believe what Smart Network Switch does, is that in such cases, it'll immediately switch to mobile data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This happens to me every morning in my driveway trying to route Waze. I get a weak wifi signal that the phone hangs onto and I get a no network error from Waze.