[Q]GSM vs WCDMA vs Auto - Xperia Play Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello everyone at XDA
I have an Xperia Play r800a (Rogers Canada)
I was looking in the menus and I remember reading somewhere that if I change the Network prefrences I can get better battery life.
So I was wondering out of these options under Settings> Wireless & Networks> Mobile Networks> Network Prefrences
I have these 4 options
GSM/WCDMA (auto mode)
WCDMA only
GSM only
GSM/WCDMA (WCDMA preferred
What settings should I choose to increase battery life? Also I almost never use mobile data since I am always near wifi.

if you dont use data really just use the data toggle to turn it off till you need it(Way way more battery life)
or if your like me and always need a little data present for google voice and and 4g every once in a while when actually using net then Gsm(= 2g and increded battery life over but 4g connection by couple hours) but alot slower than 4g
then just 4g when you need it (3/4g=wcdma)
auto just choses strongest signal no preference
and Wcdma perfed is just that if both signal available it uses wcdma but if not then then gsm
so for you if no data ever hardly and no constant connection needed then
wcdma perfered and a data toggle by ether a theme with notification toggles or the data switch widget or widgetsoid
hope i helped

Do you know which one would have been the default?
So from what I understand GSM only and data off gets me the best battery life?

For my phone GSM/WCDMA (WCDMA preferred) is default option.
And yes, GSM only and data off gives you the best battery.

Related

Help on fixing cell standby battery drain?

Hey yall, I've got a bit of a problem with cell standby and I know it's a reception issue, hopefully you guys can help me.
You see, I live in one of the outermost neighborhoods in Jerusalem in a big building made out of thick bricks and cement...as one could imagine, reception is really bad.
My problem stems from the fact that the only way I can get 3G service is by sticking my phone right at the window and forcing it to 3G by hitting WCDMA Only in the *#*#4636#*#* menu. then I just tether to my laptop and everything is all good. After I take it off the windowsill, once it is more than a foot away, I lose all service. I forget to put it back to WCDMA preffered and it just looks for 3G all day in my pocket and I get a battery drain.
anyway I guess my question is this... is there a program or setting I can use to force it to 3g when it knows there is a 3G connection possible? WCDMA Preferred doesn't work because the EDGE network overpowers the 3G network and it would never connect unless I completely disable EDGE.
TL;DR Is there a way to make the radio default to EDGE when it is completly impossible to find any trace of 3G?
Menu > Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile Networks > Use only 2G networks
That will force your phone to use only EDGE and will put less drain on your battery when it comes to cell network.
Personally, I would move out of jeruselum and go to a place that pumps out 4g. Or at least theoretical 4g. (Hspa+)
Sent from my G2 CM6.1.1, OC'd to 1.5ghz, using XDA App
Yeah...this june. I am going back to memphis TN with full tmo 4g....I am only here for a year
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
rhodes588 said:
Menu > Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile Networks > Use only 2G networks
That will force your phone to use only EDGE and will put less drain on your battery when it comes to cell network.
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I always do that when I don't need a fast data connection, I have a widget to switch back quick when I need to do some surfing or tethering

WCDMA preferred?

How can you set the Defy to WCDMA Preferred? It constantly reverts off of it.
Bump
Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk
You mean in the INFO menu? I don't believe you can. At least not with the stock ROM. I believe the choice is controlled by the firmware which varies from market to market, I presume.
That's the same as 3G only? Mine has the option under the mobile network settings. I get three choices (this is exactly how it reads): 2G only saves battery, 3G only better performance, and Automatic Default. Hm you should have the same thing.
In my handset, if you go into Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile networks, there is an option/drop-down box for Select network.
It gives you a choice between 2G only, 3G only and Automatic which is the default option and the only sensible one IMO.
edit: same as bobbyphoenix it seems.
Selecting 3G only means the phone will not use the 2G network ever, so if you were to end up in an area without 3G signal, you'd be disconnected.
Automatic means the phone will use 3G when available and 2G when it's not. As I said before, it's the only sensible choice.
Step666 said:
In my handset, if you go into Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile networks, there is an option/drop-down box for Select network.
It gives you a choice between 2G only, 3G only and Automatic which is the default option and the only sensible one IMO.
edit: same as bobbyphoenix it seems.
Selecting 3G only means the phone will not use the 2G network ever, so if you were to end up in an area without 3G signal, you'd be disconnected.
Automatic means the phone will use 3G when available and 2G when it's not. As I said before, it's the only sensible choice.
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That doesn't answer the question. There are two settings within the testing menu: wcdma preferred and gsm auto prl. The former tries to hang onto 3G whenever possible, where the latter uses an internal list of networks and it decides when to switch.
hah2110 said:
That doesn't answer the question.
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Yes it does.
Automatic means the handset will use 3G whenever possible - ie 3G preferred.
No - they are two different things, as I explained. The Defy is using GSM PRL, NOT WCDMA Preferred.
hah2110 said:
No - they are two different things, as I explained. The Defy is using GSM PRL, NOT WCDMA Preferred.
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When my phone uses wifi calling with wifi preferred (in the wifi calling menu) the INFO (testing) menu shows "GSM only". This choice will not allow 3G connection (2G, yes). When I turn off wifi, the phone switches to "GSM auto (prl)" and I get 3G. I read on one forum where someone claims they switched to "WCDMA preferred" then did a battery pull and it stuck. Also read that the WCDMA selection depletes battery faster. Hey, don't always believe what you read.

High battery usage when 3G enabled

Hello folks!
okay, the facts are: Im in very good 3g reception zone, MIUI 1.6.6 with default kernel, .08 radio, data on, wifi off.
Problem is poor battery life when 3G is enabled. Also, when using mobile data the H icon appears and data moves in and out, but sometimes the H icon just disappears and i get network error? I've tried numerous radio/kernel/rom combinations.
When i put airplanemode on, the battery consumption is constant 2mA (currentwidget). With 2G networks only, its 3-6mA. When 3G enabled, mostly the consumption is 20-40mA and sometimes like 10 times in day with minute interval of refreshing i get 8mA readigs. Any app to check if there is some syncing going on? I use only beautyful widgets weather widget, which updates itself hourly. And the normal contacts and calendar sync on. Fellow MIUI users have much lower consumption, a mate of mine gets 2-4mA when 3g enabled.
3g mobile network is one the battery killers. The h icon stands for hsdpa. This the fastest network but the network coverage is not that good yet (except for big cities). Switch network to 2g network (mobile off). If you really need mobile network, switch on 3g. Otherwise stay with 2g. There's imho no sense in using 3g without needing/using mobile network.
MatDrOiD said:
3g mobile network is one the battery killers. The h icon stands for hsdpa. This the fastest network but the network coverage is not that good yet (except for big cities). Switch network to 2g network (mobile off). If you really need mobile network, switch on 3g. Otherwise stay with 2g. There's imho no sense in using 3g without needing/using mobile network.
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I tried using BatteryFu and APNdroid to get rid of my 3G while screen off. But that combination didnt work so well, sometimes it didnt disable my 3g and sometimes it wouldnt reconnect to 3G when unlocked. Any good programs to manage this?
I also wonder, I never cant download anything when 3G icon is appearing in statusbar. Its normally 3G but when I want to use the internet, it changes to H. Why cant I use the 3G network then? Im also having problems when the H goes to 3G the internet connection is lost. For example in market i get network error. The H wont stay there if there is no traffic for few secs.
Configured apn correctly? If you are not sure, do it again. Furthermore, you could try these settings for mobile network:
Uncheck data enabled and set network to 2g/gsm (depending on what you have). When you need mobile network, switch to "wcmda + gsm (automatically)" (name could be a litte different, translated it from germany) and check data enabled. I do it so and it's working fine.
MatDrOiD said:
Configured apn correctly? If you are not sure, do it again. Furthermore, you could try these settings for mobile network:
Uncheck data enabled and set network to 2g/gms (depending on what you have). When you need mobile network, switch to "wcmda + gsm (automatically)" (name could be a litte different, translated it from germany) and check data enabled. I do it so and it's working fine.
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Click to collapse
Okay didnt understand very well what u ment by the last part of ur message
APN configured correctly? I have carrier default APN settings which have been working just fine for a year. If u ment APNdroid i didnt do much configuring with it. Gotta give it another try.
Last idea: flash latest radio.
No warranty for any damage.

How to Powersave through 3g

I was wondering how one switches from 4g to 3g(which i think people here call edge) to save battery.
I dont see it anywhere in settings so i wasnt sure what people did..
Thanks!
I think you mean 3g to 2g. This phone does not have "4g". It's just 3g with higher throughput.
I'm not sure if you can on the stock rom without a USSD code. But on custom roms it's:
Settings
Wireless and network
Mobile networks
Network mode
GSM only.
Unfortunately apps like llama/JuiceDefender can't do it automatically when you're on WiFi or not using data because Google "blocked" it. I think CM7 allows apps to control 2g/3g toggle though.
I thought if your wifi was on the 4g was turned off.
Also, on stock 2.5.- the system folder for wireless settings has a choice to only use the edge frequency. I don't know for any of the modded roms or the newer stock 2.6.- versions. Hope this helped.
T-Mobile uses 3.5g(which they call it 4g) a more advance 3g speeds so a with a 4g/3g toggle wouldn't do any good unless you wanna go to edge/2g. is not like Verizon where I think you have your Band for 2g/3g and a separate Band for 4g so what the toggle does its just turn off the 4g Band and automatically goes to 3g. but with Tmobile your have your Bands for 1g/2g and another band for 3g/3.5g(fake 4g) so using a toggle you would only be blocking 3g.

[Q] Network mode options

i been looking at getting an Note 2 LTE (UK N7105) ,
but i have found it little annoying that most Android phones now Lack the option to switch between 2g only, 3g only or 2g/3g any more, most seem to only give two options 3g only or 2g/3g/4g
as i am in some spots where i have no 3g coverage so having the option to have 2g only is usefull as well as extending the battery life (i not see 4g coverage for long time unless i move to Three {the one plan} or EE{like that will ever happen})
do any roms have the option to switch between all of them? (ideally 2g only -- 3g only -- 2g/3g is preferred -- 2g/3g/4g) as most of them just use the standard base from official (like on my motorola razr maxx i have the option to force 2g only 3g only or use auto, a lot of phones some times do not even bother with the network mode any more and just have an switch that turns off 3G)
Just go to Settings -> More Settings -> Mobile Networks -> Network Mode -> GSM Only so that you'll only get 2G.
So far deadman rom in n7105 section give u 4 option.
2g, 3g, 2g/3g, lte/2g/3g.
nameejokerx said:
So far deadman rom in n7105 section give u 4 option.
2g, 3g, 2g/3g, lte/2g/3g.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok so Samsung note 2 LTE do allow all options, a lot of 4g phones i have seen lack an 2G and 2G/3G only option, a lot seem to give only 2 options {3g only or 2g-3g-4g auto (as the network i am going to be using has no 4G so there is No point in 4G been enabled)
i see you posted the rom deadman (the deodexed one ?) gives you all options that's good, does Stock give you all options as well (very likely i am going to be dropping an rom on it any way)

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