Develop Bugs

[Q] Motorola Defy: Cell standby drain,airplane mode yes, wifi lan yes, wifi callin no

Have just purchased Motorola Defy.
Have no cellular signal at home. No problem, can run on wifi for internet and also use wifi for calling; Defy feature built in.
Cell standby draining battery excessively, ( 90-100% no signal)= ( 40-50% bat drain). If I use the airplane mode to stop cellular search can use wifi for internet but it disables the wifi calling feature ( known as UMA for blackberries).
Is there an app for the Motorola Defy that will disable cell searching for signal but allow both internet and calling wifi usage??
I am not computer programming savvy at all, you guys are the geniuses.
Love the phone hate this particular cell standby catch 22.
Thanks.

I haven't used this app before but I believe this is what you need, it called "Airplane Mode Wi-Fi Tool"
Here is the description of the app
This tool will help you manage your android phone to connect to Wifi networks (Wireless Internet, or Wi-fi) while on Airplane Mode.
This tool works with any version of Android, including 2.0+, however, it is only necessary if you have a device with Android 1.5-1.6. Android 2.0+ allows Wifi to be toggled while on AP Mode.

Airplane mode by default disables calling in/out, period
Thanks for your reply. I downloaded this app and it does enhance the Airplane mode capabilities but does not resolve the issue of being able to turn off cell standby while still being able to use both wifi internet and wifi calling.
Since I am not on a plane but am, instead, at home I believe what is needed is an app that directly addresses the cell standby searching issue and leaves the wifi settings to behave as intended; enabling the cell phone to fully function via wifi for both internet and calling when there is no cellular signal available, without a ridiculously and unnecessarily huge burden being put on the battery for a completely moot point...
If such an app does not exist then I believe there will be a demand for one and I ,for one, would be happy to donate for such an app.
Again, thank you for your reply.

mtoblr said:
Since I am not on a plane but am, instead, at home
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just installed the application to see how it works.
When you open the application for the first time there is an instruction how to use the app. Obviously, it was designed to work in real world when one is on airplane. However, if you keep scrolling down the instruction page and read the FAQ section (B) then it tells you how you can configure it to use your wireless settings instead.
I hope that solves your problem.

This is easy: *#*#4636#*#* Go into menu, turn Radio off (toggle ON/OFF in this hidden menu). With radio off both wifi and wifi calling stay active. (USA T-MO)

scrannel said:
This is easy: *#*#4636#*#* Go into menu, turn Radio off (toggle ON/OFF in this hidden menu). With radio off both wifi and wifi calling stay active. (USA T-MO)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was aware of your solution before but I thought that would disable the wireless signal as well otherwise I would have mentioned it. I did a test while my wifi was on and disabled the radio option and the wireless stayed connected.
Thank you for your solution.

CSharpHeaven said:
I was aware of your solution before but I thought that would disable the wireless signal as well otherwise I would have mentioned it. I did a test while my wifi was on and disabled the radio option and the wireless stayed connected.
Thank you for your solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, but unlike airplane mode it does not shut down wifi calling. BTW, I do not understand the power drain issue. I leave my radio on while working all day, but using wifi with the wifi calling app set to wifi preferred and am seeing no heavy drain. Maybe -- under that same menu -- one should check to see that the "preferred network type is "GSM only." When wifi calling is disabled (even if wifi is active) the phone should default to GSM auto (PRL). I have noticed occasionally it will stay in GSM auto (PRL) with wifi calling on and that might cause a drain, but not sure.

Further to the discussions in this thread I just noticed after restarting my phone (off & on) the Mobile Data feature is enabled again.
There is another menu option called 'disable on boot'. Disabling data on boot did not work once I restarted my phone to test it but the menu showed the feature was still enabled unlike 'Disable Mobile Data'.

This is easy: *#*#4636#*#* Go into menu, turn Radio off (toggle ON/OFF in this hidden
Thank you very much for this info. I was unaware of the hidden menu and this does indeed solve my problem. I will also try the GSM only setting first with radio on to see if that resolves the drainage issue.
I'm completely new to android and this forum and think both are great.
Thanks again.

mtoblr said:
Thank you very much for this info. I was unaware of the hidden menu and this does indeed solve my problem. I will also try the GSM only setting first with radio on to see if that resolves the drainage issue.
I'm completely new to android and this forum and think both are great.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"GSM only" should be the default when you are running wifi + wifi calling. Set your preferences in the wifi calling app to either wifi preferred or wifi only. Maybe that will stop your phone from searching for cell signals. However, if you kill the radio using the hidden menu it will for sure stop it from searching for a signal. So, if you are still getting drain, it's something else.

scrannel said:
This is easy: *#*#4636#*#* Go into menu, turn Radio off (toggle ON/OFF in this hidden menu). With radio off both wifi and wifi calling stay active. (USA T-MO)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like with the new OTA update you can't do this anymore.

[Q] WiFi networking - advice needed

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!

[Q] Is there a fix for the Wifi Issues on Lollipop?

Recently purchased a 2013 Wifi only N7. Upgraded to Lollipop and continue to have intermittent WiFi issues, where WiFi will show connected in the notification area with an exclamation mark. This usually occurs after I docked the device and been away from it overnight or for several hours. The only way to get back on the network is by toggling WiFi off/on. There is another WiFi network in my home, but it is set to a different channel and we are far away from the neighbors. The AP is nearby with clear line of site, and other devices (e.g. HTC One, iPad) have no issues.
I have read that this is a general problem with Android 5.

I would check your Wi-Fi settings in settings, Wi-Fi, three dots, advanced.

SwoRNLeaDejZ said:
I would check your Wi-Fi settings in settings, Wi-Fi, three dots, advanced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's not much to change in there. Since the nearest network is only 2.4ghz, I changed from automatic to 2.4ghz only. Not sure that's going to fix this.

What about your settings for WiFi being on or off during sleep? Is it set to always on?

SwoRNLeaDejZ said:
What about your settings for WiFi being on or off during sleep? Is it set to always on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's set to the default, which is "always on." Should I change this?

Mobile data sticks even on Wifi

I'm having this strange issue that I've never before seen on Android. Whenever I'm connected to Wifi, the phone seems to maintain a mobile data connection. Also, I'm on T-Mobile with wifi calling enabled, and it seems to stick to the cellular network even with wifi on. Am I the only one?

Ive got something similar, my battery stats show Wi-Fi is on even though its off. Rebooting the phone sorted it out.

Prasad said:
I'm having this strange issue that I've never before seen on Android. Am I the only one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
elvinrush said:
Ive got something similar, my battery stats show Wi-Fi is on even though its off..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you, guys, clear those two? Please!

Oh that makes sense. Thx

Prasad said:
I'm having this strange issue that I've never before seen on Android. Whenever I'm connected to Wifi, the phone seems to maintain a mobile data connection. Also, I'm on T-Mobile with wifi calling enabled, and it seems to stick to the cellular network even with wifi on. Am I the only one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My M8 does this, so I would expect the M9 to do this as well. However the mobile data is not used; the icon for mobile data just stays up. It passes data on WiFi when a WiFi connection is available. The WiFi icon is the only one that comes and goes.
I have unlimited calling so I don't use the WiFi calling, can't comment on that.

My mobile radio stays active even while I'm on WiFi calling. Which, I'm pretty sure the mobile radio should completely turn off..
Mobile data icon stays on as well even without wifi calling, same as you.

I think the stickied mobile data icon is a non-issue, but the fact that it sticks to cellular network, pointlessly draining excess battery (especially in a region with poor network connectivity) when Wifi calling is enabled, is seriously annoying.
jauhien said:
Did you, guys, clear those two? Please!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both settings are unchecked, like in your screenshot.

Just got mine too.
Am noticing the same problem. Mobile data stays on.
Hopefully there is a fix coming out?

Figured it out (For T-Mobile WiFi calling variants only)
Go into WiFi Calling settings (there should be an icon in your status bar)
Select the bottom "Do not use Cellular". This will disable cellular when WiFi/WiFi calling is enabled.
Cellular was enabled for calling handoffs (when you leave a WiFi calling area, the call gets handoff'd to the network)

wifiguru said:
Figured it out (For T-Mobile WiFi calling variants only)
Go into WiFi Calling settings (there should be an icon in your status bar)
Select the bottom "Do not use Cellular". This will disable cellular when WiFi/WiFi calling is enabled.
Cellular was enabled for calling handoffs (when you leave a WiFi calling area, the call gets handoff'd to the network)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah. That solves nothing. I don't want to be disconnected when leaving Wi-Fi. I just want cellular to be off when in Wi-Fi range, which was automatically managed with the same setting on previous phones.

Prasad said:
Nah. That solves nothing. I don't want to be disconnected when leaving Wi-Fi. I just want cellular to be off when in Wi-Fi range, which was automatically managed with the same setting on previous phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, all that setting does is completely disable cellular. Even if you leave Wi-Fi, or disable it.
On all previous T-Mobile phones with Wi-Fi calling using "Wi-Fi preferred" it would completely disable the cellular radio.
Now, when I have poor signal but am using wifi calling, my phone is constantly searching for signal. Switching between 2g/4g/lte.

Yeah, you guys are correct.
Left home this morning, no Cellular.
Well, shoot...

Boo

Is there a way to set the S9 to always prefer wifi calling?

I have almost no signal at home, but in certain areas I get one bar. That means that my phone will often turn wifi calling off and use the normal cell network, but the signal isn't actually good enough for calling.
There is an ADB command available on the Pixel that lets you configure the phone to prefer wifi calling. Does the same thing exist for the S9?
This is the thread that discusses the Pixel option:
https://www.xda-developers.com/enable-preferred-wifi-calling-option-verizon-pixel-pixel-xl/

haste75 said:
I have almost no signal at home, but in certain areas I get one bar. That means that my phone will often turn wifi calling off and use the normal cell network, but the signal isn't actually good enough for calling.
There is an ADB command available on the Pixel that lets you configure the phone to prefer wifi calling. Does the same thing exist for the S9?
This is the thread that discusses the Pixel option:
https://www.xda-developers.com/enable-preferred-wifi-calling-option-verizon-pixel-pixel-xl/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, if you want to improve your signal, go to settings-connections- mobile networks and set the network mode to 2G. Do that only when you dont use mobile data to have the highest available signal for text messages and calls. If you want the best signal for mobile data internet, set it to LTE/3G. Hope it helps.

kyooohei08 said:
Hi, if you want to improve your signal, go to settings-connections- mobile networks and set the network mode to 2G. Do that only when you dont use mobile data to have the highest available signal for text messages and calls. If you want the best signal for mobile data internet, set it to LTE/3G. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but my phone struggles with signal full stop indoors, so I need Wifi calling to always be on.

Go to the call screen. Tap the 3 dots in the upper right corner, select settings then wifi calling and select wifi preferred.

truckerdewd said:
Go to the call screen. Tap the 3 dots in the upper right corner, select settings then wifi calling and select wifi preferred.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not have this option. The only thing I have in these settings is to turn WIFI caling on or off. I presume it's a carrier option.
Is there an ADB command I can run to unlock it? I tried the one I linked above but it didn't do anything.

haste75 said:
I do not have this option. The only thing I have in these settings is to turn WIFI caling on or off. I presume it's a carrier option.
Is there an ADB command I can run to unlock it? I tried the one I linked above but it didn't do anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not every carrier supports wifi calling, many of the MVNO's don't.

Tel864 said:
Not every carrier supports wifi calling, many of the MVNO's don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have wifi calling, but I want to prefer wifi calling. This setting exists for a lot of users but not for everyone. It seems really strange my carrier has disabled it.
In the dialler app the only setting I have is to turn it on or off. In settings/connections/more, there is nothing relating to WIFI calling.