I know this has been asked plenty of times, but I have not seen a clear answer. Which is better - WiFi or a solid 3G connection? (I have heard LTE kills the battery when used extensively, and where I use most of my data, I only get 3G.) Would staying connected to WiFi if browsing the web for awhile be better? Is it best to leave WiFi off when not browsing, even if you have a solid connection? Would jumping from access point to access point when moving around the office drain the battery much?
Opinions and/or expertise would be greatly appreciated!
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta
It really depends what type of data plan you have, if you have a unlimited one use 3g all the way
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Unless you have **** internet provider wifi will always be faster surfing the web, etc. I only use 4g when I'm not able to connect to Wi-Fi
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Oh crap sorry guys, forgot to mention I'm looking for which would maximize battery life lol....my apologies. I've read that the WiFi radio in general will eat more battery when surfing than the 3G radio. Is that true to some extent? I also have 2GB/mo, which hasn't been a problem just yet (never even reached a gig ever since I started using a smartphone a couple of years ago).
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta
supertoast92 said:
Oh crap sorry guys, forgot to mention I'm looking for which would maximize battery life lol....my apologies. I've read that the WiFi radio in general will eat more battery when surfing than the 3G radio. Is that true to some extent? I also have 2GB/mo, which hasn't been a problem just yet (never even reached a gig ever since I started using a smartphone a couple of years ago).
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3g radio will eat more battery than WiFi that's why in everything related to battery saving they say to use WiFi.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium
I think using wifi whenever possible when actually using data makes sense, regarding battery life. The wifi radio only needs to broadcast the signal 30-50 feet, the 3g radio nerds to communicate with a tower.5-2 or more miles away, thus taking much more power than the wifi radio. When the phone is in standby, or the radio is inactive, there might be other considerations, but for actual use, wifi should be better for the battery. Leaving wifi on when not near a hotspot would be detrimental to battery life, however
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Thanks for the input guys. I have my phone set up to stay connected to WiFi only when awake on battery, so I should be saving some battery.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta
supertoast92 said:
Thanks for the input guys. I have my phone set up to stay connected to WiFi only when awake on battery, so I should be saving some battery.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thing about that is, you'll have to wait until the radio starts, connects, and establishes an IP address.
Related
Ever since I've had my Atrix, the wifi randomly switches off. My question is: should I exchange my Atrix, or is there a way to fix this?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
I am on the ATT network with no modifications done to my Atrix.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Have you got any power saving stuff enabled?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Unless it was enabled by default; no.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
I think the Atrix's WiFi radio is just weak. My mom's iPhone gets 3 bars of WiFi across the house from my router, but my Atrix drops to two bars if I just go into the next room. My Atrix struggles to hold one bar across the house. It sucks, but then again, I am using the crappy router that comes with U-Verse.
I exchanged some PMs with a moto dev about this a few weeks ago. I have a weak wifi signal at work and it will drop if I start using marketplace or facebook extensively. Part of his/her PM:
The "bars" shown by the UI have pretty big margin of error but RSSI reading less then -80 pretty much puts link at the lowest end of the budget. Also that does not account for interference really because Wifi is simple technology. So if you are at -80 at a workplace that has tons of 2.4 RF you will have disconnects and many retransmissions. This is why using of the market place probably triggers something in IC because you have lots of data and error counters go up a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're talking about a weak signal, there is nothing to do for that unless you increase your router's transmit power. If it drops, then go to wifi settings > menu capacitive button > wifi sleep policy > never.
I changed the wifi sleep policy and it still switches off randomly. The wifi will still switch off randomly even if I'm sitting right next to my wifi source.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Bump?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
What battery settings are you using? Is it power saver? Set it to performance, if so.
Yeah the wifi still dies
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
For the sake of testing, try disabling all security to see if the wifi connection is ok or not while sitting next to your wireless router. Also, could you let us know what kind of wireless router you are using (make and model#), and the type of securtiy you aare using, e.g. WEP/WPA/WPA2&TKIP, etc?
I have tried on 3 different modems, the current one I'm using is a wireless router WGR614 V9 with wpa security, I tried switching it off and I still had the same problem. The other 2 where in encrypted and still disconnected me. I also have the problem at ATT hotspots.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
that's not good. If you're up for it, reflash with stock and try wifi with nothing installed. If you still get the disconnects then get a replacement.
What does reflashing to stock entail? Is it as easy as ODIN?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
download from moto here. I haven't done it, but it looks more safe/less painful than an SBF flash.
I'm already at the latest version, through all the updates I've always had the same problem. I'm not seeing a stock firmware download.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
re: Constant data usage.. on wifi and mobile
I was using app after app to figure out why my data connection on wifi and mobile was always working..
I kept shutting down app after app too to find the offending one.
2 days later.. its the FUDGING GPS
and more specifically the check box was checked next to the "Wifi and mobile network location"..
Unchecked it and the data stopped..
Uncheck the box... and you will find better battery life... better yet.. turn off gps when not in use..
was wondering why my phone was losing soooo much battery when i was not using it.
Yes, allowing location to be determined using WiFi and network will eat up battery. Turning off gps when not in use really doesn't save any battery unless you have some rogue app that incessantly polls GPS.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
So I unchecked them all, lets say I call 911, could they still trace it?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
re
Galaxys4bean said:
So I unchecked them all, lets say I call 911, could they still trace it?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can still triangulate your rough position by cell towers.. thank you csi
Galaxys4bean said:
So I unchecked them all, lets say I call 911, could they still trace it?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
E911 which all cellphones use now are easily traceable to within 100 feet. Even deactivated cell phones have 911 service. Every now and then the police knock on my door because the idiot boys next door fight with each other and use deactivated cell phones and call 911. I just point to their door.
please advice which is the better one, :good: going to buy one soon tnx
LTE of course
Aside from the modem that allows a faster data connection (download/upload) on the LTE they are exactly the same device!
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
LTE gives you faster performance on the data side.
Sent from my C6802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
but is that true LTE drains battery faster especially when signal is not good?? tnx
iron59 said:
but is that true LTE drains battery faster especially when signal is not good?? tnx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None is better. Only change speed on data and yet not everywhere. So C6802 is better if you don't have Lte and C6806/6833 are better if you have 4G. Lte drain more battery when using it, only on Internet as voice calls do not use it. Having more drain on my C6802 with poor signal, this is basic to all type of mobile network not especially for 4G.
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
That's not the case look on new iPhone 5s 4g tilktime is longer than 3g
Apple fans are hilarious! Swallowing everything without thought.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Sure, because you don't call on 4G or 3G. Voice call are still using 2G GSM or cdma2000. So how can the talktime be longer?
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
bASKOU said:
None is better. Only change speed on data and yet not everywhere. So C6802 is better if you don't have Lte and C6806/6833 are better if you have 4G. Lte drain more battery when using it, only on Internet as voice calls do not use it. Having more drain on my C6802 with poor signal, this is basic to all type of mobile network not especially for 4G.
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so basically, without good signal LTE will only drain more power and still be slow. is that correct? tnx
iron59 said:
so basically, without good signal LTE will only drain more power and still be slow. is that correct? tnx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With a poor 4G signal it'll simply switch to 3G/H+ and always try to look for a good 4G. Same thing happen if H+/3G signal poor it drop and try to find it back. Only difference is that with a 4G phone it stop looking for faster network only when on 4G. After with a simple 4G/3G switch you will be able to enjoy full 4G speed when browsing Internet and can turn it off to limit battery drain when not browsing or when in a non or poor 4G area.
I do not have a Lte version only because shop in Vietnam advertise having the C6833 but don't have it and don't know when will. So I was impatient and bough the C6802 (my old phone died 1 month before).
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
thanks for all the info. :good:
Hey everyone,
For some reason my GN3 isn't getting a 4G connection in my home or office, my GN2 gets a flawless connection.
I did all standard trouble shooting procedures with Sprint but no go.
I made sure the cdma/lte option was selected, turned off the connection optimization, reset the profiles and prl.
Sometimes the 4G will turn on, but it will disconnect quickly. Is my phone defective?
Thanks
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
I know in my area, theyre constantly turning on and off the towers as theyre making the transition to bigger and better speeds.
Hmm.
Now my 3g connection is gone, and I keep getting refreshing sim message pop up
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
Sounds defective to me. This phone has a stellar LTE radio, definitely up there with the Note 2.
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yeah a combination of both might really be giving you a horrible experience. This phone is amazing when getting a signal. I switched from the HTC One, which for me was a horrible phone for 4G or just signal in general. This phone grabs and keeps 4g anytime.
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yuhfhrh said:
Sounds defective to me. This phone has a stellar LTE radio, definitely up there with the Note 2.
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it seems better than the note 2, I am getting 4g where my wife note 2 is only getting 3g in some spots. Yes we are side by side when it happens. Yes we traded phones to see if it was just the distance of a foot or two in the truck made the difference. It did not.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk 2
I never knew LTE could hold as well as this on Sprint until I got this phone..just say'n
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I'm having same issue as OP. It's driving me absolutely nuts! The only time I got 4g for a few seconds was while doing hands free activation but once the phone auto reboot LTE was gone again!
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
SantinoInc said:
I'm having same issue as OP. It's driving me absolutely nuts! The only time I got 4g for a few seconds was while doing hands free activation but once the phone auto reboot LTE was gone again!
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll refer you back to this post.
I get 4G in places I never got it before
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
The 4g on my note 3 goes in and out. I can wake the phone and as soon as I do the 4glte icon disappears and the 3g icon pops up. No stable 4g connection at. Haven't been able to test the speeds because of this. Now my gs4 is sitting right by my note 3 and it has full 4g getting speeds up to 24mbps. Yet the note 3 is still only showing 3g. Both on the same prl. Both have lte enabled.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
I get some issues from time to time; In Seattle, Sprint has yet to officially announce 4G LTE coverage.
I'm lucky to get it where I live and frequent but from time to time it just doesn't seem to work, it will say I'm connected but has DNS errors, perhaps because the connection dropped or they're upgrading a tower... When my connection drops I try cycling Airplane Mode a few times and that usually lets me connect.
Kompster said:
I get some issues from time to time; In Seattle, Sprint has yet to officially announce 4G LTE coverage.
I'm lucky to get it where I live and frequent but from time to time it just doesn't seem to work, it will say I'm connected but has DNS errors, perhaps because the connection dropped or they're upgrading a tower... When my connection drops I try cycling Airplane Mode a few times and that usually lets me connect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to cycle airplane mode to connect a lot of times as well. Does anyone know why LTE seems to be so much tougher to connect to than WiMax? On my S2 that I just upgraded from you could set the specific db that Wimax connected and disconnected at as well as the specifc interval that it would check for 4g. It connected to and stayed connected much more reliably than LTE does. I live in a well covered area, but there are certain points along my driving route where the 4g will drop to 3g. After that I notice that it is very hit and miss as far as deciding to reconnect to LTE, even though the coverage is superb. If I cycle airplane mode, it connects with a strong LTE signal. This is after setting the LTE timer and the buffer timer to 1. Does anyone have settings that make the phone try to connect more often?
Did anybody ever figure out why this is happening, i just picked up my n3 while i was in denver where there is no sprint 4g, but i noticed as soon as i got back to my house where my n2 always got 4g and my wifes icrap 5s gets 4g but not my n3?
Here are the settings I use. 4G almost always. connection optimizer is removed on my phone too. If you use something to create shortcuts to activities you can access the hidden menus without using the dialer. Easy prl change is nice but since 4G is new in my area I stay on the newest the phone grabs from network.
Nevell said:
The 4g on my note 3 goes in and out. I can wake the phone and as soon as I do the 4glte icon disappears and the 3g icon pops up. No stable 4g connection at. Haven't been able to test the speeds because of this. Now my gs4 is sitting right by my note 3 and it has full 4g getting speeds up to 24mbps. Yet the note 3 is still only showing 3g. Both on the same prl. Both have lte enabled.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having the exact same problem! Have you been able to figure out anything?
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
[email protected] said:
I'm having the exact same problem! Have you been able to figure out anything?
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep I got a new one. Been working fine.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
Yeah, I'm getting general LTE flakiness lately, when previously it was fine. I don't know if it's the phone or the network. I seemed to have better speeds with my kyocera torque and s4. I'm guessing it's network congestion. In some places with decent signal, it has slow connection to no. Pisses me off when it drops down to 3g. I'm thinking more people are upgrading old phones and hogging bandwidth. Ten months ago LTE was much faster.
You guys think this would work??
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gejos.android.internetbooster
Hi guys,
Ever since I've moved to a new place, my wifi disconnects every 10 minutes of use and connects again right away. Not only that my 4G and Internet constantly disconnects and connects because of the bad service in my neighborhood. Would this contribute a huge portion of my battery drain or is it minuscule?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app