[Q] 4.3 Background wifi - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

As far as I understand, 4.3 Jelly Bean now always uses wifi for location services, even when wifi is turned off.
Would it be possible to implement this feature into an app like Tasker so wifi will automatically turn on when it's background detection picks up a known network?

I would like to know if there is a way to totally remove or disable this background wifi function. I don't like the idea of having active wifi with a sole purpose of having my location monitored and nothing else. Call me paranoid, tell me no-one looks at those data, etc. but that is my choice. And it's an unnecessary battery drainer, however small.

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[REQ] Disable mobile network when wifi connected

I am looking for an app that automatically switches off the cellular radio when wifi is connected and switches it back on when wifi loses connection. I'm not talking about the APN data connection which already does that, I'm talking about the regular cell phone connection.
According to my lack of results searching through the forums, Market, and Google, such an app does not exist yet. Currently the best app I've found to do anything remotely like this is the Airplane Mode Wi-Fi app, which is a manual switch and a slightly cumbersome one at that, not nearly good enough for how often I go in and out of wifi.
The reason I ask for this is because I use Google Voice with SIP and a prepaid plan. I want to use SIP as much as possible to save my prepaid minutes for when I really need them. When wifi and cell are both connected with Sipdroid running and I receive a call, they both ring at the same time. To be sure I don't accidentally use prepaid, I usually reject the call and call back over SIP, which is slightly annoying for both me and the caller.
Might someone be willing to create this app? Or better yet, does it already exist and I just wasn't doing the right searches?
You can turn the phone radio off with code but you need to use non-public apis and probably extra permissions. For anyone interested, have a look at RadioInfo.java (Phone Info when selecting an activity with AnyCut).
I'll add the option to the Airplane Mode Wi-fi Tool.
It was simple, I'm testing it right now, then I'll update it in the market as soon as it works properly.
UPDATE: Done, go download "Airplane Mode Wi-Fi Tool" (free) from the market if you'd like to stay updated from there, otherwise install it from the attachment here.
It only enables airplane mode if it successfully connects to a Wi-fi network, if it disconnects, connection gets dropped, or wi-fi gets disabled from the settings or widget, the phone goes back to regular radio mode.
Make sure to check the Preferences and enable/disable it according to your preferences. It's disabled as default.
Enjoy!
Perfect! Airplane Mode Wi-Fi Tool has become one of my top favorite apps with this feature. Thanks!
cant' find it on the market
sorry: I needed to search for the translated name
zorxd said:
is this app still available on market? Can't find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is, Market link -- Airplane Mode Wi-fi Tool
Also, you might be interested in this one, Market link - AutoAP
I found the application on the market, however it doesn't behave as expected. I have to manually switch to airplane mode, and then enable wifi.
What I would like is a single switch to enable wifi AND disable the cellular radio.
And then a single switch to switch back to cell radio with wifi off.
I will try autoAP, thanks
How hard is it on the battery if I always leave wi-fi on even when not used?
autoap seems just fine, I just have to disable wifi to automatically enable cell radio
thanks
However I think, from a marketing point of view, you should consider a better name. Auto AP sounds like Automatic Access Point to me.
Yeah, works fine on tablets without internal 3G. This provides a battery saver.

constant data connection

so I know theres already a dead thread on this....but it got no where.
So here goes, my x10(both on 1.6 and 2.1) seems to ALWAYS maintain a data connection whether it be wifi or hsdpa. This occurs with every running app/service disabled background data off etc etc. The only solution ive found is to switch off both wifi and toggle the apn/data connections off. I'd rather not have to do this as realistically I'll end up forgetting to toggle them off.
Shouldn't android simply connect on demand rather than maintaining the connection constantly?
and before anyone says it, it's not the data consumption im frustrated with...it's the unnecessary battery drain.
Bump....
Sent from my U20i using XDA App
Android keeps an active connection for things like:
1) syncing contacts & email
2) the ability to use Gtalk
Have you actually checked how little the active connection uses (not much)
constantly maintaining a data connection does indeed drain the battery in comparison to not keeping one. I assume the 'how little' it drains is based on that half assed percentage indicator android gives us?
If you actually read the first post you'd see that I'm specifically interested in having the connection on demand. If I'm not syncing my email or contacts at the time why on earth should it be maintaining a connection.
i had a hd2 it also had a constant connection.but on wm there is an app which turns off the connection and turns it on When needed.
isnt there an apps like that on android.
just use the APN On/Off widget and put it on your home screen, quick and easy and turns on/off with one press

Tutorial: Really enable/disable Wifi Calling to Save Your Battery

You may have noticed, especially if you've got the new Free Wifi Calling feature from T-Mobile, that WiFi Calling is a BATTERY HOG. Worse, it hogs battery even when disabled. You can verify it's Hogginess even when disabled by noting it will almost always be the top APP in history using SystemPanel. It's incredibly badly coded, and if you've got a Rom with Wifi Calling on it, and you've had bad battery life, now you know WHY.
But, really, with the new Free Wifi Calling feature, we shouldn't have to kill it entirely.
You can freeze it with Titanium Backup, but that's a hassle. Likewise using Bloater to uninstall/reinstall it all the time. Wouldn't it be nice just to have a desktop widget to do it for you? Or be able to hook it into your "Home Wifi" profile, so it's always enabled at home, and then have it turned off as soon as you're no longer near your home wifi?
Thanks to user AntonX in this thread , I came across a method to simply kill the app at the system level until needed. Still not convenient. So, I whipped up some Tasker scripts which will help the situation.
This assumes you have Tasker, as well as a basic knowledge of how to use it. Here are your the TASKS to create (Don't create any profiles unless you want to)
You also need to have the Locale Execute plugin, which is free.
NOTE: For this to work correctly, leave the slider set to ENABLE in the wifi calling app, and disable the feature using the Tasker widget and not inside the app!
Create a Task "Disable Wifi Calling"
1. Variable Set %WIFIWASON to YES If %WIFI ~ on
2. Wifi Set Off
3. Wait 5 Seconds If %WIFIWASON ~ YES
4. Execute @!pm disable com.android.kineto
5. Wifi Set On If %WIFIWASON ~YES
6. Variable Clear %WIFIWASON
7. Variable Clear %WIFICALLING
Create a Task: "Enable Wifi Calling"
1. WiFi Set On
2. Plugin:Execute @!pm enable com.android.kineto
3. Wait 5 Seconds
4. Load App Wifi Calling
5. Variable Set %WIFICALLING to YES
Create a Task "Toggle Wifi Calling"
1. Perform Task Disable WIFI Calling If %WIFICALLING ~ YES
2. Perform Task Enable WIFI Calling If %WIFICALLING |~ YES
TO USE:
Add a Tasker Widget to your homescreen for the "Toggle Wifi Calling" task.
What is going on:
Disable script will check if wifi is on at the time it is executed. It has to turn Wifi OFF so we get a clean disconnect from the network and the taskbar Icon goes away before killing the Wifi Calling app. If Wifi was on beforehand, it turns it back on.
Enable script will make sure wifi is enabled, and give it time to connect, and then load the application since sometimes it won't activate on its own without loading manually.
These tasks are intended to be linked to Tasker widgets on your homescreen, but you can call them from location based profiles or whatever.
Now, when Wifi Calling is OFF, it is REALLY off, and not just sitting around, unused, sucking up your battery. With a little more work, this could probably be turned into a single "Toggle" task, but that's an exercise for someone who has slept and doesn't have work in 5 hours. Comments/Improvements welcome.
Update 1:
Added instructions for creating a Toggle widget at the same time.
Streamlined Tasks.
Planned Features:
1. Automatically disable WIFI calling app once WIFI has been disconnected to save battery. Seems to need a block to prevent the state from triggering during processing of the disable/enable tasks, as it breaks functionality. I'm sure it is trivial but I have a limited attention span.
2. Automatically enable WIFI calling app if currently connected to WIFI *and* cell has no signal for longer than a set time. (%CELLSIG)
3. [not possible?] - Audible warning that WIFI signal is getting low and you are currently on a call. Is there any way to read current WIFI signal strength with Tasker?
Very good guide and a great idea.. if only we could get a better coded wifi calling app... or one for cm7
Sent from a cell tower to the XDA server to you.
I love the idea, but I can't quite seem to get it working. When I run the "disable" task, it eventually turns WiFi back on and WiFi calling gets re-enabled.
Then, a while later I get an "app not responding" warning from the Android system for the execute locale plugin (I can select Force Close or Wait).
Also, what is the best way to grant SU permissions to the plugin in the SU application? I have never been prompted to allow it. To test it out, I just temporarily granted access to everything...
Thanks!
lotherius,
I follow on the G2X forums. And you know how the G2x & MIUI Roms can't seem to get Wifi Calling to work consistently. I noticed that if I can get the Wifi Calling app to stay turned OFF it allowed my Sim card to not get the "Invalid Sim" error and then I was able to get wifi calling to work again even after reboots. Do you think by any chance that this script could help cure our Wifi Calling issue with MIUI Roms??? And is there a way to make a flashable zip of this for us Noobs? Thanks Again.
GFam4 said:
lotherius,
I follow on the G2X forums. And you know how the G2x & MIUI Roms can't seem to get Wifi Calling to work consistently. I noticed that if I can get the Wifi Calling app to stay turned OFF it allowed my Sim card to not get the "Invalid Sim" error and then I was able to get wifi calling to work again even after reboots. Do you think by any chance that this script could help cure our Wifi Calling issue with MIUI Roms??? And is there a way to make a flashable zip of this for us Noobs? Thanks Again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, this script wouldn't help with that. The problem on MIUI roms on the G2X is due to the operator (T-Mobile for most) not sending the phone # directly to the SIM card when it is activated. Some SIM cards have it, typically older ones, so it works. Those without, however, find that it doesn't work.
Supposedly you can manually program the SIM by using a phone that supports doing so, but I haven't checked to see if that would fix the problem.
Also I no longer bother with this on the G2X as it appears that while wifi calling still uses *some* battery when not active, it's not the battery hog it was back on the Vibrant.
Lotherius,
I had an HD2 running MIUI with Wifi Calling working before the G2X. The is the hack/mod that this guy TyTung did to get wifi calling to work for the HD2. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038784 You think something like this can be used for the G2X to get wifi calling working?
GFam4 said:
Lotherius,
I had an HD2 running MIUI with Wifi Calling working before the G2X. The is the hack/mod that this guy TyTung did to get wifi calling to work for the HD2. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038784 You think something like this can be used for the G2X to get wifi calling working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WiFi Calling is really picky about the network information being accurate. I'm surprised that they got it working on the HD2...
The best fix for it on MIUI on the G2X would depend on fixing MIUI itself, since the RIL is correct -- the G2X doesn't allow you to change the RIL so it isn't affected. In the case of MIUI, older SIM cards typically work better than new ones.
The issue comes down to the ability to read the network information from the SIM card. If that data has been programmed to your SIM card, then it might work. If it has not been programmed to your SIM card, then it won't work.
So basically... not saying it's impossible to get it working on G2X/MIUI, but it is more likely to require a fix to MIUI rather than to Wifi Calling.
lotherius said:
WiFi Calling is really picky about the network information being accurate. I'm surprised that they got it working on the HD2...
The best fix for it on MIUI on the G2X would depend on fixing MIUI itself, since the RIL is correct -- the G2X doesn't allow you to change the RIL so it isn't affected. In the case of MIUI, older SIM cards typically work better than new ones.
The issue comes down to the ability to read the network information from the SIM card. If that data has been programmed to your SIM card, then it might work. If it has not been programmed to your SIM card, then it won't work.
So basically... not saying it's impossible to get it working on G2X/MIUI, but it is more likely to require a fix to MIUI rather than to Wifi Calling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish i knew what Lib's and RIL's that I can swap from a CM7 Rom (Weapon G2X, Eaglesblood, or TSUGI) and push it via Root Explorer. I did this on my Hd2 and had wifi calling working. Can't this method work to get wifi calling working on G2X. Sorry I know this is off topic. But I even had Wifi Calling on your TSUGI ROM. You wouldn't happen to know what Lib's & Ril's on your TSUGI Rom are responsible for Wifi Calling to be enabled?
Is battery life really bad with wifi calling for you guys? I use it nearly 24/7 on my phone, and get fantastic battery life. Like way better than I did without it.
Of course, I'm on the clearly superior HTC G2, but still
I've been toying with this, but anytime I force Wifi calling to disable (by killing the app or disabling kineto), restarting Wifi calling says I'm not registered with the T-Mobile network (sure) and won't connect (even after clicking Register) until I reboot the phone.
Any tips?

[Q] A way to disable "active" wifi probing?

Hi, other than the obvious "turn off your wifi" I was wondering if there is a way to more selectively manage probing requests in android. I am always forgetting to turn off my wifi when I leave the office/home and don't really like the idea of my phone broadcasting so much info about me in the requests (esp when i don't need wifi). I have been looking for settings but didn't find one and was thinking about an app perhaps that maybe can turn wifi off based on location (though i guess that would need gps which would be another issue?). I would settle for something that turns off wifi once it is out of range of a certain point (like home or work) for a certain period of time, then i could just turn it on manually when I am say at a cofee shop or whatever (and maybe it could turn off again when that point gets out of range).
I'm investigating this as well. I've scoured build.prop and bcmdhd.cal and am not seeing a way to disable probe requests. Anyone?

Cannot figure out what keeps activating LTE while on wifi (wifi calling too) (Galaxy

Something is causing my data to continually activate almost every time while using phone, or even when not using it. It happens when I'm using wifi calling, with wifi network preferred. I'll be just browsing, and suddenly the LTE symbol activates with the sending/recieving arrows flashing.
I believe it is causing some unnecessary battery drain.
I checked all my app usage and data usage, nothing out of the ordinary.
I disabled all customized services samsung offers, thinking it was a rogue app feeding ads.
I disabled location services, didn't make a difference.
I disabled background data to the One UI and weather app, no luck.
Im really at a loss here, is there some type of trickery I can do to find the service or app? Im really trying to avoid a factory reset as I have so many apps that require a login and its frustrating.
Thanks!

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