Argh!
I've never really posted a rant, but here's one.
Symbian is streets ahead of WinMo when it comes to network management.
With Symbian if you open an app that wants to access the Internet you get a prompt asking what available connection you want to use. If for some reason while using that app you lose the connection, you get prompted again.
WinMo doesn't ask. It uses whatever network is available going from Wifi down.
This is a problem for some (Okay, not all. I'm sure people with unlimited data plans, and those who don't want to be prompted like this way). Symbian let you configure programs to automatically connect to a network. It gave you a choice. Again, WinMo doesn't.
My own example -
I'm with Telstra, in Australia. We don't get unlimited data. I have a 150MB Plan.
With my previous N95 I could start up Internet Radio, chose WiFi for my connection, and listen to it while I was in bed knowing that if I fall asleep, and the WiFi drops out, the program will stop. It won't switch over to HSDPA and cost me a fortune.
Now my Touch HD. It sleeps automatically after 30 minutes. I've just found out that when it does that, I lose WiFi.
Last night when I went to bed I started up Kinoma, and was listening to a shoutcast stream over WiFi. The phone went to sleep and with the wifi connection lost, the phone went to HSDPA.
12 Hours of streaming has put me 560MB over my 150MB limit. That's $270 extra I'm going to need to pay.
Oh well. Lesson learned.
I don't understand though how Windows Mobile can be so far ahead of Symbian in almost every area, yet lacking by a huge amount when it comes to Network Management.
FWIW - I've now set all programs that want to use the Internet to now use my "Work Connection" so they will only use WiFi but
a) What a useless workaround. If for some reason I do want to use HSDPA data I then have to go through the hassle of changing it back
and
b) How hard is it to have the option there to "Always Ask"
Seriously!?
Phew. I'm done.
you have my sympathy, my last smart phone was symbian UIQ. that had internet profiles and priorities etc. WinMo is sadly deficient in that area.
There are a few issues raised here.
First off wifi turning off when the phone (and you!) goes to sleep. I think there is a setting to prevent that, have a look at this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=488623
also i have seen mentioned an app called no_data which prevents GPRS connections, might be usefull, though I have no experience of it.
I have to agree on this, but on a slightly different subject: the EVIL windows mobile connection manager.
It is completely useless, being in the middle way between iPhone style (connect with any network and don't bother the user), and Symbian style (bother the user and let him choose the network every time). That is, it requires the users to dig into tricky and labyrinthic settings and always fails to do the right thing.
Thx to connection manager, I cannot use the BT PAN connection I spent long nights trying to get it work on my Motorola Q9, when the phone is not in airplane mode, because the CM will unilaterally think the PAN is useless and use H$DPA (or GPR$) instead.
Good old fashion Telstra reeming plays a part as well.
OUCH on the $270!!!
[email protected]#$%^&*()_+|
I share you frastration until I found this No Data application which I install first in every flash, it just disables any Data connection!
If you need it let me know
Thanks for the sympathy.
My biggest problem with NoData is that I actually want to be able to use HSDPA when I am not near a WiFi network, I don't want data off permanently!
Why can't there be an app that lets you chose which connection everytime. That's what is annoying me most!
When you need it just switch it back on. Less than few clicks
Hi,
i have just posted regarding this issue on another thread.
I remember reading a review for the Touch HD and one reviewer mentioned a 'simple thord party app that allows one button switching from wifi to 3g(HSDPA)'. rather disappointingly the reviewer does not mention what this app is called!!!!!
actually the issue i have is slighlty different, if i set the network setting to use wifi , when i turn wifi off i have the phone simply will not connect to anything until is go back through.
START>SETTINGS>CONNECTIONS>CONNECTIONS>ADVANCED>SELECT NETWORKS> either MY Work Network or Orang Internet.
phew what a pain in the preverbials.
Microsoft - i really hope you sort this in winMo 6.5
Anybody else - how about a simple app, if i switch wifi on and a network is found, set the above to my work network.
if not found then either set it to Orange Internet (or whoeever) (for those of us with unlimited data) or as the thread leader suggests just bloody ask whether it is ok to go back to 3G/HSDPA.
but can we please stop the:
START>SETTINGS>CONNECTIONS>CONNECTIONS>ADVANCED>SELECT NETWORKS>MY Work Network
or
START>SETTINGS>CONNECTIONS>CONNECTIONS>ADVANCED>SELECT NETWORKS>"carrier internet connection"
7 clicks of frustration that i struggle to do without a stylus
I've since installed and been using NoData. While not a perfect solution, it does make it easier to turn my data connections on and off without going through the settings menus.
It will do until Microsoft decides to catch up with the rest of the field with regards to network management.
Related
When I'm in the house (and assuming I've got the wifi switched on on the Tytn 2), how do I get it to use the Wifi to access the Web as a first option?
Even when its connected to my wireless LAN (which it does with no problems at all - much better than my old Wizzard), if I launch Explorer it automatically makes a GPRS connection. The only way to force it to use the Wifi seems to be to turn the Phone off in the comm manager - which then means I can't receive any calls.
I can't find any setting that dicates the network hierachy i.e. that says if there is a Wireless LAN connection then don't bother with GPRS, or if there isn't, then use GPRS.
I seem to recall there was something similar on desktop Windoze where you could have it automatically use a dial up connection if there was no LAN available.
Can anyone help?
Iain.m said:
When I'm in the house (and assuming I've got the wifi switched on on the Tytn 2), how do I get it to use the Wifi to access the Web as a first option?
Even when its connected to my wireless LAN (which it does with no problems at all - much better than my old Wizzard), if I launch Explorer it automatically makes a GPRS connection. The only way to force it to use the Wifi seems to be to turn the Phone off in the comm manager - which then means I can't receive any calls.
I can't find any setting that dicates the network hierachy i.e. that says if there is a Wireless LAN connection then don't bother with GPRS, or if there isn't, then use GPRS.
I seem to recall there was something similar on desktop Windoze where you could have it automatically use a dial up connection if there was no LAN available.
Can anyone help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm now getting the same thing using Emoze - the thing is sitting here connected to the Wifi & will sync mail & contacts etc over the wifi quite happily - but as soon as I try & send mail from the handheld it starts up not one but two GPRS connections (!) Much the same as if I try & get a web page up - it automatically goes to GPRS as its default route to the internet despite that fact that its already connected via wifi & the only way to stop this behaviour seems to be to switch the phone off in Comm Manager.
Seems to be something inherrantly odd about the way the Tytn 2 is deciding what network connection is available & which it should use. It looks like it needs a little control application to sit between the IP stack & the hardware so that when a request comes it can be routed according to user preference - i.e. Use WIfi if available, Only use GPRS etc The Wifi doesn't seem to fire up a connection when it feels like it - only the GPRS. Do all the HTC devices with WIfi behave this way?
In the meantime, does anyone know of a simple way to turn off/disable GPRS without disabling the phone?
WHile I have plenty of GPRS data allowance in my package when I'm in the house at my desk (or anywhere else I can get a wifi connection) I'd rather it just used the Wifi to sync itself or if I decided call up a web page.
Besides, it interferes with the hi-fi speakers in my study with that annoying buzzing noise everytime the GPRS gets busy.
I.
Hi guys,
I use 3 different wifi networks during the course of a day, well 2 a day, 3 through out the week probably. Home/Work/Friends house
I have a very small data package (5mb) so i am very choosy about when I use my data connection!
Anyways, did some testing.
I already know that if I have no wifi, no data connection on, then I try and start outlook or Internet Explorer, then my data connection starts up (as it should)
now if i have my data connection on, then i turn on wifi on the phone, the wifi connection takes over and the data connection is not being used, even though it's on.
I also have no problems with when wifi is on and data is off, and if i goto outlook or IE, that gprs decides to go on. this does not happen tome (unless for some strange reason wifi cuts out, gprs tries to take over)
So i dont know if its something with your settings or not, maybe your phone goes to sleep and wifi turns off then gprs takes over, or i could be misunderstanding your question, because now that I think about it, perhaps you are asking something like..
- at home no wifi or data connection is active at that moment
- you navigate to a page in IE and instead of gprs turning on, wifi turns on/scans for lan and uses that
Yeah, that's probably waht you are asking.. haha yahoo for long winded useless post
If you figure it out, i want to know! lol
Iain.m said:
I'm now getting the same thing using Emoze - the thing is sitting here connected to the Wifi & will sync mail & contacts etc over the wifi quite happily - but as soon as I try & send mail from the handheld it starts up not one but two GPRS connections (!) Much the same as if I try & get a web page up - it automatically goes to GPRS as its default route to the internet despite that fact that its already connected via wifi & the only way to stop this behaviour seems to be to switch the phone off in Comm Manager.
Seems to be something inherrantly odd about the way the Tytn 2 is deciding what network connection is available & which it should use. It looks like it needs a little control application to sit between the IP stack & the hardware so that when a request comes it can be routed according to user preference - i.e. Use WIfi if available, Only use GPRS etc The Wifi doesn't seem to fire up a connection when it feels like it - only the GPRS. Do all the HTC devices with WIfi behave this way?
In the meantime, does anyone know of a simple way to turn off/disable GPRS without disabling the phone?
WHile I have plenty of GPRS data allowance in my package when I'm in the house at my desk (or anywhere else I can get a wifi connection) I'd rather it just used the Wifi to sync itself or if I decided call up a web page.
Besides, it interferes with the hi-fi speakers in my study with that annoying buzzing noise everytime the GPRS gets busy.
I.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to use the comm manager to turn off the data connection, but as for keeping it off permanently, until you decide you want it to be even allowed to be active again maybe you can try this, it should disable your connection until you see fit.
http://www.modaco.com/content/Pocket-PC-Software/246171/New-FREE-Utility/
briggs81 said:
You should be able to use the comm manager to turn off the data connection, but as for keeping it off permanently, until you decide you want it to be even allowed to be active again maybe you can try this, it should disable your connection until you see fit.
http://www.modaco.com/content/Pocket-PC-Software/246171/New-FREE-Utility/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great little utility , thanks very much for pointing that out - it at least allows me to do what I want manually - i.e. use my wifi without having to turn the phone off.
Although I know you can disconnect GPRS from the Comm manager, it also doesn't seem to have an idle time out so once an application (like Emoze) has started it up it keeps running in the background. Also, as soon as you turn it off, inevitably Emoze turns it straight back on! The NoData application gives much more control so thanks for that.
I do go abroad reasonably often so also happy to be able to use it for its primary purpose of disabling GPRS whilst roaming to avoid silly charges
It would be great if HTC could build a bit more intelligence and control into the network side of these things though.
I.
You may want to look into Schaps Advanced Config or KaiserTweak for wifi/gprs settings.
You can set timers and disconnects, etc, with those applications.
Iain.m said:
When I'm in the house (and assuming I've got the wifi switched on on the Tytn 2), how do I get it to use the Wifi to access the Web as a first option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Good News: I fixed this behavior on the phone w/o any 3rd-party utilities, etc.
The Bad News: I'm not 100% sure how. :-/ My apologies. Here is what I think did it:
Make sure your browser is closed and you have no open data connections.
1- Open the Wireless Manager and make sure "WLAN" is on and "Data Connection" is off.
2- Go to Start>Settings and choose the "Connections" tab along the bottom.
3- Open "Wireless LAN," choose your home wireless network, and make sure you're actively connected to it (should see a signal quality meter, device network settings, etc).
4- Close "Wireless LAN" and while "Settings" is still open and on the "Connections" tab, open "Wi-Fi." Your list of known Wi-Fi networks should be showing: make sure your home network says "connected."
5- Close everything back out to your "Today" screen.
When my Tilt is set this way -- and actively connected to my WLAN -- the Wireless Manager grays out "Data Connections" and doesn't even respond if I tap the icon. IE automatically uses my WLAN, although it won't connect to some of its pre-loaded favs b/c, I think, they're on WAP servers and the Wi-Fi/NAT router assigns/negotiates TCP/IP protocols for your phone.
I think now I accomplish all the above by simply opening the keyboard and pressing the FN/Wi-Fi key.
FYI -- In truth, I solved this problem by installing Opera Mobile and setting it as my default browser. Opera Mobile is a full browser, i.e. doesn't use WAP.
Hope this helps. If not, sorry for this 5 minutes of your life you'll never get back. :-/
gT
Hi I have looked on the wiki and for some posts and I couldn't find anything, sorry if this has already been answered but, this is what I want...
Various wlan to be setup on my phone, 3g to always be on. When I enter a zone that has wlan that I know of I can activate wlan and the phone prioritizes the wlan connection.
The best solution I have so far: wlan setup for many zones 3g is priority, when i enter a zone I have to connect wlan deactivate 3g connection wlan usually works unless the signal drops too low then 3g will start up and that will take priority(or worse case edge or gprs will start up, which I have never been able to get to actually work it says the connection is there but never have i loaded a web page or downloaded an email in anything other than wifi or 3g)
Now I think windows mobile is to blame here but is there a solution for me? I tried to set wifi as main connection method but when I did 3g never seemed to work maybe I just set it up completely wrong.
Maybe there is some good software that can do this for me? or a known method to get it working properly.
many thanks,
Chris
Am I really the only one not satisfied with the connection options on this phone?
I have friends with the iphone and g1 and they seem to have no problem using 3g and wlan without any hassle.
badasschris said:
Am I really the only one not satisfied with the connection options on this phone?
I have friends with the iphone and g1 and they seem to have no problem using 3g and wlan without any hassle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a matter of "This Phone" it's a problem of Windows Mobile 80% of apps, and ROM fixes are to cover over failings and missing gaps in WM, things that SHOULD have been in place since WM2003. Same with the WinMobile UI... isnt much of one is there? not without a ton of today addons, and pocket plus or WisBar its M$'s strategy they make their money of other people's addons through licensing. You also lose out on 20% of WinMobile functionality if you don't have an Exchange server available, what do i need to buy Exchange server and run it at home on my desktop By buying a half dozen small apps i can get that functionality back at home but those apps are an additional 20+$ a pop.
notice on mobile office theres no database? Oh you can buy a 3rd party for 200$ Microsoft loves to play games.
Just my opinion
Hi, first post.
I am also a first with windows mobile, i recently picked up a touch 3g.
i am rather confused with the internet and data access.
i have added all the wifi internet zones i visit.. home, work and friends... it says i can connect but when i try to browse it doesnt work.
basically i want to be able to connect to and use my WIFI zones when i'm in range, and when i'm not i want it to use 3G if i connect to an app or browser that requires it, then when i leave the application i also want it to stop using data so i wont get charged from my provider?
is there any easy way of doing this, i'm havin a hard time setting it up.. i would like WIFI to take priority.
These could have been my words too ...
I'm searching for this since a long time and even more since I saw how smooth and unobtrusive switching between wifi (when available) and 3G (when wifi is not availabe) is on the iphone (oh, he said the word!). Until now I didn't find any solution but as I would be happy if there was one, I just add myself as possible happy customer to this thread
The only kind of workaround I found was keeping your wifi always enabled (though not in standby) to have a preference for wifi because its most of the time already connected when you need internet access. If no access point is found then and only then 3G is used. It doesn't drain you battery as much as one would think. But what got me away from this was the fact that there is a slight or not so slight lag at least in connection with S2U2 when turning on the display. That annoyed me so much that I always turn on wifi manually whenever I know there's an access point and I need internet access.
Sorry I couldn't tell you anything better ...
Search............
Try searching the threads. There are settings that can be accessed through the advanced config tool that allows you to change these settings.
I recently had a weekend in the UK on holiday and to make sure I did not get charged a fortune for roaming connection charges, I made certain that every time I used the phone online I had a good connection to the hotel's wifi hotspot.
I've just received a bill for nearly £100 for 18mb roaming, and nearly had a heart attack since I should not have been using any roaming services!!
Anyone know how this could have happened? As I said, I made absolutely certain that every time I was using the internet I was successfully connected to the wifi hotspot, so I don't understand how this can have happened but I'm furious about it.
Not to mention that the thieves have charged me £6/mb for a crappy GPRS connection!!
Thanks guys.
What also really annoys me about this is that I even tried to setup SPB's data monitor app beforehand as a precaution but it would not register any data traffic even though I set up the tariffs with all the necessary info.
Hotel WiFi isn't free - usually £5 an hour or something extortionate like that...
EddyOS said:
Hotel WiFi isn't free - usually £5 an hour or something extortionate like that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that wouldn't end up on his phone bill, it'd be on his hotel bill.
True, just stating
Might be down to others apps using it perhaps...
Your right that wouldn't end up as part of the phone bill, However the following items will
Weather updates
Email syncronisation (possibly automated)
MyPhone (or any other "Cloud") backups
RSS Feeds
We're any of these enabled? Unfortunatly I am unaware of any way to turn off DataConnection without the above having the ability to automatically turn it back on. For that reason I will never take my phone (and leave it on) overseas.
Will that 'NoData' app not work for disabling anything over gprs/3g on the HD2?
And I'd like to echo the above - chances are it was an app on your phone downloading data in the background.
Unlucky mate - hope you can dispute it.
Thanks for that, but yes it was definitely free at this one (actually a B&B rather than a hotel as such). The bill I'm talking about is the monthly carrier bill for my HD2, NOT my hotel bill.
The problem is that the HD2 has basically been using my normal data connection but was showing as using wifi at the time.
I switched off all auto updates to prevent this too. The periods where I've been charged are for like an hour or so when I've been browsing the web in the evening.
Cret said:
Thanks for that, but yes it was definitely free at this one (actually a B&B rather than a hotel as such). The bill I'm talking about is the monthly carrier bill for my HD2, NOT my hotel bill.
The problem is that the HD2 has basically been using my normal data connection but was showing as using wifi at the time.
I switched off all auto updates to prevent this too. The periods where I've been charged are for like an hour or so when I've been browsing the web in the evening.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not that i want to make this sound obvious but, are you sure you was connected to the WiFi network. Just turning on your WiFi does not mean you are connected to the network, as most have Network Keys to grant access (or public guest passwords), you don't normally allow any old Joe Blogg onto the network.
jrrigney said:
Not that i want to make this sound obvious but, are you sure you was connected to the WiFi network. Just turning on your WiFi does not mean you are connected to the network, as most have Network Keys to grant access (or public guest passwords), you don't normally allow any old Joe Blogg onto the network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a little extra note to this is that many public wifi spots actually let you connect, and only then ask you for user info, so the phone looks like it is connected, when in fact there is no gateway out past the first landing page.
i had this problem with my old htc kaiser ( i had turned off all data connection apart from wifi) and it would still try and connect to a 3g network. when i returned from the states to the UK my bill was over £300!! i complained to t-mobile and they thankfully cancelled the bill!!
good luck.
Applications may well (and do) connect to the internet over 3G even when you have Wi-Fi connected and operational. That is simply how WM works.
There are various solutions out there to fix this problem, both manually turning cellular data connections off as well as those that automatically turn them off when you are roaming. I know one of the latter ones is on Marketplace.
valid point guys but yeah it had a full wifi connection and a valid wep key.
if I could get gprs monitor (our whatever its called) to work then I could try to reproduce the fault st home but it never registers any data use when I try it. are there any other apps that can monitor my phones data traffic?
Chainfire said:
Applications may well (and do) connect to the internet over 3G even when you have Wi-Fi connected and operational. That is simply how WM works.
There are various solutions out there to fix this problem, both manually turning cellular data connections off as well as those that automatically turn them off when you are roaming. I know one of the latter ones is on Marketplace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - I did see that one of the auto updates had gone ahead anyway using the data connection as it showed a connection to a server but it was for a very brief instant.
The big amounts of time/data however are purely down to browsing though. And that's my issue here. How can it be using the normal GPRS data connection for browsing even though it has a stable, fully open, free wifi connection? Have I got a setting wrong somewhere perhaps?
My guess would be that the hotel internet link was down. You would still connect to the wifi network but it would fail to route traffic. tcp/ip was designed to work for US military to handle parts of network getting nuked so it seamlessly (and transparently) uses the next best link. I did think the HD2 asked before connecting when roaming tho. To be safe go to comm manager and switch off data connection before browsing next time and watch it doesnt come back on again.
I suppose that's an idea that they may have had a problem with their network BUT I've just tried a test at home.
I'm connected perfectly to my home wifi network with a strong signal, but my phone refuses to do any data stuff like go online, basically because my normal data connection has failed (it does this maybe once a day). This means that even though it is showing as being fully connected to wifi, it isn't actually doing anything with the wifi network and is still trying to do all data traffic including browsing through my GPRS connection instead!
How can this be happening?!
Incidentally I got a reply from HTC about this. It was VERY apologetic - which to me suggests that they know there is a fault. You don't apologise unless you're at fault for something after all!
They sent me some HTC app that they said I need on the phone to prevent this happening in future, which seems like an admission of blame to me, but I know I'll never get the £100 in roaming charges back from them even though it appears to be their fault after I've taken reasonable steps as a consumer to ensure I wouldn't get charged.
Very unhappy about this.
Data connection woes
I have a similar problem - skyfire or opera will not connect using wifi when data connection is disabled - both in settings and individually using "nodata" app.
Does anyone have an idea of how to force use of wifi and restrict to wifi use?
Thanks,
Ehud
I am very interested in hearing more about this. If you ever find out what caused this problem, please let us know in this thread or drop me a pm. In a couple of weeks I'm off to the States for a holiday and I have read enough stories here on the forum to actually think twice about taking my phone with me.
personally i would have manually turned off the the phone connection under Wireless Controls and just turned on the Wi-fi on the phone.. that way it cant possibly use GPRS as essentially it is in a semi "Flight" mode..
those BT 'clouds' (think thats what they call them) charge to your phone bill, when I phoned up to change my price plan I was told if I didn't have mobile internet addon using wifi through these will incur charges
Don't worry - use "no data"
VoicesUK said:
I am very interested in hearing more about this. If you ever find out what caused this problem, please let us know in this thread or drop me a pm. In a couple of weeks I'm off to the States for a holiday and I have read enough stories here on the forum to actually think twice about taking my phone with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used my XDA's around the world for years without a problem
In the UK I've got bundled unlimited data - so data is always enabled.
The first thing I do when putting my HD2 into flight mode on the aircraft is to run no-data. most cooked roms include it - but if not just download the cab.
"no data" allows you to toggle your cell operator based data connections - to off. Which has worked flawlessly for me in the US, Europe and far-east. On your return to home just toggle the settings back on.
The alternative is to go into comm manager and turn the phone off - but whats the point of that? You won't even be able to receive texts. I like to be able to receive calls and texts, but with the security of not running up extortionate data bills.
As an aside - if only all operators would allow you to set a strict (low) limit on data charges for roaming.
Hi There!
I am not sure if what I want is feasible or if I can even explain it in such a way as to make sense.. Hopefully so..
I currently use 3G for all my data requirements, which is very expensive. I have everything except activesync configured to work on demand. I would prefer to use Wifi as 90% of the time I am at home or at the office where I have wireless. However traditionally I have found being connected to wireless to drain the battery horrendously and so essentially what I want is this:
If a data connection is required, it will seek out my 2 preconfigured wireless networks, and if it can find either, it will connect, send/recieve the data, and then disconnect.
If it can't find either, it should prompt me to connect to my 3G Internet connection.
It would be ideal if I could even say.. activesync.exe is ok to use 3g, if no wireless networks are in range, but nothing else unless I allow it.
Is this possible?
a possibility?
You could try a profile changer and possibly also combine that with some data switching/auto-disconnect/time limiting apps.
I’m using Phoneweaver for the profiles (http://www.sbsh.net/products/windows_mobile_pocket_pc/phoneweaver). It can be configured to location, time, manual or other triggers and can turn things on and off dependant on which profile is active, and I think you can set some settings to be time limited. Not free, but good.
There are some threads on the HD2 themes and apps sub forum which are talk about others.