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Cingular 8525 - Can we disable GPRS/EDGE and use only Wi-Fi ?

Is it possible to setup the 8525 so that it only connects to internet through Wi-Fi and not any of the other options? Based on some threads, it looked like Cingular has disabled this option, but I am not quite sure. Thanks.

The only way I was able to do it was to call Cingular Tech and have them disable the GPRS on their end, now if I go to PIE and the WiFi is off, the GPRS/EDGE Connection pop-up opens, then I get an error message saying the network could not be found and a dismiss icon....
The only way it will connect to IE is through WiFi now.

ringostar said:
Is it possible to setup the 8525 so that it only connects to internet through Wi-Fi and not any of the other options? Based on some threads, it looked like Cingular has disabled this option, but I am not quite sure. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you go to settings then connection and delete the connection settings for gprs it will not connect and you can use wifi only

however i seem to keep getting gprs not connected error if i do so?

I'm having the same problem. I'm totally green to the high tech world. Heck this is my first attempt at anything greater than using my calculator function in a phone So if someone could walk me through what I need to do to set my phone up so I can connet through wifi i would reaaaally appreciate it.
I had Cingular put me on the no data plan (not even pay per use). In case that makes a difference.
Thanks in advance for the help.

All I did was go in to the connection settings and change the User name and Password. I do not get any error messages stating the network cannot be found. I get a login screen with User/Pass and Domain. I just click cancel and it drops back to IE.
Now I do not have to worry about accidentally connecting to their service.

well,we can very much achieve it -- In the internet settings in connections,select both of them to My ISP,edit it to nowap.cingular.com
Make sure setting is set to Internet,not work!
I did it and I use only wifi all the time!!

The previous solutions are not really workable for me since I don't want to delete my cellular data connection, I just want to be able to turn it on and off as I choose. With Windows Live, I can have a Wifi connection and turn off cellular data in the comm manager screen and it will just open the cellular connection again.
A hack to turn off the "auto connect" for the cellular data would be great. Make it like the BT or WIFI, where I have to go to the comm screen and turn it on. That choice would be great.
Anyhow, I am thinking of making the Work connection as the default, then deleting all work connections. Then when I actually want a cellular data connection, I could manually select it and say connect. I'm not sure if the applications will close it and try the work connection again or not. I will try it and post again, probably tomorrow.
MM

This works wonders:
http://www.benrichards.co.uk/?p=180
ETA: This is what I have been using to deal with gprs autoconnect on my 8525 and it's perfect for my uses. You just start the program and toggle on or off the data connections.

Gprs Disable
It really works thanks for your research

WIFI with out gprs?

I was on the phone with cingular today because I want to upgrade to the cingular 8125. From everything I have read on these forums and some others, it is possible to use the wifi without using gprs in any way. The lady on the phone told me that even if I am using wifi through a free access point, I will still be charged for data usage, or would need a data plan. One of the key reasons I want this phone is for the wifi (my college campus is entirely wireless).
I just wanted to make sure that I will be able to connect to wifi without any charges or a data plan, just as say a laptop with wifi would be able to do.
Thanks in advance

WiFi has nothing to do with your cellular plan. They are either talking rubbish, or you misunderstood?!
(Take your sim out. You will still be able to use wifi - how are they gonna charge you?)

That is what I thought. She either was confused, or just really wanted to sell me a data plan as well.
Thanks

I do not have GPRS and I do not get charged for data using WiFi. You do need to watch out for auto log on by the phone when you have WiFi off. I would suggest you have cingular block all wireless internet access for your phone. I had them do this for all of the phones on my plan, including my 8125. I told them I had kids and did not want a huge bill. They did it with no problem. I know that this has prevented data charges since all of us have indavertently had our phones look for for the internet when we did not want it to. I use my 8125 via WiFi on vaious networks all the time.
Hope this helps.
David

i hate people who sell cell phones, they lie so much

Thanks for your help guys. I just ordered it from cingular. I can't wait until it comes.

Billabond1 said:
I just wanted to make sure that I will be able to connect to wifi without any charges or a data plan, just as say a laptop with wifi would be able to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, you do not have to have a data plan and you will not be charged for WiFi usage... BUT... you have to be careful as the 8125 will switch to GPRS if it loses the WiFi signal by default. Here's a cab that allows you to turn off all data access of various flavors so you can leave WiFi on, but the others off, then you don't have to worry about it switching on you.

. . . or you can just remove the APN from your connection settings. Without an APN your unit cannot establish PDP on the GPRS network, and hence no connection . . .
Start > Settings > Connections > Connections
Edit your connection
Tap Next to the Access Point Screen.
Remove your APN (and note it for future reference) and replace it with XXX (or whatever).
Tap Next and then Finish.
Repeat for any further connections.
Not a viable solution if you need to use GPRS, but if you are never going to use it then it's not a problem.
To recap:
An incorrect Access Point Name will result in no connection, and hence, no charges.

Thanks again. I talked to my dad today, and it turns out that he has medianet disabled through cingular, so it is all good. But thanks a lot for the help.

Network selection hierachy - Wifi vs GPRS (Kaiser)

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

Data Connection question

I have noticed my Xperia has turned on the data connection a few times without me requesting it to. I was not doing anything, so hopefuly i will not be charged (i don't have any web usage in my contract).
Is there anything i can install that will password protect the data connection or at least stop it acciedently turning on?

Had the same with my Prophet - in the end I installed SPB GPRS Monitor which gave me an idea of how much it used (could also set it to warn you when it went over limits, cut connection I think, etc)
Next to that, whenever I wanted to disable it (e.g. roaming, etc) I changed the networks used (settings-->connections-->select networks) to something without settings, that way programs that connected automatically didn't find the right settings and couldn't connect (for when the phone was in my pocket etc).
Not sure if there is an app available now to PW protect the data connection - been on an unlimited plan for a while now (internet/rss feeds etc).

I had a similar issue until my data plan became active.
There's a free program on the modaco website called nodata that allows you to turn off/on the data connections when needed. It worked very well whilst I was using it.
... here's the link NoData Utility (Modaco)

Data charge when using WIFI - WTF?

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.