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[HTC TOUCH 3G] confused with wifi+3g+data access

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.

How do you force WiFi connection ?

Reflashed my Jade from UK Orange to JADEMAN rom recently...
I don't think this is a ROm related problem (unless you know otherwise !) so I have posted in general part of forum.
Can anyone tell me how to force the phone to use Wifi to connect to the internet.
It connects via GPRS fine but i want to disable the GPRS DATA for travels abroad so I don't run up a huge data bill. I can stop the data with "NoData" app, but if I now try to connect to internet with Opera or Internet explorer if fails..
Is there something I am missing, to tell it either to connect via wifi before using GPRS data or to only connect via wifi. Do I need to create a connection ?
The create new connection page doesn't list using WiFi, bluetooth is the only "WIRELESS" type connection that appears to be offered.
Also when the wireless AP list is shown and I try to connect to an AP showing available that I have previously setup with WEP key etc, it fails to connect.
I am sure to be missing something but I can't spot what the problem is...
Any help appreciated.....
Phil

Normally Windows Mobile connects via WiFi first, if available, and only when not present it uses GPRS. That means that you do not need to disable GPRS if an WiFi-connection is established.
I have no personal experiences with "NoData". Perhaps someone else can help.

phil-w said:
Can anyone tell me how to force the phone to use Wifi to connect to the internet.
It connects via GPRS fine but i want to disable the GPRS DATA for travels abroad so I don't run up a huge data bill. I can stop the data with "NoData" app, but if I now try to connect to internet with Opera or Internet explorer if fails..
Is there something I am missing, to tell it either to connect via wifi before using GPRS data or to only connect via wifi. Do I need to create a connection ?
The create new connection page doesn't list using WiFi, bluetooth is the only "WIRELESS" type connection that appears to be offered.
Also when the wireless AP list is shown and I try to connect to an AP showing available that I have previously setup with WEP key etc, it fails to connect.
Any help appreciated.....
Phil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MvBoe said:
Normally Windows Mobile connects via WiFi first, if available, and only when not present it uses GPRS. That means that you do not need to disable GPRS if an WiFi-connection is established.
I have no personal experiences with "NoData". Perhaps someone else can help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK the moment you invoke any app that requires internet connection (weather update, activesync, opera) Jade invokes data connection first (3G, GPRS, etc) That's how it works on my set. Unless you invoke Wi-Fi connection first, then data connection is ignored.

I have had a bad experience that even if all setups are ok Wi-Fi conn thru Ap fails.
Corrected such a way;
Under 'Wireless /Lan' settings
Power mode should be brought to 'best performance'

azahidi said:
AFAIK the moment you invoke any app that requires internet connection (weather update, activesync, opera) Jade invokes data connection first (3G, GPRS, etc) That's how it works on my set. Unless you invoke Wi-Fi connection first, then data connection is ignored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I meant: You have to activate WiFi by yourself to prevent jade using GPRS (etc.). Your description is more precise, I did not make it clear enough. Thanks for correction.

Hi and thanks for replies so far...
I have just done a hard reset to make sure I haven't loaded anything that may mess up the wifi connection... Even when wifi is on and I am connected to a wifi access point OK it still uses gprs/3g not wifi..
Back to the "drawing board" I think...
Any more ideas please...
Phil-w

with this app you can disable or enable data connections as you please.
there is another app here in the xda that will disable data when roming automatically, but i don't remember the name.

faria said:
with this app you can disable or enable data connections as you please.
there is another app here in the xda that will disable data when roming automatically, but i don't remember the name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi faria
Unfortunately I find it better to go into connection manager, select airplane mode, then enable wifi. Then do any surfing, live messenger etc. Then once finished go back into connection manager, re-enable phone.
Like others, I'm on Orange, wifi no longer stays the internet source even if it is connected. I have it on all the time, but if I use the internet, I have to go through the above procedure or it costs me credit through Orange.
Janeway

janeway said:
Unfortunately I find it better to go into connection manager, select airplane mode, then enable wifi. Then do any surfing, live messenger etc. Then once finished go back into connection manager, re-enable phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only disadvantage is here is that, you'll miss calls when there are incoming calls because your phone is inactive (while PDA is). You can just disable data connection (CommManager - Data Connection - off) and leave wi-fi connected.
Like others, I'm on Orange, wifi no longer stays the internet source even if it is connected. I have it on all the time, but if I use the internet, I have to go through the above procedure or it costs me credit through Orange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wondering.. how you identify which connection is being used, wi-fi or 3G/GPRS when both are connected.
What if you disconnect data connection (3G/GPRS) without activating the airplane mode, can you surf using wi-fi connection.
One possible reason - set connected to the AP via wi-fi but AP is not connected to internet, thus set seeks 3G as another route to internet.

Hi azahidi, thanks for taking time to reply to me . Your points as follows:
Yes, missing calls is the disadvantage, but I use my pda more for data and hardly any calls, so not so important for me, but obviously we be much better if that were possible as I do sometimes forget to swich back. If I disable the data connection, it automatically re-initializes itself as soon as ANY data is being transmitted - even with just wifi active - except when it is in airplane mode. This is a new thing for me with the Jade, didn't have that problem before with my previous HTC phone.
There is an icon for the 3G - when its in use it shows it - it goes from being a large G in a square to a smaller one with signal bars.
Wifi is definitely connected, I surf online with it all the time.
Its like 3G has priority over wifi - there should be a way to change that.
Hope the above makes sense.
Janeway

I'ven been using 'Nodata' succesfull the last past months, it does it's job well, but i'm not on Orange as you are, that might be the difference.
Just to be sure i've also changed my settings:
start > settings > connections > connections > advanced > select network > My work network (twice).
and
start > settings > connections >advanced network > uncheck HSDPA and in SMS choose 'GSM'
(all is translated from Dutch, hope i used the right words)

Thanks Nirak.
One of my settings was wrong - I should have known that from last time, but my brain's elsewhere at the moment!
Must have upset it when I flashed
Cheers for now.

phil-w said:
Hi and thanks for replies so far...
I have just done a hard reset to make sure I haven't loaded anything that may mess up the wifi connection... Even when wifi is on and I am connected to a wifi access point OK it still uses gprs/3g not wifi..
Back to the "drawing board" I think...
Any more ideas please...
Phil-w
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phil, can't you simply switch the "Data Connection" on/off switch to 'off' ?
I have it in the Comm Manager right at the bottom. The Wi-Fi and Phone could be left 'on'. I can't try if it works because I only use the phone on 2G.
Joe

jfranek said:
Phil, can't you simply switch the "Data Connection" on/off switch to 'off' ? I have it in the Comm Manager right at the bottom. The Wi-Fi and Phone could be left 'on'. Joe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's how it should work actually. Either one, Wi-Fi or 3g/GPRS. But what phil is saying is that it also activates data connection (3G/GPRS) even when wi-fi is connected.
On my set, and in my network (not Orange but standard GSM).. this is how it works :
The moment I invoke any application that requires internet connection (weather update, activesync, opera, etc) Jade invokes data connection first (3G, GPRS, etc). Unless if I invoke Wi-Fi connection on first, then data connection is ignored, it will stay off.
So what I normally do is, whenever I want to use internet, I connect using wi-fi then browse the internet. If there is no available AP, then I turn off wi-fi and continue browsing , which is then connected using 3G/GPRS/EDGE?HSDPA

azahidi said:
(...) The moment I invoke any application that requires internet connection (weather update, activesync, opera, etc) Jade invokes data connection first (3G, GPRS, etc). Unless if I invoke Wi-Fi connection on first, then data connection is ignored, it will stay off.
So what I normally do is, whenever I want to use internet, I connect using wi-fi then browse the internet. If there is no available AP, then I turn off wi-fi and continue browsing , which is then connected using 3G/GPRS/EDGE?HSDPA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the way it normally works and should work under WindowsMobile. The Orange-ROM seems to be "manipulated" by the provider (?) not to work in this desirable way. All (or some?) Orange-ROM-Handsets seem to activate the data connection (3G/GPRS) every time ignoring the established Wi-Fi-connection. This rises the providers business volume.

It would appear to be correct about orange having had the method of connection changed.
I have just found and installed a different RADIO.ROM to my Orange Touch 3G and now it appears to connect as required.
Still not 100pc happy but will post my observations later with the rom numbers if it helps anyone else out..
Phil-w

Look on the HTC JADE reflashing on this site
Hi All,
There is no way around the Orange apps to enable WiFi, but I successfully reflashed the Roms in my Orange touch 3g yesterday.
Have a look here for the details on what to do:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=514406
Follow the instructions carefully, and I chose to install the Stock HTC ROM 1.40.721.2 from the ROM post.
Wifi is then free....
)

Well I appear to have got around the Orange Unique problem.
I upgraded the Rom on my Orange UK Touch 3G to the Jademan SuperRom V3. That got rid of the Unique side of things but with no improvement with Wifi connectivity.
The connectivity problem with wifi still caused problems, the internet connection would NOT use wifi even if I disabled the GPRS / 3G data connection with "NoData" It just returned a message saying it had failed to connect.
I decided to find a new radio rom image which I managed to on this Jade forum. I flashed the new rom and tested the same connections again. This time the wifi connected via Wifi first and without any problem... It would appear that flashing the Jademan rom didn't update the radio as well, I needed to update the radio as well.
The clue may be in the radio rom version number,
Original orange 0.29.30.U23
New Radio rom 0.41.30.12
A assume that the U in the orange rom refers to "Unique", which now I have replaced it, it appears to have cured the wifi problem and it is working just as any other Non-Orange Jade / Touch 3G does....
I have not noticed any problems with any other radio related issues since the upgrade, GPS, 3G/GPRS etc all seem to be fine.
I do find that the phone does struggle to connect with some Dlink AP's though... It may be a problem with the Dlink more than the phone but I still need to do more tests on that.
May be that will help a few other people out there...
Phil-w

Hi Phil,
I had exactly the same problem!
Started with an unlocked HTC Touch 3G with Orange customised ROM and then replaced it with the SuperROM. WiFi was unusable so (having read your post) I re-flashed with the standard ROM released from HTC and then re-flashed the SuperROM. This gave me the same Radio ROM that you show above however the WiFi problems seemed to be no better.
While I liked the idea of having the SuperROM I have gone back to the latest standard HTC ROM and all seems to be well.
John

Hi John,
My wifi now seems fine except not liking Dlink AP's for some reason.
I don't even need to stop gprs data with NoData etc, if there is a wifi connection available that I have setup previously it will use that rather than GPRS..
I appear to have "de-Oranged" it !!!
What probs do you still have on your Touch 3G ??
Phil

setting connection preference ???

is there a way to make sure the phone only connects to my home wi fi hub when at home and does not connect via my 3g vodafone connection. I want it to automatically select the fastest link and not waste my 3g allowance ? I've searched but cannot find a solution, thanks

+1 good idea, anyone got anything on this?

Andi,
The solution I would use would be to go to Settings>Wireless Controls and simply switch Data Connections off, Wifi On when at home.
You would have to remember to to reverse this when done if you want to access 3G services.
WB

u could use G-Profile.. It allows you to set up different profiles and switch them automatically based on your current cell id. Wifi on/3G off when at home, other way around when not. Works like a charm for me

thanks for the tip but when I do that it then automatically turns it back on even when I'm connected to the wireless hub, all of a sudden they both are on . . . . . . .?? any ideas ??

i have the same problem... it keeps using my 3G/EDGE network even if WIFI is available... and i dont get it how can HTC afford not to give us an option to set that the phone asks you for permission when connecting to 3G/EDGE network... this **** costs and im not really happy about the fact that my phone can connect to a network whenever it feels like.
(and yes this **** keeps happening even tho i disabled automatic updates in weather/time applications.)

In BSB tweaks if you press options I think there is an option to disable all data connections. I have never tried it but maybe it will override all connection attempt? Give it a try. Also, I flashed to the 2.01 ROM and I think the data connections are a little less persistent, though I don't wan't to guarantee anything!

andi1977dog said:
is there a way to make sure the phone only connects to my home wi fi hub when at home and does not connect via my 3g vodafone connection. I want it to automatically select the fastest link and not waste my 3g allowance ? I've searched but cannot find a solution, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it not do that by default? i cant send emails through t-email when i'm at home - I just presumed this was because i was connected through my wireless router. turning off wifi allows me to send emails.
thus I presumed wifi takes preference?

I am wondering the same thing. The idealist situation would be to have both connections active at the same time, and let the HD2 make sure that wifi is used when the connection is there. Is there some kind of application to verify which connection is being used?

Great thread - I am not the only HD2 owner who is annoyed with the problem with the HD2 switching on its GRPS data connection without my approval!!!
Could it be that the HD2 turns off the wifi when it goes to sleep and then tries to connect to the web using the GPRS network? In that case how do I prevent turning off WIFI when in sleepmode?
I read somewhere else in this forum about a G-profile. Being a newbie with HTC I have no idea what this is. Any clue?
But overall: Yes, it would be great if HTC added an option to set network connection preferences.

WiFi does take preference if it's connected! Dont forget when you are at home and you turn your phone on from standby it will take 10sec or so to connect to your WiFi router, if you try and use IE, Opera, Twitter, Weather Update, Email, etc... before it's connected it will fire up your 3G data connection!
The phone does not how ever turn off your data conn when it's idle which is annoying! You need to use Bandswitch or CommManager from here http://www.commmgrpro.com/jsp/main_frame.jsf;jsessionid=103F335931311F019BD540B82E479383 or WMLonglife from this forum (do a search).

there must be someone out there with ghe know how and expertise to solve this ?? glad to see its an issue for othet folk, i like the idea for selecting wi fi over gprs if its there to be selected.......

I found out that my HD2 automatically closes the 3G connection when I have wifi active. I'm not sure why it does that, I know pretty sure that it had not always done that. But I'm quite happy with it
It turns 3G on again after disconnecting from WIFI, which is what I want.

so if you tap the notifications tab and the "contratc internet" is counting and the wi fii is connected it is using the wifi and not the "contract internet" even though the timer is counting ???
Can anyone confirm ???
p.s tried using the G-Profile software, it seems very inconsistant and didnt always turn off what it should when you select the profile so im going to unistall it.

for some reason the automatic internet settings from vodafone messes up/hides the "The Internet" or "MyISP" connection that is in the phone originally.. I even hard resetted but you just can't seem to stop the automatic settings..
disable the proxy of the "Vodafone live!" connection and it will work.. just like twitter etc..
the same with email only checking through 3G and not wifi.. but set the server settings of your account to "The Internet" after you disabled the proxy.. (advanced settings at the smpt server tab)
hope this helps.. but a thing worries me, as I don't know anything about proxies, why does vodafone specify a proxy if we don't realy need one.. to port us over their live portal or something? (on my old sony ericsson the track ID service didn't work because of that)

"disable the proxy of the "Vodafone live!" connection and it will work.. just like twitter etc.."
thanks but how do i do this ??

anyone know how i do this ? thanks

After including the Taskmanager as a quick link in HTC Sense I am now able to close all programs. Now I do no longer experience any unfortunate GPRS connections when connected to WIFI.
Only problem is that when running on batteries the WIFI connection is closed down when the unit enters sleepmode. However during sleepmode, if I have not closed down programs accessing the web these are now able to connect to the web by using the GPRS connection.
Why on Earth has HTS decided to decipher a click on the X as MINIMIZE and not CLOSE!!!

tnyborg said:
After including the Taskmanager as a quick link in HTC Sense I am now able to close all programs. Now I do no longer experience any unfortunate GPRS connections when connected to WIFI.
Only problem is that when running on batteries the WIFI connection is closed down when the unit enters sleepmode. However during sleepmode, if I have not closed down programs accessing the web these are now able to connect to the web by using the GPRS connection.
Why on Earth has HTS decided to decipher a click on the X as MINIMIZE and not CLOSE!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe my Wifi connection is kept alive, even in sleepmode.

Josan123 said:
I believe my Wifi connection is kept alive, even in sleepmode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, forgot to mention this - but in order to save battery power I have asked the unit to close down the WIFI when in sleepmode (using BsB Tweaks). And indeed it gives me more battery life.

3G getting used rather than WiFi

Hi. Have a recent problem that developed on my HD2. It happened after installing the mod that activates a task switcher when holding the send button. Could have happened sooner but I think I would've noticed...
Problem is: I have my HD2 connected to WiFi at home and it works perfect for web browsing and all, but, the moment I use other apps such as updating weather or browsing google maps or the Windows marketplace they use the 3G regardless of my WiFi being active and working.
I am on 1.48 stock ROM.
I have uninstalled the mod BTW and I use duttys task manager.
Please please help me someone...

doubt it has anything to do with that mod... i dont have any mods on and 50% of the time even tho i am in WiFi covered area with WiFi on it will start using 3G instead of checking for WiFi. Its extremely annoying and i cant understand that HTC didnt atleast give you a small manager wich would give you different options how to connect to internet once you are trying to connect...

Its not that I am in a WiFi zone. my WiFi is connected and I am browsing the web. It's.not that it is just choosing a connection, it completely ignores my WiFi on everything but the browser. And it only started happening today. Marketplace worked on WiFi yesterday.

Nevermind. I found the problem. Earlier today I set no WiFi network to be treated as a work network instead of a internet network. this lead to most apps thinking I am not connected to the internet.

TicKByT said:
Nevermind. I found the problem. Earlier today I set no WiFi network to be treated as a work network instead of a internet network. this lead to most apps thinking I am not connected to the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. My problem is more or less as described by NESO1234 above. WiFi at home is is connected, but browsing Internet is done through 3G (I guess - loading a page takes loong and the arrows indicating WiFi connection are not moving).
You mention network not set correct. Could you or someone give me a more spesific hunch (path...) on how to make WiFi beeing used?

jsw44 said:
Hi. My problem is more or less as described by NESO1234 above. WiFi at home is is connected, but browsing Internet is done through 3G (I guess - loading a page takes loong and the arrows indicating WiFi connection are not moving).
You mention network not set correct. Could you or someone give me a more spesific hunch (path...) on how to make WiFi beeing used?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to the WiFi connection place (where the Wifi switch is and it shows ur acess point underneath) go to Advanced > Change Network then select ur AP and make sure 'Connects to:' is set to 'The Internet'.
Hope it helps, it worked for me

Automatic wifi

Hey all,
Done some searching but cant find a clear and striaght forward answer.
Bascially, on my old HTC Dream (Android) wifi would always be searching for a wifi to connect to (and if it found a network, it would tell me). if it was a network it had acess to, then it would automatically connect.
Otherwise, it would just use my contract internet.
So I was wondering, on the HD2, you always have to manually turn wifi on. Then say I leave the house, manually turn it off for it to connect to the contract internet.
Pretty small thing - but it gets annoying after a while.
Is there a way (reg edit or app) to make wifi do the same as the android did?
Thanks!

Bump.
I am interested in this too. I am trying to assemble a Mortscript to do it.

would be so helpfull.
I have my home network, Uni network and girlfriends that I can connect to. Now having to manually connect each time, and then disconnect from wifi when I leave is pretty annoying

Oo Alias oO said:
Hey all,
Done some searching but cant find a clear and striaght forward answer.
Bascially, on my old HTC Dream (Android) wifi would always be searching for a wifi to connect to (and if it found a network, it would tell me). if it was a network it had acess to, then it would automatically connect.
Otherwise, it would just use my contract internet.
So I was wondering, on the HD2, you always have to manually turn wifi on. Then say I leave the house, manually turn it off for it to connect to the contract internet.
Pretty small thing - but it gets annoying after a while.
Is there a way (reg edit or app) to make wifi do the same as the android did?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This must be a rom issue. What ROM are you using?
My HD2 Wifi will connect automatically to networks I have connected it to before, it will notifiy me of available wifi, it will use cell data when wifi is not connected. Works to me the same as how you described your HTC Dream.

Just the stock one that comes with the phone.
to make my point slightly clearer...
I am at home with my Wifi turned on and connected.
I leave my house and go outside of the wifi range.
My phone still has the wifi icon at the top, but it wont be connected.
Therefore I have to turn wifi off to let it connect to my contract internet.

Maybe Wefi will solve that problem?
On Symbian worked very well.
Mike

sdhfjmhsdhfghj

I shall look into this, cant belive others dont get annoyed at it tbh

I'd like a solution to this too. I have found it annoying since settings my HD2. I haven't had any success with the solutions suggested in the forum to date.

actually guys.. there is another thing.. how about a cab that would force HD2 to open WIFI automtically to update weather/facebook..etc... whenever the any apps needs updating, then shutting the WIFI automatically off instead of trying to connect to 3g. you guys think its possible?

Mine always lets me know when I can connect to wifi.

Guys theirs does too. You dont get what they want.
When wifi is turned on it will search and connect only to wifi. It will not connect to wireless network of provider. So they want a program that would turn wifi off (which would let HD2 to connect to EDGE and 3G) if there was no place to connect to. And it would turn wifi connection back on (dissable 3G and EDGE) when there would be a wifi network to connect into. You get it now? It would neeed quite sophisticated program to switch betwen those two modes.
I dont use Providers network (3G, EDGE) but would like program that would check for avaible WIFI networks that I have access to and Connect to them to get updates (it would check for example every 10min) and connect to it only to get updates and SYNCH. then disconect and wait cca 4hours to start looking for wifis in 10min intervals. Would be nice =)

KowboyBebop said:
Guys theirs does too. You dont get what they want.
When wifi is turned on it will search and connect only to wifi. It will not connect to wireless network of provider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then it must depend on the ROM version, but for me it works exactly how he wants, and always has. I never turn Wifi off. If I'm at home within my wifi range and load a webpage, it loads it through wifi. If I walk away, wifi connection gets lost, and I press a link, it will load it with the data connection straight away. If I walk back home or to another place where a known wifi is present, wifi reconnects by itself.