Can anyone explain to me why tethering uses more data? I am replacing my head unit in my car with a Nexus 7. While I plan to have plenty of downloaded podcasts available, I also want the option of using streaming music services. When tethering I am using my phone as a WiFi hotspot, Nexus is running the latest version of SmoothROM.
So, for an experiment I set up tethering on my phone, checked the current data useage, opened Slacker on the tablet and played music for 15 minutes. In that time the Tablet (according to the phone data useage) consumed about 24MB of data. Did the same but then using Slacker on my phone, this time after 15 minutes, only 7MB of data. At that rate I would only get about 30 hours of music before starting to run into the ridiculous 3GB cap. While 30 hours is a lot, I have 6+ hours of commuting a week. As I wrote above, I plan to have a good number of downloaded content available, but am curious as to the difference between what on the face of it, should be the same.
Looking in a little deeper, on the phone it shows 5MB of foreground data, and 2GB of background data, on the tablet its about a 50/50 split showing 12MB for both foreground and background. I checked the settings, and the only differences were that I had Overnight refresh on the tablet switched on (not that it should make any difference as first, it was not overnight, and second I don't have any downloaded content for it to refresh) and off on the phone. On the phone I also have audio quality set to Best, but only set to Good on the tablet.
If someone can explain the difference to me I would appeciate it.
Thanks.
Edit: So upon further research it seems that Slacker changes the bitrate / codecs it uses when using wifi vs cellular networks. Even though the phone is using cellular data, the Nexus thinks its connected to wifi and so requests the higher bitrate. Wondering if there is a way to force it to use one vs the other.
Tethering via Bluetooth seems to convince my N7 that it's on a mobile connection.
naiku said:
Edit: So upon further research it seems that Slacker changes the bitrate / codecs it uses when using wifi vs cellular networks. Even though the phone is using cellular data, the Nexus thinks its connected to wifi and so requests the higher bitrate. Wondering if there is a way to force it to use one vs the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was going to be my suggestion, glad you figured it out. Some other apps have ways to adjust the data quality, not sure about Slacker. FYI, if you have an Android ICS+ phone, you can use Bluetooth tethering. It uses less power both for the phone and the tablet, and since it's not wifi, it might use a lower bitrate codec. Dunno.
Your phone is doing crap in the background. Its common.
Sent from my MB612 using xda app-developers app
khaytsus said:
Some other apps have ways to adjust the data quality, not sure about Slacker. FYI, if you have an Android ICS+ phone, you can use Bluetooth tethering. It uses less power both for the phone and the tablet, and since it's not wifi, it might use a lower bitrate codec. Dunno.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slacker has an option to change the quality, but it appeared to make no difference (I had both set to the lowest setting). My phone does have ICS, so I will give tethering via Bluetooth a try and see how that goes.
BlackFire27 said:
Your phone is doing crap in the background. Its common.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But the phone used less data than the tablet? Did you mean to write that the tablet is doing more stuff in the background? regardless, I looked specifically at the data useage of the Slacker app only. Which ruled out anything the phone/tablet may be doing in the background.
So, tried again this afternoon tethered via Bluetooth (which was a pain to get working for some odd reason). This time 15 minutes of Slacker useage only increased the data useage on the phone by 15MB. I am guessing that along with Slacker the tablet was trying to do background updates as well, I plan to turn on the minimize background updates later and try again. Either way it would appear Bluetooth streaming is the way to go.
Does the Data usage item still appear in Settings on a non-3G Nexus 7? If so, in that menu you can tap the menu button up top and choose "Mobile hotspots". Here you can select which wifi networks are in fact mobile hotspots rather than actual unrestricted Internet connections. When you are connected to these, at least in theory it will tell apps to stick to the low bandwidth features.
Related
Hi All,
I have been trying all day to get streaming audio (Shoutcast) to work using various programs (GSPlayer, MortPlayer, Conduits Pocket Player), and all with the same result.
Using a 32 kbs stream to test, the stream consistently drops out after about 3.5 minutes of playing, and has to rebuffer all over again from scratch. This happened with every program I've tested. I wasn't able to test TCPMP, because every time I try to open a .pls file with that program, I get a "Could not open URL" message.
Also, my internet connection is set up to use a proxy server. I don't know if that makes a difference, since I am able to play the stream in the first place.
I am doing these tests at my house where I have a 4-bar EDGE connection, so I know that the signal strength is not (or should not be) an issue here.
Is it possible that, while streaming, the main memory gets filled up with the streaming audio file? I don't yet have a mini SD card (plan to get one soon). I don't know if that would make a difference. Even if it would, maybe there is a registry setting that would force the streaming audio program to cache temp stuff to the SD card instead of main memory (?)
If anyone reading this uses streaming audio on their Wizard using a GPRS/EDGE connection, what program you are using, and also what settings/tweaks have you made which might help me?
Thanks!
Sounds like the proxy to me. Using Tmobile? I believe if you use the cheap plan with the proxy settings, it restricts the maximum amount of data per session.
Yes, I do have T-Mobile and also the cheaper plan that uses a proxy. *sigh* ... Ah well, I can always put the .pls track on "repeat" so that it rebuffers automatically after its 3.5 minutes are up. This is using a 32 kbs stream, so that means with a higher quality (96 kbs) I only would get about 1.5 minutes or so before it drops out. After many tests using many different streams, the amount of time before a dropout seems to be pretty consistent based on the stream quality.
Just curious though, you said that the maximum amount of data "per session" is limited, yet I do not have to reconnect the GPRS/EDGE when the streaming audio drops out, I only have to rebuffer the stream. (?)
i have the exact same problem. but im using their 29.99 plan and im not even using a proxy. i get 4 bars of edge. but when i stream shoutcasts on gsplayer, the connection drops repeatedly and has to buffer all over again. its really annoying. hope anyone has a solution to this. i hate staying in one place around a wifi connection to stream radio. i want it to work everywhere i go. does this happen on 3g networks by any chance? T-mobile here in the u.s need to hurry up with their 3g networks.
same problem here trying to use PocketXM and WMP on Cingular Edge with the unlimited plan. under 5 min of stream before it has to re-buffer. it really makes the streaming worthless (does it to video too) if someone knows how to fix this, ill write you a nice thank you card!
On my Xoom, Verizon 3G kicks WiFi butt. This shouldn't be.
I thought maybe it's the WiFi network(s) I have been connecting to, but I have sampled a variety of networks including my home network with a very strong signal.
Quite a few 'time outs'. Symptom really seems to be if the connect is idle for any length of time, it disconnects. I quite regularly have to do something ''twice', including in 3 different browsers, to push through to a new connection.
Any similar from other users, possible diagnosis's or solutions?
Thanks in Advance.
I think there might be issues with some access points and different tablets. I've heard of similar things with laptops and ipads as well.
The general consensus here however is that the xoom has the fastest wifi out of any tablet device. I don't have the link but I believe one of the review sites tested this.
-Bauxite
Sent from my Evo 4G
Thanks for the reply. Further reseach shows its apparently a known issue and is being looked at, for example:
http://www.xoomforums.com/forum/motorola-xoom-help/317-connecting-through-wifi-issues.html
And likely root cause:
https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/46526?pubid=987654
A temporary partial work around is to change the WiFi disconnect policy to the "When screen turns off" setting. you will get a delay of about 5 seconds when first connecting to the internet after unlock, but apparently the memory leak is cleared when you reconnect this way. Continual long term browsing will eventually choke up.
No can't say as I have had any wireless issues, other than not being able to tether to my phone, but that's the phone's problem, not my Xoom, stupid Samsung.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
I have had the browser FC on me after long wifi browsing. So this bug may have leaked out without getting fixed. i have tried the 3g that much but i will tonight and see what happens.
Just-in-time said:
I have had the browser FC on me after long wifi browsing. So this bug may have leaked out without getting fixed. i have tried the 3g that much but i will tonight and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that is one of the symptoms of the memory leak. We should see a fix eventually.
mjpacheco said:
Yes, that is one of the symptoms of the memory leak. We should see a fix eventually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Love the eventuall lol. Yeah its not that big of a deal. Its worth it to be a first 3.0 user.
I've definitely experienced this as well. Wi-Fi disconnects and won't reconnect unless I reboot or manually turn off/on. Question, if I use the temp fix to change the Wi-Fi disconnect policy, doesn't that mean my 3G will be used and therefore my allotment of 1Gb / month will be eaten when not using the device due to background sync? Is there a way to turn off 3G as well?
flippingout said:
I've definitely experienced this as well. Wi-Fi disconnects and won't reconnect unless I reboot or manually turn off/on. Question, if I use the temp fix to change the Wi-Fi disconnect policy, doesn't that mean my 3G will be used and therefore my allotment of 1Gb / month will be eaten when not using the device due to background sync? Is there a way to turn off 3G as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just turn 3g off... which is what I do, I will only have it on for road trips, ect.
Plus it will only use 3g if WiFi is not available.
Same issue
I had the same issue on my Xoom. Everything after long video streaming, the problem started and the video start to lag and eventually freezed.
If i try the turn off the wifi, it wil stuck at "turning off.........." forever untill i reboot it.
Hi,
I am using my N7 most of the time with my Galaxy S2 as a mobile hotspot. On The S2 I have a data limit of 3 GB per months. On the S2 I use 3G Watchdog to measure the traffic. This is great to see when I will get over my limit and it also shows me how much of this traffic was used by WIFI Tethering (which unfortunately this is much, much more than I thought). But of course it doesn't show me which apps on the tethered device used the traffic and to make things even more complicated, I also use my Transformer Prime sometimes on this Hotspot, which makes the situation even more intransparent
So, I am searching for an app to install on my N7 and on my TF201 which measures the net traffic and especially shows which apps cause the most traffic, BUT ONLY when the tablet is using the S2 Hotspot. Has anyone seen such an app ?
Thanks,
Hermann
The system one tracks All the WiFi usage, and since Android can't tell whether you're using a hotspot or mobile hotspot, I doubt if there's an app as such.
Also this is probably more attention grabbing in the Zappa and themes section of the n7 I think
Hi,
I'm just wondering if someone figured out a way or an app to prevent streaming from being restarted or lost when switching between WiFi and HSPA. It is annoying because I tend to listen to online radio and while walking on campus the phone decided to switch between networks depending on availability of WiFi.
The only safe solution I found is to turn off WiFi radio and keep on HSPA but I was wondering why can't we get constant internet and let the technology switch between WiFi and HSPA in the background without affecting connectivity?
ChocoboX said:
Hi,
I'm just wondering if someone figured out a way or an app to prevent streaming from being restarted or lost when switching between WiFi and HSPA. It is annoying because I tend to listen to online radio and while walking on campus the phone decided to switch between networks depending on availability of WiFi.
The only safe solution I found is to turn off WiFi radio and keep on HSPA but I was wondering why can't we get constant internet and let the technology switch between WiFi and HSPA in the background without affecting connectivity?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im pretty sure every phone will do this. It has to drop the connection, connect to the new one, handshake with IP designation... and start streaming again all before the buffer empties..... not gonna happen unless you can figure out how to set like a 20 or 30 second buffer in whatever app you are using.
username8611 said:
Im pretty sure every phone will do this. It has to drop the connection, connect to the new one, handshake with IP designation... and start streaming again all before the buffer empties..... not gonna happen unless you can figure out how to set like a 20 or 30 second buffer in whatever app you are using.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using TuneIn radio app to listen to a radio channel so pre-buffer is not available. Also when I call with Viber / Skype there is no pre-buffer and my call ends up being dropped. It's an annoying technical problem. I'm not sure if it only in Android or iOS and Windows Phone have it too.
Is there a way to use my home internet to my phone when im away from home. I know its kinda impossible but just curious to know if anyone found a way to do that.
If you have wifi then you can use it withn some meters like 100m but that too depends on your wifi range. But if you are thinking something like using home's wifi from any place dat is too far then it is impossible
Thought so... maybe someone could come up with that soon in near future
DigitalCocaine said:
Is there a way to use my home internet to my phone when im away from home. I know its kinda impossible but just curious to know if anyone found a way to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean so that you're not using mobile data at all?
This will always be impossible; unless of course you could extend WiFi range to miles and beyond. This is also not likely to happen, consumer devices such as routers and access points have strict limits on broadcast power. Any more than that, and you need to have a license. Also, considering the fact that the WiFi band is already congested at low power levels (we're talking about milliwatts), I don't think your neighbours would appreciate having a several kilowatt radio transmitter blocking their wireless signal.
Needless to say, your phone would also need a huge transmitter in order for two-way communication with the base station to work. This is not going to happen on battery power.
Now, if you're trying to access your home internet connection, you can use a Virtual Private Network or SSH tunnelling. But there's no way you're going to avoid having to use mobile data.
JayR_L said:
You mean so that you're not using mobile data at all?
This will always be impossible; unless of course you could extend WiFi range to miles and beyond. This is also not likely to happen, consumer devices such as routers and access points have strict limits on broadcast power. Any more than that, and you need to have a license. Also, considering the fact that the WiFi band is already congested at low power levels (we're talking about milliwatts), I don't think your neighbours would appreciate having a several kilowatt radio transmitter blocking their wireless signal.
Needless to say, your phone would also need a huge transmitter in order for two-way communication with the base station to work. This is not going to happen on battery power.
Now, if you're trying to access your home internet connection, you can use a Virtual Private Network or SSH tunnelling. But there's no way you're going to avoid having to use mobile data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I use my mobile data but increase my speed which is similar to my home internet connection?
DigitalCocaine said:
Can I use my mobile data but increase my speed which is similar to my home internet connection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Chrome for Android has a feature called "Reduce Data Usage" which uses Google's servers to compress data and thus reduce loading times and data usage.
You can find this feature by going to Chrome settings -> Bandwidth Management -> "Reduce Data Usage"
For me, it reduced data usage by 32%. As the amount of data transferred is proportional to wait times, less data = faster.
JayR_L said:
Google Chrome for Android has a feature called "Reduce Data Usage" which uses Google's servers to compress data and thus reduce loading times and data usage.
You can find this feature by going to Chrome settings -> Bandwidth Management -> "Reduce Data Usage"
For me, it reduced data usage by 32%. As the amount of data transferred is proportional to wait times, less data = faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should try this method, thanks but is there a way to speed up my wifi hotspot using my phone data?
DigitalCocaine said:
I should try this method, thanks but is there a way to speed up my wifi hotspot using my phone data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. You can't multiplex/bridge a WiFi connection and mobile data connection easily. And even if you could, it's unlikely that you would notice an increase in speed. I'm afraid the only solution for that is to get a better device or better network.
JayR_L said:
No. You can't multiplex/bridge a WiFi connection and mobile data connection easily. And even if you could, it's unlikely that you would notice an increase in speed. I'm afraid the only solution for that is to get a better device or better network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, you can: http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/0...d-and-destroy-your-data-cap-faster-than-ever/
Product F(RED) said:
Actually, you can: http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/0...d-and-destroy-your-data-cap-faster-than-ever/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this might speed up downloads slightly but it doesn't help you browse the web any faster. Even if you could pull a couple extra megabits/sec, the latency wouldn't be divisible in two.
JayR_L said:
Yes, this might speed up downloads slightly but it doesn't help you browse the web any faster. Even if you could pull a couple extra megabits/sec, the latency wouldn't be divisible in two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, yeah that I know. I meant for downloads.
DigitalCocaine said:
Is there a way to use my home internet to my phone when im away from home. I know its kinda impossible but just curious to know if anyone found a way to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found a solution . Take a long cable and connect to your router . And get internet from the end of that cable
Just kidding
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my GT-S7562 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yes.. Thats true
Sent from my A24 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app