Database Info

Questions about 3G/umts connection

A work colleague is using a sim free touch cruise on the vodafone network but vodafone don't have any support for this device (mind you neither does HTC ). We got the vodafone settings for billpay vodafone off the internet and input them and can now surf, download gmail etc over HSDPA (H icon shows) and then it automatically reverts to 3G when not in use.
The problem is that the icon for 3G/umts in use is always on (ie the small 3G over the signal strength) and when the bigger 3G icon is touched it shows how long connected to 3G and as the device is still connected it keeps counting time even though the application using 3G is shut down.
My questions are as follows:
In this state (big 3G icon showing and small 3G icon above signal strenght) is this costing anything being constantly connected to 3G but not using it?
How can it be set to automatically disconnect?
My own touch cruise is on the 3 network but I don't have this difficulty.
My thinking is that it might have something to do with "vodafone live" but not sure what is happening or possibly have selected the wrong set of settings for vodafone ireland as there is a few different sets.
Sorry this is a bit long winded but any advice much appreciated.

The always ON connection is general behaviour... it doesn't matter which network is the device on.
The big 3G/H icons only represent the available network (G(PRS)/E(DGE)/3G/H(SDPA))
The smaller is the signal strength...
The cost of the always ON connection depends on the dataplan being used... if it's an unlimited or a fairly large one like 5GB, it won't matter... but it realy depends on the data recieved....
In my case the avarage hourly traffic is around 1 MB, but i have a little e-mail traffic going so... whith a few mails and every 30 minute checking the traffic should be around 500 KB or lower...
As for the Auto-Disconnect, please search the forum... there are several threads about this in both subforums.

Thats great gnick666 thanks for your reply.

I know the Advanced Configuration Tool has an auto disconnect feature, but I had some issues with it and never went back to go play around with it.
You can also hold down the End button and a menu pops up and you can end data connection there. Or alternatively you can configure it so that holding down the End button always disconnects your data connection.
I have an unlimited data plan so not worried about data, I'm not sure however what the impact to battery usage is so I disconnect "just in case".
As for the 3G / H icon behaviors. Depending on which part of the country I'm in, I get different icons. Sometimes I get 3G and it switches to H when doing data. Othertimes it's always H whether disconnected or connected. (This is assuming that I'm in a 3G location) and not switching back to Edge.

Mine mostly shows the bigger 3G icon and the signal strenght icon with the little antenna icon (I'm on the 3 network which is 3g) but when I download data the small icon changes to 3G and then both change to H as required. Once finished it disconnects and reverts back to 3G. I have Schapps Advanced config tool installed.

EDGE not disconnetcting

After using EDGE (e.g. to send mms or using google maps) the "E" icon on the right of the screen doesn't disappear. Does it mean, that the phone is still sending/receiving data?
There are no programs runnig when I check in my Task Manager.
The only way I found is to turn phone off and on in the ConnManager.
I'm using Dr. Martin's Windows Mobile 6.1 v1.1, XIP 20202 and only additional apps i have installed are Google Maps, and CHomeConfig
also, is there a way to see the actuall state of the net connection i.e. the amount of bytes sent and received?

You could also check your phone credit.
BTW if I'm not wrong the E simply indicates that your are connected throu EDGE like G indicates my network has only GPRS available...but as i have not congifured it i have no data transfer but the G letter is STILL always on.

once you have connected to the EDGE you will still be connected. No data is transferred unless some application is using connection.
There is a trick how to automatically disconnect everytime when application ends. Use your favorite registry editor and navigate to:
HKCU - ControlPanel - Comm - ConnMgr - Settings - Planner and edit value "SuspendResume". Delete ~GPRS! (practically leave the value empty). that's it.

The E on top of the screen only stands for the availability of EDGE. You can check if it is still connected. Go to CommManager Dr. G's CommManager) and there you should see if it is active or not. In WinMo's CommManager you have to push the right soft button and if the first line is grayed out it is also disconnected.

For the amount of bytes sent over the internet, you can use GPRS traffic monitor from efficasoft.
Using this program you can also see if you are still connected or not.

I am not talking about the big E in the middle of the top of the screen, but the small on right (above the signal strength indicator). This onecertainly means "EDGE in use".
@trizzo - so once the EDGE is connected it stays idle, and doesn't send or recive anything?
There's no such registry location you're talking about. The only one with "SuspendResume" value is HKLM - Comm - ConnMgr - Planner - Settings, but changing it doesn't seem to have any effect.
Does EDGE use more battery power while it's connected and idle?
@frauhottelmann - i only have the default commManager , and it seems that, the "data Connections" stands for the EDGE and GPRS, turning it off disables the "EDGE in use" icon
@georgetarbuc - i'll try the program you're talking about

leszekM said:
@trizzo - so once the EDGE is connected it stays idle, and doesn't send or recive anything?
There's no such registry location you're talking about. The only one with "SuspendResume" value is HKLM - Comm - ConnMgr - Planner - Settings, but changing it doesn't seem to have any effect.
Does EDGE use more battery power while it's connected and idle?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once the connection is idle - no data is transfered in/out form device.
Sorry I made a mistake. You a right. You have edited the right value. I do not know why it is not working on your device. I am using it almost two years and no problem with that. Also I am using the latest Gonzo ROM (Rose 1.0a) and it is still working. Maybe - restart your device. This could help.
Not sure. I have never checked that.

sorry, my mistake - i was too impatient
after a few seconds the EDGE indeed turns off
thanks a lot
...still i will try efficasoft traffic monitor

leszekM said:
...still i will try efficasoft traffic monitor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try it. you will see your consumption and data transfer

one more thing you have to do s change the cache time to your desired value in seconds.if you cant find this go to settings-connection-press right key select advanced then select option there you can c idle disconnect after.set a value and then repeat the registry edit

I have a similar problem with a stock rom (VDA V, latest). I am using the GRPS Monitor and it works very well. However, after disconnecting the GPRS connection (in VDA V ROM is is done with a long press of the HangUp button) it looks ok (the "E" topright is gone and GPRS Monitor does not show an IP assigned), but after "some time" the "E" comes back. Strange is that no data are exchanged and GPRS Monitor is still showing no IP assigned. No programs are active in the BG as well which could activate a connection. I have not yet found the reason for this, but as I am pretty sure that no data are transferred it is not bothering me much (except the optical annoyance).
BTW good (and free) programs to handle GPRS connections are:
- Modaco Nodata
- ToLuSe ConnTweak

leszekM said:
I am not talking about the big E in the middle of the top of the screen, but the small on right (above the signal strength indicator). This onecertainly means "EDGE in use".
@trizzo - so once the EDGE is connected it stays idle, and doesn't send or recive anything?
There's no such registry location you're talking about. The only one with "SuspendResume" value is HKLM - Comm - ConnMgr - Planner - Settings, but changing it doesn't seem to have any effect.
Does EDGE use more battery power while it's connected and idle?
@frauhottelmann - i only have the default commManager , and it seems that, the "data Connections" stands for the EDGE and GPRS, turning it off disables the "EDGE in use" icon
@georgetarbuc - i'll try the program you're talking about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is this different than changing the value to "GPRS_bye_if_device_off", which is what ConnTweaker does?

[Q] 3g/wifi question

the question is, why i see both 3g and wifi icons on the status bar at the same time? i mean, wich one is the one i using it when both are on the status bar? do i lost my MB from my data network while i'm using the wifi?

You see both because they're both available. However, the phone will prefer to use WiFi whenever it's connected. If you had a long-running connection over 3G, it might stay on the 3G, and I think some types of data always go over 3G (MMS? But that shouldn't use data plan limit anyhow). Also, just because the WiFi icon shows doesn't mean it's usable; if the WiFi connection is unable to reach the Internet for some reason, the phone will fall back to using 3G.

Sometimes it's possible that the phone uses 3G even though it is connected to a Wifi network. I recognize this, when the 3G Icon turns to 3G+.

I've noticed my Focus Flash tends to use 3G always for push email whereas the browser and market place tends to use WiFi if both are available. Don't know what the situation is for other apps.

@Der Moloch: That's not what "3G+" means at all. It means your phone is connected to a "faster than 3G" technology, probably HSPA+. Although some carriers (and phones) refer to this as "4G", and some phones will just put "H" or "H+" there instead, it all means the same thing. If you go dig into the registry, you can see the list of text that the phone displays for different wireless data technology connections.

@GoodDayToDie
My 3G symbol only changes to 3G+, when there is an actual data transfer.

That's... REALLY weird. I haven't heard of anybody reporting that experience before. The registry values I mentioned are in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Connectivity\CellularUX\DataConnectionIcon. None of the options on my phone are "3G+" but then, my phone doesn't support a "3.5G" network technology like HSPA+ either...

My device also shows 3G+ sometimes when it is available.If not just 3G.
---------- Post added at 09:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 PM ----------
What do you mean by data transfer?

@Ttblondey
When I say data transfer, I mean that the phone is actually submitting something through the data connection.
For example, I have my mail sync set to manual. I open up the e-mail interface of my Windows phone. On the top right there is the digital clock. If I put my finger on it, the battery icon and the 3G icon (with the reception bars next to it) show up. Then I press sync and the 3G icon changes to 3G+. Once the sync is done, it changes back to 3G.
Maybe I'll upload a video about that, once I am back at my place and have access to a webcam.

You're seeing the phone switch to HSPA+ when it needs to, and back off to HSPA when there's no data being transferred.
It's a power saving thing.

Exactly and this confirms my post above regarding the wireless situation.

[Q] Sim card does not allow connection to this network

I am posting this as a new thread as my reply on a similar thread got lost or ignored and I would really appreciate inputs :
Randomly at times when I try to register on network manually (MTNL Dolphin 3G - Mumbai). Unrooted MB865 ver 2.3.6 & updated on 18th May 2012 to System Ver 55.28.37.MB865.AsiaRetail.en03. If I keep the setting as Automatic in Type of Network & Operator it functions fine fluctuating between Dolphin for local access & CellOne on roaming access in the same area based on cell tower connection the phone registers on alternating between "E" & "H" automatically based on cell mast direction proximity, however if I select 3G only and uncheck automatic for operator then the phone searches for signal for a very long time and fails to show any operator saying "no connection available" & sometimes when "Dolphin" network does appear and try to select manually get the error as "this sim card does not allow connection to this network". I did complain with the service provider and they were supposed to get back to me after checking in their switchboard exchange where I also provided them my SIM number in addition to my cellphone number(no response). Also as is case with poor service of all Indian cell network providers even in urban cities, also face random peculiar issue of call not being received inspite of signal available on the phone & network asking me to recheck the number I have dialled while placing outgoing calls though it is ok and signal is sufficient. Also "Network Speed Booster" app looks like a lot of bull (any other good apps??)
I needed to know using the secret Menu *#*#4636#*#* for 3G GSM service which kind of network I should ideally select for best results & does this setting override the regular menu network settings??
I get "G", "E", "H" randomly based on my locations but no "3G" or "H+" and further at times these icons are grey and sometimes blue and in either cases randomly
at different locations sometimes data throughput is not there as only one of the arrow shows active blinking. Any advise on the status based on colors and the blinking of the arrows?? Thanks!
PS _ This is what another user had posted (do you guys feel this is a phone defect?)
I wasn't able to solve this problem about an year. But did. And totally sure that it is Device's defect (in some cases it is a ROM deffect as in my case, in other - hardware. Smth like stack overflow issues at GSM controller or so). A year ago when I had face this "sim card does not allow connection... " problem, there are no google serch results on this keywords request. Any. To remove this message I was ought to reboot my device every time it appears. And I was thinking that it is normal behaviour for my device. But now there are lot of complainings at the web ( minimum 5 of Galaxy Tabs P1000, thousands of HTC Disire, few motorolla Deffy, 10 Galaxy Ace, few of Nexus S and so on), so I understand that I'm not alone, and problem is known. So I went to Samsungs Service and they confirmed that it is famous problem, have flashed my phone with some magic ROM (magic because it is official but does not available anywhere in the web, XDA or samsung sites! ) and now my phone works fine. Any other solutions like battery removing, *#*#4636#*#* sirvice menu, new sim-card, flashing variety of modems and roms, didn't helps me. This is not faulty sim. This is serious device's defect. Bring your phone to manufacturer and let them repair it or give your money back. This is their problem not your.

Showing mobile data type against signal strength symbol

Some time ago I read about a setting that showed the mobile connection type - 4G etc - against the signal strength symbol at the top of the screen. I tried this and have the name shown there now.
But I've decided I'd rather not have the name there and want to take it off. But I can't find the setting any more.
Where is the setting please?

OK I found it. This is a setting in Developer Options to keep mobile data on when connected to WiFi.