Help WiFi Sleep Policy

[arcturussage]

If you go to Settings->Wireless and Networks -> Wifi Settings and then hit the Menu button (the one with for squares on the bottom left) and go to advanced there is an option for Wi-fi Sleep Policy.

It looks like the default is to turn off wi-fi and switch to mobile data when the screen turns off?

Is this the optimal setting? Wouldn't you want it to never turn off (assuming you are in range of wifi)? That way any alerts etc. are all handled over wifi instead of data?

 

[lexluthor]

I think that the optimal setting is to have wifi always connected, when available.

Faster internet and better battery.

I leave 24 always connected when I'm in range of a hotspot.

 

[arcturussage]

Do you do that through the menu I mentioned or do you have an App that's related to wifi?

 

[lexluthor]

I have wifi sleep policy to never sleep. That'll keep wifi always connected when you have wifi on and are near a hotspot.

You can use Y5-Battery Saver to turn wifi on and off automatically as you near a remembered hotspot.

 

[doczenith1]

A couple of questions for clarification.

Senario 1: I'm at home with wifi. If I have my wifi set to turn off when the phone screen is off does that mean that 3G is automatically going to start when wifi disconnects or does it sleep until required?

Senario 2: I have wifi set to always connected. Does this have an adverse effect if I'm in an area that does not have wifi and wifi is turned on? The easy answer is to just turn off wifi when not near a hotspot but I'd rather not have to bother with turning it on and off.

Thanks!

 

[lexluthor]

Wow, dug up an old one!

1) Yes, 3G will come on when Wifi goes off. I'm sure there are programs (like maybe tasker) that would manage that better.

2) Yes, but it's minimal. You can use Y5 - Battery Saver to turn your wifi off/on automatically as you leave/enter saved wireless hotspots. Works very well and it's free.
https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.polidea.y5

A couple of questions for clarification.

Senario 1: I'm at home with wifi. If I have my wifi set to turn off when the phone screen is off does that mean that 3G is automatically going to start when wifi disconnects or does it sleep until required?

Senario 2: I have wifi set to always connected. Does this have an adverse effect if I'm in an area that does not have wifi and wifi is turned on? The easy answer is to just turn off wifi when not near a hotspot but I'd rather not have to bother with turning it on and off.

Thanks!

 

[doczenith1]

Thanks for the speedy response. I spend most of my time around wifi so I'll just leave it on unless I know I'll be somewhere without it for a long time.

Glad I found out about this 9 months after I got the phone So, before this change, all day when I was thinking I was on wifi with my phone in standby it's been using the 3g radio.

 

[lexluthor]

Unless you are in a really strong 3G area, you should see some improved battery life.