I was talking about verizon and the droid. Trust me when I say this I know plenty about the different network types. Did you really make an account just to say that? Verizons EVDO is what I was refering to.
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Droid wifi and 3g - how to use smartly
- Thread starter knipknup
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- motorola droid
I was talking about verizon and the droid. Trust me when I say this I know plenty about the different network types. Did you really make an account just to say that? Verizons EVDO is what I was refering to.
I can only respond to what you write, not what you mean. I appreciate the clarification and the edit to your post.
Since what your original message seemed to indicate was incorrect, I did make an account to try to correct the record. I would hope that everyone on the forum appreciates information that is both clear and correct.
leftystrat
Well-Known Member
First of all, DON'T USE WEP. It's old and broken. It can be hacked in no time flat. Ironically, it's the default protocol for Verizon Fios. Use WPA2 wherever possible.
I finally got around to trying wireless today. It flatly refused to acknowledge that there was wifi, even though it was about two feet away. This continued until I set the SSID to broadcast.
The 3g icon went away, which I figured was by design. When I got out of range, the 3g kicked back in.
BEST PRACTICES FOR WIRELESS SETUP:
1. use WPA2 with a strong password
2. turn SSID broadcast off
3. use MAC filtering so that only the MACs you specify can connect
4. [haven't tried with Droid] turn off wireless' DHCP server and assign IP address manually.
5. save wireless' config files to a computer or two routinely
It's a tiny bit more work up front but it's more secure.
I finally got around to trying wireless today. It flatly refused to acknowledge that there was wifi, even though it was about two feet away. This continued until I set the SSID to broadcast.
The 3g icon went away, which I figured was by design. When I got out of range, the 3g kicked back in.
BEST PRACTICES FOR WIRELESS SETUP:
1. use WPA2 with a strong password
2. turn SSID broadcast off
3. use MAC filtering so that only the MACs you specify can connect
4. [haven't tried with Droid] turn off wireless' DHCP server and assign IP address manually.
5. save wireless' config files to a computer or two routinely
It's a tiny bit more work up front but it's more secure.
Gotta protect that pr0n stash eh? Haha I kid I kid. Turning off SSID broadcast really isn't THAT nessecary. I donnt use MAC filtering either because if a friend needs to use my wifi its a pain not to mention I have a million wifi devices that I don't want to punch into for no reason other than paranoya.
battlehawk77
Lurker
Just got my Droid two days ago (and loving it, by the way).
This thread got my attention.
I travel a fair amount, and this weekend, I'll be spending a night in Ottawa. Well, I certainly don't want to have roaming data charges, so I wanted to make sure that Wi-fi being on insured the data would go that way versus a cell signal. Am I reading things correctly in saying that is the case, or do I need to take other steps to keep from getting tagged with roaming data fees?
This thread got my attention.
I travel a fair amount, and this weekend, I'll be spending a night in Ottawa. Well, I certainly don't want to have roaming data charges, so I wanted to make sure that Wi-fi being on insured the data would go that way versus a cell signal. Am I reading things correctly in saying that is the case, or do I need to take other steps to keep from getting tagged with roaming data fees?
tjoebgen
Well-Known Member
For me, WiFi works okay except for email and text messaging. web browsing and app store all work. If you can get your email with web browser, not a biggee.
battlehawk77
Lurker
Well, I tried a solution I saw somewhere (maybe in another thread on here) and it worked. I placed my phone in airplane mode, turned Wifi back on, and I had a connection. 
alostpacket
Over Macho Grande?
I don't think I saw anyone say it in this thread, but you guys should be using WPA2 encryption with a long password and not WEP. Assuming your router/access point supports it (most should).
WEP is very easily hackable.
hth
WEP is very easily hackable.
hth
When Wi-Fi is turned on, it only acts as the preferred data connection. If a Wi-Fi system to which you are able to connect is not available, the phone will try to use 3G. To avoid roaming charges, you need to make sure that you uncheck Data Roaming under Settings...Wireless & Networks...Mobile Networks. I believe that this item is unchecked by default. You might want to contact Verizon Wireless to confirm that this is the case.
battlehawk77
Lurker
It is indeed unchecked on mine. Sounds like I'm set on that, then.
Isn't there a wifi sniffer app for the droid?
What is the use in installing some on a pc then?
What is the use in installing some on a pc then?
johnlgalt
Antidisestablishmentarian
FWIW: I had minor issues with WiFi and my DROID, but it was from the router's end, not the DROID. I have no issues connecting to WiFi on campus (nice to be working with the uni IT staff - I know WPA keys that most students don't, and can use routers that most students cannot), but at home it would get fussy - especially if the DROID had gone to sleep for a while.
There were several times when I turned it back on and saw both the WiFi icon and the 3G icon - obviously something was breaking somewhere.
Turned out my replacement router from DLink (RMA'd my first DGL-4500 as i tended to just arbitrarily lock up) was the same hardware revision, but an older firmware that was ... dicey, to say the least. After verifying that the newer Beta firmware were actually doing well (my previous device experience notwithstanding) I took the plunge last week and upgraded my router firmware.
Since then I have not had a *single* issue with DROID and wireless. And since this is the holidays, and I have been home for much of the time, all that traffic has been 'routed' through my WiFi the entire time.
My router has an idiosyncrasy - it shows the DROID connecting using Wireless N (when in fact it only supports b/g) and there are tons of errors and dropped packets - but not with the DROID anymore - or, I should say, even if it is happening with the DROID, it is recovering faster and not producing any noticeable effects now, as opposed to before, where pages would not load, network errors messages were constantly being displayed, an idiosyncrasies like the dual icon thing would happen every now and again.
There were several times when I turned it back on and saw both the WiFi icon and the 3G icon - obviously something was breaking somewhere.
Turned out my replacement router from DLink (RMA'd my first DGL-4500 as i tended to just arbitrarily lock up) was the same hardware revision, but an older firmware that was ... dicey, to say the least. After verifying that the newer Beta firmware were actually doing well (my previous device experience notwithstanding) I took the plunge last week and upgraded my router firmware.
Since then I have not had a *single* issue with DROID and wireless. And since this is the holidays, and I have been home for much of the time, all that traffic has been 'routed' through my WiFi the entire time.
My router has an idiosyncrasy - it shows the DROID connecting using Wireless N (when in fact it only supports b/g) and there are tons of errors and dropped packets - but not with the DROID anymore - or, I should say, even if it is happening with the DROID, it is recovering faster and not producing any noticeable effects now, as opposed to before, where pages would not load, network errors messages were constantly being displayed, an idiosyncrasies like the dual icon thing would happen every now and again.
Well SMS or messaging can only go over cellular....idk why your email isn't working, might be an issue with router settings and services connecting to it.
tjoebgen
Well-Known Member
It gets even weirder... I noticed last night that I started to get some email messages, and was even able to reply - while in WiFi. The difference? I was further from my laptop. Previously, as far as I can remember, I was always about 2 feet from the laptop during my tests. Last night, while in WiFi, I had the laptop further away and I noticed later that messages had come through. When I tried to reply, I got the username/password error - but I had just moved the phone closer to my laptop (Dell Latitude D520). When I moved the laptop away again, I was able to access the email and reply.
Now, I'm noticing that email behavior isn't as quick as when on 3G, but it does do it eventually. New mail will be in my Yahoo inbox for an hour or so and then will finally get to the phone, although a couple of times it came in right away.
Thanks for the tip about messaging - I didn't know that. I should have, though, since my kids do not have data plans yet they get messages.