Help less battery usage: 3G or WiFi?

[wonderbread]

I'm watching the world cup on the ole droid incredible thought the univision website using skyfire and I know it's taking up lots of battery. I can use wifi or 3g where I am. does using the 3g antenna take up more or less battery than the wifi antenna when watching streaming video? thanks

 

[Randino]

WiFi is faster and uses less power.

 

[howarmat]

WiFi is faster and uses less power.

correct on the power consumption and most all times its faster.

 

[woop]

WiFi is faster and uses less power.

Yup.

 

[wonderbread]

word

 

[izzy35]

Does it really use less power?? Why is that? Well there goes my theory! AWESOME!!!

 

[woop]

Does it really use less power?? Why is that? Well there goes my theory! AWESOME!!!

Probably because with wifi, you have one primary source of signal, whereas with 3g, the radio in the phone is constantly scanning trying to find the best signal (My take.. it may be wrong, so correct me if I'm wrong)

 

[Randino]

Probably because with wifi, you have one primary source of signal, whereas with 3g, the radio in the phone is constantly scanning trying to find the best signal (My take.. it may be wrong, so correct me if I'm wrong)

That's what I believe too, I get way better battery life with 3G off than with WiFi off, I have WiFi at home so 75 % of the time I turn off 3g and my battery life is a lot better than before.

 

[captainfrat]

is there a way to turn 3g off, or is it just auto off when wifi is on?

 

[dscribe]

It does auto off (not connect) when wifi is on and working but you can also turn it completely off too if you choose. I use a settings widget to do this myself.

 

[dscribe]

(I always think of things I should have said after I finish a post)

Just keep in mind that if you do turn mobile network (3g) off manually and you get away from the range of your wifi or turn it off, you will have no internet until you turn wifi on again and get back in wifi range. Though I did forget to turn it off and realized my local Sonic drive-in has open wifi internet last night. lol.

 

[woop]

(I always think of things I should have said after I finish a post)

Just keep in mind that if you do turn mobile network (3g) off manually and you get away from the range of your wifi or turn it off, you will have no internet until you turn wifi on again and get back in wifi range. Though I did forget to turn it off and realized my local Sonic drive-in has open wifi internet last night. lol.

Yeah, so many places have free wifi now that I almost never use 3g. Mcdonalds has it, Starbucks will have it starting in July, my work has it haha

 

[dscribe]

Yeah, if things continue to develop like this we will be able to opt for a cheaper data plan when they eventually stop the "unlimited data" plans because we'll have wifi all over the place anyways.

 

[woop]

Yeah, if things continue to develop like this we will be able to opt for a cheaper data plan when they eventually stop the "unlimited data" plans because we'll have wifi all over the place anyways.

Agreed. I'm looking forward to tiered plans for VZW.

 

[izzy35]

Yeah, so many places have free wifi now that I almost never use 3g. Mcdonalds has it, Starbucks will have it starting in July, my work has it haha

I always get upset that Starbucks is a "timed" free wifi zone and u need to be with a certain carrier.. If I'm in there studying, 2 hours does me nada! Is it going to be completely free and unlimited??

 

[woop]

I always get upset that Starbucks is a "timed" free wifi zone and u need to be with a certain carrier.. If I'm in there studying, 2 hours does me nada! Is it going to be completely free and unlimited??

Yes, starting July 1st.