Problem with 4.2.2

[superlisaj]

Running 4.2.2 on both my Alacatel Fierce phone and Lenovo A7600 tablet.

There should be an option to uncheck: "Scanning Always Available" in the advanced wi-fi screen. Mine is missing that.

However, for some reason this version or something, doesn't have it. Constantly the phone and tablet search for networks, sometimes even switching me to a hotspot when my own home network is available. It searches 24 hours a day, and I don't need the wi-fi when doing things like driving unless I need GPS. How can I stop this scanning? Is there another place I can stop it? It just doesn't make sense.

I can't post links or images yet since I am a new user so unfortunately, I can't be more descriptive or show you the screen. But, if you google "stop android scanning wireless networks", the first link that pops up is from CNET and you can see the graphic. It says it is version 4.3, but I can't find anything from 4.2 anywhere. I have spent days trying to figure this out.

I can't even understand why all the versions are names after candy.

 

[codesplice]

Hi superlisaj, and welcome to Android Forums

The easy answer to your question is that the "Scanning Always Available" option was added with Android 4.3 - it's not an option on 4.2. The more complicated explanation is that I don't think that option does what you're expecting it to.

Google's location detection uses known geographic locations of nearby wifi networks to resolve a device's location much more quickly (and efficiently) than GPS alone would. So if your phone sees Network A within range, it can quickly determine that you must be near Network A's known location. That "Scanning Always Available" option just means that the Android system will be able to quickly check for nearby networks whenever an application requests a location resolution - even if the Wifi is turned off. It has nothing to do with actually connecting to those networks.

Your phone should never connect you to a network automatically unless you've previously connected to it (or, in some cases, one with the same name). You may want to review your "known networks" to see if there are any that need to be removed.

And all the versions aren't named after candy - Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6), Eclair (2.0/2.1), Froyo (2.2), Gingerbread (2.3), Honeycomb (3.x), and Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) were all just desserts.

 

[superlisaj]

Hi superlisaj, and welcome to Android Forums

The easy answer to your question is that the "Scanning Always Available" option was added with Android 4.3 - it's not an option on 4.2. The more complicated explanation is that I don't think that option does what you're expecting it to.

Google's location detection uses known geographic locations of nearby wifi networks to resolve a device's location much more quickly (and efficiently) than GPS alone would. So if your phone sees Network A within range, it can quickly determine that you must be near Network A's known location. That "Scanning Always Available" option just means that the Android system will be able to quickly check for nearby networks whenever an application requests a location resolution - even if the Wifi is turned off. It has nothing to do with actually connecting to those networks.

Your phone should never connect you to a network automatically unless you've previously connected to it (or, in some cases, one with the same name). You may want to review your "known networks" to see if there are any that need to be removed.

And all the versions aren't named after candy - Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6), Eclair (2.0/2.1), Froyo (2.2), Gingerbread (2.3), Honeycomb (3.x), and Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) were all just desserts.

Thank you for the help! Others were making it sound as though it was a major battery sucker along with not being secure.

I appreciate the welcome- and the cupcake. New to "smart" still. I have only had a smart phone for 2 years and just got my first tablet a week ago.