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Sprint Connections Optimizer really saving battery power?
- Thread starter jjtech
- Start date
Using WiFi when one is available is extremely power efficient compared to 3g. Now if you are talking about having 3g turned off as well then yes having WiFi on would use more battery than having it off but for 90 percent plus of users turning mobile network on and off is not convenient. For experimentation sake I have been walking around with WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth and GPS all turned on even when not in use and my battery on my Evo 4g LTE has shown no more battery drain than with them off. What Sprint's Connections Optimizer does is goes one step further and keeps kicks WiFi back on when it is in a known location rather then it occasionally looking to see if a network is available.
I always have 3G and Bluetooth turned on. I turn Wi-Fi on maybe a dozen times a week when I need something off the web. I do the same for the GPS. Other than that, I kept those extra radios off and only use 4G once in a blue moon. Are you saying you think that in my situation I would have better battery life if I used the Connections Optimizer?
I would guess that using the SCO or not, the phone would still check for Wi-Fi at an equal time interval, yes?
I would guess that using the SCO or not, the phone would still check for Wi-Fi at an equal time interval, yes?
Using WiFi instead of 3G will save you significant battery life. Wifi uses considerably less power than 3G simply because 3G needs to connect over much further distances. I use Wifi whenever Available (always at home and work) and my battery life is stellar compared to leaving it on 3G all the time.
I understand that Wi-Fi uses far less energy than 3G but my question is looking at things from a slightly different angle. Basically do I get better battery life by manually turning the various radios on and off ONLY WHEN I NEED THEM vs. letting SCO do it automatically and consequently draining the battery unnecessarily when I am not using Wi-Fi.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
I think the whole point of the SCO is for people that aren't aware of the benefits of turning on wi-fi whenever they're close to a wi-fi signal that they would use consistently.
The way I read it, the SCO basically acts in a similar way that Tasker (or other apps like it) would work, where it automatically identifies a wi-fi connection that's been remembered, based on location.
I found a very good FAQ on the Sprint community page:
Sprint Community: Services and Apps: Sprint Connections Optimizer
Seems pretty clear to me that it only identifies the wi-fi signal based on a wi-fi signal that has already been remembered.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
I'd say it wouldn't make much of a difference. The SCO just acts as an automatic switcher based on your location and remembered wi-fi connections.
So, if you use your wifi at work, the SCO would only come into play once you get in range of the wifi signal at work, and then turn off when you leave. Even if you have strong 3g signal at work, it's recommended that you use wifi (assuming the signal is just as strong). This does help with battery life, even if you're not using the phone to connect to the internet.
Are you saying that having SCO turn wifi on all day and not using the internet is going to provide better battery life than leaving wifi off for the whole day? If so, why?
I would guess so. Look in your application manager under "all" for the 'Sprint Connections Optimizer.' If it is there and NOT disabled, you can control it under " Settings > Wireless & Network > Mobile Networks > Automatic Connections."
If you don't see it, try updating your software.
I would think so although I have never used that app.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
My understanding is SCO only activates, based on location combined with remembered wifi connections, kinda like the app tasker.
And yes, I'm saying that, if you are near a strong wifi signal that you can stay connected to all day, it's much better to stay connected to wifi than it is to keep the phone on 3g. The phones naturally use more battery consumption to make sure the phone stays connected to 3g.
Bottom line, if you're in one location for an extended period of time, it's better to stay on wifi, regardless of 3g signal. For example, I have great 3g signal at work, but I stay connected to our wifi connection the entire day to help with battery life. For me, it's a 20% difference for the entire day.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
I honestly didn't know they were rolling it out untill now. I have a photon and don't have it yet, but I did see that the original evo will be updated for it, if not already.
I'm not sure if LTEvo already has it or not. I don't think it's an actual app. It's integrated into the settings. Check your mobile network settings. The FAQ I posted explains where to find it.
I understand the angle you are coming from but like I said as an experiment I went an entire day turning my WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS on only when I needed them and then went an entire other day with all of them on all the time and I saw the same battery life essentially. Calls and texts and usage varied but both days gave me over 16 hours of Battery life. Having said that it is also going to depend on your device. My LTEvo running ICS has better power management to my understanding. When I was on the OG Evo I turned everything off including always on Mobile Data because battery life was so bad. Regardless what Sprints app does is remember locations. It puts no additional drain on your battery, if it did that would defeat the purpose. It doesn't kick on WiFi every so often to check for a network (which leaving it on regularly will do but the toll on the battery is negligible). Again what it does is remembers locations based on mobile network (tower locations etc I think, don't quote me on that) and then kicks on your WiFi to save battery. The LTEvo does not have this installed but as I said I don't think it needs it anyway. What device are you using?
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
It's not called that on the phone. The FAQ I posted said it's another setting under mobile network settings, with some mention of auto function or settings.
Nothing in Settings under Wireless and Networks that "suggests" anything like this. I tried to see if anything "under" WiFi or Mobile Network resembling or suggesting this type of action, but none.
Yes this has not been included on our LTEvo's but I heard a rumor it was coming to all phones eventually.
I have the EVO 4G. From everything we have discussed I think the people the SCO would help the most are those that use a good amount of web time on 3G and don't turn on wifi at all. I won't think that have wifi off that the phone would bother (I haven't seen it) checking for wifi locations. On the good side, this release does allow one to disable those annoying FORCED MARKETING APPS like Amazon MP3, Blockbuster, etc! And, cross my fingers, it seems like it has improved the communications with my WM600 blue tooth dongle which I use all the time. It would be really nice if HTC/Google/Spring cleaned up some other very basic bugs!!!!
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
I think this was made for people that don't understand how to use widget toggles or apps that create custom toggles.
In essence, it's for the baby boomer generation that isn't quite up to speed on tech and just want to set it and forget it (e.g. Turn wifi on, connect to wifi at home and/or work, and never have to worry about switching it on/off once they've had the wifi network saved on their phone).
Yes, I agree. Thanks!
Rxpert83
Dr. Feelgood
The OG EVO has had this update rolling out for the past 6 weeks or so.
If you already toggle WiFi on and off as you need it the connections optimizer doesn't really help you.
This is NOT about saving battery. It's about offloading your data from sprints towers. Sprints network is under a huge strain right now as they are upgrading and preparing for LTE. If they can get you to use WiFi it eases the strain on their towers.
The side effect of this is you get better battery life from being on WiFi as much as possible, but that's not what sprint cares about
If you already toggle WiFi on and off as you need it the connections optimizer doesn't really help you.
This is NOT about saving battery. It's about offloading your data from sprints towers. Sprints network is under a huge strain right now as they are upgrading and preparing for LTE. If they can get you to use WiFi it eases the strain on their towers.
The side effect of this is you get better battery life from being on WiFi as much as possible, but that's not what sprint cares about
Great answer! Thanks
AlkiDweller
Android Enthusiast
How much of a drain on your battery when using WiFi or 3G is completely dependent on how good the WiFi and/or 3G signals are, at any given moment.
Signal bad = battery drains. Signal good = battery drains less.
Where I work I get one bar (at best) on 3G and my battery is doing good if it lasted an 8 hour shift without a charge.
So I bought one of these...
Amazon.com: Edimax BR-6258n 150Mbps 11n Wireless Nano Size Broadband Router with WAN and LAN Ports Supported As Wireless Adapter - Black: Computers & Accessories
and I plugged it into a network switch that sits on my work desk. Now, if I have a full charge when I get to work, it'll be somewhere around 80% when I go home.
Another huge benefit is (at least for me), that since our internet at work is bonded DSL, Speedtest on my phone is registering 18 Mbs.
That thing is so small, it fits in the coin pocket of my Levi's.
And if anyone's tempted to say... "You brought your own WAP to work? IT may not look favorably on that."... i'm the IT guy.
Signal bad = battery drains. Signal good = battery drains less.
Where I work I get one bar (at best) on 3G and my battery is doing good if it lasted an 8 hour shift without a charge.
So I bought one of these...
Amazon.com: Edimax BR-6258n 150Mbps 11n Wireless Nano Size Broadband Router with WAN and LAN Ports Supported As Wireless Adapter - Black: Computers & Accessories
and I plugged it into a network switch that sits on my work desk. Now, if I have a full charge when I get to work, it'll be somewhere around 80% when I go home.
Another huge benefit is (at least for me), that since our internet at work is bonded DSL, Speedtest on my phone is registering 18 Mbs.
That thing is so small, it fits in the coin pocket of my Levi's.
And if anyone's tempted to say... "You brought your own WAP to work? IT may not look favorably on that."... i'm the IT guy.