Google Now gave me a rather interesting message: For better location, please enable Wifi. This works even when not connected to a network.
How can the phone figure out my location by using the Wifi antenna without connecting to any networks?
Here's how I originally thought it worked: The phone sees what cell towers are available, then uses data or Wifi to look them up in a database and determines a likely location. But now the app is telling me it really just wants the wifi antenna on. Why?
Because its like when you turn on your Bluetooth it scans near by devices..you connect with them or not its not the question but you can know that how many devices are in your range got it..
Same like when you turn on wifi it searches near by connection you connect or not Google find out your near by wifi networks.. By using that nearby wifi network already registered they find you approximately locations..
we all should be polite enough to press thanks for anyone who helped US.
Oh. Then Google records the location of Wifi networks, so visible networks can be used for location lookups?
Actually, that makes sense. I remember a couple years ago they got in trouble for wardriving and said it was unintentional. It could have been related to an effort to record the location of all visible networks.
That makes sense, but I'm running JellyTime on an Inspire, and it doesn't have the biggest battery. I don't want to leave wifi on all the time. Would it make sense to use Tasker to turn wifi on for a few minutes every hour, or would Google Now even be able to gather enough location info in such a short time?
Longstreet said:
That makes sense, but I'm running JellyTime on an Inspire, and it doesn't have the biggest battery. I don't want to leave wifi on all the time. Would it make sense to use Tasker to turn wifi on for a few minutes every hour, or would Google Now even be able to gather enough location info in such a short time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not test it without Wifi? Leave google maps open with Wifi/GPS disabled while you're traveling. If that looks reasonably accurate, just leave them off.
As for timing, the phone can tell your location pretty quickly, but I don't know how Google Now is written. It would probably need to have specific logic that says "check location whenever wifi gets enabled". I'm not sure whether it does.
fenstre said:
Why not test it without Wifi? Leave google maps open with Wifi/GPS disabled while you're traveling. If that looks reasonably accurate, just leave them off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I've been doing. It works so far, I was just wondering if there was a better way.
It just doesn't seem to do much beyond weather and sports. Maybe I haven't used it long enough. Or maybe my life is so freaking boring it doesn't have a lot to work with!:laugh:
As for timing, the phone can tell your location pretty quickly, but I don't know how Google Now is written. It would probably need to have specific logic that says "check location whenever wifi gets enabled". I'm not sure whether it does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering. There's a lot of info out there on what it does and how it does it. But I'd be interested in the nuts and bolts, finding out exactly what it's doing and when and how.
It is kinda neat. But kinda unsettling too.
Related
So I got my self to thinking; What is the best way to handle connectivity for my devices?
I have a rooted/rom'd Evo Shift, and will have my gTab soon (hopefully). I generally leave BT on my phone on all the time, and it is currently paired with my Car's head unit to stream audio and hands free calls.
Do I pair my table to my phone via BT and tether?
What are the consequences of leaving that on all the time? How would that affect the battery life of the phone and tablet? I know in the old days when you used the PAM (phone as modem) your phone didn't get any internet connectivity. Is that the case with BT tethering?
Do I pair my tablet with my head unit? I don't know if it can be paired with more then one device. I doubt it though. Maybe just pair hands free from my phone and a2dp from the gtab? Not sure if that is possible, have to read the head unit's manual.
I apologize for the incoherent ramblings. I'm trying to figure out what other people have done along with what works well, or what doesn't work at all.
Thanks,
So I've read up a little more and found some answers.
Looks like I can get GPS information from my phone via blue tooth. This will be awesome in the car. Any one who has done this, is it possible to get internet tethering via blue tooth from the same phone at the same time?
Using wifi to tether data while i use blue tooth for GPS information is possible, but doesn't seem very elegant.
It doesn't look like my head unit can have multiple BT pairings active at the same time. Guess I will have to use an aux cable for the tab and BT for my phone.
An ideal solution would be for my tab to use wifi for internet if available, and tether via BT to my phone if a wifi network is not available. It would be nice to leave the tethering open all day, but I think that would drain my phones battery something fierce. My over all concept it to have a personal network of interconnected devices with my phone acting as their connection to the internet.
Any advice, comments, death threats or criticism (constructive or not).
Bluetooth GPS sharing is very doable. There are several threads dedicated to setting this up. Looks like you may have found a few of them.
Tethering BT data to your phone is also very doable. Again, there are several threads on this, and I'm pretty active in most of them. Been working on this for a bit.
Start with this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1001496
Wifi tethering is much easier. The issue I've had is mostly around BT and Wifi signal conflicts. I don't see it much in just using BT GPS and WiFi Data, but if I receive a call (I use a BT headset when on the road), the quality of my call is in the toilet for at least a minute or so. My guess is that the Tab is trying to get WiFI data from the phone (which it won't be able to because I'm on the phone - VZW CDMA - can't be on the Net and on phone at same time). After about a minute or so, it calms down. Unacceptable solution though.
So, I've now been mostly doing GPS & Data through Bluetooth to the phone. The problem with this hookup is again when I take a call, of course my Data drops on the tab (no way around that). But even worse, the GPS signal gets degraded too. I'm thinking just not enough Bluetooth bandwidth to support Headset, Data, and GPS at the same time?
So my most recent setup (just tried it for a bit today) is to use an external Bluetooth GPS (got one on Amazon for about $25.00) and then Bluetooth Tether to the phone for data. It's a little bit complicated, and involves yet another 'gadget', but I am getting the best results from this setup so far.
Thanks for the info.
I'm on sprint and know the "no data and voice" problem all to well. Even when using maps for navigation on my phone, if a call comes in, the GPS becomes retarded and inaccurate. Once the call ends, all is good.
with getting data from your phone via bluetooth, is that something you leave on all the time or do you have to turn on BT tethering when you want data?
grandebob said:
Thanks for the info.
I'm on sprint and know the "no data and voice" problem all to well. Even when using maps for navigation on my phone, if a call comes in, the GPS becomes retarded and inaccurate. Once the call ends, all is good.
with getting data from your phone via bluetooth, is that something you leave on all the time or do you have to turn on BT tethering when you want data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't been using that often to be honest. So when I do, I turn on BT tethering at that time.
I also use Co-Pilot for Navigation. It doesn't need data, just GPS. Map data is downloaded to the sdcard. Just depends on how I feel at that moment. Both nav systems have their advantages/disadvantages.
I'll have to check out co-pilot. storing maps for offline use sounds like a good idea, as long as they don't get stale.
OK, so I've kind of got blue tooth GPS data working. Using an app called "ShareGPS" on my phone and "BlueToothGPS" on my gtab, I've successfully gotten gps data to my tab. Using the BlueToothGPS app on my tab, i can see satellites and GPS data flowing. Unfortunately maps doesn't seem to get location data, and there doesn't appear to be a way to enable GPS data in any of the settings.
Running TnT lite. Any one know how I can get maps to see the GPS data?
I just got my Tab last night and while at work, decided to download a book that I'm in the middle of (Amazon archive). Our wifi at work is weak (to say the least) and I couldn't keep a connection long enough to download one book. It finally dawned on me that my rooted Evo has wireless tether. It worked like a champ! It's the first time I've used it and I gotta tell you, that alone made my day. Nice strong connection and I was able to websurf to my heart's content. I'm running TnT Lite 4.40.
I work in a pretty bad neighborhood, and was looking for an app that let's you locate your tablet if it's lost or stolen. I know there's where's my droid, but not sure if it works on tablet's since I can't send SMS's to my View. Are there any apps that work through E-mail? Any help would be appreciated.
Settings -> Location -> Tablet finder
The description says that it "Allows you to find your tablet when it is lost or stolen." I would assume that it works through the HTC Sense account that you associate with the device.
Thanks, I saw that in the menu but couldn't figure out what controlled it. I guess I'll make a Sense account.
I logged into the htcsense.com website, but it can't locate my tablet. I have GPS turned on. I guess it's probably because I don't have 3g/4g data service?
Yeah I had the same problem, I did it through wi-fi w/ the GPS turned on. The tablet showed that the GPS was working, but the location wouldn't show up on the site. The sites in beta right now so they are probably trying to fix some issues. Once I refreshed the page though the location showed up. I don't know how well it would work in the event it was ever stolen though.
Are there any apps that would work with just wifi and not the cellular radio? Seems like most apps such as SeekDroid monitor the text messages for an activation code, I would think a wifi-only device couldn't do that.
Yeah most of the Anti-theft programs all require SMS activation, I looked into a few apps. I would try prey-anti theft its free I think you can report it as stolen from their website and it would turn on the GPS. If you try it let me know how it works.
Actually Seekdroid did work for me. Ill try it again when I change location and see if it can update the location.
It found me at home too, and I had GPS turned off. Seekdroid turned on the GPS to get my location, so seems like it only needs wifi.
I'm going to start here with this question before expanding it to the whole xda-developers Q&A area, since this is something I am trying to do specifically with my Note.
Is there a way to force an app to use mobile data connection (MDC) instead of wifi?
Specifically, I am trying to figure out if I can force Activesync and/or the Gmail app to use the MDC instead of the wifi connection when I am already connected on wifi, especially if there is a way to have either of those apps detect that it can't communicate with the servers through wifi, and auto change to using the MDC.
Reason for this??? I need to receive emails through Activesync and Gmail at all times, due to being on-call for work. The wifi connection screws up sometimes, but the phone stays connected to the wifi thinking it can still access everything ok. (yes, it is a problem with the router, not the phone, and that is being investigated separately)
Yes...I know I could just turn off my wifi connection on the phone, but I prefer to leave it on if possible, and just use the MDC for those two apps. Is that even possible to use the MDC while still connected to wifi, or is there a requirement that wifi be turned off to use MDC, no matter what???
Also, what is the proper name for the MDC? That might help me search for a solution. MDC was the best I could come up with for it, but maybe there is an "official" name for this connection?
I have the Tasker app installed, and have been thinking about trying a way to make Tasker cycle the wifi connection for me, but as I said, I would prefer to just leave the wifi turned on, and just force those two apps out the MDC.
Any help, or maybe just point me to some more info? I have search for about a week now, and am finding plenty of people asking how to restrict an app to use wifi, but not the other way around.
Thanks!
MonkeyThumper
Additional info:
Think of it this way...the wifi issue may be firewall related. So, the firewall stops my phone data from going to the internet through wifi. I need to still get my emails though. I would like to stay connected to my wifi, so that I could tell that I am having problem as soon as I try to surf the web, but my emails would still be coming through because they are using the mobile data connection instead.
I've never seen a mobile data connection stay active while wifi was turned on and connected.
Your best bet is to either fix whatever is wrong with your wifi connection, or bite the bullet and leave wifi off, until you can fix your wifi connection.
i agree, dont think its possible to use data connection,without turning off wifi first(impossible to have 2 data types simultaneously)
SayWhat10 said:
i agree, dont think its possible to use data connection,without turning off wifi first(impossible to have 2 data types simultaneously)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think its impossible, as I believe txts come over data, not sure on this though. Is it possible to get what you want, yes most likely. Is it going to be easy, probably not. Address the real problem rather then applying an over complicated bandaid.
If your staying connected, but losing data at home then it is likely your modem is the culprit (assuming you use a modem connected to a wireless router, not a all in one device). If it belongs to the cable/phone company then contact them. If you bought your modem, find out what is compatable and buy a new one and see if this fixes it. I had the exact same problem with Time Warner the dumb asses tried telling me it was my wireless router problem despite still being about to be 100% up and running on internal (streaming music and movies from plex server while on phone and even able to RDP internally). Eventually they agreed to send a tech out and he laughed at them and gave me an upgraded modem and we were good to go.
Thanks for the support, but as I said, the wifi issue is being addresses separately. It may not be a quick & easy fix, because additional "testing" is being done on the network (firewall) that may be the real cause of the issue. It is being looked into though.
So...for everyone trying to get me to just "fix" the wifi first, sorry, but it isn't going to happen right now. I would just like to find a way to do what I requested in the original message.
Think of it this way...the wifi issue may be firewall related. So, the firewall stops my phone data from going to the internet through wifi. I need to still get my emails though. I would like to stay connected to my wifi, so that I could tell that I am having problem as soon as I try to surf the web, but my emails would still be coming through because they are using the mobile data connection instead.
Does that help clarify my need of this some?
I agree that it seems only one connection can be active at a time. On my windows mobile phone it defaulted to the data connection, android seems to default to wifi (i would bet this is a requirement from the carriers).
As for texts, they are delivered through spare bits on the cellular carrier channel that were left as spares very early on. Not via data channels. Which is why forcing us to pay to send texts is such robbery - we are literally using otherwise spare bandwidth.
How to bypass MDC?
I have a similar need as MonkeyThumper. My situation is that I have a camera application which allows me to view my camera's at home. It uses port 2000 of which our corporate firewall blocks. I have to turn off wi-fi so that I can use mobile in order to connect. Wondering if there is some routing protocol that I can tell my phone to use MDC instead of wi-fi specifically for that application. It's a nuissance to have to turn off wi-fi, check the camera's, then turn it back on regularly. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Apps = Not Likely. HOWEVER.... and I can't say for sure - mainly because I have no idea if the radios shut down based upon connection (example 3G turns off when on wifi) - but you can modify the routes in the route table and (again in theory) force data down one pathway or the other.
For example - using a terminal on the phone try this: Connect Wifi - then in the terminal type: ip route show
Output will be something like
default via 192.168.1.1 dev wlan0
....
192.168.1.1 dev wlan0 scope link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you disconnect Wifi and repeat (ip route show) the output will look like this:
default via 10.77.xx.xx dev rmnet_sdio0
...
10.77.xx.xx dev rmnet_sdio0 scope link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, you should be able to manipulate the route table with something like:
su
ip route add 88.77.66.55/32 via 10.77.xx dev rmnet_sdio0 (where 88.77.66.55 is your home IP address or the IP you want to get to).
The problem with this is... it's not persistent. So you'll be best off doing this from a script or something once you verify it works.
There might be another way too... I'm sure there's a route file somewhere that can be configured.
XDA is no longer worth my time.
Need GMAIL on Mobile Data, others on WiFi
hi, my case is simple:
At work, we have WiFi.
But, GMAIL is blocked.
So, i want all my other apps to use the office WiFi, but gmail to go over my mobile data.
I would imagine this scenario is getting more and more common.
Does anyone have any ideas here, apart from having to turn wifi off everytime i want to check my gmail?
any help much appreciated,
thanks James.
TimOster said:
XDA is no longer worth my time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then go away.
2$HAYNE
TimOster said:
XDA is no longer worth my time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay, BYE
shayneflashindaily said:
Then go away.
2$HAYNE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here here, I 2nd that.
that was an easy problem to solve
TimOster said:
XDA is no longer worth my time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you randomly go around posting this same statement on many threads, let me see if I can give you a hand.
Give me just a bit.....I'll see if I can get a mod to help you find the xda door. No need to hit thanks Tim....more than happy to do it for you.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
TimOster said:
XDA is no longer worth my time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then dont come back.
shayneflashindaily said:
Then go away.
2$HAYNE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
captemo said:
okay, BYE
here here, I 2nd that.
that was an easy problem to solve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol you guys! He said that over a year ago!!
Bubbajoe40356 said:
Since you randomly go around posting this same statement on many threads, let me see if I can give you a hand.
Give me just a bit.....I'll see if I can get a mod to help you find the xda door. No need to hit thanks Tim....more than happy to do it for you.
Sent from my Big Ass Outlaw Phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
serge_harle_z said:
Then dont come back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
440bro said:
Lol you guys! He said that over a year ago!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, I know.
but my phone runs soooo good, im bored
been trying to decide what to flash. even if there are issues, it will give me something to do.
I noticed this option in the developer settings in the Android M preview, and it got me thinking. I know it says it's for faster network switching, but perhaps one can make an app similar to Samsung's Download Booster, or a better network switcher (if WiFi drops below 100 kbps, switch to cell or via versa; or set to prioritize cell data but still be connected to Wi-Fi)
I know in previous versions of android, the OS closed the cell data connection if WiFi was connected, making it impossible for an app to send data over the cell connection until WiFi was disconnected.
I can't look too much into it right now as I'm working double full time during summer. Once school starts I can tinker with it more.
My main motivation is when going from WiFi to WiFi to cell, etc on a hangouts call, the switch ends the call. Or when I go out to my car, the phone stays connected to WiFi, but the speed is worse than dialup, so it should switch to cell at that point.
Thoughts?
I'm surprised at the lack of response to this!
Your efforts haven't gone unnoticed! I would love this it sounds like a really useful tool...obviously the radio silence on the replies must have been quite demotivating!
Love the thinking behind this, let me know if you do decide to have a play!
This would be amazing if you could get it to work! Not sure if you still are, I certainly hope so!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
I've noticed that whenever my wifi is on, and also the "always scanning" option is on - my phone suddenly connects to a network called "0x".
It doesn't really work - there is no internet. It happened in different places, inside and outside my country.
Does anybody know what it is?
UP
Old post, but happened something similar to me. Sometimes when I have just connected to my wifi network and I look on the menu it displays "0x". Your phone was probably connected to a public wifi or just bugged.
Still doesn't explain it though
In my understanding, the 0x is a garbage SSID that indicates that WIFI configuration data is obsolete.
Ite wonderful if u ask me ☺?
I booked a hotel room and when i arrived thr...my device got connected to Ox wifi and it has over 2Mbps speed...so i was curious about this Ox wifi hotspot so i searched on google and i found ur post and now i am more curios about it. What the hell is going on lol...
.
In my opinion it may have some connection with rooted devices bcz my device is rooted and i have samsung s8 as well and it neither finds this Ox wifi nor gets automatically connected☺:fingers-crossed:
Edit: As far as I see, it might a bug of Android with special cases of bad connection. Like it connects somehow, but can't get SSID. Turning on "avoid poor wifi" seems to fix it.
Same here. I've saved two wifi connections: one is my home network, other one is a network of free wifi transmiters offered by my ISP (UPC Wi-Free). My phone is Motorola Moto G with Android 5.1. It's not rooted and never has been.
I live around elder people and there were no strangers so I doubt some grandma suddenly established malicious network. Probably a bug, but the bug of what? Android? Some external software? I use Nova Launcher and Wigle Wi-fi. Do you?
0x seems to be prefix of hexadecimal numbers, but it doesn't make much sense. It wouldn't mean "hexadecimal zero" (which would be 0x0), but "hexadecimal nothing".
danagu said:
I've noticed that whenever my wifi is on, and also the "always scanning" option is on - my phone suddenly connects to a network called "0x".
It doesn't really work - there is no internet. It happened in different places, inside and outside my country.
Does anybody know what it is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen it too, then the actual SSID of my home network appears. Maybe Android shows '0x' when it doesn't know the name of the network it's on.