who uses wifi on their 3g and why?

[mBox]

Same here, I assume you're with Rogers?

With 6 gigs of data I try to abuse 3G likes its going out of style, only managed to hit like 200 megs the first few weeks though, lol, not even a dent!!!

Although now that tethering is possible with NetShare, I'm going to be getting my money's worth.

would that be like using your MacBook at a place with no connection?
I have that problem at work where were chained to an IT set-up basically cant go anywhere

 

[profetto]

would that be like using your MacBook at a place with no connection?
I have that problem at work where were chained to an IT set-up basically cant go anywhere

Ya, for instance if you're riding on a train maybe and you have your MacBook and iPhone, you can tether them, in other words you can use the internet on your MacBook through the iPhone's 3G or EDGE connection. Of course you need the app NetShare which has been removed from the app store unless you were lucky enough to nab it before hand.

EDIT: I should clarify, doing this allows you to use your networks data on your MacBook.

 

[Samwise592]

I've got no service at my house, so i use my wi-fi network. When i'm on the go, it's almost always 3G, unless i need to get to something really quick, and i know it's available. Not having the wi-fi searching for a network all the time saves battery life.

 

[Telp]

I get between 1 and 2 bars of signal / EDGE at my house, so wifi is the obvious choice.

 

[psywzrd]

If wi-fi is on it looks for that first when you use safari, or check mail or whatever you use that uses data. Then if that isn't available it goes to the second option 3G, then if it can't find that it'll drop down to Edge. If your just walking around with the phone in your pocket it's not looking for a wi-fi signal, unless it needs to use it. I.E. to check your mail.

Gotcha. So bottom line, just leave wifi on and keep "Ask to Join Networks" set to "Off". Does that sound right?

 

[mBox]

I've got no service at my house, so i use my wi-fi network. When i'm on the go, it's almost always 3G, unless i need to get to something really quick, and i know it's available. Not having the wi-fi searching for a network all the time saves battery life.

I posted a question on speed tests and so far no replies. has anyone got into this game of chance yet Im sitting at a bar and for kicks Im testing both the testmyiphone web link and iNetworkTest app to see the diff. so far both are not the same speeds at most tests.

 

[bigmouth]

Wifi apparently uses less battery life. I didn't believe it -- my experience is that battery life is inversely proportional to the speed of my data connection. But the iPhone has proven itself an exception...

 

[aphexii]

I used Wifi 95% of the time, the latency is much better IMO.

 

[psudude]

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See, that's the thing: I pay $30 a month for 3g data on AT&T, which is unlimited. I have been using wifi when certain apps asked for it. I was just curious about the subject.

 

[bigmouth]

I used Wifi 95% of the time, the latency is much better IMO.

I've seen the term "latency" before but am unsure what it means in this context. Can you elaborate?

 

[psywzrd]

What happens if you leave wifi on, "Ask to Join Networks" off and the only available wifi is password protected? Is that going to drain your battery like crazy because it's waiting for you to enter the password? I'm thinking of a situation where you're just walking around, sitting in a restaurant, whatever and your push email is trying to come in. Obviously it's going to need a web connection and if the phone is just sitting in your pocket waiting for you to enter a password, won't the battery drain really fast?

 

[Rybold]

It will kill your battery all day LOOKING for Wi-Fi hotspots. It just keeps searching and never finding anything.

I was thinking the same thing. What I wonder is how much it drains it. A lot or a little?

 

[Cynicalone]

Gotcha. So bottom line, just leave wifi on and keep "Ask to Join Networks" set to "Off". Does that sound right?

What happens if you leave wifi on, "Ask to Join Networks" off and the only available wifi is password protected? Is that going to drain your battery like crazy because it's waiting for you to enter the password? I'm thinking of a situation where you're just walking around, sitting in a restaurant, whatever and your push email is trying to come in. Obviously it's going to need a web connection and if the phone is just sitting in your pocket waiting for you to enter a password, won't the battery drain really fast?

You can leave ask to join on. If you don't take the phone out and wake it from sleep it won't join wi-fi networks or even ask you about joining them. The "ask to join network" question comes up when you hit the home button, slide unlock, and then it searches to find a new network and ask you about joining it. It won't even be looking while it's sleeping. If you have it check your mail automatically it will use what it knows. Either an already known network for wifi, 3G or Edge depending on what's available where your at. It's smarter than your think. I leave wi-fi on all day and check my mail every 15 minutes. I have never had to charge the battery during the day, with my iPhone or my iPhone 3G.

Let's say your driving around town and you've got the wi-fi on and it's time to check the mail. Assume you have it setup to check every 15 minutes. The phone while sleeping, checks for a known network. Let's assume it doesn't find one, it will then just automatically use 3G to check your mail without you doing anything. If you have mail it gives you the signal and keeps on sleeping. This really take very little power.

 

[Rybold]

I get between 1 and 2 bars of signal / EDGE at my house, so wifi is the obvious choice.

I didn't buy an iPhone to use in my house with WiFi. I have a laptop computer for WiFi at home. Lol. I bought my iPhone so I would have the Internet in my pocket when I'm not at home with WiFi.

 

[aristobrat]

Wifi apparently uses less battery life. I didn't believe it -- my experience is that battery life is inversely proportional to the speed of my data connection. But the iPhone has proven itself an exception...

Think about how close your phone is to your WiFi router vs. your local cell tower, and how much power/battery it'll have to use to get the signal to each. That's why WiFi uses less battery.

I didn't buy an iPhone to use in my house with WiFi. I have a laptop computer for WiFi at home. Lol. I bought my iPhone so I would have the Internet in my pocket when I'm not at home with WiFi.

Same here, but that hasn't stopped me from using my iPhone to quickly check my email or look something up (IMDB, etc) if it's sitting closer to me at home than my laptop is.

 

[psywzrd]

You can leave ask to join on. If you don't take the phone out and wake it from sleep it won't join wi-fi networks or even ask you about joining them. The "ask to join network" question comes up when you hit the home button, slide unlock, and then it searches to find a new network and ask you about joining it. It won't even be looking while it's sleeping. If you have it check your mail automatically it will use what it knows. Either an already known network for wifi, 3G or Edge depending on what's available where your at. It's smarter than your think. I leave wi-fi on all day and check my mail every 15 minutes. I have never had to charge the battery during the day, with my iPhone or my iPhone 3G.

Let's say your driving around town and you've got the wi-fi on and it's time to check the mail. Assume you have it setup to check every 15 minutes. The phone while sleeping, checks for a known network. Let's assume it doesn't find one, it will then just automatically use 3G to check your mail without you doing anything. If you have mail it gives you the signal and keeps on sleeping. This really take very little power.

Thank you very much for that info. Leaving "Ask to Join Networks" off is probably a bit easier I guess then since you don't have to give the phone the "ok" to join an available wifi network. Unless you're on your own wifi network (or another known network), it's not like you're going to be able to access a protected wifi network anyway so you might as well let it connect automatically, right?