Battery Life with WiFi

[CometGSR]

I am waiting on getting my account moved over, so in the mean time I am reading the forum and doing searches. I wanted to make sure of one thing, if I am within a wi-fi signal, that is the preferred way for data to communicate? I don't want it touching 3G unless I am out of range. I think I read somewhere that was the case, but I wanted to check..

My plan is to have Wi-Fi on all the time. I have an open access point at work and at home. I spend 70% of my day at these two locations. If Wi-Fi is on all the time, how will this impact my battery? I would imagine some, but some phones are better then others.

Thanks! :)

[krazgjcc]

I have found that wifi does eat up my battery! i actually have purchased an extra battery on amazon because i use wifi constantly throughout the day.

[CometGSR]

I actually found some apps on http://www.precentral.net/ that might help. There is an app called Data Toggle, which you can program it to turn 3G on/off automatically. Another one called Battery Saver sounds promising as well. This one actually turns the whole phone on airplaine mode at certain times during the night.

I think I can make 100MB work by using some free programs. I love a good challenge!

[krazgjcc]

I have Data Toggle but will look at battery saver, thanks!

[CometGSR]

I was trying to find Data Toggle but couldn't figure out how to download it. It says the file is offline.

Another question about the Pre apps.. Is there some sort of app that actually downloads it to the phone?

Just wondering, what plan are you using? Are you getting by on 100MB?

[krazgjcc]

If you go to www.precentral.com it will tell you how to download the program to the computer and once you've done that you will want to also download "preware" while your phone is connected to computer. After that you can download the patches directly from your phone. I am on the 100MB plan and haven't ever gone over. I'm on wifi probably 80% of time and then i just toggle wifi on when i need it.

[rfburns]

I leave 3G data off. I only turn on Wi-Fi when I know I'm in range of a known connection or need to search. I turn Wi-Fi off when I don't need it. I don't use bluetooth so I keep it turned off. I can go 2 days and still be above 70% battery with light use.

[CometGSR]

This is my plan so far to keep my data down..

Leave WiFi and 3G on all the time. I have WiFi at home and a working wide-open DSL at my work. As I step out of range of the WiFi, 3G will take over. I would program other places I go (parents, friends house, ect) into the device. I would also either use Battery Saver app or Data Toggle at night to turn off the connections completely.

I am also going to kill off the automatic backup and network time.

I am hoping I can find Data Toggle somewhere. I am still waiting on getting my phone activated and ported over. I am sure I will either find a better way to do all of this or try different apps to get me going.. One way or another, I am going to make this work but it might take a lot of trial and error.

[Owlish]

You have to have the "Preware" app in order to download the "Data Toggle" app. This link may be a help to you in downloading "Preware"; http://www.precentral.net/how-use-preware-homebrew-apps-patches-and-themes .

[CometGSR]

As an update, I am very happy with the battery life on this phone. Even with WiFi on all the time, I am getting better battery life then with the Treo Pro. The handoff between 3G and WiFi is seemless.

I am also using the "Battery Saver" app, making my phone be on airplaine mode from 11:30PM - 6:00 AM. This keeps the Pixi from communicating via 3G back to their servers each night.

The phone is awesome and the service is top notch!

[tmason68]

Thanks for the update. Enjoy the savings!