I’m like many others, a happy user of Helmi’s ROM and read this forum everyday to see what clever things people have come up with.
Recently, my cell phone provider came out of the dark ages and is providing GPRS. It’s even free at the moment! (Even though it’s very slow).
This is all nice for on the road and in town, but when I am at home or in the office, it want to connect via WiFi and being able to access web pages a LOT faster then via GPRS. I can connect to WiFi while I am connected to GPRS, but when I try to open a page with PIE, it uses the GPRS connection, not my WiFi (the difference is easy to tell since it’s so slow).
On one of the previous ROMs there was a little utility to track the GPRS settings and it had a disconnect option. However, this program is no longer included in the Helmi’s 1.4 and I have not found any other option to turn off GPRS then by using the “Flight mode” program to disconnect from the cell phone network and back on again. But that is of course a slow and strange solution.
What I would like is this: When WiFi is available, it will go via WiFi, when WiFi is off, it should use GPRS to get a web page. Is there is a way to prioritize the internet connections?
Vijay555 has a command-line utility to disconnect GPRS with and I’m going to give that a try, but maybe someone has a different solution where the 2 connection can exist at the same time….
Thanks in advance.
Are u referring to http://www.gb-soft.cz/XDAII/ this little app?
GerardNL said:
Is there is a way to prioritize the internet connections?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's built into the TCP/IP protocol. You are looking for something called "interface metric" which is a number. IIRC, the lower the metric, the lower the "cost" i.e. the better the link is. This can be set manually on PCs. No idea how to do it on the phone, probably a registry tweak. The following makes sense:
1 Wifi
10 ActiveSync
100 GPRS
The numbers are whatever you want them to be.
kerio said:
Are u referring to http://www.gb-soft.cz/XDAII/ this little app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's the one. Thx!. It's a very tiny program, but it has the option to add the "disconnect" button to the pop-up bubble. Maybe that is just a registry setting... I will have to look into that one. If so, then that registry option is going to be a standard for me...
fraser said:
Yes, it's built into the TCP/IP protocol. You are looking for something called "interface metric" which is a number. IIRC, the lower the metric, the lower the "cost" i.e. the better the link is. This can be set manually on PCs. No idea how to do it on the phone, probably a registry tweak. The following makes sense:
1 Wifi
10 ActiveSync
100 GPRS
The numbers are whatever you want them to be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree and it does make a lot of sense. I've been snooping around in the registry, but did not find anything that I expect that has to do with the "cost" of a connection. So, that might mean that extra keys need to be added if it would be possible at all and that's a bit out of league.
However, I can't imagine that other people not facing the same problem, so maybe the solution is in a totally different direction??
GerardNL said:
I totally agree and it does make a lot of sense. I've been snooping around in the registry, but did not find anything that I expect that has to do with the "cost" of a connection. So, that might mean that extra keys need to be added if it would be possible at all and that's a bit out of league.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've looked around myself with no success. It must be there because it's a part of the TCP spec. Very odd.
Is there any way to get a "netstat -r" out of the phone? vxUtil and vxIpConfig don't seem to do it, but the output would confirm that the device knew about iface metrics.
However, I can't imagine that other people not facing the same problem, so maybe the solution is in a totally different direction??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just learned to live with the fact that you cannot control this. Not that it matters for me, GSM and GPRS doesn't work for me on the 3.5 roms anyway; some sort of carrier issue.
Maybe the link below can help you
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa915714.aspx
I've found it see the attached file.
Original source : http://www.ce4you.cz/forums/view_topic.asp?t=13033&dd=0&fi=10 thx goes to jimm98y
PocketCMD not working
I've tried to install the PocketCMD program, but whenever I start it, I get the below error:
"CMD Cannot start. There are too many console windows open. Please close some console applications and try again"
This even happens when I just restarted my BA. Does PocketCMD work for you?
Its working like a charm, I've Helmi 1.4 vanilla one. Maybe its cause of some installed program?
I recieved the same message as you - but one soft reset and then disappeared.
Also I've NETf v.2 installed - not sure if its required or not?
http://www.symbolictools.de
Found out more about the network metric
Today, I noticed that there is also a Pocket CMD icon on of the Settings tabs. Once I started that and flipped through the pages, Pocket CMD starts!
The strange thing is that after another reset, I get the same error message again and the above trick doesn't work.
While it was working, I got these results:
With "netstat -r" (or "route print") I've figured out that my GPRS interface has a metric of 50.
And when connected to ActiveSync the metric is 30 (but the GPRS gets disconnected)
The WiFi interface has a metric of ?? (Haven't gotten that one yet), but obviously >50 or we would not be having this discussion....
I've done some searching on the internet (with the keywords: Pocket PC network metric interface) and you find a lot of conversion tools for metric to imperial, but did find something interesting on this page:
From: http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/it/category/troubleshooting/page/3/ (by Marc Erickson)
-------------------------------
Below is the syntax to add a new route:
ROUTE ADD MASK METRIC IF
Here’s an example:
ROUTE ADD 192.168.1.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.9 METRIC 2 IF 2
In this example, 192.168.0.9 is the gateway for all traffic to the destination 192.168.1.0/24. The metric is 2, and the interface number is 2.
When you add a route using this syntax, the route doesn’t persist across restarts of the computer. To make a route persist, add the -p switch to the command, as shown below:
ROUTE -p ADD 192.168.1.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.9 METRIC 2 IF 2
To delete a route, use the DELETE keyword and the destination address. Here’s an example:
ROUTE DELETE 192.168.1.0
----------------------
So, it is (should) be possible to manually add and remove routes and set the metrics of multiple connections. Especially with the "-p" option this looks very interesting. Since all that we need is that the metric of WiFi is lower then the one of GPRS and we're in business.
Have you ever worked with ROUTE command (see the windows help)? It shouldn't be difficult to set the proper metric - just make your GPRS connection and analyse routing table. Then make persistent changes.
Or post here your entries of routing table.
never mind, I answered my own question .
Metrics are not the problem
Today, I finally had a chance to work on this and all the electronics were willing to cooperate, so I finally have a result. This is the output from the "route print" statement while having GPRS and WiFi enabled:
Code:
=============================================================================
Interface List
196610 0 0 0 0 0 0
196611 0 9 2d 10 ab 0 tiacxwln1
=============================================================================
=============================================================================
Active Routes
The no. of entries is ::: 13
Destination Netmask GatewayAddress Interface Metric
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.3 30
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.41.247.141 10.41.247.141 50
10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 10.41.247.141 10.41.247.141 50
10.41.247.141 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 50
10.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 10.41.247.141 10.41.247.141 50
127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 1
192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.3 192.168.1.3 30
192.168.1.3 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 30
192.168.1.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.1.3 192.168.1.3 30
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 192.168.1.3 192.168.1.3 30
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 10.41.247.141 10.41.247.141 50
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 10.41.247.141 10.41.247.141 1
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.1.3 192.168.1.3 1
=============================================================================
For the WiFi, I'm using the 192.x.x.x range and the 10.x.x.x is used by the phone company. As you can see, the metrics are correct: WiFi has a metrics of 30 and GPRS of 50, so when you open a page and both connections are active it should route via the WiFi as these 2 lines would suggest:
Code:
Destination Netmask GatewayAddress Interface Metric
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.3 30
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.41.247.141 10.41.247.141 50
So, why doesn't this work? As it seems to me, the metric is not the problem that the "cheapest" route is not choosen. I have been thinking what else could cause this, but have not found anything logical yet.
Interesting. I've been quiet on this as I can't get PocketCMD to work. Locks up my phone.
What I would test next is test that all routes are active. Connect to GPRS and use xvUtil tracert (or pocketcmd if it has it) to determine where packets for the following destinations:
1) www.google.com
2) 192.168.0.1 (you router)
3) 10.41.247.141 (GPRS router, may change per connection)
Now, if you can hit (2) OK, the WiFi routing is mostly OK. As per your original problem, (1) should route via GPRS. The default route is represented by 0.0.0.0 here; this means that any subnets (e.g. google's) that aren't specifically mentioned in the table go that way. If you delete the GRPS 0.0.0.0 route via "route delete", then you should guarantee that the internet packets go via your wifi. However, this isn't an ideal solution as you would need to run this all the time. On the other hand, you might be able to write two scripts to manage this. The first would activate the wifi and delete the GPRS route. The second would deactivate the wifi and re-enable the route. As the GPRS route probably changes, this could be difficult. Would probably be easier to write this in Visual Studio as a compiled app in order to do the parsing, perhaps storing the GPRS route details in the registry for retrieval when it's re-enabled. Quite a lot of work for what is essentially a brute force fix. There must be a better way...
I’m here on the coast at Keesler Air Force base. There is no internet to speak of and I do not want to spend roughly $1,400 to obtain it through a Cell provider for my laptop. I setup the Internet Sharing on my TILT and it works somewhat. Well, I lied. It stays “connected” however the damn thing peers off and the laptop continuously loses connectivity.
I only use Skype and sometimes webmail with the Internet Sharing and it cannot handle it. Every minute, sometimes up to six minutes, Skype videocalls and standard webcalls are dropped and I test the internet connection to see that it’s timing out for another minute or so and then it magically reappears.
I closed all applications and the antivirus crap to ensure that there was no extra throughput bandwidth. Anyway, I’m about to lose my damn mind here because I cannot stay in contact with my fiancée who’s on the other side of the globe right now.
According to the phone I’m only getting the Edge network and that makes sense as there are not 3G towers nearby. The signal continually shifts from two bars to four bars. I have used the Kraiser Tweak to enable HDSPA but that service is not being picked up.
Any ideas as to how I can keep the connectivity from dropping between the cellphone and the laptop? I assume that’s the issue as the phone stays “Status: connected” within the Internet Sharing application.
If it matters, I can only use the "Media Net" option under Network Connections. Media Net utilizes the wap.cingular access point.
I have tried to use the "ATT ISP GPRS" option but it continually loops through attempts to connect to the internet. Eventually it gives up without any success. The ATT ISP GPRS uses the isp.cingular access point.
Please any assistance would be most appreciated. This United States Airman is about to lose is frigging mind over the fact that he can’t communicate with anyone any longer. Ugh!!!
Thanks to any thoughts and advice to better my situation...
Oh and for the record, if it isn't understood being a Tilt, my provider is ATT.
HSDPA will not work without 3G service. MEdia Net is the best way to tether, I use it all the time. Make sure the proxy option is unchecked, or you will get very poor speeds and high latency.
What do you mean by HSDPA? Also, I tried with MEDIANET but I continually lost connectivity. However, ATT ISP GPRS seems just as bad if not worse. Any thoughts on something I can do to boost connectivity? I don't know about the proxy but where I looked one is NOT enabled.
I enabled IP Compression and Software Compression for ATT ISP GPRS and it hasn't seem to have any affect...
Thanks a lot.
crypted said:
What do you mean by HSDPA? Also, I tried with MEDIANET but I continually lost connectivity. However, ATT ISP GPRS seems just as bad if not worse. Any thoughts on something I can do to boost connectivity? I don't know about the proxy but where I looked one is NOT enabled.
I enabled IP Compression and Software Compression for ATT ISP GPRS and it hasn't seem to have any affect...
Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mentioned HSDPA, so that's why I said it. As for ATT ISP GPRS, you do not want to use that unless you have a modem tethering option on your AT&T account. If you go under MEdia Net settings, and then check the Proxy tab, make sure the proxy option is unchecked.
Allrighty, I've confirmed that the Proxy is not enabled. The only thing on the Proxy option section that is enabled is the first option where it says this network connects to the internet.
Any ideas on stabilizing internet on a 2 - 3 bar Edge network? If I do more than one task (more than one website OR a website and Skype) the internet gets lost quite easily...
Thanks a lot man.
Wow when I was over that way I dont recall have any issues with ATT and internet. When I access the net while tethered I use the ATT program that connects via laptop... Its not the internet sharing program.... Its called ATT Communication Manager... It may read as being tethered so if you dont have tethering on your plan then I dont know if id use it. If you have tethering it works great for me. Heres a link for the download...
http://www.wireless.att.com/businesssupport/setupOTW.do?phone=ATTTilt
You might want to try flashing another rom and radio. I remember I had an issue similar to this with my hermes from ATT. Swapping to another radio can definitely boost your signal quality. If your signal drops too low even for a second, it can cause major latency issues on the edge network( which WILL cause skype to dop a call ) . I recommend trying a ROM that already has a radio packaged in with it to save you the trouble of having to match a radio to a rom. Also look for one that has the network configuration cab built in so it can automatically set up your Connection settings for you.
Hope this helps
Allrighty... I don't have much time to research ROMS or RADIOS unfortunately. Any suggestions on where to find them, or what I might use? I'd almost prefer just to change RADIOS so long as I can find the original RADIO to replace any changes back to what I was using...
Currently, I have:
ROM 1.62.502.0
RADIO 1.27.14.09
Any help to further this US Airman along would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi Everyone...
I have posted a few times that I use my tilt with Einstein Wireless... They are a smaller GSM provider that had outstanding rates, but a limited area you can live to use their services... I have received private messages from a few mmbers who also use Einstein and can never get extra features besides basic phonecalls working on their network,,, Here are some settings to set up so you can use Picture & video messages in addition to TXT messages... and internet in general...
Internet:
Under settings, coto Connections...
Name for connection : EinsteinPCS Internet
access poin name : apn (case sensitive)
Usename : (leave blank)
password: (leave blank)
domain : (leave blank)
...under advanced
User Servier assigned IP address
click ok..
under proxy settings check: this network connects to the internet
check this network uses a proxy server to connect to the internet
proxy server should be :192.168.254.251
click advanced
http: 192.168.254.251:8080
wap: 192.168.254.251:9201
secure wap: 192.168.254.251:9201
socks (blank)
For MMS... go into MMS Options... goto servers.. set these settings :
Server Name : Einstein Wireless MMS
Gateway : 192.168.254.251
Port # : 9201
Server Address : httP//www.einsteinmms.com\+1(your 10 digit # here)
Connect via : EinsteinPCS Internet
I have also found that it works better if you delete the AT&T or other settings so it doesn;t default back to them on a soft reset.... Feel free to MSG me if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them, but keep in mind I dont; work there and onyl got these from playign around and seeign settigns on some of their other phones I had... They don't have any smartphones for sale...
Other information may be found at :
http://www.einsteinpcs.com
Just found out about Einstein Wireless
And have an unlocked blackberry that doesnt want to get signal with Einstein Wireless wondered if this might be an issue with the Blackberry or if Einstein Wireless runs off a slightly different signal versus my standard and if I might need to change some setting in the phone itself. Just a note this unit works with a T-mobile chip fine. So any suggestions?
Is your Blackberry a tri/quad-band phone? You need atleast a triband as Einstein uses either 850 or 1900 in most of their areas... if your phone doesn;t use both of these then you wil lreceive areas where you get no service
Is your Blackberry a tri/quad-band phone? You need atleast a triband as Einstein uses either 850 or 1900 in most of their areas... if your phone doesn;t use both of these then you wil lreceive areas where you get no service.
I was using xperileo 2 and im so F*ck ! my bill was sent it is amount for 1.3k when i press on my nextwork icon. the time for my internet used is 99hrs99min99sec and I didnt use any of it swear to god ! Now I am torching for the bill tell me how to fix my darn phone !
I think you'll need to provide a bit more information if you're going to get any useful help here.
Like:
What's your data plan look like? (do you have one?)
What data connections do you have active on the phone (3G, WAP etc)?
Did you let the connections get configured automatically or did you do it yourself?
My guess is that your phone was configured with WAP, connected onto WAP and that's not in your data plan. WAP is charged by time, not volume of data.
You do have a series of alternatives:
1. use NoData to toggle off/on your data connections (or just keep them off)
2. get your operator to block usage of certain protocols eg WAP
3. configure the connection manually to match your data plan
it is indeed charge by time. And it is set up automatically. Sigh i am out of luck. it is probably 3G and also I didnt know how to set up any plan
Look at your connections to see what they are connecting to. You should not have a lot (look in Settings/connections)
3G should not charge by time, it is normally by MB - so it sounds like WAP to me.
That happened to me too, after using the automated connection wizard.
You probably can't do anything about the cost you've already incurred, but you should be able to get the operator to disable WAP permanently (if that is the root of the problem). While you're on the call, ask for the 3G connection settings & input them manually (or just google "operatorname" "country" "data settings" or similar) - or they may just send you a SMS with them
all you have to do is turn off the connections using the comm manager... its that simple...
At my work place there are many wireless networks, one institute wide network and smaller departmental level networks. I would like to configure my phone to use the wider network only when I'm out of my local network's range.
Right now it always connects to the wider network by default (maybe because I set that up first and used it for few months before configuring the other one ?? ). Basically I want to give priority to my department's wi-fi network over the institute's network, and automatically switch between the two depending on coverage; i.e when I'm at my office I want to connect to my local network , when I walk out automatically switch to the wider network (this works even now), and when I walk back in switch to the local network (this part doesn't work, it stays on the wider network)?
Is there a way to do this ? (preferably without using additional apps)