Keep WiFi Connection Alive

[thinkdan]

As many WP7 users, I've hated the "feature" that disconnects the WiFi when the screen turns off.
Now, finally, after installing the iheartradio app, I've noticed that the WiFi stays connected even if the app is not running and the screen turns off.
This comes as a pleasant surprise. I've noticed that the app added a background task, which I guess is what keeps the wifi connection alive.
Is this a known behavior? Or did I just get lucky?

 

[bigkevbosky]

Are you sure it's not plugged in while running the iheartradio app?

 

[thinkdan]

Are you sure it's not plugged in while running the iheartradio app?

Yes, I'm sure it's not plugged in. I've been using the wifi all day around the house since I installed iheartradio this morning. However, I just noticed that even though I did exit the app (and I'm sure it's not running cause it's not showing as an open app if I hold the back button) it was still showing as paused in the Music + Videos Hub.

I tried listening to some music I have saved in my phone, and sure enough, as soon as the screen turned off, the wifi got disconnected. When i turned it on again I could see the wifi reconnecting.

So I did a test and opened iheartradio again, started listening to some radio station for a couple seconds, hit stop and exit the app again (by pressing the back button). I went to Music + Videos just to verify that the radio station was showing as paused. I then turned the screen off and this time the wifi remained connected.

So it seems I've found a workaround to keep the wifi connection alive. Just let iheartradio be the last thing you listened to and that will do the trick.

 

[massifheed]

I noticed a similar thing the other day, and I put it down to Skype. It's not all that consistent, but sometimes when I go into Skype then quit using the home button (not backing out using the back button), the WiFi stays active all the time, even if Skype is gone from my app-switching list. I wake the phone up and it's still connected.

I'm pretty certain that it was Skype causing this as I have nothing else installed (like radio apps) that could cause it.

The battery doesn't seem to take too much of a dive either, which is a positive.

 

[Jrexxx]

Is there another app that has the same effect but is available outside the US marketplace?

 

[trickym81]

I've had it stay on using Mehdoh and running background tasks to update me when I am mentioned on Twitter.

 

[Jrexxx]

Will try it out and report back. Thanks anw

 

[Jrexxx]

Didn't work for me on my Lumia 710... Any other suggestions?

 

[DanielCeleste]

I noticed a similar thing the other day, and I put it down to Skype. It's not all that consistent, but sometimes when I go into Skype then quit using the home button (not backing out using the back button), the WiFi stays active all the time, even if Skype is gone from my app-switching list. I wake the phone up and it's still connected.

I'm pretty certain that it was Skype causing this as I have nothing else installed (like radio apps) that could cause it.

The battery doesn't seem to take too much of a dive either, which is a positive.

Skype works for me in Canada

 

[Jake_M]

I HATE that the WiFi turns off when the screen does. I loved that about webOS

 

[MrSean490]

Why does it matter that wifi gets turned off? It's saving battery, isn't it?

 

[mberdych]

No, it matters.

1) wifi consumes less power then 3G
2) wifi saves you 3G data, if you don't have flat rate data package

 

[MrSean490]

No, it matters.

1) wifi consumes less power then 3G
2) wifi saves you 3G data, if you don't have flat rate data package

If your phone is in sleep mode then I don't see why it matters what data mode you're in; you're not going to be using it anyway. Besides, when wifi is on 3G is still running just not being used.

 

[Jake_M]

Or more importantly, you don't get any emails/notifications that you normally would. 3G wrecks the battery life, I get 6-7 hours on 3G, 2 days on WiFi(sleeping when screen off). I would be willing to tone it down to 17-36 hours if WiFi could always be on. I hate not getting emails, or my live tiles(specifically weather) don't update when the screen is off so I manually have to check the weather(seems to defeat the purpose of live tiles).

I understand that Microsoft is trying to save power, but honestly Windows Phone has ZERO customization for settings.

 

[thinkdan]

Re:

Is there another app that has the same effect but is available outside the US marketplace?

Are you able to download the IHeartRadio app? If you are able to download it, I can help you to get an iheartradio account set up so you can access it in your country.

Once you have the account set up you can listen to iheartradio in whichever country you are located in. And then you can try my trick to keep the wifi connection on. It works in Mexico as well.

 

[TitanSound]

We shouldn't have to use tricks or third party apps to keep it alive, it should be an option.

When the O2 network was down in the UK the other day, I had to keep unlocking, waiting for wi-fi to connect and then refreshing the e-mail app. Surely that takes up more battery life than it checking for notifications every few minutes on wi-fi?

 

[jimski]

Thanks to thinkdan's tip I ran a series of tests on my L900 and published my results over on Mobility Digest. I used the iHeartRadio app to keep WiFi on persistently. With WiFi and LTE running, and the phone sleeping for 8 hours, I actually "saved" a little battery. Why? Because, with WiFi on, your LTE radio never has to ramp up to pull in email, background tasks, etc. So the efficiency of one radio balances out the other.

When LTE is in its low power state, it's very efficient. But when it ramps up, it can be a hog. Don't need 22Mbps down to DL a couple emails or a Live Tile.

On my non-SIM Surround, I kept persistent WIFi going for 71 hours, nearly three days. With iHeartRadio, you can close the app after triggering WiFi on. Skype, and other apps need to remain open in the background.

So keep your WiFi on. It uses virtually no juice.

Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro

 

[eric12341]

I don't know what I did but my WiFi stays alive on my HD7 regardless if plugged in or not

Current background tasks:
-Accuweather
-HTC Hub
-Insider
-Vevo
-USA Today
-WPCentral
-Yelp