68 replies to this topic

[vii_voo]

Neil5459, on Aug 22 2008, 08:31, said:

Agreed- and step 8 may be true in theory, but as the device in WCDMA mode will keep hunting for GSM in a weak signal area (and there are LOTS of those) the battery will be hammered. For best battery keep it in GSM mode, no question

So WCDMA is the biggest battery drain. What about the VGA screen and backlight?

[estechco]

vii_voo, on Aug 22 2008, 09:40, said:

So WCDMA is the biggest battery drain. What about the VGA screen and backlight?

Sorry to be thick, but what is the relationship between WCDMA/GSM and GPRS/3G/HSDPA. Is there a numpty's guide to "this = that"?

As I have recently noted from another thread, my current data bundle doesn't alow me to get any faster than 3G (despite seeing the H symbol), is there any of these settings that I can reduce (to save battery) without dropping further back still from 3G down to 2G?

[Neil5459]

estechco, on Aug 22 2008, 08:54, said:

Sorry to be thick, but what is the relationship between WCDMA/GSM and GPRS/3G/HSDPA. Is there a numpty's guide to "this = that"?

As I have recently noted from another thread, my current data bundle doesn't alow me to get any faster than 3G (despite seeing the H symbol), is there any of these settings that I can reduce (to save battery) without dropping further back still from 3G down to 2G?

There are a number of formats for decribing mobile phone protocols, depending on locale. Microsoft/HTC have settled on the US nomenclature which may be the more correct version

In essence we have GSM services (normal phone calls, SMS, standard GPRS and Edge data connections) and WCDMA data services which currently include 3G, HSDPA (download) and HSUPA (upload). These show as G, E, 3G (or U) and H in the taskbar. In UK, the WCDMA protocol may be called UMTS by the operators.

The advantage of WCDMA is that you can have data transfer simultaneously with voice traffic, so if you are downloading something, the device can handle a voice call as well (in theory, though it doesn't always work!); with GSM, it's either/or, so if you are uploading/downloading anything, an incoming call will be bounced to Voicemail as if the phone was engaged.

However, WCDMA/3G uses a much higher transmission frequency, with a poorer persistence through objects, so the phones receiver has to be in a higher power receive state, which is why the battery life is much shorter (around 20-30% compared with GSM) unless you are in a very strong reception area for 3G.

You can't acheive any battery saving by turning off HSDPA, as this only kicks in during active data transfer, so if you aren't being offered HSDPA speeds, you won't be using the power it needs.

For most everyday tasks, GSM is perfectly adequate- Email, Weather updates, light surfing etc; most of us only switch to WCDMA for more sustained web browsing or data download.

[estechco]

A splendid explanation!

I now feel totally clued up on the subject  

[Neil5459]

..but don't quote me. The essence is correct, but I've been wrong before

[Neil5459]

vii_voo, on Aug 22 2008, 08:40, said:

So WCDMA is the biggest battery drain. What about the VGA screen and backlight?

Well- you can't do anything about teh screen itself   VGA screen do use a lot more power than QVGA, but this version is supposed to have the latest in power saving facilities.

Keeping the abcklight turned down will make some difference, but I'm not convinced it is a major factor. I use my Diamond with the auto brightness turned on, but I've played around with levels on all my previous devices, and suspect there may be a 10-15% saving from full bright, down to 2 bars. This is entirely a subjective view though. For definitive figures, maybe try acb powermeter?

[Confucious]

Neil5459, on Aug 22 2008, 17:32, said:

..but don't quote me. The essence is correct, but I've been wrong before

I work on the theory that if I say what I think someone will soon shoot me down if I'm wrong!
I'm sure you are wrong on some detail but certainly nothing I know of.

Looks OK to me.  

[Neil5459]

Confucious, on Aug 22 2008, 20:50, said:

I work on the theory that if I say what I think someone will soon shoot me down if I'm wrong!
I'm sure you are wrong on some detail but certainly nothing I know of.

Looks OK to me.  

  

[Gavink151]

Neil5459, on Aug 23 2008, 08:22, said:

  

How long do you guys leave your phone charging for?  I usually only charge until the light comes on to say its "full" then I disconnect it.  I understood it is not possible to overcharge modern phone batteries - is this correct?

[FATGOONER]

vii_voo, on Aug 16 2008, 09:32, said:

Anyone getting good battery life?

I am happy with the battery by making sure unused apps are closed and switching the screen off I can easilt get 2 days or so.   I must admit when I first got the phone I was playing with it so much it only lasted a day but has been much better now! Great phone

[darthbane2k]

FATGOONER, on Sep 1 2008, 11:11, said:

I am happy with the battery by making sure unused apps are closed and switching the screen off I can easilt get 2 days or so. I must admit when I first got the phone I was playing with it so much it only lasted a day but has been much better now! Great phone

You clearly dont push email

[Eriktheviking]

ive had my phone two days and have had to charge it twice from it dying on me while out. I generally get 9 hours from it..... at this rate it is going back to orange.

[estechco]

Eriktheviking, on Sep 6 2008, 07:24, said:

ive had my phone two days and have had to charge it twice from it dying on me while out. I generally get 9 hours from it..... at this rate it is going back to orange.

Stick in there! As others have said, the battery definitely does improve and your usage will  likely  diminish

[estechco]

Eriktheviking, on Sep 6 2008, 07:24, said:

ive had my phone two days and have had to charge it twice from it dying on me while out. I generally get 9 hours from it..... at this rate it is going back to orange.

Stick in there! As others have said, the battery definitely does improve and your usage will  likely  diminish

[estechco]

Eriktheviking, on Sep 6 2008, 07:24, said:

ive had my phone two days and have had to charge it twice from it dying on me while out. I generally get 9 hours from it..... at this rate it is going back to orange.

Stick in there! As others have said, the battery definitely does improve and your usage will  likely  diminish

[djlysuc]

There is a new ROM at the HTC site, is this for the compact IV? My serial does not work to download the Rom.

http://www.htc.com/w...t...133&cat=268

[Neil5459]

djlysuc, on Sep 6 2008, 17:06, said:

There is a new ROM at the HTC site, is this for the compact IV? My serial does not work to download the Rom.

http://www.htc.com/w...t...133&cat=268

HTC ROMs only work for products bought SIM free from HTC or a retailer; thyey don't apply to any of the operator supplied devices, as the operators apply their own modifications to the ROMs.

Battery life: Mine has now settled to about 36hours with moderate use, and Push Email on from 6am to 10pm. WiFi and SatNav seriously dent that, as may be expected. 3G is now left on- since Radio 1.07 it seems to make little difference between GSM only and 'Auto', but that may be because Orange are staeadily improving their 3G/HSDPA coverage in my region.

[Bigbaker]

Im still getting poor battery life, activesynce always seams to appear in the running programmes despite stopping it all the time, not sure if that is eating into battery. i can only get about 10 hours out of a full charge.

[Neil5459]

Bigbaker, on Sep 11 2008, 02:08, said:

Im still getting poor battery life, activesynce always seams to appear in the running programmes despite stopping it all the time, not sure if that is eating into battery. i can only get about 10 hours out of a full charge.

Activesync is designed to be 'always on' due to the connection model used in WM5 onwards.  There have been major discussions about how to stop it, but whatever you do, it will try and restart

It is a very small process though, and has marginal effect on battery life.

[LessThanSte]

Having used my diamond now for about 3 weeks, it seems to have settled at around 3 days of battery life, though i usually charge it every other night.

I run wifi ALL the time (except when it sleeping, obviously) as its handy at home to check the latest scores or facebook or whatever (also handy when delivering at work to use someone elses internet (there is always 1 unencrypted network in every estate it seems)). The screen is on auto, though if anything its turned down a little. I make a resonable amount of calls (maybe 5 minutes a day) and send a decent amount of msgs.

So its not really that bad. I probably could get more but its better than the old phone i had that needed charging every night!