Push email is a myth!

[Guest ben.fisher]

Well... i've just upgraded the ROM on my qtek 8310 to the AKU2 version in order to get push email.

But it's not quite what i expected. People say push email is cheaper because you use less GPRS transfer as you don't poll the mail server, but in my experience this doesn't seem to be the case.

Having succesfully upgraded and being happy with the results I though I should install a GPRS data monitor just to see how much my emails were costing me.

To my suprise my phone constantly racks up GPRS data transfer. It seems to be at set intervals it transfers a bit more, just as if it's polling. If i go into the Com Manager and turn of direct push it stops.

Can anyone explain. Could there be something else causing this or is push email a myth as it appears to be?

I'd be interested in anyone elses thoughts.

Cheers..

Ben.

[Guest chucky.egg]

You're at least partly right.

MS Direct Push depends on the device confirming with the Exchange server that it's still there and waiting for updates. As and when there's something to update the server then sends an ActiveSync command to the device, triggering the device to perform a sync.

It's not really pushing the content, and it still requires a constant connection. Because of the way mobiles and the networks work this requires data to be sent periodically - called the heartbeat.

The heartbeat interval is what determines the amount of data sent in any time period Kassuming no updates are sent) - I was told the formula for calculating this but can't recall it right now.

[Guest jimbouk]

Its set to every five minutes by default and sends 3bytes and if the network conditions are suitable, the server and device extend the heartbeat interval to save battery and data costs.

Some networks IP set up for clients means that devices lose the connection and trigger more syncs than they should.

[Guest flodis79]

Its set to every five minutes by default and sends 3bytes and if the network conditions are suitable, the server and device extend the heartbeat interval to save battery and data costs.

Some networks IP set up for clients means that devices lose the connection and trigger more syncs than they should.

Do you mean 3 bytes or 3 kbs? If 3bytes, it should be very cheap to have it on through GPRS and you should end up with close to zero traffic if there are no new email content to download..

Edited May 4, 2006 by flodis79

[Guest DeanJ]

looking at my gprs monitor i seem to be using a lot more now. I used to just check my work (exchage) every 15 mins in the day and not at all on the night. then my personal email i'd check every 60 mins. with push and maybe a few webpaged every day or two (really only a couple) i seem to use on average about 2mb a day. the most i've used is 4.5mb with the least being about 0.5mb and i only really get a few emails a day. about 10 so far today spread over the 2 accounts and i've used 0.5mb

[Guest jimbouk]

Do you mean 3 bytes or 3 kbs? If 3bytes, it should be very cheap to have it on through GPRS and you should end up with close to zero traffic if there are no new email content to download..

It is just 3 bytes. If you leave it on, then with a network who keep the DNS servers and your IP address as constant as possible it will only equate to about 1mb for the heartbeat per month. However, that doesn't allow for the content of the emails that actually sync. Nor does it allow for the dodgy networks like Orange who's IP/DNS settings for their GPRS clients are not compatible with directpush and your device will initiate a sync every few minutes...

The best way to minimise it, is to tell it to only sync first 5kb of messages, to not include attachments (both of which can be overidden on a messaqge by message basis), turn off directpush when you don't need it and set your device to manually sync overnight (using the peak/offpeak settings) - but note that turning the direct push on and off will reset your schedule for both peak and offpeak to "as items arrive".

[Guest chucky.egg]

I just have my schedule set to Mon-Fri 07:00 to 19:00

Direct Push stays on the whole time, but it only does anything during "work" days.

I have 2 other accounts that do automatic downloads every 60 minutes, so overnight I set my device to Silent to stop new emails waking me up

[Guest ben.fisher]

I first set up an account with mail2web because it was free and noticed i was using a lot of gprs data. Then having read somewhere about the server timing out connections which cause the device to reconnect I thought I'd try 4smartphone.

With 4smartphone I definately use less data, but today i've used 372KB so far. I've only recieved 3 or 4 emails which were very small.

My usage does suggest a lot more than 3 bytes is being transfered every couple of minites. I have no emails to download and i'm not syncing anything else such as contact etc. It does seem to be a lot worse during the day, i'm thinking when the servers are busy they might well time out the connection far more regularly which may be the cause of my problem.

Vodafone charge me

[Guest jimbouk]

How often is your device actually initiating a sync? (ie how often do you see the two circular arrows rotating under your G icon)

Tell your network that you are using direct push and see if they offer different gprs settings - as currently a lot of networks standard gprs offerings uinfortunately do not keep the link to the exchange server open - thus causing lots of unnecessary pulses and syncs.

Also check that the unlimited deal includes all GPRS costs - as I would expect them to charge for the data throughput (or else how can they charge for web-surfing?).

[Guest flodis79]

How often is your device actually initiating a sync? (ie how often do you see the two circular arrows rotating under your G icon)

I never have (never had) arrows under my small gprs G close to the network status meter. But it works!

How come? I am using a TCP/IP connection with the gprs.

[Guest jimbouk]

I never have (never had) arrows under my small gprs G close to the network status meter. But it works!

How come? I am using a TCP/IP connection with the gprs.

Sorry I dont follow? Do you mean you are using GPRS or you are using the activesync passthrough? If the latter then you are not getting push email over the air anyway.

[Guest flodis79]

Sorry I dont follow? Do you mean you are using GPRS or you are using the activesync passthrough? If the latter then you are not getting push email over the air anyway.

Yes, I mean when I sync the exchange server via gprs, I have no arrows rotating under the G icon. I have seen that icon in the manual of the phone, meaning grps traffic in progress, but I have never those arrows on my phone.. Is there anything wrong with my software?

[Guest ben.fisher]

Yes, I mean when I sync the exchange server via gprs, I have no arrows rotating under the G icon. I have seen that icon in the manual of the phone, meaning grps traffic in progress, but I have never those arrows on my phone.. Is there anything wrong with my software?

I've been watching my phone today to check when it syncs and I have never caught it displaying the arrows either, having said that I've not exactly been sat here watching my phone all day either. ;)

I've been randomly checking the status in activesync to see when it last synced and from what i've seen it's syning 2 to 3 times an hour.

I've not actually got any email when it syncs so it looks like the sync overhead takes a reasonable amount of gprs data transfer.

Does anyone know why is it syncing anyway. Is this something that will happen when a connection has to be re-established for whatever reason?

[Guest jimbouk]

I've been watching my phone today to check when it syncs and I have never caught it displaying the arrows either, having said that I've not exactly been sat here watching my phone all day either. ;)

I've been randomly checking the status in activesync to see when it last synced and from what i've seen it's syning 2 to 3 times an hour.

I've not actually got any email when it syncs so it looks like the sync overhead takes a reasonable amount of gprs data transfer.

Does anyone know why is it syncing anyway. Is this something that will happen when a connection has to be re-established for whatever reason?

It is syncing probably as it has lost the connection to the server - courtesy of your network's GPRS settings. If the device's IP address was remaining constant, the server would only initiate a sync if there were changes (eg new mail). The device would be sending a heartbeat pulse every 9 or more minutes just to confirm to the server that it was online and your data usage would be minimal. Might be worth contacting your network, telling them that you have directpush on your phone and that you want the correct GPRS gateway for that service. (If you have a sim free phone, tell them your device is their branded version - otherwise they get all uppity).

[Guest jimbouk]

Yes, I mean when I sync the exchange server via gprs, I have no arrows rotating under the G icon. I have seen that icon in the manual of the phone, meaning grps traffic in progress, but I have never those arrows on my phone.. Is there anything wrong with my software?

The various G icons are:

Big G: GPRS available

Small G with two arrows horizontally moving: Trying to connect

Small G with two arrows static: Connected

Small G with two arrows rotating: Syncing with server.

Of course, if your device has EDGE and the latest Rom then the G may well be replaced by an E.

I wouldn't worry too much if the device is successfully syncing (but check your bill as there may be a lot of data traffic you weren't expecting...