Wi-Fi in Preference to 3G

[Guest Richard Tubb]

Hi,

I'm a new owner of a T-Mobile MDA Vario II with Windows Mobile 5.

When available, I prefer to use the Wi-Fi connectivity of the Vario to connect to my home or work Wi-Fi Access Points, browsing Web pages through the faster 802.11G connection instead of using 3G.

However - even when I have a Wi-Fi connection, the Vario chooses to use T-Mobile's 3G connection for it's Internet connectivity.

How do I force the Vario to use Wi-Fi in preference to 3G, when available?

With the following settings, the Vario will connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi in preference to 3G:-

"start-settings-connections-network cards-'only connect to access points'.

start-settings-connections-connections-advanced-select networks-'my work network'.

start-settings-connections-network cards-network cards-'my network card connects to work'."

However, with these settings - if no Wi-Fi connection is present - 3G doesn't work and brings up a "Couldn't connect using this connection" error instead of trying to "dial" up to 3G or GPRS.

Setting the above back to "T-Mobile Internet" instead of "My Work Network" goes back to Square 1 - i.e. whether a Wi-Fi connection is present or not, 3G is used for Internet.

I've contacted T-Mobile and they say there is no way around this, but I'm interested to see if anyone else knows of one.

In a nutshell - how to force Windows Mobile 5 to try to use Wi-Fi, then use 3G if Wi-Fi not available.

I know this is a topic that has been discussed before, but with no resolution that I can find. Therefore any suggestions gratefully received!

Regards,

Richard Tubb.

[Guest jimbouk]

I dont have a vario 2 but on my spv m3100 (same device basically), a working wifi connection over-rides a 3g connection unless i am using directpush (which is a known issue).

I have my internet connection set to Orange Internet GPRS/3G and My Private Connection set to Work.

Even if I have a current 3g connection (ie I have been browsing or checking emails over 3g), if I connect to a wifi network, then it disconnects 3g and uses the wifi (UNLESS directpush is on).

Having had numerous WM devices with wifi, this if the first one I have had where the wifi has taken precedence over 3g/gprs correctly.

[Guest Richard Tubb]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the feedback.

I've got my Internet Connection to T-Mobile GPRS/3G and My Private Connection set to work.

Unfortunately, whenever connected to Wi-Fi - 3G always takes priority! :-(

I've set some Intranet exceptions - so when using Wi-Fi at home, I can browse local network devices without making a 3G connection ok - but that's the limit of it. Any Internet connectivity uses 3G and not Wi-Fi.

I wonder whether this is a T-Mobile specific thing? I'd hoped Windows Mobile 5 would work the same way as Windows XP when configured correctly - i.e. try to use a connected network card, then use "dial-up" connection if required.

Regards,

Richard Tubb.

[Guest jimbouk]

Mine does.

In settings connections, connection, advanced, If you click the edit button for My Work Network, do you have any entries. Mine is completely clear - even on the proxy tab, the "this network connects to the internet" is not ticked - although that seems counter-intuitive!

And in settings connections, network cards, on the network adapters tab, all m network adapters are set to connect to "Work"

[Guest Richard Tubb]

Hi Jim,

It seems we have identical setups.

There are no entries under "My Work Network", even on the proxy tab. "This network connects to the Internet" is unticked too.

In Settings > Connections > Network cards > Network adapters, all network adapters are set to "Connect to work".

As I said, if I set my Internet connectivity to "Work", then Wi-Fi gets used in preference. However if Wi-Fi is disabled, then 3G no longer works - you have to manually set Internet connectivity back to "T-Mobile Internet".

Frustrating!

Regards,

Richard Tubb.

Mine does.

In settings connections, connection, advanced, If you click the edit button for My Work Network, do you have any entries. Mine is completely clear - even on the proxy tab, the "this network connects to the internet" is not ticked - although that seems counter-intuitive!

And in settings connections, network cards, on the network adapters tab, all m network adapters are set to connect to "Work"

[Guest Dr Who]

I found this behaviour when I manually entered the settings for the wireless network. If I let the Vario II find the wireless network automatically and then entered the key it worked as it should. Bit of a pain if the network has the SSID turned off - for my work network I had to turn on SSID broadcast to let the Vario II find it and then switch it back off again. I *think* another solution was found, either it is in the known bugs thread or you could try searching?

[Guest jimbouk]

Just a couple of quick ideas: 1) the "network card connects to" should in theory be set to the same as the GPRS connection (ie both set to "the internet" 2) What happens when you try wifi with flight mode on?

[Guest Richard Tubb]

Hi,

Thanks both Jim and Dr. Who for the responses.

I'm pleased to report that I've got it working!

1. First I put the Vario into Flight Mode (i.e. turned off phone)

2. Then I turned Wi-Fi on

3. Then I went into Settings > Connections > Network Cards and disconnected my existing connected home Wi-Fi connection

4. I waited for Windows to find the "new" Wi-Fi connection and connected to it through the setup Wizard

5. I then opened IE - and found browsing working fine over Wi-Fi - as before

6. I turned off flight mode (i.e. turned phone on) and waited for a 3G signal. I then opened IE and noticed no 3G dial-up connection was made whilst Wi-Fi was still enabled, and browsing worked fine

7. I turned off Wi-Fi, opened IE and found that it dialled T-Mobile 3G Internet as it should when no Wi-Fi connection is available

So in a nutshell - Dr. Who's advice of letting the Vario II find it's Wi-Fi connection "automatically" was the solution.

I had previously setup Wi-Fi through a 3rd party scanning tool - so something obviously wasn't setup correctly within Windows.

Thanks again both - an irritating little problem resolved. :-)

Regards,

Richard Tubb.

[Guest Confucious]

I stopped using WiFi when I got unlimited 3G - I didn't find it much, if any, faster but what I did find was that it ate my battery!

Just my 2d's worth.

[Guest Richard Tubb]

Battery life is definitely an issue - but I find turning Wi-Fi for short periods very useful, especially at home where I don't get a good 3G signal. Wi-Fi definitely faster than GPRS. ;)

Plus with the basic "Web'n'Walk" package from T-Mobile that I use, Instant Messaging and VoIP aren't allowed over 3G. Having a Wi-Fi connection is handy for using these services.

Regards,

Richard Tubb.

I stopped using WiFi when I got unlimited 3G - I didn't find it much, if any, faster but what I did find was that it ate my battery!

Just my 2d's worth.

[Guest Confucious]

I'm lucky, I have good 3G at home, if I only had GPRS I'd use WiFi as well!

Glad you got it sorted, have fun!