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[Bug] Android apps connection problems with WLAN

asked 2014-07-23 17:02:01 +0300

chinauser gravatar image

updated 2015-07-09 17:18:24 +0300

sjn gravatar image

My 2G/3G/4G and WLAN connection works well for native Sailfish apps. However, for Android apps, most of them do not work when I'm connected to WLAN. I get error messages like: "Network connection errors" on WLAN. When I'm connected with 2G/3G/4G, all my Android apps work perfectly well.

The confusing thing is that: - A few Android apps like Skype works well over WLAN.

  • Some apps work partly like AccuWeather, Aptoide AppStore, Feedly, Viber, JD.com: I get many connection error messages, but I can partly download some of the content.

  • Most apps just don't work at all, like WeChat, Google maps, Yle, etc.

Notes:

  • I can ping Google DNS server 8.8.8.8

  • My wife's Jolla phone is working well over the same WLAN

  • I downloaded and installed Alien Dalvik and my Android apps when I was on 3G/4G. I did my wife's Jolla download and installation of Alien Dalvik and Android apps over WiFi. Could it be the problem?

As I am currently roaming for the next few weeks, I can't use 2G/3G/4G with my Android apps otherwise my phone bill will go through the roof. So, my Android apps are useless for the next few weeks.

Please vote if you're facing the same problem.

PS: I have edited this post.

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Comments

I see the same behavior, particularly on WiFi access points that require some sort of user action before they work properly (e.g. you get dumped to a "please agree to the terms and conditions by pressing this button" page). It's inconsistent, but I haven't noticed a class of Android apps that seem to be affected more or less by the problem.

Elliott ( 2014-07-30 02:27:26 +0300 )edit

The problem is still here with 1.1.1.27. Skype, Whatsap, Viber and some other apps work fine with Wi-Fi, while others, like Wi-Fi Analyzer, are not working. All native apps have no problems with Wi-Fi. Android support was installed connected to Wi-Fi, so the answer given here doesn't help.

rburkhanov ( 2015-01-10 04:17:18 +0300 )edit

@rburkhanov are you sure your Wifi analyzer is not using low level libraries related to the Wifi drivers? Then, I wouldn't be surprised it's not working.

chinauser ( 2015-01-10 16:16:38 +0300 )edit

@chinauser No, I am absolutely not shure, and beeing an end user, seems like I should not be even thinking about such things as "low level drivers". Jolla device is sold and advertised as having "the in-built capability to run Android apps", and there is no mention of any limitations. What I see, I've downloaded numerous Android apps (not because I like them some special way, just because of terrific lack of apps in Jolla app store), and approximately 1/3 of them just absolutely unable to run, and another 1/3 starts, but with lots of bugs or Sailfish OS limitations, making them unuseable. And among those unuseable some have this wi-fi bug, for example my online banking app. I don't know what sort of drivers it uses, I just can see it has no access to wi-fi.

rburkhanov ( 2015-01-10 18:29:39 +0300 )edit
1

Hi, I have the same problem: android apps like whatsapp & pilight lose connectivity whilst I can still connect to Jolla with ssh via the home IP adress.

I could not find an explicit way to "break" connection to the android layer. My "favourite", since most reliable, way to test wheter the issue exists, is to open web.whatsapp.com webinterface on another computer and see if this can connect to the whatsapp my phone.

While the web-app-test indicated no connection, I tested the flag of "wifi_on" in the "/data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db":

echo "select name,value from secure where name = 'wifi_on';" |sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db wifi_on|1

So to me it seems that this value in the database is not my problem?

When I started the aliendalvik service again, after this test, the android Wifi connection was restored and now I have to wait for the it occurs again (and I am not otherwise busy) to investigate it further.

I would certainly appreciate a solution, but somehow I am unable to find a button like thing to vote for this issue.

hansdej ( 2017-02-17 14:01:47 +0300 )edit

3 Answers

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7

answered 2014-08-18 22:44:48 +0300

Manwe gravatar image

Using rudis comment about sqlite and wifi_on setting:

sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
select name,value from secure where name = 'wifi_on';
wifi_on|0
if it's '0':
update secure set value = '1' where name = 'wifi_on';

I created a script to stop dalvik, update db value and start dalvik. At least with minimal testing the setting was kept over reboot.

#!/bin/bash
### Save this to a file and run it (copy, ssh nemo@yourJolla , vi wififix, [pres i], paste , [pres esc and : w q], chmod a+x wififix, ./wififix
## if you don't know how to do this, DONT
echo $USER

if [[ "$USER" == "nemo" ]]; then
  devel-su $0
  exit
fi

systemctl stop  aliendalvik.service

echo Current setting:
echo "select name,value from secure where name = 'wifi_on';" |sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
echo "update secure set value = '1' where name = 'wifi_on';" |sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
echo Updated setting
echo "select name,value from secure where name = 'wifi_on';" |sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
systemctl start aliendalvik.service

Use at your OWN risk

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Works grt for me

gsasikumar ( 2015-02-01 21:15:05 +0300 )edit

Thanks for a great guide. Recently I have installed superbeam app for wifidirect tranfering but all it did well was messing with wlan settings in aliendalvik configuration. Your script saved me from reinstalling android support and all my droid apps. Thanks again :)

Mądry ( 2015-02-14 18:09:26 +0300 )edit

The script worked great. Had the problem that after OS update Android apps stopped working.

Nrde ( 2015-04-12 16:08:17 +0300 )edit

@Madry For me chinausers answer worked without having to reinstall any android app (tested only firefox and android calendar though, both still working). All data of the android apps seems to have been deleted though.

anonymous1 ( 2016-11-24 14:14:20 +0300 )edit

The above partially worked for me. I also performed

echo "update system set value = '0' where name = 'airplane_mode_on';" |sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db

(Android) Apps no longer complained about poor/no connectivity. Play Store (Version 7.6.08.N-al, with not certified device) began working again; that is, it would download apps again rather than just allowing search to work but not actually downloading any updates

Izzak ( 2017-07-11 00:05:02 +0300 )edit
4

answered 2014-08-01 15:00:38 +0300

chinauser gravatar image

I finally solved the problem myself. I uninstalled Alien Dalvik and re-installed it when I was connected to WiFi. This seems to be where the bug comes from. If you install Alien Dalvik when you are connected to 2G/3G/4G, then you will maybe face the problem described above: Android apps will not connect properly to WiFi.

Can other people try the same method of uninstalling/re-installing Alien Dalvik on WiFi to confirm this solution?

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wa,Tanks,I try it.

Boduosuoyao ( 2014-08-01 16:53:26 +0300 )edit

This worked for me too. Skype Android app was failing to authenticate with server and complaining of connection errors. Re-installing Android support over WLAN fixed this. Weird thing this.

mcfrisk ( 2014-11-18 17:46:32 +0300 )edit

Worked for me. All data of the android apps seems to have been deleted though.

anonymous1 ( 2016-11-24 14:14:43 +0300 )edit

Happened to me on 3.0.0.8 on Jolla C device. Same problem and the same fix worked. I was a bit surprised, how can a problem still exist after so many years?

EDIT: the issue is not the same. Reinstalling did not fix it, restarting Alien Dalvik fixes it temporarily, but the problem returns soon...

kkarioja ( 2018-12-28 14:52:48 +0300 )edit
0

answered 2014-07-23 18:26:36 +0300

luchmhor gravatar image

I guess this can be marked as duplicate:

https://together.jolla.com/question/39400/10819-network-connection-just-stops-working-daily-basis/

or also

https://together.jolla.com/question/315/wpa-8021x-enteprise-others-wifi-support-needed-workaround/

  • many other threads meanwhile.

many Users experience "random" behavior with their WLAN connection since the lastest update. Jolla should really be concerned about that.

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sorry, those threads are totally different. My connection problem only occurs for most Android apps. Natives apps work perfectly with WLAN.

chinauser ( 2014-07-23 19:12:00 +0300 )edit
1

I agree, I am experiencing the same problems, which I can only observe with (some) android apps. Most importantly the Google Play app store.

elaerion ( 2014-07-24 10:29:33 +0300 )edit
1

@elaerion Please make sure to vote if you face the same problem. Thanks :)

chinauser ( 2014-07-24 17:28:20 +0300 )edit

same Problem, downgraded to 1.0.7.16 - as in the similar problem

https://together.jolla.com/question/50623/bug-browser-crashing-launch-when-on-wifi-since-10819/

e.g. before 1.0.7.16 my favorite navigation software had no problem with downloading new maps via wifi

beginning with 1.0.7.16 it stated 'no wifi connection, shall I use existing internet connection'. with mobil data turned off and wifi on, it used wifi - not nice, but ok

with 1.0.8.19 - no chance to get this or other android apps to use wifi. I'm pretty shure, it's a problem with android engine, not recognizing wifi or not presenting it to the apps

rudi ( 2014-07-25 22:01:52 +0300 )edit
5

@rudi Yes, I also believe the WLAN connectivity problem comes from the Android engine because my native apps all work without any glitches. Please vote to raise the attention of the Jolla's team on this problem.

chinauser ( 2014-07-26 16:35:53 +0300 )edit
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Asked: 2014-07-23 17:02:01 +0300

Seen: 5,891 times

Last updated: Feb 17 '17