Better control for mobile network mode selection [duplicate]

asked 2014-01-01 21:55:50 +0200

Valtteri gravatar image

updated 2014-03-31 13:28:50 +0200

chemist gravatar image

It would be nice to have better control of the network mode for mobile networks. Sometimes when there is low signal the network just switches between networks because the phone doesn't seem to know fully what mode to use even though for example with N9 the enforced mode worked good enough, so in this sense the N9 was better. Also now when faster net is available (HSPA+? or if LTE is turned on manually) the device produces lot more heat and consumes lot more of battery than when only traditional 3G is used, so it would be nice to be able to limit the network mode to for example traditional 3G for saving battery when needed.

Now the "Prefer 3G" seems to set oFono's RadioSettings TechnolyPreference to "umts" i.e. there is no seperate setting for H* modes and 4G can be turned on from dbus by setting the preference to "lte". It would be good if oFono dbus interface would contain 2G only (supported already now), 3G (includes every extension now, so this could be either 2G or 3G), new modes for HSDPA, HSDPA+HSUPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE (supported already now from dbus) and forced 3G. The faster modes could be preference up to this mode i.e. would allow also lesser speeds (at least for me currently turning on 4G prevents using 3G, of course the LTE is not yet officially supported even though it provides faster speed at least for me already ;)).

If this is not considered to be wise from the settings please allow this for power users i.e. the Prefer 3G could use the HSPA+ mode instead of changed 3G mode including all extensions, so everything would work in same way than now and then we could use more detailed configuration through dbus.

Thanks for together, this is lot better than the bugzilla for tracking ideas that are not necessary bugs ;).

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The question has been closed for the following reason "duplicate question" by Valtteri
close date 2014-01-04 02:50:51.160107

Comments

This is related to https://together.jolla.com/question/5309/allow-to-set-wlan-or-mobile-data-preference/. Maybe it could be a duplicate question. If so, please close.

Neo ( 2014-01-01 22:33:28 +0200 )edit

3G Only is of course an essential mode for any device. More discussion here. I would also like to see 3G/LTE automatic mode which would basically mean "Disable 2G".

hana ( 2014-01-01 22:43:15 +0200 )edit

@Valtteri "any" is the Automatic mode but I'm not sure if it works well or catches LTE yet. "lte" is clearly LTE Only so voice calls are not possible. BTW how do you use dbus to access these settings?

hana ( 2014-01-01 23:01:06 +0200 )edit
2

The dbus-send command line tool is great to look what is available or testing. For example the network preference type change to something with dbus-send (the dbus interface seems to accept: "gsm" = 2G only, "umts" = any 3G, "lte" = 4G):

dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=org.ofono /ril_0 org.ofono.RadioSettings.SetProperty string:"TechnologyPreference" variant:string:"something"

I started with:

dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=org.ofono / org.ofono.Manager.GetModems

To get the modem interface and the interfaces that the oFono supports. After 10 minutes or so I was poking the network mode preference ;).

Valtteri ( 2014-01-02 02:00:49 +0200 )edit

This should be resolved as duplicate of the "Control 2G/3G individually" question, I can't believe that I didn't find that before posting my own :(. I don't seem to be able to do this myself, so please someone do this.

Valtteri ( 2014-01-02 02:06:28 +0200 )edit