Can't turn off mobile data

[jtpryan]

OK, for some reason my phone (gs3, Verizon) jumped dramatically in data usage.  Without going into the whole sad story with Verizon support I thought I would use Tasker to insure my "Mobile Data" was turned off whenever I was connected to WiFi.  So I created a simple rule that says WiFi connected --> Mobile Data Off.  I left the wireless info wild carded.  No dice.  Then I put in my SSID and still no joy.  I cannot get it to turn off mobile data.  

Granted, I'm new to Tasker, and the interface is horrific (no offence, but it is), but I still think I'm doing it correctly.  What can I provide to have people tell me if I'm doing it correctly?

Thanks for any help.

-Jim

[Jay M]

Its called Holo,Tasker needed a UI update and it got 1 some people love it some people hate it its hard to please everyone.

Jay M

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tasker" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tasker+un...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tasker.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

[jtpryan]

Yeah, well, the first one wasn't very goo either.  I guess my brain just doesn't work that way.  I do a good deal of scripting on servers in different applications and I'm used to more of a If, Then, else type of logic.  But this little rule is so simple I think I have it right.  Is there anyway to just test a task?  I have a "mobile data off" task.

[Bob Hansen]

Horrific? - that's a little strong. Granted it does not have the most intuitive interface and it takes a lot of time to master, but it is also the most flexible app for android and it let's you do almost anything especially if you're rooted.

First try doing the following with mobile data on.

Menu > more > run an action > select Net > Mobile Date (off) - tap the back button to execute it - after a few seconds you should see mobile data icon is gone (off).

Does that work?

If not, then you should install Secure Settings plugin and try controlling mobile data using it (tasker actions > Plugin > Secure Settings > Edit > mobile data > select off.

With android there are so many versions of the operating system that Tasker can't work with everything, so third parties are developing addons (like secure settings) to extend tasker's functionality.

[Brandon Horwath]

What Bob said was spot on.

But! To resolve your WiFi use issue, have you selected, "use WiFi when available" on your device settings?

I know it sounds, well... absurd. But, just because you're connected doesn't mean your device will default to use it!

[jtpryan]

I'm not sure that is available in my settings on the SG3.  I'll look again, but could you give me a pointer?

[jtpryan]

Bob,

Thank you for the response. I know, that is strong, I just get annoyed with things are unnecessarily complicated and then get a pass because they are for "advanced users".  That is no excuse.  Too many years working in QA I guess...

Anyway, I'll try your suggestions and see how that goes.

[jtpryan]

Ok, cool.  Your first suggestion does work, it turned mobile data off.  But why isn't it turning off when I'm connected to WiFi?  I must have the profile set up wrong.  See, the problem is that it if you turn mobile data off, as soon as the phone sleeps and comes back on, it's on again.  So I need it to check for WiFi and turn it back off.

I just can't see what I've done wrong.  Is there something I can post here to show you what I did?

On Friday, July 12, 2013 6:57:23 PM UTC-4, Bob Hansen wrote:

[Bob Hansen]

I understand, I worked in QA myself for about 10 years. When you consider that there is, as far as I can tell, only one developer for Tasker. I am amazed that it how well it works. 

[jtpryan]

Also, and this is and example of clarity.  But how does the state of the "ON" switch work.  If it says ON, is it, or does it want you to click it to turn it on? This is where a check box would be more appropriate.  Anyway, mine says ON and I assume it is because it is listed in the pull down on my task list.

On Friday, July 12, 2013 6:57:23 PM UTC-4, Bob Hansen wrote:

[Bob Hansen]

Post a description of your profile. To post a description the profile must be named. Long press the profile name to select it. Then go to menu > export > description to clipboard. Paste the clipboard contents into a post.

[Bob Hansen]

I don't understand what your referring to. Please post a description of your profile.

[jtpryan]

OK, here is a screenshot showing the bar at the top with "3G" on and wireless.  Forget the "On" thing, I figured that out.  Here is the profile:

Profile: Turn Data Off (3)
State: Wifi Connected [ SSID:myhome MAC:00:1f:33:e8:44:bc IP:* ]
Enter: Mobile Data Off (4)
A1: Secure Settings [ Configuration:Mobile Data Disabled Package:com.intangibleobject.securesettings.plugin Name:Secure Settings ] 

So, here is my current observation.  If I come home from outside, the bar will say either "3G" of "4G", after about 1-2 min the "Connected to myhome" will come up and the mobile data will turn off.  Now, if I hit the power button and turn the screen off, then on, the mobile data comes back on and stays on.  So, it seems that when I connect to the wireless it turns off, but if I am already in a connected state, the mobile data comes back on and never turns off.  In other words it does not appear that Tasker is polling for the conection state, but only being triggered by the connection state changing.

This is true both before and after secure settings being installed.

Thanks,

Jim

[Wes Stacey]

Now, if I hit the power button and turn the screen off, then on, the mobile data comes back on and stays on. 

That would be an android setting. On Jelly Bean they added a setting that is ON by default, Go to your wifi settings then Advanced -> Keep Wi-Fi On during Sleep. I forget what the default is (I think it was "never") but i know it's not "always" which is what you want it to be set to. Otherwise it turns off Wi-Fi when you put the phone to sleep. It's very irritating and since most people don't know about it, it gives the impression that Wi-Fi is constantly connecting and disconnecting for no reason.
 

[Joe Irvine]

It should be noted that while connected to wifi, your phone will automatically route all traffic to the wifi connection and not use any mobile data. The rule that you are trying to implement won't save you any data usage because Android already does this every time you connect to wifi. If you are using a large amount of data while at home, most likely your wifi is being turned off when the phone goes to sleep, which is the default on most phones. Make sure you have "keep wifi on during sleep" set to "always". 

--

[jtpryan]

Thank you.  The problem with this is that the data was almost all used by my XM app.  This app is only on when it is connected to a charging dock on my desk.  The phone does not sleep when charging.   Also, while I am sure I saw this setting you speak of, now I can no longer find it.  It is on my Nexus 7, but not on my SG3.  It still bothers me that I have BOTH WiFi and 3G showing up in the top bar, as in the picture.

Jim

[jtpryan]

Nuts, no sooner did I finish typing then I found it;+}  Anyway, it's set to "always"

[BradM]

>>It still bothers me that I have BOTH WiFi and 3G showing up in the top bar, as in the picture.

That frequently happens on my Verizon GS3 as well. Only in my case it's showing both WiFi and 4G. I'm not sure but it seems to have something to do with sending MMS type messages using Verizon Messages. I just ran a test and the 4G came on during the send and receive of the picture message but went off after. Sometimes, though, it seems to stay on for no apparent reason.

[Joe Irvine]

Both my wireless data and wifi are on all the time when I am connected to wifi, but I still use no data while connected to wifi. I think this is by design. I would suspect that either your app is somehow set to not use wifi at all and only uses wireless data, it is running when you are not at home and connected to wifi, or your wifi connection is turning off while at home. 

On Mon, Jul 15, 2013 at 1:36 PM, BradM <br...@bradminion.com> wrote:

>>It still bothers me that I have BOTH WiFi and 3G showing up in the top bar, as in the picture.

That frequently happens on my Verizon GS3 as well. Only in my case it's showing both WiFi and 4G. I'm not sure but it seems to have something to do with sending MMS type messages using Verizon Messages. I just ran a test and the 4G came on during the send and receive of the picture message but went off after. Sometimes, though, it seems to stay on for no apparent reason.

--