[Q] Need help creating tasker profile to disable background data when signal is weak

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The battery life on my 3D is far worse than my 4G, which had the extended battery (obviously). But until an extended battery is available for the 3D, I will have to deal. In order to make the battery last longer, I'd like to automatically disable background data (or auto sync) when the signal is less than 2 bars for a few minutes. Can any of you help me with this?

I've created a profile that will disable auto sync when signal is "2" or less. But I'd like to enhance it by saying it has to remain less than "2" for 3-5 minutes, so it isn't constantly enabling/disabling auto sync when I go through tunnels, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Dave

Power saver feature that is built in does that.

Oops, reading comp fail. I thought you said battery. Sorry.

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3vo. That is all that needs be said.

Originally Posted by user7618

Power saver feature that is built in does that.

Oops, reading comp fail. I thought you said battery. Sorry.

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3vo. That is all that needs be said.

Yeah, it does it when the battery reaches 15%. I want it to do this at any battery level, but only when the signal is weak.

Dave

I've made some progress with this. It's not perfect, but I think it will work.

First, create a task called "weak signal"
Check state, signal level is 0-1
Set variable %WEAKSIGNAL to 1
Wait 3 minutes
If %WEAKSIGNAL = 1
Disable auto sync (I wish this could be background data, but I don't see an option)


Then create a second task called "normal signal"
Check state, signal level is 3-8 (left a gap to prevent flapping)
Set variable %WEAKSIGNAL to 0
wait 15 seconds
If %WEAKSIGNAL = 0
Enable auto sync

I'll test this for a few days and see if it improves things. Coincidentally, I've been in areas with weak signals each day since I got the 3D. As a result, I'm lucky if the battery lasts 8 hours. I know disabling always-on data will fix this, but I don't like that the weather and everything stops syncing. Hopefully this will be a happy medium.

Dave

The tasker script seems to be working perfectly! It has definitely improved my battery life in weak signal areas, and I haven't noticed any ill effects.

Dave

Originally Posted by dodgeboy

I've made some progress with this. It's not perfect, but I think it will work.

First, create a task called "weak signal"
Check state, signal level is 0-1
Set variable %WEAKSIGNAL to 1
Wait 3 minutes
If %WEAKSIGNAL = 1
Disable auto sync (I wish this could be background data, but I don't see an option)


Then create a second task called "normal signal"
Check state, signal level is 3-8 (left a gap to prevent flapping)
Set variable %WEAKSIGNAL to 0
wait 15 seconds
If %WEAKSIGNAL = 0
Enable auto sync

I'll test this for a few days and see if it improves things. Coincidentally, I've been in areas with weak signals each day since I got the 3D. As a result, I'm lucky if the battery lasts 8 hours. I know disabling always-on data will fix this, but I don't like that the weather and everything stops syncing. Hopefully this will be a happy medium.

Dave

Only problme I see with this is that it will kick in if you have a weak signal but still are connected to a wifi hotspot.

Could someone explain how to do this ? how to add this task? So i could save the battery when signal is low . Thanks

I am also having pretty horrific battery life, only 6 hours where my 4G use to last 36... So I thought I'd take this idea and make my own little modifications to it.

First I thought I would explain to those not familiar with Tasker. It is an app that allows you to setup your phone to automatically do "tasks" based on contexts. These contexts can be things like whether your connected to wifi, what time of the day it is, how good your signal strength is, anything your phone can "sense." And tasks are basically anything your phone can do, like turn on and off settings or launch applications.
Market Link: https://market.android.com/details?i...ndroid.taskerm
Dev Website: http://tasker.dinglisch.net/


Now for my take on dodgeboy's 'profile'.

Context 1: Signal Strength, from 0 to 2
Context 2: Wifi Connected, Invert (Not connected to wifi)
Enter Task 1: Wait 1 min
Enter Task 2: Auto-Sync Off
Enter Task 3: Notify,[Title] Low Signal, [Text] Auto Sync Off, Permanent (I wanted a notification that auto sync was off)
Exit Task 1: Wait 15 sec
Exit Task 2: Auto-Sync On
Exit Task 3: Notify Cancel (Clears that Permanent notification)

Here is a link to my exported profile. Just put it on your phone's sd card. Once tasker is open, hit menu, profile data, import one profile.
http://db.tt/gb9w8O4

Let me know what you think. Haven't tested it beyond testing it at my desk by "death gripping" the phone.

ok, so there is some issue with my profile. Occasionally it will not perform the exit tasks, so the notification stays up and the auto-sync remains off. Not sure why it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't..? Maybe I'll try a 2 profile setup like the OP using a variable. Will post back if I get around to making a new profile(s), or if I figure out what is wrong with my current profile.

Originally Posted by Thmstec

ok, so there is some issue with my profile. Occasionally it will not perform the exit tasks, so the notification stays up and the auto-sync remains off. Not sure why it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't..? Maybe I'll try a 2 profile setup like the OP using a variable. Will post back if I get around to making a new profile(s), or if I figure out what is wrong with my current profile.

Are you waiting for it to go through the wait period? The way I wrote it, it needs to stay in one state for a period of time before it changes whether or not the auto sync is enabled. If you want it to happen immediately, just write it without the variable and wait sections.

The reason I want it to wait is because when you enable auto sync, it seems to perform at least a partial sync immediately. I don't want this script to make the battery worse, because it is constantly syncing as it comes in an out of signal range.