WiFi on Droid X

[nacho220]

In reading different articles, comments and the like about the Droid X, it looks like some people are using their WiFi connection at home when using the phone and the 3G when out and about. Having just got involved with smartphones, first got the Motorola Droid 1 early June, and returned, now got Droid X, I'm not familiar with this practice. Is this something recommended? Does it conserve battery life? What's the difference, other than the obvious one is WiFi and one is 3G. Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[wifiwiz]

@nacho220 using WiFi you should be able to achieve higher throughput speeds. Plus, you can connect using the local network at your house to other devices on the network and use the DLNA server on your DX. There are multiple benefits of using a WiFi link over the 3G while at home...

 

[laokai]

If the phone is connected to both wi-fi and the cell service, will it default to the wi-fi for most things? What will it do via wi-fi and what via cell?

 

[rmp459]

If the phone is connected to both wi-fi and the cell service, will it default to the wi-fi for most things? What will it do via wi-fi and what via cell?

If you go to Options > Wireless and Networks > WIFI and then hit the options button and select advanced, you can set the WIFI to NEVER sleep when on. That way when you have WIFI on, it will always use wifi and not roll back to 3G when you stop using the phone and it sits.

WIFI is far more power efficient than the 3G radio. You should use it anytime you can at work/home/etc.

 

[nacho220]

Thanks for the input. I DL'd the app WiiFinder. Should that be sufficient? Just set it up to connect to my network whenever it can, or can you only manually connect via wifi when you want to. It'd be nice to set something up where if I am within range of my wifi network at home it just automatically switches into wifi mode over that network. Is there an app for that? lol