You probably don't know the answer but what allows WiFi scan

[Stijn De Jong]

SUMMARY:
What service is it that does the Wi-Fi scanning on Android anyway?
http://i.cubeupload.com/lYvIsQ.jpg

DETAILS:
You probably don't know the answer but what allows WiFi scanning anyway?

In the past few weeks I changed so many things on my Android 4.3 phone that
I don't remember what killed WiFi scanning but I just want to ask, in case
someone knows, what actually does the WiFi scanning on an Android phone?

For example, I have over a half dozen access points at home, all being
broadcast in the clear, WPA2/PSK-AES protected, which the third part
programs find with no problem (e.g., Fritz! WLAN, WiFi Manager, WiFi
Connection, WiFi Analyzer, InSSIDer, WiFi Analysis, WigLe WiFi, etc.).
http://i.cubeupload.com/fV8D4d.jpg

Some (but not all) of the 3rd-party apps can find all the networks, yet,
the scan button in Android 4.3 doesn't find a single network anymore.
What on Android does the scanning anyway?
http://i.cubeupload.com/TNGRGg.jpg

I can certainly manually press the default Android 4.3 "Add Wi-Fi network"
and then it will connect to any network I manually type in, but it won't
*find* a network on its own anymore, even though the signal strength is
clearly in the negative forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies (i.e., the
signal strength is just fine).
http://i.cubeupload.com/lYvIsQ.jpg

I realize probably nobody knows the answer but just in case you do, what
service on Android does the WiFi access-point scanning anyway?

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:08:33 -0800, Stijn De Jong
<stijndekonlng@nlnet.nl> wrote:

>what allows WiFi scanning anyway?

Wrong question. What you should be asking is what disables wi-fi
scanning. That's easy, 2 ways.
1. If your phone is setup to act as a hot spot so that others can
borrow your cellular data bandwidth, it will kill scanning. That's
because a hot spot requires that the channel number be fixed and not a
moving target.
2. If your phone is in peer to peer mode instead of infrastructure.
There are many reasons for this to happen. For example, printing
directly to an HP ePrint printer or Apple Airprint printer. I think
(not sure) that a GoPro camera connection does the same thing.

Note that the phone cannot be in infrastructure (what you want) and
peer-to-peer mode (what you don't want) at the same time.

I realize probably nobody knows the answer but just in case you do, what
service on Android does the WiFi access-point scanning anyway?

I'll take the easy way out and claim ignorance.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Stijn De Jong]

On Sun, 19 Mar 2017 20:26:25 -0700, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

What you should be asking is what disables wi-fi
scanning. That's easy, 2 ways.
1. If your phone is setup to act as a hot spot so that others can
borrow your cellular data bandwidth, it will kill scanning. That's
because a hot spot requires that the channel number be fixed and not a
moving target.
2. If your phone is in peer to peer mode instead of infrastructure.
There are many reasons for this to happen. For example, printing
directly to an HP ePrint printer or Apple Airprint printer. I think
(not sure) that a GoPro camera connection does the same thing.

Note that the phone cannot be in infrastructure (what you want) and
peer-to-peer mode (what you don't want) at the same time.

Those are both good answers as to what disables wifi scanning.

The phone has never been set up as a hotspot since the last factory reset,
although it certainly would be possible to set it up as a hotspot since
it's T-Mobile which allows that on all their phones. But it's not currently
set up as a hotspot to my knowledge. But that's an interesting observation.

I'm not sure what "peer-to-peer mode" is for Android.

Googling
https://www.google.com/search?q=android+peer-to-peer+mode

I found this:
https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/wifip2p.html
Which says that two Android devices can connect in peer-to-peer mode (aka
WiFi Direct).

I have never used WiFi Direct so I don't think it's in peer-to-peer mode.
Besides, the phone connects to WiFi when I manually type in the (very long
complex) SSID.

It just won't find any SSID when I press the scan button.
I think it's time for a factory reset, which should fix the problem.

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 10:07:59 PM UTC-4, Stijn De Jong wrote:

SUMMARY:
What service is it that does the Wi-Fi scanning on Android anyway?
http://i.cubeupload.com/lYvIsQ.jpg

DETAILS:
You probably don't know the answer but what allows WiFi scanning anyway?

In the past few weeks I changed so many things on my Android 4.3 phone that
I don't remember what killed WiFi scanning but I just want to ask, in case
someone knows, what actually does the WiFi scanning on an Android phone?

For example, I have over a half dozen access points at home, all being
broadcast in the clear, WPA2/PSK-AES protected, which the third part
programs find with no problem (e.g., Fritz! WLAN, WiFi Manager, WiFi
Connection, WiFi Analyzer, InSSIDer, WiFi Analysis, WigLe WiFi, etc.).
http://i.cubeupload.com/fV8D4d.jpg

Some (but not all) of the 3rd-party apps can find all the networks, yet,
the scan button in Android 4.3 doesn't find a single network anymore.
What on Android does the scanning anyway?
http://i.cubeupload.com/TNGRGg.jpg

I can certainly manually press the default Android 4.3 "Add Wi-Fi network"
and then it will connect to any network I manually type in, but it won't
*find* a network on its own anymore, even though the signal strength is
clearly in the negative forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies (i.e., the
signal strength is just fine).
http://i.cubeupload.com/lYvIsQ.jpg

I realize probably nobody knows the answer but just in case you do, what
service on Android does the WiFi access-point scanning anyway?

The Troll is back. Please don't feed the troll.

 

>"The Troll is back. Please don't feed the troll. "

I don't see any trolling here, I see a perfectly valid question. I don't have any answers for the OP but I read the thread to maybe learn something.

Just what is it that indicates a "troll" to you ? The fact that he said maybe nobody has an answer ? Or is it the Oriental sounding name ? What is a troll ?

And BTW, I noticed YOU responding to this thread, isn't that feeding the troll ?

I don't mind an antagonist, this is Usenet and if that bothered me I would not be here. But I just have questions.

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

a) The OP changes his handle about as often as the typical individual changes his socks.
b) His handles are typically a close analogy to some moderately famous person - mostly military individuals.
c) His trolls are typically wild hair questions on obscure and meaningless points of negligible utility. "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" is a deeply meaningful discussion by comparison.
d) When he sets the hook, his threads can go on..... and on.... and on, with no meaningful results.

So, my 'response' is to suggest *not* rising to the bait.

 

[Carlos E. R.]

On 2017-03-20 04:53, Stijn De Jong wrote:

I have never used WiFi Direct so I don't think it's in peer-to-peer mode.
Besides, the phone connects to WiFi when I manually type in the (very long
complex) SSID.
It just won't find any SSID when I press the scan button.
I think it's time for a factory reset, which should fix the problem.

My phone finds all SSIDs, but connects to none. If I tap on the home
ssid, it asks for the password (which it knows for sure).

Instead, I tap "more options", which displays the same list of SSIDs in
white background instead of black. There I switch off the WiFi, than on
again, and it instantly connects to my WiFi remembering its password.

This behaviour started about last November or December.

I also noticed that Bluetooth would not automatically connect to my car
hands-free device. It has started working again after I received a
security update about a week ago.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

 

[mike]

On 3/20/2017 5:00 AM, pfjw@aol.com wrote:

a) The OP changes his handle about as often as the typical individual changes his socks.
b) His handles are typically a close analogy to some moderately famous person - mostly military individuals.
c) His trolls are typically wild hair questions on obscure and meaningless points of negligible utility. "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" is a deeply meaningful discussion by comparison.
d) When he sets the hook, his threads can go on..... and on.... and on, with no meaningful results.

So, my 'response' is to suggest *not* rising to the bait.

Perhaps YOU could resist responding and allow others the same decision.

 

[Stijn De Jong]

On Mon, 20 Mar 2017 14:53:09 +0100, Carlos E. R. wrote:

Instead, I tap "more options", which displays the same list of SSIDs in
white background instead of black. There I switch off the WiFi, than on
again, and it instantly connects to my WiFi remembering its password.

This behaviour started about last November or December.

As I recall, my WiFi used to scan and show all the WiFi networks, and for
those that I tapped on, it would first ask for the password and then always
remember it from thence forward.

Now, it won't even scan, and yet, other apps (like Fritz WLAN) see the AP
SSIDs quite clearly, and, if I *connect* to the network once manually into
Android WiFi settings, then it remembers it from thence forward.

Funnily, if I don't connect, then it won't remember neither the SSID nor
the passphrase, which is odd to say the least.

Anyway, my next factory refresh should solve whatever setting it was that
screwed it up. I screw with Android settings often so this is just a nit in
the scheme of things. I just don't understand why as what Jeff noted is
good but I don't think it applied to my situation (which itself,
admittedly, is different than most since I screw with settings all the
time).

 

On Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:08:33 -0800, Stijn De Jong
<stijndekonlng@nlnet.nl> wrote:

I can certainly manually press the default Android 4.3 "Add Wi-Fi network"
and then it will connect to any network I manually type in, but it won't
*find* a network on its own anymore, even though the signal strength is
clearly in the negative forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies (i.e., the
signal strength is just fine).
http://i.cubeupload.com/lYvIsQ.jpg

I realize probably nobody knows the answer but just in case you do, what
service on Android does the WiFi access-point scanning anyway?

I cant answer your question, but I want to ask. Do you like Android?

I bought one of those low priced generic brand notepad computers.
(Android). I personally do not like it. It works, but seems very clumsy,
lacks a lot of the things that Windows has, and seems to severely lack
any support.

That notepad now takes up space in my closet, and I went back to my 8
year old Windows XP laptop computer. It does so much more, does it
easier, and has a lot more support.

Android seems to be on a lot of devices these days, but I am surely NOT
impressed by it.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[Carlos E. R.]

On 2017-03-22 09:17, oldschool@tubes.com wrote:

I cant answer your question, but I want to ask. Do you like Android?

I bought one of those low priced generic brand notepad computers.
(Android). I personally do not like it. It works, but seems very clumsy,
lacks a lot of the things that Windows has, and seems to severely lack
any support.

That notepad now takes up space in my closet, and I went back to my 8
year old Windows XP laptop computer. It does so much more, does it
easier, and has a lot more support.

Android seems to be on a lot of devices these days, but I am surely NOT
impressed by it.

IMHO, a tablet is not a "work computer". I don't see it for writing
reports or calc sheets. However, it is very good for reading things,
watching videos... and in that role, Android is a much better OS than
any Windows.

While saying that, remember that XP is _not_ supported.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 03:17:20 -0500, oldschool@tubes.com wrote:

Do you like Android?

I bought one of those low priced generic brand notepad computers.
(Android). I personally do not like it. It works, but seems very clumsy,
lacks a lot of the things that Windows has, and seems to severely lack
any support.

What things that you need to do is lacking in Android? That does not
mean which programs do you want to run. It's more like "what do you
want to do with your computah"?

If you're looking for a Windoze replacement, I suggest you look at a
Chromebook. It's similar to Android, but currently does not run
Android apps. Chromebooks are cheap, totally functional, cheap, used
heavily in skools, cheap, and do most things that you might need. No,
they don't run Windoze programs, but there are equivalents available.
<http://stores.ebay.com/Acer/Chromebooks-/_i.html?_fsub=7070078010>
<http://acerrecertified.com/chromebooks/>
Did I mention that they're cheap? The big catch is that you need a
full time internet connection for it to work well. If you're on
dialup, forget it. Most everything is done in the cloud, which can
also become a security and privacy risk if misconfigured.

I recently bought yet another Chromebook for my own use. One like
this for $185.
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-15-6-Intel-Celeron-1-50-GHz-4-GB-Ram-16-GB-SSD-Chrome-OS-CB5-571-C1DZ-/272203918118>
It's a little to big to drag around so I'll be keeping my smaller Acer
C720 (about $175 used) for looking cool at the coffee shop. I also
have a small collection of ancient Samsung Chromebooks, which I loan
to customers to try. Slow, but good enough.

Lack of support is a common problem. With Windoze, you probably need
support as there are so many glitches and oddities. While your XP
machine has had about 15 years to fix things and is probably
manageable, the newer machines running Windoze 10 are an abomination.
Look at it this way... if your new computer requires support in order
to function, you're doing something wrong. If it works correctly, it
shouldn't need support. Look at it another way... if skool kids can
run a Chromebook, you should also be able to run one.
"Google's Chromebooks make up half of US classroom devices sold"
<http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/03/googles-chromebooks-make-up-half-of-us-classroom-devices.html>

If you're looking for programs, start at the Google Chrome store:
<https://chrome.google.com/webstore/>
and search for something. Basically, the way a Chromebooks works is
that it will run anything that can be run inside the Chrome web
browser. If it's available for Chrome as a web app or extension, then
it will run. Web printing is a bit bizarre, but tolerable once you
realize the your Chromebook doesn't need to drag around megabloats of
printer drivers for every conceivable printer just to print.

As for tablets, I have a Google Nexus 7 Android tablet. Actually, I
have several other high end tablets, all sitting in the closet. The
only things I use the tablet for is wireless trouble shooting and
playing Solitaire. Otherwise, it's a PITA to use without a keyboard.
Enough about tablets.

If you decide to rush out and buy a Chromebook, please buy one with
4GB of RAM, not 2GB. Like XP, ChromeOS is growing and 2GB is too
small for decent performance.

Anyway, just visit any skool or ask any skool kid for a demonstration.

Incidentally, most of the Chromebooks I've resold or advised customer
to purchase were purchased as a "spare" laptop to take on trips.
Getting a really expensive laptop stolen on a trip can be a big
problem. So, instead of dragging a $1,000 Windoze laptop on a trip
just to use email, they carry a $150-$300 Chromebook instead. If it's
stolen, it's not a major loss.

Also, ChromeOS will eventually be able to run Android and possibly
Windoze apps. Google is slooooowly working on it.
<https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/chrome-os-systems-supporting-android-apps>
There are currently only 3 models that will run Android apps. I tried
an Acer R11 and was not impressed.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

That's progress.

 

On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 08:11:51 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

What things that you need to do is lacking in Android? That does not
mean which programs do you want to run. It's more like "what do you
want to do with your computah"?

It's been almost 2 years since I bought that Android notebook. It's been
in the closet for well over a year now. So, it's hard to remember what
all the quirks were. I bought it because I need to use a WIFI spot
regularly (only dialup at home). I dont like leaving my laptop computer
in the car because it can get damaged, since there is not place to sit
it in the car where it's safe. But that notepad fits in the glove box
and was pretty safe there. The other reason I bought it was so I always
had a camera handy.

What I do remember is that I found it would connect to the WIFI, but the
browser was not easy to use. I found I could install something more
familiar (Firefox), but doing the installation was something I could not
figure out. Its not just a matter of downloading it and running the
installer, (like in Windows). I did fight with it and managed to watch
some youtube videos. Saving them was not possible, like it is with
Firefox. When I did save something and wanted to copy it to computer,
that again was near impossible.

Then came the camera. The stupid thing was only for selfies. I have
absolutely no need for that. I turned it around and without seeing what
I was shooting, I snapped some pics of my yard, in good light. The pics
were absolutely horrid, grainy and lousy.

The other thing I remember was that since it'sd owned by Google, I was
constantly having google trying to get me to download games. I dont play
games at all, and that was very annoying.

Overall, it was a waste of money. I should list it on Craigslist and get
what I can for it. I just went back to what I have always done. Take my
laptop to town when I want to use WIFI, and keep my digital camera in my
glove box. I also have an inverter so I can connect my laptop to the car
battery to charge the battery.

I dont care if XP is not supported. It works, works well, and personally
I would not even want any of Microsoft's newer bloated operating
systems. I know Windows 10 is filled with MS spyware, but it seemed to
me that Android was filled with google spyware too.

 

[nospam]

In article <mag5dcd5rntgp7a1rg7jlh3sq0lu20j9vp@4ax.com>,
<oldschool@tubes.com> wrote:

It's been almost 2 years since I bought that Android notebook. It's been
in the closet for well over a year now. So, it's hard to remember what
all the quirks were. I bought it because I need to use a WIFI spot
regularly (only dialup at home). I dont like leaving my laptop computer
in the car because it can get damaged, since there is not place to sit
it in the car where it's safe. But that notepad fits in the glove box
and was pretty safe there. The other reason I bought it was so I always
had a camera handy.

What I do remember is that I found it would connect to the WIFI, but the
browser was not easy to use.

what about it wasn't easy?

I found I could install something more
familiar (Firefox), but doing the installation was something I could not
figure out. Its not just a matter of downloading it and running the
installer, (like in Windows).

it's actually easier to install apps since there is no installer. you
just download the app directly from the play store.

I did fight with it and managed to watch
some youtube videos. Saving them was not possible, like it is with
Firefox. When I did save something and wanted to copy it to computer,
that again was near impossible.

not only possible, but fairly easy.

Then came the camera. The stupid thing was only for selfies. I have
absolutely no need for that. I turned it around and without seeing what
I was shooting, I snapped some pics of my yard, in good light. The pics
were absolutely horrid, grainy and lousy.

use the camera on the back, not the front.

The other thing I remember was that since it'sd owned by Google, I was
constantly having google trying to get me to download games. I dont play
games at all, and that was very annoying.

google doesn't own your tablet.

Overall, it was a waste of money. I should list it on Craigslist and get
what I can for it. I just went back to what I have always done. Take my
laptop to town when I want to use WIFI, and keep my digital camera in my
glove box. I also have an inverter so I can connect my laptop to the car
battery to charge the battery.

I dont care if XP is not supported. It works, works well, and personally
I would not even want any of Microsoft's newer bloated operating
systems. I know Windows 10 is filled with MS spyware, but it seemed to
me that Android was filled with google spyware too.

oh, so you're a troll.

 

[mike]

On 3/22/2017 1:17 AM, oldschool@tubes.com wrote:

On Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:08:33 -0800, Stijn De Jong
stijndekonlng@nlnet.nl> wrote:

I can certainly manually press the default Android 4.3 "Add Wi-Fi network"
and then it will connect to any network I manually type in, but it won't
*find* a network on its own anymore, even though the signal strength is
clearly in the negative forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies (i.e., the
signal strength is just fine).
http://i.cubeupload.com/lYvIsQ.jpg

I realize probably nobody knows the answer but just in case you do, what
service on Android does the WiFi access-point scanning anyway?

I cant answer your question, but I want to ask. Do you like Android?

I bought one of those low priced generic brand notepad computers.
(Android). I personally do not like it. It works, but seems very clumsy,
lacks a lot of the things that Windows has, and seems to severely lack
any support.

That notepad now takes up space in my closet, and I went back to my 8
year old Windows XP laptop computer. It does so much more, does it
easier, and has a lot more support.

Android seems to be on a lot of devices these days, but I am surely NOT
impressed by it.

Just my 2 cents!

Summary: I use my tablet a lot more than I thought I would.

Tablets come in two sizes.
1) too small to read and operate with fat fingers.
2) too big/heavy to hold comfortably.

The obvious solution is to have two or four.

For the first case, portability is a big plus.

Voice capability is amazing.
I almost never have to pull a book off the shelf.
I can get a conversion factor or food recipe just by asking.
Even nonsense questions get answers. "How many milliliters in a week?"
gets you everything you ever wanted to know about testosterone and baby
formula. Both the cause and effect are covered. ;-)

I've been experimenting with an app called listnote.
It does a pretty amazing job on English text with normal
sentence structure. People bitch about how horrible speech
recognition is. If you want to trip it up, it's certainly easy to
do.
If you try to work at the level it comprehends, it works
amazingly well.
Hmmm, wonder if we could get newsgroup participants to cooperate
that way...but I digress.
I type a lot faster than I can type.
The amount of work needed to fix up my typos and dyslexia is on par
with the amount to fix up voice recognition. Great for
communication, but will be problematic if you need the nuance
required to get that Pulitzer or Nobel-worthy chemistry paper.

Another benefit of typing with one finger is that it forces you to
THINK about what you're saying and present it concisely. That alone
would greatly enhance the newsgroup experience for all. Newsgroup
readers also need a big button: "I've purged my indignation, so
shitcan my outrage and move to the next topic." Or maybe we have
to pay a nickel for each time we hit the send key. Wouldn't take
long for some of us to reassess the value of our "contribution." ;-)

For the second case, a bluetooth keyboard/mouse solves the user
interface problem. The screen is big enough to see.
For watching videos, I chuck mine in a vehicle headrest mount
and sit it on my stomach while lying down.

My desktops have their uses, but 90% of my actual screen time
can be handled by a tablet. I'm gonna get a "convertible" when they
start showing up in the free box at garage sales.

I've moved away from XP. Once you get used to the changes in
the windows 7 user interface, It has a lot of helpful capability.
Even win10 has settled down to the point that I find it tolerable.
If they'd just quit forcing updates up my ass,
I'd go back to metered internet and switch to win10.

 

On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:10:15 -0700, mike <ham789@netzero.net> wrote:

Summary: I use my tablet a lot more than I thought I would.

Tablets come in two sizes.
1) too small to read and operate with fat fingers.
2) too big/heavy to hold comfortably.

SInce I'm elderly, I dont have thge best eyesight anymore. Cellphones
are way to small for me to see anything. One guy I know is always
shoving his phone in my face and saying look at this. I repeatedly have
to tell him I cant read it, and if it's a picture, I only see a blur. I
do not make a habit of carrying around my reading glasses. I only have
them on me if I plan to read something. And yea, the keys are too small
on all that stuff. I like a REAL keyboard. I always have a tough time
doing texts on my flipphone.

Anyhow, even if a laptop computer is large and hard to hold, it is much
better for me to use.

>The obvious solution is to have two or four.

Nah, too much stuff to buy and maintain.
My cellphone (flipphone) is just a phone, and that is all I really need
to have with me. But if I want to use a WIFI, I have to plan in advance
and bring my laptop with me. That's not always convenient, but it works.
Besides that, owning a smartphone is too costly for my budget. I mostly
just have a cellphone for emergency calls, but it does come in handy to
call businesses to see if they have what I need, or if they are open,
(when I am not home). But a prepaid cellphone is fairly cheap as long as
the calls are short, whereas a contract for a smartphone is costly,
especially when they allow for enough data to actually watch videos or
spend considerable time shopping ebay or something like that.

These days, a person almost MUST have at least a basic cellphone,
because there are no longer any pay phones, and in an emergency one
needs some way to contact for help. But if I want to call and talk to a
friend for an hour, I use my landline. I must keep my landline, because
where I live (rural area), cellphone service is poor. Heck, a couple
years ago, I saw smoke coming out of a building and could not get a cell
signal, and there were no pay phones. By the time I drove to a place
where I could get a phone signal, that building was entirely in flames
and it was a total loss.

I later spoke with someone from the fire dept, and was told that they
have been trying to get a cell tower in that area for years and all they
get is a runaround. He said the population is too small to make it
profitable. I proceeded to complain about why they removed the pay phone
in that town, which was still there about 7 years ago, when they knew
that there is no cell service there. He said they fought that with the
local phone company too, and was told that pay phones were no longer
maintained. Personally, none of that makes any sense.... Why was there
better service back in the days before 2010? And why is maintaining a
pay phone so difficult? It could have prevented a major fire, and could
even save a life. STUPID STUPID....

 

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <36k5dchl0pusjbb9lm1tdnhn84003qlo72@4ax.com>,
oldschool@tubes.com says...

The obvious solution is to have two or four.

Nah, too much stuff to buy and maintain.
My cellphone (flipphone) is just a phone, and that is all I really need
to have with me. But if I want to use a WIFI, I have to plan in advance
and bring my laptop with me. That's not always convenient, but it works.
Besides that, owning a smartphone is too costly for my budget. I mostly
just have a cellphone for emergency calls, but it does come in handy to
call businesses to see if they have what I need, or if they are open,
(when I am not home). But a prepaid cellphone is fairly cheap as long as
the calls are short, whereas a contract for a smartphone is costly,
especially when they allow for enough data to actually watch videos or
spend considerable time shopping ebay or something like that.

For a smart phone, check out Republic wireless. About $ 15 a month for
one plan. You get unlimiated talk and text. When around wifi you get
free wifi data. If you are in a bind and really need the internet when
there is no wifi around you can instantally switch plans and then back
to basic later.

I got lucky and got in on some of the first of it and have the plan for
$ 10 per month.

I find I use my smart phone to keep up the the apointments I have. One
thing that almost makes it pay for its self is the Walmart money back
app. Take a pix of the bar code and a few dys later Walmart will check
to see if any other store has a cheeper price. If so you get the
difference. I usually save about $ 2 or more per week on a $ 200
grocery bill.


https://republicwireless.com/cell-phone-plans/

 

[tlvp]

On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:06:37 -0400, nospam wrote:

> use the camera on the back, not the front.

Many's the device with but a single camera, on one side only.
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

 

[nospam]

In article <MPG.333cc921d8483c669898a7@news.east.earthlink.net>, Ralph
Mowery <rmowery28146@earthlink.net> wrote:

For a smart phone, check out Republic wireless. About $ 15 a month for
one plan.

republic wireless requires specific phones which are modified to work
with their service.

> You get unlimiated talk and text.

but no data.

data costs extra, as much as $90/mo for 10 gig data.

When around wifi you get
free wifi data.

one need not sign up with any service to use wifi, which may not
necessarily be free.