How to get better battery life on your Optimus

**TVCCS** · 02-09-2011, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by Davidc32188

I do not have good wifi at my institution so I leave 3g on. I need the phone to have service so I can do my job and communicate so if wifi is not dependable than my only option is 3g. Wifi eats up more battery so I have been told anyway.

Someone please tell me what this 1x thing is all about. What applications or setting changes would help me save battery on the LG Optimus V?

Honestly, on a full charge I get about 7 hours tops. Pathetic!

I am thinking about just buying a duplicate battery for $20 and throwing one on the battery charger I have and bring it as a spare to school with me, because I am not around outlets and I do not have the time to plug in my phone because I am always moving locations. So if no one has any suggestions my suggestion is to buy an additional battery and have it charged and ready to go for mid day.

Someone has to have a smart idea out there...........

There's a small app called Network that allows you to easily switch the phone to 1x CDMA only, which keeps the phone from hunting for a 3G signal, the main cause of battery drain. Also get rid of Live Wallpaper if you have it. There's also an app called Juice Defender that helps with battery issues people are reporting success with.

Here's a link to the little Network app:

https://market.android.com/details?i...ngelow.network

Just enter that and switch to CDMA Only. The phone will then use the slower (but still useful) 1x network, not be hunting for 3G all the time, and save power...and battery life.

**Davidc32188** · 02-10-2011, 02:29 AM

When I go under settings > applications > running services > I can then see Google voice running, free advanced task killer running, touch to talk running, and a few other apps including some of the default system apps that come preinstalled on the phone, where running and shouldn’t those apps not be running because I killed them.

Not only are they running, but they have been for more than 3 hours. I need a task killer that will block these apps from running, otherwise my battery is screwed and so am I for the time being.

Can anyone tell me if this is a problem with my phone or if it is the "free advanced task killer" app?

P.S. Studies show more battery life is saved depending on the quality of connection, this means that wifi is only useful if it is stronger than 3g and 3g is only useful if it is stronger than wifi. Useful in terms of preserving battery life.

**iyakin** · 02-10-2011, 04:47 AM

Quick question about switching from 1x to 3G. I know when we use the Network app to switch from 3G to 1x, it just happens, no reboot necessary. When switching from 1x to 3G, should it work the same way? Or do I need to restart my phone each time I want to switch back to 3G?

I changed the Network setting, waited and waited, but it stuck to 1x.. When I rebooted, 3G showed up.

**oldpot** · 02-10-2011, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by Davidc32188

:help and a few other apps including some of the default system apps that come preinstalled on the phone, where running and shouldn’t those apps not be running because I killed them.

Not only are they running, but they have been for more than 3 hours. I need a task killer that will block these apps from running, otherwise my battery is screwed and so am I for the time being.

me too is there any app out there for that to stop them running full stop without rooting phone ?

**luckyhaskins** · 02-10-2011, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by oldpot

me too is there any app out there for that to stop them running full stop without rooting phone ?

There is a good bit of chat about this on the net, so I wont go too much into it. Running apps are not always a bad thing. They can actually be a good thing. Start with this link...

http://lifehacker.com/#!5650894/andr...uldnt-use-them

There is also a debate going on about whether changing the Wifi settings to "always on" saves battery. Some say it does (especially if you have a bad 3G connection). I'm not sure if I agree with that or not. I've always had pretty good luck with just letting Android manage things. I'm a light user though so I don't have much battery trouble.

**oldroadfan** · 02-10-2011, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Davidc32188

When I go under settings > applications > running services > I can then see Google voice running, free advanced task killer running, touch to talk running, and a few other apps including some of the default system apps that come preinstalled on the phone, where running and shouldn’t those apps not be running because I killed them.

Not only are they running, but they have been for more than 3 hours. I need a task killer that will block these apps from running, otherwise my battery is screwed and so am I for the time being.

Can anyone tell me if this is a problem with my phone or if it is the "free advanced task killer" app?

P.S. Studies show more battery life is saved depending on the quality of connection, this means that wifi is only useful if it is stronger than 3g and 3g is only useful if it is stronger than wifi. Useful in terms of preserving battery life.

Going back to your original concerns about "unacceptable battery loss," are you coming from another smartphone, feature phone, dumb phone or what? I am coming from a dumb phone and I could get days (and I mean days) of calling and never having to worry about battery usage. At any rate, the guy that sets two desks behind me has a Sprint Droid. He said that he never makes it through a day without the battery redlining. He told me "smartphones are computers, GPS's, cell phones and everything else rolled into one." He then asked, "could your laptop go 6 hours on just the battery (even with the screen off for large chunks of the day)?" Of course, the answer is no. So even moderate use will kill a battery in <8 hours.

I plan on getting extra chargers, one for work, at least one car charger and a spare home charger for the bedroom.

OP - Thanks for the tips. I am trying 1X today and Opera Mini. I found a "sweet spot" at my desk where 1x actually works. Opera mini is not too easy on the eyes, IMO, however. Thanks again!

**gvc** · 02-10-2011, 11:20 AM

this is probably just a coincidence, but I lost MMS availability recently and the only thing I did that I can think of that may have something to do with that is use the *#*#4636#*#* to change to cdma only. I had MMS working before. went back to cdma auto but still dont have MMS. dont know if switching to cdma only killed it or not, most likely just normal VM problems.

**TCAT** · 02-10-2011, 12:46 PM

When I use the "Network" app I can switch to CDMA and my notification bar goes to 1X, I switch back to auto, and it changes to 3G within 10 seconds. My phone finally hit 1% at 88 hours, had to use the car charge at lunch today. I could have made it 4 days, but I used Navigation this morning for 10 minutes, that did me in.

If you have an app manager that tells you how much CPU various apps are using (Watchdog), you'll see that many running apps do not use any juice. You can kill them and many are "programmed" to come right back on (not sure why if you don't use them).

**oldroadfan** · 02-10-2011, 01:09 PM

I think that my issue with the Optimus V is that my building is so stoutly constructed (concrete block walls, rebar re-enforced columns, thick roof and floors, that no matter if I am on 1x or 3G, the radios are using lots of power to find a good signal. Maybe I'll get a better job where I'm facing the actual outside and not a courtyard!

Seriously, I walk 5' out of the building and it goes from no bars 1X to full bars 3G!

**idbl_fanatic** · 02-10-2011, 01:40 PM

I dunno about this, here are my speed test results between the two:

1X
Ping: 775
Down: 97
Up: 179

3G
Ping: 304
Down: 388
Up: 275

**ap3604** · 02-10-2011, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by idbl_fanatic

here are my speed test results between the two

This trick is mostly for people that want to conserve battery life instead of having 3g on all the time. For me its the same logic as turning off wifi or bluetooth or gps when your not using it to save battery life. When your not using 3g and want to save battery, turn it off until you need it

Just ran a speed test right now with both 1x and 3g and got the following similar results:

1x:
Ping: 840
Download: 126
Upload: 98

3g:
Ping: 205
Down: 183
Up: 20

Since the difference in speed is very minimal while using the Opera Mini browser I'd much rather have my phone on 1x and saving lots of battery.

**TCAT** · 02-10-2011, 02:32 PM

I just got:

1x:
Ping: 33
Download: 132
Upload: 208

3g:
Ping: 489
Down: 814
Up: 551

But I'm at work, and why use the phone when I have a PC in front of me, so 1X is adequate here.

**EnlightenedOne1** · 02-10-2011, 04:20 PM

The following won't work for everyone but it's helped my Optimus's battery life quite a bit. I have a fouth gen iPod Touch. When at home or work, I have wifi available and I keep my Touch connected at all times for any alerts and or e-mails. During this time, I turn mobile data off via the quick settings app on my Optimus. The only time I turn it on is when I need it when I'm out and about.

Currently, I'm at about 38 hours since unplugged and my battery is at 70%. My phone has been on the whole time and I've used it quite a bit for text messaging and also took 7 or 8 calls. I've also turned on 3g occasionaly to look something up and/or check facebook/twitter.

Again, this won't work for everyone but if you have another mobile device and are in wifi most of the time you can gain ALOT more battery life by simply turning mobile data off.

**Davidc32188** · 02-10-2011, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by TCAT

When I use the "Network" app I can switch to CDMA and my notification bar goes to 1X, I switch back to auto, and it changes to 3G within 10 seconds. My phone finally hit 1% at 88 hours, had to use the car charge at lunch today. I could have made it 4 days, but I used Navigation this morning for 10 minutes, that did me in.

If you have an app manager that tells you how much CPU various apps are using (Watchdog), you'll see that many running apps do not use any juice. You can kill them and many are "programmed" to come right back on (not sure why if you don't use them).

I installed this app called “Watch Dog” and it seems really good, but what should the normal or min/max CPU be on the 2.2 Android system. I uninstalled task manager apps because the 2.2 system has build in ones which I just found out today.

Yesterday I complained about battery life because I only got 7 hours, but I switched to 1x and I installed “Juice Defender” and I am already at 14 hours which is double what I got from yesterday already and the best part is I still have 45% left hahahahaha I love the feeling of not having to race home to charge this phone.
So, who knows a lot about this “Watch Dog” applications and how to best configure the settings based on a min/max CPU process?

**iyakin** · 02-11-2011, 04:21 AM

Originally Posted by K-L-M

Hello to all,

I put this information below in another thread already, but some day that thread may disappear as time goes on.
...
Other power drain notes (Battery fully charged, and using external linear regulated power source):

48mA- Phone off (note the 4 buttons are lit)

31mA- Phone on standby mode, screen off

69mA- At the 'home' screen

123mA- Screen rolling a page

75-85mA - Looking at the Settings> About Phone > Status screen (looking at signal strength change, etc.)

165mA- WiFi turned on and using it to download 1MB file. Once done drops back to 69mA

235mA- (WiFi off) Network data enabled, downloading angry birds, 4 bars reception

235mA- Using the maps app to show me where I am at. drops to 113mA when network data is idle, map on display.

155-160mA Playing Angry Birds

140mA- Phone call with 4 bars reception

275mA- Phone call with speaker phone on, 4 bars reception

Gee, the only thing I'm missing is the charging power curve!

...
Hope this helps in realizing what the demand are that we put on the phone under typical conditions. I'm delightfully surprised.

I am REALLY curious now. How did you do this? Was this with 1x, or 3G? Did you try to see how much diff there is between 1x and 3G?

I'm currently experimenting with my batt life.. did the 1x thing, was doing good, then I messed something up and my ~40% was gone in an hour :P So now I'm doing 3G, and so far, overnight with only background data turned off, I experienced 20% drain. I remember my 1x overnight took only 3ish%.. It would be nice to actually have info like yours (and be able to generate them, too) to use while trying to make sense of everything!