Can I configure Gmail in Android to recieve emails on wi-fi access when cellular is unavailable

[lesorkim]

I get this at work too . . .so I just keep my S3 on LTE.

Well... two things,
1. from my original post "I have nearly zero cell reception at work", and
2. Why run up data costs when free wi-fi is available?

Since we have determined that this is unique to our wireless connection point here, we are going to look into that a little more.

 

[OWybPPgO]

Well... two things,
1. from my original post "I have nearly zero cell reception at work", and
2. Why run up data costs when free wi-fi is available?

Since we have determined that this is unique to our wireless connection point here, we are going to look into that a little more.

I wasn't suggesting you follow my example, just giving you my data point to agree that it definitely can be the work network interfering with some google services.

As to point 2 - I have unlimited. I would use wifi if it behaved as well for me, but it doesn't.

 

[unlmtdRW]

@worwig & @lesorkim,
This issue has gotten me curious, so I've been poking around the "interwebs" seeing if there's any helpful tidbits out there (mainly to satisfy my own curiousity, but also to contribute anything useful here if I can). I'm intrigued by worwig's description of the way he believes Google's activesync works -- relying on cell network reception for notifications to nudge phone to receive emails as opposed to relying on the data connection -- and I'll admit to being a bit of a geek when it comes to finding out "why" something works or doesn't.
I came across a Gmail synching troubleshooting guide from Google Support (here) and by their description,

"The Gmail app needs an active data connection (mobile network or Wi-Fi) to sustain auto-sync.

• Make sure your device is not in Airplane mode.
• Make sure your device has a working signal.
• Verify that your device can get online (try going to a website in Browser)."

... it does not explicitly mention cell reception, however the check for "Airplane mode" and "working signal" certainly might imply this.
I guess this is not really helpful, more food-for-thought genre. If anyone else knows something more concrete, I'm interested.

 

[lesorkim]

UnlmtdRW: I really appreciate your tenacity on this issue. My posting at Google's own forum for their product has gone unanswered entirely. I am going to be out later today and will purposefully try a couple other wifi locations to see if it (as expected) works perfectly. I know the network admin here asked his CISCO buddy to see what they knew about this - but no new info yet.

 

[mobdad]

Had this posted over at Google Help, but does not seem to be a pool of knowledgible people, like here!

Gmail 4.1.2, Andriod 4.0.4, Samsung Galaxy Siii phone, Verison Wireless.
At my work cubicle I have nearly zero cellular reception. HOWEVER when I am at work, most times, I am connected to the company wi-fi.

When I send an email from work email account to my Gmail account I generally never get it until I move through a part of the building with cell reception or go outside. However, at my desk, if I launch gmail AND click the refresh button at the bottom left of the app it will find the sent email.

I am guessing that this forces a "sync" (? right word?) with my gmail account via wi-fi/internet? If this is correct, can I change a setting somewhere that syncs my emails via cell, and then wi-fi if not available? (and if so, can we adjust the frequency that it forces a sync via wi-fi, something like once every few minutes.

The phone will typically choose a WiFi connection over a cellular data connection when they're both available. Your problem may have occurred because you either are not synching your account automatically or the frequency is a long time (You can sync automatically as frequently as every 5 minutes OR you can set it for as infrequent as once a day).

 

[lesorkim]

You can sync automatically as frequently as every 5 minutes OR you can set it for as infrequent as once a day.

Anyone know where the input for how often sync occurs is on the SGS3? I had already anticiapted there might be something like this and looked for it but did not see anything.

 

[OWybPPgO]

@worwig & @lesorkim,
This issue has gotten me curious, so I've been poking around the "interwebs" seeing if there's any helpful tidbits out there (mainly to satisfy my own curiousity, but also to contribute anything useful here if I can). I'm intrigued by worwig's description of the way he believes Google's activesync works -- relying on cell network reception for notifications to nudge phone to receive emails as opposed to relying on the data connection -- and I'll admit to being a bit of a geek when it comes to finding out "why" something works or doesn't.
I came across a Gmail synching troubleshooting guide from Google Support (here) and by their description,

"The Gmail app needs an active data connection (mobile network or Wi-Fi) to sustain auto-sync.

• Make sure your device is not in Airplane mode.
• Make sure your device has a working signal.
• Verify that your device can get online (try going to a website in Browser)."

... it does not explicitly mention cell reception, however the check for "Airplane mode" and "working signal" certainly might imply this.
I guess this is not really helpful, more food-for-thought genre. If anyone else knows something more concrete, I'm interested.

You don't need cell service. Last summer I was in locations with no cell service at all, only wifi, and I was able to receive gmail push notifications.

 

[unlmtdRW]

Anyone know where the input for how often sync occurs is on the SGS3? I had already anticiapted there might be something like this and looked for it but did not see anything.

In the stock email app, you can set this: Settings > your account > Data usage > Check email frequency. But in the Gmail app there is no such animal; sync is either on or off.

 

[unlmtdRW]

You don't need cell service. Last summer I was in locations with no cell service at all, only wifi, and I was able to receive gmail push notifications.

That's kinda what I thought, until worwig's post started me wondering.

 

[anthony2558]

After reading the entire post, i def feel that your problem is related to your work IP/Network. My job blocks tons of stuff, one of them is not Gmail tho. So one day with my old Thunderbolt i plugged the USB cable into the computer and utilized its internet pass through. Well every page that is blocked via works network was blocked on the cell phone. It def seems that your issue is stemming from your works network.

 

[jermajesty]

The problem is your work wifi. I have the same problem at work. The building is an old radar test building and is faraday caged so no EM signals go in or out. My provider has setup repeaters inside so I have perfect cell signal. The wifi is faster and easier on the battery so I use it.

There are two wifi options for me: the company network and the guest that is supposedly unblocked. The firewall will not let the Gmail push signals through. That port is apparently shut off on both networks. Everything else works (web Gmail, manual refreshes, etc). Interesting test would be to install Chrome and add the Gmail extension that puts an icon with unread count on the upper right corner. My company network will not let that extension see Gmail. Probably the same issue.

It's your company firewall.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Android Central Forums

 

[cnlson]

What appears to be happening is that you are falling back to "sync" which only happens sporatically. Gmail is a push app, which means that a push notification (MQTT protocol i believe) is sent from the gmail servers and if your work network does not pass it, then your phone will not know until "sync" occurs which can be hours. if you go to the accounts & sync and click on the account you will see the last time various items are sync'd, in my case calendar sync'd 10/9 4:13pm chrome this morning at 6:45am, gmail slightly before at 6:31, Drive 10/8 10:19am.

with tasker i believe you may be able to force a sync on everything by toggling sync off and back on at a specific interval. I use llama and it has the ability to create an action like that. might want to try that.

 

[OWybPPgO]

There are two wifi options for me: the company network and the guest that is supposedly unblocked. The firewall will not let the Gmail push signals through. That port is apparently shut off on both networks. Everything else works (web Gmail, manual refreshes, etc). Interesting test would be to install Chrome and add the Gmail extension that puts an icon with unread count on the upper right corner. My company network will not let that extension see Gmail. Probably the same issue.

Yeah, I think our network is set up the same way. Does GTalk work for you on your phone on your company wifi? How about the Play Store?
I find I don't get notifications of incoming chats, which is probably the same port as the gmail push. The Play Store is flaky - sometimes is works, sometimes not.

 

[jermajesty]

I don't use GTalk much. It shows me offline, but I can see that everyone else's status. I doubt a notification would get through. Google Play works fine, but I have had problems in the past with downloads. It will show me that I have updates, and then have trouble downloading anything.

 

[OWybPPgO]

I don't use GTalk much. It shows me offline, but I can see that everyone else's status. I doubt a notification would get through. Google Play works fine, but I have had problems in the past with downloads. It will show me that I have updates, and then have trouble downloading anything.

Yep, that sounds just like what I see with my work firewall.

 

[lesorkim]

Gmail is a push app, which means that a push notification (MQTT protocol i believe) is sent from the gmail servers and if your work network does not pass it, . . . with tasker i believe you may be able to force a sync on everything by toggling sync off and back on at a specific interval. I use llama and it has the ability to create an action like that. might want to try that.

I unloaded Tasker just the other day to make sure it was not messing with anything related to this issue, but I could reinstall it now. Might even try Llama. So what would the downside be to a task: IF phone sees work SSID, THEN turn Sync on then off every 5 minutes. Just battery use. How much could that be. Other issues?

BTW, I went to the library today and while on their wifi with my mobile data turned off I recieved gmail. I think it is now conclusive that it is NOT the phone, but rather the work wifi configuration.

 

[OWybPPgO]

I unloaded Tasker just the other day to make sure it was not messing with anything related to this issue, but I could reinstall it now. Might even try Llama. So what would the downside be to a task: IF phone sees work SSID, THEN turn Sync on then off every 5 minutes. Just battery use. How much could that be. Other issues?

BTW, I went to the library today and while on their wifi with my mobile data turned off I recieved gmail. I think it is now conclusive that it is NOT the phone, but rather the work wifi configuration.

Does turning sync on trigger an immediate sync? I might try that. I already have an "at work" tasker profile.

 

[OWybPPgO]

This looks interesting:
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...hoursdevelopers.android.synker&token=05s6BJA1

I was able to use it to force a sync from tasker, now I need to get it to run periodically.

 

[cnlson]

Does turning sync on trigger an immediate sync? I might try that. I already have an "at work" tasker profile.

It does for me.

 

[lesorkim]

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...wiY29tLnJlcHRpbGVzb2Z0LnBhcyJd&token=Le5_0TyX
Here's an app called Periodic Sync that I am going to check out.
EDIT: Never mind, that's not going to work.