Ethernet Disconnects when Phone Locked, Also Want Full USB C passive Hub Support

General Discussion
1

I have switched to using Ethernet-exclusively for my Android phone (Brax3) when not on the go. I’ve noticed that when I lock it/turn the screen off when not using it, my phone has dropped the Ethernet connection and has to re-establish it once I wake & unlock it. (Reconnection usually has taken any where from 5 to 15 seconds.)

The phone is running iodeIS 6.3 (I know it’s not the most recent OS version).

I’m particularly concerned. Why would something that is hardwire-connected disconnect, whereas WiFi is not interrupted at all? It also means that I am unable to get alerts for potential emergency/high-priority situations if they arise.

I have 2 issues stemming from what I’ve experienced.

First, I am unsure whether the base issue (“sleepy Ethernet” if you will) is hardware or software driven. I’ve found nothing conclusive.

Second, I want to use a USB C hub like this: Amazon.com

… so that I can have Ethernet, charging, and can plug in a photostick simultaneously. The same question (harware or software limitation?) has arisen trying to figure out how to achieve that.

As regards the first issue, is a newer version of iodeOS likely to fix the issue of Ethernet disconnecting when the phone/screen is locked? The issue has persisted with Airplane mode on and off. (See below for comparative test results with iPhone.)

As regards the second issue, I reached out to UGREEN directly and they said it’s best to check with the phone manufacturer to confirm functionality of the USB C port on the phone. Beyond that, I presume it’s also wise to check the software for any limitations?

Has anyone had success using a passive hub (such as the one above) on a phone running iodeOS - utilizing power AND data simultaneously as I describe?

Ethernet Test Results with iPhone:
As reference, I tried the same Ethernet connection experiment on an iPhone (It has a lightning port which makes the results all the more interesting since I have an Ethernet to USB C adapter… I had to use a USB to Lightning adapter to even get Ethernet on the device).
While certain activities (e.g. receiving calls) do not wake the iPhone when Airplane mode is enabled, they DO wake it when Airplane mode is off and the iPhone is connected to Ethernet (Cellular, and WiFi are both turned off from inside the System Settings App when I’ve done tests with/without Airplane mode).

2

I think this is a good question to see if others have used a USB-C multi-port dock to have ethernet and data on the device, so let’s see if we get some replies on that.

But to the software issue, I do know there have been a lot of development fixes since the original v6.3 build for the Brax3, notably a FIX for WPA2 authentication for various wifi APs / routers. I am not certain what your motivation for not using wifi is, but if it is “because it doesn’t connect” then please do update.

Maybe there is a different specific reason why you do not update to v7.2 (newest release)? I can’t say if it will have any bearing on the “USB-C ethernet adapter not waking up”, but we don’t officially support the old build anymore.

Here is my boilerplate explanation of how to move from v6.x to v7.x:

To upgrade to version 7, you need to first install an update to the “Updater app” itself, as described in our iodé 7 release announcement: iodéOS 7 is Now Officially Available! - iodé So follow the link there to install the “v6-to-v7.apk” and then the upgrade to 7.2 should proceed.

The reason this one-time manual process is needed is due to LineageOS (our upstream source) making a change that disabled major version upgrades by default.

3

While I have not performed detailed testing, I’m not seeing this ethernet issue on 7.2.

My Brax3 stays connected, while locked for 10 minutes, and was immediatly available unpon wake. I’m using a generic USB-C adapter that identifies as the following:

Bus 002 Device 010: ID 0bda:8153 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 3.00
bDeviceClass 0
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 9
idVendor 0x0bda Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
idProduct 0x8153 RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
bcdDevice 31.00
iManufacturer 1 Realtek
iProduct 2 USB 10/100/1000 LAN
iSerial 6 0012638E7
bNumConfigurations 2

When I speed test, I get 350-450Mbps, and my internet connection is 500Mbps max. So maybe this is corrected in 7.2, compared to the 6.x series, or maybe it’s adapter-chipset related.

The only USB hub I have is my Apple USB-C to USB/HDMI/Power. When I connect it, nothing gets passed through. The Brax3 DOES recognize it, and USB Device Control screen does indicate something connected, but nether power, nor USB stick get’s passed. We already know Video is NOT SUPPORTED, per the specs on the Brax3.

I would suggest you follow @rik and do an update, and possibly half of your issue will go away.

That’s the best I can do for you here.

4

Thanks @rik and @papercut. I can download the update for 7.2 via the updater over the next day and see if that resolves the issue.

I will note though, for clarity, that the Ethernet icon re-appears on the Lock Screen after a few seconds most of the time when my Brax3 is woken. It’s the fact that the icon completely disappears (and that things like calls or messages don’t wake the screen or trigger vibration on vibration mode) that raises doubt that it truly stays connected.

Hopefully the update resolves that issue and my Ethernet is uninterrupted as @papercut seems to indicate.

Has 7.2 otherwise been pretty stable? I’m usually not one to jump right on updates immediately after release.

I agree, as well, it would be great to see some tests from other users with multi-port docks/hubs.

As far as WiFi goes, I’ve had no issues. I’ve actually been able to connect to a hotspot that uses WPA3 with no problems.

5

I downloaded the Updater update and installed it. That part was very quick. However, my Updater app only shows iodeOS 7.1, not 7.2. When I try to download that update, I got an error that said “The download failed. Please check your internet connection and try again later.”

Not sure why that’s happening. I’ve got internet… did a speed test and it has clocked at 60 to 70 Mbps

6

It has been stable for me

7

I think, and @rik can probably confirm, that after you update with 7.1 you have to either swap the “update app” back out or something. I just manually downloaded and installed 7.2. Now everything is back to normal. But please verify that with others first.

8

Can you refresh the update list by tapping the “circle arrow” in the top middle of the Updater to see if v7.2 will show? I am also checking with the developers for some clarification.

9

Hi @rik and @papercut…. I’ve got an interesting additional detail to explain here.

I’ve been watching my phone more closely when connected to Ethernet. It appears the “sleepiness” of the Ethernet goes a little as follows: Sometimes certain processes trigger the Ethernet connection to be drawn upon even when the phone is locked. For example, I have a note app that syncs between my computer and my Brax3; and when I am making notes the Ethernet actually starts engaging with my phone though it is locked. I even wake the screen with the lock button and see the Ethernet symbol!

So the strange thing is that an activity like that establishes the connection, while something like an XMPP message or incoming call don’t trigger anything at all.

Also @rik, I did try refreshing the updater and it does not pull 7.2.

10

The developers replied asking if you could try this to get the v7.2 update to show:

  1. “Long press Updater icon > AppInfo > Storage and cache > Clear storage”. This will clear out any cache and fully reset the app.

Then start it again and see if v7.2 shows (clicking the “circle arrow” to refresh if needed).

If that still doesn’t work, then do this:

  1. “Long press Updater icon > AppInfo > Mobile data usage > Allow network access”: Turn “off” and then “turn on” again.

Then once again recheck the Updater app.

11

Hi @rik, I tried step 1 and Cleared Storage. After relaunching the updater, v 7.2 still does not show up.

As for option 2, I don’t have a SIM in my Brax, so I don’t see a Mobile Data Usage option to turn off/then on again. I tried going into WiFi usage to switch Allow Network Access on/off just to see if it would do anything. After relaunching, v 7.2 does not appear.

I also tried re clearing Storage, updating the Updater app, then launched it. Issue persists.

Does iode need a wireless connection to install the update (as opposed to Ethernet)? I tried downloading v7.1 again for the sake of trying, and I got the “Download failed. Please check your internet connection and try again.” message

12

Hi @rik, thinking out loud here… and perhaps this is my common sense trying to contribute (aside from just software)… If the Lightning port on an iPhone (recent models, to several years old) can be used with an Ethernet adapter to connect it to the internet, and the iPhone still receive calls & miscellaneous notifications when locked and exclusively on Ethernet, we’d have to consider what we know about Lightning.

I did a quick search, and Lightning allows for Power Delivery up to 20W (charging), while USB 2.0 allows for up to 100W charging if it’s rated for that level of Power Delivery.

Data transfer-wise, Lightning is capped at 480 Mbps, and USB 2.0 is as well.

Therefore, Lightning is technically inferior to USB 2.0… at least the higher Power Delivery versions of USB 2.0.

One variable outside of the port on the phone, obviously, would be the chip in the Ethernet adapter - I presume all adapters have something like that. Perhaps some newer adapters (or even inexpensive multiport hubs) have chips which require some specific hardware specs in the phone beyond the port itself, which have to work with the port to function as we’d expect.

If that’s true, the issue may not even be the phone software (OS version) per se. It may be specific hardware in the phone other than the USB C port.
However, USB 2.0’s superiority doesn’t rule of software as the potential issue.