[FEATURE] Bluetooth / wifi connections automatically change MODE for battery saving

[zunami]

hello!

I have the problem that the battery of my smartphone runs out relatively quickly in “Move mode”. Nevertheless, I'm often in buildings where I don't move around at all. Now I have come up with the idea, as I know this from other apps, that certain functions change when you are near a certain Wifi, for example.

My feature request is:
Automatically change the mode when you are connected to a certain WiFi or a certain Bluetooth, for example. And when you disconnect again, it jumps back to the original mode. This results in a balance between accuracy where you want it (high battery consumption) to I am at a certain point (now and then gps is battery saving)

Example 1:
Home Wifi active with SSID: homeworld... = “Significant location change mode”
I go out of the house and leave the Wifi = automatic switch to “Move mode”

Example 2:
I am out of the house no Wifi or Bluetooth = “Significant location change mode”
I get into the car and it connects with Bluetooth ID Skoda... = automatic switch to “Move mode”
When I get out of the car and end this Bluetooth connection = automatic switch to “Significant location change mode”

Whenever a WIFI or Bluetooth connection is saved, the mode changes back and forth.
I think this function would bring back some battery power

[jpmens]

This has often been suggested. Our recommendation is to use Tasker or a similar app to change intents.

[zunami]

that's what i thought too. only now it's no longer so easy to use tasker because it has to overcome so many locks in android.

it would be simpler to integrate it into owntracks where it belongs? and for everyone to access it immediately

[vsatmydynipnet]

It looks like using automation tools is pretty hard meanwhile without root. running into the same problem now.

#1996

[zunami]

yes i also think it's a shame that it's not included in the app. an all in one option for better battery management.

I have now created a setting in the Tasker app in very tedious work and with AI support.
e.g. when you are in home wifi, owntracks switches to “Significant Change Mode” when you leave home wifi, owntracks switches to “Move Mode”.

here you can import it to taskernet.com
https://www.taskernet.com/?public&tags=owntrack&time=AllTime

[vsatmydynipnet]

I am not a dev, but

https://github.com/zaneschepke/wgtunnel

has all the code for wifi/mobile detection and "do something" on non trusten wlan or mobile.

changed from OpenVPN to Wireguard/WG Tunnel and have no more problems with Auto Switching on VPN when leaving home.

[zunami]

I am not a dev, but

https://github.com/zaneschepke/wgtunnel

has all the code for wifi/mobile detection and "do something" on non trusten wlan or mobile.

changed from OpenVPN to Wireguard/WG Tunnel and have no more problems with Auto Switching on VPN when leaving home.

I don't quite understand what the VPN has to do with it. I also use VPN (Tailscale) to transfer my movement data.

It's about how the device has just connected or which devices are nearby. The mode changes to save the battery. This has no effect on the VPN.

[vsatmydynipnet]

Sorry, probably I wrote it to create misunderstandings. wgtunnel hast exactly the settings, owntracks would need. With trusted Wifi, or action on mobile connection. For sure Owntracks mus switch move mode in this case. It has nothing to do with VPN, it only should show settings which would be very appreciated to be included in Owntracks.

I think I found a temporary soluition using Automation but not from F-Droid, needs 1.8.2 apk from the dev site, till this is in F-Droid. There is the Termux permission and I think it will work sending the command to TermUX where is manually already runs.

But still would be great to have it in Owntracks, because normal users probably will fail with the TermUX/Automation setup.

[SanSanysch]

I fully support this! But he noticed, that the developers are very reluctant to agree to changes.

[jpmens]

the developers are very reluctant to agree to changes

If you write the code, we might agree to the changes. ;)

[SanSanysch]

To understand thousands of lines of someone else's code is unrealistic!

[wir3z]

I'm confused why you'd want to leave your phone on perpetual move mode. Use significant change mode, and set the knobs to something useful for you. There are a few knobs that would do what you need without burning through battery and data at an insane rate:

• locatorDisplacement - 50 meters (GPS accuracy is +/-6m-15m typically, so no point on going too low otherwise you have your move mode issue)
• locatorInterval - 60 seconds
• pegLocatorFastestIntervalToInterval - false (you'll get locations faster than locatorInterval if the phone detects faster movements)
• locatorPriority -HighAccuracy (uses GPS for better locations)

Do you really need to continuous locations being sent if the phone is stationary? There is a ping option that will send a heart beat location back if you need to confirm it's still online. I struggle with a use case that if you stopped at a street corner for 60-seconds, that you need perpetual locations to say you are still there.

[whezzel]

The lack of the feature is one if the leading reasons I don't use owntracks. I currently use homeassistant gps tracking which supports this feature. For me, I only like to have high accuracy mode enabled in specific circumstances, like when my phone is connected to the bluetooth in my truck, or when I'm connected to a specific Bluetooth headset I wear when running. When not connected to those devices the updates are based on distance. The issue I have with homeassistant is the gps tracking is hit or miss, and will randomly stop tracking requiring me to kill the app and restart it.

Would be great if this functionality could be implemented so users don't have to manually change tracking modes when they want higher accuracy.

I'm confused why you'd want to leave your phone on perpetual move mode. Use significant change mode, and set the knobs to something useful for you.

Why even include different tracking modes if the stance of contributors is to just use a single mode?