[Q] Is Tot Blocking The Android Market?

[AgentSmith]

Since a while ago downloads in the Android Market don't work when I'm online at home with my Android smartphone (Motorola Defy). However as soon as I switch to my mobile carrier the downloads work just fine. On the internet they mention tricks such as connecting with Google Talk, clearing Talk's and the Market's caches etc. But they don't have the desired effect. Normal internet traffic (http, email etc) works just fine.

It seems TOT, my provider at home, is the problem here. Or maybe it's the router but that is also unlikely because it used to work fine until about a month ago. Yesterday one download actually came through but after that it stopped working again. I had to redownload/reinstall a lot of apps because I upgraded Android so I used up most of my prepaid balance to do so.

So my question is: do others have a similar problem with TOT and Market downloads?

[lomatopo]

I am not certain I fully understand your issue. But it sounds like you are using WiFi to connect your smartphone to your WiFi AP which in turn is connected to a TOT DSL line? And when you try to download or update FREE applications (paid applications are of course not available here in Thailand) from the Android Market they do not start? Or do and fail to download? I do not have a problem with my Android Smartphone connected via WiFi to a router in front of a TOT or True DSL line. Can you browse on the smartphone via WiFi? Have you disabled 2G/3G data? Can you download free apps from the Market to your PC? I would power off the phone completely, then re-start it. Maybe an IP address conflict or issue? I doubt TOT is blocking the Android Market?

[BB1950]

I use my Android phone connected using WiFi through my TOT ADSL service here at home to download apps from the Android Market all the time. I've never had any problem (except with the paid apps of course). I usually initiate the install using the desktop computer and it installs on the phone just fine. TOT is not blocking the installs.

[AgentSmith]

It's really a mystery up to this point and a quick search on the internet indicates I'm not the only one. Quite the opposite to say the least. The problems never occured on my phone until about a month ago. I used several Android versions before and after that. Even weirder is that sometimes a download does come through. I never changed any settings that can cause this. I tried all the tricks I could find or think of myself. Yesterday I switched to yet another Android version (CyanogenMod for the ones who know it, and if you don't you really want to give it a go ) but the problem remained.

On a sidenote: paid Market downloads work fine with a foreign simcard installed. And to make matters easier: just fake your carrier with Market Enabler. Free download... from the Market! Don't have it installed yet though in my new OS so that is not what is causing the problem.

As mentioned before: regular internet services work fine. It really is just the Market that has problems. But at least I can rule out my ISP. Maybe the router is causing problems although nothing has changed to that thing either in months nor to the modem. And I am sure about this because I am the only one with the passwords. Don't even trust the internet company with those.

[BB1950]

It's really a mystery up to this point and a quick search on the internet indicates I'm not the only one. Quite the opposite to say the least. The problems never occured on my phone until about a month ago. I used several Android versions before and after that. Even weirder is that sometimes a download does come through. I never changed any settings that can cause this. I tried all the tricks I could find or think of myself. Yesterday I switched to yet another Android version (CyanogenMod for the ones who know it, and if you don't you really want to give it a go ) but the problem remained.

On a sidenote: paid Market downloads work fine with a foreign simcard installed. And to make matters easier: just fake your carrier with Market Enabler. Free download... from the Market! Don't have it installed yet though in my new OS so that is not what is causing the problem.

As mentioned before: regular internet services work fine. It really is just the Market that has problems. But at least I can rule out my ISP. Maybe the router is causing problems although nothing has changed to that thing either in months nor to the modem. And I am sure about this because I am the only one with the passwords. Don't even trust the internet company with those.

I wonder if maybe part of the problem might be something to do with you using Android versions that were not designed for your particular hardware. Also since you appear to have a rooted phone, something could have changed the internals of Android system. It would be similar in concept of using hacked version of Windows on a PC. Nothing guaranteed and open to all kinds of malware and hacks.

By the way Market Enable requires the Android system to be rooted. Some Android devices sold here in Thailand can not easily be rooted and doing so would terminate the warranty.

I have heard of using a SIM from the US or UK would enable market access to paid apps. I'm waiting for a friend to bring one over from the UK to try.

[lomatopo]

It helps when you share the details, had no idea you were running a custom ROM. I would flash back to stock, and see if you have any issues; you won't. I think Motorola finally dropped 2.2 for the Defy/Bravo? I suspect it is an issue with the 2.3 custom ROM. Almost all are unstable, with 100's of bugs/issues. I'm not sure why people feel the need to flash a Gingerbread ROM? I guess they want to tell everyone they have the latest version even though it's a hack. You can get any usable features: essentially a cool keypad, to run on stable Froyo ROMs, stock or custom.

[AgentSmith]

I used a custom Rom from day 1 I had the phone. Kept it on the device for months. I mentioned several times already that the market used to work fine. Why wouldn't it with a custom Rom? Wouldn't that make those practically useless for most people? Anyway, the market stopped functioning properly without any action from my side. And, as a reminder, with 12call mobile internet it still works. Also in Bangkok recently it worked fine on the hotel's WiFi. Not sure which provider they used. The service was free.

No way I'm going back to a stock Rom. The phone is so much better now. And I doubt very much it would solve the market problem.

On a sidenote: there seems to be a misconception around rooting an android device. This can easily be undone so no issues with guarantee.

Also no, I don't walk around with my phone to show everybody I'm running Gingerbread on it. Lol, most people wouldn't be the least bit interested even. I just want to have a device that fulfills my needs the most. With the current Rom I have that now.

There is also no such thing as hacking involved with Android. It's open source meaning programmers can change it to their liking. So no dirty trucks are needed to run different versions on a device, in contrast with systems like windows.

[lomatopo]

OK,in another thread here, extolling the virtues of the Defy, you said you installed CM7 "today" (8 May), so it sounded like this custom ROM was new for your phone.

Which developer/version of CM7 are you running? There are lots of reports of "market downloading issues" with CM7. These are intermittent and perhaps related to the size of the app. being downloaded. Also some reports of WiFi issues with Beta5.1.

There really is no doubt your issue is related to CM7, rather than TOT, your router or some other obscure issue. You could of course verify this by flashing stock 2.2. I assume you can download apps from the market to your PC, then side-load them?

Which features does CM7/2.3.4 give you that you really like?

Is this phone OK with a stock ROM? Or is it only good with a custom ROM?

[BB1950]

On a sidenote: there seems to be a misconception around rooting an android device. This can easily be undone so no issues with guarantee.

.......Snip ......

There is also no such thing as hacking involved with Android. It's open source meaning programmers can change it to their liking. So no dirty trucks are needed to run different versions on a device, in contrast with systems like windows.

There are some stock Android firmware that absolutely cannot be rooted. The only way to root is by installing a custom ROM such as you. Installing the custom ROMs voids warranties. Sometimes there are issues re-burning the stock firmware. Hence the device becomes a useless brick with no guarantee.

There is a trend for more and more stock Android firmware not to be able to be rooted for a variety of reasons.

Finally, I think you need to lockup the definition of 'hacking'. Rooting and use of apps that require root could be considered hacking.

[AgentSmith]

I'm honestly grateful for all the replies. I get the feeling however people don't read carefully enough. CM7 is not the topic here. I only have it running for a very short time while the market problem started acting up some time before the switch already. But even if CM7 was the cause then why don't all the other people running this Rom have the same problem? They don't. Market problems seem to be Rom unrelated and quite random and THAT'S why I came here to find out If I can rule out TOT as the source of the problem. Again, the problem ONLY occurs with my TOT connection!

Please don't tell me I can't do things on my phone such as rooting when I actually did. For custom roms to run on the Motorola Defy you have to acquire root access to the original Rom in the first place. This has to do with the locked bootloader. And yes, I can go back to the stock Rom if I needed to without leaving any trace of custom roms. It's just a matter of paying attention and knowing what you do really. But again that's kind of besides the point here and deciding if you want to keep the warranty or not is everybody's personal decision.

To give one good reason to switch to Android 2.3 though: it has improved memory management with a slightly better battery time as one of the advantages. Motorola is still at 2.1 which is a HELL lot slower, not to mention their horrible Motoblur interface which is useless and only clogs up memory. Again, this is my opinion. Some people like Motoblur and some don't. At least there is the liberty to change the operating system on the phone for those who feel the need.