Internet Performance and T/X

[mirac976]

I would appreciate any advice on how to improve the internet performance of my Palm T/X. Till now I am using Blazer via WiFi, but it does sometimes appear slow, though in fairness I have no kmajor complaints.

Is there anybody who can suggest a setup that is faster please ?

Thanks

[veritech]

Overclocking helps, i've noticed. It even does a bit for the initial loading speed. I use warpspeed, and clocked the system to 208 Mhz and blazer to 416, it's still not firefox but a little faster. Also with some pages, using the wide mode is a little quicker as the browser can just concentrate on rendering.

However most folks will say use netfront, if your interest i'll tell you how to make it work. However i don't find it that fantastic,(mind you i didn't install the small fonts). And the sheer number of hacks inplace to make it work scare me a little.

Either way the choice is yours.

[skaf]

Doesn't the TX get a bit unstable at 416 MHz? I mean, isn't this a bit too high?

[PinCushionQueen]

Doesn't the TX get a bit unstable at 416 MHz? I mean, isn't this a bit too high?

Nah... I've got my TX overclocked to 520 (with some apps underclocked to 208 of course) I haven't really noticed a decrease in battery life either. Between overclocking with WarpSpeed and using unCache to keep my DBcache large - I'm loading Blazer and surfing without any lag at all.

[cyberdude]

You'll see a major speed up in blazer launch just by using Dmitry's UnCache. Blazer lauches instantaneously! Also I've noticed a significant increase in speed in rendering.

[dmitrygr]

Netfront does not require that many hacks to run, just 7 or 8 files form Sony Device to let it use small fonts, and MaxX to allow you to enter text in fields and and make it fullscreen.

[anand78]

dmitrygr, myself and another member finally got netfront fullscreen yesterday by adding java. I installed the small fonts and i believe they are being used, but my icon for changing fonts (the magnifying glass) is greyed out. Is that how its supposed to be or should I have the option of changing font size.

Thanks.

[dmitrygr]

here is the link to all the files you need to run netFront: download here (http://www.palmpowerups.com/priv/NF3.zip)

in addition you will need MaxX from my site: download here (http://www.palmpowerups.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=21)

no need for any other software like java,fonts4OS5, etc...

[dmitrygr]

oh and by the way that icon is always grayed out on my TH which came with netfront.

[veritech]

So maxx isn't a hack? Pardon me, my apologies. Now that i see fonts are here i'll give it another try. Still don't think it's great, but the small fonts might be what was missing.

[cyberdude]

here is the link to all the files you need to run netFront: download here (http://www.palmpowerups.com/priv/NF3.zip)

in addition you will need MaxX from my site: download here (http://www.palmpowerups.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=21)

no need for any other software like java,fonts4OS5, etc...
Dmitry thanks for the links. MaxX installed fine, but everytime I put the NF files in the installer I get this message in my hotsync log what am I doing wrong?

- Install failed: C:\Program Files\Palm\ZuckerT\Install\HalfFontExtn.prc
Install synchronization failed

Protocol Error: Read-only. (4009)

[_Em]

Nah... I've got my TX overclocked to 520 (with some apps underclocked to 208 of course) I haven't really noticed a decrease in battery life either. Between overclocking with WarpSpeed and using unCache to keep my DBcache large - I'm loading Blazer and surfing without any lag at all.

The TX uses an xScale processor -- these processors come in 624MHz and 520MHz varieties. Originally, Palm was using the 520MHz variety and underclocking it to 312MHz (to conserve battery life) -- I think the supply chain has used up all the 520MHz ones though, as recent TXes appear to use the 624MHz variety. This means that you can safely clock them back up to either 520 or 624MHz. The PalmOS also seems to have a minimum frequency tolerance; I've found that below 192MHz, things can start to get a bit unstable.

[PinCushionQueen]

Dmitry thanks for the links. MaxX installed fine, but everytime I put the NF files in the installer I get this message in my hotsync log what am I doing wrong?

- Install failed: C:\Program Files\Palm\ZuckerT\Install\HalfFontExtn.prc
Install synchronization failed

Protocol Error: Read-only. (4009)

I found this - it might help you. However, I can't get the installation to work :( But maybe you can... That's ok anyways... like I said in the previous post - Blazer works great now thanks to DG's apps.

http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2006/01/02/netfront-on-the-txt5/

[skaf]

The TX uses an xScale processor -- these processors come in 624MHz and 520MHz varieties. Originally, Palm was using the 520MHz variety and underclocking it to 312MHz (to conserve battery life) -- I think the supply chain has used up all the 520MHz ones though, as recent TXes appear to use the 624MHz variety. This means that you can safely clock them back up to either 520 or 624MHz. The PalmOS also seems to have a minimum frequency tolerance; I've found that below 192MHz, things can start to get a bit unstable.

How's the battery life at 520/624 MHz?

[anand78]

Dmitry thanks for the links. MaxX installed fine, but everytime I put the NF files in the installer I get this message in my hotsync log what am I doing wrong?

- Install failed: C:\Program Files\Palm\ZuckerT\Install\HalfFontExtn.prc
Install synchronization failed

Protocol Error: Read-only. (4009)


You cant hotsync netfront, you have to copy it to an sd card, then use zlauncher or the link to launch it from the card or copy to ram, then it will work.

[veritech]

After trying netfront with the fonts, i now see what you guys are talking about, this thing kicks ***. The rendering is great, i had to think for a second that it 480 screen and not 800. I'll still use blazer from time to time, mainly for all my bookmarks (50+), otherwise screw it. Thanks again dmitry.

And before i forget does it require UDMH to continue to work?

[cyberdude]

You cant hotsync netfront, you have to copy it to an sd card, then use zlauncher or the link to launch it from the card or copy to ram, then it will work.
Yeah I gave up trying to hotsync it and used myinstall to put in on the card then install it to ram. :D (I'd prefer to use pinstall, but I still haven't gotten that to work - that's another thread anyway) It seems to be working now, I wont know for sure until I find a wifi hotspot to connect to (we don't have wifi here at work - everything is hardwired).

[veritech]

Hey guys this thread made the frontpage of palm addict. Mainly because of our overclocking talk :)

In theory underclocking the T|X, and turning off the screen(Playing music of course), killing all wireless(including ir) should give you T|E2 like battery life. That was a major reason i bought it, 10+ hours(i think thats what i remember reading in the T|E2 review) sounds sweet to me. However till i write my DA, this will continue to elude me :(

[dmitrygr]

TE2 like?
i long since surpassed that:-)

it is apporaching TH55 like for me
cpu at ~ 100MHz (max 136 min 13 for dynamic clocking) (cpu voltage .1V lower then normal) screen,wireless,ir,mic off playing mp3s off sd card i got a bit over 24 hrs :-)

[_Em]

Just as an update, my recollection about 194MHz appears to be wrong; it seems to go as low as 90MHz without many problems. I've now downgraded my system default to 104MHz, and boy, that battery bar barely moves!

[veritech]

Hey dmitry you just made yourself another 10 bucks. 24 hours sounds ridculous. Is that a system wide setting, or just for pocket tunes?

Plus is there a bus/cpu setting you would advise, or does it tend to vary from device to device
(I would test i'm out for myself, but i gotta wait on activation code, 7 day trial flies by) And finally what happens when you have an app like pocket tunes running in the background, set to 104mhz and launch the dreaded blazer @ 416mhz?

Is that asking for a crash, or does the forground app simply default.

i'm off to buy warpspeed :)

[dmitrygr]

no
the cpu setting is the one for current app so in that case it will be 416.

my time i got with a combo of a few of my utilities

warpSpeed [combined with Dynamic clockign and CPU undervolting options]

i have it vary between bus=26 cpu=26 to bus=91 cpu=136. but since you do not have that version of warpSpeed try just 91 MHz

[veritech]

no
the cpu setting is the one for current app so in that case it will be 416.

my time i got with a combo of a few of my utilities

warpSpeed [combined with Dynamic clockign and CPU undervolting options]

i have it vary between bus=26 cpu=26 to bus=91 cpu=136. but since you do not have that version of warpSpeed try just 91 MHz

Sounds good, i look forward to trying out, the best i've had so far is about 8 hours, without any underclocking, and a couple of wifi scans thrown in. which i thought was great, but more is always good.

Thanks again

I'll start work on my DA 2morrow, Big thanks to tyler. (it's midnight on these fair isles)

Edit; Just got my warpspeed code, Appshelf is a little sluggish on load, but once i get uncache going that should fix it. And performance is on par with my old 200mhz clie, Otherwise who would know the difference.

Edit 2; at bus 91 cpu 136, if pocket tunes is enabled, turn off the screen, and turn it back on and you hear the most horrible whine(Worse and louder than the original), change app or turn off screen and it disappears. Ideas? I'm try some other combo's and see what happens

[dmitrygr]

Edit 2; at bus 91 cpu 136, if pocket tunes is enabled, turn off the screen, and turn it back on and you hear the most horrible whine(Worse and louder than the original), change app or turn off screen and it disappears. Ideas? I'm try some other combo's and see what happens


grab the E2 - only beta 1.6 and that will help but be careul it might be a bit unstable on tx as it is not meant for it directly

[veritech]

ohh, beta tester, always wanted to be one of those.

edit: couldn't find the beta on the PP forums, however i did discover that PT doesn't seem to like bus speeds in the 150-ish and below. I set it to 208 cpu and bus and everything is dandy, even with the system set to 144.

And in other news, to get round the pocket tunes doesn't work so well in your pocket thing, change the wait time in PT to 10 secs and pop up the time window and turn off the screen, and all is well with the world, almost...

[mirac976]

Wow !!! All this is way...way....over my head. Just to keep it simple, if I were to stick to Blazer, and install Uncache, this should do the trick ? Am I correct or am I missing something .

Thanks again

[cyberdude]

I tried NetFront last night. FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! Forget blazer. I haveonly one question, I hit one of the icons on the bottom while I was browsing and the font resized itself to a really small font, now I can't read my screen when in netfront. What did I do?

[veritech]

I tried NetFront last night. FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! Forget blazer. I haveonly one question, I hit one of the icons on the bottom while I was browsing and the font resized itself to a really small font, now I can't read my screen when in netfront. What did I do?
Just tap it again, and it will change, there are about four sizes

and mirac976 if you think that was complicated, just try making a palm os App with no knowledge of C, thats fun. But seriously overclocking/underclocking is just the tip of the iceburg

[cyberdude]

Just tap it again, and it will change, there are about four sizes
I'm not sure what I tapped, is there a manual somewhere?

[anand78]

Its the fifth icon from either side, to the right of the Z icon or to the left of the greyed out magnifying glass.

speaking of icons, what does the one with the pencil do?

I found a manual but its text only no pics and just about worthless

[cyberdude]

Its the fifth icon from either side, to the right of the Z icon or to the left of the greyed out magnifying glass.

speaking of icons, what does the one with the pencil do?

I found a manual but its text only no pics and just about worthless
Thanks I'll try it when I get to a wifi hotspot.

[cyberdude]

I've just noticed that SkinUI isn't skinning NetFront. On top of that when I go to turn on wifi (from the statusbar) from with NetFront, the wifi dialog isn't skinned either - but if I access the wifi from the statusbar before entering NF, the wifi dialog IS skinned??????? Is NF doing something to prevent skinning? I tried this with a couple of skins including the cobalt skin. Below are images using the latest version of SkinUI with the cobalt skin:
http://slug.ca.aecom.yu.edu/screenshots/skinui/skinning_prob_cob_sui1.jpg http://slug.ca.aecom.yu.edu/screenshots/skinui/skinning_prob_cob_sui2.jpg

[anand78]

Maybe its maxx? Is skinUI what you are using to create those tabs at the top of your screen?

[cyberdude]

Maybe its maxx? Is skinUI what you are using to create those tabs at the top of your screen?
No, I use LauncherX as my default launcher. LX, like ZL, has this tabbed system. I do have the latest version of maxx installed.

[Undaunted]

Hello folks,
Doesn't Netfront have some text-input problems?

[MarsGuy]

The latest version of Maxx seems to fix the text input problems. Everything works well. Even the conflict with DateBk6's date picker seems to have been resolved.

[geste]

Netfront is just great! Brings me back to those surfin days with my Nx80v.:D

Some questions though:
1) Anyone know what the AutoCruise button does? Does it store up webpages for offline surfin? Tried it but doesnt seem to be working that way.

2) Can I now go back to using graffiti 1 & forget the clumsiness & reset issues of graffiti 2 that occured with Blazer?

Thanks! :)

[veritech]

the non skining of netfront is deliberate. I believe dmitry had to do that in order to get the thing to be stable. If you look at his "MaxX released" thread you might see mention of it. Of send him an IM. He always seems very happy to answer questions about his apps, from my experience.

[dmitrygr]

not just non skinning ALL patches by ANYONE to the UI module are disabled while netfront is running

[Undaunted]

Nah... I've got my TX overclocked to 520 (with some apps underclocked to 208 of course) I haven't really noticed a decrease in battery life either. Between overclocking with WarpSpeed and using unCache to keep my DBcache large - I'm loading Blazer and surfing without any lag at all.

I'm a bit confused about "using unCache to keep my DBcache large". After loading Blazer, can unCache really recover the DBcache from blazer (ie. keeping the DBcache large)?

[PinCushionQueen]

I'm a bit confused about "using unCache to keep my DBcache large". After loading Blazer, can unCache really recover the DBcache from blazer (ie. keeping the DBcache large)?

I actually use unCache/reset before I load Blazer. I usually check how big my cache is first if it's >6000K then Blazer will load no problem. Otherwise Blazer clears the cache itself and takes a really long time to do it (at least 30 sec, usually over a minute). Where as a soft reset only takes 12 sec (with my setup). I beleive that soft reset clears the cache and that unCache helps keep it that way upon restart. unCache can also defrag.

Hope that helps... If you still need more information, check out the unCache thread

[PinCushionQueen]

I've been trying NetFront since everyone says how awesome it is, so far I'm not crazy about it. Could be that my like for NetFront might change if I had answers to a few questions.

1) Is there anyway to stop NetFront from turning off my skin app? I use Khroma and the color skin goes away when in NetFront (which is fine) but does not come back after I leave NetFront (which is not fine).

2)Is there a way to change the "buttons" at the bottom of the screen. I really need a home button. I've set up a webpage that has links to all the mobile sites I frequent the most (my husband also set up search boxes) and would like to be able to return to it easily.

3) Other than "Back" and "Forward" what exactly do all the buttons do?

3) Is there a user's guide anywhere? That way I could look stuff up for myself and not bug you guys with my questions.

Thanks

[bald1]

Netfront is just great! Brings me back to those surfin days with my Nx80v.:D

Some questions though:
1) Anyone know what the AutoCruise button does? Does it store up webpages for offline surfin? Tried it but doesnt seem to be working that way.

Thanks! :)

I found this which explains the AutoCruise:

"The AutoCruise feature allows you to specify a URL which NetFront will poll and download automatically when you are connected to the Internet. With AutoCruise, NetFront will ensure that your favorite news or other content is always up-to-date."

I haven't tried the feature yet to see if it works on my TX or not.

http://rap.midco.net/bald1/NOIA%20Metropolis%20graffiti.bmp

[EdZ]

Since the topic is WiFi performance I'd like to provide some feedback on the data transfer speeds I get on my Palm TX. By connecting to the mobile speed test on DSLReports.com and using a 200K transfer, I can get speeds of 360-400 Kb/s, average around 370 Kb/s. This is using NetFront 3.1 with the hacks referenced by Dmitry.

*Details
Palm TX
Original WiFi (no security udpate)
Uncache
Warpspeed installed but NetFront running at default speed.
*Settings: 300KB cache, others at default
UDMH
MaxX
lots of other stuff - I can add more details if you like.

Router: USR8054 with latest firmware.
Distance to router - approx 25 feet, through walls and celings.
Signal strength - approx 70-80% on Palm

Hope this is helpful - I'd really like to know what sort of speeds other people are getting. Do we need another thread for that?

[_Em]

One thing Dmitry and I have been discussing is that signal strength seems to be inverse to screen brightness.