Trying to understand device state polling (scan_interval)

Configuration
1

I have a small handful of devices that I have the app installed on (Android); that I get information from (battery levels, Wifi Connection, location, etc) - but the polling does not seem to respect the scan_interval default (usually less than a few minutes for most) - I tend to get states that were last updated hours ago; this isn’t really acceptable to me for a state monitored home automation server; unless its a connectivity issue between the device and HASS.

If Home Assistant is supposed to poll every minute or so, why are some not being seen for hours at a time?

Is there such an automation template that I can run so that any device that has not had a state updated in say, 30 minutes - force one until it gets one; instead of wait on one to eventually come through?

I know that there is a service called:

homeassistant.update_entity

But I am not sure how to run a ‘foreach loop’ using a template:

$entities.state.last_updated[ -gt 1800 ] | foreach { homeassistant.update_entity $_ }

“For all entities where last_updated > 1800 seconds (30 minutes), call the service against each iteration that we find during the loop”

2

Probably because the device being polled has shut down network activity to save battery. Happens all the time with cell phones.

3

I can understand that if it hasn’t been unlocked for awhile, phones go into standby / screensaver mode, but if I am actively using the device, then it should be allowing polled updates, since if it is in use, that would imply network (LTE / WiFi) is up and active, as well, waiting for activity (polling).

Am I still misunderstanding?

4

My bet is it’s not ha but something in your phone that is blocking the update. I assume you have enabled background reporting and you don’t have some other power saving or security feature enabled that would prevent the phone from responding.

5

One other thing I have noticed with my devices. If I leave a mobile_app running long enough at some point parts of the UI stop updating. After closing the app on that device and starting it again the UI elements will then update.