Solution 1:

New java class:

public class ConnectionChangeReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver
{
  @Override
  public void onReceive( Context context, Intent intent )
  {
    ConnectivityManager connectivityManager = (ConnectivityManager) context.getSystemService( Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE );
    NetworkInfo activeNetInfo = connectivityManager.getActiveNetworkInfo();
    NetworkInfo mobNetInfo = connectivityManager.getNetworkInfo(     ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE );
    if ( activeNetInfo != null )
    {
      Toast.makeText( context, "Active Network Type : " + activeNetInfo.getTypeName(), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT ).show();
    }
    if( mobNetInfo != null )
    {
      Toast.makeText( context, "Mobile Network Type : " + mobNetInfo.getTypeName(), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT ).show();
    }
  }
}

New xml in your AndroidManifest.xml under the "manifest" element:

<!-- Needed to check when the network connection changes -->
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"/>

New xml in your AndroidManifest.xml under the "application" element:

<receiver android:name="com.blackboard.androidtest.receiver.ConnectionChangeReceiver"
          android:label="NetworkConnection">
  <intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.net.conn.CONNECTIVITY_CHANGE"/>
  </intent-filter>
</receiver>

Solution 2:

I have been using a small setup to check the bandwidth for determining how to scale things, such as images.

Under the activity, in AndroidManifest:

<intent-filter>
...
    <action android:name="android.net.conn.CONNECTIVITY_CHANGE"/>
</intent-filter>

In the activity where the checks are being performed:

boolean network;
int bandwidth;

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    ...
    network = isDataConnected();
    bandwidth = isHighBandwidth();
    registerReceiver(new BroadcastReceiver() {
        public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
            network = isDataConnected();
            bandwidth = isHighBandwidth();
        }
    }, new IntentFilter("android.net.conn.CONNECTIVITY_CHANGE"));
    ...
}
...
private boolean isDataConnected() {
    try {
        ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager) getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
        return cm.getActiveNetworkInfo().isConnectedOrConnecting();
    } catch (Exception e) {
        return false;
    }
}

private int isHighBandwidth() {
    ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager) getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
    NetworkInfo info = cm.getActiveNetworkInfo();
    if (info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI) {
        WifiManager wm = (WifiManager) getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
        return wm.getConnectionInfo().getLinkSpeed();
    } else if (info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE) {
        TelephonyManager tm = (TelephonyManager) getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
        return tm.getNetworkType();
    }
    return 0;
}

An example usage would then be:

if (network) {
    if (bandwidth > 16) {
        // Code for large items
    } else if (bandwidth <= 16 && bandwidth > 8) {
        // Code for medium items
    } else {
        //Code for small items
    }
} else {
    //Code for disconnected
}

It's not the prettiest, but it allows enough flexibility that I can change the bandwidth cutoff for items depending on what they are and my requirements for them.

Solution 3:

If using Android Annotations is an option for you try this in your activities - that's all, the rest is generated:

@Receiver(actions = ConnectivityManager.CONNECTIVITY_ACTION,
        registerAt = Receiver.RegisterAt.OnResumeOnPause)
void onConnectivityChange() {
    //react
}

Use this only if you already use AndroidAnnotations - putting this dependency inside your project only for this piece of code would be overkill.

Solution 4:

The above answer only works if mobile packet data is enabled. Otherwise, ConnectivityManager would be null and you can no longer retrieve NetworkInfo. The way around it is to use a PhoneStateListener or TelephonyManager instead.