HI All
Can someone help me out?
When I'm connected, how do I tell if I'm connected to '3G' or 'GPRS'? Does the 'G' with the arrows at the top mean it's 3g or GPRS
What's the difference between the speeds of each. I know 3g is faster...but how much faster
Thanks
The small "G" means you are connected on GPRS. When you have a 3G connection a small "U" is displayed.
A 3G connection should be nearly as good as a broadband connection.
Ralph
Thanks for the information. Any where I can look to see the coverage of 3g with O2. I'd like to make full use of my investment
You can look on the O2 website, but i happen to know that their coverage is feeble compared to Vodaphone.
Cheers...
Good idea....
Related
Have just upgraded to an o2 exec and want to experiment with video calling .
there is no 3g signal, it always comes up 'no signal at present' even though the signal has 3 - 4 bars on it. I'm with o2 and unhappy with the service I phone tech support and they tried to tell me to move to another part of the house ....this may have been helpful if I lived in the eiffel tower but i LIVE IN THE uk.
Im beginning to think that the whole o2 3g network is substandard
Any ideas?
4arm
Look at the little square icon next to the signal strength indicator - is it a 'G' or 'U'?
A 'G' indicates normal GPRS signal while a 'U' indicates UMTS (3g) service is available.
It's normally G and very very occassionaly turns to a u?
OK, when it shows a 'U' you can make video calls. When it's a 'G' only normal calls can be made.
G being GPRS and U being UTMS which is 3G. I think you can video call via wifi but I've not tested this yet.
I doubt whether the o2 coverage is bad, otherwise why would hutchinson three use them as a carrier for their network, seeing as they are a 3G company? The signal strength bars IIRC dont bear any relation to the 3G strength.
Tim 45 said:
I doubt whether the o2 coverage is bad, otherwise why would hutchinson three use them as a carrier for their network, seeing as they are a 3G company? The signal strength bars IIRC dont bear any relation to the 3G strength.
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Click to collapse
LOL you have the wrong end of the stick m8, Hutch "3" 3G is a pure 3G network (the biggest in the UK) with around 80% coverage. The network is wholey owned by hutch, however if your unlucky to wander out of coverage (into that last 20 %) then it will switch to O2 2G Gprs (no video calls) just so you can at least make voice calls / emergency calls. O2's 3G network has much less coverage than "3"'s but it's ok because it can seamlessly transfer to it's own 2G network if necessary
I am of the understanding that O2's 3g network is not the best in terms of coverage (voda and 3 are afaik). Interesting what is said above about 3 and O2 both being hutchingson compaines and sharing infrasturecture - can anyone verfiy?
they are 2 very diffrent companies, 3 just have a deal with O2, they pay O2 to allow "3" customers to use O2's network when "3"s is unavailable
Ward said:
G being GPRS and U being UTMS which is 3G. I think you can video call via wifi but I've not tested this yet.
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Click to collapse
That would be funky, but don't see how it ould be possible.
I too only get a UMTS signal in Belfast (which is supposed to be a strong 3G area) when I'm upstairs...
They need to pull the finger out if they want video calling to be the norm.
O2 3G around London is okay, not as good as T-mobile of Vodafone from my experience. Using a O2 data card I can get the higher 384kbps download speed, and it really is quick.
Video calls on O2 are part of the normal call allowance, so if can get it to work it wont be as expensive as on "3".
No i thought 3 used the O2 masts and technology, i cant remember where i heard it though.. Of course i could be very much mistaken
I'm a little confused about the internet connection icons that vary according to ROM and carrier. If I'm on Cingular in the US what 3G technology is this? Is it UMTS or HSDPA? Also, which icon set would I need to properly display whether I'm on GPRS, EDGE, or the 3G network?
GliTCH82 said:
I'm a little confused about the internet connection icons that vary according to ROM and carrier. If I'm on Cingular in the US what 3G technology is this? Is it UMTS or HSDPA? Also, which icon set would I need to properly display whether I'm on GPRS, EDGE, or the 3G network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will answer some of your question at least:
http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=cellulargenerations
Mike
GliTCH82 said:
I'm a little confused about the internet connection icons that vary according to ROM and carrier. If I'm on Cingular in the US what 3G technology is this? Is it UMTS or HSDPA? Also, which icon set would I need to properly display whether I'm on GPRS, EDGE, or the 3G network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all 3G cingular towers in the US have been upgraded to support HSDPA. if your device can use HSDPA, and you're on a cingular UMTS tower, then you'll be able to take advantage of HSDPA. HSDPA activates and deactivates on the fly, so if you're not actively transferring data the device will shut down HSDPA and fall back to UMTS until data beings to move again.
if you are using a cingular 8525 with 1.34 ROM, you'll see "U" when connected via UMTS, regardless of HSDPA being active or not.
if you are using a cingular 8525 with 2.06 ROM, you'll see "3G" when connected via UMTS/HSDPA, or optionally (via registry edit) "3G" with UMTS and "H" when HSDPA is actived.
i hope that was semi clear...i tried!
wait a minute. ive got a U showing, but i have 3G with a 3G simcard, so if it doesnt say 3G, than im not getting 3G? ive always thought the U was 3G.
My friend has the exact same subscription to the exact same moibile operator as me (MTC-Vodafone in Kuwait). We both have the same access point and proxy settings.
His Nokia E90 says "3.5G" right under the signal strength bars when he starts a data connection. But my O2 Atom Life just says "3G" in the white square box at the top of the screen and also in the smaller white box above the signal strength bars when I start a data connection.
Does anyone know why that is? I thought that 3.5G is the same as HSDPA. Is that true? And if so, isn't my O2 HSDPA-capable? And shouldn't it say "H" in the white box?
I'm running WM5 if that makes any difference . . .
Please help. I want my 3.5G!
3.5G
Probably you have to consult your Mobile Service provider regarding the speed they are offering at the point you connecting to their 3.5G network.
Some Mobile Service provider cater for certain amount of 3.5G connection and hence the rest of the connections/users may get slower connection. Maybe 3G or 2.5 (GPRS).
I own a Atom Life as well, it connected and shown with "H" in certain areas. Like what i say, Mobile Service provider may not offering full coverage and support for all users at blashing speed...
Good luck finding back your 3.5G...
K ya know beside the signal bar it shows a "G" then if you click on it it asks if you want to turn on wireless, well now there is a "U".
Is there someplace that can tell me what all these symbols mean?
Wow.... seriously... where do you live?
The U means that you now are connected to UMTS which gives you the "broadband" access through your provider. Make sure you have unlim data plan. It will start to eat it up when you realize what you get to do with all that bandwidth. Have FUN!!!
well does it eat up data if you "dont" use messenger or web browse? AKA: just use the phone?
I do have a data plan for unlimited text messaging and i use Wifi when i wanna surf.
Quick guide:
Starting with the slowest.
Second Generation:
GSM
GPRS (the G symbol)
EDGE (the E symbol)
Third Generation:
UMTS (the U symbol or depending on localisation, 3G symbol)
HSDPA (the H symbol, if you've got this, then you're in for some fast download speeds)
It all depends on which network you're on and proximity to a tower as to what speed you will actually get.
There are other types, but these are the ones you're more likely to come across using a Hermes.
U Bet
ROTFLMAO.... I thought I had a bug in my ROM after flashing it, even went to the trouble of rolling back.
What a freakin' idiot I am!....
I live in an area where i see U and H fairly often up there.
However, to me it makes little difference, I don't download large files with the device. Web browsing seems mostly unaffected by the connection type.
Having the device in 3G or 3.5G modes does however drain the battery somewhat faster. I saw the difference in my Uni. Can't comment on EDGE as the Uni doesn't have it, I'll be getting my Hermes today so I should be able to comment on that.
It would be logical that the faster connection speeds would drain the battery faster, but I don't know how much faster we're talking about.
However, if battery life is a concern at all for anyone reading this, I would recommend turning off 3G altogether. Why? Web pages are going to render just as fast. Surfing the web is painful on these things regardless of the connection type.
On T-Mobile at least - here is a rough guide for the download speeds for different connection types. These are averages and do change and vary with signal strength. I work for T-Mobile, so these are accurate ^^
GPRS - around 44 kbps
UTMS (3G) - around 386 kbps
HSDPA (3.5G) - up to 1.8 mbps (increasing to 3.6 soon)
If you are on T-Mobile, and in a 3G area, then you will be most likely connected to HSDPA as it covers the whole of their 3G network.
Hope this is of some interest....
Doom Tints said:
if battery life is a concern at all for anyone reading this, I would recommend turning off 3G altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But how? AFAIK it's not trivial with my unit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=337485.
From your network type, select 'GSM' instead of 'Auto', which I'm sure it is on now. That will do the trick. You might see an 'E' if you service provider offers EDGE, but this won't be an issue, otherwise you will just see the 'G' again.
Thank you. Now I know that in this sense, WCDMA = UMTS = "3G" icon.
Doom Tints said:
From your network type, select 'GSM' instead of 'Auto', which I'm sure it is on now. That will do the trick. You might see an 'E' if you service provider offers EDGE, but this won't be an issue, otherwise you will just see the 'G' again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That looks notoriously like one of my posts earlier in another thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=337485
Yeah. Someone said OH MY I HOW DO I DO THIS IT'S HARD OMG and then pasted a link to your thread, which says clearly how to do it.
A simple cut and paste seemed in order.
Radio Access Technologies
Hmmm...u poor guys..in Austria the speeds are different:
HSDPA : 7,2 MB (yep MegaBits) DL and 1,7 Mbits UL
BTW: HSDPA is not 3.5G its just a bunch of new coding schemes and NodeB software mods :.)
homerjay1981 said:
Hmmm...u poor guys..in Austria the speeds are different:
HSDPA : 7,2 MB (yep MegaBits) DL and 1,7 Mbits UL
BTW: HSDPA is not 3.5G its just a bunch of new coding schemes and NodeB software mods :.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile UK will have these speeds by the end of 2008 all going well
Well my phone bill is the same so thats good
Text messages get sent a tiny bit faster, surfing is a bit faster. I dont see what the big deal about the HW upgrade was. oh well
Hi, I'm aware that my UK T-mobile Ameo is HSDPA capable and I think I'm in a HSDPA covered area but the homescreen only ever shows a little 3G symbol (or a GSM symbol when I'm not in a 3G covered area).
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
I guess one way would be to do a download speed test - anyone know a convenient way to do one?
tfotherby said:
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
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Click to collapse
If you were using HSDPA, the 3G symbol would change to an H.
However, if you only have the £7.50 web and walk package, and only signed up after the summer, you do not have HSDPA on your account.
The £12.50 and above tarriffs come with HSDPA automatically, but for the £7.50 plan, you need to ask for it and hope that someone likes you enough to add it.
By the way, On T-mobile, you will not see the H all the time. It will only appear when you are transferring data. At all other times you will see the 3G symbol so that you are able to receive calls. If you are transferring data on HSDPA, the T-Mobile Uk network will force you down to 3G while the call is routed to you, and then jump back to HSDPA when the call ends to carry on downloading.
T-Mobile is the only network i have seen that does this properly.
Also, T-Mobile has gone HSDPA on all of their 3G transmitters. If you get 3G coverage, you definitely have HSDPA coverage, but you don't necessarily have permission to connect at HSDPA speeds.
tfotherby said:
Hi, I'm aware that my UK T-mobile Ameo is HSDPA capable and I think I'm in a HSDPA covered area but the homescreen only ever shows a little 3G symbol (or a GSM symbol when I'm not in a 3G covered area).
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
I guess one way would be to do a download speed test - anyone know a convenient way to do one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, you will see the H symbol instead of the 3G signal - I am on O2 and it works fine (you should also see an E to show an Edge connection where available).
The point about tariffs is one for you to take up with T-Mobile.
Make sure the HSDPA checkbox is checked, in Settings > Connections > HSDPA Switch. When I'm in a 3G area and I start downloading something, the 3G symbol temporarily changes to an H symbol, then changes back to 3G when done.
cottinghamm said:
I am on O2 and it works fine
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Click to collapse
Do you see the H all the time, or only when you are transferring data? I know that on some networks that have an old revision of the HSDPA software, it can cause issues with receiving calls if you are on HSDPA the whole time. Have you had any issues with this?
tfotherby said:
Hi, I'm aware that my UK T-mobile Ameo is HSDPA capable and I think I'm in a HSDPA covered area but the homescreen only ever shows a little 3G symbol (or a GSM symbol when I'm not in a 3G covered area).
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
I guess one way would be to do a download speed test - anyone know a convenient way to do one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, you will only see an H if your ROM has different icons for 3G and HSDPA. Some do some don't. If the ROM doesn't have that facility, the 3G icon won't change even if you are occasionlly using HSDPA. As far as I am remember, some of the stock T-Mob ROMs do not include this.
You do not AFAIK need to ask T-Mobile for HSDPA. I have never asked them and regularly used it. I am on a £7.50 plan.
There are plenty of speed test sites out there - Google 3G speed test.
Another good site to check speed is "http://performance.toast.net/default.asp?allservers=1&checkid=" I usually check the "Text" box and try a few hosts...TJ
rhedgehog said:
Do you see the H all the time, or only when you are transferring data? I know that on some networks that have an old revision of the HSDPA software, it can cause issues with receiving calls if you are on HSDPA the whole time. Have you had any issues with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only when data is transferred, the 3G symbol is there most of the time.
always been seeing the H on mine, right from the original T-Mobile UK ROM. All Windows mobile 6 ROMS from HTC include the different icons, and unless the operators specify to take them out, they should always be there.
the T-Mobile ROMs do include the different icons, as do all the AP ROMs.
Sometimes you DO have to ask T-Mob for HSDPA. They originally turned HSDPA on for the £7.50 contracts by default. They changed this standard policy sometime last year (as i stated in my first post, i think it was in the summer, but i'm not sure) and now not everyone has HSDPA on their contract. If you ever see the H you do...if not, you don't.