VARIO II - Poor reception on TMobile - 8525, TyTN, MDA Vario II, JasJam General

I love my VARIO II, but its gonna have to go back.
I bought my VARIO II from the Leeds Tmobile store last Friday. Brilliant 3G reception at home, centre of Leeds and York. Even good on the train between Leeds and Harrogate where I work. Only problem is reception at work is rubbish - inside and outside.
I checked the availability before buying and the site says good 2G and OK 3G. Trouble is I'm missing calls and getting voicemail alerts after.
It's not the phone, as I've popped my Tmob SIM into a QTEK 8500 and reception is still rubbish. This normally has an Orange SIM and I get a full signal with this.
Orange coverage at home is poor and Tmob great.
With the availability checker saying good reception, will I have any trouble with Tmobile cancelling the contract and returning the phone. Any tips for getting it sorted.
Other Tmob customers at work have similar problems. One chap has just changed to Orange to get round the issue.
Mike

I cancelled my web n walk pro datacard tarif after twenty days in the t-mobile shop as I decided I'd be better off using my phone as a modem instead.
it shouldn't be a problem at all, so long as you are nice to the assistant!
I'm surprised you are struggling so much for a signal, since u don't sound like you live in the sticks!

Related

XDA 2i - Very poor signal

Hi folks im new here so forgive me if i have missed something obvious.
Im currently with O2 (uk) but the signal on my XDA 2i is extreamly poor, rarely goes above 2 bars.
I know this is due to where i live but vodaphone always have full signal in the same area.
Anyway ... Is there anything i can do to improve my signal (other than unlocking the handset) like an upgrade or something ?
details are ...
ROM version 1.10.00 WWE
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Protocol 1337.39
ExtROM version 1.10.124 WWE
Hi
I live in South Africa. I have a XDA 2. In my house I also have a very poor reception but my Siemens SL65 and my wifes Nokia 6630 has excellent reception.
Maybe it is just a problem with XDA.
Unfortunetly you are stuck. I live in the states and have a XDA 2i. TMO use to lease some of cingulars towers and now they have dropped off them and my signal sucks bloody hell. Oh well at least I can get 20 seconds of convo in before dropping!
:lol:
Damn not the answers i would have liked lol but nevermind
Im just amazed that O2 has such a bad signal in an area that Vodaphone etc have a really good signal.
Cheers for the replies anyway folks.
Hi Danny,
I have O2 (XDA IIi) & Vodafone (Nokia 6600) SIM. In my room, Vodafone (Nokia 6600) signal was at 100% while O2 (XDA IIi) was only at 50% (showing 2 bars signal).
Now to test if O2's signal in my room really suck, I transferred my O2 SIM card to my Nokia 6600 & you know what I got, a 100% signal. Since my XDA IIi still locked to network, I cannot test Vodafone SIM into XDA IIi.
This conclude that XDA IIi poorly picked-up signals from the network. I hoped I was able to answer your question.
Oneil3
Thanks for the reply
I am very much regretting moving from Vodaphone to O2 now , its only because the XDA 2i is a much better phone than anything else on Vodaphone that i decided to choose O2 instead, so ill have to live with the poor signal untill my contract runs out.
I wouldnt mind the 2 bars maximum signal strengh i get, if i could make and recieve calls and texts properly but it seems when i get calls or try to send text messages , the signal drops completly and either cuts me of a call or doesnt send the txt message
Bring on Vodaphone !!! (well in my area anyway )
Why don't you unock your 2i? It's a relatively simple and inexpensive affair.
Secondly, what type of case are you using? Just FYI it is known that the Proporta Aluminium case severely effects the quality of reception.
Finally, I have heard although not confirmed (i'm sure someone on here can) that there is an inlet on the back of your device (covered by a black rubber plug at present) that once it has had some kind of aerial plugged into it can boost your signal strength.
Guys (Danny/Daredevil),
I would'nt mind having the 2 bars signal on my XDA 2i. It's an excellent phone anyway "best-of-best" but if there is a small antenna that I could buy to improve it's signal (as suggested by Daredevil), then I'll go for it.
I haven't really find my way around this forum because I am new & quite a little busy for the moment. But if you can give me the link to the thread Daredevil about how to unlock XDA 2i then I would highly appreciated it. So far, what I've read about "XDA 2i unlocking issues" that you will pay someone a small fee & then you will received an unlocking code (NCK) to unlock it from your network.
Oneil3
www.imei-check.co.uk
Costs £20 but you need to send Photographic ID, because of recent paypal fraud.
I would get it unlocked but i have just started my contract out with O2 and pay £30, so if i unlocked it to use vodaphone i would be wasting the £30 i already pay.
I spose i could use one of those Dual sim adapters though ... I'm very tempted.
Thanks for the info Danny. Me too, I've just started my contract with O2. By the way, base on the cheapest monthly rates, Vodafone offered more free GPRS data download per month (2 MBytes) compared to O2 (1Mbyte) but I have no choice & have to use O2 anyway.
Cheers mate, see you around!
Oneil3

G3 coverage and service providers UK

am I right in presuming O2, Orange, Tmobile and Vodaphone will be selling the Universal.
which has the widest G3 coverage.
Which will be the cheapest.
Will the different models be the same spec with different cosmetics.
cheers
SteveW
T-mobile hasn't technically launched their 3G network (except for a laptop data card). It is due to happen in October. So no coverage or tariffs yet - but the rates they offer for their data card are here: http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=phones_im_cc3g_wic
Vodafone - god knows. They seem to believe that their 3G tariffs should be a secret. Coverage is here: http://www.vodafone.co.uk/coverage.htm?zl=5&x=-1&y=-1&st=UK Postcode&ct=gprs
Orange - offer 30 minutes free video calling per month and 1000MB data per month free of charge for three months. Then you choose one of their standard data plans (currently here - http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Sa...=OUKService&t=Service&cid=1096023564495&tab=2). Coverage is here: http://coverage.orange.co.uk/uk/UKCoverageSearch.htm
O2 - data tariffs are here: http://www.o2.co.uk/business/tariffs/datatariffs/0,,203,00.html Coverage - no idea.
I would imagine the hardware will be the same for all - it has been with previous HTC models. The only prices for buying the actual Universal itself have come from O2 - from free to £179.99 to £229.99.
You are forgetting the BEST 3G network in the UK.
80% coverage and always increasing, best 3G phones, best expertise, been going the longest and approprately named!
3!!
I am planning on buying one from O2, unlock it asap and then bung in a 3 sim card and happily vid call from there.
I'll be honest.
Currently, the other networks which have 3G services, Orange, Vody, T-mob and o2 are rubbish at it.
Vody have the second best coverage (about 40%) but they have seemless connections between 2.5g and 3g unlike 3 who's 2.5g service is provided by O2.
And in case you didn't know... O2 have the worst 3G coverage in the UK, they started too late and know if they don't have 80% by 2008 (i think), I am not sure whether they will loose their 3G operating license. They current;y have around 12%.
For more info on 3g go to www.3g.co.uk
would they not roam on eachothers networks ?
they do here at least with gsm
mainly because 3 have a very poor coverish and only have utms
so they have to change to gsm when ever they cant get strong enough signal
Biohead said:
You are forgetting the BEST 3G network in the UK.
80% coverage and always increasing, best 3G phones, best expertise, been going the longest and approprately named!
3!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this an ironic use of the word 'best'? 3 have the dubious distinction of being the officially most compleined about technology company of 2004. Their network stinks, their phone return rate is through the roof, their customer service (based in India) seems to believe that answering the phone is entirely optional.
As a company and a service they stink worse than 3 month old fish...!
I am planning on buying one from O2, unlock it asap and then bung in a 3 sim card and happily vid call from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell me - how do you expect to use your Exec to surf the internet - being as 3 restrict you to a 'walled garden'...?
I'll be honest.
Currently, the other networks which have 3G services, Orange, Vody, T-mob and o2 are rubbish at it.
Vody have the second best coverage (about 40%) but they have seemless connections between 2.5g and 3g unlike 3 who's 2.5g service is provided by O2.
And in case you didn't know... O2 have the worst 3G coverage in the UK, they started too late and know if they don't have 80% by 2008 (i think), I am not sure whether they will loose their 3G operating license. They current;y have around 12%.
For more info on 3g go to www.3g.co.uk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know whether those figures are correct or not (source please?) but 3 has an incredibly patchy network full stop. Not only are you lucky to get reception at all in some areas but moving from a 3G area into a GPRS area gets you cut off virtually every time. The same applies to voice calls - move from an area with 3 coverage (so very easy to do) and the transfer to GSM cuts you off.
I'll take a smaller 3G coverage with seemless GPRS transfer every time.
Not to mention - in order to do what you suggest you need to take out a minimum contract with O2 on top of your 3 contract.
Bad, bad advice...!
I suppose I only use them now since I actually live in a reliable signal. If I want to surf the net I will use the wifi. I have access to 2 of my own network (long story) and tens more where I live.
3 do have a patchy network, but it is also the largest one.
Don't forget, that many people complained about the original hansets (the NECs) and they believe that that is how three will always be. The latest handsets don't have any problems
As for the O2 contract, I'm taking it out for the wife who will use it on her Moto V620.
O2 coverage is here: www.webmap.o2.co.uk
Last I heard was around 40% 3g coverage but that was some time ago. I use their 3g data card and its pretty darn good.
here 3 are becomming inc unpopular they are the only utms network currently but i bet very soon after the other phonecompany's here
just the utms bandwagon they will have a bigger network and 3 will roam more on their network then the other way around
I'm not saying anything for definate, but theres been a leaked memo from 3UK about 3 offering a data service as of 1st september.
But if it is the destruction of the walled garden, it's gotta be better than Vodafone £7.50 per mb for payg people.
i-mate JASJAR
Just to let you know I have ordered a i-mate JASJAR (Crap name) from expansys UK. 4 day delivery.
I went for the Vodaphone because we just moved premises this weekend and the O2 coverage is poor.
Cheers
SteveW
Haha, the hatred for 3 in this thread is funny.
Also unfounded. Network of the year two years running, guys..... if you didn't buy from e2save and other cashback dealers you'd get fine customer service from the likes of myself in your local 3point.

XDA mini on 02 uk

has anyone changed theire provider from 02 uk to say vergin or t mobile and was the reception any better, spoken to 3 people on 02 uk this morn and they all say it has very poor quility of speech and braks up feqently.
tried my uk 02 xda mini s on t mobile sim, there is one big difference, it works ok now with no bad hissing noises or backup, just shows how crap 02 is, 2 weeks of bad service, junking 02 Monday and getting t mobile.
Reception
Strange, I would have thought the network wouldn't make any difference. It's all GSM.
I have known poor reception on a few Mini S handsets, but it is much better when used with a wired or Bluetooth headset.
Maybe, it is a unit problem. Maybe not.
Whatever works for you.
DBo.
I have no problems with my networks
I was using T-mobile Germany and recently changed to E-plus Germany and have not noticed any differences in the quality of calls.
well taken the second wizard back today and getting a std phone and a mio pda, seems the better choice for me till things get better. pity i really like the rest of the wizard but cannot put up with a bad reception phone.
now on my third phone, this time its the T mobile uk phone, guess what.
people can hear me and say the reception is ok now. just goes to show what a differance the net work makes. taken me 2 weeks to sort all this but got there in the end.
I don't know where you are but O2's reception quality (as remarked, it should not make any difference with GSM anyway) is way ahead of T-Mobile's. I was with O2 for 2 years up until the start of this year and could use my XDA2i in a basement flat with no problem at all. With T-Mobile on a MDA Pro that doesn't work. Only reason I left o2 was because of that four-letter man Charles Porter and his staff wanting over £400 for the XDA Exec 'as an upgrade', which T-mobile offered me for free.

Warning - Orange Coverage in London

I just wanted to post a warning message for all users contemplating using Orange. I have switched from Vodafone to Orange. I have an unlocked SPV 3100. While I was using a Vodafone sim I has a 3G signal 85 – 90% of the time.
I have now switched over to orange (Business contract) and in the same device I have seen a 3G signal once (for about 30 seconds) in 3 weeks. I live and work in central London so this seems ridiculous!
There are two companies I am involved with who have bought business phones for all their staff who work all over London. All users have huge signal problems. It seems that Oranges infrastructure is far inferior to other networks. I can’t believe that in a major city I cannot get a 3G signal. Most of the time I have 2 bars on a GPRS signal.
So anyone currently contemplating which service provider to choose be warned. It is a shame because the SPV 3100 is a great looking phone, if only Orange had the coverage to allow you to use it properly!
It turns out that Orange provided me with a sim card which was not 3G Capable. I new sim should sort this issue out!
Thought it was strange i live in central London and my phone (Universal) nearly always has 3g availability with the full 4 bars of signal when i'm at home.
Before this phone I had the Blue Angel (M2000 - only 2.5g) and I would only get 1-2 bars of signal when i was at home.
Hope the new SIM sorts it.
Matt
LeoPheonix said:
I just wanted to post a warning message for all users contemplating using Orange.
...edit....
It seems that Oranges infrastructure is far inferior to other networks. I can’t believe that in a major city I cannot get a 3G signal. Most of the time I have 2 bars on a GPRS signal.
So anyone currently contemplating which service provider to choose be warned. It is a shame because the SPV 3100 is a great looking phone, if only Orange had the coverage to allow you to use it properly!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Completely agree with this. I was an original user of Orange back in '94 until earlier this year - swapped to O2 cos signal 'seems' to be better than the others. Use Voda for work and O2 is consistenly better where I live/go for business (including London)
I used to drive from Manchester Airport around the M60 and then 6 miles north and used to lose calls 4 times on the journey in exactly the same place (despite having a properly fitted car kit). Orange really needs to sort it's network strength out.
Yep I switched from O2 to Orange a few months back. I can't believe how crappy 3g coverage is at my house and in the office (west London, W4/W5)... very disappointing.

Signal problems

Hello All
Is anyone having lower signal with the Hero? I have downloaded CellFinder and it reports a signal of -109Db most of the time, (1 bar). sometimes I get to 2, 3 bars but never full. I mate who is also on orange gets 4 bars on his win mob phone.
On Orange website it says i should have excellent reception where I am at (work).
Just wondering if anyone else has these issues.
This mate is getting his Hero tomorrow so i will compare and if he gets signal then i will get a new one off orange.
My signal is a bit rubbish to where I live - The diamond was a bit better but my SE 995 does hold the signal at home but even that still drops.
I was thinking of backing the device
I blame Orange. Going to be sending mine back in next couple of days and getting the T-Mobile one.
herman3101 said:
I blame Orange. Going to be sending mine back in next couple of days and getting the T-Mobile one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is more of a HTC issue IMO as its the same with t-mobile where I live with HTC handsets.
so do the majority of people have bad signal?
herman3101 said:
I blame Orange. Going to be sending mine back in next couple of days and getting the T-Mobile one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sending it back under the 7 day agreement?
Yeh, I'm having signal issues too, I'v had the handset replaced, issue still remains.
Yup, received it last Thursday so have a couple of days before I need to ring them. Hopefully going to still have the Hero when T-Mobile stores get the G2 in so I can use it as a bargaining tool :-D, nothing says I'm prepared to leave T-Mobile like having already signed up with Orange.
I've been using HTC phones for the past 6 years and have no real complaints about signal strength on T-Mobile. Very rarely have no signal and usually have a fast 3G signal. The Hero on Orange is terrible where I am. Unfortunately can't try my T-Mobile sim in the Hero as it's locked.
Did someone not say on this board that they have unlocked their Hero. If you are listening, have you tried other sims? do they get a better reception?
Just remember its 7 working days and not including the delivery day not just 7 days - so if I got my phone last Wednesday - I have until this Friday to contact Orange about the return.
I'm just undecided as the iPhone but not 3Gs is coming Oranges way soon.
@ home
on my diamond i got 3/4 bar.....now i get only 1
my diamond was the same till i flashed the radio
This looks to be a firmware issue with the hero. Similar to the prob iPhone 3G had when it first went on sale.
Hope HTC get on it.
Crikey my signals S**T hot!
I have a H most of the day at work which normally i`m lucky if i have 3G.
I suppose now your gonna ask with which phone i had this with..
I mostly get H but only 1, 2 bar.
barryallott said:
I mostly get H but only 1, 2 bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL Yeh just looked i have 1/2 bars also!!!
I was not happy with the signal either. Decided to bite the bullet and return it. Back on the kaiser until a: the signal is solved, b: local syncing is solved and c: copilot is 'solved'.
I need 'real' satnav. Come on Garmin
Shame to hear another singal prob with HTC again. My diamond was crap to begin with but the updates sorted it in the end. My Hero is due to be delivered on Thursday.
Can those experiancing signal issues also state what network they are on. Maybe Voda and O2 on the lower bands my differ from Orange and T-Mobile on the higher?
Thanks.. Mark
Well, I'm sticking with mine as I only have signal issues at home in my old stone built house when downstairs - otherwise the signal seems OK and I get mainly (H)
I was on Orange (I still am but with a Kaiser).
I'm using Vodafone. Good signal Strength with me.

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