Hey guys. First post here so go easy on me.
I am trying to understand the difference between the various AT&T Networks. I have the PDA Connect unlimited plan for starters. When I first got my 8525 3 weeks ago, it was connecting to wap.cingular.com and showing 3G in the top.
After playing around I got the HTweakC program and saw an item to 'enable HSDPA'. I did this and magically the icon at the top was an H. I was excited. However it will change back to 3G and even on occasion show an E (EDGE I assume)
What im wondering is a few things
1. Does the icon really matter? It always says connected to MediaNet when I go to properties
2. What is the 'order' of speed? HSDPA > 3G > EDGE ?? (or icons I guess in this case)
3. I saw also in HTweakC the ability to 'always' connection to a certain connection, I had this on for a but then disabled but can I leave it ALWAYS connected to the fastest one somehow?
4. I also read something about isp.cingular.com, what is that about? is it faster? Trying to get the most of out my 8525... heh
Thanks guys!
I think it changes depending on what connection you have at the time. At work I get a good H connection most of the time, but at home its usually just 3G. I think it just depends on your location and how strong the connection is. I could be wrong, but if you get H sometimes, then I think its working fine.
Related
hello,
after searching on "3G" in the forum, i seems that the problems are just the opposite to my question, they all want 3G to be turned off.
Now I want to connect to 3G (with the "G" icon on the staus bar).
My problem is that it always connect on "edge", with the "E" icon in status bar and when I want to make a video call, it always says that there is no connection to 3G so I can't make videocall.
Anyone knwos how to activate 3G?
I looked into the connections, but I don't want to mess in it without knowing what I do.
BTW I'm in Europe (Belgium).
Thanks
You fell into the same trap I did when I first got a Windows Mobile phone.
G means GPRS and is the lowest, simplest connection speed.
G = GPRS. "Normal" internet speed (9.6-14.4kbps)
E - Edge. "Enhanced" internet speed (normally 48kbps, but can be higher)
3G = 3G internet speed (128-384kbps). Also allows video calls.
H = HSDPA. "Mobile broadband" speed. (1.8Mbps, 3.6Mbps or 7.2Mbps depending on operator).
You'll want to go to:
Start > Settings > Connections > Advanced Network
Make sure that HSDPA/HSUPA is enabled
From then on, it depends on the signal in your area. If you find that you're having a problem getting and maintaining a 3G or H signal, you might need to get an updated SIM from your operator. I got a new SIM from O2-UK and it solved my connection problems immediately.
I see that HSDPA/HSUPA is enabled.
Could it have something to do with the settings in connections (instead of advanced network settings)?
I will also check with my provider (sim card)
Thanks for the reply
i cannot connect to the internet not using wifi. i do however h an H symbol next to my signal. i dont get why i have the hsdpa but cannot connect. i've tried anything i can think of.
*i can't turn data connection on in my comm manager, it automatically disconnects and says wap.cingular not working or gprs not working somthing like that.
*in the connection settings i pick media net wich is automatically picks att but still won't
*in settings/personal/phone i left if auto defualts for bands
*settings/connections/advance network i even tried to put it to hsda ONLY won't work
the only new lead im getting is this Zenith post saying he got new sim card so now it's working. that's all im getting at now. but im even skeptical about that
If you are not getting the 3G or H icon then you either have no coverage or an incompatible SIM.
If you can't connect to the internet you either have incorrect settings on your phone, or your network aren't allowing you on their APN.
Suggest in all cases phoning your network to get clarification.
artesea said:
If you are not getting the 3G or H icon then you either have no coverage or an incompatible SIM.
If you can't connect to the internet you either have incorrect settings on your phone, or your network aren't allowing you on their APN.
Suggest in all cases phoning your network to get clarification.
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Click to collapse
you wouldn't believe how i found out i had no internet. they say'd it was in the system but it was disabled in thier system. i put in my brothers sims and his work just fine. so i told them to look at whatever his plan is and they switch to what he had. anyways long story short i found out not my settings bc you just auto configure it connectin wizards, and wasn't sims card, it was stupid att. i was getting the H icon but not an H on my signal. anyways its all done now. thanks again guys
Symptoms
- You cannot maintain a constant data connection. The connection is often lost or dropped.
- HD2 reception indicator dances between G to 3G to H despite showing good reception, and user remaining stationary.
Counter measures - No cabs or registry tweaks needed.
Presented in the order I would try them. If the lower number levels don't work, then move up a level. These are offerred as advice from a UK based HD2 user, though may work for you elsewhere.
LEVEL 1
- Go to Comm Manager > Wireless Controls
- Turn the Data connection Off then On again.
This will usually get you back and running again faster than waiting for the HD2 to sort itself out.
LEVEL 2
- Go to Settings > All Settings > Connections > Advanced Network
- Disable HSDPA/HSUPA
This will stop your phone attempting to use '3.5G' and will mean that you only use 3G.
Remember to re-enable HSDPA/HSUPA when you are in an area with better reception.
LEVEL 3
- Go to Settings > Wireless Controls > Phone - Change phone settings
- Move down to Other Options > Band - Change baseband
- Change Network Type from Auto to GSM
- Change Band frequency from Auto to either GSM (900+1800)+UMTS or GSM (1900+850) . To make the decision, you need to know the GSM frequency your operator uses. If you don't know, you can just try both of the GSM options and see which works. No damage will be done by using the wrong frequency first time, and you can change back.
This will disable 3G and force your phone to use 2G. Most operators have decent 2G networks, so you shouldn't have the disconnects anymore, but you will have slower than 3G potential speeds.
Remember to change your phone back to Auto for both Network Type and Band Frequency when you are in an area with better reception.
Thanks for the heads up... will have to try some of these. I find it most annoying at times...!
Thanks for the advice, I do find those issues annoying. What are the benefits of using 3.5G? If they're aren't any major advantages and turning this off helps then I may as well leave it off.
CHIP STAXMAN said:
LEVEL 1
- Go to Comm Manager > Wireless Controls
- Turn the Data connection Off then On again.
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Click to collapse
The problem with this is that it b*llockses up your push email settings, if you use the phone to get email from an Exchange server. The better approach (assuming standard configuration) is to press and hold the power/end-call hard-button. That brings up a menu of four choices. The last of those is "terminate data connection". Click it. Anything the phone does which requires the data connection after that will automatically reactivate it.
3G 2100
These tricks may solve the issue for many but not for me because I'm in a 3G 2100 only network so I cannot switch to GSM. I will try to disable HSDPA/HSUPA to see if that works though.
The weird thing is that the issue occurs almost exclusively when I'm logged on an IM client and the phone stays in sleep mode a few minutes (say 15 min or so). After I wake up the phone the signal seems ok but the data connection is lost (IM, browsing, mail, weather update, etc.). It doesn't happen every time but very often, several times a day.
If I don't log on any instant messenger app the data connection is stable, especially with the new 1.66 ROM (I tried both Duttty's custom and official). In this case I lose data connection very rarely, in fact I din't even remember the last time I did.
Can anybody provide an explanation for this, what is happening with the connection between the IM server and the phone during sleep?
snerkler said:
Thanks for the advice, I do find those issues annoying. What are the benefits of using 3.5G? If they're aren't any major advantages and turning this off helps then I may as well leave it off.
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If your network supports it, you should have higher potential data upload and download speeds through using 3.5G (HSDPA/HSUPA).
In reality and every day use, on many networks you probably wouldn't notice the difference between 3G and 3.5G.
I'm on Virgin Mobile, which piggybacks on T-Mobile's network here in the UK. My speedtests in central London, show virtually no difference between me using 2G, 3G and 3.5G!!!! Which is ridiculous. The main difference I get as a HD2 user is much more stable data connection on 2G vs 3G/3.5G.
So, i have bugged folks on this forum about getting 3G to work on other carriers, and it turns out - it does work! At first i found out my settings were set to GSM only, but now i also found this weird inconsistency possibly a bug.
If i have Data Off after using 3G or GPRS for some time, when i turn it back on, phone would not connect to data service. After enabling it will simply time out.
I found that if i switch from GSM to WCDMA, and than back, 3G network would connect and work.
I don't know if it's specifically my phone, or a bug, so i'm just throwing it out there.
dialbat said:
So, i have bugged folks on this forum about getting 3G to work on other carriers, and it turns out - it does work! At first i found out my settings were set to GSM only, but now i also found this weird inconsistency possibly a bug.
If i have Data Off after using 3G or GPRS for some time, when i turn it back on, phone would not connect to data service. After enabling it will simply time out.
I found that if i switch from GSM to WCDMA, and than back, 3G network would connect and work.
I don't know if it's specifically my phone, or a bug, so i'm just throwing it out there.
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Click to collapse
What carrier are you getting 3G to work? I doubt its working if its anything that doesn't run on tmobiles bands..the icon will come up and stuff but your either getting edge speeds or not getting any connection. I've had this phone show me 3G with full bars and just time out.. I can eveven put in a sim with a sidekick plan or other data plan and it shows 3G but it does not work
Well, i'm overseas and i have used it on Russian carrier Beeline and carriers in two other countries. Now, i do set my connection to WCDMA only, which gives me 3G icon. When i set it to GSM only, i see GPRS icon show up.
So, it does work, i use fring, online radio, google maps. But as far as speed concerned, i have not tested it.
Just ran a speed test using Speedtest.net tool, I get 3951kbps download, and 655 upload
thats 3G
Hi All,
Done a quick search on this and can't find anything relevent, but i apologise if a thread already exists.
Really a question for those in the UK on the t-mobile network. Have any of you attempted to sign up for the orange 2g roaming service yet? I signed up, recieved the confirmation text, replied to it, and received the final confirmation. However, I'm not sure it's working. The signal seems no stronger, and i still drop in my house.
Obviously i'm posting this in the android section because i'm running android myself and am wondering whether anyone in the same boat has managed to get roaming to work. Should the fact that we're on a non-official OS running off the sd card make a difference?
Oh and for completeness, i'm running shubcraft 1.5 rmnet.
Cheers fellas!
I'm quite happily flip flopping between Orange while at work and T-Mobile for everything else...
works like a charm for me though you do have to stick the phone into Airplane mode after selecting the different provider for the data to work ...
Jezwick said:
I'm quite happily flip flopping between Orange while at work and T-Mobile for everything else...
works like a charm for me though you do have to stick the phone into Airplane mode after selecting the different provider for the data to work ...
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Many thanks for the reply Jezwick. So, just for clarity, you're manually selecting each provider as and when required? Because i can do that, i think. When i select orange though, whilst it registers with the network fine, i get a little "R" above the signal bar (any ideas what that means?) And the speed appears to be limited to Edge. Orange have a very strong signal round here, so i figure i should be getting GPRS really.
It's the auto-switching i'm not totally sure is working really. Is there any explicit indicator that it's flipping on it's own? Or do you just observe a generally better 2g signal, rather than say, a very weak 3g one? Round the house, my phone is still trying to make do with 1 or zero bars of 3g. I would have hoped it would flip over to orange more or less all the time under those circumstances. Nothing to stop me manually selecting it i guess though...
_tangent said:
Many thanks for the reply Jezwick. So, just for clarity, you're manually selecting each provider as and when required? Because i can do that, i think. When i select orange though, whilst it registers with the network fine, i get a little "R" above the signal bar (any ideas what that means?) And the speed appears to be limited to Edge. Orange have a very strong signal round here, so i figure i should be getting GPRS really.
It's the auto-switching i'm not totally sure is working really. Is there any explicit indicator that it's flipping on it's own? Or do you just observe a generally better 2g signal, rather than say, a very weak 3g one? Round the house, my phone is still trying to make do with 1 or zero bars of 3g. I would have hoped it would flip over to orange more or less all the time under those circumstances. Nothing to stop me manually selecting it i guess though...
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The R is indeed for roaming that's the way it works if your not on your 'own' network.. The 'flipped' service will currently only work at GRPS speeds at the moment but should be 3G by the new year
I have noticed mine flipping automatically but only once or twice in the last few weeks but only when I get NO signal from the current service.
Jezwick said:
The R is indeed for roaming that's the way it works if your not on your 'own' network.. The 'flipped' service will currently only work at GRPS speeds at the moment but should be 3G by the new year
I have noticed mine flipping automatically but only once or twice in the last few weeks but only when I get NO signal from the current service.
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Understood - thanks for the info Just done some reading and apparently EDGE is faster than basic GPRS. For some reason, i'd always assumed the reverse. Looks like the best option is just to have it always on orange whilst at home and use wifi for data (which i do anyway to compensate for the poor signal). Cheers!
Well after many searches and a lot of trial and error, I think ive finally solved my problem of dropped/no phone signal for NAND builds, which in turn has also made my battery life way better since the phone is no longer constantly searching for signal Basically its 4 steps, ive tried each individually with no changes but for some reason when applied all together it works wonders. They are as follows:
1: dial *#*#4636#*#* and go to phone information and choose 'gsm auto PRL'
2: go to settings>mobile networks and check 'use only 2g networks'
3: go to settings>wireless networks>wifi>advanced and change wifi sleep policy to 'never'
4: go to app store and download "wifi keep alive" (free). choose wifi behavior 'always on' and advanced options 'enable workaround 2'
using these 4 steps i reduced my time without signal from 74% to 12% in 16 hours, and im getting 4-5 green bars all the time, at home and work hope this helps
I'm not an expert, but doesn't that mean you are stuck in 2G-Mode for Data Transfer? I believe 3G if available would be faster..... or am i wrong?
loekis said:
I'm not an expert, but doesn't that mean you are stuck in 2G-Mode for Data Transfer? I believe 3G if available would be faster..... or am i wrong?
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yeah, it stays in 2g for data but for me its an acceptable trade off to actually be able to recieve calls. plus you can always switch 3g back on if you plan on doing something that uses a lot of data and switch it back off when youre done
damm i was excited until i saw that you have to disable 3G
Is this a common problem?
or... you could just go to settings/wireless&networks/mobile networks and change the network mode to gsm only (which is 2g) so, same thing.. and you know what? i still have signal issues, just not as bad..
pyrorob said:
or... you could just go to settings/wireless&networks/mobile networks and change the network mode to gsm only (which is 2g) so, same thing.. and you know what? i still have signal issues, just not as bad..
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yea i think that option is only on Desire or froyo builds, on all of the GB's ive used it says 2G. i suppose its not gonna work for everyone, it probably still depends on your coverage area, but it definately helped me A LOT. ive been using these settings for the past 3 days and my time without signal has dropped down to 0-5% from the 55-75% it was before, and im no longer missing calls
very useful tips
I ticked the "Use 2G only" checkbox in my wireless settings and all connection problems seem to be gone! (for now)... My data connection used to be terrible... voice connection shaky.
Thanks a lot!