Database Users

HSPDA Confusion!

Hi everyone,
It's my first post here - most likely not to be my last. Oh, and i know i spelt HSDPA wrong in the title!
I very very recently (yesterday in fact) managed to get hold of my T-Mobile Hermes (one of the .37 batch) and am having no problems whatsoever with the phone, the only problem i am having is getting any web download speeds faster than around 40kbps?
I phoned T-Mobile yesterday and after being on hold twice and explaining myself many times i think i got HSDPA enabled as the lady (who was very nice) said she promises it has been enabled for me. I tried half hour later and sure enough, i used www.dslreports.com/mspeed and could now download at around 800kbps - perfect! Unfortunately i tried again this morning and it says 40kbps again
Is there any way to tell whether HSDPA has been enabled on my phone before i call T-Mobile again? Does HSDPA just run over 3G? I haven't got a brilliant signal where i am - usually 1 or 2 bars, could this be what is affecting my download speed? I need some help!

Just realised i have spelt HSDPA wrong in the thread title - never mind! Can anyone help?

Have you read this dude?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=276154&page=5
Theres a couple of files you can check you have i believe, also the Fit4cat program is worth downloading.

40kbps is GPRS data speed. Even without HSDPA you should get 300kbps on UMTS.
Your phone will show a U or a G depending on which network you are on.

It shows a "G" all the time in a little white block next to the signal bar, and sometimes the signal bar shows an antenna and sometimes a "G" also - does that mean when im on the "G" ill be on HSDPA and when im on the antenna (if i cant get 3G) ill be on GPRS 40kbps?
If so that makes a lot of sense as the signal is not brilliant round here, i went shopping in a much bigger town this afternoon and tested again -> full signal and downloading at around 1200kbps! Obviously it is enabled, think its just down to my signal....
Does that sound about right?

RTFM, the G is for GSM ie data will be GPRS.
You will either have a 3G or U depending on what ROM you're running for 3G/UMTS/HSDPA .

I'll be honest i only got half way through the quick start guide before i started playing with it. So, if my phone is always on "G" i'll assume i need to try and unlock it using the fit4cat thing? As T-Mobile have said they have enabled HSDPA on my account?
How did i get 1200kbps on GPRS by the way? It definately said "G" when i was connected and did the speed test...?!

I just ran the fit4cat Hermes tweaker and still no luck, it only connects to "G" rather than "3G", 3G is apparently available in this area so why does it only connect to G? Im confused and would really appreciate some advice...

Well if you probably didn't notice the U (or whatever) when you got 1mbps once it. This means that HSDPA is enabled on your phone and SIM.
The fit4cat tweaker only (dis)enables HSDPA but that isn't an issue because even without HSDPA you would be getting UMTS speeds.
One thing you could try is. Go to Start->Settings->Phone->Band set GSM/UTMS to GSM900+1800 + UMTS2100
You could also try a manual search for networks from Start->Settings->Phone->Networks->Find Network
Finally you can also disable GSM totaly using network type in the band selection and see if you get a steady 3G signal.

Thanks for your suggestions, here are my findings:
kevino said:
Well if you probably didn't notice the U (or whatever) when you got 1mbps once it. This means that HSDPA is enabled on your phone and SIM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point, i have a long drive home tonight so will check when going through built up areas to see if it connects to 3G or U then.
kevino said:
One thing you could try is. Go to Start->Settings->Phone->Band set GSM/UTMS to GSM900+1800 + UMTS2100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried this, and phone disconnected then reconnected but still said "G" when connecting to Internet. Set back to "Auto".
kevino said:
You could also try a manual search for networks from Start->Settings->Phone->Networks->Find Network
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this also, it pops up with the message "Registering on the network" and disappears and thats it, nothing happens.
kevino said:
Finally you can also disable GSM totaly using network type in the band selection and see if you get a steady 3G signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot find an option to disable GSM in the Band tab, i have the following:
Select your network type.
__Auto
__GSM
Select your GSM/UMTS band.
__GSM(900+1800)+UMTS(2100)
__GSM(1900+850)+UMTS(1900+850)
and thats about it. Cannot find anything that would let me not use GSM whatsoever? I appreciate your help so far

It may be the case that your reception for 3G just isnt adequate enough to work where you live, O2 states there is reception in the area where i live but i only tend to get UMTS upstairs....just one of those things....here at uni i get FULL UMTS reception anywhere.

richieboy said:
I cannot find an option to disable GSM in the Band tab, i have the following:
Select your network type.
__Auto
__GSM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the dopod ROM it has a WCDMA option too. No big deal !
Seting the band was just so that the phone doesn't bother looking for bands that are not available in this country. To try and encourage it to check the correct UMTS band more quickly.
My suggestion to use find network (you need to select manual search) in Networks wasn't too helpful anyway as it doesn't list the band. So no use unless you can disable GSM.
Of course you may have got a spurious speed test result. How old is your SIM? It needs to be a USIM

Yes firstly is your SIM card a USIM....or is it a SIM card from an old handset?? I think youve already said you have had the 'U' appear on your TyTN at some point.....so again im going with the assumption you just dont have adequate UMTS reception for it to work....hence why you are only seeing 'G'.

So, funny story...
It seems where i was over the weekend (girlfriends) is borderline, so as mentioned aboved i can get 3G upstairs but not downstairs - i decided to drive around and got 3G all over the place...the best news is i get 2/3 bars of 3G at home too!
Problem solved, im an idiot - but hey, it doesn't hurt to ask right?
680kbps! Woo

richieboy said:
So, funny story...
It seems where i was over the weekend (girlfriends) is borderline, so as mentioned aboved i can get 3G upstairs but not downstairs - i decided to drive around and got 3G all over the place...the best news is i get 2/3 bars of 3G at home too!
Problem solved, im an idiot - but hey, it doesn't hurt to ask right?
680kbps! Woo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
girlfrends! Woo

3G drops to GSM when receiving calls and during calls

I searched all the threads and found nothing on this as far as I can see. I have been having this since day one with my G1. Every time I receive a call on my G1 or during the call it drops from 3G to GSM. I had stock T-Mo roms on my G1 (Pre/Post Cupcake) then JF 1.51 and now cyanogen 4.0.2 and this problem persists. I called T-Mo a few times on this and they exchanged my G1 3 times and gave me a new battery and charger free of charge. Does anyone else have this issue or know of a work around? This happens when I am at home and work. I travel for work to different locations and it still happens. When my phone rings it automatically drops 3G and goes to GSM (no icon next to the radio icon in the status bar). While making calls it stays on 3G for about a few seconds before it craps out and drops to GSM. It totally skips EDGE and GPRS. T-Mo said they sent out radio antenna tech's to the antennas near my home and they said all is fine and dandy. I live In Queens NY and work in the Bronx. When I travel to Brooklyn its the same as well as driving though Manhattan. I hope someone can help me with this.

PeterC18st said:
I searched all the threads and found nothing on this as far as I can see. I have been having this since day one with my G1. Every time I receive a call on my G1 or during the call it drops from 3G to GSM. I had stock T-Mo roms on my G1 (Pre/Post Cupcake) then JF 1.51 and now cyanogen 4.0.2 and this problem persists. I called T-Mo a few times on this and they exchanged my G1 3 times and gave me a new battery and charger free of charge. Does anyone else have this issue or know of a work around? This happens when I am at home and work. I travel for work to different locations and it still happens. When my phone rings it automatically drops 3G and goes to GSM (no icon next to the radio icon in the status bar). While making calls it stays on 3G for about a few seconds before it craps out and drops to GSM. It totally skips EDGE and GPRS. T-Mo said they sent out radio antenna tech's to the antennas near my home and they said all is fine and dandy. I live In Queens NY and work in the Bronx. When I travel to Brooklyn its the same as well as driving though Manhattan. I hope someone can help me with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive always had this as well .. just never considered it a bug lol ... but i could see why someone would wanna keep their 3g while on a call .. reminds me of how sidekicks would lose data connectivity due to a call

xidominicanoix said:
but i could see why someone would wanna keep their 3g while on a call .. reminds me of how sidekicks would lose data connectivity due to a call
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you elaborate?
If you've had 3 G1's and a tech says there's nothing wrong with the network then it's clearly an issues with cupcake, be it a feature or a bug...
I don't really see why you would want to keep data conectivity while in a call, (unless you're downloading something in the background..?) so it sounds like a way to save battery..

AdrianK said:
Could you elaborate?
If you've had 3 G1's and a tech says there's nothing wrong with the network then it's clearly an issues with cupcake, be it a feature or a bug...
I don't really see why you would want to keep data conectivity while in a call, (unless you're downloading something in the background..?) so it sounds like a way to save battery..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a perfect example where 3G would rule when working properly.
I'm talking to my wife on my BT headset while driving home from work. I have my G1 on my dash with google maps running with traffic patterns showing. While talking I am able to talk clearly on 3G and still see where traffic is building so I can avoid it. Being stuck in rush hour in NYC sux homeless man [email protected] Whenever I do this and my 3G connection drops my call quality drops and we both hear it while we're talking and then it cuts in and out and the call drops then I dont get updates. It's a feature I would really like to have. Even when Im working and talking and downloading a new update of an app. This happens when I am at a static location as well. I know driving from cell tower to cell tower can have bad effects but it does the same when I'm just at home or any of my work locations. When 3G works properly which is rare its amazing. Its helped me get un lost and find my way many of times.
Point being when T-Mo released the 3G statement they said all users with 3G phones will expierence higher call quality from the extra bandwidth. Why would they cap or or disable it when they are promoting it? I see the the point of saving battery life but it still shouldnt be happening. 3G is made for that feature to work voice + data being accessed together.

It might just be there 3g network, imo tmobile reception is horrible. Like at my house it is so f'ed up, I can sit in my chair and have 3 bars then walk 2 feet and lose service. It does this all through my house and at my work. They said it must be something in the buildings I am in, bull**** I say because ATT never does that nor did vzw when I used them.

same thing happens with me and 3g and calls..also about the house thing, hows this one for u ill be sitting in the same spot and have good 3g reception and all of a sudden it drops to edge. I know a way around this is to set phone to 3G only but then in areas where theres non im screwed

I don't get it. My wife who had the original iPhone and then 3g and now 3gs never had this issue. She would stay on Edge and 3g depending if she waned to save batery life. My old BB 8700g would always stay on Edge never drop to GSM in my apartment. My 3G doesnt even fall to Edge it goes right to GSM. This is really annoying.

every t-mobile phone I have does this
I'm pretty sure its normal

No one knows if this is a hardware, software, or network problem. Except maybe HTC/T-Mobile/Google.
If your phone stays connected to 3G, it's all good. If it drops down to EDGE, even if for half a second, it will NOT reconnect to 3G until you hang up.

c2tmdsn said:
every t-mobile phone I have does this
I'm pretty sure its normal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My coworkers Samsung t819 doesn't. That's regular cell phone not a smart phone.
Gary13579 said:
No one knows if this is a hardware, software, or network problem. Except maybe HTC/T-Mobile/Google.
If your phone stays connected to 3G, it's all good. If it drops down to EDGE, even if for half a second, it will NOT reconnect to 3G until you hang up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If any of those 3 know they should fix it or at the very least advertise that the calls you make are dropped to the lower bandwidth of the GSM network.
T-Mo finally got 3G for the last year don't dumb it down guys. Fix this.
Yes it is true once your phone drops beneath 3G it will not go to 3G until you hang up the call.

try running 3g only or wdma only by creating phone info shortcut on anycut .. im going to try that out and see if it ever drops .. should be a temporary fix for you atleast with the whole maps thing and such but if you ever in an edge only are your screwed

turboyo said:
try running 3g only or wdma only by creating phone info shortcut on anycut .. im going to try that out and see if it ever drops .. should be a temporary fix for you atleast with the whole maps thing and such but if you ever in an edge only are your screwed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I changed it to wcdma only in phone info. Hopefully this works. Everywhere I travel to throughout NYC has 3G. Hopefully this works. Also I have noticed that when downloading anything from 3G be it the market or browser it would drop from 3G to Edge as well.

PeterC18st said:
I changed it to wcdma only in phone info. Hopefully this works. Everywhere I travel to throughout NYC has 3G. Hopefully this works. Also I have noticed that when downloading anything from 3G be it the market or browser it would drop from 3G to Edge as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*UPDATE*
While at home downloading apps from Android Market on 3G with wcdma only selected the radio dropped with no netowkr connection. Bust.

PeterC18st said:
I don't get it. My wife who had the original iPhone and then 3g and now 3gs never had this issue. She would stay on Edge and 3g depending if she waned to save batery life. My old BB 8700g would always stay on Edge never drop to GSM in my apartment. My 3G doesnt even fall to Edge it goes right to GSM. This is really annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did she use att or tmobile with the iphone? Because att has a much stronger 3g network then tmobile which could be why. I am pretty sure it is something to do with tmobiles network and not your phone, perhaps your area has to many users for it to stay on 3G. I have read about how the cell towers work and they have only so many bands for each user to access at any given time so if tmobile doesn't have enough towers or those things mounted on the towers it may be set up so you only get 3G for data usage and not calls since they don't technically require it to work.

crpercodani said:
Did she use att or tmobile with the iphone? Because att has a much stronger 3g network then tmobile which could be why. I am pretty sure it is something to do with tmobiles network and not your phone, perhaps your area has to many users for it to stay on 3G. I have read about how the cell towers work and they have only so many bands for each user to access at any given time so if tmobile doesn't have enough towers or those things mounted on the towers it may be set up so you only get 3G for data usage and not calls since they don't technically require it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My wife is on ATT. Isn't lower frequency better at penetrating through walls and such? (T-Mo 1700 MHz and 2100 MHz compared to ATT 1800 MHz) They haven't booted their 850 MHz antennas yet so I hear.
If that is true then why not boot me down to Edge or gprs why all the way down to gsm? I been living in the same area for 26 years. I have been with T-Mo before they even had antennas in my area and walking outside was the only way to get a signal with my phone. Now I get full reception in and out of my apartment and 3G connectivity in my apartment with a signal strength of -93dBm through out my apartment on 3G and -79 dBm on Edge.
T-Mo stated that this should not be happening. Hence the 3 phones new battery and charger and techs to the antennas. I'm starting to think its a HTC Android problem and not a T-Mo problem. Hopefully a new radio update can fix it.

I didn't even know GSM was still used in that way, I thought GPRS would be the bare minimum. How can you tell the difference? I use to only get a G icon and I looked it up and for the g1 it said that meant GPRS, what does it show for GSM? Not like any of this matters though.
I really have no idea why all this is happening to your G1 but I hope it gets resolved, good luck.
edit: on the tmobile coverage map it says edge/gprs and 3g, no gsm. does that make any difference? I checked for NYC overall not any specific boroughs.

crpercodani said:
I didn't even know GSM was still used in that way, I thought GPRS would be the bare minimum. How can you tell the difference? I use to only get a G icon and I looked it up and for the g1 it said that meant GPRS, what does it show for GSM? Not like any of this matters though.
I really have no idea why all this is happening to your G1 but I hope it gets resolved, good luck.
edit: on the tmobile coverage map it says edge/gprs and 3g, no gsm. does that make any difference? I checked for NYC overall not any specific boroughs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GSM is what Edge Gprs and 3G run off of. Think of it as a progression. GSM>GPRS>EDGE>3G.
The way I know it is on GSM is to the left of the Radio icon on the home screen there is another icon that shows the network your on. 3G=3G E=EDGE G=GPRS and no icon means GSM. GSM is still being used. Most SMS and MMS messages get sent to your from through GSM while you are on a call.

[Q] Orange/t-mobile network sharing in the UK

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 ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!

3G mode not working sometimes

Have had this phone a coupla months, happy with it except the stupid GPS problem and some other connection problem.
When using wifi connection at home, if i stop browsing and close the screen for a few minutes and go back to surf internet, the wifi will stop working, turning wifi off and on again will make it work. Not too difficult but sometimes this feels sucks.
second problem is, occationally i will lose the "3G" or "H" sign on the top and cannot connect to internet using 3G data connection. i have no idea why this is happening. sometimes when i am out on street, try to check some information online, 3g is my only option and it really bothers me when it stops working. i'm using orange. all setting are as original.
Anyone knows how to solve these 2 problems?

the phone either works on
850/1900/2100
or
900/1900/2100
so depending on the model that you purchased
and where you live
also the cell phone provider that you are using
you might not get the full band usage of your phone
for example using the above models on a phone service that only uses
1700/1900/2100
then you are cripled
some telcos only use 1 band or 2 bands at most
1700 or 2100 for example

ehe12 said:
Have had this phone a coupla months, happy with it except the stupid GPS problem and some other connection problem.
When using wifi connection at home, if i stop browsing and close the screen for a few minutes and go back to surf internet, the wifi will stop working, turning wifi off and on again will make it work. Not too difficult but sometimes this feels sucks.
second problem is, occationally i will lose the "3G" or "H" sign on the top and cannot connect to internet using 3G data connection. i have no idea why this is happening. sometimes when i am out on street, try to check some information online, 3g is my only option and it really bothers me when it stops working. i'm using orange. all setting are as original.
Anyone knows how to solve these 2 problems?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3g nodes and 2g bts wont give you the same area coverage, yes you will lose the H and drop down to 3g if your -db rating (signal is low) is at the highest limit for the cell and it deems you either need handing off to another site or you were one of the last ones to be allocated a slot and get kicked.
its how the cookie crumbles, no where will give you 100% coverage and if u are close to a small site thats overloaded with traffic you will always get crappy uplink and downlink...
b

I dont know where you are or what provider you use, but I have the same problem with my I900M on bell. it is apparently a widely known issue with Bell, and they associated my phone with the ongoing ticket incase it gets resolved they'll contact me.
Also, when I lose the 3g, ts a good chance my phone is going to lock up and need a battery pull to boot back up.
So Basically if I leave the house or wifi spot, I try not to show people my internet on my phone so it doesnt look like I'm carrying a brick in my pocket everywhere.

anarchyuk said:
3g nodes and 2g bts wont give you the same area coverage, yes you will lose the H and drop down to 3g if your -db rating (signal is low) is at the highest limit for the cell and it deems you either need handing off to another site or you were one of the last ones to be allocated a slot and get kicked.
its how the cookie crumbles, no where will give you 100% coverage and if u are close to a small site thats overloaded with traffic you will always get crappy uplink and downlink...
b
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so that's something to do with the carrier? Thanks for the explanation!

Anyway to select Network Mode 3G Only?

I see the option for 2G only but is there a way to lock it to 3G only? (Don't need advice as to why I shouldn't do this) I've found on other phones I get a more solid 3G connection w/o back and forth switching between edge and 3G at my house.

*#*#4636#*#*
Phone information
WCDMA only

Thanks man! Don't know why they didn't just put it in the regular network setting but nonetheless glad the option is there.

advantage?
why does it go to EDGE in the first place? would there then be NO signal rather than E or G?

Slapinfunk said:
advantage?
why does it go to EDGE in the first place? would there then be NO signal rather than E or G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Setting it to 3G only means that if it can not get 3G, it will not drop down to E or G, you will get 0 connection.
Advantage? In normal everyday usage, none. I personally use it for testing purposes.

I've found due to less than perfect network management software my phones will often switch between 3G and edge when its not necessary and there is a perfectly good 3G signal. When I lock on 3G in my home it stays on 3G and does not fluctuate to edge just because the 3G signal may get a little weak.

jerrycycle said:
*#*#4636#*#*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or, if you want to avoid cryptic codes, install AnyCut from the Market; that will allow you access to internals not normally exposed through the normal menus.

Slapinfunk said:
advantage?
why does it go to EDGE in the first place? would there then be NO signal rather than E or G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's an advantage because all too often phones will switch away from 3g back to edge even though there was perfectly usable 3g sitting there, but due to network configuration etc the phone jumps around. Locking to 3g stops this from happening and it will just stay on 3g the whole time rather than bouncing around.