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The 3G signal from t-mobile in my part of north-east London is a little patchy - it's okay on the upper floor of my house, but at ground level the phone quite often switches into 2G mode. This I wouldn't mind too much, except that when it drops to 2G the data connection goes all the way down to plain old GPRS instead of using EDGE, which is excruciatingly slow for downloads. Is there anything I might need to configure on the phone to get EDGE working, or is this a deficiency of the t-mobile network?
I'm using a t-mobile branded phone.
Mine will occasionally switch from HSDPA, to 3G, to EDGE automatically in my office in Tower Hill. I'm on O2 though. My point is - if there's an EDGE signal and no 3G/HSDPA, it should automatically switch to it.
I don't think that T-Mobile have deployed EDGE.
Originally most UK networks went straight to 3G from GPRS and bypassed EDGE, which isn't surprising since they paid a fortune for their licenses.
I think that the only network that deployed EDGE originally was Orange and then O2 HAD to deploy EDGE when they got the iPhone 2G a couple of years ago.
I think that Vodaphone have also rolled out EDGE in a few places over the last couple of years and they have recently increased their EDGE coverage, possibly as part or routine equipment upgrades or possibly as a cheap way of dealing with 3G blackspots.
As far as I know 3 and T-Mobile have no EDGE. I was on T-Mobile until a few months ago and I never got EDGE on that network. It was either GPRS, 3G or HSDPA.
EDIT: I forgot that 3 fall back to Orange for 2G coverage so they should also have EDGE, which means that only T-Mobile don't have it. They may get it at some point if the merger with Orange UK goes ahead but that could be a long way off.
DuoM said:
I don't think that T-Mobile have deployed EDGE.
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Click to collapse
Disappointing. Oh well....
How is T-Mobile for you?
1. Excellent, I get coverage everywhere i go, HSDPA, 3G
2. Great, I get coverage most of the time, 3G and EDGE
3. Good, I get coverage, but calls are dropped.
4. Fair, I drop calls, and switch from 3G to EDGE frequently, mostly get coverage
5. Poor, Dropped calls, 1-2 bars, 3G and EDGE switching constantly, not good.
6. Horrible, It's basically the worst network\
and i tried to make this a poll but screwed up. sorry guys. next time it'll be more professional.
2
I would put down 1 if work wasnt located somewhat out in the boonies. Only Edge here.
1 - I'm in Portland, OR.... getting "xH" right now with full bars. I do have the issue of not being able to send text messages sometimes though. Thats my only complaint, but that may be on the N1's part.
zachthemaster said:
How is T-Mobile for you?
1. Excellent, I get coverage everywhere i go, HSDPA+, 3G
2. Great, I get coverage most of the time, 3G and EDGE
3. Good, I get coverage, but calls are dropped.
4. Fair, I drop calls, and switch from 3G to EDGE frequently, mostly get coverage
5. Poor, Dropped calls, 1-2 bars, 3G and EDGE switching constantly, not good.
6. Horrible, It's basically the worst network
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Click to collapse
Please modify 1, HSDPA+ is not launched.
I'm a 2.
it would be better if you posted this as a POLL instead?
i am in austin and get 3g and hsdpa all the time since the new radio
2
for the most part im happy with the services
2
Getting 3g most of the time.
Download speeds are still a joke in northern CA.
Have to give it a "1" for 3G where I'm located. Have yet to travel out of the city with it to see how it works?
T-mobile is alright I'll give it a 2 because It did disappoint me to see that when i was traveling from memphis to nashville, that Verizon had 3g all the time and it was rare i seen it not...but tmobile had 2g all the way till we got into nashville but that was on my motorola cliq...who knows if it was the phone or tmobile lol motorola's devices suck monkey balls..
2. Because I travel a lot between Chicago and Minneapolis. I work in a heavy traffic railyard(full of radio signal interference) and still get good 3G coverage. And, I get good 3G coverage in both cities..I will see what Overland Park KS, and Dallas-Ft. Worth has to offer soon....
I currently have the the G2 on the T-mobile network. I frequently switch back and forth between 3G and Edge which is driving me nuts. Is this a phone issue or a network issue? Do people with the Desire Z on the ATT network have the same issue?
Its a network issue with your location, It happens on any phone including the iPhone. Its if the carrier has that service available where you are.
I am located in Minneapolis which supposedly has very good T-mobile 3G coverage. A friend of mine who has a G1 on T-mobile here in Minneapolis always sees solid 3G. This makes me wonder whether this is a phone issue. Flashing the 17 radio did improve reception, but not satisfactorily. Could any ATT users share their experience?
I mean, the phone and radio and rom will play a factor somewhat in it but not that much. To be fair, edge and 3G dont have too much a difference in speed or at least not here in Florida, but i run 4G almost everywhere anyways.
GermanGuy said:
I currently have the the G2 on the T-mobile network. I frequently switch back and forth between 3G and Edge which is driving me nuts. Is this a phone issue or a network issue? Do people with the Desire Z on the ATT network have the same issue?
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Click to collapse
For the MOST part, this is a network issue. The phone Radio will have an impact on the quality of cell signal you get but the network carries the most weight. Not all phones are created equal as far as reception goes. My DZ is average. Its not great like my previous BB Bold was but doesn't drop calls like my gf's phone.
I do on occasion drop from 3G to Edge but only when I'm in rural areas. I work in a jail on occasion and of course the concrete walls aren't great for cell signal. I usually switch from 3G to Edge when I'm there because Edge just holds the signal better rather than the phone killing itself trying to find a solid 3G signal.
Also, like the other user mentioned, 3G and Edge aren't night and day per-say. For example, sometimes Edge can be FASTER depending on how much traffic is on the network at that time. I experienced this on a day trip to San Francisco. With 3 gazillion Iphones in the city, I couldn't get my phone to connect to anything with 3G. When I switched to Edge, it was moving steady no problem...
Just my 2 cents.
Is Negri Electronics still the cheapest place to buy the Desire Z NAM or are there other sites with better offers? I checked ebay and all the phones there are more expensive when you calculate in shipping.
Possible Fix
Here is one thing that may fix the problem, as it has for me. Set your phone to WCDMA only by dialing *#*#4636#*#* . A menu will then appear. Select Phone Information. Change Set Preferred Network Type to WCDMA Only.
Hope this helps!
KingAndroid said:
Here is one thing that may fix the problem, as it has for me. Set your phone to WCDMA only by dialing *#*#4636#*#* . A menu will then appear. Select Phone Information. Change Set Preferred Network Type to WCDMA Only.
Hope this helps!
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Click to collapse
Yes, already tried that as well, but then I lose connection completely intermittently instead of switching between edge and 3G.
Are u running a custom rom? Check ur apn
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
m0bstar said:
To be fair, edge and 3G dont have too much a difference in speed or at least not here in Florida
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Click to collapse
I feel very sorry for you then. EDGE makes me want to claw my eyes out versus 3G. Everywhere in New England on AT&T, the difference in speed between EDGE and 3G is like the difference between throwing a bullet and shooting it. Even more so with the "4G" HSPA+ backhaul recently done by AT&T in many areas. But even before that, it was a big difference.
My Desire Z very seldom switches from 3G to EDGE. When it does, its in areas of very weak 3G coverage. As others have mentioned, its likely a network issue. Flashing a new radio is pretty easy (and you can always flash back to stock), so it may be worth a try. But it may or may not have any significant impact.
Ok, I just got a Nexus 4 and ported into Straight Talk - AT&T. I previously was on PagePlus (Verizon MVNO) and got sick of having substandard phones to choose from, but I loved Verizon's reliability.
Anyway, I live in a small town in Iowa. We have AT&T coverage; when I'm outside and turn on the phone I pick up the AT&T tower and get HSPA speeds. Using Network Signal Pro and Cellreception.com I figured out where the AT&T tower is, which is a couple of miles away.
The problem is when I get inside our house. In most parts of the house the AT&T signal apparently gets weaker than the signal from a US Cellular tower which is a half mile away. My phone switches to that tower which is roaming; no data at all (and it's a GPRS connection too). Is there a way I can force my phone to NOT use that US Cell tower and stick with the AT&T tower?
It's not a huge issue when I'm at home since I usually use Wifi, but when I leave the house my phone doesn't switch back to the AT&T tower until I cycle Airplane mode (or reboot the phone entirely).
locovaca said:
Ok, I just got a Nexus 4 and ported into Straight Talk - AT&T. I previously was on PagePlus (Verizon MVNO) and got sick of having substandard phones to choose from, but I loved Verizon's reliability.
Anyway, I live in a small town in Iowa. We have AT&T coverage; when I'm outside and turn on the phone I pick up the AT&T tower and get HSPA speeds. Using Network Signal Pro and Cellreception.com I figured out where the AT&T tower is, which is a couple of miles away.
The problem is when I get inside our house. In most parts of the house the AT&T signal apparently gets weaker than the signal from a US Cellular tower which is a half mile away. My phone switches to that tower which is roaming; no data at all (and it's a GPRS connection too). Is there a way I can force my phone to NOT use that US Cell tower and stick with the AT&T tower?
It's not a huge issue when I'm at home since I usually use Wifi, but when I leave the house my phone doesn't switch back to the AT&T tower until I cycle Airplane mode (or reboot the phone entirely).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I can think of is choose AT&T in available networks, once you have done that, select automatically choose preferred network.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
Berrydroidcafe said:
The only thing I can think of is choose AT&T in available networks, once you have done that, select automatically choose preferred network.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately the tower broadcasts itself as AT&T, so that has done no good. I've been through that menu more times than I can count. The only way I know it's actually a US Cell tower is from cellreception.com.
Side note: Occasionally I will get two "AT&T" options in the list. I don't know why and I don't know what the difference between the two is.
locovaca said:
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately the tower broadcasts itself as AT&T, so that has done no good. I've been through that menu more times than I can count. The only way I know it's actually a US Cell tower is from cellreception.com.
Side note: Occasionally I will get two "AT&T" options in the list. I don't know why and I don't know what the difference between the two is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might be stuck. especially if the other tower is broadcasting as AT&T.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
Want to switch to T-Mobile from VZW at end of my Verizon billing cycle around Nov4 (anywhere before that maybe like 2-3 days)
How is signal treating you guys without band12?
I will be joining my friends plan he has 2 lines for 100 unlimited everything so my line will be +40
I understand on 5.1.1 there is no wifi calling on Moto X but that might change in 6.0 and maybe with 6.0 they will add band12?
One place I travel to frequently has very bad tmo signal inside the building nothing has changed since year ago when I tested tmobile otherwise everywhere I go signal is always great (while I tested)
I'm guessing that you're on the East Coast, in the NY area (based on the screenshot of your Speedtest results). I'm also there, and I recently switched from Verizon to Ting (which runs on the T-Mobile network).
What can I say? Verizon is king when it comes to coverage, signal strength, and network speed. Absolutely unbeatable anywhere along the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington DC). If you are highly mobile for work in remote areas (e.g. upstate New York), then you'll want to stick with Verizon purely for coverage reasons.
T-Mobile coverage and signal strength is going to be lower than Verizon in most areas, but will still retain acceptable signal strength in most areas that aren't rural. Network speeds on LTE are acceptable (around 8Mbps - 12Mbps downstream, and 1.0Mbps upstream).
If you spend most of the time on your smartphone near WiFi, you'll be fine switching to TMobile to save yourself some money.
kent1146 said:
I'm guessing that you're on the East Coast, in the NY area (based on the screenshot of your Speedtest results). I'm also there, and I recently switched from Verizon to Ting (which runs on the T-Mobile network).
What can I say? Verizon is king when it comes to coverage, signal strength, and network speed. Absolutely unbeatable anywhere along the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington DC). If you are highly mobile for work in remote areas (e.g. upstate New York), then you'll want to stick with Verizon purely for coverage reasons.
T-Mobile coverage and signal strength is going to be lower than Verizon in most areas, but will still retain acceptable signal strength in most areas that aren't rural. Network speeds on LTE are acceptable (around 8Mbps - 12Mbps downstream, and 1.0Mbps upstream).
If you spend most of the time on your smartphone near WiFi, you'll be fine switching to TMobile to save yourself some money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am mostly in the city though and on Verizon I am out of contract but I am just sick of this company (Wireless part) right now around 45$ 30GB to share+2GB free for 3 months vs T-Mobile same price everything unlimited.
What does your usage look like (minutes, text, data GB) per month, as a typical month of usage on VZW?
kent1146 said:
What does your usage look like (minutes, text, data GB) per month, as a typical month of usage on VZW?
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Last month was a round 5k texts 5.6GB and around 500 min just for my line.
I like to watch soccer games on my phone and always have to watch it in lowest quality instead of HD and listen to spotify everyday at highes quality as well.
So many reasons to want tmobile lol
Wow. That's a whole lot of usage.
So yeah, go with T-Mobile's unlimited plan. You'll be better off with that.
kent1146 said:
Wow. That's a whole lot of usage.
So yeah, go with T-Mobile's unlimited plan. You'll be better off with that.
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Yea man that's what the plan is. The one place I spend a lot of time has weak service otherwise everywhere I am is great signal so I am silently hoping that either 6.0 or moto releases new radio fast with band12 support so I can dump Verizon forever and ever lol
By the way were you receiving calls from winback team from Verizon? just wondering I don't have contract anymore so it wouldn't matter and they would not be able to offer me anything anyway but for people who were on contract they would cancel your contract if you came back and all that sort of stuff
I moved from Verizon to T-Mobile a few years back with no issues. I would double check if the location your referring to has any type of WiFi close by. Keep in mind Motorola has really good antennas so if you tested it a year ago on a different phone (Samsung or Nexus 5) it might hold a signal better. At one point I had a Nexus 5 and MotoX 2013 and one of the main reasons I kept the MotoX was due to significantly better signals in the same place.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
SymbioticGenius said:
I moved from Verizon to T-Mobile a few years back with no issues. I would double check if the location your referring to has any type of WiFi close by. Keep in mind Motorola has really good antennas so if you tested it a year ago on a different phone (Samsung or Nexus 5) it might hold a signal better. At one point I had a Nexus 5 and MotoX 2013 and one of the main reasons I kept the MotoX was due to significantly better signals in the same place.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
I tested few weeks ago AS well but on droid turbo not moto x, and yeah they have time Warner and soon fios so fast internet is not an issue. Are you able to use Wi-Fi calling AS IF now ?
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
I've never had to use WiFi for anything lol
Nexus 6 has had it for a while, I remember testing it, didn't care for it, haven't had a need to use it yet. It's not available yet for the MotoX but it's expected (not sure if confirmed) to be activated with marshmallow. I will state that marshmallow has a new toggle for it so I wouldn't be surprised if every phone has it at some point.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
SymbioticGenius said:
I've never had to use WiFi for anything lol
Nexus 6 has had it for a while, I remember testing it, didn't care for it, haven't had a need to use it yet. It's not available yet for the MotoX but it's expected (not sure if confirmed) to be activated with marshmallow. I will state that marshmallow has a new toggle for it so I wouldn't be surprised if every phone has it at some point.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Yea there is only one place with bad signal where i spent a lot of time but band12 is in this area just not yet with moto hopefully soak test will add it.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
You can see if Band 12 is in a particular area with this: http://www.spectrumgateway.com/t-mobile-700a-spectrum . Combined with T-Mobile official coverage map, you should be able to get a good idea of the T-Mobile coverage of an area.
It looks like T-Mobile is using Band 12 to fill out national coverage gaps. That's a good thing IMO, if Band 12 has reach/penetration like they say it does. (I live where there is no Band 12 yet, so I haven't tested it.) There are maps floating around (see tmonews.com for example) of the national coverage that T-Mobile plans by end of the year, this planned coverage looks like a blanket similar to Verizon, I think much of this will be the added Band 12 areas. Based on T-Mobile track record, I believe they will get there, if not by end of year then not long after that.
I bought the MXPE counting on Motorola to update it with Band 12 /VoLTE support in the near future, with the idea that it will support it by the time Band 12 is deployed where I need it. The LTE Discovery app is a good tool to see what LTE Band (or other) the phone is using in a particular area, too.
There are still gaps in the T-Mobile national coverage where Verizon has decent coverage while T-Mobile does not. I traveled through one a few days ago, in a rural area about 15 miles from my house. Verizon phone had decent signal, but T-Mobile phones (MXPE and iPhone 6s) had no signal. Since iPhone 6s has robust wireless support including Band 12 /VoLTE, the fact that it had no signal there means there was no T-Mobile signal.
So you just have to look at the maps and see if T-Mobile has coverage where you want coverage. That and actual testing. (If I was on Verizon considering T-Mobile, I would probably buy a month of prepaid T-Mobile or MetroPCS service, pop the T-Mobile SIM in the XT1575, and just try it. "One proper test is worth a thousand expert opinions".)
One thing adding even more wrinkles to all this is the increasing number of LTE roaming arrangements between the tier 1 carriers...
Tinkerer_ said:
You can see if Band 12 is in a particular area with this: http://www.spectrumgateway.com/t-mobile-700a-spectrum . Combined with T-Mobile official coverage map, you should be able to get a good idea of the T-Mobile coverage of an area.
It looks like T-Mobile is using Band 12 to fill out national coverage gaps. That's a good thing IMO, if Band 12 has reach/penetration like they say it does. (I live where there is no Band 12 yet, so I haven't tested it.) There are maps floating around (see tmonews.com for example) of the national coverage that T-Mobile plans by end of the year, this planned coverage looks like a blanket similar to Verizon, I think much of this will be the added Band 12 areas. Based on T-Mobile track record, I believe they will get there, if not by end of year then not long after that.
I bought the MXPE counting on Motorola to update it with Band 12 /VoLTE support in the near future, with the idea that it will support it by the time Band 12 is deployed where I need it. The LTE Discovery app is a good tool to see what LTE Band (or other) the phone is using in a particular area, too.
There are still gaps in the T-Mobile national coverage where Verizon has decent coverage while T-Mobile does not. I traveled through one a few days ago, in a rural area about 15 miles from my house. Verizon phone had decent signal, but T-Mobile phones (MXPE and iPhone 6s) had no signal. Since iPhone 6s has robust wireless support including Band 12 /VoLTE, the fact that it had no signal there means there was no T-Mobile signal.
So you just have to look at the maps and see if T-Mobile has coverage where you want coverage. That and actual testing. (If I was on Verizon considering T-Mobile, I would probably buy a month of prepaid T-Mobile or MetroPCS service, pop the T-Mobile SIM in the XT1575, and just try it. "One proper test is worth a thousand expert opinions".)
One thing adding even more wrinkles to all this is the increasing number of LTE roaming arrangements between the tier 1 carriers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually have a friend who works at tmo he even typed the address and showed me all types of signal available to me and band12 was all over it. I hope that soak test brings b12.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
T-Mobile for data hogs like me is great. Unlimited data for $30, I used around 10GB a month alone. But that is the only reason I use T-Mobile. Coverage pretty much sucks. If I am in the Bay Area CA its fine great signal. As soon as I leave the area I'm lucky if I get 3G speeds let alone a signal. Indoors is even worse. Went to the movies the other day, phone was dead inside no signal at all. My friend who is on At&t got a full 4 bars of LTE. T-Mobile is great for data and coverage in the cities, you leave those cities and you'll be lucky to even get a signal...
falcon26 said:
T-Mobile for data hogs like me is great. Unlimited data for $30, I used around 10GB a month alone. But that is the only reason I use T-Mobile. Coverage pretty much sucks. If I am in the Bay Area CA its fine great signal. As soon as I leave the area I'm lucky if I get 3G speeds let alone a signal. Indoors is even worse. Went to the movies the other day, phone was dead inside no signal at all. My friend who is on At&t got a full 4 bars of LTE. T-Mobile is great for data and coverage in the cities, you leave those cities and you'll be lucky to even get a signal...
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Click to collapse
I mainly spend time in the city Brookyln & Queens so I don't think it should be an issue but one place where I spend a lot of time otherwise everywhere else it's pretty good when I tested it.
Cell Spot
If there is one place you work or live with poor coverage, T-Mobile also has a couple of options that are basically either a range extended or an internal "tower" so you can use your phone inside where you don't get coverage.
https://support.t-mobile.com/community/coverage/personal-cellspot/4g-lte-signal-booster
Ugh. In principle, I'm not a fan of that at all.
T-Mobilr is basically telling cuatomers to buy hardware, install it themselves, possibly connect it to their home internet networks (and use your bandwidth), for potentially multiple people that don't live in your household.
All of this, because T-Mobile didn't invest in building out network infrastructure like Verizon did.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
ExDis said:
If there is one place you work or live with poor coverage, T-Mobile also has a couple of options that are basically either a range extended or an internal "tower" so you can use your phone inside where you don't get coverage.
https://support.t-mobile.com/community/coverage/personal-cellspot/4g-lte-signal-booster
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Click to collapse
Yea I am still staying with VZW for now. But there are 2 places that I spend time that have weak service one has no cable internet so that won't do any good even verizon there has weak service 3G and 1 weak bar of lte.
So I am testing tmobile in some place I mainly spend 2 time in 2 places , 1 there is edge and weak LTE -116 around that,I just can't do anthing for the phone to pick up band12 signal. I am running true-pure-x MM
always band4 or HSPA/+ or EDGE.