Just got the G2...awesome so far...only one annoyance. The tmo HSPA+ network has been available to me almost everywhere (in houston) but it seems to switch to the Edge (3G) network whenever it wants? Is there a way to force or to stay on the 4G network? Thanks!
GPRS (G) AND EDGE (E) are both 2G technologies (EDGE is on top of GPRS). 3G is UMTS, and HSDPA is again on top of UMTS. You can find a setting for 2G only in Android options, but there is nothing to force 3G speeds. The reason is that phone uses HSDPA all the time unless there is no HSDPA signal, then it drops to EDGE, or GPRS.
So you cannot force it, it's defined by what can the mobile network provide at that specific spot. If there is no 3G/HSDPA coverage, you have no 3G speeds. It is as simple as that. It's like if you would like to use WiFi even at places with no WiFi coverage - you cannot, because it's not there.
Ok, but lets say for instance sitting at my desk at work i'll be connected HSPA+ for 10 minutes and then it drops down to Edge? Whats the reason for that?
You were at the the borderline of what is and what is not a acceptable level of signal from the network tower. For 10 minutes it was above the limit, then it dropped and it was not more usable, so the phone dropped to lower speed.
thanks for the explanation man!
Wrong forum though. This this about having separate G2 and DZ forums is bound to lead to lots of this, I guess.
Related
Not trying to start any problems with my first posting but, The 3G icon on my touch hd has change a few times during since I purchased it, Does anyone know if this has been caused by any changes with EDGE.
What do you mean by has changed a few times? You never got 3G in New York did you?
The 850mhz bandwidth was converted from 2G to 3G. http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=2195
"AT&T is apparently changing the 2G and EDGE band, from its current 850Mhz to the weaker 1900Mhz. What that means, is that devices without 3G capabilities, like the original iPhone, will have to cope with the reduced coverage that the new 1900Mhz band has. In the other hand, devices supporting 3G networks like the AT&T Fuze, Tilt, Epix etc, will only benefit from this upgrade, as the 850Mhz band provides much better coverage, especially indoors."
Are you really getting a 3G signal in NYC? If that's the case I'm buying one
My Edge (E)icon has turned to G on about 20 occasions since purchase two week ago.Its not a steady G but will last about two minutes and then goes back to E
Interesting that you posted this. I am using my THD in NYC and NJ areas with T-Mobile USA. I have also noticed that the "E" icon on my THD had changed to "G" at some areas in NYC. But I have not noticed any difference in the data speed.
I just thought that my phone is able to acknowledge the T-Mobile 3G signal, but does not have to facility to access it. I do not know the technicalities behind it.
Isn't the "G" icon for a slower connection than EDGE? i.e. GPRS
yes!!!! now we have firm confirmation that touch hd is capable of 1G and 2G (EDGE)
buggybug0 said:
yes!!!! now we have firm confirmation that touch hd is capable of 1G and 2G (EDGE)
Click to expand...
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That is fricken HILARIOUS...!!!
bugsykoosh said:
The 850mhz bandwidth was converted from 2G to 3G. http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=2195
"AT&T is apparently changing the 2G and EDGE band, from its current 850Mhz to the weaker 1900Mhz. What that means, is that devices without 3G capabilities, like the original iPhone, will have to cope with the reduced coverage that the new 1900Mhz band has. In the other hand, devices supporting 3G networks like the AT&T Fuze, Tilt, Epix etc, will only benefit from this upgrade, as the 850Mhz band provides much better coverage, especially indoors."
Are you really getting a 3G signal in NYC? If that's the case I'm buying one
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What this means is that us in the usa better hope that we can enable 3G on the HD soon.
ya. even if tmobile does require both bands, one for down and one for up, it'd be nice if only 1 workded (down) and we were able to at least be able to DL quickly or something. any speed boost is better than none
Just to throw it out there:
Don't know if it is 3G but my "E" changed to "G" on few occasions, for few minutes here in LA, CA (T-mobile). I didn't sample the connection speed, however; thus, wasn't able to tell any difference with the download speed. Edge is good enough for my usage, tbh.
--cheers
aabye said:
Just to throw it out there:
Don't know if it is 3G but my "E" changed to "G" on few occasions, for few minutes here in LA, CA (T-mobile). I didn't sample the connection speed, however; thus, wasn't able to tell any difference with the download speed. Edge is good enough for my usage, tbh.--cheers
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G = gprs 1G which is not 3G and it's slower than Edge 2G....
When I look at the G settings
Its says GPRS,3G
aabye said:
Just to throw it out there:
Don't know if it is 3G but my "E" changed to "G" on few occasions, for few minutes here in LA, CA (T-mobile). I didn't sample the connection speed, however; thus, wasn't able to tell any difference with the download speed. Edge is good enough for my usage, tbh.
--cheers
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Click to collapse
You guys...these are the icons you'd expect to see on your HD for GSM coverage in order of speed:
G - Normal GPRS data
E - Enhanced Edge data
3G - 3G coverage
H - HSDPA, 3G turns to HSDPA on some networks while downloading data then switches back to 3G a few seconds after data use.
If you are seeing a G on the top bar, it means the HD is in the slowest GPRS data rate mode.
Thanks for the clarification, guys; I thought so. Oh well, no need for wishful thinking, then. 2G or not 2G...blah, curse you Hamlet!
--'night
Matterhorn said:
You guys...these are the icons you'd expect to see on your HD for GSM coverage in order of speed:
G - Normal GPRS data
E - Enhanced Edge data
3G - 3G coverage
H - HSDPA, 3G turns to HSDPA on some networks while downloading data then switches back to 3G a few seconds after data use.
If you are seeing a G on the top bar, it means the HD is in the slowest GPRS data rate mode.
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Click to collapse
max speed technically...(at least in Germany)
GSM:
G --> 56kps (0,05MBit/s)
E --> 256kps (0,25Mbit/s)
UMTS:
3G --> 384kps (0,38Mbit/s)
HSDPA --> 3,6; 7,2; 14.4 Mbit!!! (depending on operator) --> sometimes called 3.5G
LTE (long term evolution) --> 4G (Generation)
coming in 2010 from 25Mbit onwards
using opera, just for surfing, i think EDGE is enough. (without using flash in opera)
regards
irm
p.s. @galaxys: the old analog network is to be considered as the 1st generation; GSM (incl. EDGE) is the 2nd generation. EDGE is some sort of speed upgrade like HSDPA for UMTS.
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Blacqsmith said:
Its says GPRS,3G
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Your saying that it said 3G on the top of your screen not just G? If so can you post what rom/radio you are using?
You can find this in settings/system/device information
Blacqsmith said:
Its says GPRS,3G
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Click to collapse
Is this on the top bar or is it the popup network setting bubble? Take a pic for us...
There is a setting, probably hidden and changable via Advance Config and/or HD Tweak where if a network has 3G capability then it shows "<network> - 3G" (I disabled it via one of them)
This is regardless of whether your phone itself can handle the 3G network, which in the case of Touch HD it cannot as the device does not support the frequency of US 3G bands
Mine shows "O2 UK - 3G" for this reason regardless of whether it says G, E, 3G or H at the top of the screen.
Additionally, the "generation" things are as follows:
- - GSM - 1G
G - GPRS - 2G
E - EDGE - 2.5G
3G - UMTS - 3G (surprise surprise)
H - HSDPA - 3.5G
Hi.
I have an HTC Touch HD on the UK 3 Network.
It works fine with texts and calls n 3g but whenever I need data for an app etc it ignores a great 3g signal and tries to connect on HSDPA instead.
now this might not seem like a problem but it often switches from full 3G bars to one bar on HSDPA to check my email. this can take 5 to 10 seconds when it could have just done it on 3G.
what gives? am i using the right settings?
start/settings/phone/band
Network Type "Auto"
GSM/UMTS band "Auto"
when i was on Vodafone it would stay on the best choice ie HSDPA instead of all this swapping about.
I hope this is the right place to ask. not a major problem just a frustration.
thanks
don
In common with many (all?) of the five networks, 3UK has recently switched their handsets from staying on HDSPA to "only" 3g, but automatically changing to HSDPA when data traffic occurs.
HSDPA demands extra bandwidth to the cell. There might be a second or so delay while the handset re-negotiates the extra protocol, but it's done to give extra capacity on the cell, allowing more space for 3G voice calls, while ensuting your data speeds aren't affected by push-email or similar low-bandwidth devices using an always-on HSDPA protocol.
In short, it's completly normal and pretty standard nowadays. Keep your phone on Auto/3G, you can't force it to HSDPA only.
Hey - so, I searched for an answer to this, but couldn't find one.
Is there a way to determine whether you're on HSDPA or UMTS on the Nexus One? T-Mobile USA is supposedly all 7.2Mbps HSDPA, right? I'm getting download speeds of max 700kbps in Minneapolis, MN.
Most 3G towers havent had their backhaul upgraded to support faster speeds I only geet 700-1000kbps down at my house, but in downtown DC i was getting 3mbps+
Just go to settings, about phone, status and it says UMTS or HSDPA.
In CM-5.0 beta it shows H for HSDPA and 3G for UMTS.
Ah, thanks for explaining that. I can see that I'm getting HSDPA if I'm in the middle or just after a big download - seems to switch to it temporarily as needed. Or maybe I'm imagining it.
If you go to Settings>About Phone>Status, it will either say Edge, UMTS, or HSDPA, depending on what you're connected to. I usually get UMTS when I get 3G, although I've seen HSDPA a couple times as well.
At the top were you see signal strength I nebver seem to have 3G enabled and internet seems to be slugish I sometimes have the Letters G,H,U I don't know what these mean is there a way I can have 3G all the time?
Thanks. Stock Rom!
as far as i know h and u stand for 3g not sure tho
djteotancolis said:
as far as i know h and u stand for 3g not sure tho
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I don't think it does its so slow. I want to know how to enable 3G permanently.
were you getting faster 3g on other phones? and i think there is a cab but u may have to search for that
As far as I know (In my area) H is for HSDPA, which is an enhanced form of 3G. So it seems that you are getting 3G data... While G stands for GPRS, which is 2G.
No idea what the U would stand for though.
Also, if you have 3G enabled to auto-connect (I presume it is, if it's switching between the connections,) then your phone should just pick up a 3G signal whenever it can find it. If 3G is patchy in your area, you won't be able to get it all the time.
theblake said:
As far as I know (In my area) H is for HSDPA, which is an enhanced form of 3G. So it seems that you are getting 3G data... While G stands for GPRS, which is 2G.
No idea what the U would stand for though.
Also, if you have 3G enabled to auto-connect (I presume it is, if it's switching between the connections,) then your phone should just pick up a 3G signal whenever it can find it. If 3G is patchy in your area, you won't be able to get it all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right I see when I'm on HSDPA it is still very sluggish until I seem to hit 3G and its like wi-fi, so my 3G is already connected just needs a place with good signal when I'm on way to college on the bus I seem so find a good area with 3G. Thanks for your help.
H = 3G
G = 1G (G is much much slower than E=Edge=2G)
If you want to have 3G only enabled go to Settings>Wireless Controlls>Phone>Band>WCDMA (Note that if you're in an area with no 3g, you will have zero signal and the phone will not switch to edge or gprs).
In the right order:
G=1G: 'Global System for Mobile communication', or GSM, basic mobile network.. can be used only for SMS and Phone calls
E=2G: EDGE (or 'Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution'), basicly GSM and GPRS (data transfer) combines..it allowes for speeds over the mobile network up to 9 600 bit/s
U=3G: 'Universal Mobile Telecommunications System', or 'UMTS' up to 2 Mbit/s data transfer on stationary devices and up to 384 kbit/s on mobile devices. About 40 times faster than GSM. This enables you to transfer data, such as images and be able to transfer data during a phonecall.. like sending a MMS or using Video Calls.
H=3G: 'High Speed Downlink Packet Access', or HSDPA, it allows for speeds up to 14,4 Mb/s though it is normally (at least in scandinavia) offered commercially in lower speeds, up to 7,2 Mb/s
Note: Because the most operators use high frequency to transmit '3G' signals, wich can cause your signal to be lower if you're inside (house or whatever, not outside), some operators though, transmit on a lower frequency, though then it's called CMDA, wich is also a form of '3G'
Had the same problem with a Telstra HD2 on Optus. Here's what you need to do. Settings -> Wireless controls -> phone -> Band -> Select auto for both. That should do it.
Just a bit of a curious observation. Coming from the US almost 2 years ago, while connected to a HSPA network, my android would always display the 'H' icon, whether in a state of active download and/or uploading or not. Occasionally, it would fall back to an E logo for the EDGE network within buildings, etc.
Now, here in NL, over the course of 2 years I've subscribed to two different providers and both exhibited similar behavior (KPN and Vodafone for you Dutchies). Within good reach of the towers, my phone shows the 3G icon, but when actively downloading or uploading something, as exhibited by the up and down arrows, the H icon is immediately displayed, and when active DL/UL stops, the H icon changes back to the 3G icon.
Is this constant switching a network-capacity measure taken by the providers here to limit the number of devices communicating with the faster (H/H+) equipment?
It may depend on the type of UTMS. It may be DC-HSPA down to another form. It could just be your ROM too.
Sent from my XT862 using xda app-developers app
Depends on the network you use. If your network supports UMTS (displayed 3G in android) then your connection falls back on UMTS to save power. If the bandwidth is needed it will ramp up to HS(D)PA (H) or HSPA+ (H+). Some networks just have HSDPA and HSPA+ and no UMTS, therefore they will jump between H and H+ depending on network load.
androo45 said:
Depends on the network you use. If your network supports UMTS (displayed 3G in android) then your connection falls back on UMTS to save power. If the bandwidth is needed it will ramp up to HS(D)PA (H) or HSPA+ (H+). Some networks just have HSDPA and HSPA+ and no UMTS, therefore they will jump between H and H+ depending on network load.
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Are you sure about this? First, I thought HSDPA and HSPA+ are UMTS enhancements, and at their core, are still UMTS-based. Secondly, I've not seen it indicated that H or H+ would require more power than UMTS which has not been enhanced or upgraded to the newer UMTS implementations.
floepie said:
Are you sure about this? First, I thought HSDPA and HSPA+ are UMTS enhancements, and at their core, are still UMTS-based. Secondly, I've not seen it indicated that H or H+ would require more power than UMTS which has not been enhanced or upgraded to the newer UMTS implementations.
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Click to collapse
At the core it is still UMTS. Hence it jumps a millisecond to UMTS if it is switching between HSPA+ and HSDPA. The UMTS 'core' is there, but not made available by my carrier to be used by my phone.
The UMTS/HSDPA power draw comparison is my experience: on HSPDA data i lose about 35-40% a night (=8h) while I do maybe 10-15% on UMTS (other provider)