Database Users

Checking HSDPA

Hey, I've got a (rooted) G1 on T-Mo contract.
I want to check if I'm getting the fastest internet I possibly can. I know Haykuro's build display an 'H' instead of 3G if you're on HSDPA, but I'm using JesusFreke's latest cupcake build and it's my understanding that that doesn't.
So the question is, how can I check whether I'm getting real super wow omg 3.5G internet (which presumably I can, living right in central London) or just the regular 3G?
I've wouldn't normally think twice, but I've read lots online about having to enable it and there seems to be a lot of confusion. Also, it would be nice to know when I'm on 3G and when i'm on HSPDA, given that JF's build (kickass as it is) doesn't include an icon for it.

slonzor said:
Hey, I've got a (rooted) G1 on T-Mo contract.
I want to check if I'm getting the fastest internet I possibly can. I know Haykuro's build display an 'H' instead of 3G if you're on HSDPA, but I'm using JesusFreke's latest cupcake build and it's my understanding that that doesn't.
So the question is, how can I check whether I'm getting real super wow omg 3.5G internet (which presumably I can, living right in central London) or just the regular 3G?
I've wouldn't normally think twice, but I've read lots online about having to enable it and there seems to be a lot of confusion. Also, it would be nice to know when I'm on 3G and when i'm on HSPDA, given that JF's build (kickass as it is) doesn't include an icon for it.
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download xtremelabs speed test from the market. then check your max speed against max 3g and min hsdpa speeds that you have since googled to find out. while on haykuros rom, i got the h icon and i have full 3g coverage here in kansas city kansas.

Ilm in the same boat at the moment. When running Haykuro's H build I have H on Orange UK, the about status of the network says Ilm running on HSDPA but nettraffic says I have no connection speed unlike UMTS (won't work in other words).
I'm currently on JF's ADP1.5 rom based on htc build and only get UMTS. It would be nice to be able to have HSDPA but UMTS is fine...

Hey aad4231, thanks for your reply...
I'm a little confused, I thought UMTS utilised 3.0g services whereas HSDPA uses 3.5g? When using JF, T-Mobile or Haykuro's G build the phone uses UMTS according to system information and netmeter and nettraffic. When I use Haykuro's H Build GPRS comes up, then UMTS and finally HSDPA. Data services work while on GPRS / UMTS but as soon as HSDPA comes up there is no connection speed in system info.
I'd love to have HSDPA speeds (with Orange UK I believe it's 3.6mbps or smthg) rather than UMTS as I use my G1 as a mobile router with Wifi-Tether.
Thanks in advance again!

Run a speedtest (e.g. http://i.dslr.net/tinyspeedtest.html). If your downlink is greater than 384kbps, then you have HSDPA.
As been mentioned above, just because you do not have a H icon doesn't mean you are not connected via HSDPA. The H icon is present only in Haykuro HTC build because HTC added extra icons to indicate whether a 3G connection is HSXPA enabled or not. However, that does not mean that standard Dream software cannot connect via HSDPA. It does, but it will not indicate it. Again, confirm with speed test.

Just done a speed test using Xtremelabs speedtest from market. I noticed I'm now getting 843.5kbps since I flashed my G1 with JF's ADP1.5 last night. Prior to this I was only getting about 320kbps on JF's RC9/RC33 Builds.
Thanks for your quick reply and sorry for having to get you to explain again.
G1 > IPhone

aad4321 said:
Thats pretty impressive, but as far as I know the different versions flash don't effect the speed. I believe that has all to do with the radio. Did you update your radio, that may have something to do with the increased speeds?
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Actually the most likely scenario is just moment-to-moment variation in network usage. Packet-switched data services are usually delivered on a "best effort" basis. If you check the bandwidth at different times of day you will probably notice fluctuating numbers.

aad4321 said:
Thats pretty impressive, but as far as I know the different versions flash don't effect the speed. I believe that has all to do with the radio. Did you update your radio, that may have something to do with the increased speeds?
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Yeah, Flashed the Radio with HTC's 1.5 from their Dream website. I do notice that speeds vary though throughout the day. In Mid-day I get about 400mbps but hadn't got 800mbps+ before, even in the evening.

Hot damn, it must be a low traffic day here in AZ. I just pulled down 1062kbits/s.

I just noticed that it says your network type on Settings>About>Status, so you can get an easy definitive answer rather than just running a speed test. Also has battery level which is nice. I made a homepage link to it on anycut for easy access

getting an H symbol?

I'm kind of confused. After flashing cyan's rom, my service keeps switching between 3g and H. This has not happened prior to me flashing the rom though. What is H? Is it a fixable problem?

Could be wrong, but it's probably H for HSDPA

Oooh its actually a bonus for me at least, since before, my Nexus showed 3G whther it was connected to the faster HSDPA or to 3G (Unlike my Hero, which showed H or 3G)
will have to give CM Rom a go once my Nexus arrives back from HTC
Dayz

Cyanogen's ROM enabled the notification if you are on HSPA network. I beleive you will get 3G if your network changes to UMTS (depends on your location). The stock ROM shows 3G even if you are on the HSPA network.

Ohhhh alright. I understand then. It still bugs me though lol

Yes i can verify this is the case, reason why i jumped ship to cynogens rom

heroskyy said:
I'm kind of confused. After flashing cyan's rom, my service keeps switching between 3g and H. This has not happened prior to me flashing the rom though. What is H? Is it a fixable problem?
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since by default the phone is after the fastest avail option, it tries to get to 3G. if and when you are in the area with uncertain 3G coverage, it could scan and switch to 3G, then to HSDPA (hence - H) or even EDGE (E)
I have this mess on the stock N1 - 3G-H-E changing constantly in some areas.
bad thing is that in such case my data stalls:-( I guess it has nada to do with Cyan's ROM. fwiw

No he must have done something, normally Nexus only shows 3G even if there's HSDPA.
I have HSDPA and here with Stock ROM it only shows 3G, but you can see in the Settings at Status that you've got HSDPA.

Router said:
since by default the phone is after the fastest avail option, it tries to get to 3G. if and when you are in the area with uncertain 3G coverage, it could scan and switch to 3G, then to HSDPA (hence - H) or even EDGE (E)
I have this mess on the stock N1 - 3G-H-E changing constantly in some areas.
bad thing is that in such case my data stalls:-( I guess it has nada to do with Cyan's ROM. fwiw
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Click to collapse
Actually, HSDPA is faster than "3G" (which I'm assuming is actually UMTS), so your phone will use HSDPA whenever it can, then downgrade to 3G if HSDPA isn't available, then EDGE, then GPRS. HSDPA is actually considered "3.5G, 3G+ or turbo 3G" according to its Wikipedia entry.

Paraglider1982 said:
No he must have done something, normally Nexus only shows 3G even if there's HSDPA.
I have HSDPA and here with Stock ROM it only shows 3G, but you can see in the Settings at Status that you've got HSDPA.
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He did do something. Someone already asked him on Twitter and he answered here.
This reminds me of my times with Windows Mobile where you'd change a registry setting to make the indicator show you had an EDGE connection instead of always showing G (for GPRS)

Quite nice, I was missing this on Nexus

Paraglider1982 said:
No he must have done something, normally Nexus only shows 3G even if there's HSDPA.
I have HSDPA and here with Stock ROM it only shows 3G, but you can see in the Settings at Status that you've got HSDPA.
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Click to collapse
did you even read what I wrote? The stock ROM has the H icon but for some reason its disabled so that only the 3G icon shows up if you have HSPA. Cyanogen simply enabled the H icon to be usable.

I wonder why though, they would disable it...
I cant think of any solid reasons, and if it is in-fact better then "3G", You would think they would want people to know that they have a faster connection present..
but anyways, thanks cyanogen

heroskyy said:
I wonder why though, they would disable it...
I cant think of any solid reasons, and if it is in-fact better then "3G", You would think they would want people to know that they have a faster connection present..
but anyways, thanks cyanogen
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Given the confusion in this thread alone, which is presumably made up of people who know more about their phones than the general public, I think it's reasonably obvious why it's disabled. The phone companies have spent lots of money and time marketing "3G" to the public - most people will know what you're talking about if you say 3G, almost none of them will know what HSDPA is, and I doubt the cell phone company wants to spend the time to explain that it's actually better than standard 3G to every customer. It's just that much easier to make it say "3G" and be done with it.

ISTR that my Hero and Touch Diamond2 before that, and Touch Cruise before that, all showed a 3G symbol on hsdpa until you were actually downloading something - then it changed to show a H before returning to a 3G when stopped downloading.
I think!

Router said:
I have this mess on the stock N1 - 3G-H-E changing constantly in some areas.
bad thing is that in such case my data stalls:-( I guess it has nada to do with Cyan's ROM. fwiw
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Click to collapse
@ melterx12
My Post was regarding this, it can't be that has H in display with stock ROM

So, this 'H' HSDPA signal display should be a fix in the OTA update?

Is there a possibility that someone answer here and explain how to enable H icon showing?
I think it's in framework-res.apk but don't know where exactly...
I don't want to install a cyanogenmod rom or others to have it. Who have already done it, could share that information with us...this is a forum..

+1
I want to enable the H icon on the stock ROM.
Rooted phone, custom recovery, locked bootloader.
Is this possible?

suffix642 said:
+1
I want to enable the H icon on the stock ROM.
Rooted phone, custom recovery, locked bootloader.
Is this possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not able to decompile framework-res.apk to source...i've done some tries but with apktool that's not possible...
It is not sufficient open it with winrar or similar because config.xml is in the core....

Switching between 3G and HSDPA

Hey I was just putting this out there and seeing if its just me, or an issue on my phone. I have recently rooted my N1 using amon-ra's recovery and I put on Cyanogen's lastest mod, and I'm at the new ERE36B with the new radio. When I got to work today where there is 3G (I live in the US btw), my phone says I'm on 3G. But whenever I use an application that uses data, my phone switches to HSDPA. I'm just wondering if its an issue, if 3G or HSDPA is faster, or just something that is caused by the new radio...? Anybody with any ideas?

What you're seeing is normal.
3G = UMTS
H = HSDPA
Of course, HSDPA is technically faster but as of right now, there's not that much difference between 3G and HSDPA until towers are upgraded with more bandwidth.
Cheers,
Kermee

HSDPA is regarded as 3.5G in UK atleast...auto-switch when application demands it.

3G issue with Cyan on MT3G 1.2

I've installed a couple of the CM 5 ROMS based on the threads that say works on Fender. However, I am having the worst time with 3G. Downloading from the market is painfully slow and many apps will not work, because they rely on a 3G signal. For example, T-Mobile Visual Voicemail will not load. I cannot find a fix. Is anyone else experiencing this problem? Any solutions? CM 5.07 test 2.

I am noticing the same thing. I also can't access the apn list. It just gives me an error.

So frustrating. The ROM is great, but without 3G, it's worthless. And I can't search for networks either.

Yep that the exact same feeling here.

I think I might have a solution. Type this in to the dialer *#*#4636#*#* then go to phone information and then scroll down to were it says "set preferred network type" then select wcdma only. Let it drop the radio connection then it should connect to 3g. After that you should be able to reset it to wcdma preferred. This fixed my 3g.

My 3G works fine for me. But it shows as HSPDA instead.

Thats what I get now, but we weren't getting that earlier.

shadowofzeus said:
I think I might have a solution. Type this in to the dialer *#*#4636#*#* then go to phone information and then scroll down to were it says "set preferred network type" then select wcdma only. Let it drop the radio connection then it should connect to 3g. After that you should be able to reset it to wcdma preferred. This fixed my 3g.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, dude! While 3G isn't perfect, it's much better now. I really appreciate it.

Not a problem just found it trolling around the forum.

In the newest Cyanogen 5.0.7-test2, the H symbol really means EDGE. Just download Firerat's voice and data fix and flash that. It will fix up the spotty 3G that you are receiving.

My 3G is working fine I just had to flash the kernel for Cyanogen 5.0.7 Test 1 to fix the battery drain

I don't think that is true because that is what pops up when you switch it to wcdma. If you switch it to edge it shows E so I am sure it is 3g, also a quick speed test tests at 3g speeds.

3G = 364 KBPS connection
HSDPA (also called 3.5G) = 1.5 = 3 MBPS connection

BrutalDrew said:
3G = 364 KBPS connection
HSDPA (also called 3.5G) = 1.5 = 3 MBPS connection
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So, should we use 3G or HSDPA? I still get random network errors on 3G, but the connection is so much better than before applying the firerat update, fixing permissions, and using the method shadowofzeus suggested. To be clear, the last is what helped.

from my understanding is that HSDPA is the next step up from 3G. this rom just opened up the phone to being able to support the higher speeds.

UberMario said:
In the newest Cyanogen 5.0.7-test2, the H symbol really means EDGE. Just download Firerat's voice and data fix and flash that. It will fix up the spotty 3G that you are receiving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh. I put my phone on 2g only when I'm at work to save battery (the 3g in this area sucks). I usually have it on 3g everywhere else. When I use something that needs data (twitter, browser, market) it jumps up to H, then back down to 3g when it's done transferring data.

Radio 4.06.00.12_7 fixed my loss of HSPA

I was running CM 5.0.6 on my N1 for several weeks along with the 4.04.00.03_2 Radio to try to solve some of the preference for EDGE that my TMO N1 had. The problem that I ran into was that I went from some HSPA to none in areas that I know are covered by HSPA. I would constantly use only UMTS! I just flashed Kang-O-Rama 0.8 which requires the FroYo radio and presto, either the base CM 5.0.8, Kang-O-Rama 0.8, or more likely the 4.06.00.12_7 Radio fixed my problem. In fact, I am now getting 2000-3000 kbps down and my phone seems to prefer 3g down to 1 bar where as before it would stick on EDGE until I forced it to WCDMA Only.
Just thought I'd post some good news about the new radio(possibly the radio that is).
Rick

I've never gotten more than 1mb down how can I tell if the phone is going into HSPA I'm running stock froyo and it only shows 3g before when I had CM it showed an H for HSPA

yiannit said:
I've never gotten more than 1mb down how can I tell if the phone is going into HSPA I'm running stock froyo and it only shows 3g before when I had CM it showed an H for HSPA
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Yeah, that's a bummer with the stock ROMs. Here's what I do to make sure that a relatively long data sesion is opened. Start a streaming app like Pandora or download a large email (i.e. with a 3meg picture) and then goto Settings -> About Phone -> Status and scroll down to Mobile network type. This should show either UMTS(if you are in 3g but no active data connection) or hopefully HSDPA if you ahve an active data connection.
There are other ways to tell, but this is what I do.
Rick

rickh925 said:
Yeah, that's a bummer with the stock ROMs. Here's what I do to make sure that a relatively long data sesion is opened. Start a streaming app like Pandora or download a large email (i.e. with a 3meg picture) and then goto Settings -> About Phone -> Status and scroll down to Mobile network type. This should show either UMTS(if you are in 3g but no active data connection) or hopefully HSDPA if you ahve an active data connection.
There are other ways to tell, but this is what I do.
Rick
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Edit. 10 chars

It wasn't really stock it was pauls version, now I'm running kangs .9 and no change
Actually I ran speed test and it did switch rio HSDPA but only 430kbps

I got it last night with the FRF85B, and my N1 seem to be staying in 3G more consistently today

After I went to FRF83 my reception went from only edge in my house to full bars of 3G. Reception has improved more than I could have hoped.

yunlin12 said:
I got it last night with the FRF85B, and my N1 seem to be staying in 3G more consistently today
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bryaslak said:
After I went to FRF83 my reception went from only edge in my house to full bars of 3G. Reception has improved more than I could have hoped.
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You guys want to tell us what city & carrier?