Database Users

How do I tell I'm using HSDPA?

Hi, I'm aware that my UK T-mobile Ameo is HSDPA capable and I think I'm in a HSDPA covered area but the homescreen only ever shows a little 3G symbol (or a GSM symbol when I'm not in a 3G covered area).
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
I guess one way would be to do a download speed test - anyone know a convenient way to do one?

tfotherby said:
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you were using HSDPA, the 3G symbol would change to an H.
However, if you only have the £7.50 web and walk package, and only signed up after the summer, you do not have HSDPA on your account.
The £12.50 and above tarriffs come with HSDPA automatically, but for the £7.50 plan, you need to ask for it and hope that someone likes you enough to add it.
By the way, On T-mobile, you will not see the H all the time. It will only appear when you are transferring data. At all other times you will see the 3G symbol so that you are able to receive calls. If you are transferring data on HSDPA, the T-Mobile Uk network will force you down to 3G while the call is routed to you, and then jump back to HSDPA when the call ends to carry on downloading.
T-Mobile is the only network i have seen that does this properly.
Also, T-Mobile has gone HSDPA on all of their 3G transmitters. If you get 3G coverage, you definitely have HSDPA coverage, but you don't necessarily have permission to connect at HSDPA speeds.

tfotherby said:
Hi, I'm aware that my UK T-mobile Ameo is HSDPA capable and I think I'm in a HSDPA covered area but the homescreen only ever shows a little 3G symbol (or a GSM symbol when I'm not in a 3G covered area).
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
I guess one way would be to do a download speed test - anyone know a convenient way to do one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, you will see the H symbol instead of the 3G signal - I am on O2 and it works fine (you should also see an E to show an Edge connection where available).
The point about tariffs is one for you to take up with T-Mobile.

Make sure the HSDPA checkbox is checked, in Settings > Connections > HSDPA Switch. When I'm in a 3G area and I start downloading something, the 3G symbol temporarily changes to an H symbol, then changes back to 3G when done.

cottinghamm said:
I am on O2 and it works fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you see the H all the time, or only when you are transferring data? I know that on some networks that have an old revision of the HSDPA software, it can cause issues with receiving calls if you are on HSDPA the whole time. Have you had any issues with this?

tfotherby said:
Hi, I'm aware that my UK T-mobile Ameo is HSDPA capable and I think I'm in a HSDPA covered area but the homescreen only ever shows a little 3G symbol (or a GSM symbol when I'm not in a 3G covered area).
Is there a way to know whether I'm using HSDPA?
I guess one way would be to do a download speed test - anyone know a convenient way to do one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, you will only see an H if your ROM has different icons for 3G and HSDPA. Some do some don't. If the ROM doesn't have that facility, the 3G icon won't change even if you are occasionlly using HSDPA. As far as I am remember, some of the stock T-Mob ROMs do not include this.
You do not AFAIK need to ask T-Mobile for HSDPA. I have never asked them and regularly used it. I am on a £7.50 plan.
There are plenty of speed test sites out there - Google 3G speed test.

Another good site to check speed is "http://performance.toast.net/default.asp?allservers=1&checkid=" I usually check the "Text" box and try a few hosts...TJ

rhedgehog said:
Do you see the H all the time, or only when you are transferring data? I know that on some networks that have an old revision of the HSDPA software, it can cause issues with receiving calls if you are on HSDPA the whole time. Have you had any issues with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only when data is transferred, the 3G symbol is there most of the time.

always been seeing the H on mine, right from the original T-Mobile UK ROM. All Windows mobile 6 ROMS from HTC include the different icons, and unless the operators specify to take them out, they should always be there.
the T-Mobile ROMs do include the different icons, as do all the AP ROMs.
Sometimes you DO have to ask T-Mob for HSDPA. They originally turned HSDPA on for the £7.50 contracts by default. They changed this standard policy sometime last year (as i stated in my first post, i think it was in the summer, but i'm not sure) and now not everyone has HSDPA on their contract. If you ever see the H you do...if not, you don't.

So my 3g doesn't work...always switches to HSPDA and then works.

Title says it all. When i have NO HSPDA I become screwed and I have to revert to EDGE otherwise I have no data connection. I haven't tried it out of town yet, but it's ridiculous. It says I'm on 3g, but then switches when I start a speedtest. Is that just because I'm always in HSPDA? Any ideas?
I'm on the Desire ROM. I don't think it's the rom though, because this happened on Cyanogen.

HSDPA is only on when necessary, when it isn't, your on 3G. You're in an HSDPA area, so when you use data your carrier bumps you up to HSDPA.

mudrock1000 said:
Title says it all. When i have NO HSPDA I become screwed and I have to revert to EDGE otherwise I have no data connection. I haven't tried it out of town yet, but it's ridiculous. It says I'm on 3g, but then switches when I start a speedtest. Is that just because I'm always in HSPDA? Any ideas?
I'm on the Desire ROM. I don't think it's the rom though, because this happened on Cyanogen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you're in the U.S. and on T-Mobile, this thread covers your issue:
3G --> H Data problems
Cheers,
Kermee

Ahh much thanks. So in theory if I leave the HSPDA area my 3g will work because it isn't trying to switch?

mudrock1000 said:
Ahh much thanks. So in theory if I leave the HSPDA area my 3g will work because it isn't trying to switch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you leave an HSPDA area and only UMTS (3G) & EDGE are available, then in theory, yes. The data will transfer over 3G or EDGE. It's normal for the N1 to "idle" with the "3G" icon, but when you're actually doing data transfer, it'll switch to "H" if it's available.
In other words... nothing is broken. =)
Most people are confused by the "H" because on the *Stock* ROM, the "3G" icon doesn't differentiate between "UMTS/3G" and "HSPDA"... It'll always display 3G with either technology. The *Custom* ROM's differentiate which technology the handset is talking with the tower in regards to HSPDA and UMTS.
Cheers,
Kermee

H+, H, 3G, E, 2g

Hi all, I have an unlocked At&t Atrix and using it in the UK on Hutchinson 3 (Three). I do love the phone but it worries me I only ever see 'H+'. Is this only for the ATT branded devices? If i get another phone factory unlocked will it show the other slower data connections or is the ATT firmware just hiding it?
I normally see all H+, H or 3G on other devices ... with this Atrix I only ever see H+!
thanks

It only has images for H+ and E.
Anything above EDGE service is labeled H+.

rjohnstone said:
It only has images for H+ and E.
Anything above EDGE service is labeled H+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can we add the missing image or change them easily? Is that possible with root?

If you go into help center app, user manual, icon. it says 3g is an icon for 3g, not H+

i have an att branded atrix and mine says 3g when on 3g and h+ when on H+

My ATRIX has displayed H+, E, and G (pre-EDGE) in my area.

justdrew said:
i have an att branded atrix and mine says 3g when on 3g and h+ when on H+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same for me, i also see G when on 2G but not using mobile data. UK vodafone

justdrew said:
i have an att branded atrix and mine says 3g when on 3g and h+ when on H+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find that hard to believe. It has already been confirmed to me that 4G back-haul hasn't happened in my area and my phone always says H+

live4nyy said:
I find that hard to believe. It has already been confirmed to me that 4G back-haul hasn't happened in my area and my phone always says H+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the back-haul has nothing to do with the wireless connectivity and everything to do with behind the scenes stuff. So you're wireless connection is H+, but the speed behind it is missing until the back-haul is completed.
Essentially allowing them to advertise their H+/4G stuff with the fine print of missing the back-haul.

bogatyr said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the back-haul has nothing to do with the wireless connectivity and everything to do with behind the scenes stuff. So you're wireless connection is H+, but the speed behind it is missing until the back-haul is completed.
Essentially allowing them to advertise their H+/4G stuff with the fine print of missing the back-haul.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's hard to be correct about anything dealing with the validity of AT&T's supposed 4G. They are completely vague about it. Back in November they had bragged that 80% of their network was H+ capable but now we have to wait on "back haul". While that might have a legitimate definition, it's still just an excuse and allows them to manipulate their marketing schemes.

justdrew said:
i have an att branded atrix and mine says 3g when on 3g and h+ when on H+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check it again and you'll find what you saw was just a "G" for GPRS service when no data is actively connected when on a 2G connection. There are only three icons available with the current AT&T/Bell firmware, G/E/H+ for all connections. Motorola does say they use a "3G" icon for UMTS connections, but the firmware seems to have disabled that icon in order to promote the 4G network.
I have a Bell Canada Atrix on Rogers GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA network, and even though the phone's own Testing app (*#*#4636#*#*) shows I have a UMTS connection at times, the icon never changes from "H+" unless I drop down to 2G where it usually shows "E".

I'm not sure if my phone qualifies as a branded phone put I mine shows all the symbols above. Most often it shows either H, 3G or E.

[Q] how to get 3G connection?

hi freaks.
used the freaking serach option, but didn´t find anything on this.
a friend of mine from the states gifted me his mytouch 4g. i´ve got it running nicely on wifi, but don´t get any 3g connection.
is this problem known?
i´m on th eplus network here in germany, my apn settings are correct. when i am at a spot, where i get 3g with my old samsung,
and put the sim in the glacier, i only get it showing H. G in bad locations, but never more then H.
is this problem known? here in germany, we don´t have 4g yet, so i would be really glad, to get 3G working.
any tips for a noob?
also, sidenote: when i´m on H, and viewing a website, it gives me a "stripped" look without pictures etc. is this some kind of "downsizing" and known problem?

When you get that "H", think of it as "3.5G" ...it's faster than the 3G network, but slower then 4G. It means your on T-Mo's HSPA+ network.
You can also "force" 3G... download "Any Cut" from the market, open it and make a shortcut using Activity. Select Phone Info, then select "WCDMA Only". If you don't want to download it, use the dialer and put in "*#*#3646#*#*" (I think that's it...) and it will do the same thing.

Your MT4G works fine. "H" is HSDPA or HSPA+, which is as said "3.5G" and is exactly what this phone supports.
It doesn't show you "4G" (which is only a marketing gimmick by itself - HSPA+ isn't a true 4G anyway), because it has no way to separate HSDPA and HSPA+.

great. thanks for the quick anwser.
i found a list for the speedsymbols, might be of interest for other noobs.
H = HSDPA je nach Netzbetreiber und Standort max. 1,8 oder 3,6 oder 7,2 Mbit/s
3G = UMTS max. 384 kbit/s
E = EDGE max. 220 kbit/s
G = GPRS max. 56 kbit/s
i was already asuming the glacier can´t handle 3G, only 4G..
the thing is, on my samsung galaxy it shows 3G and same sim in glacier shows H, wich ment, that the glacier had "stronger" signal. might bee. does the glacier have no 3G symbol at all?
why i was wondering, does anyone recognize this "downsized" internetbrowsing? i´m using dolphin browser, and evrything looks like an early tex only wepage.
unfortunately, i´m right now in a rural area, where i don´t have H or 3G, but will do speedtests tomorrow on both phones to compare.
under settings-wirelesss n networks - mobile networks.
i got that "wmcda" or gsm or both (auto) also, was already wondering, what that might be, so i´m gonna try that also 2moro.
-edit: found the fix for "downsized" browsing, google was forcing me to mobile view of wikipedia etc. never had that on my other phone..

Glacier has 3G symbol, but if you have the "mobile network constantly connected" option set to "On" and your cellular carrier supports it - it can stay on "H" constantly. Many stock ROMs don't show "H" at all, and only show "3G", to avoid just the type of reaction that started this thread So check if the Galaxy (S?) shows "H" at all, it probably doesn't.
Dolphin might have the option to show Mobile view and an option to skip downloading pics. Check that both options, if exist, are "Off".

i assume, u mean "enable always-on mobile data" it was checked, will test it unchecked 2moro and then see, if it shows 3G, as i neverever saw it...
i still got the customrom, but already lurking around the different custom ones threads
if i don´t get t-mobile tv running (just started a new thread for that), i see no need for tmobile rom...
yes, my galaxy (3) shows H, but mostly (only as i know now) 3G in the citycenters, and the mt4g in the same location shows H... really got to speedtest that stuff...
found-the dolphin fix already, as posted, google and wikipedia forced me to mobile view.. now, a day later, (and sober), i see the switch to normal view link all the way down

handyheld said:
i assume, u mean "enable always-on mobile data" it was checked, will test it unchecked 2moro and then see, if it shows 3G, as i neverever saw it...
i still got the customrom, but already lurking around the different custom ones threads
if i don´t get t-mobile tv running (just started a new thread for that), i see no need for tmobile rom...
yes, my galaxy (3) shows H, but mostly (only as i know now) 3G in the citycenters, and the mt4g in the same location shows H... really got to speedtest that stuff...
found-the dolphin fix already, as posted, google and wikipedia forced me to mobile view.. now, a day later, (and sober), i see the switch to normal view link all the way down
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Roms contain the 3G, H, 4G, evdo/cdma, 2g, edge, icons....But you'll only see 3G when connected to UMTS, and H shows for HSPA+. Depending on signal strength you'll see a different icon in status bar. The major US carriers that use GSM consider HSPA+ 4G, this is false but they've made it as a fact....
"The ITU announced in December 2010 that WiMax, LTE, and HSPA+ are 4G technologies."

in germany we call that "Mogelpackung"
edit. just updated to gingerbread, and now got a 2G logo, where before there was only the G ????
never saw or heard of that in germany, as quoted above, we have only 4 speeds..
this is getting more excited. perhaps tomorrow i might even see 3G

handyheld said:
in germany we call that "Mogelpackung"
edit. just updated to gingerbread, and now got a 2G logo, where before there was only the G ????
never saw or heard of that in germany, as quoted above, we have only 4 speeds..
this is getting more excited. perhaps tomorrow i might even see 3G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2G=Edge, I'm sure Germany has Edge data now, and G=GPRS or 1G.

obviously this phone isn't made for germany.. after the gingerbread update, it eather shows 2G or 4G, where we even't have 4G in germany.. speedtest shows 1294kb thats not much, but more then I expected... thx god. I know now, that 3g is working, wether it shows it or not..

in the speedtest details, it shows H, where the fon showed a 4G. so guys, be warned, when travelling.abroad, nothing is what it seems..
tmobile, the former state company deutsche post got still ” beamtenprobleme”

handyheld said:
in the speedtest details, it shows H, where the fon showed a 4G. so guys, be warned, when travelling.abroad, nothing is what it seems..
tmobile, the former state company deutsche post got still ” beamtenprobleme”
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.telekom.com/dtag/cms/content/dt/en/6908
If the company has HSPA+ in the US, does it not have it in europe?
How international roaming works, and why your device matters
Four frequencies (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) are used for wireless services worldwide. 3G frequencies include: 2100 3G; 1700/2100 3G.
Each phone has a radio transmitter-receiver that works on one frequency (single-band) or on more than one frequency (multi-band).
Since frequencies vary from carrier to carrier and country to country, you’ll need a device for international roaming that works on the frequency where you're traveling. If you have a “quad-band” device, it will work virtually anywhere there’s a wireless signal.

nope, no hpspa+ in germany, and I don`t think it`ll come.
they are just in the beginning of setting up LTE here.

Signal problem theory/research

Hello, i live in a relatively small town where my service provider has very poor 4G signal. but pretty good 3G signal. With the Axon 7 i have a lot of signal problems that i didnt have with any of my previous phones, where outdoor signal is pretty bad and indoor signal is almost unusable. It also connects almost exclusively to 4G, and in contrast all of my previous phones connected almost exclusively to 3G. Over the last weekend i traveled to a major city where my service provider has very strong 4G signal, and the signal problem was almost non existant. I even had signal in places where other people with the same service provider did not. So my theory is the following, assuming that the hardware (antenna) used for 4G and 3G is the same, it may not be a hardware problem, but a problem with the software having a hard time knowing which band/signal it should connect to. It seems that in my case it prioritizes 4G signal and the cost of a VERY unstable cellphone service. This is also assosiated with the fact that when it connects to 3G (incredibly rare), the phone goes inmediately from 1/2 bars to 4/5 bars. I also changed the SIM configuration to leave LTE out, but either for a visual bug or a software bug, it keeps connecting only to 4G. So could this be the problem that me and a lot of people in low 4G signal zones are having? Is there anyway i can force the phone to connect exclusivly to the 3G signal to test if that is indeed the problem?
Regards!

Nehuen said:
Hello, i live in a relatively small town where my service provider has very poor 4G signal. but pretty good 3G signal. With the Axon 7 i have a lot of signal problems that i didnt have with any of my previous phones, where outdoor signal is pretty bad and indoor signal is almost unusable. It also connects almost exclusively to 4G, and in contrast all of my previous phones connected almost exclusively to 3G. Over the last weekend i traveled to a major city where my service provider has very strong 4G signal, and the signal problem was almost non existant. I even had signal in places where other people with the same service provider did not. So my theory is the following, assuming that the hardware (antenna) used for 4G and 3G is the same, it may not be a hardware problem, but a problem with the software having a hard time knowing which band/signal it should connect to. It seems that in my case it prioritizes 4G signal and the cost of a VERY unstable cellphone service. This is also assosiated with the fact that when it connects to 3G (incredibly rare), the phone goes inmediately from 1/2 bars to 4/5 bars. I also changed the SIM configuration to leave LTE out, but either for a visual bug or a software bug, it keeps connecting only to 4G. So could this be the problem that me and a lot of people in low 4G signal zones are having? Is there anyway i can force the phone to connect exclusivly to the 3G signal to test if that is indeed the problem?
Regards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without knowing which model Axon 7 you are using, where you are using it, and who your provider is, there is little anyone can do to help you. All I can say is that it helped me A LOT to go into settings and turn off
VoLTE.

tabletalker7 said:
Without knowing which model Axon 7 you are using, where you are using it, and who your provider is, there is little anyone can do to help you. All I can say is that it helped me A LOT to go into settings and turn off
VoLTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U model last update, using it from Argentina, and the provider is Claro. I have LTE disabled in SIM confg as i already said and VoLTE turn of as well but the phone keeps connecting to 4G no matter what i do, even if i configure it to only GSM
I don't think its a matter of position or provider (version could be if different software is provided), but a general issue with the phone and band/signal interpretation coupled with the apparent innability to go off 4G
Refards!

Nehuen said:
U model last update, using it from Argentina, and the provider is Claro. I have LTE disabled in SIM confg as i already said and VoLTE turn of as well but the phone keeps connecting to 4G no matter what i do, even if i configure it to only GSM
I don't think its a matter of position or provider (version could be if different software is provided), but a general issue with the phone and band/signal interpretation coupled with the apparent innability to go off 4G
Refards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok when it connects to LTE it says "4G LTE". The 4G that you are getting is probably HSPA or something. And we had someone on here a few months back using Claro in Argentina and they had to seek answers from their Claro

tabletalker7 said:
ok when it connects to LTE it says "4G LTE". The 4G that you are getting is probably HSPA or something. And we had someone on here a few months back using Claro in Argentina and they had to seek answers from their Claro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If "4G LTE" is 4G and "4G" is HSPA, when only a "G" appears, what band am i connecting too? Its still pretty weird that im having major signal issues in my town, but when i go to a big city my signal is even better than other phones, it seems inconsistent with the whole "bad hardware" theory. I talked to Claro and it seemed like from their end it was a non issue, can you point me to the thread to see if he got it fixed somehow?
Regards!

Nehuen said:
If "4G LTE" is 4G and "4G" is HSPA, when only a "G" appears, what band am i connecting too? Its still pretty weird that im having major signal issues in my town, but when i go to a big city my signal is even better than other phones, it seems inconsistent with the whole "bad hardware" theory. I talked to Claro and it seemed like from their end it was a non issue, can you point me to the thread to see if he got it fixed somehow?
Regards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/Trolling a bit/
I'm always LMAO when I hear US people talking about that 4G scam (which is H+ for real btw)
G is for 2G
E is for 2G+
3G is 3G
H is 3G+
H+ is 3G++ (an intermediary protocol up to 42MBps)
4G is LTE (up to 150Mbps in the EU most of the time)
4G+ is LTE-A (which is available in most of the EU, SK & JP) - up to 600Mbps, 200MBps in most tests
I've not heard of an app that could modify the way the phone "clings" to 4G LTE, since that might likely be the modem firmware doing it on its own.

RedWave31 said:
/Trolling a bit/
I'm always LMAO when I hear US people talking about that 4G scam (which is H+ for real btw)
G is for 2G
E is for 2G+
3G is 3G
H is 3G+
H+ is 3G++ (an intermediary protocol up to 42MBps)
4G is LTE (up to 150Mbps in the EU most of the time)
4G+ is LTE-A (which is available in most of the EU, SK & JP) - up to 600Mbps, 200MBps in most tests
I've not heard of an app that could modify the way the phone "clings" to 4G LTE, since that might likely be the modem firmware doing it on its own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then this is even weirder, because is G is not 3G, but 2G it means that the phone NEVER connects to the major band that all of my previous phones and Claro users connect to. Is there anyway to force to only connect to 3G?
Regards!

i have the G european model, in my town i have bad lte signal 1/2bar, when with my previously xiaomi mi4c was got 4/5 bars (maximum). In the big town i have got in the most of cases 4/5 bars. I think the "signal problems" are relatives of a lack of somehow software. i told this because i've read with the china model with the last updates an improvement of the signal reception of the phone.

Nehuen said:
Then this is even weirder, because is G is not 3G, but 2G it means that the phone NEVER connects to the major band that all of my previous phones and Claro users connect to. Is there anyway to force to only connect to 3G?
Regards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can however force a specific protocol indeed, but you will lack the ability to autoswitch networks. Just download 4G LTE Switch (here) which is a glorified secret code dialer. Just click on prefered network and change at your convenience (4G LTE only, WCDMA only - H+ - and so on). Remember that if you force 4G LTE in an area in which you have no coverage, you won't have internet, and no 2G/3G fallback (so no texts, no calls)

I don't know if this is the same problem, but my wife has an iPhone 6+ and I have an A2017U on B29 stock root. We both use the same network (Movistar Mexico) and while her iPhone often registers LTE, my A7 often registers 4G or even E in the same place. The A7 is receiving the same bands but appears to be "choosing" or locking into the slower protocols more often.
EDIT: NEVER MIND… an xposed module was messing with my network settings. Fixed it. Now I get LTE right away.

nuserame said:
EDIT: NEVER MIND… an xposed module was messing with my network settings. Fixed it. Now I get LTE right away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which module?

What if flash any Custom OS?Would it give better signal ?