Database Users

Poor/intermittent Signal - so far so good solution

There are a few thread's already on the site about signal problems with the X1 however many are quite old and I thought a specific one with a (so far so good) solution would be welcomed.
Many people have had problems with their signal being lost or being poor and there are posts on the Vodafone forums, here, as well as many other sites and many suggest they have contacted SE without much success. Mine got so bad I was ready to give up the phone and go to N97.
I had some advice from someone at a local friendly phone store about what may be the problem and he suggested (to stop me claiming on my insurance I'm sure) changing the connection settings so it only looks at GSM.....
.....I did this three days ago and since I have had no loss of signal and my signal strength has been better than ever.
To do this:
Start > settings > comm manager > settings > phone > band
Select your network type : GSM
Not sure of the significance of this change (from auto) but its worked wonders for me
Phone:
O2 UK, R3A, xperiatweak, mms changes, Dashwire, advanced config, spb galore
Good luck and I hope this works for you (let me know how it goes)

Found the same problem when I first received the phone, I too changed the band to GSM, mainly to save battery usage as 3G wasn't needed and noticed the signal is A LOT stronger...
Not noticed any downsides to disabling 3G either as my internet browsing is still very fast using Opera Mini.

maybe a stupid question: with 3g disabled, can the phone still lock in HSDPA?

i dont think so
in theory when its connected to 3g it should still have a gsm link as backup to switch to if there is a problem

still working
A week in now and the signal is still without problems and I've found the battery life of the phone is at its longest since I got the phone at the end of last year
In answer to other posts - I've remained connected to O2 UK Mobile WEb (GPRS, 3G) despite selecting GSM only

This is useful only if you don't need 3G or 3.5G... If your 3G coverage is ok, there is no trouble either... There is a huge change depending your operator and your location

i did this for a couple days and had to switch back. i've NEVER been able to connect to 3g (i have an X1i in america where the X1a is sold), but upon applying this change of setting i couldn't get HSDPA anymore and all my internet/data activities was like creeping death. i could only connect to Edge, which is practically unusable

asayamalaka said:
maybe a stupid question: with 3g disabled, can the phone still lock in HSDPA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope! but its going to use EDGE which is also pretty fast.u probably wont notice the difference on a smartphone anyway.

achmed20 said:
nope! but its going to use EDGE which is also pretty fast.u probably wont notice the difference on a smartphone anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol are you kidding? when i'm on edge i might as well be tapping morse code across two cans with a string between them. everytime i pull up google maps on edge i might as well pay a homeless guy to steal me map pages, it would take a lot less time..... HSDPA is the complete opposite for me, everything loads almost instantly

3G not working, but HSDPA is.

Hi All,
For 2 weeks or so now I've been having an issue with my Hero's internet connection. Didn't notice specifically when it started as it only affects the 3G connection and I mostly get HSDPA in my area. I use WiFi at home anyway.
When the notification bar shows 3G, the upstream arrow flashes periodically but there is no traffic downstream. Market downloads fail, anything which requires an internet connection will timeout.
However as soon as it switches up to H connection, it starts downloading immediately. If I switch to 2G only GPRS and EDGE connections work fine too.
Around the time the issue started I was trying a few different 2.1 roms for the first time. Have flashed several different roms since and have the same issue. Currently using VillainRom5.5. I was already using Radio 63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26 but have reflashed this too. Have flashed the stock Orange RUU, RUU_Herrange_UK_2.73.61.5_release_signed_NoDriv er.exe, but the issue remains.
Didn't have a problem, especially at home, before trying the 2.1 roms. I have good signal regardless which connection I have, currently 3 bars.
Thought it might just be an issue around my house but have tested all over and it's the same. Became an issue this week as I was visiting Somerset and in area's without HSDPA. Had to switch to 2G only in order to get internet connection.
Have searched here and other forums but cannot find anything specifically like this, any help greatly appreciated!
Cheers,

hello,
I had a lot of problems with connections (3G/HSDPA/2G) with loose of signal.
I tried a lot of ROMS to solve this problem. But It wasn't the right way...
In fact, My SIMcard was defective. I had to change it, and now all is OK.
I'm not sure that it will be the right issue for you, but perhaps It could be...
BR

Cheers for your reply.
Have contacted Orange today, the customer services guy tried some stuff and asked me to test and call back. Hasn't helped so will call them back in a mo and report back.

Hi,
I am having a very similar issue and I am also on Orange. My issue started after around the time I flashed Villian 5.3 but I doubt this is the issue as I have flashed other ROMS since and have the problem. Have you also done the 2.1 battery stuff by *#*#4636#*#*? I did this around the same time the issue started and I thought it was because I had set it to GSM (auto) but I put it back to WCDMA but that made no difference.
My phone keeps showing 3G then swapping to HSDPA. This is both an my house and in the city. I always got H no matter where I was but now keeps swapping after a couple of mins or when I use internet. I've reflashed ROM, radios and tried a friends Orange SIM and I get the same.

I also have the exact same problem on the 3 network in the uk, definately not a sim problem as before I rooted and flashed it all worked perfectly. Hasnt been too much of an issue as most of my city has hspda coverage but if I go out of town its a pain.
Problem started as soon as I flashed a villain ROM and is present in all 2.1 ROMs I have tried although I have noticed that the legend ports seem more stable and connect a little better, so am currently running the villain 4 ROM. Updating the radio made no difference and I am starting to wonder if it is some thing to do with using a CDMA port?

Linnyuk said:
Hi,
Have you also done the 2.1 battery stuff by *#*#4636#*#*? I did this around the same time the issue started and I thought it was because I had set it to GSM (auto) but I put it back to WCDMA but that made no difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I did try that stuff, I too have set it back to WCDMA Preferred. Now you mention it I guess my issue did start around this time too so its likely to be linked.

It does seem too coincidental that we have done the same things and are having the same issues on Orange. I'm going to wait to see if ROM from the official 2.1 build sorts it out and if not swap the phone out. I've had Villian and now BeHero + and still have the issue. I've flashed different Radio's as well and that has not fixed it.

SingleServingFriend said:
Yeah I did try that stuff, I too have set it back to WCDMA Preferred. Now you mention it I guess my issue did start around this time too so its likely to be linked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive had this problem for well over a month now, way before the gsm auto trick came on the forums and I started using it, I dont think thats the cause, dont think its a radio issue either as had it on two diff radio versions.
My issue started as soon as I flashed a eris port which as far as I know is cdma based and isnt that a different kind of network than we use over here??
Any devs want to chip in here and help some noobs plz?

I've always had this issue with Orange as well, regardless of ROM, prior or after to flashing. I thought it was just the Orange network capacity as when I use the phone out of peak hours (2-7am) its fine.

I have the stock Hero with 1.5, no roots or custom os & it happens to me on Orange UK.
No idea why, but don't think its to do with custom roms!
Pete
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

Yaeh i have the exact same issue, tried many different roms, including official orange roms. This issue started before i started playing with customer roms.
Anyone have any suggestions?

Just adding to the list. Same issue for me, Orange UK - not specific to any ROM (Stock or Custom)

I'm going to join the party and say I have this problem too.
Although I didn't notice until I read this and checked, I just assumed Oranges 3G network was unstable in peak times

SingleServingFriend said:
Yeah I did try that stuff, I too have set it back to WCDMA Preferred. Now you mention it I guess my issue did start around this time too so its likely to be linked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too am on orange uk and tried this and experienced the same issue.
The solution is just reflash rom and radio (no wipe etc so data remains). That fixed it for me.
Also don't mess with *#*#...... settings

I'm still having this issue, maybe it is just the Orange network thats to blame? Seems to be to a number of us cropping up.
Gonna get back onto Customer Services this weekend, see what they say this time.

Same problem here. I'm on Orange UK too. Seems like an Orange network problem rather than a ROM problem

Saw this on my G2 Touch Hero on t-mobile when using villainrom 5.2. Not seen it recently and don't think its related to flashing 6.0.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

Thought I'd update this.
Been living with the issue since posting, tried a few roms, all with the same issue.
Tried the latest radio, that didn't help.
Flashed EzHero rom few days ago and 3G has been working fine since! Don't know whats in this rom which might do that, it doesn't display the 'H' icon anymore which is the only visual difference. Might just be coincidence but either way glad its working consistently again.

I've had the same issue here on the other side of the pond in Canada on the Telus Hero. I think it has something to do with the phone trying to default to the fastest connection. I'm assuming the providers don't want us connected to the faster networks constantly, so they have a disconnect on idle response; which in turn is being counter-acted by our hero's need for speed. That is one theory, but I have to include that when I first got my TELUS Hero, before rooting and installing MaDaCo 1.5 I would have stable 3G connections. Any ROM installed following the root of my phone has caused this same dilemma.

This is a big issue on orange one which I have never got to the bottom of.
Now my phone seems to work 99% of the time but it always switches to H before downloading.
It might be something to do with Orange switching to new "next generation" towers. Apparently last time I phoned orange my phone was connected to two towers (only supposed to be one) so it was impossible to triangulate my exact position.
This might have something to do with it.

Network and GPS Functionality Vanished

Hi all,
I flashed my phone, and thought I’d go with Darky's Raw Steel Edition (4.1), which is awesome btw. I installed it correctly, installing I9000XWJM8 first (the MODEM and PDA, not CSC as none seemed to come in the package).
Everything was working smoothly until I realise 3G/Data Network is no longer working (it did previously). Not only that but it seems it won’t connect to my service provider (Three) at all (emergency calls only), and I’ve also now noticed GPS doesn’t seem to work at all, I can’t even get into GPS test mode. Wireless does however work though it being off, or on, has no impact.
I’ve tried:
Flashing different firmware - Stock JM8 and Doc Froyo’s latest JPO.
Hard Reset
Deleting and re-entering APN settings, though they were correct and already on the phone anyway.
Testing my SIM on another phone – signal is strong, inc. 3G on that.​
I’m really at a loss here. Any ideas anyone?
Thanks
UPDATE: So, I won't bump this myself, but incase anyone finds this thread in the future: the gprs, gps, 3g, etc all work - just not in my house, on the SGS, anymore. I have no idea why - my other phone, it's fine.. and it used to be fine with this phone too. I'll update again if I figure it out.

the other phone works fine with the same sim you are using in the SGS?

Yep, the same SIM works in my old Nokia 6600 fold, people in my house also with Three are getting solid reception right now. 4-5 bars with 3g established.
It worked beautifully all the way home from work on the bus, just not in/around my house.
It's as if the local cell towers near my house have blocked my SGS specifically (can't receive calls or texts either). I did turn the wireless on and off in short succession (which would cause the gprs/3g to try to re-establish each time).. maybe I flooded them and they blocked my IMEI? Or is that just a ridiculous idea?
The real odd thing is GPS not working either (again, just around my house/street); surely it doesn't need a cell site for that?
It does seem as if I can't download apps from The Market anymore either, and have tried various cache clearing solutions to fix it (problem occurred roughly when I noticed my reception was nill).

You might have a problem with the band selection thing of your phone.. have you tried downloading/speed test when you /do/ get a connection? If it seems capped at 40kbps, you might have the same problem I experienced before, of being stuck on 2g. (Despite settings saying otherwise).
I fixed it by doing the solution to having a missing 850 band, the thread of which is found somewhere in this forum.

Thanks. That sort of worked earlier.
It made a slow data connection, and some texts came through.
I then went out to a location a few miles away, had a look and it was still on a slow connection type for a few mins, then all of a sudden it went to HSPDA (with the occasional 3G flicker) and was blistering fast.
Now that I'm back home, I've lost all reception again and can't make/take calls
[EDIT] Clicking around my phone in the hopes of finding something: checked product code in my nv_data.bin file with SGS Toolbox, and it's showing I9000HKDKOR; whilst the backup is showing I9000HKDH3G - could I be on to something? I backed up my efs folder after rooting before doing anything else - so, going to try restoring that.

I have a hunch based on a 2 year old post (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=445913).
From what I understand, Three UK piggy back on Orange's network when Three's 3G cell towers are out of reach. Orange don't provide Three users with the full service though, just 2G and I'm guessing they prioritise Orange customer traffic.
I think when I flashed my phone, I removed code commanding the phone to prefer Three cell towers. Without that code, the phone simply goes to the strongest/first signal it detects. I'm guessing in the area near where I live, it's Orange (or maybe any old network which is why I'm often getting Emergency Calls only).
This is all guesswork. I'm hopeful, seeing as if I quickly switch the SIM to my two+ year old phone, then I quickly get 5 bars and 3G.. unless the SGS's signal issues really are *that* bad.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831022
Try see if you have the symptom of a missing band?

Hi Nwsk, I tried that before and assumed it didn't work, but actually the change isn't sticking. Which seems to be the case for a couple of others! Thanks for pointing me back to it!
[Edit]
Ohhhh dear. Now I have another theory (I really hope I'm wrong).
I've just read on a thread that some phones don't have the 850 Band, it's down to a lack of hardware support. I'd wager every Three UK branded phone sold will have the correct hardware as stock. I sent my phone back to Samsung for repair, they said they replaced the motherboard.. inference: they replaced it with one without the WCDMA 850 support.

Hmm, I'm definitely no authority on this, since I'm just guessing.. but I figure if that if was a true hardware defect, you wouldn't even be able to get it temporarily?
Are you using any 'battery-saving' type apps? Something might be messing up and keep reverting the settings. I had this occur to me a second time when I was trying out the superpower app here, I think it conflicted with another app I was using, and it borked out my network connectivity. Somehow fixed that after a few reboots, and lots of messing around in the phone debug menu with the 3g/2g thing, it suddenly worked again.

I've not seen it manage to get onto 850MHz WCDMA in my house for a while, not since the mobo got replaced (I should qualify that with a statement on my bad memory ). It will occasionally latch onto something if I walk around the house, giving me a slow data connection with the G symbol showing - it will drop pretty quickly.
Messing around while I write this, I've just realised if I set my phone to GSM(2G) with roaming [Three UK phones need this on so they can connect to Orange towers], then it does establish a data connection at 1800mhz. If I force WCDMA only, I get NOTHING. Setting both/auto leads to it being dodgy/instable, as I've discribed above.
My Nokia 6600 supports 850mhz UMTS, which would explain why it's working well inside my house.
I don't think it's an app. I've flashed a few different firmwares in an effort to get this fixed, it's currently on official Froyo JPO (not even rooted!) with Multi-CSC and a few completely harmless apps. I'd try the stock Three firmware if it was available somewhere.
I'm hoping it's software like you suggest! I will tinker away for now!
Thanks for all the help, at least now I'm fairly sure I'm on the right track!

[Q] Data only stays on 3G and never 4G for the past couple days...Any reason why?

So i have been flashing a few roms recently and stayed with NB60 for 2 days now... on my second day I only got 3G speeds and was finding drop in my network more.
I flashed another rom and still I am getting only 3G and never 4G even when i try going to use to internet or the market or anything that requires data.
I remember on most roms that it would bounce from 3G to 4G when it was needed... and now I dont even get that.
Any reason why this might be happening? I mean I was running 2.3.4 and then now my new rom I flashed has 2.3.4 also and do u think it might be because of that?
Any help would be great.

First of all go check what type of network your connected to as it will show you, as H don't mean its 4G. Now I know you know that not all time you will get speed as time, place depend on the load of the network. Where I get H always I do see Edge/3G time to time so it depends.
Now you can flash the new radio we have by placing it on your SDCard and renaming it to PD15ING.zip and rebooting in to bootloader. Radio is user select based and you may improve your signal where it maybe useless to me. If you have HSDPA/HSPA+ in your area you can test it and connect via WCDMA only and see if it works. To save battery no one stays on 4G as it will kill it faster.

Yeah I totally understand when u mean no one stays on 4G or Hspa all the time. The only reason why it was concerning me was that my wife has her phone which is not rooted and mine that is... and she has her phone being totally fine with getting H or 4G.
Idk if i want to try a new radio just because idk if its safe or not... im sure it is but idk if im ready to do that
But I will test out my area like how u recommended by connecting via WCDMA only.
thanks for the tips.

Perfectly understandable, but did you hear when iPhone4 first hit and the whole grip drop signal problem? lol what I am getting here is later we discovered AT&T was actually fabricating signal which was inaccurate to boost their failed network. I never trust the stock icons to begin with did you at least run few decent speed tests so you can at least compare? With WCDMA only my connection improved by alot specially the upload, I was surprised. As I have BellSouth ADSL and max we get is 512kbps (54kB/s) max. Where here I was pushing 180kB/s+ best advice for you is download speed test and compare it same time side by side of your wife against yourself first and then go from there.

yeah... my wifi is working perfectly. but my 3g/4g is just real bad. it says my network is with Tmobile. and everything seems fine... but idk... its hard going on the app store, it takes a long time doing a search on google (and sometimes i have to reload it like 3 times to find a search), and just overall slow network.
I have no clue what to do or why all of a sudden this happend.

When I meant network type I meant what are you using ATM? UMTS? HSDPA? HSPA? you can check under network type it will tell you. Try WCDMA only but the issue is if you don't have strong signal places where you have EDGE you can't use data anymore.

ok so check it.... before i read ur last post i changed my rom to the leaked sense rom by faux. and I got my 4G status back.
that being said... I was using the 2.0 royal ginger right before i flashed this one. But I dont know why the NB61 rom or the royal ginger were acting weird with me... is it bc of 2.3.4? ill check out what u told me later tonight i suppose. once again. thanks alot.

I myself is having hell of issues ATM with AOSP2.3.4(CM7NB60+) so could be another factor.

Ok so I think i got it back to 4G status when i need it now lol.
Basically I flashed the leaked sense rom from faux.... played with that for little. then later I went back to the 2.0 Royal glaciar.... and NOW everything is working again.
So i dont know what happend before but now Im good to go and everything is perfect again.
thanks again for the help tho TmpUsr

Crazy crazy 3g...help me.

On my s2 when using 3g full bars I get no activity no internet whatsoever, this has been an issue from day one, using stock rom o2 or custom roms. Anybody getting the same problem? And is there a solution?
Ps but as soon as it switches to H, it works fine.

I was working today and using as a hotspot, and I was in area where it was just 3G, with full bars, and could not get on the net.
This is a bit of grrrrr moment. HTC desire no problem at all.
Anybody have any ideas?

have you altered any system settings? Try the SiM card from your HTC Desire.
Finally, try hard reset.

not altered anything . I used my virgin sim on desire and s2(same sim)
And how to hard reset on this thing?
Thanks for caring.

Here are the problems sorted by number of individual posts in descending order:
1) Battery
2) Wi-Fi
3) GPS
4) Sound
5) Camera
6) Screen
7) 2G/3G
While the 2G/3G problems people are experiencing are no doubt real, the magnitude is relatively low. People who changed carriers or used SIM cards from other carriers seemed to have had their problems go away. I know this isn't what you wanted to here but, compared to some of the other problems, this isn't a widespread issue and appears to be carrier/locale specific.

That is NORMAL it means you are in good area where it supports 3.5G / H
so when you use data it uses 3.5G and not 3G. It reverts back to 3G when you are not using the internet. Nothing crazy. It is normal. Search next time.

dk206
You are missing the point, in,certain areas where there is NO 3G+, ONLY 3G I get no internet, is this NORMAL too? Read first.

with all respect to all seniors, that is not a simple issue, basically there is no solution till now, some people working on replacements others waiting for cooked roms, i have this issue since two weeks now and i can assure you that a lot have the same issue, more didn't find out yet because simply the issue is unstable data connection which prevent you from using VOIP & Wifi hotspot, when ever the connection is turning from H+ to 3G it drops, anyways some links below having same issue:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1073958&page=8
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1074396&page=3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1088727
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1066710
a lot of people in MEA have this issue as well.

Hassanalaa said:
with all respect to all seniors, that is not a simple issue, basically there is no solution till now, some people working on replacements others waiting for cooked roms, i have this issue since two weeks now and i can assure you that a lot have the same issue, more didn't find out yet because simply the issue is unstable data connection which prevent you from using VOIP & Wifi hotspot, when ever the connection is turning from H+ to 3G it drops, anyways some links below having same issue:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1073958&page=8
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1074396&page=3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1088727
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1066710
a lot of people in MEA have this issue as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did some troubleshooting and found out using vodafon qatar sim solved the issue..on Qtel the problem persist.so for me i guess got to wait till SGS2 is launched in the middle east for samsung to update their firmware for carriers here.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I'm in Poland, one carrier's PREpaid didn't work, then another carrier's POSTpaid worked flawlessly, so I got that working carrier's PREpaid and after working initially it stopped now. My question is: do you think the 3g loss might be prepaid/postpaid issue?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

I really doubt that it has to do with carriers, the phone's "3G" just doesnt work, it seems to want use HSDPA and up.
They really need to bring out a fix for this.
How long did they take to finally bring this phone out... Still no where near to getting it right. Shame, this could so easily be the best.

After being frustrated by no activity on 3G, I decided to try uskr's data fix. Although skeptical that it would fix anything, I tried it!
Amazingly enough, IT WORKED!
It really did, on one bar of pure 3G I get 0.3 down speed on speedtest on the phone and through hot spot.
The fix involves editing /system/build.prop
I add
ro.ril.enable.dtm=1
ro.ril.gprsclass=12
ro.ril.enable.3g.prefix=1
ro.ril.hsdpa.category=28
ro.ril.hsupa.category=9
ro.ril.hsxpa=3
To the bottom of the file using Root Explorer's text editor, on a rooted SG2.
Big ups to uskr