[Q] Any way to boost my data signal? - Xperia Play General

I am with Vodafone UK and work in a building with thick concrete walls.
I can only get a "G" signal with my data connection and sometimes drops completely.
I "lived with it" for the last couple of months.
Recently my friend bought an HTC Sensation with Orange UK and he gets "H" high speed broadband connection ALL THE TIME.
It's very frustrating to wait 3 minutes for a single web page to load while he streams HD videos without even so much as hiccuping.
Is there anything i can do to boost my data signal? Or do i just have to accept that Vodafone suck and wait for my contract to run out so i can go with Orange?

Related

Orange Problems

My phone wont recieve any sms for ages. Then as soon as i make a call, i recieve loads and also missed call alerts. As far as i am aware i have reception (its at work and i have always has it).
Anyone else get this?
I also get this occasionaly, used to be worse but has got better...
i had this too - i think it's somehow related to what Band your phone is set to recieve.. i have a very weak 3G signal at home, which means the phone is hopping between HSDPA, 3G, and G the whole time, and the missed calls / data occur when the phone is auto changing the bands.
so, i changed my settings from Automatic to GMS band, and this appears to have resolved the problem.
perhaps this might be the same for you.
does this GMS thing affect 3g, RSS updates etc?
grr dont get me started on orange just had to get my trading standards friend to sort orange out for me, while connected to 3g in my local area i miss calls and its hard to make calls but 2g and 3g away from my area is fine, so i got my last 6 months of data bundle refunded and the data bundle cancled at £7.90 for 250 mb a month ( which is a total ripp off ) as i was given 3 options, 1 keep your phone switched to 2g networks only ( no because the internet speed is a joke on 2g ) send us your phone back and well cancle your contract with no buyout fee ( ummm no ) or continue as you are ( ummm no ) so the out come was a full refund on the data pack, data pack cancled as orange is a joke for internet access anyway, 250 mb max tarrif huu i can chew that up in a day and now i keep my phone on the 2g network, i will ride my contract out then cancel orange sim unlock my phone and move to another provider with a much better internet package
Orange are a complete joke at the moment - I really used to like them out of all the carriers but their standards and quality of service is disintegrating on a daily basis it seems.
Current issue with them: I had my phone cut off for non-payment of bill last week - that's despite providing them with my bank details TWICE and them saying they would put a note on the account that would stop any disconnection notice going through while they sort it out.
Hey! and guess what - they have no record of any bank details for me, no notes on my account and they actually said that it was my fault because I hadn't told my bank to set up the direct debit!!!
Needless to say I will be leaving Orange ASAP.
Orange let me down badly a couple of years ago but they persuaded me to stay. I now have a touch HD with unlimited data (and I do mean the 3gb per month business data package) totally free. With 1200 mins, 400 texts, unlimited landline calls all for £40 a month I am not complaining.
My diamond had rubbish signal on 3g but the hd is fine.
am on orange too!
weak signal at my work and home! (even though the website says i should)
never had an issue wit text messages but often get missed calls!
has anyone on orange updated to the new ROM? I know its not officially released for us but through xda software
Same problem with Orange
My Touch HD rarely gets a good signal from Orange. Their nearest mast is 7 mins walk away but because of a tall building I connect to a mast on a hill 1.8Kms away. But then when I park next to their mast I still get a weak signal. I get a 500mb data package plus unlimited txts and 10 hours of calls for £30 per month. To be honest the poor signal that i constantly experience with Orange despite the messing around means that it might be my last contract with them unless they buck up
I too am on Orange with my Touch HD and often get missed calls and a bantle of SMS messages and voice mails coming through at once even though I seem to have a fairly OK signal.
Signal is pretty much OK when I'm at work or out and about, but signal at home is wildly variable, switching constantly between nothing, slight, GPRS, Edge and 3G (never get HSDPA at home) so this backs up what 'orangewarrior' said in an earlier reply.
My missus uses an Orange branded HTC Touch Dual (Nike) which is even worse - she can hardly ever use it when within about 2 miles of our house.
By contrast, I never had such problems wih my old Orange SPV M700 (HTC P3600/Trinity). Signal was generally stable (stock Orange ROM, no Radio upgrades or anything).
I've also noticed that I get more dropped calls when the Touch HD is cradled up and ActiveSync'd. People calling me report that it goes straight to voicemail. Has anyone else noticed this?
I'm using the stock Orange issue with no cooked anything.
just updated to the latest rom
signal seems better! always on H, no moving from H to G then to E (network operator is now 3G orange and not just orange)
had a few calls and seemed fine, text messages are fine (never had an issue with them before)
will give it a try at work tomorrow and home again and let yous know how I get on.
LenMackin said:
My Touch HD rarely gets a good signal from Orange. Their nearest mast is 7 mins walk away but because of a tall building I connect to a mast on a hill 1.8Kms away. But then when I park next to their mast I still get a weak signal. I get a 500mb data package plus unlimited txts and 10 hours of calls for £30 per month. To be honest the poor signal that i constantly experience with Orange despite the messing around means that it might be my last contract with them unless they buck up
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Click to collapse
same contract as mine, i get decent reception like 2bars in out of reach area where reception is suppose to be bad, but if your on 02, u will get max reception, this is in comparison to a work coleague of mine, who is on 02 and me orange same room, i have 2 bars he has full, i'm still able to use net, send/receive msgs, email the usual, but guys are right orange a bag of shiit at the moment very poor coverage compared to 02. i was a previously on 02
well i have duttys ROm , the latest , im at work on Thursday. Thats where it happens for some reason, so i guess ill find out there.
My signal is also pants on any motorway!!
i am on orange and always have good 3g signal never get any problems and just pay £10 for 200mins unlimited texts with my htc touch hd , cudnt b happier

UK Touch HD data connection problems with Telstra SIM

I have a standard Touch HD Wm 6.1 bought from Mobiles (CPW) on O2 contract. It works fine. I came to Australia and bought a Telstra Prepay SIM with Browse data bundle. In Sydney, no problem.
Drive to Laurieton 2443 NSW and data connection is unreliable. Seems to keep dropping out and won't come back unless I soft reset. Affects email, Skype, weather update.
Even when I'm not actually doing anything, I can watch the signal bars and they will cycle from 1 to 2 maybe 3 then disappear, the phone will try to logon and get the "Y" antenna, then try to connect to data and you get the smaller E and the two left/right arrows and may get a connection.
Might work for a while then craps out and needs device reset again. It didn't do this down in Sydney. When connected to laptop and used as a internet sharing modem, seems more stable (otherwise I couldn't have written this post).
Any ideas?
3G (NextG) coverage not quite as good as Telstra said
It's probably nothing to do with the Touch HD at all. Bod in the local PC shop (say hi to Bruce Dunlop Comuters of Laurieton) said I'd be lucky to get a 3G signal round here at all. I guess the behaviour I was seeing was the Touch HD trying its best in a very fringe area.
So when the Telstra guy looked up Laurieton and said they had good coverage of Laurieton, what he should have said was .....
Solution? Get a wifi router and leech off your Mum's broadband (worked for me )
gio300zx said:
I have a standard Touch HD Wm 6.1 bought from Mobiles (CPW) on O2 contract. It works fine. I came to Australia and bought a Telstra Prepay SIM with Browse data bundle. In Sydney, no problem.
Drive to Laurieton 2443 NSW and data connection is unreliable. Seems to keep dropping out and won't come back unless I soft reset. Affects email, Skype, weather update.
Even when I'm not actually doing anything, I can watch the signal bars and they will cycle from 1 to 2 maybe 3 then disappear, the phone will try to logon and get the "Y" antenna, then try to connect to data and you get the smaller E and the two left/right arrows and may get a connection.
Might work for a while then craps out and needs device reset again. It didn't do this down in Sydney. When connected to laptop and used as a internet sharing modem, seems more stable (otherwise I couldn't have written this post).
Any ideas?
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Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure you have a T8282 which has hardware that uses the bandwidths in the UK (and other parts of the world). Telstra uses some different bandwidths and so you are only able to access some of them. If you want proper coverage in Australia then you will need to get a T8285.

3G connection problem with orange UK contract sim

Hi all,
I have an O2 streak running Stephen 1.1.1 ROM. The phone is unlocked with Rebel sim to work on orange.
I am having very bad 3G connection. I am in a very well covered area and never had any problem with my old HTC touch HD.
There are 50% of times that I cannot connect to the net work. Then I have to reboot the phone for it to work, sometimes more than once. When it connected, the 3G sign turned into H and I can enjoy the full speed. But when the webpage loads and there is no traffic, the H turned back into 3G and it will take forever to reconnect if it will ever connect.
I don’t think the setting is wrong as I never changed anything. I tried following combo
Dell streak + rebel + orange sim = don’t work,
Dell streak + rebel + 3 sim = work
It doesn’t look like there is something wrong with the streak of rebel. Then I tried to put the orange back into my orange touch HD
Touch HD + orange sim = work
Touch HD + rebel + orange sim = work
So now it’s one possibility, orange sim doesn’t work with phones from other network? Is this even possible? Is anyone else been using Dell streak + rebel + orange sim combo can give me some feedback?
Many thanks.
I just thought maybe that Orange's coverage was a bit crap in my area but I've been getting really really poor data service with Orange. I've got an unlocked direct from Dell unit and I was originally on O2 and I could get almost full phone service and full data while in my room in my house (on the outskirts of town and not in the middle of no where), but then I got an Orange contract and thats just gone down the pan. Now in my room I get half phone service and even worse data which seems to only sometimes connect to 3G, all other times its just G, and when it does go 3G, it's really slow and sometimes just non responsive.
So I have no idea whether this is a compatability issue or just poor coverage, though it seems that Oranges network does need to pickup what phone your using so they can register it on their network (so they can issue you a 3G sim instead of a normal 2G sim, which was a joke when my 3G sim card died after the first day of recieving it, only for them to replace it with a 2G one and then refused to replace it with a 3G one, so I had to kick off and insist that they replace like for like....but thats another story) so it could be that since they can't register your phone on the network that you don't have full access to their data service....just a thought!
Keethos said:
I just thought maybe that Orange's coverage was a bit crap in my area but I've been getting really really poor data service with Orange. I've got an unlocked direct from Dell unit and I was originally on O2 and I could get almost full phone service and full data while in my room in my house (on the outskirts of town and not in the middle of no where), but then I got an Orange contract and thats just gone down the pan. Now in my room I get half phone service and even worse data which seems to only sometimes connect to 3G, all other times its just G, and when it does go 3G, it's really slow and sometimes just non responsive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The coverage is not the problem as I live in a well covered area. The signal is always 3 or 4 bars.
Keethos said:
So I have no idea whether this is a compatability issue or just poor coverage, though it seems that Oranges network does need to pickup what phone your using so they can register it on their network (so they can issue you a 3G sim instead of a normal 2G sim, which was a joke when my 3G sim card died after the first day of recieving it, only for them to replace it with a 2G one and then refused to replace it with a 3G one, so I had to kick off and insist that they replace like for like....but thats another story) so it could be that since they can't register your phone on the network that you don't have full access to their data service....just a thought!
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Click to collapse
This looks like the problem. As when the phone trying to connect, I can always see upload traffic but most of times no download traffic. Even when it connects, it taking much longer than it should be (when the sim is in orange touch HD or using a 3 sim).
Do you have any idea how can I solve this? Is there anything orange can do if I hassle their customer service?
I have no idea my friend, you'll just have to try. I thought maybe it was a signal issue as I am able to get it working (not at full speed but still working) when I'm out in the open in towns or cities. At the moment, I'm just guna wait a while until they have fully intergrated with T-Mobile as they are in the middle of setting up the merge of their masts. I did question that my data service has been crap compared to when I was on O2 and they just enabled me to connected to the T-Mobile masts when I can't connect to any Orange ones, but that doesn't really help not being able to use their data service properly.
The only reason why I'm using Orange is because of the amazing deal I got and that I actually get a phone signal while I'm at work (out in the middle of no where, where as with O2, I could only get 1 or 2 bars until I picked the phone up at which point I would lose it all)
me too, don't want to leave orange as I can't get my current deal anywhere else. I probably just have to get use to the bad connection.

Puzzling coverage...

I'm on the Three network, have an unlocked HTC desire HD with 17 m2 radio.
Normally I get terrible signal in the flat that i live in, its a granite building in Aberdeen. Occasional the signal is around 1 bar, sometimes grey, and most of the time its X.. (no service), but i still manage to get 3G or H. When looking at the APN settings and specifically at available networks when doing a manual search, next to 3 is a green star which I assume means it's connected to 3 mobile network. But sometimes i get amazing signal, full bars, which puzzled me! so I looked at the available networks and next to 3, there was no star, so i tried calling a number and it rang and came through. I also tried using mobile internet when in this "good coverage" state, and google would not load (G is displayed in the notifications bar). After a while, the bars would drop to 1 or grey, and i would then get H or 3G, and google loads again. What's going on? and how can i take advantage of this when i have no signal.
try and find the app called open signal maps
that can be used to see where the signal-towers are
and how good the signal is
or use this site and search your adress
http://opensignalmaps.com/
sincere regards,
blokhoofd
The antenna is really wierd.
Normally I only get 2G connection.
But if I completly take my hand off the lower cover and lift the phone up a bit for a better signal, I get a 3Mbps connection, though as soon as I lower my phone back to normal the 3G signal is completly gone or gets really bad (zero bars and lower than EDGE speed)!
The antenna in this phone sucks really bad, my old Nokia phone atleast had a stable connection.
This is very bad news... I was considering DHD, but if there are isseus with gsm signal than I am really worried... Is it also happening on the stock ROM?
As long as network coverege is good you should be okay.
I swaped my SIM card with a friends and with better coverege, 3.5G worked good (solid 2Mbps), only slight drop if SIM cover is completly covered, which doesn't happen in normal use.
I just can't understand how I can get such high speeds with my SIM while on a badly covered area. haven't tested how well other devices pick up the 3G signal (my old phone wasn't 3G yet)
I'm still using stock ROM btw.
Have you tried a different radio?
People are reporting different results with them, so might be an idea to play around and see if anyone of them works better for you
I've tried the new Orange radio and I'm getting better signal, although threes coverage isn't great I would expect the device to seamlessly change between 3.5g and gprs but it doesn't it'll get stuck on hsdpa network until the x appears and sometimes it'll go to gprs and go back to three bars. Before it would be on x all the time and that's probably why the battery was quite ****. 3g doesnt penetrate buildings very well and I live in a granite building so would explain why I get better gprs signal. I just wish the antenna was smart and changed seamlessly.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
So annoying dhd still not selecting the next best connection just no service but if I select to detect network automatically it connects eventually
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

Omnia7 + T-Mobile UK domestic data roaming = Tragedy???

For those on T-Mobile UK Network, could you share your thoughts about the data roaming between T-Mobile - Orange 3G network?
Does it work for you, does it boosts speeds?
In my case it defaults to T-Mobile Orange, although this is a correct selection signal-wise, as I've got 3-4 bars of 3G+ (2-3 bars with 'vanilla' T-Mobile), I guess Orange speeds are **** in my area, resulting to 700/40 Kbps down/up best case scenario (40 Kbps, that's kilobit per second, or 5 KB/sec). Worst case scenario is ping time-outs, because the upload speed is so slow that even the initial command is difficult to be transmitted. Sites with pictures is almost a no go, the same applies to traffic intensive apps, e.g. maps.
When I force T-Mobile via Settings (manual Network selection, data roaming set to off) speeds go up, to acceptable 1700/300 Kbps. But after a couple of minutes, the network changes to T-Mobile Orange.
I called cc to deactivate data roaming (international), just in case it deactivates domestic one, but to no avail. No one in T-Mobile knows if I can opt-out of domestic data roaming and give me foolish instructions ''remove your battery, remove SIM card, reboot phone blah blah blah****''
Any experiences? Does 3G roaming work for you?
Hi, its kinda hard for me to tell as I normally have quite bad signal and its really annoying. I had issues with WiFi and 3G conflicting and I thought it was the 3G but since I updated to mi7ROM I havent had this problem - so not sure pal
I'm on Orange UK and opted into this ages ago. As far as I can tell it's a load of rubbish and doesn't work properly.
In my flat I get low GPRS with Orange. If i force it to T-Mobile I get full 3G. However the roaming defaults to Orange and so I'm stuck with GPRS and poor reception.
In addition the Omnia can't seem to handle switching between networks properly resulting in data connection problems where it will lose it altogether.
I have noticed that the T-Mobile 3G speed seems higher than the Orange 3G speed too.
i can only echo Freypal, thats the exact same as my situation. great idea, but it doesnt seem to have been implemented properly.
robnewton1 said:
i can only echo Freypal, thats the exact same as my situation. great idea, but it doesnt seem to have been implemented properly.
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Click to collapse
As a t-mob customer i too find that the auto switch to orange results in my data falling over, requiring me to go into flight mode so that it will auto reselect the t-mob network.
I did ask to be opted out but the t-mob CS recommended that I be patient. They are aware that there are problems but hope to have them sorted soon(ish)
I'm having exactly the same experience as the original poster. I took the phone into the shop and a staffmember agreed that the Orange-TMobile 3G is not working yet and they are getting a lot of complaints. I spoke to customer services but they say you cannot opt out and they are working to resolve the problems...but they would not give a timeframe when pushed ("days, weeks or months?").
I think its worth starting an Ofcom complaint.
Please sign this petition I set up.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/t-mobile-orange-signal/
T-Mobile has implemented signal sharing with Orange. In theory this should enhance coverage--particularly 3G coverage--for T-Mobile customers.
The reality is that this signal sharing is not working properly. T-Mobile customers' phones are constantly getting stuck on Orange transmitters even when there is good T-Mobile reception available. This can mean customers have barely 1 bar of low-speed 2G ("G") Orange signal even when there is strong T-Mobile 3G signal available in the area.
T-Mobile say they have activated "smart signal sharing" which should prevent the above from occurring. However, this has failed to fix the problem.
T-Mobile say customers can't opt out of the new scheme. It needs to take notice that for many of its customers the signal sharing scheme is counter-productive and *reduces* the quality of the service they are getting.
Please sign this petition so that T-Mobile/OFCOM realize the extent of this problem.
sab742 said:
Please sign this petition I set up.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/t-mobile-orange-signal/
T-Mobile has implemented signal sharing with Orange. In theory this should enhance coverage--particularly 3G coverage--for T-Mobile customers.
The reality is that this signal sharing is not working properly. T-Mobile customers' phones are constantly getting stuck on Orange transmitters even when there is good T-Mobile reception available. This can mean customers have barely 1 bar of low-speed 2G ("G") Orange signal even when there is strong T-Mobile 3G signal available in the area.
T-Mobile say they have activated "smart signal sharing" which should prevent the above from occurring. However, this has failed to fix the problem.
T-Mobile say customers can't opt out of the new scheme. It needs to take notice that for many of its customers the signal sharing scheme is counter-productive and *reduces* the quality of the service they are getting.
Please sign this petition so that T-Mobile/OFCOM realize the extent of this problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Signed

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