Database Users

[Q] Bad Network On Android Phones

Hi guys and girls,
Today, i'm writing my first post on this wonderfull forum. I have a problem.
I have very bad network sensivity on every Android phone i have. I'm kinda new to android but i know at least a minimum.
The questions:
If i buy a phone in a country and then take it to another country, can it lead to bad network?
Can the baseband version of a phone be good in one country and bad in another?
Are the OTA updates specific to a country (scandinavian android updated in a non scandinavian country) or are they different from a country to another?
The actual situation:
I live in Belgium but i'm norwegian and i'm used to Norwegian keyboards with Æ, Ø, Å characters) so I have bought my a SE Xperia X10 Mini Pro in Norway, but i think after i did the 2.1 update in Belgium i got bad network. Now i got a HTC Desire Z also bought in Norway and had perfect network in norway, i updated to the 1.72 still in norway and still had perfect network. Then i came back in belgium and had bad network. Then i updated to 1.82 and then to 2.42 (the gingerbread version 2.3.3) and i still have thebad network problems in Belgium. The rom is still the scandinavian/nordic and i was wondering if there is a different baseband version in the ota update from norway and the one from belgium eventhough its still the scandinavian sense rom.
If this is the answer to my problem.
Since i'm on a gingerbread Desire Z, how can i change the baseband version?
I guess i'll have to root, Is there a easy way to root a GB DZ?
Info:
Android: 2.3.3
Baseband version 12.56.60.25U_26.10.04.03_m
Kernel: 2.6.35.10-g7b95729
Software number 2.42.405.2
If you need more info or anything, just ask me. I really want to solve my problem and help others maybe find an answer to theirs.
Thanks in advance,
Bendik

Anybody? Please?
I really need help on this one.

define "bad network" are you sure the carriers in each country use the same bands? Radio loads and RILs will make all the difference. Have you tried locking to 2G?

Well, by saying bad network i mean i have between 0 and 3 bars most of the time. Even with nice weather.
I have no idea if my countries carriers use the same bands. But what i discovered was that if i use my norwegian sim card in belgium (roaming or something) and i use Mobistar (another network carrier) then i have 4 bars allways. I couldn't try to roam on base (my actual carrier) or proximus (wich is the lands monopol carrier).
The thing about radio loads and RIL's i didnt understand anything.
And locking in 2G doesn't change anything.

There are three carriers in belgium: Base (my actual carrier), mobistar, and Proximus (the countrys main carrier)
I ordered free SIM cards from the other belgian carriers.
I got one from mobistar and it worked perfectly.
I haven't tried proximus yet.
Base is the one i have problems with.
So no i have another question: Is there any differences between sim cards from one carrier to another one? Except that they dont allow me to connect to other carriers than the card carrier?

I know i may be spamming a little bit but this is kinda important to me.
So please, if anyone could give answers or help me i would be thankfull.

I think that not all carriers have the same signal strength in a specific location .
In my country there is three mobile networks and in my home they are not equal in signal strength .
one with zero signal , the second with moderate signal and the last one with perfect signal even though they are equal in the street which is 10 meters away from home !!!
You said that mobistar works perfectly so maybe you should stick with them and ignore the one you use right now .

Thanks for answering me.
I really liked base because i had so really cheap bills. Instead of paying 25€ for free texts and ringing and some internet im paying 10€ with my actual one.
I mailed base in case they could help me, and after about 2 weeks i finally got an answer. Theyre working on it...

Maybe it is the 3g band. Look, here in my city, if I use 2g, it works OK but in some areas i have no signal. If I turn on the 3G, I have a very good signal in almost every corner of the city. Verifiy that.

Hello,
-The easiest way might be to contact your actual operator, they should check the 2G/3G coverage in your area. But i guess you can do this yourself, somewhere on their website they should have a map with their signal strenght.
-Change your mobile phone; try the sim card in a different phone. Does it get the same signal strenght? - With this you will determine if the problem is in your mobile phone. If you get better signal in a different phone, you may have a broken anthena in your device or you've messed up something in the settings.
-Ask someone around you with your carrier what strenght does he get. If it is higher than yours and you got the same strenght in more than one phone you may have a wrong sim card. The carrier should change it for you.
Check this and let me know the result I'll try to help.

bendik18 said:
Thanks for answering me.
I really liked base because i had so really cheap bills. Instead of paying 25€ for free texts and ringing and some internet im paying 10€ with my actual one.
I mailed base in case they could help me, and after about 2 weeks i finally got an answer. Theyre working on it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am very interested to find out what Base does as I am in a similar situation to you though I bought my Xperia 10 mini pro here in Belgium.
When I use my Base sim card I have problems with the signal on either of the tree network settings.
When I use my Slovenian one, I don't have any problems roaming on Base, Mobistar or Proximus.
I always get a good signal when I use my Base card in a different phone though.

Sounds like the frequency for me! Check the frequency of the 3G band for your 3 operators and then check if your cell phones can handle that.

I saw that Mobistar (/the only carrier i get good network on has another band if i understood right)
Im still contacting my actual operator about the issue and they will need another 2 weeks before they can answer me... Of course...
SIM Card in another phone, in a 2G phone SE k550 i have full network. When i lock to 2G on my Android phone, it still has sucky network.
I have a friend (OMG) on the same carrier i had network problems with. he has allways full network, i'll try to see if i can make him come over and test the network with his android phone (acer liquid metal or something)

Ok, let us know how that goes

yes,you may lead to bad network.but the chances are little

Are you on 3g only?
In belgium, Proximus and Mobistar have the best networks.
Base has 97%coverage of edge, but their 3g network sucks.
Are you certain that its everywhere in belgium that base has a bad reception?

I contacted my operator, they told me to try to lock to 2G, i tried it for an hour and still no succes. I restarted my phone after i locked to 2G juste to be sure. Still no success.
I've allready tried in another phone, in my old SE k550 i have full network allmost all the time. I've had the same problem in my x10 mini pro even after a fresh original reset. I really dont think its the phone since i have perfect network when i'm on Mobistar (another carrier that is expensive).
I have a friend that has an Acer Liquid Metal (?) and i'll try to make him come over to test his network.
I have allready changed sim card but they made me pay 10€ for that... --'
Now i'm waiting about a week for another answer from my carrier.
I hope they can do something.

I have bad network everywhere except in the subway (underground :O )
I have this bad network with Proximus and BASE.
I'm was in auto HDSPA/GSM and than tried the 2G only, and now back to auto.
When i'm in auto, i think i noticed that in the moments i have Edge i tend to get better network. But when i lock to edge/2G i still have bad network...

I tried again to lock 2G and it works with full network. Still contacting the operator.

From a quick search of the internet it appears all the providers listed use the same frequencies, 2100 for 3G & 900,1800 for 2G.
As well as selecting 2G only I would also select the mobile operator manually, instead of automatically which I believe is the default. It is also a possibility that the Android phones sold locally have a different radio version then yours that works better on the Base network, I've run into this in the past with Windows Mobile on HTC phones.

[Q] Displaying wrong carrier name

Hi all,
I am a proud owner of a Omnia 7 (with Mango update). Everything works fine, except that my phone is always roaming. My network home network should be "NL TELFORT" but it displays "NL KPN". I am aware of the fact that Telfort does not have it's own network anymore and that it's using the KPN network, but when I tested my SIM card with a HTC Titan, it displayed "NL TELFORT" and was not roaming. An other SIM card of Telfort also displays KPN on my phone. Last week I had my phone displaying "NL Telfort" for half a day, when travelling thru the country.
The same problem occurred on my Android device. In Android 2.3 the feature National Roaming was added and that resolved my problem.
For your information, the Telfort sim has it's own network code that is different from the KPN network code. It's also not possible to get a different SIM with a different network code, because Telfort is not supplying them.
Things that I have tried:
- Selecting the Network manually; The network is not in the list. Only NL KPN.
- Using the Samsung app: Network Profile; Selected the right profile.
- Searching the internet for a week, with no results :-(
Hope someone can help me!
Kind regards,
Mark
Samsung Omnia 7
OS Version 7.10.7720.68
Firmware revision number 2424.11.8.5
Hardware revision number 3.15.0.4
Radio software version 2424.11.7.2
Radio hardware version 0.0.0.800
Bootloader version 5.8.1.9
Chip SOC version: 0.36.2.0

Try this..
Dial ##634# on the dial pad
and it will enter the diagnosis app.
and then inside the app, dial this *#94765# and it should reset.

Hi Hboos,
Thank you for your reply.
I've tried this and my phone rebooted, but still it says it's roaming.
For the record, after that I have set my phone to factory defaults. But still no result.
Is it possible that my radio version (or something) doesn't know the network code of my carrier? And that's why it's displaying it's own name?
If yes, is it possible to add the network code to the list on my phone?
Kind regards,
Mark

I did some more research on the internet.
My PDA version is I8700XXKH5. This indicates that the firmware is for the following regions: Austria, Benelux, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, UK.
My Phone version is I8700XXKG2. This one applies to the same region.
My CSC is: I8700XENJK1. The XEN part idicates that the CSC is for the Netherlands.
So far everything is looking just fine. Except for the part that my phone is not displaying the right carrier name and that it is always roaming. Can someone clarify to me in which part the list with carriers is included? First I thought it was the CSC file. But that file only consists of the MMS/3G settings.

otterm said:
I've tried this and my phone rebooted, but still it says it's roaming.
For the record, after that I have set my phone to factory defaults. But still no result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey,
If you reset your phone to the factory settings, then you would have lost the settings you applied with the Diagnosis app..
Sorry can't help you much beyond that.. don't know about the registry or the different files.
Try the diagnosis thing again but don't reset the device to factory settings.
Good luck and hope you get this sorted

Maybe something silly, but did you check if your data roaming option is stated as: don't roam?
Settings -> Mobile Network
Maybe it's worth checking out the Network selection option right there.
Another thing, what's the deal with this roaming? You say Telfort is using KPN's network.. so I don't quite understand what the deal is when your phone displays KPN as a carrier. Sorry for that.

@Hboos, thank you.
@mb706:
Telfort used to have it's own netwerk (with also it's own network code, to be exactly 20412). In 2005 Telfort was taken over by KPN (networkcode 20408) and slowly the Telfort network was shutdown. Now they still use their own network code and that's why they are roaming on the network of KPN.
Hi and MTV mobile etc are MNVO's and use the network code of KPN, with only a different display/carrier name.

[Q] [Help] No 4g / LTE option LG G2 D802

Hi, I cant seem to switch my phone to 4g / LTE. I've tried the various *# hacks like LTE only, but i only get 'Not supported'. Anyone else experiencing this? I was using 4g and getting 4g speeds on my N5. The phone was previously locked and I unlocked it straight away after receiving it.
The software version is D80210g-234-30

Anyone?

im also interested on how to fix this. anyone?

Turns out it was just a problem with the sim / network I was using (Tesco (o2)). When I tried with another 4g sim the options for LTE showed just fine

Wezi said:
Hi, I cant seem to switch my phone to 4g / LTE. I've tried the various *# hacks like LTE only, but i only get 'Not supported'. Anyone else experiencing this? I was using 4g and getting 4g speeds on my N5. The phone was previously locked and I unlocked it straight away after receiving it.
The software version is D80210g-234-30
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you find any solution for this?
I can't switch my phone too *# hack like LTE only --- not supported ://

ozhanbas said:
Can you find any solution for this?
I can't switch my phone too *# hack like LTE only --- not supported ://
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was a problem with my network provider, nothing to do with the phone. Try another 4g sim from another network and see if you get 4g / LTE

I contacted LG today about the 4G issues that many experience and I thought I should share the official response:
Many Thanks for your email regarding your LG G2, I am sorry to hear you are experiencing problems in receiving 4G.
Can I just ask whom your network provider is? All main UK network providers bar a couple are receiving 4G via our handset, there are only a few 4G networks at the moment who are yet to approve the software on the G2. Please note it is not a limitation of the handset but is network dependent
The above will also explain why some other people in the area are getting it, their networks are almost certainly among those whom have approved the software on the G2 handset.
I look forward to your earliest response with the network provider, once received we should be able to clarify this for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it seems it is indeed a carrier issue.

errikosd said:
I contacted LG today about the 4G issues that many experience and I thought I should share the official response:
So it seems it is indeed a carrier issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I have recently upgraded my phone to a sim free LG G2 also, and in doing so spoke to Tesco Mobile about receiving a new 4G sim to match my upgraded tariff.
This has all been put in place but I still have no ability to select LTE in the preferred network section. New APN settings were sent out by Tesco but this didnt make any additional setting options available, has anyone got any more info on this issue or advice?

zeus_01504 said:
Hi, I have recently upgraded my phone to a sim free LG G2 also, and in doing so spoke to Tesco Mobile about receiving a new 4G sim to match my upgraded tariff.
This has all been put in place but I still have no ability to select LTE in the preferred network section. New APN settings were sent out by Tesco but this didnt make any additional setting options available, has anyone got any more info on this issue or advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably also have an non-EUR software version installed on your G2. Where did you buy it from?
If the above stands, the solution is to flash the EUR software version, although I haven't as I do not really need 4G for the time being. 3G is completely fine.

errikosd said:
You probably also have an non-EUR software version installed on your G2. Where did you buy it from?
If the above stands, the solution is to flash the EUR software version, although I haven't as I do not really need 4G for the time being. 3G is completely fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The handset was purchased from Expansys in the UK and the software is version D80220b-EUR-XX.
So I would not have expected that this issue would come up, it seems to be a unique blend of Tesco(UK) carrier settings and the handset software.
I won't be flashing any new ROM as a solution for a problem which sits with the carrier. Though I am keen to hear if any other users have found an alternative work around.

zeus_01504 said:
The handset was purchased from Expansys in the UK and the software is version D80220b-EUR-XX.
So I would not have expected that this issue would come up, it seems to be a unique blend of Tesco(UK) carrier settings and the handset software.
I won't be flashing any new ROM as a solution for a problem which sits with the carrier. Though I am keen to hear if any other users have found an alternative work around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You already have a EUR software version, so you do not have to flash.
There is a problem with some carriers in the UK not approving the G2 4G software as I have stated above.

Had the same problem.
Changed the SIM for a new one (still labelled 3G 128k) and 4G is fine now (stock JB D802 SIM free).
My previous SIM was almost from the turn of the century (cut to fit microSIM)

I'm having the same problem, no LTE option, here's a solution:
Enter Android test menu by dialing *#*#4636#*#*
Go to Phone Information ... Set preffered network type ... f.e. to LTE/GSM/WCDMA ... if LTE is available, my phone switches to LTE ( showing 4G ) immediately without restarting.

This is what I did
http://mightyintelligence.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/lg-g2-d802-international-using-4glte-on.html

New Working method to fix 4g on D802

[Q] No Data Connectivity SM-G900F in Canada

Hey everyone,
I have a s5 that i bought in Greece while i was there. i have used it in Greece, Istanbul, and Spain with no problems, however when i returned to Canada i cant seem to get it to connect to the data network here. I am on Fido and i have tried all the various APN configurations that i could find on their support site. i have even left the phone with the store for a few hours to try and get it working and they had no luck. i know that its not teh network or the sim card because i have tried the sim card in a few other phones and it works fine.
Now this is the part that is somewhat confusing to me, I can call and sent text messages.... but anything that requires data, no dice.....
Anyone have any ideas?
Samsung support has been no help BTW. as soon as they see that its a European device they essentially say Oh, i dont have to do anything, call Samsung Europe... obviously that would be a really expensive call.

I had a similar problem with my S3 before and the way I fixed it was to find the correct APN settings and create a new APN setting page and fill it out, dont edit one that is already given to you but create another one and fill it with the correct apn settings which you can get from the fido stores. Have you had any problems with calling and receiving calls ? Let me know if this works.

i have done everything that i can think of as far as apn settings goes. i have reset to default apn settings, delete all the apns, and manually entered ones from customer service, deleted those and nothing... it seems like its an apn related problem, because i can see the network. in the about phone and status section i can see that there is an LTE network available, but my phone just doesnt want to connect to it..... ARGHHH

colinjlyon said:
Hey everyone,
I have a s5 that i bought in Greece while i was there. i have used it in Greece, Istanbul, and Spain with no problems, however when i returned to Canada i cant seem to get it to connect to the data network here. I am on Fido and i have tried all the various APN configurations that i could find on their support site. i have even left the phone with the store for a few hours to try and get it working and they had no luck. i know that its not teh network or the sim card because i have tried the sim card in a few other phones and it works fine.
Now this is the part that is somewhat confusing to me, I can call and sent text messages.... but anything that requires data, no dice.....
Anyone have any ideas?
Samsung support has been no help BTW. as soon as they see that its a European device they essentially say Oh, i dont have to do anything, call Samsung Europe... obviously that would be a really expensive call.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does your provider use the 2600 frequency (band 7) where you live?, if not you can`t get 4G mate because the rest of the Canadian bands are not supported bij the G900F.

i get that, but im not getting ANY data. i should at the very least get 3G. the 900F has both of Fido's GSM bands 850, 1900

colinjlyon said:
i get that, but im not getting ANY data. i should at the very least get 3G. the 900F has both of Fido's GSM bands 850, 1900
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try a friends simcard?, maybe yours is faulty somehow. Or maybe a data factory reset/reflash the stock rom may solve the issue.

gee2012 said:
Did you try a friends simcard?, maybe yours is faulty somehow. Or maybe a data factory reset/reflash the stock rom may solve the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, i kinda posted this like a noob would. i should have known better. i have tried the sim card in my old phone that i had before a samsung galaxy s2 skyrocket and it works fine.
I just posted this on the fido forums.
Hey everyone,
I have a samsung galaxy s5 that i bought in Greece and i am not able to get it to connect to the Data network of fido for some reason. i am completly stumped as to why. i paid quite a bit for it so it would really suck to get it home to canada and not be able to use it,..
So, before i get suggestions on things to do that i have already done, BEFORE i bought the SM-G900F (European factory unlocked and not region locked) i made sure that the bands would match up on the phone. its pretty much impossible to buy a phone that wont work in north america anymore. LTE is the only big question, but fido uses B1 and the phone has it.
I have used the phone with no issues in Greece where i purchased it, and also in Istanbul, italy, and Japan. I first thought that it was an APN setting issue, but i have been down every route as far as APN settings go. i have reset the apn settings to default on the sim card, nothing, i have manually entered the apn settings from the "how to configure an unlocked phone page" on this site and nothing, i have deleted all the apns manually then only entered the one APN for internet and mms, nothing.
after that didnt work i took thinks to the next level and did a factory data reset and still nothing.... then i took it one level further and re-installed the phones firmware right from baseline by pluging it into kies on the computer and download mode and all that good stuff..... nothing.
The strange part is that i know that the phone can see the network, because if you go under about phone and status, it will show the available network type, be it LTE or WCDMA, it simply says network status "disconnected"
I can send and recieve calls and SMS messages, but no data what so ever, mms, or internet.
PLEASE HELP!!!

3/4G not working

Since we moved from central Africa back to France my wife's note 4 cannot get connected to mobile data...
All was working well - cell phone/3G (only 3G provided) and wifi but now mobile data is no longer working.
Tried her sim card in another phone and 3/4G is working so the sim is ok...checked the internet and it looks like they are using the same frequency bands so if it worked in Central Africa it should also work here in France.
The phone in question is an ex sprint (P model) which got flashed to European standards - its modem is for the European networks.
Should I try to flash another modem and if so which one? I understand that I cannot just flash any modem?

cfds said:
Since we moved from central Africa back to France my wife's note 4 cannot get connected to mobile data...
All was working well - cell phone/3G (only 3G provided) and wifi but now mobile data is no longer working.
Tried her sim card in another phone and 3/4G is working so the sim is ok...checked the internet and it looks like they are using the same frequency bands so if it worked in Central Africa it should also work here in France.
The phone in question is an ex sprint (P model) which got flashed to European standards - its modem is for the European networks.
Should I try to flash another modem and if so which one? I understand that I cannot just flash any modem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you checked your APN settings is correct for your network provider ?

Trex888 said:
Did you checked your APN settings is correct for your network provider ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Checked them and found them to be absent...filled them out and now mobile data is working.
I have bought more than a few mobile phones the last couple of years and this is the first time I had to manually enter the APN settings...anyway, glad that it is solved. No need to flash another modem!