Database Users

Phone Setttings Network

I am looking for a way to update the "Phone Settings Network" dialog on my new Advantage 7501 to include the features I have on my HP ipAQ 6945. On my iPAQ have options to do a Manual Network Selection where it will find all the available networks in range, not just the AT&T ones. Why is this important to me? Well I live in an area where the nearest Cingular/AT&T tower is over 15 miles away, however I am in what they call a "Partner" coverage area where I can connect to a Cellular One tower that is about 4 miles away. This way I can get 4 bars signal inside my home where if I can try to connect to the AT&T net using typical cell phones, I get 2 bars to none. Since both these devices are made by HTC there must be a way I can move the needed code off my iPAQ to the Advantage. The iPAQ with this manual net selection is the only phone I can use at home. I was hoping the Advantage would include a similar capability.
Can anyone point me the right direction?

daveheine said:
I am looking for a way to update the "Phone Settings Network" dialog on my new Advantage 7501 to include the features I have on my HP ipAQ 6945. On my iPAQ have options to do a Manual Network Selection where it will find all the available networks in range, not just the AT&T ones. Why is this important to me? Well I live in an area where the nearest Cingular/AT&T tower is over 15 miles away, however I am in what they call a "Partner" coverage area where I can connect to a Cellular One tower that is about 4 miles away. This way I can get 4 bars signal inside my home where if I can try to connect to the AT&T net using typical cell phones, I get 2 bars to none. Since both these devices are made by HTC there must be a way I can move the needed code off my iPAQ to the Advantage. The iPAQ with this manual net selection is the only phone I can use at home. I was hoping the Advantage would include a similar capability.
Can anyone point me the right direction?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to Start/setting/personal/phone, and go to the network tab. There you can manually select your preferred service provider.
Is this what you are looking for?

No, the display shows Current Network: AT&T and only a "Find Network" box. There is no option to look for anything else but AT&T. Maybe this is limitation arising from the AT&T SIM card I am using.
My iPAQ screen gives me a Network Selection box with "Automatic" and "Manual" options. If I select "Manual" and "Find Network" I get a list of all available cell towers within range, and then can pick one. Where I am I see "Cingular" and "Cell One DCS". I pick the Cellular One tower as it is a partner site and there are no roaming charges even thought the little roaming symbol ( a pyramid) shows up at the top.
I'll try switching SIM cards and see if that makes a difference. Well changing SIM cards made no difference except that it lists "Cingular" instead of "AT&T"

The Network Selection box with auto and manual options is there on my 7501 too. I didn't think that would be affected by your sim card.
Hey, just a thought -- did you switch to true VGA, and is the box just not showing up because of that?

I tried a Hard Reset and still do not get a network selection option. It may be due one of the CAB files that is run during the device setup that changes the US version. I'll try calling HTC Support.

Called HTC and was told that the AT&T SIM locks out the option to do a Network Selection. He tried a T-Mobile SIM in his Advantage and it came up with the Network Selection option. He "hinited" that I would have to do a CID unlock perhaps to get around AT&T's SIM restrictions, but couldn't tell me to do it would as it void the warranty.
I tried the HTC Network Wizard (Google for it) and it only allows you to set up your phone for a couple of possible providers.
We both agreed that I probably have files on my iPAQ 6945 that if I could identify them and transfer them to my Advantage I might get around this restriction.
He said he would contact AT&T and see if they have any way to get around this. What happens if you travel outside the US and try to use the phone on another network (huge roaming charges!!!) in an emergency?
I don't quite have the courage to try the CID unlocker on my brand new Advantage yet. Has anyone done this?

daveheine said:
Called HTC and was told that the AT&T SIM locks out the option to do a Network Selection. He tried a T-Mobile SIM in his Advantage and it came up with the Network Selection option. warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ATT sims do LOCK that option. All other att phones like 8525, 8125, blackjack, etc are missing that option too.
daveheine said:
He "hinited" that I would have to do a CID unlock perhaps to get around AT&T's SIM restrictions, but couldn't tell me to do it would as it void the warrabty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was under the impression that CiD unlock would fix that too but that's not true.
It's just that Some (Unofficial) Roms ignore that but most of official roms like yours dont.
daveheine said:
I tried the HTC Network Wizard (Google for it) and it only allows you to set up your phone for a couple of possible providers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Network wizard will not affect that option.
daveheine said:
We both agreed that I probably have files on my iPAQ 6945 that if I could identify them and transfer them to my Advantage I might get around this restriction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dont know what u mean.
daveheine said:
He said he would contact AT&T and see if they have any way to get around this. What happens if you travel outside the US and try to use the phone on another network (huge roaming charges!!!) in an emergency?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Att doesn't have this restriction on all the networks. This restriction is based on the country codes. Att has restriction on US, canada, and mexico.
So if you are not in those countries you will have that option available to you.
daveheine said:
I don't quite have the courage to try the CID unlocker on my brand new Advantage yet. Has anyone done this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont because it wont help.
To be quite honest with you I dont know how you could do it on your previous phone because Att blocks that option on the network side. Even if you did change your network succesfuly on the phone, it'd still be rejected by the network.
The only thing that I can think of is that your Ipaq couldn't find a good ATT signal and connected to a patner's tower instead.
And your Advantage either gets a better gsm signal or gets a decent umts signal and connects to cingular 3g.
Try forcing the phone to operate only on the gsm network from under the band tab see if that makes a difference.
and also what is your zip code?
You can enable "Find Network" by changing the following registry key.
HKLM\Security\Phone\ManualDisable=0
That will display the network selection option and you wont void your warranty or anything like that.
It just goes away after a soft reset.
Check this thread here for more info on that.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=284201&highlight=manual+network+selection

Thanks for your response. The registry edit did indeed turn on the Network Selection. Going to Manual selection it finds "Cell One DCS" just like my iPAQ does, but when I select it I get the message "Cannot register on selected network. Choose another network, or disconnect your data connection and try again."
I have been connecting for over a year with my iPAQ to "Cell One DCS" with NO roaming charges. I guess AT&T doesn't want me to use the partner network. My ZIP is 76692 and I am located near the bridge over Lake Whitney.
There is obvious a difference in the software on the iPAQ and Advantage that is causing this to happen. I just checked the latest AT&T coverage maps and see they don't show a Partner coverage anymore.
I have installed an outside yagi antenna and signal repeater at my home so I do get a signal sometimes, but not a reliable signal.
We travel a lot so I still find AT&T coverage to be good in most places, and my iPAQ still works here now.

That's strange.
I got an ipaq 6915 from cingular and with cingular sims it pretty much does the same thing and disables network selection.
Do you have a custom rom on your 6945?
When you boot it up do you get the cingular logo?
Plus at your zip code it seems like you are far away from any cingular towers.
The only thing that I can think of is that your ipaq just doesn't find a good cingular signal, and connects to a different network.
When you do a network search on your ipaq does it actually detect Cingular as an available network? When you connect to cingular from your ipaq how many bars do you get?

I've always thought there nothing special about my 6945, but I guess there is! When I do a Network Selection on it I see both the Cingular tower AND the Cellular One tower signals. I have tried this in other locations and see several different networks (e.g., T-Mobile, and five digit numbers).
I've tried both my old Cingular SIM and a new AT&T SIM, and they both work the same in my iPaq 6945. Interesting!!! But neither will allow me to select the Cellular One tower on my new Advantage.
You are probably right about country codes for on recent cruise with stops in Grand Cayman and Cozumel the Advantage would show networks other than Cingular.
I am sorry I didn't reply earlier, but I was visiting family in Virginia this weekend. It was neat to see an "H" connection appear while sitting in DFW. Only get "E" connections out in the sticks where I live.
Dave

Oh, I should have mentioned that the 6945 is an unlocked phone from HP and is not customized for Cingular. As far as signal strength I have a cell repeater installed in my home so I get anywhere from no bars to 4 bars on that Cingular tower that is at least 15 miles away. My Cellular One is consistently 4 bars. I live in a steel framed home with a metal roof. Before I got the repeater I was using a booster amp and plugging an external antenna into my iPAQ and RAZR V3 to get a usable signal. This kept me tethered in my computer room (ugh!). When I got the 6945 and found I could manually select the Cellular One tower I then had a phone I could use throughout my home.
Several years ago I started with a simple Nokia phone before Cingular had a tower in the area, and always connected "Cingular Extend" which I now know was the near by Cellular One tower. As soon as Cingular put up their tower I have been unable to connect with the Nokia, Razr V3, and new Motorola V577.
Some of my neighbors have terminated their Cingular service because of this lack of connected to the so call "Partner" coverage.

Turning of Roaming completely

Not sure if this is the correct forum but I want to be able to turn of roaming completely. I have a US G1 on the three UK network with the US RC33 installed and root. I have disabled data roaming. Here in the UK we're too small a country to want to roam! Coverage is usually good enough from a single network. However, I occasionally get the little 'R' symbol on the single strength icon and an annoying prompt saying I need to turn data roaming on because I lost connectivity. I have to go into the settings and manually select the "3" network again.
What I want is to either be connected to three UK or not connected to anything at all. Is there a config file I can edit to allow this? Would the UK RC8 firmware do this for me?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Doesn't a 3-UK SIM try to roam onto O2 though?
You could set the phone WCDMA only and NOT roam onto a GSM network.
Use AnyCut to shorcut Activity: Phone Info
From there under preferred Network Type; set to "WCDMA Only"

HELP!! Roaming signal won't go away
I have an unlocked G1, JF1.41 v 1.1 and i just updated to the RC33...but this also happened when i had RC30 , v 1.0...
I put in my canadian Fido sim card and everything works fine but i have that little "R" on top of my signal strength bar...
I think this means its data roaming? if this is the case...it should be okay (even though its going to bother me) because my service provider says my EDGE/Data is disabled (i do not have a data plan, NOR do i wish to incur any data charges.. i'm fine with my free WIFI ) .
However, if this means im roaming on another network, i dont want to be incuring any long distance charges on my phone EVEN when im using my own FIDO network..
I went to settings - about phone - status, and here are my specs (some of them):
Network: Fido
Network Type: EDGE
Service state: In service
Roaming: Roaming
Data Access: Disconnected
i'm pretty much just concerned about the ROAMING part of it... my other friends with G1's are with rogers, don't have that little R..
how do i get rid of that?? please and thanks!

Try manually changing the network in Settings>Wireless controls>Mobile networks>Operator selection
G1, like all GSM phones, will roam onto networks specified on the SIM if it can get a better signal. As long as the relevant operator has a roaming agreement in place, there's nothing to be concerned about, other than the R symbol in the status bar.
Mod: move this over to General discussion please.

I did change it and selected my Fido network (it's the only network available).

Thanks. I've set it to WCDMA only so I'll see how it goes.

Please help??? i still have that little R on top!

After I got home I found my phone had lost its connection. It didn't seem to be searching for the network. I had to go into settings, search for networks and then select three again. Is there any way to control if the phone does a search for networks automatically?

Looks like it reconnects to three on its own after a while. I still get the annoying popup about turning on data roaming though

footboydog said:
Looks like it reconnects to three on its own after a while. I still get the annoying popup about turning on data roaming though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As has been previously mentioned, Three will "roam" onto another network if it goes out of Three's own 3G network coverage because Three does not run its own 2G network.
However, it isn't O2 anymore, it is Orange as of late 2006/2007. I *believe* that you won't be charged any more if you use data whilst "roaming" on Orange, so whilst you are in the UK it is quite safe to allow data roaming, but I would be inclined to check this with Three.
Regards,
Dave

Question about Android/T-Mo/Orange Data Roaming

So I just registered for the T-Mobile UK/Orange network sharing, and I'm all registered
I've enabled data roaming, however under "Network Operators" I have an option for "T-Mobile" and one for "T-Mobile Orange"
Which one should I choose?

Got a feeling i posted in the wrong section but anyway yeah, whats everyone else on TMo doing?
Just leaving it on automatically detect?
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

Leave it on auto.
It'll default to T-Mobile and only use T-Mobile/Orange when you have no signal on T-Mobile itself.
When roaming onto T-Mobile/Orange, you'll only get Edge speeds maximum as opposed to the speeds you can get on T-Mobile's 3G network.
Some time later this year, they're supposed to be merging the 3G networks together as well but until then, it's 2/2.5G only.

Teampokerface
Keep it on auto.

good info, cheers

At first I thought this would be useful, but I find its more annoying than anything. Mine hogs orange, which is pain. Everytime I load up the internet its connected to orange, I do a network scan t-mobile appears and I have a full HSPDA signal and yet it favours oranges Edge or G with unuseable data speeds. every friggin time!!!!!!!

It should only switch to the T-Mobile/Orange network when you don't have coverage on T-Mobile's own network.
It might be an issue with how your handset is set up that it's defaulting to T-Mobile/Orange.
If need be, you can actually opt out of the signal share by texting STOP to 2121.

o right, ok thanks I may consider doing that then as there isnt many places I dip out of signal for long on t-mobile anyway. Having to constantly go through settings to change it back to t-mobile is very annoying.

[Q] CM7: How to turn off (voice) roaming?

I'm running CM7 7.1-RC1 (and earlier nightlies). In Settings, under Wireless & network settings, Mobile networks, Network Operators, I selected the one available where I currently am ("ROAMING"). I got the R above the cellular signal strength bars. Below the quick action icons when I swipe down Notifications is "ROAMING".
Now I want to turn off (voice) roaming but can't figure out how to do that. I don't want to pay roaming costs (any idea if T-Mobile will charge roaming costs? I want to be able to control it regardless.). Also, is there a way to turn off the cellular radio but leave GPS and WiFi on?
I'm not talking about data roaming, but in the Mobile network settings I have everything unchecked (Data enabled, International data roaming, National data roaming, Use only 2G networks).
In Notifications is a bang in a triangle "International data roaming" and "You have lost data connectitivity because..." (I can't read it all, tapping doesn't show anything making the notification a bit useless).
Under APNs I have the choice between Simple and T-Mobile US, the later is chosen.
When WiFi calling is active, the radio strength shows just gray bars (no x, no R). Of course that is only good if I'm at the hotel!
Airplane mode isn't a good option, but thanks for suggesting it.

excarnate said:
...any idea if T-Mobile will charge roaming costs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally got through to T-Mobile (40 minutes wait time? They must be preparing for the purchase by AT&T by lowering their standards). The rep (who was OK) had to put me on hold twice and check on things, but eventually he came back and let me know that if there is no T-Mobile service, then there are no roaming fees (note: inside the US for a US customer). So I just have to make sure that T-Mobile is preferred. I hope this helps someone!
All my other previous questions still stand, but add these: How, in CM7, do I make sure that my provider is preferred for voice? For data?
I find these areas a bit weak, which likely is very stock Android, so would I file a feature request against Google or Cyanogen or both? Or maybe someone has (please provide the # or URL!)?

Your phone will always default to the most powerful signal, whether that's with a stock MT4G or one with a custom ROM. T-mobile has no charge for roaming, data or voice, in the US. You're making making a mountain out of a mole hill.

kalel33 said:
Your phone will always default to the most powerful signal, whether that's with a stock MT4G or one with a custom ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although you carefully didn't answer any of my remaining questions, by implication you are saying that I can not have control over the signal. Which doesn't match my experience where it would not choose roaming until selected the first time.
T-mobile has no charge for roaming, data or voice, in the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is what I said in my second post.
You're making making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Typically that idiom means you are making a mountain out of mole hill knowing the facts, which I didn't til the time of my second post, so really it sounds to me like an unnwarranted slam.

excarnate said:
Although you carefully didn't answer any of my remaining questions, by implication you are saying that I can not have control over the signal. Which doesn't match my experience where it would not choose roaming until selected the first time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I'll answer them. You asked how you can set to not roam on voice or data. Voice, there is no way to keep it from roaming. You can go in and do a manual network selection, but the next time it comes to a roaming tower that has a more powerful signal then it will jump to it. On the data, you can only tell the phone to not roam on other's towers but you cannot set it to where it always chooses a lower signal T-mobile tower over a stronger signal roaming tower. Which means that if you set it to not roam on data then if your phone connects up the stronger signal that happens to be a roaming partner then you won't get any data connection, even if there is a T-mobile tower available. The phone just chooses the strongest symbol.

SGS2 is auto switching network operator

I have the choice of being on either the Orange network or T-mobile network here in the UK due to their signal sharing deal. My native network is Orange.
On the SGS I was able to set which network I wanted and my phone would stay on it and it would not change. Alternatively I could set it on "select automatically" and it would switch between them when the one it was on drops or it thinks the other signal is stronger.
Now I have a SGS2 and it no longer does this, it automatically switches between the networks even if I have selected the one I want manually. The problem is at my home and where I work the Orange signal is too poor to make calls so I want to keep it on t-mobile. Problem is it keep switching back to Orange and then I go to take a call but the signal is so bad I can't hear the other person!
This issue could potentially be a huge problem for me. Is there anyway round this?