Database Users

[Q] Orange/t-mobile network sharing in the UK

Hi All,
Done a quick search on this and can't find anything relevent, but i apologise if a thread already exists.
Really a question for those in the UK on the t-mobile network. Have any of you attempted to sign up for the orange 2g roaming service yet? I signed up, recieved the confirmation text, replied to it, and received the final confirmation. However, I'm not sure it's working. The signal seems no stronger, and i still drop in my house.
Obviously i'm posting this in the android section because i'm running android myself and am wondering whether anyone in the same boat has managed to get roaming to work. Should the fact that we're on a non-official OS running off the sd card make a difference?
Oh and for completeness, i'm running shubcraft 1.5 rmnet.
Cheers fellas!

I'm quite happily flip flopping between Orange while at work and T-Mobile for everything else...
works like a charm for me though you do have to stick the phone into Airplane mode after selecting the different provider for the data to work ...

Jezwick said:
I'm quite happily flip flopping between Orange while at work and T-Mobile for everything else...
works like a charm for me though you do have to stick the phone into Airplane mode after selecting the different provider for the data to work ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for the reply Jezwick. So, just for clarity, you're manually selecting each provider as and when required? Because i can do that, i think. When i select orange though, whilst it registers with the network fine, i get a little "R" above the signal bar (any ideas what that means?) And the speed appears to be limited to Edge. Orange have a very strong signal round here, so i figure i should be getting GPRS really.
It's the auto-switching i'm not totally sure is working really. Is there any explicit indicator that it's flipping on it's own? Or do you just observe a generally better 2g signal, rather than say, a very weak 3g one? Round the house, my phone is still trying to make do with 1 or zero bars of 3g. I would have hoped it would flip over to orange more or less all the time under those circumstances. Nothing to stop me manually selecting it i guess though...

_tangent said:
Many thanks for the reply Jezwick. So, just for clarity, you're manually selecting each provider as and when required? Because i can do that, i think. When i select orange though, whilst it registers with the network fine, i get a little "R" above the signal bar (any ideas what that means?) And the speed appears to be limited to Edge. Orange have a very strong signal round here, so i figure i should be getting GPRS really.
It's the auto-switching i'm not totally sure is working really. Is there any explicit indicator that it's flipping on it's own? Or do you just observe a generally better 2g signal, rather than say, a very weak 3g one? Round the house, my phone is still trying to make do with 1 or zero bars of 3g. I would have hoped it would flip over to orange more or less all the time under those circumstances. Nothing to stop me manually selecting it i guess though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The R is indeed for roaming that's the way it works if your not on your 'own' network.. The 'flipped' service will currently only work at GRPS speeds at the moment but should be 3G by the new year
I have noticed mine flipping automatically but only once or twice in the last few weeks but only when I get NO signal from the current service.

Jezwick said:
The R is indeed for roaming that's the way it works if your not on your 'own' network.. The 'flipped' service will currently only work at GRPS speeds at the moment but should be 3G by the new year
I have noticed mine flipping automatically but only once or twice in the last few weeks but only when I get NO signal from the current service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Understood - thanks for the info Just done some reading and apparently EDGE is faster than basic GPRS. For some reason, i'd always assumed the reverse. Looks like the best option is just to have it always on orange whilst at home and use wifi for data (which i do anyway to compensate for the poor signal). Cheers!

[Q] Poor 3G to 2G handover

Hey there, I enjoy reading this forum but I had little to contribute with as I am an android noob. So unfortunately my first post is a question forced by the fact that something is wrong with my DHD Thank you in advance for your advices!
The problem is - when in areas with low 3G coverage the phone keeps on searching for 3G for too long instant of seamlessly switching to 2G, which often has full signal bars. This way the phone acts as if there was no signal and sends incoming calls to the voicemail even though all it has to do is to switch to 2G as soon as 3G gets too weak.
My previous phones had no problem with this. In my city the 3G quality varies from area to area but the 2G coverage is perfect almost everywhere. So I used to be sure that my phone never really disconnects from the network, it only might have dropped the 3G signal in favor of 2G while keeping the calls and everything.
I know I can disable the 3G and stick to 2G and EDGE but this way using full data capabilities of the phone turns into pain instead of pleasure.
Just to make sure and to show I did my homework, this is NOT:
- the death grip case
- a network related problem /I suppose.../
- a problem with data connection /I have never run into any problems with this/
My questions are:
- is anyone of you experiencing this?
- is there a way to force the phone to hand over the connection from 3G to 2G quicker without "blind spots"?
- does any custom ROM improve this? /I am running the latest stock HTC DHD android 2.2 with Sense/
- is there any hint that android 2.3 gingerbread should fix this issue?
Thank you, hope to find a piece of good advice here!

I`ve found this service menu and I switched the preffered network from WCDMA preferred to GSM AUTO PRL. will see if it helps.

I havent noticed any more problems since I did the switch. I think it helped. I cannot be 100% sure but I think it did the thing for me. I forgot to mention that I also switched networks mode from Auto to European but I think this has nothing to do with the issue.

fortuneman had my answer. To access the service menu on the soft phone keypad enter *#*#4636#*#* and its under Phone Information.

Switching from 2g to 3g works seamlessly. But the other way around doesn't work that well. Nothing to do with the phone. Just the net tech that has its flaws. If your in a call and switch to 2g, the call will most certainly be disconnected.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

After 2 Weeks, I Am Throwing In The Towel

I received the Samsung Focus 2 weeks ago today. After I post this I will be heading over to Amazon Wireless to make return arrangements.
I come from a Windows Mobile (Tilt 2) and I don't think I am yet ready to transition to this type of phone. I depend too much on Pocket Informant and I couldn't find any app to replace that. Actually this is not really the reason I gave up. This is the reason that kept me on the fence.
At my work I have a very poor 3G signal indoors. The signal fluctuates between 2 bars to no signal indication and sometimes switching to Edge. With the Tilt 2 I turn off 3G and that keeps the phone happy. Several times I found the Focus showing no signal (small crossed out circle at the top left). Even after I went to an area with good 3G signal the Focus did not change from its no signal status. I had to actually turn it off and back on (soft reset, I guess) to get a strong 3G signal.
Searching on Google for means to turn 3G off in the Focus showed that only a few months ago there was such an option Settings | Cellular. Apparently now it is removed.
With 3G trying desperately to hang in there instead of just giving up and letting Edge take over, this phone is useless to me 8 to 12 hours a day. The Tilt 2 had a similar issue before I tweaked it to give me the band switch. However the Tilt 2 did not get stuck in the no signal state. I wish AT&T did not remove this from settings.
So long, Focus.

Um... there's totally still an option called Cellular in Settings. Whatever, though. If you don't enjoy the phone, there's no reason for you to keep it. However, there's equally no reason for you to share this information with us, since a large part of your issue is born of ignorance of the OS (not finding a setting that is clearly there) and your lack of enjoyment of the phone should have no effect on anyone who owns one.

FishFaceMcGee said:
Um... there's totally still an option called Cellular in Settings. Whatever, though. If you don't enjoy the phone, there's no reason for you to keep it. However, there's equally no reason for you to share this information with us, since a large part of your issue is born of ignorance of the OS (not finding a setting that is clearly there) and your lack of enjoyment of the phone should have no effect on anyone who owns one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the Cellular option is still there, in Settings. However, unlike screen shots or pictures I saw during my search (see this sample), I do not have the option to turn off 3G.
If your phone has it, good for you. Mine does not. Hardly a reason to call me ignorant for this though.

That's strange. My Focus appears to have better reception than my Tilt 2.
Actually, the 3G only setting is under the diagnostic menu I believe. The should have a thread in this forum on it.
Update
I checked and its under the test menu
*#32489#
Back
Back
[7] Network control
[2] Band Setting
This may help you.

Tempest790 said:
That's strange. My Focus appears to have better reception than my Tilt 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, side by side, the 2 phones had a similar reception. The Tilt 2 got an extra bar or 2 when I forced it to Edge. However, the Tilt 2 did not get stuck with the no signal indication.
Actually, the 3G only setting is under the diagnostic menu I believe. The should have a thread in this forum on it.
Update
I checked and its under the test menu
*#32489#
Back
Back
[7] Network control
[2] Band Setting
This may help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While at this moment I do not have the phone with me, I just looked in the PDF I downloaded from that other thread (the PDF shows [2] Band Selection) and I remember that I was in that area and when I tried to make a change I got a message saying something about the selection or option being restricted. Sorry, but I do not remember the exact words. I guess I could try again later tonight after I get home. Thank you.

Tempest790 said:
Update
I checked and its under the test menu
*#32489#
Back
Back
[7] Network control
[2] Band Setting
This may help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I select "[2] Band Selection" the exact message is:
"RAT Selection option is restricted".

Yeah, that's what I got. I also got my phone from freaking Amazon.com and didn't work right. Had do alittle talking around but they me exchange it at the Att Wireless Store. Have you actually tried any other Samsung Focus Phones to see if its just the phone itself?

I got mine from att store, I'm using the org diagnostic app version, I get same error message.

Seed 2.0 said:
I got mine from att store, I'm using the org diagnostic app version, I get same error message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would switch phones then. The phone has to be unlocked to switch bands, even turning off 3G. That's stupid, I know. I have a Dell Venue Pro sitting here that can switch bands but that phone is VERY buggy.

Fuzzy John said:
Yes, the Cellular option is still there, in Settings. However, unlike screen shots or pictures I saw during my search (see this sample), I do not have the option to turn off 3G.
If your phone has it, good for you. Mine does not. Hardly a reason to call me ignorant for this though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW: 3G = "Data Connection" on the Focus' settings menu. As far as I know, 3G has nothing to do with voice calls. I suspect that the name of that switch was changed with an eye toward future data options on cell phones. I hope that helps. (Even the person who posted that picture notes that they modified the label to be "Cellular Data". You can see that in the comments area of the image/post that you listed. )

GrayWolf is correct
These are GSM phone and voice only works on 2G.. data on 3G and Edge if necessary. that is why you can talk and use the internet at the same time. You turning 3G off does nothing for your call reception what so ever. When you turn off the Celluar data you turn off both 3G and edge. Also I believe the bars are only for the voice service.

ITDRAGON said:
GrayWolf is correct
These are GSM phone and voice only works on 2G.. data on 3G and Edge if necessary. that is why you can talk and use the internet at the same time. You turning 3G off does nothing for your call reception what so ever. When you turn off the Celluar data you turn off both 3G and edge. Also I believe the bars are only for the voice service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This might very well be correct, however on my Tilt 2 I have to turn off 3g in order to get full voice bars back in the location where my room is in my house. It doesn't seem to make any sense; why would the phone's 3g connection interfere w/ the 2g voice? Yet it seems like this is the case.

ITDRAGON said:
GrayWolf is correct
These are GSM phone and voice only works on 2G.. data on 3G and Edge if necessary. that is why you can talk and use the internet at the same time. You turning 3G off does nothing for your call reception what so ever. When you turn off the Celluar data you turn off both 3G and edge. Also I believe the bars are only for the voice service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry. I may have used the wrong terms. After all I admit I am not really familiar with all the terminology. I am more like a user. Anyway, on my Tilt 2 phone I have a switch which turn off 3G. This puts the phone in Edge mode. Gives me a lot better reception in areas where the 3G signal is flaky. True, I cannot talk and do data at the same time. Also true that my data rate is slower. But I can receive and make calls while I am in that area.

ITDRAGON said:
GrayWolf is correct
These are GSM phone and voice only works on 2G.. data on 3G and Edge if necessary. that is why you can talk and use the internet at the same time. You turning 3G off does nothing for your call reception what so ever. When you turn off the Celluar data you turn off both 3G and edge. Also I believe the bars are only for the voice service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Both voice and data work on 3G if it is available. You can tell this by the fact that once your phone is on 3G, you will not encounter the annoying speaker buzz from GSM phones.
The switch in the settings are for cell data connection. If you turn it off, it turns off the data connection, 2G or 3G. There is no separate setting to turn off 3G data only (a commonly requested feature but non-existent on all AT&T phones). You will always have to access the secret menu to select your band (WCDMA or GSM).
The bars are for signal strength, not just for vocie service.

EDIT: rjohnstone
foxbat121 said:
Nope. Both voice and data work on 3G if it is available. You can tell this by the fact that once your phone is on 3G, you will not encounter the annoying speaker buzz from GSM phones.
The switch in the settings are for cell data connection. If you turn it off, it turns off the data connection, 2G or 3G. There is no separate setting to turn off 3G data only (a commonly requested feature but non-existent on all AT&T phones). You will always have to access the secret menu to select your band (WCDMA or GSM).
The bars are for signal strength, not just for vocie service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
<snipped my "you're wrong" message, but leaving my other data here.>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G contains the following quote:
"The UMTS system, first offered in 2001, standardized by 3GPP, used primarily in Europe, Japan, China (however with a different radio interface) and other regions predominated by GSM 2G system infrastructure. The cell phones are typically UMTS and GSM hybrids. Several radio interfaces are offered, sharing the same infrastructure"
<snipped my "you're wrong" message, but leaving my other data here.>
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=2877
"Modes GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
WCDMA 850 / 1900 / 2100"
Those are the GSM and 3G bands that the Samsung Focus uses. <snipped my "you're wrong" message, but leaving my other data here.>
I'm always willing to accept that I can be wrong (EDIT: and it seems that I was). I'm only human after all. If I'm the one who's somehow misunderstanding, then I would be open to having some information shared so that I can learn more about it. Would you have any links to back your claim up?

GrayWolf said:
I'm sorry to say that you've misunderstood how AT&T's network is set up. 3G + GSM = Data + Voice. Not 3G = Voice & Data.
contains the following quote:
"The UMTS system, first offered in 2001, standardized by 3GPP, used primarily in Europe, Japan, China (however with a different radio interface) and other regions predominated by GSM 2G system infrastructure. The cell phones are typically UMTS and GSM hybrids. Several radio interfaces are offered, sharing the same infrastructure"
To further back the position that our phones do not use 3G to carry voice data:
"Modes GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
WCDMA 850 / 1900 / 2100"
Those are the GSM and 3G bands that the Samsung Focus uses. GSM for voice traffic, WCDMA (3G) for data.
I'm always willing to accept that I can be wrong. I'm only human after all. If I'm the one who's somehow misunderstanding, then I would be open to having some information shared so that I can learn more about it. Would you have any links to back your claim up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T sends both voice and data traffic over the 3G connection when in a 3G area.
The GSM radio only comes into play when the data connection falls back to EDGE (i.e., 3G signal is too weak or not present).
This is why your call drops when you switch from a 3G area to a GSM/EDGE area.
It's a hard hand off to the next tower.

rjohnstone said:
AT&T sends both voice and data traffic over the 3G connection when in a 3G area.
The GSM radio only comes into play when the data connection falls back to EDGE (i.e., 3G signal is too weak or not present).
This is why your call drops when you switch from a 3G area to a GSM/EDGE area.
It's a hard hand off to the next tower.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - would you happen to have any links that explains this in any detail?
I looked around after you mentioned it and found that I should have ran a few more keyword searches before posting. So far, the best explanation that I've found seems to be here:
"3G or Non 3G-that is the question"
http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/G...at-is-the-question/m-p/1544262/highlight/true
The specific/relevant portion that I'm referring to is:
Yea 3G is amazing. It's the replacement for GSM. It's a completely seperate network. When in 3G at present signal in some area's might seem a bit more week than GSM because in some area's it runs on the 1900mhz frequency which has less penetration. But AT&T has plans of phasing out GSM in the future for 3G on the GSM frequency.
But 3G on the W-CDMA side handles call's and data, GSM also does handle voice and data. But the two networks are seperate. For example. If your phone is in 3G then the 3G network is handling the call and not transmitting anything to do with GSM at all. But if you travel to a non 3G area while in the call then your phone will hand off to the GSM network to continue the voice call and the call quality will get that crackly raspy phenomenom. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that's another person's statement on a forum and, like rjohnstone's post, makes logical sense. I'd love to read a bit more about this, if there are any useful links out there?

GrayWolf said:
Thanks - would you happen to have any links that explains this in any detail?
I looked around after you mentioned it and found that I should have ran a few more keyword searches before posting. So far, the best explanation that I've found seems to be here:
"3G or Non 3G-that is the question"
The specific/relevant portion that I'm referring to is:
Now that's another person's statement on a forum and, like rjohnstone's post, makes logical sense. I'd love to read a bit more about this, if there are any useful links out there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Graywolf,
My friend is a tower manager for T-Mobile.
He helped setup the initial GSM/EDGE network for Cingular back when they leased tower time from T-Mobile while they were making the transition from TDMA devices from the old AT&T network.
He explained how the call handlers worked and how the air interface works when handing off from UMTS/HSPA over to the GSM/EDGE network.
All of AT&T's handsets are programmed to use either GSM/EDGE or UMTS/HSPA, not both at the same time.
The point is, a handset can't have a GSM voice call and an HSPA data session occurring at the same time. The radios are not configured to allow it.
Many towers run both GSM/EDGE radios and UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ radios.
Mainly to support legacy devices.
You will also notice that the old network is still there when you turn of the 3G radio in an iPhone or any other handset that permits it.
Yes, AT&T is working to decommission the older GSM/EDGE towers all together to recover the 850Mhz frequencies for use with HSPA+. This will give them better building penetration in large metropolitan areas.
Right now, AT&T does use the 1900MHz band for HSPA, and as the residence of NY will tell you, it sucks at going through walls.
You will have to do some digging for old AT&T press releases, but the info is out there.

Gotta give credit where it's due. I appreciate the technical detail combined with layman phrasing. I'll do more digging later but you've given me a nice high-level view of things. I did have a suspicion that my understanding was flawed somehow. Thanks for taking the time to share, rjohnstone!

Yep your right I typed it wrong.. voice and data both work on 2G and 3G, but I know I'm in a 3G area only and when I turn data off 3G goes out. Now that doesn't mean I'm only making or recieving calls on the 2G band. It just mean 3G data is off. So if you want to turn off 3G all together, I don't see it on these phones yet. When I turn the celluar data back on, the 3G symbol comes back on, because it would be pretty dumb for the 3G to be controlled by turning data on and off.

[Q] Bugs (build 3.0.A.2.184)

Since I did not found any official bug topic for this handset, I will
start one.
Here are some finding with build 3.0.A.2.184
1. Roaming detection fails
Handset indicates that it's roaming when connected to home
network (FI Saunalahti)
2. PIN code input UI layout not corrent on landscape mode
Start handset with gamepad open and wait until PIN code input to launch.
Anybody else having these issues?

.181
I'm on .181 and i don't have any of those problems.
My correction key is at the input line and havn't been asked about roaming since i got the phone.

It could be that with roaming it just means using data. You have an option somewhere for no roaming, national roaming or international roaming.

svenk919 said:
It could be that with roaming it just means using data. You have an option somewhere for no roaming, national roaming or international roaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's on
But, what he describes, it's "roaming" even when he it's connected to carrier network. Mine doesn't do that.
I have full signal, so maybe it's because of poor signal?

Im on build 3.0.A.2.181 and don't have any problems with the phone.
The only gripe i have is with my network provider.
I come from England and used to be with Orange on my old phone, i always had full signal where i work and a data connection.
On my Xperia Play i went with Vodafone and quite frequently lose signal, and rarely get a data connection at work.
Outside of work it is fine, but at work it is meh.
As far as the build software goes though, i havn't had any bad issues i've noticed at all. Not one.

the signal is definately worse on my xperia play than on my x10, i kind of have the death grip like the iphone 4 had.

Got to agree with the signal woes here.
I swear my old Hero would've found a signal in the middle of the frackin' amazon.
My play drops signal when I sneeze.

Maybe my poor signal is with my handset and not my network provider then. Hmmmmmmmzzzz.............

Wow, this is ridiculous and why is this happening?

Please help:
I'm on CM9 19 6 nightly. Using Semaphore kernel without any modifications to the scripts.
The problem: My signal keeps on going out at regular intervals.
I've used XXJVU, DDJV5, XXJVT, KF1(Nexus modem for ICS) and various more. I stay on the modems for a week and then change to another one. The latest one is DDJV5 which I have been using since the past 2 weeks.
Tried all of the modems I could lay my hands on. Nothing works.
But the moment I come to work, the signal keeps fluctuating over the day. Sometimes it would be out for 10-15 minutes. When it's back, it would get back to giving -65 .. -71 dBm. It would stay like that for a few minutes and then it would be gone again for another 10-15 minutes or so.
It has turned into an OCD where I keep checking my signal.
This does not happen when I'm back home and then I'm back to getting good signal.
Yes, this looks to you like a locational issue. I thought so too. BUT, how did I get so good signal till a week back at work?
Question: What could have made this mess to my signal reception? How can I solve this?
No, all my syncs are OFF. I keep my 3G turned off and only use it once an hour or so for a few minutes. I don't use any signal consuming apps.
Also, sometimes the 3G would work even without the signal.
Another thing, sometimes there's a (x) sign at the signal bar thing and sometimes there is no (x) without bars.
As a cure for the OCD, I've taken an off from work today just to get some rest from checking my signal every now and then. And maybe find a solution.
I'm on Vodafone India.
Indians, I am on Vodafone India in Pune, Hinjewadi Information Technology park. Maybe Pune guys can help me out too?

maybe the phone changes the network mode.. 2g 3g or i dont know , try to put in in 2g only mode , or gsm only mode.

When the signal bar shows with a "x" it means the network is not available...go to settings and change the Network mode to "GSM Only". It will solve the fluctuating issue but network speed will be limited to 2G only.
Sent from my GT-i9100 equipped with Grenade Launcher and Remote Explosives

Thanks, let me try it out.
Where is the network changing option to GSM only in ICS?
Okay, I guess it's the 2G mode.
DD-Ripper said:
When the signal bar shows with a "x" it means the network is not available...go to settings and change the Network mode to "GSM Only". It will solve the fluctuating issue but network speed will be limited to 2G only.
Sent from my GT-i9100 equipped with Grenade Launcher and Remote Explosives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is going to 2G mode my ONLY option?
How can I fix this and get back to using 3G?

Update:
Changing to 2G mode fixed the problem. BUT...
I have a few questions now:
I want to use 3G but at the same time I don't want the signal to fluctuate between 2G and 3G—want to get constant 3G connectivity without signal fluctuations. Is there any way I can fix that?
I remember reading somewhere that going to recovery and changing permission helps this.
Anyone knows how to change the permissions so the signal fluctuations stop?
I have done a lot of reading on XDA but I haven't noticed an issue like this.
CM9 guys, anything please...

TVwithParents said:
Update:
Changing to 2G mode fixed the problem. BUT...
I have a few questions now:
I want to use 3G but at the same time I don't want the signal to fluctuate between 2G and 3G—want to get constant 3G connectivity without signal fluctuations. Is there any way I can fix that?
I remember reading somewhere that going to recovery and changing permission helps this.
Anyone knows how to change the permissions so the signal fluctuations stop?
I have done a lot of reading on XDA but I haven't noticed an issue like this.
CM9 guys, anything please...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue mate...using 2G is the only option to get signal without any problem.
The problem doesnot lies on your phone but the problem is with the operator. The area where you live hardly 3G signal reaches there (same problem with me).
You got two options to fix this issue:
1. Change your Network Operator
Or
2. Settle to another location where 3G signal is fully available
Sent from my GT-i9100 equipped with Grenade Launcher and Remote Explosives

Both the options look impossible for me at the moment.
I will start living with the hope that the operator brings us some decent 3G signal here.
Thanks a lot anyways. It was helpful. Hope others facing the issue can learn from this thread. :good:

TVwithParents said:
Both the options look impossible for me at the moment.
I will start living with the hope that the operator brings us some decent 3G signal here.
Thanks a lot anyways. It was helpful. Hope others facing the issue can learn from this thread. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Complain to your provider, very loud!

:gooditto the same problem occured to me on Vodafone (Chennai) tried all modems listed above nothing worked ...Used to lose signals all the time with 2g data on especially at my workplace intermittently for 3-4 months ever since I upgraded to ICS..Sometimes used to lose signal even if data was off..multiple reboots/restarts gave no solution ..issue persisted across all the 15+ roms i might have flashed over the past 6 months..
Finally fed up I ported the number to AIrtel..everything works like a charm on JV9 I must say now..can vouch it's a network issue at the location

I am getting constant 5 bars on the 2G network. 3G gives me 2 bars at max.
Asked Vodafone about the future of 3G in my location and they said "We are spreading, sir. We will keep you informed".

I've had this problem too when the phone was constantly switching between 2G and 3G/3.5G. Try adding "Toggle 2G/3G" to notification drawer, set the "Network modes" for it to 2G/3G Only or 2G/3G Only/3G+2G. Switching between modes can take 10-20 seconds, but you should be able to test if you can get good enough 3G only connectivity (in case it is just a network switching problem like for me).

If you want 3G only, Dial *#*#4636#*#* - Phone information - WCDMA only.