[Q] Roaming Automatically - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So where I live T-Mobile's coverage isn't the best, especially when moving between cities there are some places that are just dead zones when it comes to T-Mobile.
I know there's other networks I can roam to but there seems to be no options on my Nexus 4 to do this automatically. So anytime I want to roam I'm stuck going into settings and trying to connect to the other network several times before it ever decides to connect.
So my question is, is there a way to setup seamless roaming on the nexus 4 so I don't see deadspots when traveling in or between towns?
Switching to ATT as my service provider isn't really an option because of their pricing and save these few instances of no service I'd much rather keep T-Mobile because I actually get service in my house, where I don't with ATT.
Nexus 4 - Paranoid Android 3.99 - Android 4.3

There's no easy way to that because your phone is always searching for your home network... And if there is no signal and they have a roaming agreement with another provider, that's when your phone switches to the other network. For example: when I go skiing in Vermont my phone roams on At&t when skiing in New Hampshire- phone roams on network called Unicel. Although At&t network is available at the same spot phone would not register and only roam on Unicel
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

You don't roam just because you lose T-Mobile signal - the T-Mobile/AT&T agreement only covers specific areas where T-Mobile had no presence. If you're not in one if those areas, you don't roam.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

It's not the phone, it's your carrier. Where I live, they contract out to AT&T and US cellular for roaming. It will always stay with T-Mobile, unless the T-Mobile towers are out of range, then it will automatically find the strongest roaming tower. If there are no towers that T-Mobile has contracted out for roaming, then you lose all signal.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

The areas I'm getting deadspots in are shown on the coverage map as service partner areas. The only other GSM network out here is ATT and I have been able to roam onto them in the past out here.
However instead of seamlessly switching over to the service partner when it hits one of these service partner areas my device acts as if it's in a deadzone instead just going to no signal.
So if it's not my phone then T-Mobile's coverage map may be completely useless, since it says the areas I've noticed my phone drop signal completely are suppose to be covered at the very least by a service partner.

Related

VZW's 4G is not reliable for real-time application

I do get good 4G coverage from VZW most of the places I go. But the fact that the coverage is not 100% makes it useless for real-time application. This morning I was on a conference call using Skype dialing a regular phone number. In 30 minutes the call dropped twice, both due to I drove through a spot with no 4G coverage. As the phone switched from 4G to 3G the Skype connection was cut momentarily and the call dropped. On my OG Droid X on 3G this rarely happens.
I wish the phone handles switching from 4G to 3G more gracefully. Now I'll have to remember to turn off 4G when I start a Skype call. Quite annoying.
Any idea how to fix/workaround this?
This and failed text messages are the reason I left Verizon. ATT's 4G LTE is much boarder in cities and when you leave LTE areas then you fall back to HSPA+.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
to each his own...
I have phones on AT&T and Verizon Wireless networks (one for work and one for play). I've consistently had better phone experience in the DFW areas as well as places I've traveled to on both coasts.
Consumer Reports article about AT&T being lowest in customer satisfaction.
Well sprints is great.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
saccityp said:
Well sprints is great.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except for almost the whole US except for a couple states has 3G.
I have a Blackberry on AT&T for work and the S3 and a Razr Maxx on Verizon.
In Dallas, there is no comparison that Verizon is better- never a dropped call, and data reliability is outstanding compared to AT&T.
I've had AT&T since before they existed as AT&T and their analog, GSM, Edge, 3G have never held up well in either voice or data in my 10-11 year's of experience with them in the DFW market.
luckily I live in an area were I always have 4g
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
saccityp said:
Well sprints is great.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint's WiMax also unfortunately had this issue. The reason was because when your phone switches from 4G to 3G, your IP address changes thus ending any active connections. This was especially bad for WiMax since it was on 2.4Ghz making it have very spotty coverage.
I'm not sure if it's possible to retain the IP from a switch or if Sprint does this with their LTE network.
In my area, VZW is only LTE and has better signal than any others... guess I don't have any choice...
I love Verizon's Service. LTE is on point here in Orange County CA and I get consistently better service than anyone without it. My only concern is with the phone itself. It keeps freezing on the data side once to twice a day. I just have to turn off and then turn on mobile data to get it to work.
Thanks for all the info about coverage of different carriers. The point of my post/question though, is that when there's not a 100% 4G coverage, the data connection is disrupted when you switch from 4G to 3G, causing trouble in any application that requires a stable data connection.
Seems even if the 4G coverage is not 100%, there should be a better way of handling switching to 3G such that it doesn't drop data completely.
simollie said:
Thanks for all the info about coverage of different carriers. The point of my post/question though, is that when there's not a 100% 4G coverage, the data connection is disrupted when you switch from 4G to 3G, causing trouble in any application that requires a stable data connection.
Seems even if the 4G coverage is not 100%, there should be a better way of handling switching to 3G such that it doesn't drop data completely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's nothing you can do about it but the carriers can fix it.
The solution would be to keep the same IP address when switching from 3G to 4G. The reason video calls in skype, browser downloads, and other things stop is because the IP address changes when switching. If the same IP address was kept from the switch, that wouldn't happen.
One thing that carriers could do when connecting to 4G is: Have your phone connect to both 3G and 4G at the same time and then request the same IP for 4G that you had on 3G. Then it can switch to 4G and switch off the 3G connection thus retaining the same IP and leading to no interruptions. All of this would happen in probably less than a second. The same thing can be done for switching from 4G to 3G.
I don't see why carriers can't/don't do this. Either they haven't thought to implement it, or there is some other reason that would make this impractical.

Nexus 4 no service, GS2 1 bar.....

So I am kinda sad that where GS2 gets 1 bar of T-Mobile service, I get No Service at all on N4. I also noticed that at work my GNex used to work a bit better then N4. I read that T-Mobile implemented 1900 in the area but so far I haven't seen a single benefit, and GS2 can't even access 1900, N4 can.
This past month building penetration is driving me nuts. Outside get 4-5 bars, once I step inside its either 1 bar or No Service.
kolyan said:
So I am kinda sad that where GS2 gets 1 bar of T-Mobile service, I get No Service at all on N4. I also noticed that at work my GNex used to work a bit better then N4. I read that T-Mobile implemented 1900 in the area but so far I haven't seen a single benefit, and GS2 can't even access 1900, N4 can.
This past month building penetration is driving me nuts. Outside get 4-5 bars, once I step inside its either 1 bar or No Service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had similar problem. Owned S2 before and was not getting signal on N4 where S2 used to get.
However the newer .48 baseband that comes with 4.2.2 vastly improved the situation. Now am getting signal where S2 never got and at the
same time there are still some places I don't get signal on N4 where S2 used to get.
^ I am on 48 now and haven't notice any improvement at my work location. I remember I was able to talk on Gnex while seating at desk and now with N4 I have to go next to window.
At the same time, my wife is using Gnex and she still doesn't get any service at work even after the so called 20% better indoor coverage. And I checked, her town falls under the improved towers that support 1900 3G. Same situation today in mall....No Service on N4 in city that was supposedly improved. I wasn't getting service in mall 5 years ago and I don't get any now....
"T-Mobile’s network modernization project will improve approximately all 37,000+ towers the company is operating over the course of 18 months. These changes offer improved voice and data coverage, as well as a 20% improvement to indoor coverage."
Try this; dial *#*#4636#*#* Choose GSM only. It will go to Edge data and you should get more bars/signal.
clockcycle said:
Try this; dial *#*#4636#*#* Choose GSM only. It will go to Edge data and you should get more bars/signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case wouldn't it be easier just switch to 2G in settings or better yet have a 2G/3G switch in CM notification panel?
I am pretty sure it doesnt work though, I remember trying that some time ago.
Doing my suggestion, I gain between 5-12db+/-
Wcdma set to 2G or gsm auto prl settings do not yield the same result.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
clockcycle said:
Doing my suggestion, I gain between 5-12db+/-
Wcdma set to 2G or gsm auto prl settings do not yield the same result.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check again today at work place.
kolyan said:
I'll check again today at work place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried. Doesnt seem to be any different switching to GSM Only or simply switching to 2G. And 2G jumps from 4 bars to 2 to No Service again. Its probably a bit better because in 2G mode phone avoids jumping to 3G network. In 2G I can actually make a phone call now, but internet is so slow that its hardly working.
and yet again i am facing this issue and its even more frustrating
I moved to a different job location and just like before there is no service at my desk and on top of this now I get 0-bars service outside.....completely NO service once you close the office door (just a regular 1 story none-commercial house made from wood)
So now both me and my wife cannot use our phones at least 8 hours per day (she works at different location but also gets NO service) And again whats funny is that Sprint, ATT, and Verizon work fine in both locations.
lol for both address t mobile map shows that i have decent indoor coverage even in concrete buildings
tmobile has their own towers as well as free roaming on other company's towers (ATT etc...). Not sure if you knew that already or not, but it sounds like your phone isn't roaming on those towers that it should be. Do you have the allow roaming features checked? Last I was with them roaming was completely free but I would double check.
username8611 said:
tmobile has their own towers as well as free roaming on other company's towers (ATT etc...). Not sure if you knew that already or not, but it sounds like your phone isn't roaming on those towers that it should be. Do you have the allow roaming features checked? Last I was with them roaming was completely free but I would double check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
roaming is checked. ATT service is there. but Tmobile phones (not just mine) do not roam there. i suppose roaming is where tmobiles does not have any coverage at all, but if coverage is spotty then there is no roaming.
I only have 2 options now. Jump on ATT or get phone that supports WIFI calling (Galaxy S4 or HTC One). I tried GrooveIp for my Nexus 4 but it just doesnt work as good as Wifi-calling
Tmo gave me 2 choices, stay with them and pay $200 migration fee (get different service and phone) or cancel service and pay $200 fee. What a great business strategy.... $200 to migrate, retail price for phone, plus monthly service charge......or $200 to cancel. I wonder if T-Mobile or rep was just stupid.
kolyan said:
... I wonder if T-Mobile or rep was just stupid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
neither... they hope you are though
edit-i would call back and speak to customer loyalty. they shouldn't penalize you for service they can't provide
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

[Q] Bad T-Mobile Signal, Anything I can do?

So, I have a Nexus 4, and T-Mobile ($30/month prepaid). I live in the south-western part of PA. I'm in my house currently, and have full bars, no problems there.
I was at work earlier (inside), and had no signal at all. Outside I have like 1-2 bars, sometimes. I'm in the same town too, and the area seems to be in a more elevated area as well.
When I tried searching for mobile networks, I did notice AT&T showed in the list, but not T-Mobile. Perhaps this means AT&T has better coverage in my area than T-Mobile? Is there anything I can do to improve signal on my-end, like flashing different basebands? I was on the latest (.48 I think) earlier when I experienced this, but I flashed down to .33 now. Still full bars in my house, but I'll have to wait till tomorrow to verify if it actually changes anything.
I like T-Mobile, so I would prefer to keep using their service, but I do need some kind of cellular at work :/ I don't think AT&T offers anything like T-Mobile's $30/month prepaid plan either, for that cheap anyway.
Edit: T-Mobile's Coverage map shows green for my entire town and neighboring towns, for 2G/Voice.
espionage724 said:
So, I have a Nexus 4, and T-Mobile ($30/month prepaid). I live in the south-western part of PA. I'm in my house currently, and have full bars, no problems there.
I was at work earlier (inside), and had no signal at all. Outside I have like 1-2 bars, sometimes. I'm in the same town too, and the area seems to be in a more elevated area as well.
When I tried searching for mobile networks, I did notice AT&T showed in the list, but not T-Mobile. Perhaps this means AT&T has better coverage in my area than T-Mobile? Is there anything I can do to improve signal on my-end, like flashing different basebands? I was on the latest (.48 I think) earlier when I experienced this, but I flashed down to .33 now. Still full bars in my house, but I'll have to wait till tomorrow to verify if it actually changes anything.
I like T-Mobile, so I would prefer to keep using their service, but I do need some kind of cellular at work :/ I don't think AT&T offers anything like T-Mobile's $30/month prepaid plan either, for that cheap anyway.
Edit: T-Mobile's Coverage map shows green for my entire town and neighboring towns, for 2G/Voice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try these APN settings http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2236735
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
If that don't work then call T-Mobile and ***** them out for poor signal coverage
Modem flash to .33 nor the APN settings helped; still a pretty bad/no signal :/
Under About Device, I think my signal is like -80 or something; I've seen it go higher and lower, and I still had a connection though. Any ideas?
Did you contact T-Mobile yet? Maybe they can get you a signal booster.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Another option if you're running a touchwiz rom is to use wifi calling.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Been wondering same thing lol
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium

[Q] ST (AT&T) Roaming Problem - Can I block cell towers?

Ok, I just got a Nexus 4 and ported into Straight Talk - AT&T. I previously was on PagePlus (Verizon MVNO) and got sick of having substandard phones to choose from, but I loved Verizon's reliability.
Anyway, I live in a small town in Iowa. We have AT&T coverage; when I'm outside and turn on the phone I pick up the AT&T tower and get HSPA speeds. Using Network Signal Pro and Cellreception.com I figured out where the AT&T tower is, which is a couple of miles away.
The problem is when I get inside our house. In most parts of the house the AT&T signal apparently gets weaker than the signal from a US Cellular tower which is a half mile away. My phone switches to that tower which is roaming; no data at all (and it's a GPRS connection too). Is there a way I can force my phone to NOT use that US Cell tower and stick with the AT&T tower?
It's not a huge issue when I'm at home since I usually use Wifi, but when I leave the house my phone doesn't switch back to the AT&T tower until I cycle Airplane mode (or reboot the phone entirely).
locovaca said:
Ok, I just got a Nexus 4 and ported into Straight Talk - AT&T. I previously was on PagePlus (Verizon MVNO) and got sick of having substandard phones to choose from, but I loved Verizon's reliability.
Anyway, I live in a small town in Iowa. We have AT&T coverage; when I'm outside and turn on the phone I pick up the AT&T tower and get HSPA speeds. Using Network Signal Pro and Cellreception.com I figured out where the AT&T tower is, which is a couple of miles away.
The problem is when I get inside our house. In most parts of the house the AT&T signal apparently gets weaker than the signal from a US Cellular tower which is a half mile away. My phone switches to that tower which is roaming; no data at all (and it's a GPRS connection too). Is there a way I can force my phone to NOT use that US Cell tower and stick with the AT&T tower?
It's not a huge issue when I'm at home since I usually use Wifi, but when I leave the house my phone doesn't switch back to the AT&T tower until I cycle Airplane mode (or reboot the phone entirely).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I can think of is choose AT&T in available networks, once you have done that, select automatically choose preferred network.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
Berrydroidcafe said:
The only thing I can think of is choose AT&T in available networks, once you have done that, select automatically choose preferred network.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately the tower broadcasts itself as AT&T, so that has done no good. I've been through that menu more times than I can count. The only way I know it's actually a US Cell tower is from cellreception.com.
Side note: Occasionally I will get two "AT&T" options in the list. I don't know why and I don't know what the difference between the two is.
locovaca said:
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately the tower broadcasts itself as AT&T, so that has done no good. I've been through that menu more times than I can count. The only way I know it's actually a US Cell tower is from cellreception.com.
Side note: Occasionally I will get two "AT&T" options in the list. I don't know why and I don't know what the difference between the two is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might be stuck. especially if the other tower is broadcasting as AT&T.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)

those of you on tmobile

Want to switch to T-Mobile from VZW at end of my Verizon billing cycle around Nov4 (anywhere before that maybe like 2-3 days)
How is signal treating you guys without band12?
I will be joining my friends plan he has 2 lines for 100 unlimited everything so my line will be +40
I understand on 5.1.1 there is no wifi calling on Moto X but that might change in 6.0 and maybe with 6.0 they will add band12?
One place I travel to frequently has very bad tmo signal inside the building nothing has changed since year ago when I tested tmobile otherwise everywhere I go signal is always great (while I tested)
I'm guessing that you're on the East Coast, in the NY area (based on the screenshot of your Speedtest results). I'm also there, and I recently switched from Verizon to Ting (which runs on the T-Mobile network).
What can I say? Verizon is king when it comes to coverage, signal strength, and network speed. Absolutely unbeatable anywhere along the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington DC). If you are highly mobile for work in remote areas (e.g. upstate New York), then you'll want to stick with Verizon purely for coverage reasons.
T-Mobile coverage and signal strength is going to be lower than Verizon in most areas, but will still retain acceptable signal strength in most areas that aren't rural. Network speeds on LTE are acceptable (around 8Mbps - 12Mbps downstream, and 1.0Mbps upstream).
If you spend most of the time on your smartphone near WiFi, you'll be fine switching to TMobile to save yourself some money.
kent1146 said:
I'm guessing that you're on the East Coast, in the NY area (based on the screenshot of your Speedtest results). I'm also there, and I recently switched from Verizon to Ting (which runs on the T-Mobile network).
What can I say? Verizon is king when it comes to coverage, signal strength, and network speed. Absolutely unbeatable anywhere along the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington DC). If you are highly mobile for work in remote areas (e.g. upstate New York), then you'll want to stick with Verizon purely for coverage reasons.
T-Mobile coverage and signal strength is going to be lower than Verizon in most areas, but will still retain acceptable signal strength in most areas that aren't rural. Network speeds on LTE are acceptable (around 8Mbps - 12Mbps downstream, and 1.0Mbps upstream).
If you spend most of the time on your smartphone near WiFi, you'll be fine switching to TMobile to save yourself some money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am mostly in the city though and on Verizon I am out of contract but I am just sick of this company (Wireless part) right now around 45$ 30GB to share+2GB free for 3 months vs T-Mobile same price everything unlimited.
What does your usage look like (minutes, text, data GB) per month, as a typical month of usage on VZW?
kent1146 said:
What does your usage look like (minutes, text, data GB) per month, as a typical month of usage on VZW?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last month was a round 5k texts 5.6GB and around 500 min just for my line.
I like to watch soccer games on my phone and always have to watch it in lowest quality instead of HD and listen to spotify everyday at highes quality as well.
So many reasons to want tmobile lol
Wow. That's a whole lot of usage.
So yeah, go with T-Mobile's unlimited plan. You'll be better off with that.
kent1146 said:
Wow. That's a whole lot of usage.
So yeah, go with T-Mobile's unlimited plan. You'll be better off with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea man that's what the plan is. The one place I spend a lot of time has weak service otherwise everywhere I am is great signal so I am silently hoping that either 6.0 or moto releases new radio fast with band12 support so I can dump Verizon forever and ever lol
By the way were you receiving calls from winback team from Verizon? just wondering I don't have contract anymore so it wouldn't matter and they would not be able to offer me anything anyway but for people who were on contract they would cancel your contract if you came back and all that sort of stuff
I moved from Verizon to T-Mobile a few years back with no issues. I would double check if the location your referring to has any type of WiFi close by. Keep in mind Motorola has really good antennas so if you tested it a year ago on a different phone (Samsung or Nexus 5) it might hold a signal better. At one point I had a Nexus 5 and MotoX 2013 and one of the main reasons I kept the MotoX was due to significantly better signals in the same place.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
SymbioticGenius said:
I moved from Verizon to T-Mobile a few years back with no issues. I would double check if the location your referring to has any type of WiFi close by. Keep in mind Motorola has really good antennas so if you tested it a year ago on a different phone (Samsung or Nexus 5) it might hold a signal better. At one point I had a Nexus 5 and MotoX 2013 and one of the main reasons I kept the MotoX was due to significantly better signals in the same place.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tested few weeks ago AS well but on droid turbo not moto x, and yeah they have time Warner and soon fios so fast internet is not an issue. Are you able to use Wi-Fi calling AS IF now ?
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
I've never had to use WiFi for anything lol
Nexus 6 has had it for a while, I remember testing it, didn't care for it, haven't had a need to use it yet. It's not available yet for the MotoX but it's expected (not sure if confirmed) to be activated with marshmallow. I will state that marshmallow has a new toggle for it so I wouldn't be surprised if every phone has it at some point.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
SymbioticGenius said:
I've never had to use WiFi for anything lol
Nexus 6 has had it for a while, I remember testing it, didn't care for it, haven't had a need to use it yet. It's not available yet for the MotoX but it's expected (not sure if confirmed) to be activated with marshmallow. I will state that marshmallow has a new toggle for it so I wouldn't be surprised if every phone has it at some point.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea there is only one place with bad signal where i spent a lot of time but band12 is in this area just not yet with moto hopefully soak test will add it.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
You can see if Band 12 is in a particular area with this: http://www.spectrumgateway.com/t-mobile-700a-spectrum . Combined with T-Mobile official coverage map, you should be able to get a good idea of the T-Mobile coverage of an area.
It looks like T-Mobile is using Band 12 to fill out national coverage gaps. That's a good thing IMO, if Band 12 has reach/penetration like they say it does. (I live where there is no Band 12 yet, so I haven't tested it.) There are maps floating around (see tmonews.com for example) of the national coverage that T-Mobile plans by end of the year, this planned coverage looks like a blanket similar to Verizon, I think much of this will be the added Band 12 areas. Based on T-Mobile track record, I believe they will get there, if not by end of year then not long after that.
I bought the MXPE counting on Motorola to update it with Band 12 /VoLTE support in the near future, with the idea that it will support it by the time Band 12 is deployed where I need it. The LTE Discovery app is a good tool to see what LTE Band (or other) the phone is using in a particular area, too.
There are still gaps in the T-Mobile national coverage where Verizon has decent coverage while T-Mobile does not. I traveled through one a few days ago, in a rural area about 15 miles from my house. Verizon phone had decent signal, but T-Mobile phones (MXPE and iPhone 6s) had no signal. Since iPhone 6s has robust wireless support including Band 12 /VoLTE, the fact that it had no signal there means there was no T-Mobile signal.
So you just have to look at the maps and see if T-Mobile has coverage where you want coverage. That and actual testing. (If I was on Verizon considering T-Mobile, I would probably buy a month of prepaid T-Mobile or MetroPCS service, pop the T-Mobile SIM in the XT1575, and just try it. "One proper test is worth a thousand expert opinions".)
One thing adding even more wrinkles to all this is the increasing number of LTE roaming arrangements between the tier 1 carriers...
Tinkerer_ said:
You can see if Band 12 is in a particular area with this: http://www.spectrumgateway.com/t-mobile-700a-spectrum . Combined with T-Mobile official coverage map, you should be able to get a good idea of the T-Mobile coverage of an area.
It looks like T-Mobile is using Band 12 to fill out national coverage gaps. That's a good thing IMO, if Band 12 has reach/penetration like they say it does. (I live where there is no Band 12 yet, so I haven't tested it.) There are maps floating around (see tmonews.com for example) of the national coverage that T-Mobile plans by end of the year, this planned coverage looks like a blanket similar to Verizon, I think much of this will be the added Band 12 areas. Based on T-Mobile track record, I believe they will get there, if not by end of year then not long after that.
I bought the MXPE counting on Motorola to update it with Band 12 /VoLTE support in the near future, with the idea that it will support it by the time Band 12 is deployed where I need it. The LTE Discovery app is a good tool to see what LTE Band (or other) the phone is using in a particular area, too.
There are still gaps in the T-Mobile national coverage where Verizon has decent coverage while T-Mobile does not. I traveled through one a few days ago, in a rural area about 15 miles from my house. Verizon phone had decent signal, but T-Mobile phones (MXPE and iPhone 6s) had no signal. Since iPhone 6s has robust wireless support including Band 12 /VoLTE, the fact that it had no signal there means there was no T-Mobile signal.
So you just have to look at the maps and see if T-Mobile has coverage where you want coverage. That and actual testing. (If I was on Verizon considering T-Mobile, I would probably buy a month of prepaid T-Mobile or MetroPCS service, pop the T-Mobile SIM in the XT1575, and just try it. "One proper test is worth a thousand expert opinions".)
One thing adding even more wrinkles to all this is the increasing number of LTE roaming arrangements between the tier 1 carriers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually have a friend who works at tmo he even typed the address and showed me all types of signal available to me and band12 was all over it. I hope that soak test brings b12.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
T-Mobile for data hogs like me is great. Unlimited data for $30, I used around 10GB a month alone. But that is the only reason I use T-Mobile. Coverage pretty much sucks. If I am in the Bay Area CA its fine great signal. As soon as I leave the area I'm lucky if I get 3G speeds let alone a signal. Indoors is even worse. Went to the movies the other day, phone was dead inside no signal at all. My friend who is on At&t got a full 4 bars of LTE. T-Mobile is great for data and coverage in the cities, you leave those cities and you'll be lucky to even get a signal...
falcon26 said:
T-Mobile for data hogs like me is great. Unlimited data for $30, I used around 10GB a month alone. But that is the only reason I use T-Mobile. Coverage pretty much sucks. If I am in the Bay Area CA its fine great signal. As soon as I leave the area I'm lucky if I get 3G speeds let alone a signal. Indoors is even worse. Went to the movies the other day, phone was dead inside no signal at all. My friend who is on At&t got a full 4 bars of LTE. T-Mobile is great for data and coverage in the cities, you leave those cities and you'll be lucky to even get a signal...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mainly spend time in the city Brookyln & Queens so I don't think it should be an issue but one place where I spend a lot of time otherwise everywhere else it's pretty good when I tested it.
Cell Spot
If there is one place you work or live with poor coverage, T-Mobile also has a couple of options that are basically either a range extended or an internal "tower" so you can use your phone inside where you don't get coverage.
https://support.t-mobile.com/community/coverage/personal-cellspot/4g-lte-signal-booster
Ugh. In principle, I'm not a fan of that at all.
T-Mobilr is basically telling cuatomers to buy hardware, install it themselves, possibly connect it to their home internet networks (and use your bandwidth), for potentially multiple people that don't live in your household.
All of this, because T-Mobile didn't invest in building out network infrastructure like Verizon did.
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ExDis said:
If there is one place you work or live with poor coverage, T-Mobile also has a couple of options that are basically either a range extended or an internal "tower" so you can use your phone inside where you don't get coverage.
https://support.t-mobile.com/community/coverage/personal-cellspot/4g-lte-signal-booster
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Yea I am still staying with VZW for now. But there are 2 places that I spend time that have weak service one has no cable internet so that won't do any good even verizon there has weak service 3G and 1 weak bar of lte.
So I am testing tmobile in some place I mainly spend 2 time in 2 places , 1 there is edge and weak LTE -116 around that,I just can't do anthing for the phone to pick up band12 signal. I am running true-pure-x MM
always band4 or HSPA/+ or EDGE.

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