Unstable 3G/H connection but 2G and Wi-Fi are fine - Hero, G2 Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Ok all here is my problem and I know there many more suffering from this:
Connecting to the internet from my Hero works fine on 2G (GPRS) and Wi-Fi, but is very unstable on 3G (UMTS) and H (HSDPA).
By starting a thread, I want to get to an answer as to WHY this is happening and hopefully find a solution
My problem started around the time I started using custom 2.1 (or radio) ROMs, but I am not sure whether flashing those is actually the cause. I have a SIM unlocked Hero and an unlimited data plan with T-Mobile Netherlands (called Web 'n' Walk Plus @ 1 Mbit/s down, 384 Kbit/s up). I had no problem on the stock 1.5 ROM/radio.
Symptoms:
Whenever an app is making a server request, the 3G icon starts blinking the up arrow, shortly followed by the H icon blinking the up arrow, indicating the request is made.
When all is well, the response is received and communication is quick and smooth. Most of the time though, the phone continues making requests but no response is received and the application reports a network error/timeout. This happens while signal strength is max (4 bars).
Ping test:
Enter *#*#INFO#*#* in the phone dialpad and select Phone Information, press the "Run ping test" button.
- The line "Ping IpAddr" reports: "Fail: IP addr not reachable";
- The line "Ping Hostname(www.google.com)" reports: "Fail: Host unreachable";
- The line "HTTP Client test" reports: "Fail: IOException".
The preferred network type is "WCDMA preferred", as set in the lower part of the same screen.
Note: WCDMA is an air interface standard used for UMTS and the like and is not related to CDMA, which is the mobile access technology used in the USA as opposed to GSM, which is used everywhere else in the world.
The thing is though, that the connection does not seem to fall back to 2G but rather experiences a timeout.
FWIW: the Phone Information screen reports a signal strength of -dBm, 25 asu.
Tried:
- Flashing various ROMs to spot any difference, none found.
- Flashing newer radio ROM (JU instead of EU), no luck.
It is here when I first start posting about it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6099325#post6099325
Other cases that seem to point at the same problem:
http://android.modaco.com/content/h...93937/hero-strange-3g-data-connection-problem
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=547563
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=616475
http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/discussions/index?page=forums&topic=8010384abbabde01276d5f3caa005e2d
I hope that anyone experiencing the same post his or her findings, so that we can try to detect a pattern and maybe the solution to this.
UPDATE: Apparent solution for T-Mobile 3G problems:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=595108
Fix includes settings as proposed by adwinp below.
Explanation of some settings: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5123531&postcount=46
UPDATE 2:
Well, my problems have vanished "as snow in the sun" (old Dutch proverb)!
Applying the latest radio (JU) and the settings as mentioned by adwinp below made my 3G connection fly again, steady and smooth. Thanks adwinp!
How to modify your build.prop file:
1) Connect your handset via USB, make sure USB debugging is enabled
2) From the Android SDK > tools directory, type the following:
Code:
# adb pull /system/build.prop ~/build.prop
3) Open the file with your favorite editor and append the following lines:
Code:
ro.ril.enable.dtm=1
ro.ril.hep=1
ro.ril.hsxpa=2 #for USA, use 1
ro.ril.gprsclass=12 #for USA, use 10
ro.ril.enable.a52=1
ro.ril.enable.a53=1
ro.ril.hsdpa.category = 28
ro.ril.hsupa.category = 7
Save the file. Next:
Code:
# adb remount
# adb push ~/build.prop /system/build.prop
# adb reboot
Some sources claim that a second reboot is necessary, check this for yourself.
Good luck!
UPDATE 3:
Seems my joy was short lived; could be that just rebooting was a temporary fix and a good old placebo effect, since I already experienced connection loss again. Sigh. Anyone else with a good idea?
UPDATE 4:
Could this be an MTU issue, like stated here or here? I'd like to know the methods of changing the MTU for 3G, investigating now.
UPDATE 5:
None of the theories above seem to be plausible. Looks like T-Mobile/Orange is the culprit here. Further reading here: https://t-mobile-forum.pocketinfo.nl/showthread.php?p=725207#last (in dutch)

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You have either a
1: physical problem with the handset
2: network problem (check if other ppl within the same network have the same problem)
Try playing with these values in /system/build.prop
ro.ril.enable.dtm = 1 # you might want to disable this one, although it doesn't hurt
ro.ril.hep = 1
ro.ril.hsxpa=2
ro.ril.gprsclass=12
ro.ril.enable.a52=1
ro.ril.enable.a53=1
ro.ril.hsdpa.category = 28
ro.ril.hsupa.category = 7
# Default network type 0 => WCDMA Preferred.
ro.telephony.default_network = 0
These settings come from my ROM, which has been tested on various networks in Poland, Germany and Mauritius.
3G performance is flawless.

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I have been having this very same problem, and I know others have too. it is strange but has only happened since the newer 2.1 builds have been out.
After lengthy conversations with the high technical team at Orange UK they diagnosed my problem as for some reason the phone is trying to connect to two 3g radio towers at the same time (usually should connect to only one) basically this is confusing the phone.
What the fix seems to be is:
- *#*#4636#*#*
- phone options
- ping test (will probably fail)
- change to "GSM ONLY" - for 30 seconds or more NOT LESS!!
- ping test (should succeed)
- then change back to "WCDMA Only" or "preferred"
- ping again (should now work)
If this does not fix it then you have two more options
- take the sim out the phone for 30 seconds (this is the minimum required time to disconnect your phone from the towers your on)
- OR airplane mode for 30 seconds.
Then try the above again and all should be working.

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adwinp said:
Try playing with these values in /system/build.prop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a professional software developer, I always get an itch when I am advised to 'try playing', I need to know if something is working or not
ro.ril.enable.dtm = 1 # you might want to disable this one, although it doesn't hurt
ro.ril.hep = 1
ro.ril.hsxpa=2
ro.ril.gprsclass=12
ro.ril.enable.a52=1
ro.ril.enable.a53=1
ro.ril.hsdpa.category = 28
ro.ril.hsupa.category = 7
# Default network type 0 => WCDMA Preferred.
ro.telephony.default_network = 0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have any reference information for these settings? I'll try to look it up myself but I can't fiddle with them unless I know what the possible values are and at least know what each setting is used for

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Lennyuk said:
After lengthy conversations with the high technical team at Orange UK they diagnosed my problem as for some reason the phone is trying to connect to two 3g radio towers at the same time (usually should connect to only one) basically this is confusing the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting reason; you think this could be related to the fact that the latest VillainROMs stem from CDMA ROMs? What I still don't get is that speech and GPRS traffic are unaffected, these just work.
I already tried your fixes several times but for me they don't work everytime. Ah well, hopefully the official 2.1 update does some good here

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j0bro said:
Interesting reason; you think this could be related to the fact that the latest VillainROMs stem from CDMA ROMs? What I still don't get is that speech and GPRS traffic are unaffected, these just work.
I already tried your fixes several times but for me they don't work everytime. Ah well, hopefully the official 2.1 update does some good here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly however my problems first seemed to start after the Legend based roms.

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j0bro said:
Interesting reason; you think this could be related to the fact that the latest VillainROMs stem from CDMA ROMs? What I still don't get is that speech and GPRS traffic are unaffected, these just work.
I already tried your fixes several times but for me they don't work everytime. Ah well, hopefully the official 2.1 update does some good here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think a CDMA source is the issue here.
I've ported a CDMA to GSM with no problem whatsoever.
You could always try replacing libreference-cdma-sms.so, libreference-ril.so, libril.so and libhtc_ril.so from a GSM ROM.

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Im also on T-mobile NL with unlimited web n walk
i dont have that issue, and i am currently on aHero 0.7 with latest radio,
also havent encountered the problem on other 2.1 roms
i hope this is some additional information

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I always run into this problem as well on all of the 2.1 ROMS pretty much. I'm on the 3 network in the UK. Basically I never had this problem with any of the modaco 1.5 ROMS.

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Awesome. Thankyou!
This has fixed my annoying 3G issues, Exactly as you describe.

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What exactly is the solution?

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Update 2 - First post.
Previously browsing maps would stall and the "up" arrow be stuck on, with the "down" one empty. I say maps, but anything really that uses the data connection. Most often going into Airplane mode and back again fixed it. Now it just works, and quickly too.
BTW - I'm on orange UK.

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ChrisCoooo said:
Update 2 - First post.
Previously browsing maps would stall and the "up" arrow be stuck on, with the "down" one empty. I say maps, but anything really that uses the data connection. Most often going into Airplane mode and back again fixed it. Now it just works, and quickly too.
BTW - I'm on orange UK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So just adb those values into the build.prop file and now everything is fine?

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Yep. Thats basically all I did, I did a remount, pulled the build prob to my local, edited it, then pushed it back.
First reboot then I had connectivity, but the status bar showed it not being registered on the network. Second reboot and it was all good. A consitent 3G/H signal and no stalling of data transfers.

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ChrisCoooo said:
Yep. Thats basically all I did, I did a remount, pulled the build prob to my local, edited it, then pushed it back.
First reboot then I had connectivity, but the status bar showed it not being registered on the network. Second reboot and it was all good. A consitent 3G/H signal and no stalling of data transfers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I edited my OP, since I experienced connection loss again. How is it holding up for you?

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Great topic J0bro.
I am having exactly the same problems as you describe. I was just searching the web since at first i couldn't find anything usefull here. I just went back to see if there were some new rom updates and i saw this topic.
I am now running villain 5.2 and latest radio. I was already experiencing the same probs a while back but not as much as i am now. It seems that when I try to open an app on the market i get a lot of connection errors. The switching between the 3g and H takes too long and times out.
I now have a stream running on stream live radio and that uses my H connection. Once it is continuously using H it seems just fine......
Strike that italic part.... When i was typing that it disconnected went back to 3G and lost connection. Now its switching back and forth between 3G and H
Damn this sucks man. I will try the part of of the build.prop....
Pff and i just got my debricked hero back
FYI I am on t-mobile NL with web n walk plus

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Did you try replacing the ril libs I mentioned in /system/lib ?
Did you test this in another city?

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adwinp said:
Did you try replacing the ril libs I mentioned in /system/lib ?
Did you test this in another city?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just put it underneath the rest in the build.prop and rebooted twice.
Did I do that right?

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Hi there which 2.1 Rom did u try?
On tmobile UK and had same 3g problem with stock rom but its fixed now. Only been testing with villainroms. Version 3.4 and 5 beta2 works perfect, the legend based one doesn't work and has same 3g problems. So its probrqbly not universal across 2.1 roms

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Re: [2.1 ROMs] Unstable 3G/H connection but 2G and Wi-Fi are fine
i'm on villain 5.2
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