I've somewhat recently obtained the LG G2 Mini (D620R) due to my stupid self bricking my Samsung S3. In every single way it utterly destroys the S3, despite the S3's specs being slightly better. I've recently switched to T-Mobile, since I was under the impression that T-Mobile is a GSM carrier, and my phone is GSM as far as I know and Straighttalk was no longer a viable option.
I was told I would get spotty data coverage where I live, and that is completely understandable and I knew that going in. However, I have been getting little to no voice and text service where I live, and fair service in town. Even a free cell booster did not seem to help despite getting fair signal at the window unit. I did a bit of troubleshooting and for some reason, the phone is connected to T-Mobile (WCDMA). This makes no sense as A)It's a GSM phone (afaik). B) T-Mobile is a GSM carrier. The only other options when scanning the networks in the area are AT&T (WCDMA) and AT&T (GSM). In town, there is a T-Mobile (GSM) network, but selecting it results in EDGE instead of 3G/H. The cell booster did work some at first, but it seems to have stopped helping at all. Since it is not a T-Mobile phone I can't use Wi-Fi calling/texting. Is there something I'm missing? Did I find wrong information/get lied to about T-Mobile? Did I get scammed on the phone? I'm hoping I can get some help or figure this out, I can't really afford another phone and getting a phone through T-Mobile would push my bill up way too high (and honestly, I'm considering dropping to the non-unlimited plan because of how insanely expensive it is).
A less important question, how do I bypass the tethering restrictions? Do I need to root the phone or is there a simpler method? Last time I rooted a phone...it resulted in me having to buy this one in the first place...
Also, is the S3 really that badly crippled by Touchwiz a weaker phone can utterly humiliate it?
Ok, first of all google a bit about mobile network standards, there's everything explained. I'll just introduce you with a few things:
1. WCDMA is not equal to CDMA, it actually represents 3G standard for regular (not CDMA) phones.
2. GSM equals 2G standard, and it gives EDGE data communication, while WCDMA equals 3G/3G+ standard and it gives HSPA/HSPA+ data communication.
As I said just google it, at your location you probably have stronger 2G than 3G signal, and when you go to some bigger town or city you get 3G better.
For start read the information given at this link.
Problem is, I get absolutely no EDGE at all where I live, only 3G/H and I consistently lose all service and cannot make calls. I am well within the coverage area for at least voice. I also have been having more and more troubles with data even in town. It's progressively gotten to the point where I have to constantly toggle data just to get some mobile data for a few minutes or so.
Try to select 2g only network and you should get EDGE.
If I select 2G Only, I get no service at all, it doesn't even attempt to search for a signal where I live (Red 'X' instead of spinny icon). However in town if I do this, I do immediately get switched to EDGE/2G and it's signal is slightly better.
Than it means you don't have network coverage at your place, that's all.
My booster however shows it gets 3 bars, and I was made aware at the time I would get at the very least get voice service. I did some checking and I'm about 5 miles from the nearest cell tower. My only other option at this point is AT&T, but I have a general distaste for them, can't afford a phone if they don't have a BYOP program, and they do shady things to rooted phones from what I've heard.
I do expect poor or no data service where I live, I can make do with that. What I don't expect is no voice service at all, sometimes even to the point of no E911 either.
Related
I attempted to do my homework on device compatibility beforehand so as to avoid the shock of something like being stuck on EDGE for data. Nevertheless even with a video review showing the DNA operating HSPA+ on Solavei I am stuck on dreaded EDGE. The activation period took a couple of hours with my new phone (DNA) being able to dial out but SMS/MMS non functional as well as calls to my handset. EDGE was running during this time but after a bit I saw it flash to 3G then H.....success! NOPE. At this point I verified SMS and all calls were working and my phone seemed to want to connect to HSPA+ but was having network communication issues when trying to run speed tests. I attributed all this to my home location, it having always with any carrier been quite on the outskirts of general coverage even though I'm only 1/4 mile from town which is a bit ludicrous in itself. Later that night I drove a little into town to test the data and alas H+ lit up, ran a speed test 2.5MB download...not to shabby IMO. Next day I drive to work and into the center of my home area where the best coverage is for ANY carrier and the entire trip H+ only lit up for a few seconds. Ever since there is no change in data always on E. I called Solavei and told them the issue and they pretty much gave me the runaround and couldn't definitively explain why it worked for a short period but wouldn't now. I can't 100% confirm that T-Mobile has refarmed the area to 1900Mhz but I read my city in a list of 49 in an article that said they were done. This being said I'm forced to let this month play out until possibly switching carrier perhaps one that uses AT&T instead. I asked Straight Talk about my device and they said they offer SIMs for both AT&T and T-Mobile but AT&T is limited to 3G service only whilst T-Mobile should work for HSPA+. I don't know if this a T-Mobile issue or a Solavei one or it's just my phone, but don't see how it could be the phone since it was up and running briefly.
I use T-Mobile and my connection is all over the place at times, refarming is actually the reason I think, its going for the strongest signal, if its edge, it gets edge towers, until the refarm is done I think we'll continue to see this kind of behavior for awhile. As time has gone by its gotten better around here with less time on edge and more on 3g/h+ since I first got the phone.
I can't vouch for at&t but no h+ sounds a little strange to me, if anything bands wise they should be more compatible then T-Mobile.
Tapatalked from my HTC DNA - Carbon
pio_masaki said:
I use T-Mobile and my connection is all over the place at times, refarming is actually the reason I think, its going for the strongest signal, if its edge, it gets edge towers, until the refarm is done I think we'll continue to see this kind of behavior for awhile. As time has gone by its gotten better around here with less time on edge and more on 3g/h+ since I first got the phone.
I can't vouch for at&t but no h+ sounds a little strange to me, if anything bands wise they should be more compatible then T-Mobile.
Tapatalked from my HTC DNA - Carbon
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Click to collapse
It sounds like the refarm is much more of a gradual process than a one and done. At least I hope so or else there's not much to look forward to there. I know the Solavei rep was full of complete and utter BS since she told my phone was incompatible since it wasn't on their database of phones to service APN settings OTA. I may try out Straight Talk or Net10 just to see how the AT&T network speed performs.
Sorry for my ignorance, does the DNA really get H+ (42Mbs) ? On GSM network?
Thanks
trungbeo said:
Sorry for my ignorance, does the DNA really get H+ (42Mbs) ? On GSM network?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No reason it can't, hardware supports it if you have the connection to do it. In my coverage I'm usually edge or 3g so I can't say for sure.
Tapatalked from my HTC DNA - Carbon
I ended up leaving solavei (T-Mobile) for net10 (at&t) The coverage is worlds apart in terms of hspa. I get it everywhere though the speeds fluctuate but are decent. T-Mobile definitely needs to expand coverage it was not good where I lived about 80% was edge.
Since I have now switched to a DNA for may daily use phone, I thought I would take my rooted and s-off DINC 4G LTE over to our local GSM carrier (Union Wireless) and see if I could use it on their GSM service as an emergency phone. Here in Wyoming we have decent Verizon service in the cities and towns and most places on the Interstates and spotty service on state highway route. So, when we go camping in the mountains, etc. one has to generally find a high place to get a Verizon signal. However the local company (Union) has signal most places, but they are GSM.
When I talked to the rep at Union she said to stop by one of their stores and try out a sim and see if it worked in my phone......So I did just that and it did indeed work. I did not try data, but it looked like data worked as well as my phone updated my Microsoft outlook while we were testing it.
I am running CM 10.2.1 on this DINC 4G LTE and it does look like it will work great as a GSM option. Whether I chose to use it here in Wyoming or need a GSM phone in a foreign country.
For a phone that receives such little love and was forgotten by HTC.....it really is a very solid unit.
i use mine already since more than a year in a non-CDMA country (over here in europe) ... only real "trouble" i had was that it doesn't get any stable HSPA+ connection, it always reverts to the (s)lower 3G mode ...
CM10.2 is quite a bit better regarding HSPA than stock ICS-based roms due to their updated ril-libs, but still not stable enough. still, i love the phone
I just came back from Hong Kong and my phone worked fine there with a SIM card. But the connection kept switching between "H+" and "3G". It was still faster than my hotel internet
This weekend I'm going to a location where I get poor reception on my phone with verizon.
I know from past experiences the locals where I'm going have cell phones that seem to work. I'm not sure what provider they all use though. Might be a dumb question, but can I change the Preferred network type to something else to get better reception?
My phone is LG G3 running ResurrectionRemix M 5.7.3
Under the Preferred network type I have lots of different options: see image attachment.
I'm usually on Global. Although I do have to toggle between LTE sometime to get data to work but I think that is more a bug with ROM/phone.
Do phones not work this way?
Thanks in advance.
It's rare that it would make much of a difference, but it doesn't hurt to try. If nothing else, out of curiousity. If it's super terrible and you really need service, your phone is unlocked so you can probably find a prepaid carrier that you can at least get service with while you're there. I know Tmo has Pay as You Go service for $3 a day, but requires a $20 SIM card / service fee.
I really don't know about your location but here switching network does bring better reception. Here we don't have 4G so we are forced to use 3G or 2G. So while using 3G I get -100dB, which is really poor but while switching to 2G I get around -85dB. Again, this is reference to my place. It all depends on the carrier and the nearest cell tower.
THE TL;DR
Verizon data in a specific area used to be solid, but now is practically nonexistent. I know it’s not gone entirely though, because I can maintain an LTE signal lock and use it if I exit the affected area, get an LTE signal lock, start the utorrent and begin downloading a [legal] torrent, and then re-enter the affected area. I’ve tested with friends, family and strangers over a series of devices - it’s not just me. Verizon says it’s heavy network usage which seems like BS. Please help.
THE FULL VERSION
THE PROBLEM
About a month ago the Verizon data service in the area that I live/work went from solid to almost nonexistent. The affected area is maybe a 2 to 3 mile circle it seems. I’ve had friends, family, and even strangers verify that it isn’t just me - they’re experiencing the same thing (wide range of devices.) Essentially, I can no longer get LTE in this area, and the 3G and 1x are even spotty (and horribly slow.) Veeery occasionally I will be able to get LTE to lock, but it drops almost immediately. Calling and SMS do not seem to be affected. Outside of this affected area, LTE service in the area seems to be unchanged. I’ve opened multiple tickets with Verizon -- they essentially told me that the network in my particular area is overloaded and this can’t be resolved until they build a new tower that covers the area (obviously that’s not going to happen anytime soon.) Although this might seem plausible, I’ve lived and worked in this exact location for the past 3 years, and only once has something similar happened previously (and I’d know because I’m a power user who doesn’t use a computer, and who uses LTE for internet exclusively.) The previous occurrence was in February this year, and the issue disappeared after about a week.
I do happen to live in a college town, so the network could be under some additional strain with the kids coming back, but I don’t believe admission is up appreciably from previous years, and I don’t know of any new living spaces that were built in the area that’s affected, so it seems that the network shouldn’t any more strained than it has been in previous years.
THE UTORRENT TRICK
If I move outside of the affected area and get an LTE signal lock, open utorrent, start downloading a torrent [legal only,] and then re-enter the affected area, the LTE lock will hold an I’ll be able to get the full LTE speeds almost as if the problem has been resolved. However, if I shut off utorrent, or if I toggle airplane mode while I’m in the affected area, the LTE signal lock is lost, and issue will persist (ie. I’ll only get 3G, 1x, or nothing at all.)
QUESTIONS
Can anyone explain what might be happening and why? Is it really that the network is under heavy load?
Why won’t my phone even find LTE while I’m in the affected area? It’s clearly still available if I can keep an LTE lock using the utorrent trick.
What causes the utorrent trick to work? It almost seems like the trick bypasses the network’s attempts to hide LTE from me in this particular area.
I’m rooted. Is there any way that I can force my phone to find and lock the LTE in the affected area? The 3G and 1x are essential unusable.
If I can’t force my phone to lock the LTE and stay on it, is there some other way to make my phone hold the signal once it has it *besides* using the utorrent trick?
Any insight would be much appreciated.
Guys,
I need some help, I have an S21U (unlocked) from Samsung. Since launch day, I've had no problems with it. I was with Verizon, then had to move to TMo because of coverage at work. I noticed I started losing signal, like dropping completely, showing the no service circle with a slash, which would immediately be followed by full bars. When on a call, the call drops. This happens over and over, making the phone unusable as a phone.
Thinking it was TMo, I switched back to Verizon. Same thing. I've scoured the web, and there are posts out there describing the same issue, but no resolution. So far, I've tried:
-swapping for a new SIM card
-resetting the network settings
-switching carriers
-using app to manually select LTE over 5G (more on that below)
I've read people hard resetting, with no success. Other than selling or return the phone for a carrier-branded device, I don't know what else to do. I think the timing of the problem and my switch to Tmo was coincidental. It SEEMS when the device switches from 5G to LTE I lost all service. But I haven't stared at the screen to be able to confirm that. I've also seen it flipping from LTE to LTE+ to 5G. But when it drop, it drops hard, and I am one of the 6% of people who still need a phone to be a phone.
Any ideas or suggestions? Returning for "service" through Samsung seems like a nightmare, and the local Samsung repair place said all they will do is re-flash the device.
Thanks!
Tmobile is horrible where I am too. I'm a sprint customer and they are steering me to their crap network.
Use routines to set up a button to run 4g lte mode only
5g is very problematic for me and lte works consistently.
I think 5g is still in it's infancy and not worth the extra power usage even when it's a bit faster in good service areas.
robnitro said:
Tmobile is horrible where I am too. I'm a sprint customer and they are steering me to their crap network.
Use routines to set up a button to run 4g lte mode only
5g is very problematic for me and lte works consistently.
I think 5g is still in it's infancy and not worth the extra power usage even when it's a bit faster in good service areas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. It's not TMo, I switched back to Verizon, same issue. So it's definitely the phone. I did try and select LTE only, it didn't matter. Same problem.
ret4425 said:
Guys,
I need some help, I have an S21U (unlocked) from Samsung. Since launch day, I've had no problems with it. I was with Verizon, then had to move to TMo because of coverage at work. I noticed I started losing signal, like dropping completely, showing the no service circle with a slash, which would immediately be followed by full bars. When on a call, the call drops. This happens over and over, making the phone unusable as a phone.
Thinking it was TMo, I switched back to Verizon. Same thing. I've scoured the web, and there are posts out there describing the same issue, but no resolution. So far, I've tried:
-swapping for a new SIM card
-resetting the network settings
-switching carriers
-using app to manually select LTE over 5G (more on that below)
I've read people hard resetting, with no success. Other than selling or return the phone for a carrier-branded device, I don't know what else to do. I think the timing of the problem and my switch to Tmo was coincidental. It SEEMS when the device switches from 5G to LTE I lost all service. But I haven't stared at the screen to be able to confirm that. I've also seen it flipping from LTE to LTE+ to 5G. But when it drop, it drops hard, and I am one of the 6% of people who still need a phone to be a phone.
Any ideas or suggestions? Returning for "service" through Samsung seems like a nightmare, and the local Samsung repair place said all they will do is re-flash the device.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having same issues. However I've always been on Tmobile but I literally have no service at my home or work so pretty much all day. On top of that the wifi calling hardly works so making calls is useless. It drops right as it starts ringing lol. I'm pretty sure my issue is a tmobile issue.
Clear sim card tool kit data.