Problems with AT&T's 3G Network - General Topics

I have been having problems recently remaining connected to AT&T's network if I am in an area with marginal 3G coverage. In these areas, one would have expected that data services would suffer or default to GPRS. However, this is not happening. It appears that the network is "losing" the phone and what apparently happens is that the phone is "stuck" in relation to the network and there is not an appropriate hand-off off to 2.5 or 2G as it should be happening. Thus, the phone is losing all service (it cannot make or even receive calls or drops calls erratically) and cannot be "revived" unless the phone is powered down (by removing the battery) for a minute or so. The phone can also "revive" if it gets into an area of strong signal.
Personally, I have an AT&T Tilt (8925) with WinMo 6.1 but I have tracked messages regarding this problem with a variety of 3G smartphones such as the AT&T 8525, the AT&T Fuze, a number of Blackberry models etc, etc.
AT&T's suggestion for correcting this problem is to incapacitate the 3G capability of the phone and to have only the 2G capability ongoing to prevent the network hand-off problems. Or to suggest the user to buy a new device without establishing in any case that the existing device has a problem. At no time, however, is AT&T suggesting a substantial refund for data services for users in a spotty 3G service area.
I think that it is time that there is some action on this issue. It is affecting a number of phones and it remains also an issue with Apple's iPhone 3G. I would be glad to entertain any ideas the members of forum may have.

Related

GSM/EDGE vs 3G Band Settings Call Drops Experience

I want to know why this happens. I already have a solution but I am more interested in the specifics of what is causing this. Keep in mind that this does not happen everywhere, but only at my home/vicinity (general square area/radius of about 1 mile)
This is the problem:
When my phone is set to AUTO in terms of band settings for data/voice, I experience a massive amount of dropped calls. I can barely hold a conversation because my call will drop every 2-7 minutes and it is very embarrassing when trying to conduct business.
Solution:
The solution I have found is to manually set the phone to force either GSM/EDGE or 3G, but not both. When I do this, my problem is solved 100%
SPECS:
Network: AT&T
Phones Tested: AT&T Tilt and AT&T Treo 750
I have this problem in areas where they haven't completed the upgrade to 3G yet. I suspect it drops because the compatability between 3G and Edge is none, the phone has to switch to different bandwidths that cause a quick but temporary loss of service, effectively dropping your calls.
I have seen an app that forces data connections to stay off, using this app in areas where it swtches between services might improve your issue.

Fed up with 3G/HSPDA Issues!

I have been having some really annoying issues with the 3G capabilities of the Touch Cruise. I actually think it is something AT&T is doing on the network, but can't be sure. Anyone experience anything like this? Here are the symptoms:
1. The TC worked great on the 3G network when I first received it. Averaged around 700k speeds.
2. I flew across the state and the phone was unable to make or receive calls. I noticed the 3G/H symbol just fine, but no voice, no data. On a whim, I turned off the 3G and went back to Edge and everything worked fine, slower - but fine. I noticed this behavior on several subsequent trips. Coverage maps show 3G capability.
3. I've been to numerous other cities and experience varying 3G speeds, but the phone definitely works.
4. Lately I've noticed the phone almost seems to experience 3G "fatigue" by the end of the work day. In my home area where it seems to work fine, I'll look at my phone and it will either have no service, or it will not be working on 3G (no calls or e-mail). By later in the evening, it appears to be back to normal.
5. A reset will normally bring things back at least temporarily.
6. I have been trying out new ROM's and Radios posted here, but don't think they are the source of the issues. I've upgraded and downgraded with the same results.
Is this the AT&T network? Could it be with the proliferation of 3G devices, the network becomes saturated particularly by the end of the day?
More importantly, if 3G is for some reason unavailable the phone should degrade gracefully enough to allow it to continue to operate on the Edge network without any interaction by the end user.
Anybody else experiencing this behavior? Any tips? Any resolutions?
Re:
You could try to fix the GSM and 3g bands in the phone settings from automatic to your specific band. Normally that reduces ur battery usage and provides better network clarity. It might just help.
Secondly you could try the SEA 6.1 official rom as that seems to be one of the best ones so far.
I had plenty of 3G / Edge issues when i first received my TC. I spent many hours with AT&T tech support as well as a few conferrence calls with AT&T and HTC. No one was able to come up with a viable solution. Being a geek at heart I spent many hours testing roms and radios. Only a few combinations work with the AT&T edge network. My ROM is based on 18129.0.4.5 with a murata radio 1.58.21.23(must be certified murata) and has worked for me with no problems.
Hope this helps

[Q] Edge and GPRS data connections abysmally slow on Moto G

I've been testing out the data speed connections with my Moto G on Tesco Mobile. When it is showing a HSDPA connection (H+) or UMTS (H, I think) or 3g (3G) data connection speeds are what I would expect.
But as soon as it drops to Edge (E) or GPRS (G) I get speeds so slow that practically no data is being passed - even with a full 4 bars of signal.
And I am well aware that Edge and GPRS are significantly slower than 3G and its superior data connections, but I'm talking less than 0.03Mbps speeds as measured by the Speedtest app. The speed is so slow that useful "out and about" apps like google maps refuse to recognise that there is an internet connection present.
I've raised this with the network and they say that for all of the cells that I've accessed data speeds shouldn't slow that much, and suggested it might be a faulty SIM (perhaps). But today on a different sim in another Moto G on a different network I experienced the same - Edge connection was connected, but practically non-existent.
Is this anyone else is experiencing, or am I just being really unlucky in the cells I am located in?
Thanks!
Matt
larkim said:
I've been testing out the data speed connections with my Moto G on Tesco Mobile. When it is showing a HSDPA connection (H+) or UMTS (H, I think) or 3g (3G) data connection speeds are what I would expect.
But as soon as it drops to Edge (E) or GPRS (G) I get speeds so slow that practically no data is being passed - even with a full 4 bars of signal.
And I am well aware that Edge and GPRS are significantly slower than 3G and its superior data connections, but I'm talking less than 0.03Mbps speeds as measured by the Speedtest app. The speed is so slow that useful "out and about" apps like google maps refuse to recognise that there is an internet connection present.
I've raised this with the network and they say that for all of the cells that I've accessed data speeds shouldn't slow that much, and suggested it might be a faulty SIM (perhaps). But today on a different sim in another Moto G on a different network I experienced the same - Edge connection was connected, but practically non-existent.
Is this anyone else is experiencing, or am I just being really unlucky in the cells I am located in?
Thanks!
Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, slow edge nd gprs sppeds experienced by you is possibly due to ur location....coz i get a decent edge speed as well as my friends too who r also using moto g.....So nothing is wrong in the phone it just depends uoon location....
Akshay7273 said:
Yes, slow edge nd gprs sppeds experienced by you is possibly due to ur location....coz i get a decent edge speed as well as my friends too who r also using moto g.....So nothing is wrong in the phone it just depends uoon location....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don't think it is location as the problem seems to be consistent in every cell I am in. I've obtained a fresh sim from the network to see if that was the problem. Will post back with any further info!
larkim said:
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don't think it is location as the problem seems to be consistent in every cell I am in. I've obtained a fresh sim from the network to see if that was the problem. Will post back with any further info!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well....do u have any friend who is using Moto G and getting same problem at that place??And by the way, Here in india some operators give faster 3g speeds but 2g speed sucks...So just like that it could be the operator's prblm too....First confirm if any of ur friends are getting better edge or gprs speeds.....Thanx
Thread subscribed.
On my old phones I was used to only use 2G (Edge or GPRS) networks in order to get one day of battery life. On my Windows Phone 7 device with an Edge connection it would sync emails, send and receive them and I could even browse (slowly) the internet.
On this one Edge is slow as ****. Furtunately H+ isnt that heavy on its battery as in order devices but when I get to places without a 3G connection the phone gets pretty much unusable, its a shame...
rmrbpt said:
Thread subscribed.
On my old phones I was used to only use 2G (Edge or GPRS) networks in order to get one day of battery life. On my Windows Phone 7 device with an Edge connection it would sync emails, send and receive them and I could even browse (slowly) the internet.
On this one Edge is slow as ****. Furtunately H+ isnt that heavy on its battery as in order devices but when I get to places without a 3G connection the phone gets pretty much unusable, its a shame...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. For the full story:-
I have a Moto G with Virgin (MVNO in the UK using the EE network), and have had for about 5 months. Love it. Never had an issue with data speed on any of the "flavours" (obviously GPRS and Edge are slower, but useable as you say). I've just persuaded my wife to take a Moto G too, but she is on the TescoMobile network (MVNO in the UK using the O2 network). I obviously don't expect our experience with data speed to be identical, but she has only had the phone for a week or so and she reported to me last week that it seemed that data was turned off so she couldn't use maps when she was driving to get some travel time updates. When I looked at the phone at home, it was all fine - and at home both of us get H+ signals throughout most of the house (when wifi turned off). On playing a little more, I noticed that in one room of the house the signal dropped consistently to Edge, and when testing data speed there I noticed the slow (unusable) speed. I swapped the sim into my phone (which was a sim free purchase, so unlocked) and got the same issue. I've then subsequently tested data speeds when we've been out and about in different cell locations, and consistently when she is on Edge or GPRS the data drops off a cliff. HSDPA is always fine.
Then yesterday I was out and about just with my own phone in an Edge area, and I also got the same experience - unusable Edge data speeds (bear in mind this is now on my network, Virgin). Now, I've only had this once, but I am wondering if the 4.4.4 update has slowed Edge / GPRS performance, as the common factor across both my phone and my wife's is that they have only just been updated to 4.4.4
If no-one else here is experiencing the same, then clearly it is just local signal issues, but it does seem peculiar that both phones, on different networks and in different physical locations (up to 30 miles away) appear to be experiencing something similar.
Both phones are on 210.12.40.falcon_umts / 4.4.4
I've just found something to try. Won't be for everyone, but using the "hidden" phone menu via *#*#4636#*#* > phone information and setting preferred network type to "WCDMA only" I can at least force the phone to ONLY use a 3G connection. Whether that will leave me with no signal in areas where I'd like to have a signal I'll wait and see, but I could at least switch manually back to 2G if I found myself down a dark country lane with no 3G signal. Perhaps an option only for the tech-enthusiast, wouldn't want my wife to be relying on this if her car broke down in the wrong end of town!!
It may be a work around, but I can't possibly rely on that since being unreachable isn't acceptable for me.
Let me add that I experience these "issue" since I can remember, so definitely 4.4.4 wasn't the culprit...
rmrbpt said:
It may be a work around, but I can't possibly rely on that since being unreachable isn't acceptable for me.
Let me add that I experience these "issue" since I can remember, so definitely 4.4.4 wasn't the culprit...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an option "WCDMA preferred" which may (I know nothing about this!) set a preference for a stronger reliance on 3G services rather than 2G. It's very easy to set up and switch, worth a little experiment if you get into an area where you are suffering with a slow 2G service.
Changed it right now.
If I feel any difference I will leave the proper feedback.
Thanks

Data Connection Issues

Have anyone experienced data connection issues on the AT&T variant, some of my apps like Craigslist won't open, but it will on other devices?
same
alhadee12 said:
Have anyone experienced data connection issues on the AT&T variant, some of my apps like Craigslist won't open, but it will on other devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I am having issues on my Sprint Note EDGE. The signal goes up and down and the data is very spotty only giving me any data about 20% of the time. I am waiting on my replacement but I doubt the phone is faulty.
Sortilege said:
Yes. I am having issues on my Sprint Note EDGE. The signal goes up and down and the data is very spotty only giving me any data about 20% of the time. I am waiting on my replacement but I doubt the phone is faulty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My issue is now turning out to be one app, which is Craigslist. I can't connect via AT&T data, but I was able to use a Verizon Hotspot to connect.
I have noticed data & wifi connection dropping frequently. I have been blaming my mobile operator and internet service provider until I saw this thread.
On my T-mobile Edge i was getting Wifi drop outs every minute or so.
I am getting a replacement tomorrow and I will report back.
here is what my battery stats looked like
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28335306/tempFileForShare_2014-11-21-08-19-24.jpg
Firmware.....
Its a Firmware issue
Guys I am almost positive this issue is due to a glitch in Samsungs firmware. I tested the data and was able to download over 1 megabyte per second with only one bar on 4g Spark LTE.
According to the tech support person I talked to that would not be possible on only 1 bar. (btw I stopped the test after hitting 1 Megabyte per second for those that need help converting that equals 8mbps). I was in a saturated 4g Spark network with 5 towers within spitting distance from my location and it still only showed 1 bar. I'm thinking either how the tower reads the signal strength or a bad code line shows no more then 1 bar no matter what.
Now for those having dropped data. Check the Sprint {if you are on Sprint or your providers site for a similar coverage map) site to see the saturation for 4g Spark service, the phones are now setup to LOCK on and HOLD onto the FASTEST tower, which according to the tech who also filled me in on the way the new antennas work, can lead to what seems to be dropped service. She would recommend for individuals having this issue if Spark service is not fully activated in your area to switch over to CDMA only under settings to fix the LTE data dropping issue. BTW the Spark LTE service is apparently different then the old LTE service so those versions do not appear to work interchangeably (according to the Sprint service map). I'm assuming this new triband lte is new for all the carriers but maybe not...
I also noticed someone else got the new version of the firmware, which I also have and that did NOT fix anything for me. If anyone is struggling with this issue I would wait until the firmware is updated again. WHICH I hope by that point we can get flashable firmware for those of us that are rooted...???
Now for a VERY Important Fact: there will now be no way to use data while on a phone call. These phones are a single antenna model. You can either be on the phone or data... UNLESS you are making a WiFi call. That is why this is now a option. It will keep the antenna set to the data side of things and make it possible to use data for the internet at the same time.
I hope this helps.
Adan
alhadee12 said:
Have anyone experienced data connection issues on the AT&T variant, some of my apps like Craigslist won't open, but it will on other devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://blog.craigslist.org/2014/11/24/craigslist-dns-outage/
Thank you for the info. I agree it has to be a firmware issue. I am getting a replacement handset tomorrow to verify that but I can see all these hansets being bad. I am in areas all day long with strong lte/spark/and 3g but my data connection constantly drops. I do also see the cellular signal shooting up and down but have no issues with my call quality at least. Have to reboot...toggle airplane mode....or shut data off and on just to get a little bit of 3g service for a second or two. I really hope the firmware update comes soon. I also went under networks in setting and set it to CDMA only and it as at least seeming to give me a steady 3g connection for now...will reply if that changes
signal
I had the note 4 for 3 weeks before giving it to my wife and getting the edge....the note 4 in all my normal travel was perfect....now with the edge i have horrible data so its something i hope they update quickly
I don't rely on the stock signal bars, they are not really reliable in my opinion. Instead if you install SignalCheck Lte or SignalCheck Pro (for those that are rooted) from the play store. It accurately shows the true signal strength of your connection.
I like the Pro version since it allows to reset the connection quickly if need be.
TS

SMJ700h stopped working, how much of the Samsung official line is true?

this is the phone from the https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-j7/help/4g-lte-sm-j700h-t3543821 thread. I had become used to this phone not being 4gLTE supported.
But over the last month, almost all data usage has become so excruciatingly slow that data has in effect stopped. Most pages seem to stop at about the 15% mark. Waze wont pick up any signal at all and even CoPilot gives arcane errors when it is accessing data as opposed to GPS.
Samsung sent me to their 837 Washington repair location where on an absolutely minimal 'inspection' the bloke there identified that I have an international phone which he announced will not work and cannot "for hardware reasons" be made to work in the US. He said it has the wrong radio to work in the US. (dont I remember updating the radio as a software feature on my Cingular 8525 reasonably regularly? This is j700hxxu3bqc2)
I wondered whether this hardware impossibility could be the case if it had been working for 9-10 months, if a bit slowly. I said the problem had only started over the last month. He said T-Mobile had been changing things within all their transmission towers about a month ago. After which my SIM1 is now admittedly in constant "Roaming" mode on the home screen, although SIM card status shows tmobile in service, EDGE, not roaming (and mobile network disconnected with a signal strength of -87db, 13asu whatever that contradictory info means???).
Can I do anything about any of this please? Could I achieve anything by rooting and flashing?
None of this has anything to do with Smart Manager being in what it calls ultra data saving mode does it?

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