Related
Hi all,
I know this is probably a strange request and so I'll have to give a bit of background. Recently I changed my mobile provider to 3. 3 have their own telephone coverage in certain areas and if you are outside those areas you go on roaming with Telstra. The issue is 3 charges huge $$ when roaming on Telstras network for data (voice and SMS is fine).
My question is that my TP obviously knows when I'm roaming as it displays the service provider as 'Roaming'. Is there a program that will stop my data (and only data) use when I change over to the 'Roaming' service and activate again when I am in the 3 network?
Thanks for you help!
Trent
Hi, another aussie 3 user here...
I agree with the TS as this is one of the major problem we as 3mobile user face, is there any kind soul out there that could help us with this as my knowledge on PDA is limited.. Thanks for any1 who is willing to help in advance.
With the Sprint TP, I can go to
Settings>Phone>Services>Roaming
and set an option called "Data roam guard" that allows me to choose whether or not data connections will be allowed while roaming. I'm not sure if this option is available for you, but give it a try.
I myself would like to have an automated function for this. Until then I will have to manually switch to my dummy data connection.
Normally it doesn't connect on roaming.
and if it will, it asks first.
isn't this the case with you?
I have an app called NoData
Works really well and lets you enable/disable any data connections
raveenash said:
I have an app called NoData
Works really well and lets you enable/disable any data connections
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know about the NoData. However, you still have to enable/disable data connection manually. I'd like to have it automatically disabled when I am roaming.
For example my IM client (QIP) does not ask me whether it should connect or not. So it is very easy to have an "accident" with data connection :-(
I'm another Three user in Australia, looking for something like this as well. I often use my phone while on a tram and it might switch from 3G to Roaming while I'm browsing the web. I'd like for it to warn me so I don't download heaps while roaming (I think it's $1.65 per MB or something crazy like that).
Hi, another 3 Australia user here...and yes, I've been waiting on this sort of function for years now.
Part of the problem here is that 3's "roaming" is not actual roaming in the traditional sense. Normally, the phone detects a roaming signal when on a foreign network and displays a roaming indicator (looks like a little triangle) at the top of the screen. You'll find this is the case if you ever take your phone overseas and use International Roaming. Telstra's network does not give you this signal, and hence even the few roaming aware apps we have (e.g. pocket outlook) don't detect when you're on Telstra's network and turn off their automatic schedules.
The best way I could think of to do this automatically is with an app that detects either Telstra's network ID values (the phone detects these and translates them to the text "Roaming" at the top right of today, much as it translates the real value "3Telstra" to plain old "3" - 3 and Telstra share the 2100MHz network in a joint venture, much as Vodafone and Optus share theirs...you will see the real value if ever you use a non-3 rom) or the network connection type and then runs that NoData app (I haven't seen that before...credit to the guy who posted it).
I've often though some sort of even responder app would be useful. Something like Gyrator, except that read network status instead of physical hardware status. Anyone know of anything like this?
Then you could set up something like:
* On detect EDGE/GSM switch off data connections
* On detect HSDPA/3G switch on data connections
OR
* On detect network ID of Telstra's GSM network switch off data
* On detect network ID of 3's/Telstra's 2100MHz 3G network switch on data
Look at phoneAlarm.
caeci11ius said:
Part of the problem here is that 3's "roaming" is not actual roaming in the traditional sense. Normally, the phone detects a roaming signal when on a foreign network and displays a roaming indicator (looks like a little triangle) at the top of the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My HTC TP says 'H' up the top when I'm in 3 coverage and 'E' when I'm roaming. Just near the top it says '3' when I'm in a Three area or 'Roaming' when I'm not...
Don't you have the same phone? What does yours say?
Vanstra said:
Look at phoneAlarm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that perhaps paying 15+ pounds (around AU$40) just to switch off a data connection is a bit steep...any other suggestions around?
grandinferno said:
My HTC TP says 'H' up the top when I'm in 3 coverage and 'E' when I'm roaming. Just near the top it says '3' when I'm in a Three area or 'Roaming' when I'm not...
Don't you have the same phone? What does yours say?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My point exactly. You will not see the real roaming indicator in Australia as you never actually roam here. While three call it "roaming" when your phone is on Telstra, the way they have set it up prevents the phone from knowing this is the case so the few roaming aware programs will not be able to adjust for it.
The phone shows G/E when on Telstra as Telstra provide a GSM/EDGE network. It shows 3G/H when on Three's network as Three are providing a 3G/HSDPA network. Hence, you can work out if you're roaming by looking at this even though it's not actually a roaming indicator.
If you look at your home screen though you will see either a "3" in the top right corner of the clock or "Roaming". That's what I was talking about before. It's not a roaming indicator either; it simply shows the network name (with a translation applied from the actual network ID in this case).
thanks caeci11ius, I'm glad you could explain this is better detail then my original statement. I am presuming that this form of roaming and charge to customers is quite rare.
caeci11ius said:
I think that perhaps paying 15+ pounds (around AU$40) just to switch off a data connection is a bit steep...any other suggestions around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wanted a program which can automatically switch band when roaming.
This is the only program I know which can do that.
Program to disable Data when E or G is shown on taskbar
caeci11ius said:
My point exactly. You will not see the real roaming indicator in Australia as you never actually roam here. While three call it "roaming" when your phone is on Telstra, the way they have set it up prevents the phone from knowing this is the case so the few roaming aware programs will not be able to adjust for it.
The phone shows G/E when on Telstra as Telstra provide a GSM/EDGE network. It shows 3G/H when on Three's network as Three are providing a 3G/HSDPA network. Hence, you can work out if you're roaming by looking at this even though it's not actually a roaming indicator.
If you look at your home screen though you will see either a "3" in the top right corner of the clock or "Roaming". That's what I was talking about before. It's not a roaming indicator either; it simply shows the network name (with a translation applied from the actual network ID in this case).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is Exactly What I need Also. I have looked everywhere? I Dont believe anyone else has come across this issue before and has written something to fix it.
Need a program to detect when the Phone is in 3 or H area (displayed at top) and disable DATA ONLY when G or E is displayed. My work around at the moment is to select HSDPA only connection but this makes the Voice Calls dropout whenever I cannot recieve Three's Network. Can anyone help. There is many people who would be in this same boat.
Wombat
Introducing WombatPhoneRoam
I just wrote a script to keep you connected to 3G or HSDPA networks only. Tryout
WombatPhoneRoam
I hope it is what your looking for
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3076932&postcount=1
Wombat
I asked this in the regular forums and didn't get any helpful response, so I thought I would try here. I'm sure there is something you cookers can come up with.
I've searched for an answer on this and couldn't find any. My apologies if I didn't search for the correct thing.
I have an AT&T Fuze that is unlocked (using an EnergyROM) and I am using it on the BELL HSPA network. Everything works fine but the phone thinks it is roaming all the time. It's not, but the phone thinks it is.
This doesn't present much of a problem except with apps that don't allow or always prompt for permission to use data while roaming. I am using custom ROM's and right now the one thing I can't use and would like to is the Twitter tab in Sense 2.5. I can use it on WiFi but over cellular it gives a connection error.
Is there something I can change in my settings or the registry to make my phone realize the Bell HSPA network is the correct network and that it isn't roaming?
No Help from Bell...
Hi, I am in the exact same situation. I had to search around the settings on Bell WM phones to find the data APN = pda.bell.ca (try and get that info from anyone working for Bell)...
I have the same "roaming" issue but I only noticed it with the weather tab not using "My Location" in NRG's SenseUI rom.
I have been trying many different settings and am about to try replacing the manila registry with NFSFAN's Sense manila registry settings from my CDMA TP (BEST ROM I HAVE EVER USED BY THE WAY).
I just got this new phone because the HSPA network gives better reception than CDMA in some areas I am working right now.
Still roaming...
I have not had any success yet, but I am looking at how Bell phones differentiate between the multiple networks since they share with Telus.
I am considering trying to get a hold of a Samsung Omnia II from Bell, since it uses WM 6.5.
Bell and Telus use the same equipment, so I am looking to extract some info from the rilphone.dll or whatever it uses to determine if it is roaming or not.
In searching through the forums I have found a number of individuals with this unique problem.
Apparently Bell/Telus use a few different network home settings, and the one to use is not the first one on the list.
A quote from my findings so far - "Technically, 302610 and 302860 are Bell and Telus respectively, and they both use the 302880 network."
If anyone has the ability to extract this info on how the Bell Mobility phone does this, there are a growing number of us that would like a fix for this little issue when using phones from other networks on Bell or Telus.
Roaming on the Fuze, but with a Bell GT-I8000L to dissect
I have found an interesting CAB file on the Bell Omnia II that changes the data settings on my Fuze, but I have not got it to work yet. It is attached to this post.
Bell has chosen to make the data settings hidden from the user, and this file accomplished that much on my Fuze.
My hope is that maybe someone can look at this file and gain some insight on how Bell settings are different from the rest of the world.
I also have copies of the registry files, but am having a little difficulty uploading them for the moment.
I'm in the same boat with my AT&T Topaz that I've got running on Bell. Any help on this would be appreciated.
Does anything in Settings->Phone->Network need to be changed when provisioning the phone? Mine only shows 302880 and Rogers as available networks, with 302880 being the preferred.
302880 is Bell, and I think it could be Telus as well.
I am really hoping that someone smarter than me can look at this file and modify it to work in an HTC phone.
I have only looked at it with Notepad after unzipping the file with 7-Zip, and the xml file puts a bunch of settings into a Samsung folder in the registry.
My provisioning process...
Here's my provisioning process. Maybe someone can point out something I'm doing wrong:
a) Start->Settings->Connections->Connections->Advanced->Select Networks
b) Click "New"
c) Under "General" enter "Bell Mobility" as name
d) Under "Modem" click "New"
i) Enter "Bell Mobility" as name
ii) Select "Cellular Modem (GPRS, 3G)" under Modem type
iii) Enter "pda.bell.ca" under "Access Point Name"
iv) Leave User/Pwd/Domain blank e) Under Proxy Settings:
i) Check "this network connects to the internet"
ii) Check "this network uses a proxy..."
iii) Enter "web.wireless.bell.ca" under "Proxy Server"
f) Under "Network Manager" Select "Bell Mobility" from the drop down under "Programs that automatically connect to the internet should connect using:"
For MMS, I repeat the process above, replacing "Bell Mobility" with "Bell Mobilty MMS". In the messaging app, I go into "SMS/MMS" and select "MMS Options" from the menu. On the "Servers" tab I enter the following:
a) Server Name: "Bell Mobility MMS"
b) Gateway: <leave blank>
c) Port Number: 80 <this is the default>
d) Server Address: "http://mms.bell.ca/mms/wapenc"
e) Connect via: "Bell Mobility MMS"
f) Send Limit: "300K"
g) WAP Version: "WAP 2.0" <this is the default>
h) Select "Done" to go back to the "Servers" tab
i) Select the "Bell Mobility MMS" entry and click "Set as default".
j) Select OK to close the MMS Options and Reboot/Soft Reset
Link to Bell Samsung Omnia II Registry files
Provisioning looks fine.
This thread is dealing with the roaming issue on Bell Mobility.
I have uploaded the registry files from my Bell Mobility Omnia II for someone to see what can be modified on my Fuze or any other HTC phone for that matter to work on Bell without the roaming symbol.
I noticed a number of unusual items when searching for "302"
Bell Samsung registry files
There are quite a few differences under the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\ConnMgr] vs what I have on my hand provisioned phone. I'm tempted to just delete that branch of my registry and reimport this one just to see what would happen along with the [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Comm\RasBook] branch. I can always hard reset is there's a problem.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\Cellular\RIL] also has some stuff that I don't have.
I have tried making a copy of the ril.dll file, but it seems to be blocked from copying from the Bell phone. There are also a few rilbubble.dll files and a rilgsm.dll file on the Bell phone.
I tried importing the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\ConnMgr] and [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Comm\RasBook] branches but it made no difference. In fact I noticed that the phone thinks its roaming before the HSPA connection even comes online. I'm starting to think that this is something to do with the network and not the phone. Is it possible that Bell is monitoring IMEI numbers at the network level and that any IMEI they don't have in their DB they identify as roaming?
Did you notice that [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\State] has a lot of subdirectories containing "302"?
ie [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\State\RIL\NetID\CS]
"302880"="Bell"
I also wonder about the Samsung directory being full of phone stuff.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\State\SAMSUNG\Phone]
If any of these are being referenced by the ril.dll file or some other file, I cannot even figure out how to copy these files from the phone to dissect.
Did you try to copy the dll files to the SD card with Total Commander?
Btw, I don't see a [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\State\RIL\NetID\CS] branch in the registry files you posted.
Sorry, I will upload the registry files before a sim card was inserted later this evening. I thought about that after. I just cleared memory on the Bell phone, and a bunch of registries are not there now. I may have cleared memory with a sim card still in it before.
Yes I have tried Total Commander and a few others, and the files will not be copied. I am ready to try dumping the rom and checking to see what I can.
I do need to sell this Omnia 2 soon before it starts to lose its value too much.
I doubt the ril files will make any difference on a HTC anyway. They basically broker the calls between the OS and radio firmware. The HTC radios will be so different they wouldn't do anything anyway.
Well I have tried importing a number of these settings to the point that other things have dropped off, or changed, but that annoying little roaming symbol remains.
I have an I8000 kitchen, and I am going to dump the ROM from the Omnia2 before I sell it, so I have something to take apart and examine. I don't know how that would interface with an HTC kitchen, but I will keep on trying until I get this.
I believe that Bell would have a program AND some settings in the registry to cause problems for other phones. Just talking with ANY Bell rep about basic internet settings on the HTC shows off their bad attitude and pride, so I would not put anything past them.
Thank you for your help on this codf4ther. I know their is a growing number that would like to see this issue resolved.
I've been looking at some other threads on howardforums about unlocked phones. Whats interesting is that the NexusOne doesn't seem to show as roaming. Telus Android phones (Milestone) don't show as roaming, but Rogers and Fido Phones do.
Bell and Telus share the same towers and basic connection, so it seems reasonable that a Telus phone will work fine on Bell. I am tempted to get a Telus SIM and try that theory with this Bell Omnia2, but I have yet to unlock it. I'm looking for the best unlocking price (free would be great since I will be selling it anyway).
prcme said:
Bell and Telus share the same towers and basic connection, so it seems reasonable that a Telus phone will work fine on Bell. I am tempted to get a Telus SIM and try that theory with this Bell Omnia2, but I have yet to unlock it. I'm looking for the best unlocking price (free would be great since I will be selling it anyway).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Telus is explainable, but why wouldn't the Nexus show up as roaming?
After finding out that forcing LTE Mode on the SamChg (See here) always results in a Signal Disabled "circle-slash" display for the network signal strength - even when you have a solid 4G connection - I am suspecting that the signal strength bars in the notification bar only show CDMA signal strength, and never show 4G signal strength.
If so, the signal strength indicator lies to us (at least, when the 4G icon is on the notification bar).
Is there a widget / app / notification mod that will show both the 3G and 4G signal strength? A dB indication would be fine. That way, I can identify the real 4G signal vs. the real 3G signal vs. the signal bar display.
Cheers,
Yes, the signal strength meter lies and only indicates 1xRTT signal strength, not EVDO or LTE.
OpenSignal Maps will show the LTE signal strength but it's a mapping program.
Real Signal shows separate 1x and EV bars like how Verizon feature phones display it, however it doesn't yet support LTE. I've e-mailed the developer to find out if this was planned and/or if they'd like any help in implementing that feature and I've received no response thus far.
skuzz said:
Yes, the signal strength meter lies and only indicates 1xRTT signal strength, not EVDO or LTE.
OpenSignal Maps will show the LTE signal strength but it's a mapping program.
Real Signal shows separate 1x and EV bars like how Verizon feature phones display it, however it doesn't yet support LTE. I've e-mailed the developer to find out if this was planned and/or if they'd like any help in implementing that feature and I've received no response thus far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's no longer in the market. Do you have the APK by chance ?
Field test mode access seems to elude us on the Charge, but if we could find the code, there's got to be a signal strength indicator in there.
I'm going to query Samsung to see if they'll cough it up.
ram130 said:
It's no longer in the market. Do you have the APK by chance ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nvm..found it under another name. Also Samsung is not the only one with misleading bars, Motorola too. Just look at the thread I did on it here:
https://supportforums.motorola.com/message/302492
distortedloop said:
Field test mode access seems to elude us on the Charge, but if we could find the code, there's got to be a signal strength indicator in there.
I'm going to query Samsung to see if they'll cough it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meanwhile, googling around I found some info on enabling hidden menus on the phone (basically same steps as for Fascinate), but once there, none of the known dialer codes work for me, despite others saying they do.
HOWEVER, check out the app called SGSTools in the Market. Install it, run it, select Service Mode. A black screen comes up, hit the menu button, then back and voila, you're in LTE Monitor screen. You might be able to navigate around from there and get your signal information.
Hope this helps.
distortedloop said:
Meanwhile, googling around I found some info on enabling hidden menus on the phone (basically same steps as for Fascinate), but once there, none of the known dialer codes work for me, despite others saying they do.
HOWEVER, check out the app called SGSTools in the Market. Install it, run it, select Service Mode. A black screen comes up, hit the menu button, then back and voila, you're in LTE Monitor screen. You might be able to navigate around from there and get your signal information.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should take a pic...I'm curious what that mode looks like. Don't have a charge to fool around with it.
Bumping this up because I just noticed that in Anandtech's review of the LG Revolution, there's a way at least for that phone to see the 4G signal strength: http://images.anandtech.com/doci/4450/DSC_0734.jpg
Given that the Revolution and Charge have different LTE chips, I'm not sure if this can be reproduced on the Charge.
Credit: Page 10 of the LG Revolution review by Anandtech
---------- Post added 10th November 2011 at 12:36 AM ---------- Previous post was 9th November 2011 at 11:55 PM ----------
I just looked around the LTE Monitor menu as distortedloop posted above (thanks!) and it does seem there are some values that may give a better idea of the LTE signal.
One interesting thing I noticed was some sort of MPSR timer that counts down; what it seemed like it was doing was counting down to the next time it would attempt to connect to the LTE network (I was on 1X at the time). Other values that I believe pertain more to the LTE signal strength include: RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) and CINR (Carrier-to-Interference-and-Noise Ratio). I correlated faster LTE speeds with lower RSRP values (that is, LESS negative).
Does anybody know if AT&T changed the Field Test menu again?
I tried both ##3282# and ##3282 but none of them trigger anything :crying:
I have version 1232.5962.1314.0001 and i'm looking forward to change that ROM to another within RM-824, hopefully clean from AT&T because it only sticks to either 4G or 2G and the "highest speed connection" within "cellular" menu is not there at all (probably AT&T wants battery to drain quickly?). I hope I change the phone to 3G only.
Thanks!!
danter92 said:
Does anybody know if AT&T changed the Field Test menu again?
I tried both ##3282# and ##3282 but none of them trigger anything :crying:
I have version 1232.5962.1314.0001 and i'm looking forward to change that ROM to another within RM-824, hopefully clean from AT&T because it only sticks to either 4G or 2G and the "highest speed connection" within "cellular" menu is not there at all (probably AT&T wants battery to drain quickly?). I hope I change the phone to 3G only.
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From all the information I've been able to find, there is no accessible hidden menus on WP8. AT&T or otherwise. I guess they figured too many people figured out how to edit stuff on on WP7, so they tightened it up a bit.
I'm building a test mobile network on some laptops and with a software defined radio based on Open AirInterface (is googleable, but I can't post the link cos I'm a newb) code, and I have this up and running. Additionally, I've bought some programmable SIMs to work with it on a bunch of phones. The information on these I've added into my HSS implementation. The Country Code/Network code deployed on the SIMs is 901/70 - so it doesn't interfere with commercial networks.
I'm testing with a bunch of phones in an isolation chamber, and my end goal is to shift the network into something I have a license for and "go public", but this network will have a low channel bandwidth (3MHz or 1.4MHz in Band 3 LTE). Not many phones have supported this, so I started with a 5MHz channel, which most do support - and I've successfully connected an S4 and a Nexus to my little network. However, when I tried the S6 with a SIM that worked in another phone, it cannot even see the network. I've seen hints of Samsung doing operator whitelisting, but would like to know if this is the case and, if possible, how to add my operator codes into the whitelist.
So far, I've tried the following:
a) "*#0011#" puts you into ServiceMode where you used to be able to enable/disable frequency bands and other such settings with the "Q0000" menu entry - but it looks like Samsung have squished this, also I know the phone has Band 3 operational as I can put a commercial SIM in it that runs on that band. I've not found any way of actually modifying any settings within this mode.
b) I found the file "/system/etc/apns-conf.xml" which contains a list of operator APN addresses - I updated mine to contain my settings, but no joy, and if I "reset to default" my APN settings, my settings are not picked up and I have to manually add my APN (but at least that stays selected)
c) I found some databases in "/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/", in particular "nwk_info.db" and added my network details to it. The phone then changed from basically saying I was only able to make emergency calls to "Selected mobile network (901/70) unavailable", which kind of at least hints I've moved it in the right direction
The S6 is running a rooted factory reset, and allows SIMS from two different commercial operators on it so it should be completely unlocked. It's never been out of the country, so should have "defeated" the region locks that Sammy put on the phones nowadays (although it begs the question whether rooting the phone resets this and perhaps it's still awaiting 5 mins of calls via a local SIM?).
Does anyone know of a whitelist of MNC/MCC numbers I can add my settings to? Or any other possible solution to this?
The long winded solution is to change the MNC/MCC info on each of my SIMs, but that's a PITA and I'm not even sure it'll work yet (I will attempt to try one soon, but changing the configs on my mobile network is also non-trivial!)