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[Q] Losing network with the Inspire 4g

Hi all, after a fruitful unlocking, rooting with the hack-kit, i updated the radio using the hack kit itself. However previously as well as with the new radio, the network reception was bad. I can tell this as my phone was showing no network whereas a friend along was chatting away on his phone. I thought this might have to do something with the radio. Hence i loaded up the Android Revolution HD 5.2.3 along with the recommended radio 12.54.60.25_26.09.04.11_M2; although the data speeds improved greatly, it is still losing connections in areas where other phones are easily able to make a call. I had this radio yesterday only, so should i wait for sometime or there is something wrong with the hardware?

I've also had this issue, and tried troubleshooting in the same ways. Randomly, my phone will cycle through all the connections (GSM, 3G, H, etc) and then go to "no service" no matter if i walk around or even go outside. I have called AT&T about this issue to see maybe if there are issues going on with the towers in my area...and they report no probems. The closest tower to my apartment is less than a mile away, and I live in a metropolitan area. So then they had me go to a store to have the sim card replaced because its plausible that a bad sim card could cause this issue. So far, with a new sim card, it's still having signal issues. So the next step is to do a warranty exchange.

AT&T service in my area is awful. Since moving south to Florida I have had the same problem but it's not unique to my Inspire. I experienced the same sort of nonsense with my old blackberry. Trying different radio/ril combos has given me some better results but it's an been an issue ever since I got south of Georgia.

It's one thing when the service is bleek in a certain area, thus causing you signal issues. But in an area that has AT&T coverage all over, like in the instance of my area, then you really can't blame the coverage. In my situation, AT&T was unable to explain why I'm having these issues in the area that I am in. They even logged in my account that if replacing the sim card has no affect, then they will go ahead and do a warranty exchange.

cavsoldier19d said:
It's one thing when the service is bleek in a certain area, thus causing you signal issues. But in an area that has AT&T coverage all over, like in the instance of my area, then you really can't blame the coverage. In my situation, AT&T was unable to explain why I'm having these issues in the area that I am in. They even logged in my account that if replacing the sim card has no affect, then they will go ahead and do a warranty exchange.
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Click to collapse
Well the coverage in my area should be great. The closest tower to my home is just over a mile away. I live right outside of Tampa. AT&T has coverage here. If I can get 5 bars on "H" one moment and 0 bars on anything a moment later without moving the phone I doubt it's just generally poor service in my area specifically. In any event I hope you're issue gets solved. I'd be interested to see what the resolution is

Well i understand the network issues might be there, but then if i see on the other phone (Galaxy S) its showing full network at the same place. So I assume there is something in my hardware or software which is having some issues...

Be sure to check teh signal strength between the two phones(android) by pressing *#*#4636#*#*>Phone Info Compare the dBm and asu of the two. Make sure the contacts between the batt and sim covers are clean as both are antennas for different radio's(sell and BT)

Tx Redneck said:
Be sure to check teh signal strength between the two phones(android) by pressing *#*#4636#*#*>Phone Info Compare the dBm and asu of the two. Make sure the contacts between the batt and sim covers are clean as both are antennas for different radio's(sell and BT)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok... will try with this and see what is the problem... anyways it's just a 3 day old new phone and the battery cover... well i am still trying to open it... what a mess... would you recommend flashing another radio and check or i am the only one with the network losing problem here?

Out here in Cincinati my signal has been going to garbage and I'm stock. If I put the sin in my Samsung focus I get 4 bars and 3g, in my inspire I'm lucky to get 2 bars. I think it has to do with inspire and 2.3.3 dident help me at least
Sent with Dr. Brown Technology & my HTC Inspire 4G

Horrible service where I moved...

Recently I had to move to an area where if I drive two minutes in any direction I have no signal/service. The coverage map says tmobile doesn't even have towers around here and it borrows at&t towers and 2g data. Unfortunately the spots they chose to cover are extremely spotty. Now I realize there is more than likely absolutely nothing that can be done without switching carriers but for specific reasons I'm not interested in doing that. I figured I would at least ask if there DOES happen to be something that can be done though... no harm in that. A lot of people on here know a lot more than me about this sort of thing. Someone please (at least try) to give me good news!
Probably not though. Oh well.
Sent from my LG-P999

They make personal cell towers for your house (that's definitely not the right word for them). But unfortunately it wouldn't do anything for the areas around it.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

Ehh I got wifi calling plus the signal at my apt is fine. I will eventually just unlock it and use a different carrier. Probably the only thing that can be done.
Sent from my LG-P999

e4e5nf3nc6 said:
Ehh I got wifi calling plus the signal at my apt is fine. I will eventually just unlock it and use a different carrier. Probably the only thing that can be done.
Sent from my LG-P999
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Just and FYI, the only other service that it can be used with is ATT witch as you stated in OP will only be 2g.

Could be worse.
You could have 100% perfect signal *everywhere* except home. As in, I drive 1 minute in either direction and my signal becomes perfect 4G...
I'm triangulated between 3 towers at close distance... apparently at the point where they all 3 are equidistant a phone will have difficulty locking onto any one specific tower due to interference from the others... same reason AT&T realized selling cell signal repeaters could actually make signal worse for some people...
I even found a New Year's surprise from T-Mobile, ran a speedtest right after midnight and got the fastest speed I've ever gotten (anywhere) on 4G less than a mile from my home. Got all excited, got home, and had horrible signal as usual ...

lotherius said:
Could be worse.
You could have 100% perfect signal *everywhere* except home. As in, I drive 1 minute in either direction and my signal becomes perfect 4G...
I'm triangulated between 3 towers at close distance... apparently at the point where they all 3 are equidistant a phone will have difficulty locking onto any one specific tower due to interference from the others... same reason AT&T realized selling cell signal repeaters could actually make signal worse for some people...
I even found a New Year's surprise from T-Mobile, ran a speedtest right after midnight and got the fastest speed I've ever gotten (anywhere) on 4G less than a mile from my home. Got all excited, got home, and had horrible signal as usual ...
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Click to collapse
I have the SAME EXACT issue as you. Horrible speed at home, but as soon as I step outside, perfect 4G. I easily pick up 6mb in my area. Heck, I usually pick up 10mb. ;D

I just need to move to a new area. It is Verizon-dominant around here and everything else just basically doesn't work. It really is frustrating though paying for the phone service and not having jack when I am out and about. I have no service almost anywhere I have to go on a daily basis except for my apartment. I don't have a home phone so that's useful but part of the reason of having a cell phone (especially the one I bought) is being able to send a text or use the internet WHEREVER I am!!!

[Q] Struggling with Reception.

I have not done anything software wise to my phone, its still a factory rom and radio for ATT... now my issue is I'm struggling all the time with reception with this phone. I don't remember it being this bad when I first got it and now its just becoming a huge annoyance.
I'll have phone calls breaking up with a display showing 3-4 bars of service and also having troubles sending txt messages quite often.
I'm in an area that is labeled as HPSA coverage area and my "voice" coverage map for my area is not bad at all... for example where I work is listed as "BEST" coverage and if I walk outside I'll have 2 maybe 3 bars of service.
There is nothing visibly wrong with my antenna/sim cover but should I attempt to replace it and see if that could be causing the problem?
There is nothing out there on the web for improving reception on a Inspire 4G phone and there is now way to shut off the HPSA and revert to 3G, but at the same time I really should have to since my whole state is covered with blue for HPSA coverage.
Any input on things that I can try would be great.
Thanks.

BerettaFreak said:
I have not done anything software wise to my phone, its still a factory rom and radio for ATT... now my issue is I'm struggling all the time with reception with this phone. I don't remember it being this bad when I first got it and now its just becoming a huge annoyance.
I'll have phone calls breaking up with a display showing 3-4 bars of service and also having troubles sending txt messages quite often.
I'm in an area that is labeled as HPSA coverage area and my "voice" coverage map for my area is not bad at all... for example where I work is listed as "BEST" coverage and if I walk outside I'll have 2 maybe 3 bars of service.
There is nothing visibly wrong with my antenna/sim cover but should I attempt to replace it and see if that could be causing the problem?
There is nothing out there on the web for improving reception on a Inspire 4G phone and there is now way to shut off the HPSA and revert to 3G, but at the same time I really should have to since my whole state is covered with blue for HPSA coverage.
Any input on things that I can try would be great.
Thanks.
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Click to collapse
hpsa is basically 3g just optimized packet transmission. You can change your phone to run on edge network (which is why i personally do because then i can get a ton more battery life) Also it doesnt matter what your area is 'claimed' to be for coverage, there are a ton of outside factors that influence your signal. What you can do is take the bottom cover off and clean the gold contacts on the phone itself with alcohol and using something metal, lightly scrape the cover-side contacts to shine up the metal (but not removing the material itself)

Well aware of all the things you mentioned, as well as I've tried cleaning the contacts multiple times. Used an eraser on the cover side to polish the contacts and got no improvement with signal. I also can not find any way to shut off HPSA or 3G on this phone... and I've read that with the AT&T Inspire it's not possible. I'd love to switch to Edge when at work because as you said it would extend battery life immensely.
But I guess the real issue is I never had these problems before with any of my phones or this one at first, granted I have some dead spots which I'm well aware of and accept since I do live in the hilly north east corner but to have this phone degrade with signal over the time I've had it just seems a bit odd.
I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced signal loss with an Inspire 4G over the life of the phone without having any physical damage done to it. As well as having much less signal strength in comparison to other phone models.
I'm contemplating getting a new phone but I want to ensure that whatever I get would have better reception. I'm close to my 2yr resign IIRC and when I do find out that date I will probably replace this.
Its just the whole antenna on the Inspire seems to be lacking and very small in my mind, and placed very badly.

*#*#4636#*#* dial this and get into your config menu. change network type to edge/gsm i think it is? been a while since ive used stock ui
fyi the antenna is supposed to be small as it has to be designed to receive certain frequency. antenna length has to do with what signal it is using. bigger is not better
theres an app on market called 2g/3g toggle. it will put a button on your screen to take u to that menu screen instantly

That worked but which network do you switch to, It was on WCDMA Preferred
Also that app only brings me to the network settings in the phone, not to this menu.
I selected "GSM Only" for now to see what it does.

BerettaFreak said:
That worked but which network do you switch to, It was on WCDMA Preferred
Also that app only brings me to the network settings in the phone, not to this menu.
I selected "GSM Only" for now to see what it does.
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Click to collapse
correct, gsm only will keep you on edge network. if you want your regular hspa+ setting just change it back to wcdma preferred

I'm all of a sudden having no service, i think at&t is having issues.

Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
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Moving to Q&A

This is a matter of interest to me as well. I've been looking at some videos for "fixing" the reception of other phone models by finding the gold contacts and extending the "antenna" by attaching a piece of aluminum foil to the antenna points. Now with the Inspire, the contact points are in the battery cover, but you'd have to open the unit itself to see anything more than that. I'm thinking that some reception problems may be due to worn contacts. I'd be interested in what kind of substance would be appropriate for "restoring" the contacts. Also I'd be interested if someone *has* opened up the unit and "extended" the antenna with something like aluminum foil.

From what I could gather the cell antenna is actually on the bottom cover for the SIM an SD cards. All I did was use an eraser on the contacts to clean them up and yes I did try to lay down foil to extend the antenna but from what I have read regarding radio's and such the antenna size and shape is specific to the signal its trying to pick up, so that could either work great or fail completely when you try to extend it. It did not help for my situation at all.
Lately the phone will not send txt's with one bar of HPSA or just on Edge which makes no sense to me and also I'm quite often only getting one bar unless I can see a tower right next to me which is a bit sad and I do not remember having this issue before.
Also changing the preferred network did not prevent it from using or wanting to go to HPSA while I'm at work. It would operate the same as before. Its impossible to get this phone to stick on regular 3g which I feel I have better coverage of that network in my area.
I'm contemplating rooting the phone and trying some different radio's on it to see if that will help me at all.
I never had this many signal issues with my 3Gs and I'm contemplating going back to that phone until I can upgrade again since this is just so aggravating... More so than having to have the same txt sounds as everyone else with an iPhone.

I think it us just AT&T having problems on their side. Some days I gave great reception, and others it struggles to maintain one bar all day. Its getting very annoying for me, and I probably won't be with them for much longer...Verizon looks much better right now.

How much can different phones affect signal strength?

So we've been testing a Verizon and T Mobile phone (currently have Sprint) as Sprint has been pretty poor in our area as of late. The T Mobile phone is a Galaxy Blaze, and with it we get amazing 4G signal in the street outside our house. However, we can move literally 3 feet closer to the house, and the signal will drop to absolutely nothing. Inside the house it just frequently switches between very low 4G and very low Edge signal. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Is there any chance that a different phone (we want Nexus 4's) would have stronger reception and not have this problem, or is our house pretty much screwed?

Different internal radios will be different, yes.
However, I get absolutely no signal in my house with my T-Mobile S3. I don't find this to be a problem since T-Mobile has native calling over WIFI. Whole house is covered by strong WIFI signal and the call quality has been pretty great when used that way. I don't know if you can get WIFI calling onto the Nexus 4, I would guess probably not but who knows (maybe someone has found a way) - I'd have to research that.
I don't know how well a signal repeater would work, but it seems like it could since you could place it outside the home where it would have access to a great signal and repeat it inside.
If your Sprint phone can roam on Verizon, I'd question how much of a difference it would make to switch to Verizon itself. I have had both and the signal in my home was basically the same - the Sprint phone was connected to the same Verizon towers the Verizon phone was. I'm sure there might be some technical reasons there would be differences at some point (radios, how roaming is dictated), but I never noticed them in practical use.
Depends on the plans you're looking at and where you're willing to compromise.

For whatever reason, roaming doesn't seem to fix the problem on Sprint here. Verizon gets great signal, but 4 days in the 2gb plan is clearly not going to work. This pretty much leaves T-Mobile our only choice. T-Mobile also seems to just get better and faster service everywhere we go, so it would still be better than Sprint, as we're used to not having service at home anyway. It would just be unfortunate to have to continue like that.

[Q] No signal in my home.....fine anywhere else

Alright, first some general info:
Phone: Nexus 5 T-Mobile Branded
Software: Android L
Plan: Unlimited Data 30$/month
Location: Urbandale, IA
Troubleshooting Steps: Just about everything, called customer care talked to them and walked through all their steps, checked APN settings, restored phone, tried a lower OS on the phone, tried a different radio, tried new SIM, disabled common house hold possible interference (Wifi, Microwaves, ect.), tried other phone (Blackberry Torch, Samsung Galaxy SI(Vibrant) and SII), I do have WIFI calling on those phones, but it's a pain in the rear to have to changed phones every time I get home, and I'm not going to use those as all of them are outdated, don't tell me to get a new phone as this one is not even four months old. I'm an IT Cyber Security Specialist, so I have the background knowledge of how to fix many tech issues. So save the BS and give it to me straight please.
Problem:
As you most likely can tell from the title, I don't have service in my home. I sometimes do, but it's gone and I haven't even touched/moved the phone. I've always had terrible coverage in my home, but never this bad. I can walk ten feet out of my garage or front door and have three to four bars. If i go down a few houses into my neighbors home I have perfect signal (That also rules out the possibility of the house's building material causing problems as the house is the same material and finish as mine, it's not more then four years old.) I don't understand what is happening here...it's beyond a lot of things I've seen. I can receive a text, pick up my phone to respond and then my service is instantly gone before I hit send. It's like its purposely being dropped (That's just a stupid idea though). So I honestly have no clue what is going on according to the pre-paid coverage map I should have "Good" service where my house is located yet I continually drop signal. I get great service in most other area's and do not have the signal dropping in and out anywhere else, so I'm really confused as to what is happening here. The Nexus 5 doesn't currently support WiFi calling as Nexus devices are pure Google devices and can't be modified by the carrier with things such as bloatware, custom OS, ect, hence no WiFi calling. Any help would be appreciated.

Hmm strange. Have you tried different modems/radios? Is your house like literally right next to the tower? Is it just T-Mobile that this happens to? I have a friend with a metal roof and signals for cell phones get weakened badly in their house.

I have the exact same thing and I can say in my case it is not the phone(and most likely the same for you).We have 3 different providers(Tmob,Orange and 3 as im in the UK) and between us access to 8 different phones- N5,N4,HTC Desire,HTC One M7,ZTE Blade,LG O3D,Iphone 4s an8 5s.
All with different radios,modems etc and they all exhibit the same issues with the only same factors being my house and whats in it and its geography.
It`s one of those things that we have got used to since moving into the house-god knows what the neighbours think of us leaning out the windows and doors to make calls:laugh: