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Toggle 4g/3g/2g on the inspire?

Im going to get the inspire this week but i live in latinamerica, in here we dont the so called "4g" damn we barely have 3g so i was thinking this is going to have a HUGE impact in the already crappy battery life , is there a way to turn off the 4g and just saty in 3g/2g without having to install cm7?

The 3G and 4g are the same. AT&T calls it's hspa network 4g, although else ware it's referred to as 3G. In fact, even at&t called it 3G until recently.
To answer your question, you just have 2 settings. Hspa and edge. So it's 3G/4g or 2g.

tanman21 said:
The 3G and 4g are the same. AT&T calls it's hspa network 4g, although else ware it's referred to as 3G. In fact, even at&t called it 3G until recently.
To answer your question, you just have 2 settings. Hspa and edge. So it's 3G/4g or 2g.
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i remember i read somewhere that the evo 4g had an option for switching between 4g and 3g, the 3g from sprint is different? im confused with this stupid marketing move of the so called 4g, and verizon's 4g is just marketing too?
In latin america im gonna get a 4g icon on my phone when im actually just getting 3g? or the 4g sign will appear when it's suppossed to be displaying the ”h” icon , which is the one im getting with my milestone right now

Yep, the evo has two radios. One is cdma and the other is wimax.
The inspire will also display an H. Actually H+.

Chad_Petree said:
Im going to get the inspire this week but i live in latinamerica, in here we dont the so called "4g" damn we barely have 3g so i was thinking this is going to have a HUGE impact in the already crappy battery life , is there a way to turn off the 4g and just saty in 3g/2g without having to install cm7?
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Click to collapse
If you want to just stick to 2G, you can download Extended Controls from the market and put a 2G/3G toggle on your homescreen. Sticking to 2G will increase your battery life, too.

SmittyRN said:
If you want to just stick to 2G, you can download Extended Controls from the market and put a 2G/3G toggle on your homescreen. Sticking to 2G will increase your battery life, too.
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no, i dont wanna stick to just 2g, so the radios for 3g and 3g are different? when i get 3.5 g the notification bar is gonna display a "H" or its gonna appear as a "H+"

On The HTC Inspire the H+ icon well display for both 3G and HSPA+. So you will not no when your on HSPA+ unless you go to Settings and click on About Phone and then click on Network, and under Mobile Network Type it will say either: HSPDA (3.5g) or HSPA+ (I'm assuming).

I desperately need a solution to this as well.
At work the 3G signal is very crappy and the constant searching and switching all but kills my battery in less than 8 hours. I also get missed calls.
The custom ROM I had in my previous phone (Tilt 2) had the 3G Toggle and it worked beautifully... my battery lasted for 2 days.
*#*#4636#*#* doesn't make the GSM selection stick.
I tried several apps from the market and they only take me to settings and there is nothing there to change to force the phone into constant Edge.

Fuzzy John said:
I desperately need a solution to this as well.
At work the 3G signal is very crappy and the constant searching and switching all but kills my battery in less than 8 hours. I also get missed calls.
The custom ROM I had in my previous phone (Tilt 2) had the 3G Toggle and it worked beautifully... my battery lasted for 2 days.
*#*#4636#*#* doesn't make the GSM selection stick.
I tried several apps from the market and they only take me to settings and there is nothing there to change to force the phone into constant Edge.
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Try using CM7. It does have the functional use 2G(EDGE) only.

Why does my phone say 4G?

I am in a 3G only area, why does my phone say 4G? The speeds are inline with 3G.

mycomputerisjunk said:
I am in a 3G only area, why does my phone say 4G? The speeds are inline with 3G.
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I don't think the phone can tell the difference as it's technically the same towers, and internal radio being used. Your phone can however tell the difference between HSPA(+) and edge, and would show you that in a heartbeat.

3G is read as 4G on the phone
Weird.

Paging Dr B said:
I don't think the phone can tell the difference as it's technically the same towers, and internal radio being used. Your phone can however tell the difference between HSPA(+) and edge, and would show you that in a heartbeat.
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It can tell the difference. Not sure about the TMO branded one because they use the "4G" icon and the unbranded ones show H but just yesterday I saw my unbranded one go from H to 3G a few times when I was in one area

Kinda pisses me off because I was stoked to see 4G on the phone and was looking forward to speeds above 500k.
T-Mobile or HTC really made this confusing. Because I have seen 4G, 2G, E, and G as data speeds. You would think they would be able to simplify it a little?

So, someone enlighten me..
4G = HSPA+ (up to 14mbit)
2G = ?
E = Edge (dial-up speeds)
G = GPRS (2.5G? 2x E?)

Ive seen a 3G icon on mine before...

mycomputerisjunk said:
So, someone enlighten me..
4G = HSPA+ (up to 14mbit)
2G = ?
E = Edge (dial-up speeds)
G = GPRS (2.5G? 2x E?)
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I believe so. HSPA+ can get more than 14 but the sensation can get 14. TMO just set up much higher speeds in a bunch of cities.

mycomputerisjunk said:
Kinda pisses me off because I was stoked to see 4G on the phone and was looking forward to speeds above 500k.
T-Mobile or HTC really made this confusing. Because I have seen 4G, 2G, E, and G as data speeds. You would think they would be able to simplify it a little?
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Have you talked to t-mo to see if those speeds are normal for your area? Even 3G speeds shouldn't be that slow. With t-mo 3g speeds you should be seeing between 1Mb - 6Mb down.

mycomputerisjunk said:
So, someone enlighten me..
4G = HSPA+ (up to 14mbit)
2G = ?
E = Edge (dial-up speeds)
G = GPRS (2.5G? 2x E?)
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Click to collapse
On the tmo version 2G= Edge I have yet to see it show an E mine goes from 4G, 3G to 2G no E

mycomputerisjunk said:
So, someone enlighten me..
4G = HSPA+ (up to 14mbit)
2G = ?
E = Edge (dial-up speeds)
G = GPRS (2.5G? 2x E?)
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Click to collapse
It goes GPRS < EDGE < 3G < 4G
EDGE is also known as Enhanced GPRS and they are both considered 2G. EDGE would be the 2.5G if you want to use that notation.

GPRS = 2.5 g (114 kbps)
EDGE = 2.75 g (250 kbps)
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

I'm pretty sure this is just like all of tmo's other 4G phones. The stock ROMs don't show 3G, even if you have a 3G signal. It will only ever show 4G, 2G or G on our phones. My G2 and MT4G were like this too, except it showed H instead of 4G, but never 3G. I had to root and get a custom ROM for it to differentiate between 3G and 4G.
That being said, I saw a few people in this thread say they have seen 4G on their phone... Screenies? On my rooted Glacier I saw it switch from 3G to 4G all the time in my house, and now with this phone I only see the 4G icon even with 3G speeds...
Edit: I would imagine the whole not showing 3G thing is a Tmous thing, so if you have the international version and you are seeing 3G, that would not surprise me. I think it's its a marketing thing, they don't want to sell these high end "4G" phones and then have the user see 3G if they live in a 3G area only.

TJBunch1228 said:
I'm pretty sure this is just like all of tmo's other 4G phones. The stock ROMs don't show 3G, even if you have a 3G signal. It will only ever show 4G, 2G or G on our phones. My G2 and MT4G were like this too, except it showed H instead of 4G, but never 3G. I had to root and get a custom ROM for it to differentiate between 3G and 4G.
That being said, I saw a few people in this thread say they have seen 4G on their phone... Screenies? On my Glacier I saw it switch from 3G to 4G all the time in my house, and now with this phone I only see the 4G icon even with 3G speeds...
Edit: I would imagine the whole not showing 3G thing is a Tmous thing, so if you have the international version and you are seeing 3G, that would not surprise me. I think it's its a marketing thing, they don't want to sell these high end "4G" phones and then have the user see 3G if they live in a 3G area only.
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I remember you from the mt4g forums. I think I hooked you up with the keyboard manager app that let you switch kb's based on landscape or portrait

TJBunch1228 said:
I'm pretty sure this is just like all of tmo's other 4G phones. The stock ROMs don't show 3G, even if you have a 3G signal. It will only ever show 4G, 2G or G on our phones. My G2 and MT4G were like this too, except it showed H instead of 4G, but never 3G. I had to root and get a custom ROM for it to differentiate between 3G and 4G.
Edit: I would imagine the whole not showing 3G thing is a Tmous thing, so if you have the international version and you are seeing 3G, that would not surprise me. I think it's its a marketing thing, they don't want to sell these high end "4G" phones and then have the user see 3G if they live in a 3G area only.
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Click to collapse
The same thing happened with the HD2 as well. It would never change unless you swapped out for different taskbar icons

It probably depends on the 3G network type.
To the OP: You're probably in an HSDPA 3G area (which is also used for 4G if the phone is capable of HSPA+), if you're in a UMTS 3G area the 3G icon will show. 2G = Edge, G = GPRS.
Not a big deal...

graffixnyc said:
I remember you from the mt4g forums. I think I hooked you up with the keyboard manager app that let you switch kb's based on landscape or portrait
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Haha yep that was me! I was just talking about that app in a different thread last night. It was seriously the best app ever. Now Swype 3.0 has included better support in landscape, with a good autocorrect dictionary, so I am able to survive without KB now. Thanks again for hooking me up back when.

4G = HSPA+ (up to 14mbit)
2G = ?
E = Edge (dial-up speeds)
G = GPRS (2.5G? 2x E?)
4G= WiMaX/LTE/HSPA+(generally over 1mbps up to the phones theoretical max of 14 mbps)In the USA T-mobile and AT&T use HSPA+, Verizon and AT&T use LTE, sprint uses WiMaxx
3G/H= Regular HSDPA/HSPA
2G/Edge= Speeds similar to dial up= the speed your data is throttled to on T-Mobiles "UNLIMITED DATA PLANS"
G/1G/GPRS=Really slow spleeds alot of the time you cant even surf data on these speeds

I'm always in the city and I have only seen it switch from 4G to a 2G icon, nothing between.

rawr4dj said:
4G= WiMaX/LTE/HSPA+(generally over 1mbps up to the phones theoretical max of 14 mbps)In the USA T-mobile and AT&T use HSPA+, Verizon and AT&T use LTE, sprint uses WiMaxx
3G/H= Regular HSDPA/HSPA
2G/Edge= Speeds similar to dial up= the speed your data is throttled to on T-Mobiles "UNLIMITED DATA PLANS"
G/1G/GPRS=Really slow spleeds alot of the time you cant even surf data on these speeds
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Click to collapse
HSPA+ actually still falls under 3G but thanks to great American marketing everyone & their mother now thinks it's 4G.

Only 2g or 4g.. never seen a 3g symbol!

Since purchasing my phone almost 2 weeks ago I have never gotten 3g. I have replaced my sim and also upgraded data. I have one day left to return and I'm wondering if you guys too are having this issue. Or perhaps is it a tower/radio issue?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

It won't ever show 3g
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

Yeah i saw the same thing. I think it's has a lot to do with TMO's 4G not actually being a different technology than it's 3G. So in most cases if you have 3G you also have 4G. Are there any areas where you know that TMO's HSPA+ network doesn't have coverage but the normal 3G coverage does? I'd be interested in that. I couldn't test in my area because the 3G coverage is the exact same as the 4G so the indicator would only change if I entered an edge only area.
The G2 only displays an H which can either be 3G or 4G but it's not differentiated on the phone. So I think it's just because of TMO's network not being a separate technology that requires a different radio. So the phone won't go from 4G to 3G to Edge. It goes straight to 2G because 3g and 4G is the same in technology. Only difference is speed and that that's with any network where you have different speeds in different places.

The 4G is a souped up version of their 3G so you won't see 3G ever AFAIK.

Thought i was the only one that noticed

As a t-mob tech rep I can confirm that this is true. The phone will either display 2 or 4. It was even in the brief training we received. No need to return it

Get Mobile Signal Widget if you want to see it go between 3G(UMTS) or H(HSPA+)
It will not show 3G/4G because it would flip between the two too much.

Yesterday I saw it just said "G". Phone was slow as ****. I love this thing.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

joeyklatzko said:
The 4G is a souped up version of their 3G so you won't see 3G ever AFAIK.
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It's the same on the G2x that I had briefly.

good to know cause im in love with my phone and didnt wanna chance a exchange! its really not enough good about this phone on here but for any of you on the edge its a great phone coming from a hd2 which was also the SH!T !!

Just a little extra info on this. EVERY 3G cell site in T-Mobile's network is HSPA capable so whenever you are on a 3G site your have HSPA access BUT not every site is HSPA+ (4G speeds). With that said, your phone does not know the difference so even if we wanted an icon to show the difference we couldn't have it. There is one more mode and that is UMTS. This only shows when your phone is idle and not doing data (not very often). It does NOT mean your don't have HSPA access on that site, it just means your phone is not currently doing data. So, we could have a 3G icon for when your idle but your phone would be constantly switching from 3G icon to 4G or H (whichever you have) and that would be annoying. Hope this helps.

setzer715 said:
There is one more mode and that is UMTS. This only shows when your phone is idle and not doing data (not very often). It does NOT mean your don't have HSPA access on that site, it just means your phone is not currently doing data. So, we could have a 3G icon for when your idle but your phone would be constantly switching from 3G icon to 4G or H (whichever you have) and that would be annoying. Hope this helps.
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That's what it did for the HD2 & it let me know when I was actually pulling down data, just look for 3G or the H

xnifex said:
That's what it did for the HD2 & it let me know when I was actually pulling down data, just look for 3G or the H
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You will still know with the data activity arrows.

setzer715 said:
You will still know with the data activity arrows.
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Click to collapse
On the Sensation yes, HD2 running WM though it was about the only way to know

Its a lie. It just says 4G instead of 3G. Never 3G. Its a ploy to make you believe they have 4G everywhere.

I have an unbranded Asian Sensation and it shows 3G once and a while. There is this one area I notice it switches from the H(4G) to 3G. I know TMO changed the H icon with a 4G one so maybe they removed the 3G one show it always shows 4G even if on 3G??

Ive seen it switch to 3g and its like not having internet. Speeds around 50-100 kbps . A friend with mt4g confirmed.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

~~Tito~~ said:
Its a lie. It just says 4G instead of 3G. Never 3G. Its a ploy to make you believe they have 4G everywhere.
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Tito, long time no see!
LOL, true that t-Mob is trying to brainwash the XDA gang

DeezNotes said:
Yesterday I saw it just said "G". Phone was slow as ****. I love this thing.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
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You were on a regular GSM connection, those are old and slow. Not your phones fault, it was basically trying to use data over a rotary phone.

Is your device from tmobile?

[Q] Data speeds?

So I know all the issues with older 2g sims affecting speeds, I called tmobile, and they said that I was in fact registered with a 2g sim, so I had them activate the sim that came in the box, but I have no improvement in speed. I'm still getting nowhere above 2mbps, most of the time around 1. I know I have a 4g data plan, they added that when I got the phone for immediate activation, not next billing cycle. Even in areas where my old mytouch 3G slide got 4 mbps on the 3G HSPA network, I can't get much above 2 on the HSPA+ network. What gives? If the new 4g sim and data plan aren't working, what's the issue here? Anyone else having issues?

Are you sure that you're connected to HSPA+? And, even if you are connected with good reception to a HSPA+ tower, that doesn't mean that the tower has good bandwidth backhaul. If its a low traffic tower, T-Mobile might not want to pay for a large amount of bandwidth for it.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium

I suppose I can't be positive, but the icon says 4G. Although I've never seen a 3G icon, only G, 2G, and 4G, meaning they probably just replaced the 3G icon with the 4G icon since the phone can't technically display a different icon for HSPA and HSPA+, can it? I've never seen a 3G icon so I might just be connected to 3G. But even in populous areas, like downtown, at night, I top out at 4, MAYBE 5 mbps. I've heard people getting 4 or 5 on a bad day, 7-8 average and 10-12 if they're lucky. I'm wondering where that's at, maybe it's a flaw in the stock rom and an AOSP or other custom rom would be better. I seem to remember having bad speeds on sense on my Slide too.
During data transfer, I went to the about phone>network menu, and mobile network type reads HSDPA and then reverts to UMTS after a period of inactivity. It does not specify HSDPA+ though, it just says HSDPA. I understand that the 3g and 4g networks on tmobile are technically one and the same, HSDPA+ is just an advancement of the 3G technology, but I'm wondering if something just isn't clicking and the phone isn't taking advantage of HSDPA+. I checked the coverage map, and the entire region I live in, minus a few rural areas, are supposed to be covered by 4G data.

[Q] Is there a way to switch between 3G and 4G?

Hey is there a way to switch between using 3G and 4G? I know there is a use only 2G networks option but what about 3G/4G? Thanks

I don't think so...
To my understanding, T-Mobile uses the same network technology for both 3G and 4G (HSPA+) so turning off 4G would also turn off 3G. And if that isn't the case, it still wouldn't make sense to turn it off. It's only affect would be slower internet speeds. I could be wrong here though, lets see what the other posts say.

BioRivet said:
To my understanding, T-Mobile uses the same network technology for both 3G and 4G (HSPA+) so turning off 4G would also turn off 3G. And if that isn't the case, it still wouldn't make sense to turn it off. It's only affect would be slower internet speeds. I could be wrong here though, lets see what the other posts say.
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I think you're right BioRivit. Unlike the switch between 2G and 3G, which involved totally different frequencies and underlying technology, 4G is basically the same technology as 3G, except with a few modifications that allow a faster speed.

XD
andrewNY said:
I think you're right BioRivit.
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It's been a long time since I last heard that... Lol

Ok thanks guys. I guess my real question was supppsed to be how do you tell if you are on tmobile's 3G or "4G". I feel like I've never seen a 3G icon in the status bar, only 4G. Thoughts?

T-Mobile uses the 3g network to transmit 4g. Unlike Verizon or Sprint which have a structural difference between 3g and 4g, T-Mobile is using the 3g network with data compression. This is how they expanded from 3g to 4g instantly, no change in network structure. You won't see 3g again if you have a 4g phone like the G2x. You can only use Edge (2g) or 4g. Hope that helps.

Alright thanks guys