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not getting a signal abroad

I am currently in Japan with my htc inspire and I am not getting any signal at all. I tried resetting and going into the settings menu to change the "network operator" but its greyed out.
does anyone know what I am doing wrong? I desperately need it to work here and I have the international plan activated on my account.

bigneeker said:
I am currently in Japan with my htc inspire and I am not getting any signal at all. I tried resetting and going into the settings menu to change the "network operator" but its greyed out.
does anyone know what I am doing wrong? I desperately need it to work here and I have the international plan activated on my account.
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Well in Japan you wont get 3g due to Japan using 2100mhz and The Inspire does not have that freq built in. You should get a call signal. Make sure you enable international roaming on your account. Or if your phone is unlocked buy a local sim card and pop it in.

I enabled international roaming on my account and have the $6 plan added for cheaper international roaming service.
I don't need 3g, just a phone signal to make calls and receive texts. but all I get is a "x |on top.
I have travelled to countless countries with my other unlocked phones and have never had a problem with my phone not picking up a signal.
is it possible that because I changed to a 3g sim card, it doesn't work abroad?

japan does not have gsm EDGE coverage i dont believe. they do have 3G HSDPA, but on 2100mHz, which the inspire does not have. so you are kinda out of luck i'm afraid.

Verified with AT&T's tool here
http://www.wireless.att.com/travelguide/coverage/roaming/step1.jsp
The Inspire doesn't get voice or data in Japan

Had the same problem in Korea last week - sucked big time. How can they call it a world phone and leave out 2100!!!!

That is absolutely terrible and false advertising since Japan and Korea re left out which are huge territories. I also have an unlocked samsung vibrant that I need to charge to see if it works.
Does anyone know if the vibrant has the right frequencies for Japan?

bigneeker said:
That is absolutely terrible and false advertising since Japan and Korea re left out which are huge territories. I also have an unlocked samsung vibrant that I need to charge to see if it works.
Does anyone know if the vibrant has the right frequencies for Japan?
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According to the same tool I previously posted, the Captivate will work in Japan and South Korea
Edit: Oh, Vibrant... hold on
Don't know about the Vibrant, does it have the 2100 frequency? If so, then probably yes

Yeah I still can't believe this phone left out the 2100 frequency. I posted about this a few weeks ago and still can't believe I didn't notice that it didn't have the 2100 when I bought it, as I travel to Japan quite often.
I don't like the Atrix and the Infuse 4G isn't out yet so I'm just waiting it out until some better phones come out and will just use a older phone in the interim. Those both support 2100 apparently. Kind of ridiculous that HTC left it out of this phone.
Just did a quick search and it looks like the Vibrant does have 2100 UMTS support.
Sprint CDMA works in Tokyo (and possibly Verizon). Not sure what carrier it uses but it does work for voice only. Probably not much help though.

does the g2x even have a 3g indicator icon?

ive noticed that i get a 4g and a 2g icon but wheres the 3g icon? has anyone seened it?

Travling through the middle of nowhere over the last 3 days I've seen, no signal, G, 2G, 3G, & 4G. It's there.

I also have not seen the 3G icon. I drive through the city and would think when I get out if 4G I would at least still be in a 3G area. Wonder if something may be wrong....
Sent from my T-Mobile G2X using XDA app.

Cyberdan3 said:
I also have not seen the 3G icon. I drive through the city and would think when I get out if 4G I would at least still be in a 3G area. Wonder if something may be wrong....
Sent from my T-Mobile G2X using XDA app.
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Same here but this is the first 4G device I have had and I know for a fact most of my city is covered by 4G. What is also weird is that in areas where I would have 1 or 2 bars with my Vibrant, it is telling me I have full bars worth of 4G with the G2X.

its there in the framwork i checked..
Im just wondering why it doesnt display 3G when its on UMTS... it sticks to 4G all the time...

very strange in the instruction manual it also shows 3g icon!

Rmoved
Sent from space

death1246 said:
its there in the framwork i checked..
Im just wondering why it doesnt display 3G when its on UMTS... it sticks to 4G all the time...
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A lot of this has to do with the fact that T-Mobile's 3G towers == their 4G towers so if you're in an area where all of their towers have been upgraded to HSPA+ you will NEVER show 3G because you're always on a 4G tower. The only time you will show a 3G signal is if you're in an older area where they have pre-HSPA+ upgradeable towers. This is how T-mobile can say they have the biggest 4G network because almost all of their old HSPA/3G equipment has been turned into 4G equipment via software upgrades.

I have had my g2x for about 5 days and all I ever see is 4G or E never 3g. I have been checking in the settings/about phone/status and even when the phone is showing 3-4 bars of 4G it is still on umts. In the exact same location and within a minute or so when checking it with my Vibrant I will have 3 bars of H or 3G and in status it shows as hspda or hspda+. What is that about? I have checked this out at least 6 to 7 times a day and it is always the same only umts on the G2X and Hspda or Hspda+ on the Vibrant. I called CS and they wanted to send out another G2X I reluctantly said yes. I do really like this phone and will try to be patient but the device I have now has multiple issues. I am going to take the stance that this is an isolated case and the new one will be golden!!!

brentil said:
A lot of this has to do with the fact that T-Mobile's 3G towers == their 4G towers so if you're in an area where all of their towers have been upgraded to HSPA+ you will NEVER show 3G because you're always on a 4G tower. The only time you will show a 3G signal is if you're in an older area where they have pre-HSPA+ upgradeable towers. This is how T-mobile can say they have the biggest 4G network because almost all of their old HSPA/3G equipment has been turned into 4G equipment via software upgrades.
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This is true. There's pretty much no need for a '3G' icon. Though, technically, it's debatable whether or not T-Mo's (or any other carriers) offerings right now are actually '4G' (according to the standards committees that define those things), but that's a different argument
tl;dr: T-Mo's 3G and 4G operate on pretty much the same technology, so if you're in an area where there was 3G, you'll probably have 4G. It doesn't need to switch back and forth or be toggled like the other solutions (looking at you Wi-Max)

G2x 3G????

I have noticed in the 3 days since I have had my g2x that I never get 3g, I either get 2g or 4g on my status bar, but never 3g. Anybody else having this issue?? Considering sending it back to TMO for a new one. And yes I have a new similar card, got it about 3 months ago when I had my G2.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

I've noticed the same thing though idk if that's really a bad thing....

They probably lumped 3g and 4g together.

That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure.....has anyone seen 3G on their status bar ever????
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

Come to think of it... I haven't.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

I've read other threads here where people report seeing a 3G icon... I haven't seen it myself.
But it's possible that we're in areas where HSPA+ is turned on, which is "4G", and once you leave that range, you are in 2G (EDGE) territory. In other words, there's no area near us that is just HSPA (3G), it's either HSPA+ or EDGE.

Too many people not doing a search. No one has seen the 3g logo/symbol yet. Also a side note for those complaining about 4g speeds:
T-Mobile USA uses the 1700/2100 MHz AWS Band for its 3G network. The carrier states it allows faster download and upload data speeds utilizing HSPA+ technology, which allows for simultaneous voice and data. Upgrades to HSPA+ are planned for 2009 through 2010 which may boost average download speeds from 7.2Mbps to 21Mbps. (Reported from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile)

But my old G2 that I had just a few days ago hag Edge(2G), 3G, and H(HSPA/4G). Now with my new g2x it's either 2G, or 4G. No 3G.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

yes they are lump together. It's always 4g or 2g. It's a marketing thing, they want us to think that we always have 4g, when a lot of the time we're only getting 3g speeds.

moemoney12 said:
yes they are lump together. It's always 4g or 2g. It's a marketing thing, they want us to think that we always have 4g, when a lot of the time we're only getting 3g speeds.
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This, its not that we don't have 3g. Its that the display in the upper right hand corner says either 2g or 4g.

moemoney12 said:
yes they are lump together. It's always 4g or 2g. It's a marketing thing, they want us to think that we always have 4g, when a lot of the time we're only getting 3g speeds.
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I agree. My "4G" speeds range from 1.5 Mbps to 7.0 Mbps down depending on my physical location
Sent from my G2x

se1zure31 said:
Too many people not doing a search. No one has seen the 3g logo/symbol yet. Also a side note for those complaining about 4g speeds:
T-Mobile USA uses the 1700/2100 MHz AWS Band for its 3G network. The carrier states it allows faster download and upload data speeds utilizing HSPA+ technology, which allows for simultaneous voice and data. Upgrades to HSPA+ are planned for 2009 through 2010 which may boost average download speeds from 7.2Mbps to 21Mbps. (Reported from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile)
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Actually there is a thread here where someone stated they did see 3G (I'm skeptical) on a long distance driving trip they did.
There is also a comment from someone that the "missing" 3G icon is a bug TMO is aware of and will fix in the first software update. Take it for what it's worth (although I would believe this one).

You will not see a 3G icon appear on any TMO 4G device.
Here is the reason:T-Mobile is using the same frequencies for 3G as they do for "4G". Meaning they are using the same cell tower/antenna. The upgrade in speed comes from a base station software upgrade and a strengthened backhaul. HSPA+ devices branded as 4G literally cannot tell the difference between 3G and 4G.

DelinQuentisDQ said:
You will not see a 3G icon appear on any TMO 4G device.
Here is the reason:T-Mobile is using the same frequencies for 3G as they do for "4G". Meaning they are using the same cell tower/antenna. The upgrade in speed comes from a base station software upgrade and a strengthened backhaul. HSPA+ devices branded as 4G literally cannot tell the difference between 3G and 4G.
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You forgot a technology: UMTS (on which HSPA is based). It can tell the difference between UMTS and HSPA (but not HSPA and HSPA+). That's why other phones have had separate "3G" and "H" icons. Both were originally 3G technologies (in the same way that GPRS and EDGE are both 2G), but HSPA has been expanded to now qualify as a 4G technology (I'm not going to argue semantics here, HSPA+ is 4G and provides faster speeds than WiMAX).
Has anyone pulled apart the framework-res.apk to see if there's a 3G png in there?

I haven't seen 3g sign either, only 2g or 4g, mostly 2g though, and I'm in vegas... I'm returning the phone for that reason, and I have very bad light bleeding from the top corners too. When calling t mobile, they don't even try to troubleshoot, I guess they r aware of that problem already. Now I'm waiting for another one in the mail
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

se1zure31 said:
Too many people not doing a search. No one has seen the 3g logo/symbol yet. Also a side note for those complaining about 4g speeds:
T-Mobile USA uses the 1700/2100 MHz AWS Band for its 3G network. The carrier states it allows faster download and upload data speeds utilizing HSPA+ technology, which allows for simultaneous voice and data. Upgrades to HSPA+ are planned for 2009 through 2010 which may boost average download speeds from 7.2Mbps to 21Mbps. (Reported from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile)
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Just to add: The G2x is limited to 14.4Mbps theoretical maximum download speed So you won't enjoy anywhere near 21Mbps, or 42Mbps which is now rolling out slowly and is already in 3 cities (Las Vegas, NYC, Orlando). The most I've gotten on my G2x is 7.9Mbps down.

moemoney12 said:
yes they are lump together. It's always 4g or 2g. It's a marketing thing, they want us to think that we always have 4g, when a lot of the time we're only getting 3g speeds.
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This.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

bobthq said:
I haven't seen 3g sign either, only 2g or 4g, mostly 2g though, and I'm in vegas... I'm returning the phone for that reason, and I have very bad light bleeding from the top corners too. When calling t mobile, they don't even try to troubleshoot, I guess they r aware of that problem already. Now I'm waiting for another one in the mail
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
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I can understand returning the phone because of the bleeding but to say your going to return the device because you haven't seen a 3G icon is laughable.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

I haven't seen a 3G icon either but I don't think ir bothers me one bit. In fact, I am trying to grasp why it would bother anyone.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

4G Says UMTS ?????
jrwingate6 said:
I haven't seen a 3G icon either but I don't think ir bothers me one bit. In fact, I am trying to grasp why it would bother anyone.
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My beef is not the lack of a 3G icon, although I have yet to see one on my phone.
My beef is the lack of reception at my work, a problem the Galaxy S 4G and MyTouch 4G dont seem to have.
And why does the phone say UMTS when its on 4G ?
That right there tends to make me think the phone has an issue
(along with poor/no reception at work).

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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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] 2G, 3G, 4G? [T-Mobile]

Does TMobile not have a 3G speed?
Im always on EDGE unless I go Downtown. Then its HSPA+
Its never HSPA.
Verizon has 3G AND LTE coverage? wtf

BUMP.
I really want to know the reason for the issue

T-Mobile's '4G' network is just an enhanced version of their 3G network. So when you see 4G in some areas, you might actually be running on 3G speeds.

aNYthing24 said:
T-Mobile's '4G' network is just an enhanced version of their 3G network. So when you see 4G in some areas, you might actually be running on 3G speeds.
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I know that much,
but I never get HSPA (3G) unless Im directly under HSPA+(4G)
Basically I am always on EDGE unless I'm downtown.
Other TMO phones and VErizon have 3G coverage nearly everywhere..they never drop to EDGE or 2G

Correct me if I'm wrong, but t mobile does not have true 4g. When you get the 4g icon on your phone, that's just their enhanced 3g. So you are getting 3g. From what I've read i think they just upgraded their 3g towers with hshpa+ which only hsdpa+ enabled phones like the sensation 4g can take advantage of. What you're really missing is true 4g

burnie022 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but t mobile does not have true 4g. When you get the 4g icon on your phone, that's just their enhanced 3g. So you are getting 3g. From what I've read i think they just upgraded their 3g towers with hshpa+ which only hsdpa+ enabled phones like the sensation 4g can take advantage of. What you're really missing is true 4g
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I feel as no one is fully understanding what I'm trying to say.
I know 4G is really an overmarketed 3G+
Now, Tmobile phones and other services receive 3G where I only receive "2G" .
But I do receive HSPA+ when I go downtown.
Why dont I receive normal 3G speeds like other devices?
Its either EDGE or HSPA+
Never an inbetween

Check T-Mobile's website, where you live probably doesn't have or hasn't been upgraded to the 3G/4G service yet. Layman's term; the towers around your house don't support 3G/4G. Call T-Mobile and have them check.
This is common in a lot of suburbs that have a low population. Like you mentioned when you go downtown, you'll have 3G but not at home.

xdviper said:
Check T-Mobile's website, where you live probably doesn't have or hasn't been upgraded to the 3G/4G service yet. Layman's term; the towers around your house don't support 3G/4G. Call T-Mobile and have them check.
This is common in a lot of suburbs that have a low population. Like you mentioned when you go downtown, you'll have 3G but not at home.
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Hopefully your right. Hate it to be a problem with my SIM or phone.
I dont live but 5minutes from downtown.
Very residential but still out of the way, so like i said hopefully your right

I can directly relate to your problem. First off, I didn't know that T-Mobile's 4G is just 3G+, but that's good to know. I've had the HTC Sensation 4G for over 3 months, and I've travelled all over LA and the only services I've seen are 4G, 2G, & G. I've yet to see 3G.

I'll see my Sensation jump between "H" and "3G" all the time - essentially the same thing, as noted.
(in case this was part of your question) "Standard 3G" (such as what AT&T offers) isn't available on TMOUS because they missed out on buying part of the "standard 3G" spectrum.
Before my Sensation I had a Legend (still do actually) - it's a "standard GSM/3G" phone. Without the TMOUS-specific radio, best data I could get was EDGE. (though if I went to UK and used a local SIM, I'd get 3G just fine due to compatibility with their 3G nets)