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[Q] Locking Phone to WCDMA

I am having an issue locking the phone to WCDMA. I live an area where the EDGE signal is stronger and it constantly drops 3G. After rooting the phone, I locked it into WCDMA and it would stick all the time, even dropping all signal when I moved into an area with only GSM coverage. However, somewhere along the line, I've lost the abillity to lock it in. I have tried going into the Mobile Networks settings and selecting WCDMA Only and also doing the *#*#4636#*#* and neither one will lock it into WCDMA. Anyone else having this issue or know of a workaround for this?

If ur in a edge based area where 3g is minimal,then setting to wcdma is the worst way to go. Wcdma will lock u into 3g/4g signals ONLY! So if your in edge area only,wcdma will not give u data or signal due to the fact the phone is searching for 3g/4g signals only. And GSM or cdma is a different ball park. Set to wcdma preferred and let it pick up what it can. If a 3g or "4g" signal is avaliable,it will automatically detect it and connect.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App

mattmiller said:
If ur in a edge based area where 3g is minimal,then setting to wcdma is the worst way to go. Wcdma will lock u into 3g/4g signals ONLY! So if your in edge area only,wcdma will not give u data or signal due to the fact the phone is searching for 3g/4g signals only. And GSM or cdma is a different ball park. Set to wcdma preferred and let it pick up what it can. If a 3g or "4g" signal is avaliable,it will automatically detect it and connect.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not that I don't have 3G in my area, its just that it only gives me 3 bars as opposed to EDGE which will give me full signal. When it's set on wcdma preferred, it will connect to 3G and after a few minutes switch over to EDGE. With my Captivate and the Inspire when I first got it and before I rooted it, I was able to lock it into only 3G. Somehow after flashing basically every rom in this forum, I can't get that setting to stick anymore.

Ok then flash the ruu of the rooted stock inspire. It is a pd98img.zip u can load and flash via bootloader. It will stay s-off and will flash updated radio and patches. Get your data fixed and GPS and then flash a rom afterwards. Attn1 has it posted in the development.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App

Rob_Wing said:
Its not that I don't have 3G in my area, its just that it only gives me 3 bars as opposed to EDGE which will give me full signal. When it's set on wcdma preferred, it will connect to 3G and after a few minutes switch over to EDGE. With my Captivate and the Inspire when I first got it and before I rooted it, I was able to lock it into only 3G. Somehow after flashing basically every rom in this forum, I can't get that setting to stick anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same issue here, I called AT&T and they said it's because the cell tower closest to my office is old and supports Edge only so my phone keeps attaching to that tower even though there are other towers in range (that will give me 3 bars of 3G) which are newer.
With the stock rom, even going into the testing menu and setting "WCDMA only", it kept me on the Edge network. I rooted and flashed a custom ROM (Android Revolution) and at first it was great. At the office I could force "WCDMA only" at my desk, when I went into the middle of the building or whatever I would just have no signal (which I was ok with).
Now with the newer versions of the ROM I could no longer force "WCDMA only"... And the OP basically ignores my questions when I ask. Something that worked fine, I flashed a new version of the ROM and it stopped working...doesn't take a genius to figure out it's probably something he changed in his ROM... Not to sound unappreciative of the developers here...they do great work. Just frustrating... >_<

New to T-Mo, data question?

Is it normal for the phone to go straight from "4G" to "2G"? Should the phone ever show "3G" or anything of the like? I was in an area on the coverage map that said "3G" but the phone was hunting between "4G" and "2G" where "2G" will absolutely access NO DATA... Is it also normal for "2G" to be useless..

Dial *#*#4636#*#*
Then "phone settings"
Then change "wcdma preferred" to "wcdma only"
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

Just did that, seemed to show 0-1 bars of 4G and it was still enough to get data to load, so I guess that works.
Is there just no 3G that will ever display on this phone? I know there is a mix of HSDPA and HSPA+ in my area, but it's only ever said 4G.

chrisizzle492 said:
Dial #*#*4636*#*#
Then "phone settings"
Then change "wcdma preferred" to "wcdma only"
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-Go into the dialer and dial *#*#4636#*#*

Wait what? Doing that is going to make it so that you will only ever be able to use data if you are in a 4G/3G data area.
T-Mobile does not have a very big 3G coverage map, so doing this essentially makes it so that you have to stay within a known 3G area. 2G, IE EDGE will get you around 150kBps on T-Mobile which isn't really all that bad all things considered.
I would definately switch back to the Auto setting.

The problem is, even with 4 bars of 2g, the phone literally cannot browse the internet at all... almost as if I were connected to GPRS.

mbaran said:
Is it normal for the phone to go straight from "4G" to "2G"? Should the phone ever show "3G" or anything of the like? I was in an area on the coverage map that said "3G" but the phone was hunting between "4G" and "2G" where "2G" will absolutely access NO DATA... Is it also normal for "2G" to be useless..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. 4G (HSPA) doesn't really require better signal strength than 3G (UMTS) - so an area is either 3G or 4G capable depending on if T-Mobile has upgraded the tower or not.
2G (EDGE) can work on a much weaker signal so your phone will drop back to it from 4G.
Please correct me if I'm wrong

this is what i put in a similar thread:
I'm guessing the reason you won't see 3G is because Tmobile has upgraded most of their 3G network to HSPA+ so it'll show the 4G unless you actually go to a place that still has just 3G versus the HSPA+

[Q] Disable 4g on samsung galaxy s2 i727r?

Hi there,
I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE (signed with Rogers) and I'm trying to figure out how to disable 4G on my phone and only use 3G. I've looked through some threads talking about changing the "Network mode" in the "Mobile network settings," but I haven't had any luck with that.
GSM/HSPA/LTE (Auto Mode)
GSM/HSPA (Auto Mode)
GSM Only
HSPA Only
Right now, I'm using GSM/HSPA (Auto Mode) but it still says I'm connected to 4G in the status bar. In GSM Only, it connects to the edge network (E) and in HSPA only, it will connect to 4G network. Anyone have any ideas of how to connect using 3G?
Also, I've noticed in my APN settings, I'm using the "ltemobile.apn" (the only APN setting I have listed). I don't have a LTE plan, so should this be the APN that I should be using? Since I'm not on a LTE plan, would I be charged more for using the "ltemobile.apn" APN?
Thanks

4g is 3g/HSPA. If you were able to get LTE, the 4g icon would change (as long as you aren't on a ROM that doesn't have LTE icons)

Is there any way to turn off 4G/LTE completely and just use 3G to conserve battery life? I don't own a Skyrocket but my friend does and has horrible batt life.

On home screen press menu button and go to phone settings
Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Network Mode
Here you can tell it to use edge/3g/lte or edge/3g or just edge or just 3g
Hopfully that is not my ROM that allows me to choose that. Using Sky Ice Cream Sandwich rom

It depends on the ROM. Stock won't do it and a number of custom roms I've used don't do it either, but I have seen some that appear to allow for that functionality. Do some research and find one you like.

"4G" is 3g (well hspa+) which is twice as fast as what 3g speeds were originally at (see 4, iphone) its more of a marketing thing. There won't be a 3g icon showing up with these roms. best bet is to choose gsm/hspa then it won't be looking for LTE.

bluecrush69 said:
Hi there,
I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE (signed with Rogers) and I'm trying to figure out how to disable 4G on my phone and only use 3G. I've looked through some threads talking about changing the "Network mode" in the "Mobile network settings," but I haven't had any luck with that.
GSM/HSPA/LTE (Auto Mode)
GSM/HSPA (Auto Mode)
GSM Only
HSPA Only
Right now, I'm using GSM/HSPA (Auto Mode) but it still says I'm connected to 4G in the status bar. In GSM Only, it connects to the edge network (E) and in HSPA only, it will connect to 4G network. Anyone have any ideas of how to connect using 3G?
Also, I've noticed in my APN settings, I'm using the "ltemobile.apn" (the only APN setting I have listed). I don't have a LTE plan, so should this be the APN that I should be using? Since I'm not on a LTE plan, would I be charged more for using the "ltemobile.apn" APN?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HSPA is actually 3G. AT&T and Tmobile were calling it 4G because they had to come up with some marketing scheme to compete with WiMaxx and LTE. SO in short, AUTO HSPA... is effectively disabling your 4G.

Used phone info to turn off 4G, but now I can't get it back!!

So I turned off 4g using phone info because I was in an area that doesn't have good coverage. But now when I go back into phone info, I can't seem to get 4g back!!
What's the trick??

mpetruzz said:
So I turned off 4g using phone info because I was in an area that doesn't have good coverage. But now when I go back into phone info, I can't seem to get 4g back!!
What's the trick??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turn the Radio off and On. Make sure that you have it set to LTE/CDMA/EVDO (or something similar to that).
My question to you was why turn it off if they area didn't have 4G anyways? LTE switches over to 3G simultaneously anyways..

StrumerJohn said:
Turn the Radio off and On. Make sure that you have it set to LTE/CDMA/EVDO (or something similar to that).
My question to you was why turn it off if they area didn't have 4G anyways? LTE switches over to 3G simultaneously anyways..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually reflashed the rom and 4g came back. I'll just leave it. I turned it off cause I figured it would save a bit of juice.

mpetruzz said:
I actually reflashed the rom and 4g came back. I'll just leave it. I turned it off cause I figured it would save a bit of juice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Next time you want to switch:
3G: CDMA (Auto PRL)
4G LTE: LTE/EVDO/CDMA
3G (DATA ONLY, NO VOICE/SMS): EVDO
Global: Roaming Network and or Home if available
LTE: Roaming LTE (AT&T or lower end Verizon LTE. Suggest you use the other option for 4G LTE as this one picks up very bad signals)
GSM: Doesn't work unless you modify the phone
WCDMA: Doesn't work unless you modify the phone.

I use the "phone info" app and when I select LTE/EVDO/CDMA, it just goes into and stays in 3g mode..? for me to use 4g, I have to select LTE only... any info on why LTE/EVDO/CDMA does not go into 4g mode?...
thanks
Dennis
stock/unrooted SGS3
StrumerJohn said:
Next time you want to switch:
3G: CDMA (Auto PRL)
4G LTE: LTE/EVDO/CDMA
3G (DATA ONLY, NO VOICE/SMS): EVDO
Global: Roaming Network and or Home if available
LTE: Roaming LTE (AT&T or lower end Verizon LTE. Suggest you use the other option for 4G LTE as this one picks up very bad signals)
GSM: Doesn't work unless you modify the phone
WCDMA: Doesn't work unless you modify the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I had a problem with "phone info" messing up and found "battery moniter widget" app free in play store. If you install it there is a really good widget for battery, plus when in app click on tests then device info and you get radio menu just like phone info. But it has never hung or not worked right for me.
See the Galaxy sIII shine via SynergyRom

I found this issue to be true on the jellybean leak using thw phone info app, it wouldnt let me go back to 4g
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Force S2 to 3G Networks

I am using a Galaxy S2 Skyrocket on the Dirty Unicorn rom and I was wondering how I can force my network to 3G. I have Straight Talk on AT&T and a very good LTE 4G signal but it drains my battery very quickly and I don't really need the speed of LTE and the speed of 3G works fine for the things I do.
I've tried in the Mobile Network settings to switch it to GSM/WCDMA preferred but it always immediately switches back to LTE/GSM/WCDMA mode and connects to LTE. The use only 2G networks option does not work either as it immediately gets turned back off as soon as you turn it on.
Using *#*#4636*#*# to switch the mode to WCDMA preferred or GSM preferred does not work either as it also switches back to LTE immediately after.
Is it possible to force the phone to 3G networks? On my old captivate samsung phone on a 4.2 JB rom, it was doable and it worked on 3G fine (even being a 4G enabled phone).

Here is what I've found works on AT&T but it might not work for you.
Go to mobile network settings and then Network Operators. In the Network Operators screen scan for networks. If two different networks appear select the one on the bottom. Then the 2G only button and other settings will work and stick until you reboot your phone. I have to change this every time I reboot. I hope this helps.
Sent from my SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

Yes. That worked. Now I just need to figure out how to turn off the hspa so it just uses a 3G connection on WCDMA instead of hspa or hspa+
Sent from my SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

I have been using this technique every time I reboot. Anyone know how to make this permanent?
Or perhaps automate it using tasker?