[Q][SOLVED TESTED][Updated] Boston area; PRL that affords 3G Roaming - Nexus S Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Basically wondering which PRL would offer 3G roaming in my area, Boston and south of boston.
I never roam, only time Ive roamed was during that tropical storm a few weeks ago. However, Id like to know if anyone in the area may have experience roaming with 3g. Thanks!
Edit: loaded 11115 earlier and am actually roaming in a low 'sprint signal' area. Got some 3g roaming and actually, if it weren't for my unlimited data and included 3g roaming, I'd be on Verizon.
Post edit: I had 01115 prior and then 60681, both of which did not provide 3g roaming in my area.

Related

Roaming weirdness on S710

In So. California using T-Mobile but phone only roams on ATT even though I am located in an area where not allowed to roam on ATT. On manual network select, instead of T-Mobile & ATT, I get two ATTs. Roaming indicator is on. Anyone have a clue what is happening? Thanks

[Q] WCDMA vs GSM regarding signal reception on T-Mo?

Hi, I have an HTC Sensation. I live in Cleveland, OH, and went with a friend about 70 miles east towards Warren OH, mainly on Rt 422. He has Revol, which I assume is like Cricket, he had reception all the way. My service completely dropped about 15 miles east of Cleveland (South Russell - rural after that), with an X instead of any bars, till I got back about only 15 miles away again. I did get 1 bar off and on at Mosquito Lake where our cookout was, but only when right near the water, otherwise an X. I just looked up on T-Mo's website, and I should have had at least "good" to "moderate" service that whole trip. I just noticed under (Android) "Network Mode", my phone was set to "WCDMA Only". I thought this only affected data. Does this also affect voice range? I tried Googling, but couldn't really find an answer, except some sites saying WCDMA is better for rural areas, not what I really wanted to hear, given no rural reception on my phone. My other two choices are GSM Only, and GSM/WCDMA Auto, which I checked now. I don't know when I'll be out that way again, but that kind of worries me, as I just signed a new 2 year contract with T-Mo (for buying the Sensation), and I may be going out that way more, and have no service. Thanks.
WCDMA most certainly relates to voice as well as data. The only places I'd leave it on WCDMA only are metro areas and places where T-Mobile has indicated strong 4G/HSPA coverage, else always leave it on GSM/WCDMA auto or you'll be sorely lacking on reception.
T-Mobile uses WCDMA bands 1700/2100Mhz AWS for their 4G/HSPA, voice and data are combined regardless if you're on HSPA or GSM.
GSM bands are also much stronger and more effective at penetrating buildings and foliage. T-Mobile uses 850Mhz and 1900Mhz for GSM, also know as EDGE in data terms. This also means that if you happen upon an area where T-Mobile has a roaming agreement with At&t, you'll be able to get reception in those areas as well (e.g. T-Mobile has no coverage but At&t does, note this only applies in certain areas where AT&T has an agreement with T-Mobile)
EDGE/GSM is a 2G signal, so data speeds will be significantly slower in those areas. When you leave your device on GSM/WCDMA auto, it will select the optimal signal based in your location and reception quality and you'll see it change from 'H' or '4G' to 'E' often on your device.
This is normal, T-Mobile isn't going to invest HSPA in non-metropolitan areas.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
Thank you, TheMan42, I know now to keep it at the auto setting, as I only thought it affected data.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A

[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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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)

T-Mobile: Very Slow HSPA+, No LTE

Hi!
I just got my T-Mobile prepaid sim card in the mail today. I set it up with the $60/month plan (2.5GB 4G speed data). However, something seems to be very wrong. Where I live (San Jose, CA), T-Mobile is supposed to have "Very Strong" to "Excellent" LTE coverage, but I am only getting HSPA+. In addition, on HSPA+, my download speeds are a measly 0.5 Mbps down and 0.7 Mbps up. This is with full bars, -75 dbm 19 asu. It also seems to switch between HSPA and HSPA+ a lot.
Is there something I need to do after activating the phone (I went on the T-Mobile website, entered in the sim details/imei and paid for the plan)? I tried looking at the APN settings, but they match up with what T-Mobile says they should be:
Thanks in advance!
network mode set to LTE
Make sure you set your device is on LTE mode. Under networks. I am in SJ and I don't have that issue
I just got my T-Mobile prepaid sim card in the mail today. I set it up with the $60/month plan (2.5GB 4G speed data). However, something seems to be very wrong. Where I live (San Jose, CA), T-Mobile is supposed to have "Very Strong" to "Excellent" LTE coverage, but I am only getting HSPA+. In addition, on HSPA+, my download speeds are a measly 0.5 Mbps down and 0.7 Mbps up. This is with full bars, -75 dbm 19 asu. It also seems to switch between HSPA and HSPA+ a lot.
Is there something I need to do after activating the phone (I went on the T-Mobile website, entered in the sim details/imei and paid for the plan)? I tried looking at the APN settings, but they match up with what T-Mobile says they should be:
Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]
I'm also getting very slow rate with hpsa+ in San Jose at my home.
But while driving around other part of San Jose, it picks up LTE and the speed is fast.
I guess there are pockets in San Jose that just isn't that great.

[Q] International Roaming and Still Using VWZ 4G LTE

...............just like the title says........is it possible?
I live in a border town with between USA/Mexico. I have the Mexico ad on so I get 1000 mins to use as if I where in the USA, but while being south of the border.
I noticed today, WHILE IN MEXICO. that I received a couple of emails by the notification sounds....it surprised me because I have selected "Deny Data Roaming Access" in the Global Data Roaming access menu. STILL I get the 4G LTE icon and therefore my device has data, BUT my voice service is ROAMING.
Is this possible?
Can I be int'l roaming voice and still be on VZW 4G LTE at the same time???
I even went and turned airplane mode so that when it connected again, it would ask me if I wanted to deny roaming data, I doubled checked to select "deny" and still my phone would be using data with the phone roaming, but with the 4G LTE icon and data access at the same time....
There is NO 4G LTE south of the border (there is but with a different carrier and different freq.), so there is no way it could have connected to int'l LTE, and on top of that by me "denying" access to roaming data.
I know voice and data are split in 2, that the sim carries the LTE duty, and CDMA does the voice duty, SO, it is in plain paper possible since the LTE signal is strong enough to reach, but the CDMA isnt, so it roams........
Also, if its really the case, wont VWZ rape me a new one by charging me int'l data since I actually was roaming according to the CDMA signal.
Anyone care to enlighten me???
Thanks.

Categories

Resources