Galaxy SII Epic 4G Touch, crappy battery - Android General

I got an Epic and before I had a Galaxy Ace. I'm used to having a phone that can last at last a day doing little with it. Few people call me or send me messages, but I like to use the wifi or 2G to remain updated about emails and Facebook posts. With my Ace I didn't have 3G, only 2G. This phone has 3G and 4G. I can turn off the 4G, but there is no way to enable 2G only.
I installed all apps I could find to do that, but none would do the trick. Maybe Sprint doesn't use 2G anymore? My service provider is Ting, and they use Sprint networks (in case that's relevant).
The other thing is the processor. How do I know if its running too fast when three phone is idle?
I updated to ICS and have root.
If my battery drained when I'm using the phone, that'd be ok. But it drains in my pocket without my using it. That's why I think it must be either the connection or the processor.
Do you have any idea, guys?
__________
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

Related

A Question for any Charge owner

I am making the switch to Verizon this weekend (before the data cap is implemented) and want to confirm that you can make a call and surf data at the same time. If so, can it be done on 3g and 4g, one of them, or not at all.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium
Just tested my Charge on 4g and yes it can make calls/browse the web at the same time, it seems flawless as well, no lag in the call(tested with my house phone so i could hear the difference) and the browser didn't seem to stutter or slow down.
I'll test 3g for ya just let me figure out how to set it to 3g only... I'll get back to you
Thanks. I thought it was normal that most, if not all 3g phones could do both, but I read somewhere that the Charge couldn't. I thought that to be really weird.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium
:-(
Blaqhawk said:
I am making the switch to Verizon this weekend (before the data cap is implemented) and want to confirm that you can make a call and surf data at the same time. If so, can it be done on 3g and 4g, one of them, or not at all.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly it doesn't work on 3g haven't tested it on 4g, but I believe it doesn't have the same radio as per say the Thunderbolt(which will do dual voice and data on 3g).
Anyways hope that helps.
I guess I should have also asked if you are stock or running a custom ROM. There are two conflicting comments here. One said yes and the other says no.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium
Blaqhawk said:
I guess I should have also asked if you are stock or running a custom ROM. There are two conflicting comments here. One said yes and the other says no.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you can check my sig, I'm definitely rooted and it works on 4g so far(haven't tested 3g) but I was checking out a bunch of reviews before I bought the phone and I remember one of them said it was capable of surfing the web while making calls so I'm fairly certain stock can do it, also when I was checking the kernel/ROM info none of them said "Added the ability to call/browse the web simultaneously" or something like that, if not it's incredibly easy to root, this was my first smartphone and I rooted it within the first 4 hours of getting the phone out of the box
Blaqhawk said:
I am making the switch to Verizon this weekend (before the data cap is implemented) and want to confirm that you can make a call and surf data at the same time. If so, can it be done on 3g and 4g, one of them, or not at all.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only works on 4g.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
That kind of sucks since I won't see 4g for a while on my area. I will have to think about that.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium
I just got the droid charge 2 days ago, totally stock no root or anything, havent even got a new app yet. I can be on a call and surf the web and it works fine. 3g area
Setting the record straight:
The Charge will NOT do voice and data at the same time over 3G, unless you have wifi on.
The Charge WILL do voice and data at the same time over 4G.
Welcome to a CDMA network, only phone that can do Simultaneous Voice and Data over CDMA is the thunderbolt, every other phone can NOT do it iPhone, Android, WP7 doesn't matter. 4G allows you to do it because voice still goes over the 1x network, and data is coming over the LTE network. CDMA does not allow simultaneous sessions unless it is an SVDO-CDMA like the Thunderbolt is.
Interesting, thank you for the explanation.
From my Rooted Vibrant
Bionix V
XDA Premium

LTE Only via LTEOnOff App?

They just turned on LTE in my area of Hawaii (though I don't think officially.) But it constantly switches back from 4G to 3G and vice versa. Sometimes it gets stuck with no data and I have to toggle airplane mode. My buddies phone in same spot could show 4G and mines 3G and vice versa. This significantly drains the battery and not a very good experience. My question is I noticed in the app that we used to turn off 4G there is an option for LTE Only, does anyone know of there would be any negative reprocussions on leaving it on 4G only? Like could it harm the phone, would any certain features/apps not work properly, etc?
I ran it like that today. Data connection seemed better and constant. When I looked at my phone throughout the day I did not notice a time where there was no data. My calls/texts/emails came through like normal. Battery seemed better. Left work with more battery than my LG Revolution which is normally the other way around. I did not run into any negative impact with setting it to LTE Only. Can anyone think of any warnings?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
All it does is set your radio to only use 4G. If you get to an areabthat has no 4g or wifi you would have to switch back to 3g or 3g/4g auto in order to get data.
No harm, just won't switch out of 4g unless you do it. Probably why the data lock is better and battery life as well.
If you get solid 4G just use LTE only and switch it if you loose 4G.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
MrHawaii said:
They just turned on LTE in my area of Hawaii (though I don't think officially.) But it constantly switches back from 4G to 3G and vice versa. Sometimes it gets stuck with no data and I have to toggle airplane mode. My buddies phone in same spot could show 4G and mines 3G and vice versa. This significantly drains the battery and not a very good experience. My question is I noticed in the app that we used to turn off 4G there is an option for LTE Only, does anyone know of there would be any negative reprocussions on leaving it on 4G only? Like could it harm the phone, would any certain features/apps not work properly, etc?
I ran it like that today. Data connection seemed better and constant. When I looked at my phone throughout the day I did not notice a time where there was no data. My calls/texts/emails came through like normal. Battery seemed better. Left work with more battery than my LG Revolution which is normally the other way around. I did not run into any negative impact with setting it to LTE Only. Can anyone think of any warnings?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are fine running LTE only. All you will get with that is 4G & 1x, so either extremely fast data, or slow as a turtle. I use that setting almost all the time here in Jersey, I live right outside of NYC so I get constant 4G coverage. It does help with the battery life too.

Have to turn off mobile data 2-3 times a day

I have had internet connectivity issues that get cleared up immediatley after i disable mobile data and then re-enable.
It happens when i am in a solid 4g area sitting in the same place surfing the web and my data will just die. and it comes back right up after i disable and re-enable my mobile data.
it also happens when im on the bus going back and forth between 3g and 4g.
is this a normal droid charge issue?
seems like it craps out after about 10 min of surfing every time i remember it happening.
i had this happen when i was stock, after i rooted stock, and now on tweek 2.0
Had that issue yesterday on 4G, and it cleared up the same evening. Occasionally will lose data connectivity on 4G, even with it's still showing the connection. It's not very frequent or consistent, and it seems to have gotten better over time. There is definitely some flakiness on the radios on the Charge. A friend was sitting right next to me on his Spectrum yesterday and wasn't having any issues. I think it's likely related to Verizon network, but I think some phones are more sensitive to it than others.
Yeah, happens to me too. I had to disable/re-enable data at least twice today. :/
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
This happened to me the first couple of days I had the phone. I went to Verizon and they swapped the SIM. Worked fine after then.
re
JihadSquad said:
This happened to me the first couple of days I had the phone. I went to Verizon and they swapped the SIM. Worked fine after then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm.. i did have a few sim issues when i got the phone a week ago, after loading a rom the phone said there was no sim inserted or there was a sim error cant remember which.
maybe swap the sim tomorrow to see if that helps.
sounds like it might be a charge radio issue... i am getting what ever killer phone comes out in a few months anyway. Galaxy s3? HTC one X ? Galaxy Journal ?
Motorola hd ?
re
So i got a new sim..
Nothing has changed.
I have netflix and live in a great 4g area and still have to toggle off data 2-3 times a morning on my bus trip into seattle.
It seems like the radio has a hard time figuring out wtf to do once it comes in and out of 4g. I can be sitting at in traffic for 5 min with no signal and flipping the data on and then off... BAM 4g is back.
This makes for annoying netflix / IT Crowd, viewing.
I am glad that i got this phone as a temp solution cheap from craigslist. Motorola Droid fighter or Galaxy S3 will be putting this lump of mediocre electronics to rest in the next month or so.
What radio is installed on your phone? To find this out go to settings/about phone. The baseband version would be your radio. If it says i510.06V.FP1, that means you are on the most up to date radio. I had similar issues before I updated to FP1 but since then, the 3 or 4G has been very quick to connect and stays reliable all day.
One of my buds works for Vzw and he told me that the 4g network is great when it works. In some places vzw is activating 4g network before the network is ready to be deployed. They are doing this because competition has more 4g coverage.
One solution is to set your phone to 3g only and accept reliable slow sppeds or deal with crappy 4g. Eventually vzw will get it right. Wjen though, is anybody's guess.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA

LTE Only

How do i make the phone run on
A) LTE only
B) 3G only
C) 1X only
Thanks in advance for any help!
Just data without regular texting or calling?
All data settings are set by changing the radios set up.
You can toggle between these through phone info app.
Sent from club Clean Rom
I don't think you can do that, but phone info app might be a good idea to look at. It might help battery life since the phone is only running one radio rather than two.
i used the phone info app, and when i press lte only it takes me back to the default lte/cdma whatever thing. any ideas how to make it stick to just LTE
You know LTE only would also disable texting/calling? I'm sure it can be done but I'm not sure how.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
thesoldier said:
You know LTE only would also disable texting/calling? I'm sure it can be done but I'm not sure how.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Exactly. Our phones are NOT VoLTE (Voice Over LTE). LTE is only used for data at this point. There are no Verizon phones on the market at this point that support VoLTE, although Verizon is reportedly in testing. Ten years from now, Verizon will probably kill (shut down) their 3G and 1X networks entirely, like they did to analog several years back.
Just for information sake, Voice calls on the Verizon network ALWAYS go out over the 1X network (currently). 3G was never designed to handle voice (it is data only), and VoLTE is still in testing at Verizon.
It would be awesome if you could do 1x and 4g radios and disable 3g. You might be able to get more battery life out of the phone. I have a 4200 may battery that lasts me 2 days (48 hours).
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

3G Issues

First of all, my LTE works fine, this is only an issue with the 3G radios. Basically, I often have issues with 3G actually sending and receiving data. When it does, it is slower than 1X for me. It drains the battery at crazy rates such as 20%/hr with little to no use. This has happened regardless of rom, although now I am on the stock f1 update and unrooted. I bought this phone used so there's no hope of a CLNR. I've had it "fixed" by samsung twice and nothing has changed. Any ideas? I have an upgrade but I'm waiting for the One or the 5S and REALLY don't want to use it on a phone I wouldn't be happy with.
Same exact problem here. 4G works fine. 3G is essentially useless. Often when it changes to 3G, I wish it would just go to 1X so that at least it would be functional. I've never really found a solution. The other day my phone was in 3G and I tried to send a text msg with a picture. It took almost ten minutes. Completely useless.
Friends with 3G Verizon phones never have any problems. They always get a solid 3G connection. I used to be with Sprint (useless) and set my Evo to roam on Verizon because the 3G was so much more responsive and quick than Sprint. Not seeing that with my S3.
usmaak said:
Same exact problem here. 4G works fine. 3G is essentially useless. Often when it changes to 3G, I wish it would just go to 1X so that at least it would be functional. I've never really found a solution. The other day my phone was in 3G and I tried to send a text msg with a picture. It took almost ten minutes. Completely useless.
Friends with 3G Verizon phones never have any problems. They always get a solid 3G connection. I used to be with Sprint (useless) and set my Evo to roam on Verizon because the 3G was so much more responsive and quick than Sprint. Not seeing that with my S3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah none of my friends have issues either. My friend with her iPhone 5 was using it next to me and it loaded pages in just a few seconds, still slower than 3G, but mine took almost a minute.
Amphibliam said:
Yeah none of my friends have issues either. My friend with her iPhone 5 was using it next to me and it loaded pages in just a few seconds, still slower than 3G, but mine took almost a minute.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forgot to mention... My wife's also got an S3. Mine's rooted with CleanROM and LK1 modem. Her's has the latest update. She has the same issues with 3G. She also had them on MB1.
Fortunately my phone doesn't flip over to 3G often. But when it does, I just stick it back in my pocket, because it won't do anything useful until it switches back to 4G.
I've never found the answer to this problem, but I'd really like to. I understand that this is a 4G phone, but it should be able to fall back to 3G with no problems.
usmaak said:
Forgot to mention... My wife's also got an S3. Mine's rooted with CleanROM and LK1 modem. Her's has the latest update. She has the same issues with 3G. She also had them on MB1.
Fortunately my phone doesn't flip over to 3G often. But when it does, I just stick it back in my pocket, because it won't do anything useful until it switches back to 4G.
I've never found the answer to this problem, but I'd really like to. I understand that this is a 4G phone, but it should be able to fall back to 3G with no problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI, I just tried AOSP for the hell of it and data speeds are much better. Too bad it seems a bit buggy. :/
nvm, speeds still absolutely blow
i have a network extender and most of the time I can't send pic messages..piece of ****...ive tried multiple basebands...im convinced its the phone
sent from a violated Vzw Galaxy s3
Amphibliam said:
FYI, I just tried AOSP for the hell of it and data speeds are much better. Too bad it seems a bit buggy. :/
nvm, speeds still absolutely blow
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theoretically AOSP ROMs should have absolutely no effect on data or voice since they don;t touch the radio firmware.
I was in a 3G zone this evening and did a speedtest.
23 kbps down. It died when trying to run the upload portion of the test. Friends with regular 3G phones routinely get 800 kbps - 1200 kbbs down.
I agree. It has to be the phone. And given that it seems to happen across multiple radios and only to some people, it's probably hardware related. Doesn't matter when I get 4G. Sucks when I can't.
I'm going to be at camp for a week soon and I only get 3G there so I'm strongly considering buying a used 4S until a new phone comes.
I have 3g signal in the house.. wide open all bars with a network extender..I go outside to get 4g, then it will send pic messages. dumbphone
sent from a violated Vzw Galaxy s3
Amphibliam said:
I'm going to be at camp for a week soon and I only get 3G there so I'm strongly considering buying a used 4S until a new phone comes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don;t think its a Samsung problem, more like a Verizon wide issue. If you look in the verizon user forums, all the Iphone and HTC and Moto folks complain about the same things.
https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/784496
I don't think so. Not only are they not complaining about just 3G, my friends' phones work fine.
Not only that, but my GNex I had before this somehow consistently had 2 mbps dl speeds on 3g.
Friends on Verizon with 3g only phones get excellent speeds where I am at. Verizon 3g is not the problem around here. On 3g phones, it is fast and responsive. When switching from Sprint, I went with Verizon based on the quality of its 3g.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I thought it was just me been having the same problem. Suddenly no 4g at home and 3g is no good. Good thing I have the WiFi.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Shamec said:
I thought it was just me been having the same problem. Suddenly no 4g at home and 3g is no good. Good thing I have the WiFi.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too bad you have to rely on something else that you pay for independently for your phone to be able to do its job. These phones should work on 3G. I have to imagine that there are some who don't have 4G that have to rely on 3G. Maybe they just don't get this phone, or get it and return it?

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