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[Q] Bars but Emergency Calls Only

First this only happens where I work in the basement where only certain providers (eg Verizon) have some signal in only part of the room. I did not get signal on AT&T or T-Mobile Pay as you Go down here.
I noticed especially after I flashed the new radio which gives me better service overall that I get phone signal down in the basement, but it is GPRS of Unknown Network and says emergency calls only. I get up to 3 bars. If I scan for available networks I get the name 31064.
Does anyone know what network that is or what is going on?

Anyone have any ideas? (I will take wild speculation as well)

i wouldn't be alarmed by it. I experience this at my office since I work in the basement...haha
It's possible your basement just won't read a signal like mine. install a window by your desk, maybe that'll help, but there shouldn't be anything wrong with your handset.

Sounds reasonable. I would agree with no problems with my handset. I do get better signal than my nokia e51, so maybe it's picking up a slight signal where the nokia could not.

From what I've noticed, my Nexus S acts this way whenever T-Mobile (my provider) does not have coverage wherever I am, but AT&T (not my provider) does. You can check this by going into "settings" -> "wireless & network settings" -> "mobile networks" -> "network operators" .....it will then search for & tell you what network has coverage where you are. Every time I've had bars & it says "emergency calls only" & I've checked the above, it's always been when I had coverage from AT&T but not T-Mobile.
Thus, it seems to me like an "enable roaming for emergency calls only" kinda thing.

Emergency calls only
ha ha....lol... i also have the same issue on my brand new i747M S3. im confused.
i try the all methods for resetting phone.
i noticed when im on long way, i dont know my handset is goning emergency calls only. but when im restsart phone its fine.
i do everything but not fixed it. firmware update, downgrade, rom change,and unroot. but not fixed, and also try factory reset the rom by falllowing the samsung secret code *#197328640# > UMTS>COMMON>NV REBUILD and restart and do again CDMA>COMMON>NEXTPAGE>REBUILD and restart., thhis is the code of full factory reset the rom and EFS. but not solve........
i change the hand set to international i9305 brandnew one. i used it 2 sady without issue.... day after morning when i wakeup, i see the massege,,,,emergency calls only,,im confused becouse this is a brandnew one...after i called the friend he also got the i9305. i asked about this issue. he said me he didnt face to this type of issue.. im confused he said me try sim change.. i do it... problem solved....:victory:
problem is the SIM card......i changed it to new one... and used i week no emergency calls issue... when im going to low signals areas.. its show no network and automaticallly change to the network....im very happy for fixing this problem.....:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Q] How do I prevent Samsung Galaxy S 4G from connecting to AT&T?

I have Samsung Galaxy S 4G with T-Mobile in San Francisco.
Whenever I go to an area without T-Mobile signal, the phone connects to AT&T. I called T-Mobile and they said that's because T-Mobile has roaming agreement with AT&T so my phone would connect.
The problem is, when my phone connects to AT&T, I can't make any calls. It says the phone's not registered. T-mobile says that's because I'm in an area that has T-Mobile coverage.
You'd think that the phone would be smart enough to figure out that only emergency calls can be made (which is what BlackBerry does and shows SOS sign). The real problem for me is that, I have WiFi calling enabled with cellular preference, and when I'm in the basement of my office building where there is no T-Mobile signal (but there is WiFi signal), my phone thinks it has cellular signal so it doesn't activate WiFi calling, yet no phone calls are coming in b/c it's not registered to AT&T's cellular network.
Is there a way for me to force my phone to only connect to T-Mobile? I know there isn't on the regular settings menu, but perhaps experts could tell me how to do so using those star-sharp keys listed here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=842134)?
Thank you!

Set wifi preferred instead of cellular.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

Unfortunately, that doesn't work for me because I move around a lot, and Android WiFi calling feature doesn't have handover.
There's got to be a way to prevent this phone from connecting to AT&T at a low level somehow, no?

How do I do that? Have checked the manual but can't find location where explains how to select wi-fi preferred instead of cellular. Your kind advise will be appreciated

Open WiFi Calling and select settings. You'll see Preference. Select Cellular Preferred.

I think in setting then wireless and network, then mobile networks then network operators click the default settings.... select manual and wait for the carrier to pop up.
Will this solve your problem?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

scoop_dtx said:
I think in setting then wireless and network, then mobile networks then network operators click the default settings.... select manual and wait for the carrier to pop up.
Will this solve your problem?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep manual is exactly what OP should do.

if the settings for network operators are set to manual then u select the network u want and it sticks unless u manually select a different network provider. u are in select automatically mode so the phone can switch all on its own. this should solve your problem as other people have already mentioned

I have tried this many times and works as long you don't turn the phone off. After I forced the phone to manually select T-Mobile I checked many times the default setting and it remained in manual until the phone was turned off. When I switched it back on it was again in automatic mode and switching to ATT when signal is low.
Is there a way to prevent this? If not, well , first thing when phone is on in the morning is to check default setting.
5/24 I finally gave up and sold the phone. Samsung says they have not received any claims regarding this issue eventhough you see it frequently in the forums. I returned back to my HTC HD2 and will wait for the G2.

Phones switches to 2g during call - (3G) data is disabled

Hi everyone, I'm running Android 2.3.4 (OpenSoju Rom) on my Nexus S,
but the issue i'm going to describe has happened to me on other Roms and
even on my old Nexus One.
When the phone is idle, 3G data works great (also when using apps that
require an internet connection), but when I receive a call,
after a minute or two, the 3G icon disappears from the notification
bar and the phone data connectivity is lost - no connection to the internet.
I've asked around and someone told me it is because the phone switches to
2G network during the call and when in the phone is in 2G mode, during a call
there is no data (on a 2G network).
I know that in the past this behavior did not occur, and in my country
when in 3G during a call - data is enabled!
So does anyone know how to fix/change the setting that causes this behavior?
'cause, for me, sometimes I really need the data connection during a call,
for example, when navigating using Waze (which needs data connectivity),
and receiving a call it causes Waze to stop working and I lose my GPS direction.
Thanks.

Use to work for me too. Then i noticed when AT&T started saying the had talk and web at same time, mysteriously it started doing what is happening to you. And i have Sprint, unless you switch to at&t you might be waiting for awhile.
guys234 said:
Hi everyone, I'm running Android 2.3.4 (OpenSoju Rom) on my Nexus S,
but the issue i'm going to describe has happened to me on other Roms and
even on my old Nexus One.
When the phone is idle, 3G data works great (also when using apps that
require an internet connection), but when I receive a call,
after a minute or two, the 3G icon disappears from the notification
bar and the phone data connectivity is lost - no connection to the internet.
I've asked around and someone told me it is because the phone switches to
2G network during the call and when in the phone is in 2G mode, during a call
there is no data (on a 2G network).
I know that in the past this behavior did not occur, and in my country
when in 3G during a call - data is enabled!
So does anyone know how to fix/change the setting that causes this behavior?
'cause, for me, sometimes I really need the data connection during a call,
for example, when navigating using Waze (which needs data connectivity),
and receiving a call it causes Waze to stop working and I lose my GPS direction.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

[Q] Force Network Selection

First of all, I have searched the forums extensively, and can't find a solution to this, however I may have missed something...
Basically, I am on EE in the U.K which means I can use either the T-Mobile or Orange networks, but my contract was with T-Mobile, so my phone always prefers to use that one. If I go into Network Selection, I see all the operators listed (T-Mobile has a picture of a house next to it) and I can chose Orange. It registers and everything works perfectly, for a few minutes. I assume the phone then realizes that T-Mob is available and jumps straight back to it, although I can go back in and choose Orange again, until it decides to change back.
The problem is basically that the T-Mob network is very busy where I live and although I get a perfect signal, I get ridiculous Internet speeds (despite being on H+), dropped/failed calls and text messages that can take upto 30 minutes to be received. If I am on Orange, I don't have these issues!
Anyone have any solution to this? I see a few threads on the issue in various devices, however none have a solution and most are quite old...

HMm
Try changing Search settings to manual @andys5

go to settings, network operators, and search mode change from automatic to manual
btw wrong section

Hi andys5
I am also in the UK with Three/3 & I have a similar issue. I don't receive calls & messages immediately, sometimes if someone messages me I receive the messages from anywhere between 30 minutes to a few hours later which is ridiculous. It is a similar case for calls, someone may try to call me but never get through (nor would I receive a call)-I would only find out hours later when they call again. My network coverage is fine in my area-I think it is the phone. Before the Xperia L I had the Live with Walkman which I never had problems with (no late calls/messages) in the same location with same network. I am sure it is the Xperia L which the problem resides with, may it be the hardware or firmware, I think it is the phone.
I must say that it is a pain at times, it doesn't happen all the time but it does occur often.

Doesn't work...
Navneet Suresh said:
Try changing Search settings to manual @andys5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I have done this, however it doesn't work. It stays on manual, and my chosen network for anything up to a minute, then the settings change back to "Automatic" and it puts me back to the network I don't want to be on.
Very annoying.

=/
andys5 said:
Thanks for the reply. I have done this, however it doesn't work. It stays on manual, and my chosen network for anything up to a minute, then the settings change back to "Automatic" and it puts me back to the network I don't want to be on.
Very annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Contact your operator for further help i think they might help you ??

[Not-Fixed] How to install new Z3 D6603 LTE on AT&T network

[Not Fixed] see bottom of this post.
It is fairly easy to install a new D6603 to work completly on the AT&T network. It is not so easy to find the answer of how to do it in the threads and posts. I tried many suggestions and wasted a lot of time. Hopefully this will save you from that fate.
First you must know that you can't use the IMEI number of your new phone if you want it to work completly as it should. If you use the Z3 IMEI you will have trouble with data of various sorts and the phone will go off line when on LTE after 20 or 30 minutes and you will not receive calls or SMS messages. I do not know why but it has been suggested that the AT&T network does not recognise this phone so it causes trouble.
If you have an AT&T nano-sim from your old phone then just put it in the phone. (Cut downs work but can cause other problems some say.) When the SIM is inserted for the first time into a new phone there is a prompt that asks if you want to download the APN. Hit 'yes' and the phone downloads the APN itself.
If it does not ask then go to Settings>More>Mobile Networks>Prefered Network Type and be sure LTE (Preferred) is selected. Then connect your phone to the internet and then go to Settings>More>Internet Settings and select AT&T. You should be good to go.
If you need to get a nano-sim then go to the AT&T store or call and they will give you one or send you one for free. You will need to use the IMEI number from a LTE phone that is already on the AT&T system. You can use your old phone or borrow the number from someone. If the rep installs the sim in the Z3 with the 6603 IMEI don't worry. Just call support later and tell them you sent your new phone back and want to go back to your old IMEI or have a new IMEI (from an existing AT&T phone). They will enter it and off you go. The phone from the IMEI will show in the picture on your account page. Big deal!
Update: This worked for hours last night but this morning it is back to not receiving calls. Simply turning wifi off and it began to receive calls as GPRS was switched back on. My wifi was on which has been said to cause problems. I will test with wifi off and report back. Had "no service" instead of AT&T on upper left of lock screen. A full shut down for several minutes than re-boot solved that.

YMMV. I've been on ATT with a Z3 purchased from Sony store for several months and it was registered in an ATT store by scanning the IMEI off the box followed by updating Internet settings in Setup. ATT online shows unknown model but everything works including LTE and MMS. There is something else involved when problems like this occur probably some setting not getting reset. I registered the Z3 on a new line with a new Sim card because I wanted to take my time moving stuff off my old phone--this may have avoided the problems.

JudH said:
YMMV. I've been on ATT with a Z3 purchased from Sony store for several months and it was registered in an ATT store by scanning the IMEI off the box followed by updating Internet settings in Setup. ATT online shows unknown model but everything works including LTE and MMS. There is something else involved when problems like this occur probably some setting not getting reset. I registered the Z3 on a new line with a new Sim card because I wanted to take my time moving stuff off my old phone--this may have avoided the problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've also had no problems with my Z3 on AT&T. Works great, receives sms/mms immediately, etc..

esheesle said:
I've also had no problems with my Z3 on AT&T. Works great, receives sms/mms immediately, etc..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T's system sometimes takes a while to get updated with new IMEIs that trigger LTE provisioning for a users' account.
Once your account is provisioned for LTE you never have to worry about it again, but sometimes if you have a phone the system doesn't recognize, it is a pain to get AT&T to properly provision your account. Supposedly properly trained in-store reps can do it - the key being "properly trained" - Never try to do anything "unusual" by calling AT&T customer service, and NEVER use a franchise/kiosk in-person for service - make sure you're at a corporate-owned store! Even then, some stores might have incompetent staff. I've been lucky that all of my local corporate stores are pretty well staffed.

So you are saying that your Z3's with wifi and LTE on with AT&T are working as they should?
With LTE off my phone responds normally with wifi on. With LTE and wifi on it will not respond to calls after a 30 minute sleep. It does not show missed calls. Calls go straight to voice mail after 2 rings. Could you tell me what level your LTE dBm's are? Thanks!

I was told not to give them my imie# but, after recvng the minisim I had to call them in order to 'provision' it to work at all and they needed that #. I have never had any problems personally and am assuming this may be because you gave them the wrong #. Again I am only guessing. Oth, if I had had a different imie to give, I would have done so myself.

It is very strange and I am feeling it is more signal strength related than how you provision your phone. (Once it is provisioned correctly.) It seems that more people have less problems when they already have a nano-sim and just plunk it in the new phone. This might indicate that they already had a strong signal from the get go. My old HTC One + get's a better signal than the Sony in the same locations with the same (new) SIM. With the Devilcase bumper on it gets 5% less. My very limited tests yesterday seemed to indicate that it was signal strength related. I am not enough of a conspiracy theorist to imagine that AT&T would program their system to not function correctly with sims that are provisioned with these Sony phones which they are obviously ignoring for some reason. Or am I?

I had all kinds of problems with the Z3 on AT&T. The IMEI caused an issue since AT&T linked it to a flip phone and therefore couldn't provision LTE. I changed it to an old AT&T LTE device and then I was able to get LTE but was having the same issue with calls going directly to voicemail and texts showing up hours later in bunches. I found the solution was to switch off LTE in the quick settings menu. All calls and texts came through and on time while LTE was off. If I needed a data boost to stream, I turned it back on until I was finished streaming. This was while on KitKat. After upgrading to Lollipop, I was able to keep LTE turned on and calls and texts still arrived on time.

I use data rarely. Mostly wifi. If I don't leave LTE on, my phone reverts to wcdma preferred. And why can't LTE just work without me having to constantly turn it back on? What bugs me is having the APN settings greyed out. I want to be able to turn it off. If anything it seems the phone itself is preventing me from accessing the sim. It feels like I'm borrowing something which contains lots of MY private data. I know my phonebook is stored locally but I also noticed there is no option of specifying the sim or not. Anybody know how to switch APN on and off? In fact, overall even rooted, I still feel like I have almost no power over it. I can't even disable the cellular connection without going full on airplane mode and I do not trust that. I don't even fly so that needs work for sure. Dumb question but could I buy a working nanosim from say 7-eleven that my apn switch will work with?

"Anybody know how to switch APN on and off?"
On my Z3 on OTA stock Lollypop I have an icon in quick settings to turn LTE on and off. Drag two fingers down from the top of the screen. If no LTE icon then select the pencil icon at the top and select the LTE icon. There is also a mobile data icon switch there.
To turn off your radio completly you can get the Advanced Signal Status app and select additional info at the bottom and click phone information and turn off radio. Probably a number of ways to do it but that is one.
Sim contact storage was a way to move information from phone to phone. You can still do it but not really necessary with cloud backup and storage. Google does it for me without me having to do anything which I like. I still save contacts to the sim just because I can. Export and import in your contacts app menu.

johnboatcat said:
So you are saying that your Z3's with wifi and LTE on with AT&T are working as they should?
With LTE off my phone responds normally with wifi on. With LTE and wifi on it will not respond to calls after a 30 minute sleep. It does not show missed calls. Calls go straight to voice mail after 2 rings. Could you tell me what level your LTE dBm's are? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works fine here. I don't pay attention to the dBm estimates since these aren't measured with calibrated test equipment and vary widely. Those numbers are basically worthless.
The only valid comparison is data performance in a given environment (ideally a difficult weak-signal one) - and at my desk with very weak signal, every phone I've ever used performs similarly to the Z3.

"Those numbers are basically worthless."
True, but we have narrowed this down to the possibility that it might be signal related so it is worth a shot. If people whose phones are working fine would measure the LTE dBm on Advanced Signal Status at the location where their phone sits and works well the most we might possibly see some measure of difference in the phones that are not working. Most of the non-working phones seem to work sometimes so signal strength is the next best parameter to rule out. Thanks!
Here are the screen shots of my phone with LTE on, LTE and wi-fi and LTE off and wi-fi.
How do the working phones compare? Does your CDMA (voice) also go to 0% when LTE is on and GSM = n/a?

Thanks. I think adv sig nfo actually works. I'm amazed actually. I can't find the phone's native greyed out apn switch anyways which really makes no sense.