I wanted to start this thread to discuss making and receiving phone calls on AT&T's 3G network. I find that making and receiving phone calls while connected to 3g or HSDPA is very unreliable on my Fuze. The phone seems to always connect to H whenever there is any signal available, even if the signal is very low and unreliable.
I will sometimes recieve a call while connected to H and the person cannot hear me at all. I'll look at the phone to see that the H signal strength is very low. Instead of smoothly switching to Edge, the phone completely loses signal and drops the call. After having no signal for around 10 seconds, it will then reconnect to Edge and have 2 or more bars of service. Why couldn't it just switch to Edge without dropping my call? Any why hang on to an HSDPA connection if signal is unusably low?
I see other AT&T customers with 3G phones (Bold, iPhone) and they don't seem to have this same issue. Their phones can remain in 3g mode and work just fine. My only choice seems to leave 3G turned off, but switch it on when I need a fast data connection (a terrible solution).
I used to have Verizon and they just connect you to both their 3g and 2g networks at the same time, you can even see 2 signal meters on most phones. They use the 3G (EVDO) for data and 2G(1xRTT) for voice or data, when 3G is unavailable. Why can't my Fuze do the same thing on AT&T? Clearly, 3G doesn't penetrate building as well as 2G and the phone needs to use both, seamlessly, to work properly.
Just for background, I am using a Fuze with the latest EnergyROM and Radio 1.14.25.35 and matching Rilphone.dll. I have noticed this behavior with other roms and other radios also. I can't remember how stock worked since I haven't had it in such a long time.
Does anyone else notice the same behavior as me and does anyone have any ideas on how to improve the way the phone manages 3G vs Edge during phone calls?
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me understand and resolve this problem.
different radio
Drop into the ROM section, hit the radio thread. I found better luck dumping the stock radio on the Fuze, and installed a different one.
Any particular one that you recommend? Ideally, a radio that doesn't use 3g unless signal is reasonably strong would be best. Ive tried all of the official Fuze ones without any change in the behavior I described at all. Based on your signature, it seems you are currently using the same radio as I am...
TheSopranos16 said:
Any particular one that you recommend? Ideally, a radio that doesn't use 3g unless signal is reasonably strong would be best. Ive tried all of the official Fuze ones without any change in the behavior I described at all. Based on your signature, it seems you are currently using the same radio as I am...
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I found the newest Xperia radio (1.16.25.48) to be very satisfactory as far as signal strength goes - in fact I had more bars of 3G and dropped a lot less calls because of it. However, you need to be Security Unlocked to flash your phone with that radio. The only problem with the Xperia radio I had was the pitiful GPS accuracy.
sopranos16 where are you located? There are a few cities where users have been complaining about the 3G network. NYC/Northern NJ and San Fransisco are two that come to mind. Check on howardforums.
I'm now using a Fuze because AT&T shipped to to me to replace my Bold which will drop 5-15 calls a day in NYC. I don't believe it is a problem with the Bold, I have other lines with 3G that have problems. But this is the solution they offered so I'll try it.
You cal also check the at&t support forums as there are plenty of complaints there too. I just got the fuze and haven't really tried it yet. See what happens on Monday.
I'm located in central New Jersey: Monmouth County. Edge coverage is pretty good but 3G tends to always have a weaker signal strength and occasionally drops out, especially indoors.
Well the first day in lower Manhattan and not one dropped call. I'll let you know what happens later in the week.
bump
soprano, did you try the xperia radio? Let us know, I have had this issue for a while now...and your explanation was on the head.
Think I may just go ahead and security unlock my phone.
So I have a perfectly good 4G LTE signal going, data speeds are great and all, but every once in a while it will just stop receiving data. The 4G LTE icon is still there, occasionally I see the upstream arrow flash, but the downstream arrow remains blank. A difference that I see from other people's connectivity issues is that I never once see it switch to 3G/1X when this happens.
One thing to note is that this behavior is not readily apparent until you're doing something real-time network dependent, like streaming audio/video for a considerable duration of time until it cuts you off suddenly.
Between 10 seconds to several minutes after data stops transmitting, it starts working again. Sometimes I get impatient and just toggle between CDMA only/LTE automatic to get 4G LTE working again without having to wait.
Is this a common issue among Charge owners? I noticed the reviewer at Anandtech had a near identical experience (though not always fixable without a reboot for him):
"My only complaint is that every once in a while, the LTE data session sometimes stalls briefly – sometimes for a a few seconds, other times for a few minutes. When that happens, you’ll see the uplink green arrow blink, but no orange downlink arrow. Rebooting the device fixes things."
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After conversing a bit with him (he also reviewed the Thunderbolt/Revolution), this apparently only happens with the Charge, but he also has faith that Samsung would fix this through software (RIL) or hardware (firmware). Given Samsung's track record with smartphone updates, I'm not so sure they will.
PeterDLai said:
Given Samsung's track record with smartphone updates, I'm not so sure they will.
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Considering a month after the phone's launch we already have a Gingerbread leak I think this device will most definitely see support from Samsung. It is a DROID branded phone after all, and Verizon is statistically the best carrier for updates, they do take special care of the "DROID" phones over every other Android handset.
4G is flakey, on both devices that offer it. I have both the Thunderbolt and Charge with me most of the time, and I see all kinds of flakiness on both. It's the network.
It is definitely the network. I had a Thunderbolt before the Charge and it was FAR worse with network connectivity falling off the face of the planet despite having full 3g/4g.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
I have had the same problem. I usually wait and it comes back in about 30-45 seconds, but it is annoying. It was really bad for a couple of days but has been better the past couple.
I personally haven't had to much issue with 4g dropping out. However people need to keep in mind that LTE is new for both the mfgs & carrier. So it is going to take time to get all these bugs worked out. That said I have to give props to VZW and the mfgs tho because back when they were building out 3G originally you want to talk about issues my lord was it bad.
I have had this issue, with the 3G and the 4G, but I can't say that it's a deal breaker for me, compared to the lousy HSPA+ signal my Vibrant had. It's only ever happened to me at my house, which is right on the edge of LTE coverage, so it switches back and forth a lot. But I have to give the network the benefit of the doubt for right now, it's a brand new network and a brand new device. And the 97% of the time that things work properly, it's so far above and beyond the T-Mobile network I have no regrets about switching.
I called Verizon with the same issue last Friday. Their resolution after a couple of questions was to overnight me a new (certified like-new) Charge and SIM card - the replacement was received on Monday. I haven't had any issues since, but I also stopped seeing the issue after I made the complaint.
Regardless, replacement has been better and locks a GPS signal much quicker. Maybe it's the SIM card?
SAME CRAP HERE!!!!
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
I tested if I have this behavior using LTE only mode (dial **583 in Phone app) and indeed I do, so this furthers my belief that my issue is not due to something wrong in the hand-off between 4G/3G.
I found out the way to actually change the data modes and tested using EV-DO Rev. A instead of eHRPD (in conjunction with LTE) and also using just CDMA 1X (in conjunction with LTE, essentially disabling 3G), but my issue of dropping data exists. The 4G LTE icon is displayed the entire time when it happens, I just seem to lose connectivity (and all three of the tests in the Phone Info area fail) temporarily. For what it's worth, I'm not moving the phone around at all when this happens.
I think I would actually be more content if when the data connection stalled, my 4G LTE icon just disappeared or if it switched to 3G because then it would make more sense to me (that I may have lost connection to the 4G service and it's attempting to reconnect to either 3G or 4G), but as it stands, all I get is a constant 4G icon with intermittent dropouts. The switch to 3G/1X seems to be the more common issue among 4G smartphone owners, but my (and the reviewer at Anandtech's) issue seems to deal completely within the 4G network, and I've tried every leaked radio to no avail.
The regularity of the dropouts seems kind of random as well; I'm not sure how I can figure out the source of the issue. Does anyone know if there are some logs that I can look into to see if something is happening to my phone at the very instant that I'm having these stalls?
Of course, I'm not discounting the fact that it might completely be on the side of Verizon's network and/or my area in San Diego and has nothing to do with my phone, and I may in a minority of users that actually continuously uses the 4G enough to notice these dropouts, which on average happen once every half hour to hour or so. Sometimes I'm able to stream something for several hours without the stalls, and other times it'll happen frequently within a short time span.
I just got off the phone with tech support for the intermittent data drop problem. After confirming that I was on EE4, and that I had tried doing a factory reset, he is fedexing me a new sim card.
Really hope it works, I love the phone but losing data for 1-2 minutes at a time randomly is pretty lame. Especially since I switched to Verizon for their reputation as the better network.
Racer447 said:
I just got off the phone with tech support for the intermittent data drop problem. After confirming that I was on EE4, and that I had tried doing a factory reset, he is fedexing me a new sim card.
Really hope it works, I love the phone but losing data for 1-2 minutes at a time randomly is pretty lame. Especially since I switched to Verizon for their reputation as the better network.
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Is your problem the same as mine (data drops all while 4G icon is displayed) or is yours the more common 4G to 3G/1X transition or losing the 4G network icon data drop?
PeterDLai said:
Is your problem the same as mine (data drops all while 4G icon is displayed) or is yours the more common 4G to 3G/1X transition or losing the 4G network icon data drop?
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The data will stop. Then the 4g or 3g icon will disappear entirely for a minute. Then it will reconnect at either 4g,3g or 1x, I don't really see a clear pattern, it seems totally random to me.
Is there anyone who's reading this that regularly uses their 4G continuously (i.e. hours) for streaming web content (e.g. radio streams, live video streams, etc.)? If so, do you experience any occasional dropouts or is the 4G connection for you rock solid?
Racer447 said:
The data will stop. Then the 4g or 3g icon will disappear entirely for a minute. Then it will reconnect at either 4g,3g or 1x, I don't really see a clear pattern, it seems totally random to me.
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hey, I have exactly the same problem!
same here,lose 4g icon when i use either the mobile hotspot or the tethering option.longest i have been connected was about 15 minutes.
fender22 said:
same here,lose 4g icon when i use either the mobile hotspot or the tethering option.longest i have been connected was about 15 minutes.
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Tested on mine and same result.
Edit: Rebooted and it works fine been on it 20+ now, I'll be testing some more
A couple of days ago my SIM card crapped out.
Now that i have a new one my 4G signal has been more consistent and stronger than ever. I live in a fringe area and before the new SIM it would constantly switch between 4 and 3G. Now i go for hours on 4G and it even stays on 4G in places that it would always switch and stay on 3G.
Get a new SIM before getting a new phone.
Sent from my Samsung Droid Charge: Stock EE4
After reading this thread I'm considering switching to either the Thunderbolt or the Revolution, or something else when it comes out...
Anyway, I have experienced this same thing.
The only difference in my situation is that I'm trying to use my LTE internet as a dedicated connection. The setup I'm trying to do is plug my phone into my router and have the router distribute the verizon LTE internet through my apartment. My router currently has the latest version of tomato installed and I compiled my own RNDIS module (modified to work with the charge). Everything works for the first few minutes (15-20), then I notice the 4G icon "stall", then disappear, then reconnect. After the first disconnect and reconnect, the internet connection is very unstable and will disconnect every couple of minutes until I disable and re-enable the internet again... very frustrating.
In the interim, I've been using EasyTether and this works very well. I have streamed hours of 720P video and it works flawless; not one skip or reconnect.
This leads me to believe that it is either one of the following:
The kernel - I'm currently using the PBJT kernel found in the latest version of humble. I'm not sure if the stock rom will provide better stability.
The radio - I currently have the EE4 radio installed, but am very curious to know the stability of the GB radio updates (EP1f, etc.).
Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Curious to see if anyone else has this same problem. I've looked around but can't find anyone that can replicate it.
Phone is running 4.0.4 with ATT's 2.20.502.7 710RD. Ever since I bought the phone, 4G connectivity has repeatedly been interrupted; all bars drop, service is gone, and it doesn't return for at least 30 seconds, if not a few minutes. I've been running the phone on a non-LTE sim card, so I assumed something in the network was causing a bug.
Behold, LTE. I got the LTE sim card, installed it, but still noticed the same pattern. If you look at the photo I've attached, it seems like the 4G connection gets disconnected every 15 minutes or so (red bars under "Mobile network signal"). It literally looks like there is a perfectly measured interval of time between the 4G disconnects. BUT, interesting thing you can see is that, during the time my HOX was connected to LTE, there wasn't a single hiccup. The entire green sector in the middle of the same line, "Mobile network signal," is from LTE. The left and right sides of the line, though, mark the 4G service area (my home), plagued with red marks of disappearing service.
AT&T says it has nothing to do with them; for once, I believe them. Does anyone have any advice or observations? The phone doesn't have insurance on it, so I may send it back to HTC and *hopefully* have them figure it out.
Cheers.
Hey everyone, I just bought the universal 8 gig Moto G 4g lte. I'm super pleased with the phone except it seems that my phone is constantly switching between LTE, H+, and H. I'm currently using Straight Talk with one of their AT&T sim cards. Sometimes I'll pick the phone up to make a call and it will say no service. It only lasts for maybe 20 seconds, but after it says no service and the time has passed it will show bars again. It's almost like it loses connection with the sim card or something.
I've spent several hours reading about the problems people have had with the switch to KitKat. My phone never shows the "no sim card" or anything of that nature. The triangle where the bars should be just goes completely empty. I'm just curious if this is known to be a software problem and not a hardware problem. I just came from a really really low end smartphone that would cut itself off on a daily basis. I need this phone to at least maintain normal functionality for a while. I don't have a phone to put the Straight Talk sim card in to check and see if it's the problem.
I don't really want to send the phone back, even though I've looked at the Nexus 5. It's a little bit out of my price range for a phone. Thanks in advance for your help.
This is driving me nuts, I'd love to know the answer. Here goes: in my room my Pixel 3 either chooses from full LTE signal or one bar of h+ (basically unusable). It seemingly chooses at random. I have gone into phone information and set to only use LTE which immediately switches me to full signal and fast internet speeds. However, when I make this switch people are unable to call me. Any idea what's going on? Why is the phone not using the full strength LTE all the time!? Why would it choose an alternative signal that I can't barley speak to anyone or use the internet! Not sure if I should blame the phone or the provider. I'd love to understand exactly what's going on
FYI I'm on Three and the phone is provisioned for VoLTE. The full signal I'm referring to must be the 800mhz.
Appreciate any advice, thanks
Pixel 3 has really bad signal. Tried to become a sms over 30min in my room. Theres enough signal for it. Not good but enough but on pixel 3 never came on.
Switched into flightmode and turned off but no sms...
I was angry cause i did mobile banking. Never had this probleme bevore. Then i switched sim to nokia8 sirocco and became my sms instantly...
Pixel3 is a nice phone in design but software is ****! Never again a pixel...
Thought on a google phone they pick the best out of a phone but it isnt