Database Info

'Bands' tab and Advanced config questions

I've searched the forums for an answer to this and I've found partial answers. I'm hoping I can get a response that will work for me.
Firstly, in the 'Bands' tab, I'm looking for some clarification on the options available. Under 'network type' there is 'Auto', 'GSM', and 'WCDMA'. Auto, I understand. GSM I'm assuming means GSM network (T-Mo, AT&T and not CDMA). WCDMA, according to Wikipedia, is basically the network that allows 3G speeds over GSM networks.
Now, when I set the network to GSM, I get an EDGE icon in place of the 3G. When I set it to WCDMA, I get 3G, as well I should.
First question: If I set the network to WCDMA, will it force my Fuze to ONLY connect to 3G? Where I live, I'm finding it hard to find a 3G dead zone to test without traveling 30 miles...
Second question: Does forcing 3G only improve battery life? I read in one post there are separate radios for 3G and EDGE/GPRS (which makes sense as to how you're able to talk and use the data connection simultaneously) and by forcing one, the phone doesn't constantly scan for the other.
My third question has to deal with having my device automatically disconnect the data connection after it finishes its business. I read in several posts that 'Advanced Config' has an option to set the data timeout, but I've read through the menus several times and have seen no such option. Are there multiple versions of advanced config floating around? Barring that, could someone just tell me what registry entry to add/edit to set the timeout? I read in yet another post that the phone automatically disconnects after 30 minutes, but that doesn't seem to be the case, as I tested mine and we're going on over an hour with no connection drop. (No email is being checked and weather is disabled. Prior to me starting this particular data connection, the phone had been connectionless for almost 16 hours.)

AdvancedConfig/Menu/More settings/Connections.
There is also that option in DiamondTweak.
WCDMA means 3G only, which means that your phone isn't searching for GSM signal. I haven't noticed battery improvement when forcing 3G, although that would be logical.

Weird APN / 3G issue

hi,
I'm on day 2 of trying to sort out my wife's new Captivate, so would appreciate any help at all. Phone is rooted, unlocked and has decent signal, but I cannot connect to 3g.
I'm on Optus network via TPG (Aussie network). I've tried many APN settings, and I'm at the point where I don't think this is the issue (yes, I know this is normally the issue).
I tried going into *#*#4696#*#* and doing WCDMA preferred, and WCDMA only, made sure AUS radio band was selected and did 'Enable data'.... also no help
I've also made sure data is enabled on the sim/account. If I insert the sim into another phone, it works with 3G. So it's something to do with the phone for sure.
Optus' 3g info says "2100MHz frequency band. Enabled with High Speed Packet Access technology (HSPA)". So WCDMA is the correct setting I think.
To be clear, I've never gotted the little 3G symbol at all (or an 'H' symbol that I've seen someone mention). I first tried emulating my own Vibrant's settings exactly, which didn't help.
Any ideas would be great.
thanks.

I'm completely out of options ... is there a chance this is an issue with bad contacts? I fixed my Vibrant's GPS by prying up one of the contacts...

All fixed. If anyone else has this trouble - flash back to stock, following this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=884364
Note - I already had stock, so no idea what the hell was going on, but whatever.

[Tweak] FORCE 4G with anycut

This is actually on old hack I used from the G1 forum. This is really useful if you are in an area where 4G or 3G is weak and you phone keeps switching back and forth to edge. Very annoying...
Install AnyCut from market
Open AnyCut and click NEW SHORTCUT
Click ACTIVITY
Scroll down to "Phone Info" and select that.
I renamed the shortcut "FORCE 4G" but you could name it anything.
Click OK
Now open the shortcut on your home screen, and scroll down to the bar that spans across the whole screen. This is the bar that controls all your network types listed here.
WCDMA preferred - The GSM phone is capable of using both 2G and 3G data communication and when signal strength is low 3G is favored more.
GSM only - The GSM phone is capable of using only 2G data communication. When the 2G signal is too low you get nothing at all.
WCDMA only - The GSM phone is capable of using only 3G data communication. When the 3G signal is too low you get nothing at all. (FORCE 4G!)
GSM auto (PRL) - The GSM phone is capable of using both 2G and 3G data communication and when signal strength is low 2G is favored more. This one is a bit confusing to me since PRL is associated mostly with CDMA technology and not GSM technology.
CDMA auto (PRL) - The CDMA phone is capable of using both 2G and 3G data communication and when signal strength is low 2G is favored more.
CDMA only - The CDMA phone is capable of using only 2G data communication. When the 2G signal is too low you get nothing at all.
EvDo only - The CDMA phone is capable of using only 3G data communication. When the 3G signal is too low you get nothing at all.
GSM/CDMA auto (PRL) - Some phones are equipped with both GSM and CDMA capabilities. This setting appears to just have the phone attempt to stay connected to the data communication type that works the best. (MY FAVORITE ON G2X)
Unknown - If none of the above fit or the phone is acting weird as far as connecting to the carrier, you will see your preferred network type is set to this
Im sure this hack works on all android devices, less options will show for phones w/o that capability.
BetterCut will obviously also work and youll be able to customize an icon for the shortcut

Menu, settings, wireless and networks, mobile networks, network mode, wcdma only.
Won't that do the same thing without all the work?

*#*#4636#*#*
Phone information
Scroll down
Change WCDMA preferred to WCDMA Only
Same thing as well... If youre that desperate for "4g", however, if you lose 4g/3g you lose ALL SERVICE, I believe. I had played with these settings on my n1 last year. In the end, I found WCDMA preferred was the most reliable ;-)
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

DelinQuentisDQ said:
Menu, settings, wireless and networks, mobile networks, network mode, wcdma only.
Won't that do the same thing without all the work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's talking about changing the hidden menu. There are two menus, if you change it in the non-hidden menu and not on the hidden menu, is different.

This should probably be moved to themes and apps or general. Nothing really developed here, no offense.

jayohwhy said:
He's talking about changing the hidden menu. There are two menus, if you change it in the non-hidden menu and not on the hidden menu, is different.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't the hidden menu this is just the phone info menu that you can access with *#*#4636#*#*

Thanks! I skirt the edge of society and there are a few ROMs that I really like to use that don't have this option built-in. Bionix has it but CM7/Faux and others do not have the option available from the mobile networks menu. I'm sure it adds to radio life if you set it to stick with the highest signal since the phone won't be switching towers.

I have a post about this in the Q&A section, but have any of you experience the G2X using only 1X or CDMA data frequencies other than 4g?

lock your infuse to cdma

Dial *#*#4636#*#* go into phone information scroll down and choose wcdma only and your done default is GSM/WCDMA auto (PRL)

samsungcaptivates said:
Dial *#*#4636#*#* go into phone information scroll down and choose wcdma only and your done default is GSM/WCDMA auto (PRL)
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Click to collapse
please excuse my ignorance, but what would be the purpose of this?

so that it dosent jump around from 3g 2g if its auto and your not using data it automatically defaults to 2g i think to save battery then switches to 3g oir hsdpa 3.5g or what att calls 4g on demand this keeps it locked on wcdma or 4g to my knowledge

samsungcaptivates said:
so that it dosent jump around from 3g 2g if its auto and your not using data it automatically defaults to 2g i think to save battery then switches to 3g oir hsdpa 3.5g or what att calls 4g on demand this keeps it locked on wcdma or 4g to my knowledge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems like it reverts back to auto after a reboot

This makes the phone work on Verizon, right?

MikeyMike01 said:
This makes the phone work on Verizon, right?
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Click to collapse
See that's what I thought too. ATT = GSM, Verizon/Sprint = CDMA.

kwaalude said:
seems like it reverts back to auto after a reboot
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Click to collapse
Mine goes back to auto as soon as I back out of the menu. Am I doing something wrong by using the back button?

wouldn't this, by locking it, render the phone useless when traveling out of area that support that network?

MikeyMike01 said:
This makes the phone work on Verizon, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
roflmao 10char

vbanh said:
Mine goes back to auto as soon as I back out of the menu. Am I doing something wrong by using the back button?
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Click to collapse
Mine does the same thing. did you figure out how to do it? I have been trying but I couldn't do it

I found this here in the forum someone posted and it worked for me thanks for him.
champoux said:
Here's an alternate method I puzzled out (and then afterward discovered it was already posted in thread 751237. It's a bit faster and has the advantage of surviving flight mode; still gets reset upon restart.
Dial *#*#2263#*#* (mnemonic: *#*#BAND#*#*).
This brings up the Band selection menu which you can also access from the above method by dialing *#*#197328640#*#* then going into DEBUG SCREEN > PHONE CONTROL > NETWORK CONTROL.
Select [3] GSM BAND
Select [1] GSM ALL
Select "Select GSM All Bands"
Menu key > END
To switch back, go to *#*#2263#*#* and select [1] AUTOMATIC > Select GSM &WCDMA All Bands > Menu key > END.
Something else I'm trying out is switching the acquisition order so when it is in "dual" mode, it'll try GSM first. Even so, it will still switch to 3g if there's enough signal. Seems to help keep it on 2G though, when it would otherwise cling to a faint 3g signal with 0-1 bars.
To do that, go into the NETWORK CONTROL menu (see above) then
Select [4] AQUISITION ORDER (yes they misspelled it)
Select [2] GSM->UMTS
Select "Select ACQ_ORDER_GSM_FIRST" (at least they abbreviated it correctly)
Menu key > END
This option does not get reset upon phone restart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I did this and now my sms or text messaging don't work help

I had this happen too, but I didn't use the above method. Don't know what happened, but when I checked message settings, I had no number under "Message Center" did a quick google search and found an ATT number "+13123149810"...now it works again.

Did u call the number

Never mind i fixed it.but now in my network type it says umts is that faster then hsdpa and are there any other number sequences i can use to tweak my phone

I'm getting RAT restricted, which I got on my Vibrant but never my Captivate...
How can I change to show the different bands?
Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G

wcdma and cdma have nothing to do with each other. wcdma is also known as umts, the base part of 3g (and 4g when hspa+). hspa is a protocol that runs on top of this cell technology providing higher data speeds. gprs (known as edge, and some times called gsm) is 2g. you can turn one or another off so the phone does not seek and connect to both services, which could save battery life. even though ive yet to see my phone find less than 3g/4g in houston, i still dont turn it off, just in case.

The Jack of Clubs said:
wcdma and cdma have nothing to do with each other. wcdma is also known as umts, the base part of 3g (and 4g when hspa+). hspa is a protocol that runs on top of this cell technology providing higher data speeds. gprs (known as edge, and some times called gsm) is 2g. you can turn one or another off so the phone does not seek and connect to both services, which could save battery life. even though ive yet to see my phone find less than 3g/4g in houston, i still dont turn it off, just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, John Madden.

Selecting 3G band

Hi everyone,
I have a strange problem with my Sensation. I'm not sure what spec it is.
Here is the issue.
When I go into *#*#4636#*#* -> Phone information -> Menu -> Select band
I have 3 options: EURO, AUTOMATIC (DEFAULT), USA
My provider uses 2100Mhz as 3G frequency. When I leave the setting at default i get very slow speed, less than 1Mbps if I switch it to EURO I get 6.5Mbps. Leaving it in EURO setting also kills all the 2G frequency except 900Mhz, so roaming in the USA was not possible. I had to switch the phone to USA, then it's no problem.
My question: Why can't I change the 3G band in the normal menu? Is there a way to do this? Or do I always have to go to the special menu?
Why leaving it at AUTOMATIC gets my so slow speed?
Hope someone can help.
Thanks!