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does the g2x even have a 3g indicator icon?

ive noticed that i get a 4g and a 2g icon but wheres the 3g icon? has anyone seened it?

Travling through the middle of nowhere over the last 3 days I've seen, no signal, G, 2G, 3G, & 4G. It's there.

I also have not seen the 3G icon. I drive through the city and would think when I get out if 4G I would at least still be in a 3G area. Wonder if something may be wrong....
Sent from my T-Mobile G2X using XDA app.

Cyberdan3 said:
I also have not seen the 3G icon. I drive through the city and would think when I get out if 4G I would at least still be in a 3G area. Wonder if something may be wrong....
Sent from my T-Mobile G2X using XDA app.
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Same here but this is the first 4G device I have had and I know for a fact most of my city is covered by 4G. What is also weird is that in areas where I would have 1 or 2 bars with my Vibrant, it is telling me I have full bars worth of 4G with the G2X.

its there in the framwork i checked..
Im just wondering why it doesnt display 3G when its on UMTS... it sticks to 4G all the time...

very strange in the instruction manual it also shows 3g icon!

Rmoved
Sent from space

death1246 said:
its there in the framwork i checked..
Im just wondering why it doesnt display 3G when its on UMTS... it sticks to 4G all the time...
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A lot of this has to do with the fact that T-Mobile's 3G towers == their 4G towers so if you're in an area where all of their towers have been upgraded to HSPA+ you will NEVER show 3G because you're always on a 4G tower. The only time you will show a 3G signal is if you're in an older area where they have pre-HSPA+ upgradeable towers. This is how T-mobile can say they have the biggest 4G network because almost all of their old HSPA/3G equipment has been turned into 4G equipment via software upgrades.

I have had my g2x for about 5 days and all I ever see is 4G or E never 3g. I have been checking in the settings/about phone/status and even when the phone is showing 3-4 bars of 4G it is still on umts. In the exact same location and within a minute or so when checking it with my Vibrant I will have 3 bars of H or 3G and in status it shows as hspda or hspda+. What is that about? I have checked this out at least 6 to 7 times a day and it is always the same only umts on the G2X and Hspda or Hspda+ on the Vibrant. I called CS and they wanted to send out another G2X I reluctantly said yes. I do really like this phone and will try to be patient but the device I have now has multiple issues. I am going to take the stance that this is an isolated case and the new one will be golden!!!

brentil said:
A lot of this has to do with the fact that T-Mobile's 3G towers == their 4G towers so if you're in an area where all of their towers have been upgraded to HSPA+ you will NEVER show 3G because you're always on a 4G tower. The only time you will show a 3G signal is if you're in an older area where they have pre-HSPA+ upgradeable towers. This is how T-mobile can say they have the biggest 4G network because almost all of their old HSPA/3G equipment has been turned into 4G equipment via software upgrades.
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This is true. There's pretty much no need for a '3G' icon. Though, technically, it's debatable whether or not T-Mo's (or any other carriers) offerings right now are actually '4G' (according to the standards committees that define those things), but that's a different argument
tl;dr: T-Mo's 3G and 4G operate on pretty much the same technology, so if you're in an area where there was 3G, you'll probably have 4G. It doesn't need to switch back and forth or be toggled like the other solutions (looking at you Wi-Max)

Android pick up 3G signal without data plan?

Hello, this sounds interesting to me. In fact, I do not have an active 3G data plan or 4G and I am currently using 2G. However, when I set the airplane mode off and the phone starts to pick up 2G signal from cell towers, it also pick up the 3G signal too. In fact, I can see on the signal strength bar a 3G or H+ icon that are constantly changing with some up and down arrow signs that indicate that my phone might be downloading and uploading data. Can anyone explains this phenomenon? For sure, I can not access to the Internet without Wifi.

Dan Law 001 said:
Hello, this sounds interesting to me. In fact, I do not have an active 3G data plan or 4G and I am currently using 2G. However, when I set the airplane mode off and the phone starts to pick up 2G signal from cell towers, it also pick up the 3G signal too. In fact, I can see on the signal strength bar a 3G or H+ icon that are constantly changing with some up and down arrow signs that indicate that my phone might be downloading and uploading data. Can anyone explains this phenomenon? For sure, I can not access to the Internet without Wifi.
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go to settings-mobile networks and there will be option for mode
if the mode selected if gsm/wcdma - then ur phone will pick up 3g signal if it's available in the area irrespective of ur plan..this means ur carrier has activated 3g services..u can deactivate by selecting mode: gsm only!(2g mode)
wcdma mode is 3g only!
hope this is helped!

If you truly can't have 3g on your plan, phones will communicate with towers due to the requirements to have a phone be able to call 911 even if it is not activated at all.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

this has happened to me before as well

Maybe it's just scanning the available networks or something? Do you have data connection disabled at your device?

What is this thing about a 3G data plan?
A data plan is a data plan. Your speed depends on your phone hardware and what your provider had installed in your area...
At least that's how it works here in Norway, they can and do limit our download speeds after a certain amount of data is transferred as I assume they do elsewhere, but even when I pass that threshold my phone reports using 3G...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium

Hr Kristian said:
What is this thing about a 3G data plan?
A data plan is a data plan. Your speed depends on your phone hardware and what your provider had installed in your area...
At least that's how it works here in Norway, they can and do limit our download speeds after a certain amount of data is transferred as I assume they do elsewhere, but even when I pass that threshold my phone reports using 3G...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
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the situation is not same everywhere...
like in India and more countries, 2g and 3g services have different rates and are users can opt whether they want a 3g plan or 2g plan....although speed is more in 3g!

[Q] Does this exist?

I work in low 4G signal area. I currently use Advanced Signal App to manually and permanently change my data connection to CDMA ONLY on my NOTE2 while at work.
Is there an app that will automatically take the stronger signal once my signal reaches a specified "low signal" threshold?
For example, at work I will constantly have a 1 bar 4G signal. Data is basically useless. Then I use Advanced Signal to change it to 3G. With 3G, ill have a nice 3-4 bar signal allowing me to use my data.
Just want the phone to wait h over to 3G by itself without grasping and holding onto that LOW,1Bar 4G signal.
Attached are 2 screenshots taken from my desk at work. Same location geographically.
TIA.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

Disable LTE

Is it possible to disable LTE from the settings? I don't feel that LTE is worth the additional battery drain and that HSPA+ is good enough.

Yup. Under mobile settings "Network Mode" 1) LTE 2) 3G 3) 2G.
Im on AT&T

Try the old *#*#4636#*#* - Phone info - scroll down, change the radio to WCDMA Preferred and that'll basically stop LTE connectivity.

Is LTE actually less efficient than HSDPA though? Especially with the new envelope tracking? I'd be curious to know.

br0adband said:
Try the old *#*#4636#*#* - Phone info - scroll down, change the radio to WCDMA Preferred and that'll basically stop LTE connectivity.
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It doesn't actually seem to do anything, even if I set it to WCDMA-only. I really need this because I have a 3G plan provisioned on an LTE-capable SIM and the network rejects registration if it is attempted on an LTE band.

some app could disable LTE
evildave_666 said:
It doesn't actually seem to do anything, even if I set it to WCDMA-only. I really need this because I have a 3G plan provisioned on an LTE-capable SIM and the network rejects registration if it is attempted on an LTE band.
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I meet the same problem,
the app "nexus 5 field test mode' can disable LTE. But it doesn't work on some roms (like mahdi).

xx87xx said:
I meet the same problem,
the app "nexus 5 field test mode' can disable LTE. But it doesn't work on some roms (like mahdi).
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My original problem was fixed with the 4.4.2 update.

Depending on the signal, LTE can be a bit more efficient.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

bblzd said:
Depending on the signal, LTE can be a bit more efficient.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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truth.
i get one hour screen on time more if i use lte than with 3G(hspa+). i get 5-6+ hours sot with lte, and 4-5 hours sot with 3G(hspa+).

Why does LTE connection seem weaker than other sprint LTE phones?

My GS5 seems to have a very weak LTE signal. I disabled all bands except for band 25 because the phone was trying to signal hop killing the battery. My girlfriend has the Note 3 which can only pick up band 25. When my phone is right next to hers, she can have a very strong LTE signal and my GS5 will either have a very weak signal or drop down to 3G. The only LTE band in my area that's currently pretty strong is the 1900mhz band. I can barely connect to that. Anyone else having weak signal or connection issues?
Sent from my SM-G900P using xda app-developers app

Eckono said:
My GS5 seems to have a very weak LTE signal. I disabled all bands except for band 25 because the phone was trying to signal hop killing the battery. My girlfriend has the Note 3 which can only pick up band 25. When my phone is right next to hers, she can have a very strong LTE signal and my GS5 will either have a very weak signal or drop down to 3G. The only LTE band in my area that's currently pretty strong is the 1900mhz band. I can barely connect to that. Anyone else having weak signal or connection issues?
Sent from my SM-G900P using xda app-developers app
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I've noticed the same thing.... my girlfriend has the Galaxy S3 and has better signal then me all the time... WTF?!?!?!?!?!

I'm tempted to go to the Note 3. I can deal with alot of things, but signal issues isn't 1 of them.
Sent from my SM-G900P using xda app-developers app

s13silviaguy said:
I've noticed the same thing.... my girlfriend has the Galaxy S3 and has better signal then me all the time... WTF?!?!?!?!?!
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Your phone is showing data signal hers is showing cdma 1x voice. .. please download signal check app and you will see true db of 1x 3g lte signal. .. so you can compare
Sent from my SM-G900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

Eckono said:
My GS5 seems to have a very weak LTE signal. I disabled all bands except for band 25 because the phone was trying to signal hop killing the battery. My girlfriend has the Note 3 which can only pick up band 25. When my phone is right next to hers, she can have a very strong LTE signal and my GS5 will either have a very weak signal or drop down to 3G. The only LTE band in my area that's currently pretty strong is the 1900mhz band. I can barely connect to that. Anyone else having weak signal or connection issues?
Sent from my SM-G900P using xda app-developers app
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Signal bars lie. Do this on both of your samsung phones:
Go in to your phone app, and dial ##DEBUG#
Enter 777468 for your lock code
Select LTE Engineering
Go down to RSRP. The number next to RSRP shown in dBm is your LTE signal strength.
Compare numbers.
I did this vs my wife's iPhone 5 and found that although her signal indicator was showing 3-4 more bars than my s5 we both actually had the same signal strength.

Thanks I'll do that asap. The only reason I'm thinking something is wrong is because in areas I had 4G all the time on my Note 3 and S4 I'm barely get 4G or I'll drop to 3G. Then when I'm watching YouTube, if I stop a video , fast forward, or rewind, if I'm on cellular I can never get the video to play back. I get the error tap to retry. But when on WiFi I can I can.
Sent from my SM-G900P using xda app-developers app

Eckono said:
Thanks I'll do that asap. The only reason I'm thinking something is wrong is because in areas I had 4G all the time on my Note 3 and S4 I'm barely get 4G or I'll drop to 3G. Then when I'm watching YouTube, if I stop a video , fast forward, or rewind, if I'm on cellular I can never get the video to play back. I get the error tap to retry. But when on WiFi I can I can.
Sent from my SM-G900P using xda app-developers app
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You also have to read about cfbs and triband phones ... which can cause the data issues
Sent from my SM-N900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

well if i dont remember note 3 and s3 dont use the spark network and the s5 does soo,.,.its prob a bad spark connection they are still upgrading the towers ..

The s5 signal bar shows data strength instead of voice strength
When you make a phone call, it switches to the voice signal strength, which is why it seems to get higher all of a sudden
-Sent from Tapatalk

Eckono said:
My GS5 seems to have a very weak LTE signal. I disabled all bands except for band 25 because the phone was trying to signal hop killing the battery. My girlfriend has the Note 3 which can only pick up band 25. When my phone is right next to hers, she can have a very strong LTE signal and my GS5 will either have a very weak signal or drop down to 3G. The only LTE band in my area that's currently pretty strong is the 1900mhz band. I can barely connect to that. Anyone else having weak signal or connection issues?
Sent from my SM-G900P using xda app-developers app
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How do you disable certain bands? I want to try it as well as something seems to be killing my battery. Thanks

Yea, in the last year I have had an iphone 5, Note2, and Note3. New Orleans is newly upgraded to LTE (not yet Spark), and coverage was great on those three phones. This S5, however, constantly switches from LTE to 3G in areas where the other three phones stayed on LTE. It also drops to no data at all way too often in areas where data is fine. (I play Ingress, so I am VERY familiar with the signal capabilities all over town)
Is there any hope of this phone's signal strength being improved with software updates? Will Spark make a difference when it hits New Orleans?
This piece of garbage is pretty pathetic signal-wise compared to my other devices I've recently used. I've got Sprint to agree to a phone swap, but if that's not going to make a difference, perhaps I should just go back to my Note3.

I have this phone it does drop lte alot plus I have spark. But I have an offer to trade for a note 3 idk if I want ..I like yhe fingerprint scanner but this signal is boo boo ....

gregg37 said:
Yea, in the last year I have had an iphone 5, Note2, and Note3. New Orleans is newly upgraded to LTE (not yet Spark), and coverage was great on those three phones. This S5, however, constantly switches from LTE to 3G in areas where the other three phones stayed on LTE. It also drops to no data at all way too often in areas where data is fine. (I play Ingress, so I am VERY familiar with the signal capabilities all over town)
Is there any hope of this phone's signal strength being improved with software updates? Will Spark make a difference when it hits New Orleans?
This piece of garbage is pretty pathetic signal-wise compared to my other devices I've recently used. I've got Sprint to agree to a phone swap, but if that's not going to make a difference, perhaps I should just go back to my Note3.
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I wouldnt worry about the phone swap. I skeptically did it to see if it would work and ended up wasting an hour in ths store. between my friends and family we have 4 GS5s that all have the same issues.
None of your previous phones were triband. They only could connect to 1900mhz LTE. The GS5 is a triband phone, aka spark, that can connect to 800/1900/2600mhz LTE. Unfortunately there are issues with the software on the towers (search eCSFB) that changes you between bands. I have turned off band 41 and it has helped a lot even tho my area is a "spark" area. I turn it back on once in a while to see if things are fixed.
There have been complaints that the GS5 has worse connectivity because of the water resistant design compared to phones such as the GS4. its really only a couple dbm from what i have seen when looking at actual signal values from engineering screens and when comparing the same band of LTE.
As far as shutting off bands, you will need your MSL code. you can either get it from a sprint rep (all i did was ask) or you can use the MSL reader here
tools.flashingtools.com
use dialer code ##3282# and go to edit. enter your MSL code and go to LTE. turn off B41 and restart your phone.

Shiftlock said:
As far as shutting off bands, you will need your MSL code. you can either get it from a sprint rep (all i did was ask) or you can use the MSL reader here
tools.flashingtools.com
use dialer code ##3282# and go to edit. enter your MSL code and go to LTE. turn off B41 and restart your phone.
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Thank you, Shiftlock! This is the kind of help I was hoping for. I'll give that a try!
:good:

Shiftlock said:
use dialer code ##3282# and go to edit. enter your MSL code and go to LTE. turn off B41 and restart your phone.
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Ok I've got this turned off. Will it persist through resets and restarts? Or will I have to keep turning it off?
(have to remember to bookmark this so I remember how to turn it back on when Spark hits New Orleans, which I think is somewhat soon)

gregg37 said:
Ok I've got this turned off. Will it persist through resets and restarts? Or will I have to keep turning it off?
(have to remember to bookmark this so I remember how to turn it back on when Spark hits New Orleans, which I think is somewhat soon)
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Yes this will stay until you either change it back or do a system update. I noticed that nd2 changed it back. You may want to check it after clearing data/cache if you flash any mods or roms. Luckily the msl won't change so it's easy enough to fix if needed

I'm getting LTE coverage in places I wouldn't with my s4. The data is definitely better
-Sent from Tapatalk

eyecon82 said:
I'm getting LTE coverage in places I wouldn't with my s4. The data is definitely better
-Sent from Tapatalk
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Better because of turning off band 41 or just comparing the S5 to the S4?

CCallahan said:
Better because of turning off band 41 or just comparing the S5 to the S4?
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Guess we'll never know....
(mine still sucks after trying that, btw)