[Q] Phone switches carriers down to 2G as preferred instead of up to LTE - General Questions and Answers

Hi all,
Currently using Xperia Z2 with KitKat. My carrier is DST (Brunei). My carrier uses three separate operators - LTE DST, 3G DST, 2G DST, all viewable in the network operators search page.
Quite often my phone decides to drop down to 2G DST operator as the preferred, without desiring to change back up, even with switching on flight mode. If I manually search, I can see all 3 available, and if selecting either 3G or LTE, they operate smoothly for a while - 20mins or until I lock my screen.
I have noticed this with previous phones on this carrier too.
Is there anything that can be done to either lock out the 2G one, or make the phone understand that is only a last resort?
Thanks

Related

'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.

[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?

[Q] Force 3G only in field test

Hi..i owned a Lumia, but a bit frustrated when network keep switching between 3G and 2G.
i just want to stay only in 3G network..
have anyone test the field test by dialling "##3282"?
in there we can change 3G only.
But i didnt know it worked or not..
so far it doesnt change to 2G..
I too used the same test by dialing ##3282. In addition you have to toggle the ENS to OFF position (don't reboot).
When you choose 3G only. It exactly what it means, 3G only, not 4G (LTE) and NOT 2G either. So it will only connect to 3G and hence you are not getting 2G signal.
I wish there was a speed limit setting so we could avoid LTE rather than pure 3G only. Or choose 3G+2G together.

[Q] App for mobile network settings switching

I have quite a specific problem:
I live near the national border and my mobile network selection has to be set to manual, because otherwise it would randomly switch to roaming on a network from the other country, even though my home network coverage is practically 100%.
But quite often I do cross the border to area out of reach from my home mobile network and then I have to set it to automatic or manually select foreign network.
Now, the problem is when I get back home, i have to switch again. This switching is often and annoying. And forgetting to switch can also be expensive.
So I'm searching for an app that would allow me to toggle a switch (widget preferably) that would change network selection setting to automatic when i intent to leave my country and switch again to set it to manually connect to my home network when i come back.
Does any body know about an app that would allow me to do that or does anyone have a similar problem?
I'm thinking about creating an app like this though.
Similar Problem... Setting Preference Order for Mobile Networks
I have a Moto G 2013 running Android 5.0.2.
In Bangalore(where I live), Airtel has the highest 3G coverage. But I am on Vodafone (more coverage in my area and less tariffs) which does not have its own 3G network yet. So I manually set my network preference to Airtel while I'm outside. But I need to manually change the network back to Vodafone at home if I want to stay connected.
Setting to Automatic does not help as it always chooses Vodafone and so no 3G.
So I would like to know if there is any way to solve my problem and if there is any app to set preference.
Thanks a lot!
biftekman said:
I have quite a specific problem:
I live near the national border and my mobile network selection has to be set to manual, because otherwise it would randomly switch to roaming on a network from the other country, even though my home network coverage is practically 100%.
But quite often I do cross the border to area out of reach from my home mobile network and then I have to set it to automatic or manually select foreign network.
Now, the problem is when I get back home, i have to switch again. This switching is often and annoying. And forgetting to switch can also be expensive.
So I'm searching for an app that would allow me to toggle a switch (widget preferably) that would change network selection setting to automatic when i intent to leave my country and switch again to set it to manually connect to my home network when i come back.
Does any body know about an app that would allow me to do that or does anyone have a similar problem?
I'm thinking about creating an app like this though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
santoshsatvik said:
I have a Moto G 2013 running Android 5.0.2.
In Bangalore(where I live), Airtel has the highest 3G coverage. But I am on Vodafone (more coverage in my area and less tariffs) which does not have its own 3G network yet. So I manually set my network preference to Airtel while I'm outside. But I need to manually change the network back to Vodafone at home if I want to stay connected.
Setting to Automatic does not help as it always chooses Vodafone and so no 3G.
So I would like to know if there is any way to solve my problem and if there is any app to set preference.
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try these:
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm&hl=en
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.miabit.android.dataonoff&hl=en
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amol.ads&hl=en
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gudaps.smartdataswitch&hl=en

Network with 3G connectivity

Hello guys, i am from India. Here, I have activated airtel 3g and i am from Maharashtra state. Here, airtel network uses IDEA network for 3g packs as they don't own the spectrum. I kept my cell in 3g mode and "automatically select network", but it stays in 2g(Same doesnt happen in my note 2, using 3g in auto mode). If i manually select IDEA from the list of networks, it goes to 3g. I want to keep it on auto, like switch to 2g when 3g is not available. Settings are same. How to make it switch to 3g automatically. Preferred mode is 3g. Any problem in my handset?
Thanks

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