I want to know why this happens. I already have a solution but I am more interested in the specifics of what is causing this. Keep in mind that this does not happen everywhere, but only at my home/vicinity (general square area/radius of about 1 mile)
This is the problem:
When my phone is set to AUTO in terms of band settings for data/voice, I experience a massive amount of dropped calls. I can barely hold a conversation because my call will drop every 2-7 minutes and it is very embarrassing when trying to conduct business.
Solution:
The solution I have found is to manually set the phone to force either GSM/EDGE or 3G, but not both. When I do this, my problem is solved 100%
SPECS:
Network: AT&T
Phones Tested: AT&T Tilt and AT&T Treo 750
I have this problem in areas where they haven't completed the upgrade to 3G yet. I suspect it drops because the compatability between 3G and Edge is none, the phone has to switch to different bandwidths that cause a quick but temporary loss of service, effectively dropping your calls.
I have seen an app that forces data connections to stay off, using this app in areas where it swtches between services might improve your issue.
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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Click to collapse
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.
not sure if this is the right place to ask this question but i ask any way (no harm in asking)
i have an Orange E160 and an Orange E173 (both locked to Orange UK) there are 2 UMTS (i call that 3g from now) i can see one of 3g towers from my house and 1 tower that is HSDPA (i call that H from now) that is less then 15% signal (must be far away) and that is giving me connectivity issues due to the stupid dongle (and mobiles as well) radio is preferring the H tower over 3g even thought 3g tower has 80%+ signal level
i really wish mobile device makers would allow users to disable H/H+ as it makes loads of issues (an H tower always has 3g fall back and normally GPRS as well unless its 3uk network as it has no 2g network) as well as HSDPA uses 30-40% more bat then UMTS or GPRS (to me thats fact as every 3g enabled device with H+ i have had i be lucky if you get an day out of the phone and the phone warms up as well, on gprs/UMTS 2 days normally phone norm stays cool)
the link below looks like the commands to set the speed to basic 3g but not sure how to apply the commands to the device
http://www.shapeshifter.se/2008/04/30/list-of-at-commands/
its the UTRAN command it looks like i want to use to make basic 3g working
or is there custom Huawei software that gives all options
just wish UK providers would Upgrade the towers all to HSDPA or make the Radio based off signal level not network type (UMTS, H or H+) as its cheaper to do (H is not reliable below 10% signal levels)
Thinking about importing Xperia Z5 to use on T-Mobile, however I'm not sure which model to use. Also does the Z5 support Band 12?
http://www.xperiablog.net/2015/10/07/usa-buyers-guide-sony-xperia-z5/
The Z5 supports Band 12 LTE. E6653 is the recommended model for US use.
Don't too sure. T-Mobile is asking OEMs to disable Band 12 on unbranded devices in the US because of the lack of VoLTE on non T-Mobile certified devices, because in some areas where band 12 is the only band available and you don't have VoLTE there is no fallback to 3G so you would have full signal but no calls and in emergencies in these rare cases/places it would be bad. Unless TMO certifies the device you will have issues.
I'm sure you can work around it but you won't have VoLTE, which is not too bad I guess.
abhinav.tella said:
Don't too sure. T-Mobile is asking OEMs to disable Band 12 on unbranded devices in the US because of the lack of VoLTE on non T-Mobile certified devices, because in some areas where band 12 is the only band available and you don't have VoLTE there is no fallback to 3G so you would have full signal but no calls and in emergencies in these rare cases/places it would be bad. Unless TMO certifies the device you will have issues.
I'm sure you can work around it but you won't have VoLTE, which is not too bad I guess.
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Click to collapse
Not likely to happen because the device isn't sold in the US (and Sony hasn't announced any plans to do so).
Sony is not going to disable bands on international devices because a US carrier asks them to.
I was only speaking of local sales in the future as I did say in the US. Having Band 12 but not being able to make calls when on that band is an issue regardless, for international models on TMO.
I'm kinda confused on this issue as well. Xperia Z5 is supposed to support VoLTE (which is the main reason certain lte band 12 phones wouldn't work on T-mobile) but as the Z5 is unlikely to come to T-mobile US, it's not likely to have undergone T-Mobile's specific certification. We'd have to check with someone who has the phone and lives in an area serviced by T-mobile US band 12 (ideally with no 2g/3g backup) and see if they can A) access data and/or B) make voice calls. The technology is there for it to be able to work, I just don't know if the real world case would match the theoretical.
shizenyasuya said:
I'm kinda confused on this issue as well. Xperia Z5 is supposed to support VoLTE (which is the main reason certain lte band 12 phones wouldn't work on T-mobile) but as the Z5 is unlikely to come to T-mobile US, it's not likely to have undergone T-Mobile's specific certification. We'd have to check with someone who has the phone and lives in an area serviced by T-mobile US band 12 (ideally with no 2g/3g backup) and see if they can A) access data and/or B) make voice calls. The technology is there for it to be able to work, I just don't know if the real world case would match the theoretical.
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what areas are going to have no 2g AND no 3g...that seems a bit extreme. are 2g and 3g networks on the same tower?
crazeazn said:
what areas are going to have no 2g AND no 3g...that seems a bit extreme. are 2g and 3g networks on the same tower?
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Doesn't band 12 LTE take over for previous EDGE on band 12? There are many areas (well mostly rural) where this could occur
sovanyio said:
Doesn't band 12 LTE take over for previous EDGE on band 12? There are many areas (well mostly rural) where this could occur
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Click to collapse
There are but there are still many many rural areas where a 2G/3G tower will have larger coverage than its LTE equivalent (I think). While I understand that the 2G is morphing over to Band 12 LTE, I don't think this includes all the 3G/HSPA/HSPA+. I'm still under the impression that you will have LTE/3G coverage somewhere....
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-mobile-upgrade-2g-edge-network-lte-coverage-push/2014-03-13
I have had the Xperia Z5 (E6653) for a week and I'd like to say a little about my experience in case it may help out anyone here.
1. The phone has all the T-Mobile bands except for one in the 3G/HSPA range.
2. It DOES connect to band 12 LTE. However, when a call is coming in, it will move down to a different band to allow you to pick up the call.
3. I've noticed that when I'm playing some games (PVZ2), if a call comes in, I press 'Answer' on the pop up notification but it does nothing. This also seems to freeze the phone app for a little while.
4. There is actually a mobile network setting for "Enable VoLTE" and you can enable/disable it. However, I guess this doesn't really do anything on the T-Mobile network and it will never pick up a call while on LTE.
Other than talking about bands and calling, the phone is basically a Z3 with a fingerprint scanner and a much better camera. However, the battery doesn't last as long as the one of the Z3 and if you are gaming, it will last MUCH less than the Z3 while getting much hotter. I love not having to take a flap out to access the USB port. One interesting thing I've noticed is that with the Z3 I used to get a lot of static when I connected an AUX cable to the headphone jack and was charging at the same time, and would hear a humming noise on every touch of the screen, probably because the two ports are next to each other on the Z3. I haven't experienced that on the Z5 and suspect it's because they are on opposite ends of the phone.
GersonT1000 said:
I have had the Xperia Z5 (E6653) for a week and I'd like to say a little about my experience in case it may help out anyone here.
1. The phone has all the T-Mobile bands except for one in the 3G/HSPA range.
2. It DOES connect to band 12 LTE. However, when a call is coming in, it will move down to a different band to allow you to pick up the call.
3. I've noticed that when I'm playing some games (PVZ2), if a call comes in, I press 'Answer' on the pop up notification but it does nothing. This also seems to freeze the phone app for a little while.
4. There is actually a mobile network setting for "Enable VoLTE" and you can enable/disable it. However, I guess this doesn't really do anything on the T-Mobile network and it will never pick up a call while on LTE.
Other than talking about bands and calling, the phone is basically a Z3 with a fingerprint scanner and a much better camera. However, the battery doesn't last as long as the one of the Z3 and if you are gaming, it will last MUCH less than the Z3 while getting much hotter. I love not having to take a flap out to access the USB port. One interesting thing I've noticed is that with the Z3 I used to get a lot of static when I connected an AUX cable to the headphone jack and was charging at the same time, and would hear a humming noise on every touch of the screen, probably because the two ports are next to each other on the Z3. I haven't experienced that on the Z5 and suspect it's because they are on opposite ends of the phone.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for your feedback! If you don't mind sharing, what part of the US are you in covered by T-Mobile and Band 12 LTE? I'm in Chicago (no B12 for them here), but there's swaths of Michigan that T-Mo has B12 spectrum to provide coverage. If you're saying the Z5 somehow auto drops back down to non-LTE for calls, that's very interesting and encouraging since it didn't sound like other phones like Moto's were capable of that.
doclloyd said:
Thanks for your feedback! If you don't mind sharing, what part of the US are you in covered by T-Mobile and Band 12 LTE? I'm in Chicago (no B12 for them here), but there's swaths of Michigan that T-Mo has B12 spectrum to provide coverage. If you're saying the Z5 somehow auto drops back down to non-LTE for calls, that's very interesting and encouraging since it didn't sound like other phones like Moto's were capable of that.
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I live in NYC and there's band 12 in most places now. My Z5 is usually connected to band 4 LTE and band 12 LTE now. I've noticed all kinds of bands connecting though (Edge, 3G, H, LTE). I don't know if the H is HSPA or HSPA+.
doclloyd said:
If you're saying the Z5 somehow auto drops back down to non-LTE for calls, that's very interesting and encouraging since it didn't sound like other phones like Moto's were capable of that.
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All phones do this, unless they have VoLTE enabled. The issue was with CDMA phones, they would only have 1 LTE/3G antenna path, so it would drop down to 1X instead for casks, making no Internet while on a call.
Only time they won't is if LTE signal is availible but 3G/2G isn't obviously. This is why T-Mobile was/is limiting band 12 in phones. Their band 12 network in some places extends outside the range of their 2G network, giving no phone service even though you had 'signal' unless you have VoLTE, and the phone has to be a T-Mobile phone to be approved for VoLTE (with a few exceptions like the nexus).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
This was very helpful, thank you.
Sent from my SM-N920C using Tapatalk
I've got the Z5 Premium and I live in the US. Band 12 works just fine. I did some testing and I've seen 2g/3g/hspa/4g/4g lte. I have also traveled a bit for the holidays and the phone has been perfect.
GersonT1000 said:
I have had the Xperia Z5 (E6653) for a week and I'd like to say a little about my experience in case it may help out anyone here.
1. The phone has all the T-Mobile bands except for one in the 3G/HSPA range.
2. It DOES connect to band 12 LTE. However, when a call is coming in, it will move down to a different band to allow you to pick up the call.
3. I've noticed that when I'm playing some games (PVZ2), if a call comes in, I press 'Answer' on the pop up notification but it does nothing. This also seems to freeze the phone app for a little while.
4. There is actually a mobile network setting for "Enable VoLTE" and you can enable/disable it. However, I guess this doesn't really do anything on the T-Mobile network and it will never pick up a call while on LTE.
Other than talking about bands and calling, the phone is basically a Z3 with a fingerprint scanner and a much better camera. However, the battery doesn't last as long as the one of the Z3 and if you are gaming, it will last MUCH less than the Z3 while getting much hotter. I love not having to take a flap out to access the USB port. One interesting thing I've noticed is that with the Z3 I used to get a lot of static when I connected an AUX cable to the headphone jack and was charging at the same time, and would hear a humming noise on every touch of the screen, probably because the two ports are next to each other on the Z3. I haven't experienced that on the Z5 and suspect it's because they are on opposite ends of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, your post is very informative. Thank you for sharing.
I have a question though.
I live in US (Seattle) and have just received the exact same phone (E6653).
My T-mobile connection keep dropping on my phone.
Watching youtube over mobile data has become so choppy even my crappy old LG Optimus F3Q wouldn't do that.
Is there any settings I need to deal with to get this phone to work well with T-Mobile?
Thanks.
misbehave said:
Hi, your post is very informative. Thank you for sharing.
I have a question though.
I live in US (Seattle) and have just received the exact same phone (E6653).
My T-mobile connection keep dropping on my phone.
Watching youtube over mobile data has become so choppy even my crappy old LG Optimus F3Q wouldn't do that.
Is there any settings I need to deal with to get this phone to work well with T-Mobile?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if there are any settings that will help you. Maybe if you go to network settings and set it to LTE preferred, or play around with the other options if you're in areas with spotty or no LTE. Besides that, maybe you could just turn on the BingeOn option on your T-Mobile account so that it streams faster (at 480 resolution).
Hi,
I am very happy with the U11, except that I can hear interferences when on a call sometimes. It is that pulsing noise you hear when you hold a phone near a speaker, I think it has something to do with electromagnetic shielding? Anyone else encountered that or do I have a faulty device?
Cheers
jan
If your signal is poor you'll get the same. Carriers that rent lines from bigger carriers are suspect. My u11 is fine on 02 but crackles on Asda (EE subsidiary)
same mine
Heard that noise while calling someone, but im not sure if its signal strength related because i have 5 bars h+ (no lte bought)..dual sim btw
edit: im only hearing it while charging, dunno if its fast charge related
K4Y3R said:
Heard that noise while calling someone, but im not sure if its signal strength related because i have 5 bars h+ (no lte bought)..dual sim btw
edit: im only hearing it while charging, dunno if its fast charge related
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no iso standard for signal strength. You can have full bars but have a crappy signal. Signal meters should run on throughput but that'd eat data.