[Q] Using 3G and 4G at the same time? - EVO 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Has anyone been looking into running the 3G and 4G radios simultaneously?
Aside from the benefit of having an additional 1-2MB/s, I get very frustrated when I am in the middle of downloading something and I come into a 4G area. Since the phone will always choose 4G over 3G, the connection resets. I would love to have a way to keep the path available to the app using it.
I guess the same problem exists when Wifi is on and the phone connects to wifi while downloading over 3g or 4g.
Can this be done?

I also would love to see a dev pick this up. It could save my marriage...

great idea. Being able to simultaneously use them and multithread downloads would be awesome.

I'd be happy if someone could fix the transition from 3g to 4g and vice versa. Nothing like downloading a file from your phone and then you lose 4g and it loses the entire session and has to be redownloaded.

Thread moved to Q&A.

DssTrainer said:
I'd be happy if someone could fix the transition from 3g to 4g and vice versa. Nothing like downloading a file from your phone and then you lose 4g and it loses the entire session and has to be redownloaded.
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Click to collapse
That's going to be unlikely, as 3G and 4G are separate networks operated by separate providers (Clear vs Sprint). That's why I want to keep the 3G connection alive.

sw99 said:
That's going to be unlikely, as 3G and 4G are separate networks operated by separate providers (Clear vs Sprint). That's why I want to keep the 3G connection alive.
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Click to collapse
I don't think clear wire is responsible for everyones 4g, just a select group

chandlerw88 said:
I don't think clear wire is responsible for everyones 4g, just a select group
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could be wrong but I think sprint just resells clear wimax and calls it america's first 4g network.

sw99 said:
Has anyone been looking into running the 3G and 4G radios simultaneously?
Aside from the benefit of having an additional 1-2MB/s, I get very frustrated when I am in the middle of downloading something and I come into a 4G area. Since the phone will always choose 4G over 3G, the connection resets. I would love to have a way to keep the path available to the app using it.
I guess the same problem exists when Wifi is on and the phone connects to wifi while downloading over 3g or 4g.
Can this be done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When connecting to 4g or Wifi the 3g radio never really shuts off. The data part of the radio goes to sleep while the voice part remains active to send or receive calls or txts.
The 3g data service going to sleep when connected to the others is by design because it is slower than the other two services.
If you don't want the connection to reset turn 4g and wifi off, and only turn them on when you need the greater data speed. (this will also save your battery)
Also another solution is using one of the location based apps that will turn those on and off based off gps location.

Its not that i don't want to use 4g, i wish i could but its not reliable enough. If i have a large download, I'd like it to stay on the reliable network, but i still want to use the fast network.
I agree that the 3g network is still available, I'm hoping there is a way to force a static route over the 3g when needed.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Related

Strange 4G behavior - beyond speed tests

I have been feeling out my 4G connection for awhile now, and I am still having a strange experience with it. Speed tests always give good results, but actually using 4G for daily tasks is not working out well so far. Often times it loads pages and market or maps slower than with 4G...
I had been having this off and on all week, but I thought it was just my poor 4g connection at home. Anyway, now I'm writing from a mall with a very strong connection. Now I'm noticing when I load a page or open maps/market, it actually disconnects from 4G and loads with 3G for a second or two then switches back..
I've been using fresh, dc, and bugless ROMs, and always with the latest radio. I've had to apply the 4G patch a few times to get 4G working, but once it's up, it behaves the same...
Is it the ROM, my phone, or the nature of 4G in philadelphia?
I'd guess it's the nature of the 4g. It's still a new market. One thing, the bars on your phone only show the connection to the tower, not the connection to the internet. My 4g has been like that in places around Dallas, but closer to the heart of Dallas, I get more consistent connection. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that just seems to be the nature of technology here on the bleeding edge.
I might add, that for whatever reason, I cannot load my XDA bookmark to the evo 4g page on 4g at all, but it loads fine on 3g or wifi. I have yet to understand that one. Other pages seem to load ok though.
I've also noticed issues on xda, I think it's related to flash. I noticed if I load flash only sites on 4G it never loads or takes a stupid long time... If I cut to 3G it loads fine... On xda, it's the flash ads..
Having the phone process information and display it is much different then just doing a speed test. I'm in Philly also - but only use the 4G for tethering.
rutter9 said:
Having the phone process information and display it is much different then just doing a speed test. I'm in Philly also - but only use the 4G for tethering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree completely, but the issue is that, on some pages (usually with flash) It loads and displays the information faster on 3G than on 4G... I'm not sure what would cause that. I'll try tethering and see if it's the same... I'll also try 4G when I'm in central philly...
I wonder if flash determines what quality to stream the content at? Like if you use sprint tv on 4g you will get higher quality video but it can be laggy trying to catch up to the stream. When on 3g the quality is a little less but doesn't skip around at all.
I'm having similar issues with my 4G connection. Some pages won't come up. The progress bar loads up to about 50% then either takes a really long time to bring up the page or not at all. All I get is a blank page. The xda forums are one of the sites I'm having problems with also. It loads up fine over 3G and WiFi. I'm currently running the OMJ rom, latest Radio, and the Fresh 4G fix. I'm not sure if the problem lies with my rooted Evo or the 4G network.
rutter9 said:
I wonder if flash determines what quality to stream the content at? Like if you use sprint tv on 4g you will get higher quality video but it can be laggy trying to catch up to the stream. When on 3g the quality is a little less but doesn't skip around at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense to me. Still, it seems strange that the network or phone one struggles to keep up like that. Ah well, like I said, the nature of things out here on the bleeding edge.
i have experienced similar 4g/3g flipflopping behavior and pisspoor wifi. its like the radio is very slow to get a connection as coming out of the pocket and then while in use it will go to 3g then say it's found a 4g and get on that and back to 3g. sometimes i'll see 4g w/ full strength but am unable to do any internet functions (web browser, pandora, meebo, appbrain all fail indicating no network). by putting it into Airplane mode...count to 3...take it out of airplane mode the radio reconnects and is able to pass data as expected.
i have done full cache, delvikcache, (and the other whatchamacallit) formatting between builds. and cleared the cache after updating the radio (even tho i shouldn't need to for Fresh .3)
i have not fussed with App2SD nor anything Flash related.
not sure if i live/work on the "edge" of coverage or if it's EVO (software or hardware) related. I"m leaning more to the coverage at this point. between testing it more as i move around town and next weeks froyo builds maybe the 4g gods will shine down upon me.
Increase WiMAX_Idle_Sleep(s) setting
I had the same issue and found these instructions which show how to increase WiMAX_Idle_Sleep(s) setting.
hit ##DATA# > Edit mode.
Put in your msl code
Chose WIMAX
Scroll down to Wimax_Idle_Sleep
Change the value from 10 to 300.
Click menu, commit changes and restart the phone.
See ' [GUIDE] Easy way to get MSL without calling Sprint or using CMDA Workshop' to get MSL Code, or just call Sprint and ask for it.
mgshultz said:
I had the same issue and found these instructions which show how to increase WiMAX_Idle_Sleep(s) setting.
hit ##DATA# > Edit mode.
Put in your msl code
Chose WIMAX
Scroll down to Wimax_Idle_Sleep
Change the value from 10 to 300.
Click menu, commit changes and restart the phone.
See ' [GUIDE] Easy way to get MSL without calling Sprint or using CMDA Workshop' to get MSL Code, or just call Sprint and ask for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work in Philly and have the 3g 4g connection problems too. Your fix did not work for me. No matter what Rom or fix I've tried I can't keep a stable 4g connection without the stock Rom flashed. Sometimes WiFi tether will work on 4g with a custom Rom but anything else and I have all kinds of connection issues. I don't think its the network because 4g connection cards work just fine.
Edit: my main cause of concern is that simultaneous talk and data. I like to be able to talk and still follow sports scores while working. Sticking to stock for now.

Data Icons... Or lack of?

OK does this phone actually show anything other than 4g?
I am in a 3g area and I have not ever seen anything but the 4g icon.. Unless I put it in gsm only mode. But on auto or Wcdma mode it stays on the 4g icon.
Also it seems like I have issues with the Internet staying connected even when I have signal.
Also it seems like when I leave my screen off and turn it on the signal is higher than normal but goes down within a few seconds.
Anyone else notice this?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Strapt said:
OK does this phone actually show anything other than 4g?
I am in a 3g area and I have not ever seen anything but the 4g icon.. Unless I put it in gsm only mode. But on auto or Wcdma mode it stays on the 4g icon.
Also it seems like I have issues with the Internet staying connected even when I have signal.
Also it seems like when I leave my screen off and turn it on the signal is higher than normal but goes down within a few seconds.
Anyone else notice this?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I am having the EXACT same issues. But, I am in a 4G area. Of course I got throttled by blowing through my 5G limit in a week--damn these new toys and massively restrictive internet access at work (financial industry). So now I am on edge for a while; but with the 4G icon up, I cannot hold a data connection at all. It goes on for a few seconds or such, then nothing. The upload icon is always on, but no download. I have to force GSM mode to maintain any sort of connection. The "Auto GSM/Wcdma" does not switch modes efficiently. I think it is continually checking for a 4G connection, thus resetting the 3G/Edge connection it is making. Very frustrating. . . I am hoping someone with make a Auto/4G/3G/Edge toggle so I can drop it on the homescreen rather than digging down for it.
Same thing here. Always on 4g and my wifi is spotty like the first poster. What's the deal?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
5gb in one week?? That's insane usage u might need the 10gb option..
The 3g 4g network is the same network.. some towers aren't updated and some phones don't get 4g speeds but that's why it always says 4g
sent from my real Gs move in silence like lasagna

[Q]Force gsm nexus to automatically switch to 2G sooner in low reception area?

i noticed that i get much better 2g reception in my house than 3g so would it be possible to set the galaxy nexus to make the switch to 2g sooner and automatic? im using a toggle right now but it would be nice to be able to set the point at which the phone will make the jump to 2g.
The 3g signal is so weak in certain areas that i dont lose the signal but i wont be able to receive calls and goes straight to voicemail but the annoying thing is that sometimes the phone doesnt make the jump to 2g. Im using the mod in aokp to see my signal in dBm instead of the bars and have found the difference is -111 to -113dBm for 3G and under -100dBm for 2G in the same spot. i would like to be able to set the phone to make to jump to 2G when the 3G signal is weaker than -110dBm for example.
anyone? do we know how the phone decides when to switch to 2g?
Why don't you just keep manually toggling it as needed? Problem solved. That said goto YouTube and watch the everything is amazing but nobody is happy video.
And remember kids. Your smartphone is not a pacifier.
iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
cause it would be easier if it did it automatically like its suppose to. if i forget to toggle the 2g everytime i home then i miss a call in the house? this is a phone we're talking about im not asking for anything special just for it to work like its suppose to.
neotekz said:
? this is a phone we're talking about im not asking for anything special just for it to work like its suppose to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself. Now I need to go start a thread asking how come my phone won't clean my room. Ç'mon it's a smartphone.
iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
receiving calls and making calls is not something special for a 700 dollar phone. this is the first phone i got that has this kind of trouble switching between 2g and 3g. go troll somehwere else if you have nothing helpful to add.
Seriously what is so hard about manually toggling your phone to 2g at home? I have to do it occasionally still even though 3g isn't the juice sucker it used to be a few years ago. Another alternative is to get a micro cell but I an sure you don't want to pay ~$200 and $20 a month. There are apps that will do the 2g toggle when you're on your home wifi. Nfc tag might be able to do it too. It seems you want somebody to write an app specifically for your "problem".
iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
you're really not getting it, its not about a toggle and im not asking anyone to make an app so i dont have to use the toggle. im not talking about switching to 2g to save battery or data but when the 3g is weak or isnt there and there is a stronger 2g signal available. i am using a toggle right now but thats not a solution. this is a phone, i shouldnt have to toggle anything to make calls. All my previous android phones stayed in 2g 90% of the time in my house all by themselves.
Phones are suppose to be able to switch between 2g and 3g when 3g is not available or is too weak, the galaxy nexus is not doing that properly it hangs at 3g even to the point where it drops the signal and there's always is a good 2g signal that it should be going to. i have no 2g deadspots in my house but a few for 3g.
i've tried all the radios and they all have this problem some worst than others. i was just thinking if there is a way to mod the phone so that it will switch to 2g sooner or faster
And I am telling you to do it manually to solve your issue. You still want it done faster automatically and nobody here is going to be able to mod a radio for you. Aside from aaaaaaaall the barriers prohibiting devs from doing so, there is just plain and simple the issue of it actually transferring from 2 to 3 and 3 to 2, handshaking with the tower which is not instaneous. Like I said watch that video and get a grip and laugh. The best and fastest solution is manually. I have to do it myself occasionally for different reasons. If you don't like having to do something manually because you have a $700 smartphone then all I can tell you is good luck with the rest of your life.
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iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
i looked into this some more and it turns out there is a setting that can do exactly what i want but is disabled in the new 4.0.4 update. in the *#*#4636*#*# menu you can set network preferred type to gsm auto prl which will only switch to 3g if there is a strong signal and will favor 2g. With the new update(4.0.4) the setting cannot be changed and is stuck on wcdma preferred which is the opposite of gsm auto prl, favors 3g over 2g. hopefully this can be fixed somehow so that the network settings can be changed.
neotekz said:
i looked into this some more and it turns out there is a setting that can do exactly what i want but is disabled in the new 4.0.4 update. in the *#*#4636*#*# menu you can set network preferred type to gsm auto prl which will only switch to 3g if there is a strong signal and will favor 2g. With the new update(4.0.4) the setting cannot be changed and is stuck on wcdma preferred which is the opposite of gsm auto prl, favors 3g over 2g. hopefully this can be fixed somehow so that the network settings can be changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd stay out of that menu on nexus. It has caused many a problem for gnex owners, one which is it automatically goes back to default setting no matter what you select and erasing smsc number randomly. Toggling 2g in settings or getting a 2g/3g toggle in power control is fastest and easiest solution still.
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iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.

[Q] Note 2 not auto switching to 4G?

Hi guys, I'm plenty familiar with the Note II having had mine since October release. I'm having an issue where I will be in a solid 4G coverage area (at my home) and my phone will stay in 2G mode.
There is a problem with either the tower or the phone, I'm leaning toward tower because my wife has my old Sensation 4G which is also staying on 2G. Have any of you encountered/noticed that your phone stays in 2G even though you are in a 4G coverage area? For me either on the Sensation or Note II, I just pick WCDMA, 4G pops in and works great. The only problem is that I have to remember to put it back on auto when I leave the area. I looked up and attempted the cell codes for making the phone prefer 4G, but without success there. Also my phone picks up 4G automatically when I'm at work, so again leaning toward tower (but how and why the tower can control this I have no idea).
I also noticed some threads claiming wifi calling would detect wireless networks nearby and disable 4G. I'm leaning towards BS on that because 1. my wi-fi is almost always turned off (true unlimited 4G plan), and 2. when I disable wifi calling all together it still exhibits the same behavior.
I'm running out of ideas - any help is appreciated!
vinas1 said:
Hi guys, I'm plenty familiar with the Note II having had mine since October release. I'm having an issue where I will be in a solid 4G coverage area (at my home) and my phone will stay in 2G mode.
There is a problem with either the tower or the phone, I'm leaning toward tower because my wife has my old Sensation 4G which is also staying on 2G. Have any of you encountered/noticed that your phone stays in 2G even though you are in a 4G coverage area? For me either on the Sensation or Note II, I just pick WCDMA, 4G pops in and works great. The only problem is that I have to remember to put it back on auto when I leave the area. I looked up and attempted the cell codes for making the phone prefer 4G, but without success there. Also my phone picks up 4G automatically when I'm at work, so again leaning toward tower (but how and why the tower can control this I have no idea).
I also noticed some threads claiming wifi calling would detect wireless networks nearby and disable 4G. I'm leaning towards BS on that because 1. my wi-fi is almost always turned off (true unlimited 4G plan), and 2. when I disable wifi calling all together it still exhibits the same behavior.
I'm running out of ideas - any help is appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In settings>more settings>mobile networks>network mode:
You should ALWAYS be set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode)
This will automatically get you the best data signal available at your location. If you only get 2G in some locations, that's normal. You can try calling TMO support and have them check your address to see if you SHOULD have 4G at that location. If you really want to try to see what is going on, install an app called Open Signal Maps form the Play store. Among other useful things, it will geolocate the towers you are connected to complete with distance and mapped street address.
Where I live I only ever get 2 or 3 bars of 2G data. I use the TMO wifi calling app for all my calls and texting. This is only way I can get reliable service at home.
vouty said:
In settings>more settings>mobile networks>network mode:
You should ALWAYS be set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode)
This will automatically get you the best data signal available at your location. If you only get 2G in some locations, that's normal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying vouty. When I switch from auto mode to WCDMA I have 4 full bars. That's the funny part. Speedtest is giving me around 12Mbps down 3 up on average (I live right by the tower - like .5 mile), so there is for sure something strange happening. If I keep wifi on it really isn't an issue, but I prefer to not mess with wifi and just keep it in 4G while at home, but as frustrating as this problem is, the phone refuses to switch from 2G on it's own. Once I toggle from AUTO to WCDMA, and then back to auto - it will stay on 4G. It's almost as if I am waking it up and causing the phone to re-detect the signal.
vouty said:
In settings>more settings>mobile networks>network mode:
You should ALWAYS be set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode)
This will automatically get you the best data signal available at your location. If you only get 2G in some locations, that's normal. You can try calling TMO support and have them check your address to see if you SHOULD have 4G at that location. If you really want to try to see what is going on, install an app called Open Signal Maps form the Play store. Among other useful things, it will geolocate the towers you are connected to complete with distance and mapped street address.
Where I live I only ever get 2 or 3 bars of 2G data. I use the TMO wifi calling app for all my calls and texting. This is only way I can get reliable service at home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool app, very useful, appears I am on 3g at home. Turning off wifi to see if it changes to edge while using data.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

[Q] 3G to 4G switching on sprint sucks. Is this normal?

I've found that this phone's ability to transfer from 3G to 4G data is absurdly slow, if not completely useless. It also seems that it will never switch if there is data transfer in progress. The only reliable way to make it work is to airplane for about 10 seconds, then turn it back on. If there is 4G coverage, it will come back on immediately into 4G. Now that I think about it, the same thing seems to happen going from 1X to 3G as well.
Example of a common daily routine... When I leave work and walk outside, there is full strength 4G. But the phone will be sitting on 3G from when I was inside. It will not switch to 4G unless I airplane it first to cut it off and back on. The 3G data here is literally like a dialup 14.4 modem. So it will just sit there trying to sync or do whatever its doing until the cows come home. It will never change to the readily available 15mbs 4G data.
It is so bad, I had to make a tasker function to airplane, wait 12 seconds, and turn it back on. I made it a widget called "Reset 3G/4G".
Any way to fix this crap?
Sorry if I missed it but are you stock? Or are you rooted? Or are you rooted and running stock/custom ROM? If so, what ROM?
D
DatDude123 said:
Sorry if I missed it but are you stock? Or are you rooted? Or are you rooted and running stock/custom ROM? If so, what ROM?
D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooted with the FreeGS3 ROM.
My EVO had the same behavior where it wouldn't switch from 1X to 3G if there was active data transfer. Which makes no sense. That's like not changing lanes on the highway because you'll have to look in the mirror first.
MCL1981 said:
Rooted with the FreeGS3 ROM.
My EVO had the same behavior where it wouldn't switch from 1X to 3G if there was active data transfer. Which makes no sense. That's like not changing lanes on the highway because you'll have to look in the mirror first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe not, but the phone has to pause the connection, disconnect one radio, start up the other, wait for it to be on, connect using that radio, and then finally resume the data transfer.
I don't expect it to happen in a matter of seconds. But what you describe should not take 5, 10, 20 minutes to accomplish. It will not switch between 1x, 3g, and 4g so long as there is data transfer in progress.
MCL1981 said:
I don't expect it to happen in a matter of seconds. But what you describe should not take 5, 10, 20 minutes to accomplish. It will not switch between 1x, 3g, and 4g so long as there is data transfer in progress.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but it may just be the apps blocking it. If theyre using it, the connection wont get dropped until it goes inactive, if I remember correctly
Here's why that makes no sense. App needs data connection. Phone in 1x with a 20kbps connection, trying to download music or photos. 3g or 4g is available. But instead of switching to it, it will just sit there until the app crashes, or tomorrow when it is done downloading.
Hmm... I'm on stock rooted MB1, and I'm also roaming at work, but there's a somewhat reliable LTE signal right outside the building, and as soon as I walk outside, I see my phone go from roaming, to not roaming, and then I see it switch to 4G in a matter of seconds. I don't need to turn on or off airplane mode or any sort of trick like that. Maybe it's ROM related? Custom kernel related? I'm not saying it is, I'm just listing possibilities.
Then again, I'm also not trying to download music or photos when I see I have a 1x connection, though my current ROM doesn't really tell me if I'm on 1x or not, so I just don't do anything network intensive when in low connection areas.
I just changed some settings in the ##DATA# menu. We'll see if that helps.

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