Develop Bugs

There MUST be a better way of switching 3G on and off!

The underlying problem here is that the 3G signal in my house is quite weak, but not so weak that it is undetectable. If I leave my TP2's band setting set to "Auto" then it keeps trying to switch into 3G mode, then dropping back to 2G, with a delay every time it does it. (Drains the battery too). So I'd like to be able to quickly switch between 2G and 3G mode. (Obviously I could just leave it set to 2G all the time, but this is a waste when I'm at work or in some other place which actually has a good 3G signal).
My current solution is that I've got a start menu shortcut pointing to CMBandSwitching.exe in the Windows folder. (This is the same program that is launched if you go to the TouchFLO "settings" page, then hit Communications/Phone/Band). In here I can change the Network setting between "Auto", "GSM" and "WCDMA" which has the effect of turning 3G on and off.
But... there are horrible side-effects. Switching in this way causes the current data connection to get messed up, so that nothing can actually use it to access the Internet. Web browsers stop working, and I can't receive email. I've tried switching the data connection off and back on in Communications Manager, and this works sometimes; but even when it does, it messes up my ActiveSync schedule settings. And usually I simply can't get the data connection to turn back on. More often than not, when I change the Band setting I end up having to hit the reset button to get everything functioning normally again.
There must surely be a way of turning 3G on and off without disrupting the data connection and ActiveSync settings and requiring a reboot? The phone itself can do this in "Auto" mode if I'm moving between areas of good 3G signal and zero 3G signal. Is there perhaps a way to tweak the behaviour of "Auto" mode so that it needs a higher 3G strength signal to switch to 3G? Or is there any way to convince the phone (while in Auto mode) that there isn't really a 3G signal present (even though there is really a weak signal) so that it switches to 2G in a side-effect-free fashion?

(bump)
Hm. 136 views and no reply.

You might check into WMLonglife
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=478519
I haven't tried it, but it may work for you. It functions more based on what you are doing with the phone as opposed to what bands are available.

mwelch16 said:
You might check into WMLonglife
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=478519
I haven't tried it, but it may work for you. It functions more based on what you are doing with the phone as opposed to what bands are available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check that out, thanks.

Can you change how the phone switches from 2G/3G

I have problems getting a 3G reception at work. My desire displays the H symbol but just doesn't connect to internet at times. If I manually switch to 2G I can connect. It's really slow but better than nothing! I can leave it on 2g all day but as the H signal works intermittently I like to try the 3g signal first before switching back to 2g.
What I would like to know is if there is there a way to change the minimum H signal the phone has to have before it goes down to E. My phone seems to prefer H even if the signal is too low to connect.
Can this be changed?

Yes.
Go to to the secret menu *#*#4636#*#* and select phone information.
Scroll down to the bottom and change
set preferred network type to GSM only.

I think this is a good idea to put through for the already excellent "Toggle2G" app. Thanks for bringing it up
------------------------------
- Sent via HTC Desire -

nagypapi said:
Yes.
Go to to the secret menu *#*#4636#*#* and select phone information.
Scroll down to the bottom and change
set preferred network type to GSM only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, didnt know about the secret menu!
Going by the word preferred it sounds like it is what I am looking for but 'GSM only' makes me think it wont switch to 3G.
Does this mean it disables 3G completely? Couldnt I do that just by going into settings and selecting use 2g networks only?
Edit
Just searched GSM only and found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=688492. A good explanation of each setting, think GSM auto (PRL) is what I am looking for as GSM only is just 2G but I can usually get a 3G signal so I'll give this a try.

anyone else hearing interference during calls?

Hi. I have the volume bug and not sure if this is related but i've noticed that I can hear interference during voice calls very faintly in the background. I'm on Vodafone and have only noticed this at home where I only get 2g coverage. I have WiFi on but dont know if thay makes a difference.
Anyone else hearing anything during calls? It's the classic cellular noises a bit like the built in radiation ringtone.

If you use wifi at home for data connection you could try the following thing.
2G gives trouble as you know...
In the phone application type *#*#4636#*#* touch phone information, set it to WCDMA only and see what happens and if it gets better with calls, maybe you lose the complete data connection and you have to put it back on where it was, I disconnects de the radio for a couple of seconds when it reconnects to the provider )
This forces not to use 2G networks, so there is no interference of this source.
Maybe it helps? it's just a thought

GrandPuba2000 said:
If you use wifi at home for data connection you could try the following thing.
2G gives trouble as you know...
In the phone application type *#*#4636#*#* touch phone information, set it to WCDMA only and see what happens and if it gets better with calls, maybe you lose the complete data connection and you have to put it back on where it was, I disconnects de the radio for a couple of seconds when it reconnects to the provider )
This forces not to use 2G networks, so there is no interference of this source.
Maybe it helps? it's just a thought
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will not fix anything especially as he specifically stated that he only gets 2G coverage at home

also, as I have already pointed out in another thread, that option does not stay persistent (at least in my experience)
oscillik said:
For all those people who are saying that you can force the phone into 3G only mode - I have some news for you -
It doesn't stick.
Try it yourself.
1. Go to the phone application
2. Hit *#*#4636#*#*
3. Select Phone Information
4. Scroll down until you find Set preferred network type
5. Change it to WDCDMA only (or indeed anything other than GSM/CDMA Auto PRL)
6. Now reboot your phone
It doesn't stay persistent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

But you don't make phonecalls over 2G are you, if you're on 900Mhz provider this will use gsm signal to make calls isn't it?

GrandPuba2000 said:
But you don't make phonecalls over 2G are you, if you're on 900Mhz provider this will use gsm signal to make calls isn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are incorrect - if your phone is in 2G mode (either due to forcing it into 2G mode via the settings option, or by being in a non-3G coverage area) all communications are done over 2G. This includes SMS, cellular calls, and mobile data access.

Ok, did not know this, and wanted to know.
Is this the case everywhere or a standard in mobile communications technology?
So no chance that GSM signal is stil there and works if you don't get 2G data connection?
Did not see my GSM signal drop out when 2G was available.

GrandPuba2000 said:
Ok, did not know this, and wanted to know.
Is this the case everywhere or a standard in mobile communications technology?
So no chance that GSM signal is stil there and works if you don't get 2G data connection?
Did not see my GSM signal drop out when 2G was available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can only receive 2G connection in your coverage area, you will not be able to make calls over 3G.

Hey so has anyone else noticed this issue? As I mentioned, it's very very faint - as in you have to be in an otherwise silent room to notice. And it occurs when I have 3G too i've noticed today.
Some more detail:
The noise doesn't start as soon as the phone connects - usually a few seconds afterwards and it actually continues for a couple of seconds after i've hung up (which I've noticed if I put the phone straight back up to my ear).
Would someone else mind doing a test call in a very quiet place and letting me know?

Hi guys sorry to bump this but quite concerned that it's only my phone this is happening to. If someone wouldn't mind just listening carefully during a call (maybe to your voicemail to avoid the weirdness!) in a quiet room to let me know if they can hear interference that would be great.

So this problem frustrated me so much that I got the phone exchanged. Guess what though - same problem.
Surely someone else has noticed this - if you're in a quiet place it's both pretty loud and very distracting.
As I originally explained - after a few seconds of any call, I get a very short mute (we're talking microseconds) followed by the kind of background buzzing noise you get when you put a phone near a speaker.
Could it be down to a faulty batch?

3G on T-Mobile via 1900MHz Band

I recently switched from AT&T to T-Mobile, and like the rest of us was suffering without 3G due to our lack of compatibility with the 1700MHz WCDMA that T-Mobile uses. One of my friends (a T-Mobile employee), however, informed me that it is indeed possible to get 3G by using the 1900MHz band, which T-Mobile is currently re-farming to support WCDMA. This trick is simple and easy, and I've had success with it thus far, albeit only in one location as of yet. There is a downside, however... as long as the trick is in place (as long as your phone is set to "WCDMA only" below), you cannot connect to EDGE. In other words, in an area where there is no 1900MHz 3G coverage, this process must be reversed to fall back to EDGE. As such, you may lose connection randomly and be completely unaware of it for hours, and I will mock you openly for attempting to blame me if you lose your job because you missed a call from your boss, lose your girlfriend because you stopped texting her, or lose your bacon because your remote bacon-protection app couldn't connect.
Remember, this is in the testing phase. It WILL get better over time and hopefully one day we won't even have to consider whether a phone supports 1700MHz... for now, though, report your findings below, preferably with location, signal strength/type, and down/up speed.
==PROCEDURE==​
Go to dialer and enter *#*#4636#*#*
In the menu that pops up, tap "Phone Information"
Scroll down to the menu labelled "Set preferred network type" (it should be the first one) - this will likely be set to WCDMA preferred
Change it to WCDMA only
Switch to your main Settings app, then navigate to "Mobile Networks" (under "More..." by your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth)
Tap "Network Operators" and wait for the search to complete
Tap T-Mobile if it appears in the list
Once the phone has acquired a signal, you can return the Network Mode setting to WCDMA Preferred. Your phone should now switch back and forth between EDGE and HSPA+ fairly reliably.
===My Results===​
At my home (approx. Colfax and Yosemite in Aurora, CO) I get 0-2 bars, mostly 3G but some H+ if I'm holding my phone and moving around, and 2-3 bars H+ if I set my phone down. Speedtest results range between 4 and 10 Mbps, with around 90ms ping. I've been keeping my phone set down with wireless tethering enabled, and it's been 100% usable thus far.
--Update--
Having used it daily for a few weeks, I'm pleased to report that there is moderate to good connectivity to at least 3G in most places. I still find myself on EDGE regularly, but I usually can get a WCDMA connection. Now, however, I'm annoyed because I exceeded 5GB data usage and am being throttled to below-EDGE speeds, which defeats the purpose of having 3G. >_<

what about AWS band ????/ its work

saqi4you said:
what about AWS band ????/ its work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Almost certainly not; see here.
If you have it working for some reason, go over there to tell everyone.

I'll test this later tonight. I'd be cool with 3G or H+ if it works. I have a T-Mob pay-by-the-day sim card that I'd like to use to tether my Nexus 7 to when I'm traveling (which is fairly rare).

I'm new to all this but how is this different from changing the APN settings?
Is this method better than changing APN settings?

This didn't work for me, Portsmouth, NH. It picked up the T-Mobile network in Network Operators but when I tried to select it it took forever and then said unable to connect, failed to register. Attempted a few times on a ucdlk3 stock based custom rom (Intergalactic II) and also on stock rooted.
Probably just not in a good location for this to work.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Better cell network mode management

The tmobile service in my area sucks and it will stay on 4g lte even when I have a very bad connection which drops calls and gives me really bad speeds. Is there an app that will automatically switch lte/gsm/wcdma when the signal is very low so I wont drop calls, waste battery and give me poor dl speeds? Or is there anything else that I can do? Maybe with tasker or a tweak. I would appreciate any type of solution. Thank you.

Is there any thing I can do about this?

On stock Rom go to settings>more networks>mobile networks>network mode.
Pick the one you want. Probably gsm/wcdma auto connect.

dragon-son said:
On stock Rom go to settings>more networks>mobile networks>network mode.
Pick the one you want. Probably gsm/wcdma auto connect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. I already know about that option. I still want to have access to lte when I have a decent connection. Is there an app or a tasker configuration that if the signal is below a certain level it will switch networks? Also, which network it used to make phone calls? I thought all of them but my friend said phone calls are made on 2g. Thank you!

coolpepp said:
Thank you for your reply. I already know about that option. I still want to have access to lte when I have a decent connection. Is there an app or a tasker configuration that if the signal is below a certain level it will switch networks? Also, which network it used to make phone calls? I thought all of them but my friend said phone calls are made on 2g. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent From My GSIII

Is there any solution for this? Also when you are connected to lte are you still making phone calls through 2g? Thanks.

Is this a problem near your home? Can you use wifi calling to help fix the dropped calls? Not sure about how to get the phone to switch from LTE to 4G when the connection is poor. I do it manually right now because my LTE has been acting a little wonky lately where it won't even connect to LTE and leaves my phone in network limbo unless I force it to use 4G. I'd like to see a solution to the LTE - 4G switching too.

Last i recall, there is no tasker or app capable of doing such a thing like switching network preferences. It goes against "policy" per say. But your friend is right about calls being made through 2g. That is how you are able to use data whilst on a phone call. The data is being used through 3G and up, while the call is being used on 2G. now i am not sure about T-Mobile's "HD Voice" calling, that is prolly LTE.
I myself have looked through every single API google has trying to write my own app to change the network preferences and could not find it. There may be an option through root though. Havent found it yet.

Correct.
Calls - 2G
Data - 3G+
TM HD - New LTE Network.
elesbb said:
Last i recall, there is no tasker or app capable of doing such a thing like switching network preferences. It goes against "policy" per say. But your friend is right about calls being made through 2g. That is how you are able to use data whilst on a phone call. The data is being used through 3G and up, while the call is being used on 2G. now i am not sure about T-Mobile's "HD Voice" calling, that is prolly LTE.
I myself have looked through every single API google has trying to write my own app to change the network preferences and could not find it. There may be an option through root though. Havent found it yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse