Develop Bugs

HSDA <-> UMTS automated switching?

I've seen in my TyTN, WM6, radio 1.34 a (strange?) behaviour. I noticed with VODAFONE : I have a plain UMTS connection 3g icon and 3g data connection alive, used for push e-mail.
When I am in HSDPA area and data connection starts data transfer, I see a switch between 3G and H connection, then revert after 1-2 seconds ad the end of data transver back in UMTS mode.
Hypotesis:
1) Could be a simple WM6 LVSW edition bug
2) Could be a WM6 feature (HSDPA has well known problems in voice phone avaliability when active)
3) Could be a Vodafone Network feature, HSDPA onli when needed
4) 1.34 radio compatibility problem/feature?
5) ......
6) I am stupid and this is a well known fact
Question:
Any other wm6 user noticed same behaviour?

It has always worked like this, HSDPA is ON when you need it, not all the time.
thats part of the design, saving resources for the network.

elivne said:
It has always worked like this, HSDPA is ON when you need it, not all the time.
thats part of the design, saving resources for the network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't working this way for all mobile phone providers in Italy, with TIM if you are in HSDPA area it will stay connected... and you're off-line if someone calls
May be we discovered why isn't enabled as DEFAULT setting and we need to enable using SetHSDPA.exe

sergiopi said:
This isn't working this way for all mobile phone providers in Italy, with TIM if you are in HSDPA area it will stay connected... and you're off-line if someone calls
May be we discovered why isn't enabled as DEFAULT setting and we need to enable using SetHSDPA.exe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto in Australia. If im connected to GPRS, the icon is permanently showing HSDPA... unless of course i only have GSM coverage (very rare!!).

In Taipei, it works exactly as elivne says... H only when needed.
Cheers

FWIW, I didn't experience proper "throttling" in and out of HSDPA mode until I upgraded to WM6 and radio 1.38 (not sure which to thank for it). Prior to that whenever I was in H coverage, the radio would run almost exclusively in H mode. Talk about battery drain! Currently I can run for almost 2 days between charges (and that's with push mail).
How a particular combination performs for you must depend a lot on the carrier, your locale, etc. Took a lot of "trial and error" for me.

Yep, I'm on UK T-Mobile, and my icon only switches from "3G" to "H" when it's active.
As vp3G says, it noticably saves battery power from the old "permanent HSDPA" behaviour. Although I can't claim to get 2 days usage out of mine.

It is a network feature. If you are inactive on HSDPA for t sec the network will downswitch you to UMTS ( called R99 ). Only 10 users can use the HSDPA at the same time and there is an inactivity timer ( t=10 sec) try to manage the traffic by moving inactive users to R99 ( max speed 384 kbps)

Thank you for sharing your knowlege Austin Boy....
..."and that's the way it is"
Cheers

austin_boy said:
Only 10 users can use the HSDPA at the same time and there is an inactivity timer ( t=10 sec) try to manage the traffic by moving inactive users to R99 ( max speed 384 kbps)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really only 10 simultaneous users? Seems like the odds of getting a timeslice when you need it would be virtually nil.

The 10 limitation can be increased by any operator by adding Channel elements (Radios) or more when adding another carrier ( frequency). Europe has more spectrum than the US and it is possible to get two carriers ( 2x5MHz) and use one for speech and the other for data. In the US we are sharing the spectrum between GSM and UMTS. AT&T will be migrating GSM to UMTS gradually and using the 850 band for UMTS before moving to LTE (4G)

sub69 said:
Yep, I'm on UK T-Mobile, and my icon only switches from "3G" to "H" when it's active.
As vp3G says, it noticably saves battery power from the old "permanent HSDPA" behaviour. Although I can't claim to get 2 days usage out of mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a similar switching scenario.
Prior to flashing my Radio to 1.38.00.10 and ROM to Black 2.0 I tested my download speed at www.dslreports/mspeed and was please to see I got almost a 1Mb/sec rating.
However since the flashes I have re-tested and am now only getting 250-300 kb/sec. It may be the network, so I will try on a few separate occasions and different locations.
NB. I have enabled HSDPA in HTweaksC
I noticed during the test that the download bar jumps staright up immediately but then slows down quite a lot?

sergiopi said:
I've seen in my TyTN, WM6, radio 1.34 a (strange?) behaviour. I noticed with VODAFONE : I have a plain UMTS connection 3g icon and 3g data connection alive, used for push e-mail.
When I am in HSDPA area and data connection starts data transfer, I see a switch between 3G and H connection, then revert after 1-2 seconds ad the end of data transver back in UMTS mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3 ITA is working same way.
Enabling HSDPA only when there is data transfer active.

Okay tried again on my commute home, and also when I got to my house.
Speed is looking good ! getting up above the 1mb/sec rate again.
Must have just been a busy cell/network

ok... i have a spv m3100 with black 3.0.1 wich is suposed to be HSDPA enabled... i have also enabled it in the tweaker.... today for the first time i have seen the icon H... in my area there is no HSDPA coverege... none... but i read today that untill the end of the year they are trying to cover it... and i was thinking that they are already making tests... i tested my speed at http://www.bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/ and i had a 145 kilobits per second speed... wich as far as i know it is similar to 3g... i disabled the HSDPA and tried a few times in 3g... the speed was 135 kb/s... to small the difference...
so... my question... what is the tweaker doing?... enableing HSDPA or just replacing the 3g icon with the H icon?

no one???
what is the tweaker doing?... enable HSDPA or just replacing the 3g icon with the H icon?

my wifi, have an E icon, is that correct?

so i enabled wifi, but how do i know i'm really using wifi and not 3g if i see a small E on top of the bars? it seems as if I can not turn off my data connection if i have wifi on..is that correct?

judicious said:
so i enabled wifi, but how do i know i'm really using wifi and not 3g if i see a small E on top of the bars? it seems as if I can not turn off my data connection if i have wifi on..is that correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as you may know the "E" is 2g not 3g. When it is 3g it will say "3g" or "H", "H" being faster than "3g".
your wifi goes into "sleep" mode when not being used, helps on battery life, when your phone demands a connection it will take the wifi out of sleep if try to connect and if it does you will see the wifi icon, and if you are not an area that has wifi it will revert back to your data connection.

alwayslearning said:
as you may know the "E" is 2g not 3g. When it is 3g it will say "3g" or "H", "H" being faster than "3g".
your wifi goes into "sleep" mode when not being used, helps on battery life, when your phone demands a connection it will take the wifi out of sleep if try to connect and if it does you will see the wifi icon, and if you are not an area that has wifi it will revert back to your data connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's very odd because i have never seen the H ever since i flashed the rom, but the 3g setting is set to be 'on', but that setting disappeared and i dont knkow how to get back to it. is there a way to turn on 3g?

alwayslearning said:
... "H" being faster than "3g".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not always.
AT&T purposely does not show the H and always shows 3G even if it is a HSDPA connection.

since i flashed w/ a new rom, there's no more 3g icon, but i did figure out how to bring the H back, but for some reason i have no idea why my wifi isn't working. someone told me to disable proxy, but i did that

golfer_boy said:
Not always.
AT&T purposely does not show the H and always shows 3G even if it is a HSDPA connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is true on a stock ATT ROM, but if you flashed a custom ROM it will display correctly

judicious said:
since i flashed w/ a new rom, there's no more 3g icon, but i did figure out how to bring the H back, but for some reason i have no idea why my wifi isn't working. someone told me to disable proxy, but i did that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tried going to settings>wifi> click "turn on Wi-FI" select wireless networks and see if you phone detects any networks? If there is a network available then select it and set it up.
did you hard reset after you flashed?

Calls not getting through?

Hi,
I'm running my desire with rooted stock rom by oclock (called 3'oclock over at modaco).
Also running a2sd with richardtrip ocv14 kernel, and radio is 32.30.00.28U_4.05.00.11.
A lot of incoming calls are not getting through - sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. People are saying it goes to voicemail 2 or 3 times before it come through. I don't see missed calls on my phone when this happens.
This is with mobile internet set to off, so it isn't that.
Anyone else have this issue? And know how to fix?
Thanks.

Is it possible you could try flashing a differnet radio perhaps?

Are you on he boundary of your network's 3G coverage?
I find I often have to set 3G devices to 2G only in my house because the 3G coverage is marginal and the phones spend half their life jumping between HSPA and EDGE, and it often causes missed calls as you describe. Nothing exclusive to the Desire though, the only 3G device that never had a problem here on O2 was my old TyTN, and that was only because the radio on that was too rubbish to pick up a 3G signal at all here

doinbox said:
Is it possible you could try flashing a differnet radio perhaps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
happens on 30, 36 & 37 radios for me.

Azurael said:
Are you on he boundary of your network's 3G coverage?
I find I often have to set 3G devices to 2G only in my house because the 3G coverage is marginal and the phones spend half their life jumping between HSPA and EDGE, and it often causes missed calls as you describe. Nothing exclusive to the Desire though, the only 3G device that never had a problem here on O2 was my old TyTN, and that was only because the radio on that was too rubbish to pick up a 3G signal at all here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It happens with my internet set to off though - haven't had mobile internet enabled all day just too see if it was this but it happens when the internet is off.

Your phone will still connect to 3G networks if the data is off. Try changing 'Network Mode' under 'Mobile Networks' to GSM only and see if that helps.

Azurael said:
Your phone will still connect to 3G networks if the data is off. Try changing 'Network Mode' under 'Mobile Networks' to GSM only and see if that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will give it a go - hope not though cos i like using 3g for emails, surfing etc.
Will also try disabling the "enable always on mobile data" setting to see if that is doing it.
Thanks for the info.

I had exactly the same problem when I used the built in widget to turn OFF mobile data (I had a stock orange ROM in UK). I did this to save battery, but calls did exactly what you said. I now leave it on all the time (and actually battery has improved massively in my 4th week, dunno why, but I went 2 days without charge, and quite reasonable usage!)
Now I leave mobile ON all the time it works no problems, and haven't had the same problems since!

Tip: Market app (wireless access)

As I mentioned in my earlier thread I recently bought a Motorola Defy. Like many other users that I read about before purchasing my first android smartphone I was not able to open Google Market app after a factory reset.
My hint is based on my own experience and I hope it serves someone else well with similar issue.
As I write this message I have no data plan on my contract and I intend to use wireless connection for emailing, internet browsing, and the Market app. Once I completed the initial setup I put my handset's network mode to 2G only. I was worried to be charged for accessing data on 3G.
I had no problem using the Market app initially over the wireless connection until I did a refactory reset to re-setup my handset properly second time round. It was then the Market app stopped working and not even a master reset resolves the problem and then I was considering to root the handset to remove certain folders as a solution to the problem.
Everytime I laucnhed the Market app it stuck at Terms and Services page. It then occurred to me to change the network mode to Automatic and switch off the wireless connection to see what would happen. Next time I laucnhed the Market app it took me straight to the market's home page. It took me two days to figure this out : (
Once I was in the market I switched the network mode back to 2G only and turned on the wireless again. Everything is working just fine now. For the porpose of this thread I powered off the handset and turned it on again to see if my last settings i.e. 2G only still launches the Market app successfully or not. I can confirm that the Market app works just fine over the wireless connection just fine with 2G only network mode.
BTW, the batter life of this handset is so impressive. I used it one and half day very extensively (over 20 times of restarting the handset alone) and I was very surprised lasted that long. On moderate use and proper battery management (no widgets, no 24 wireless connection), and putting it on air plane mode at nights I would get over 2.5 days before charging is required.
I can't wait for Android 2.2 release to make this handset even more productive for me : )

CSharpHeaven said:
As I write this message I have no data plan on my contract and I intend to use wireless connection for emailing, internet browsing, and the Market app. Once I completed the initial setup I put my handset's network mode to 2G only. I was worried to be charged for accessing data on 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you may have a misconception of 2G versus 3G. They are different technologies. When your phone is in 2G mode, it uses one type of network for both voice and data. In 3G mode it uses another type which provides better voice quality and faster data speeds.
Either way your phone will still try to access data unless you turn off mobile data. If it's in 2G mode and you see the little "E" icon up in the notification area, it's still accessing mobile data - just at a slower rate.

cmstlist said:
I think you may have a misconception of 2G versus 3G. They are different technologies. When your phone is in 2G mode, it uses one type of network for both voice and data. In 3G mode it uses another type which provides better voice quality and faster data speeds.
Either way your phone will still try to access data unless you turn off mobile data. If it's in 2G mode and you see the little "E" icon up in the notification area, it's still accessing mobile data - just at a slower rate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your inputs. I'm very new in the world of smartphones but learning fast.
I searched around to find out how to disable Mobile data and chosen this method *#*#4636#*#* and changed my network type to GSM for best coverage and battery life now. I can confirm the Masrket app still works with wireless connection.

Changing to GSM only does not disable mobile data.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

cmstlist said:
Changing to GSM only does not disable mobile data.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disabled the Mobile Data option by pressing the Settings button then More>Disable Mobile Data. It was then I noticed the options for changing my network type beyond just 2G and 3G.

CSharpHeaven said:
I disabled the Mobile Data option by pressing the Settings button then More>Disable Mobile Data. It was then I noticed the options for changing my network type beyond just 2G and 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did that work then? You no longer connect with mobile date, I'm asking because I have now ordered my Defy but like you don't have a network plan so need a workaround.

CSharpHeaven said:
I disabled the Mobile Data option by pressing the Settings button then More>Disable Mobile Data. It was then I noticed the options for changing my network type beyond just 2G and 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right ok, thanks for clarifying
In Froyo there is a mobile data toggle in the regular menus, and on all Sense phones too. Is there one on Blur phones? I guess not.
Another way to block data is to go to your APN list and fudge the entry (e.g. change epc.tmobile.com to epc.tmobile.com.nodata).

jk1234 said:
Did that work then? You no longer connect with mobile date, I'm asking because I have now ordered my Defy but like you don't have a network plan so need a workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way I can assure you I have successfully disabled Mobile Data by looking at the reception icon in notification bar that no longer displays G, H, E, and 3G at anytime.

[Q] Control H/3G/E/G switchover threshold

Can anyone explain how the Arc (or is it generic to android) controls the switch between HSPDA / 3G / GSM etc?
I live right on the edge of a HSPDA / GSM reception area, so sitting in the same chair I'm often browsing using "H", and then slowed down to "G" - and vice-versa. Unfortunately, every time it switches it seems (to me) that there is a lag while it establishes a connection again.
Is their any way to configure the ARC to make it attempt to stay with "H" for a bit longer?

Go to Setting - Wireless & networks - Mobile Networks and change the Network Mode into WCDMA
Hope that help you!
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App

Changing from Edge(E) to Hspda(H) doesnt drop the connection but the from H to E does. Also if the H signal is weak, it will change automatically to E. If you are in a building , parking etc you will have à weak H signal since your phone is covered by the walls
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App

thank you both repliers.
It looks like there's no practical alternative to just letting the switch over happen as Sony have programmed it (or moving house).

You can try forcing to use GSM only or WCDMA only instead of GMS / WCDMA preferred.
The setting is under Wireless --> Mobile network settings --> Network Mode.
By forcing it to use WCDMA, the phone doesn't try to switch to GSM even when it has low signal. Good thing here is that, it doesn't try to switch between the two frequently hence battery might be saved and the bad thing about this is that, when you have a week signal, the phone tries to get better signal since it cannot switch to over to another frequency, hence the boosting uses more battery power.
Try it for yourself .

prathaban said:
You can try forcing to use GSM only or WCDMA only instead of GMS / WCDMA preferred.
The setting is under Wireless --> Mobile network settings --> Network Mode.
By forcing it to use WCDMA, the phone doesn't try to switch to GSM even when it has low signal. Good thing here is that, it doesn't try to switch between the two frequently hence battery might be saved and the bad thing about this is that, when you have a week signal, the phone tries to get better signal since it cannot switch to over to another frequency, hence the boosting uses more battery power.
Try it for yourself .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... Double Post huh?

r_southampton said:
thank you both repliers.
It looks like there's no practical alternative to just letting the switch over happen as Sony have programmed it (or moving house).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not only happening as programming by Sony but more likely by your operator. The operator defines the parameters that decide when they wish your mobile to switch from one network to the other, how weak they will allow the signal to become etc.
You can contact you operator, maybe they will log a case on it and investigate if the radio planning could be changed in your area.