Develop Bugs

roaming battery drain

I work in a large warehouse where I get great signal on the docks around the buildings perimeter but nothing in the aisles. my phone is dying every day while searching for signal. is there a way to change the frequency at which it looks for towers? or am I stuck with putting it in airplane mode and getting yelled at by the old lady for leaving it on and missing her texts?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

jeffeulogy said:
I work in a large warehouse where I get great signal on the docks around the buildings perimeter but nothing in the aisles. my phone is dying every day while searching for signal. is there a way to change the frequency at which it looks for towers? or am I stuck with putting it in airplane mode and getting yelled at by the old lady for leaving it on and missing her texts?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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Menu->Settings->Wireless & Networks->Mobile Networks->Roaming->Sprint Only
Won't go on any other network and instead will connect when you have a Sprint tower to connect to. So no service and no battery drain while in the aisles, connects and gets texts when on docks and perimeter.
If she has a problem with it ask the old lady if she wants to be able to text you every couple of hours or have you stranded with a dead phone. Then tell her to get back in the kitchen.

In all seriousness, one option is do forced roaming, which will make your phone connect only to the 850MHz Sprint/Verizon signals. You won't have 3G, and Google Voice won't connect incoming calls (if you even use it), but you will get better reception.
If you have CyanogenMod, you can open the wireless settings, go to mobile networks, system select, and choose "Affiliated Networks".
On Sense ROMs, the ability to force-roam isn't built in, but there are apps which will let you do so in the Market.

[Q] no signal drains phone quick

I work in a building that is well shielded in most places and get no signal. My phone drains incredibly quick when this is the case. Is there a way to reduce the polling frequency that it looks for a tower to stop this? I thought juicedefender might but I can't figure a way to do this.
Rom: Fresh 4.0.0.4b
Kernel: netarchy 4.3.1.4 cfs have no sbc
hw version 0003
juicedefender ultimate
setcpu 200-1152MHz, smartass governor
Thanks!

When I'm in an area where I roam or have very poor signal I notice increased drain rate as well. This was the same with my TP2. I've always just understood that when the phone is constantly seeking signal and cycling back and forth between roam/3G/1x the battery drains faster.

Your best option, is to utilize "airplane mode" when you know you're going to be in an area that had no signal/you won't be able to use it. I hate to do it because I don't like my family not being able to reach me in case of an emergency, but it is one option for you.

I second the airplane option. Also, WiFi is available while in airplane mode. Perhaps your building has WiFi you can connect to and you can keep something like AIM or Facebook or Google Voice/Talk open and instruct those who might need you in an emergency to reach you through the method of your choice so that you may call out from a landline or step away from the building if there is an emergency.
Just a thought.

See if you can get in on the new Google voice option where you can make your sprint # your Google voice number. Once you have done that you can have your work # as one of your forwarding numbers if your work allows. Or airplane mode with a 2nd charger for work.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

Yep, Airplane mode is the ONLY way to turn off the cell radio. Otherwise, it will be constantly polling for a tower.

Dial ##3282# from a froyo sense rom and it will bring up a menu where you can change how often it polls the tower. It's Going to affect how long it takes your phone to receive calls though.
Sent from my EVO

If you know you're not getting reception, why not just use airplane mode? I mean, if you don't have reception you're not getting contacted anyway.
If you want to go the airplane mode route, Tasker is a great app that lets you control lots of things. You should be able to turn off your radios at set times during the day and have them enable after you get out of work.

I just loaded the 2.1 EPST and run a Verizon PRL when I am at work. I get a crappy Sprint signal at work. However your issue seems to be different as the walls/windows may be blocking all signals? Verizon seems to penetrate better though.

With Tasker, you can also set your phone to airplane mode during work hours, but automatically turn it off and enable data every fifteen minutes (or however long) to check for text messages, voicemails, etc. That is assuming that you get any signal at work... if you don't have a signal at all, just turn airplane mode on yourself.

To answer your question:
Yes, not having a signal will drain your battery. The phone will keep increasing the radio strength to lock onto a tower. Opposite is true to, if you have a strong signal, the radio will decrease the power level thus saving battery power.
You might want to contact Sprint ([email protected]) and let them know that you don't get service in your work building. They gave me a airwave device, but have to have Internet connection for it to work. The only other option might be to have some type of power booster/repeater that are typically very expensive. Not sure how your employer would feel about these suggestions - but never hurts to ask.

I am military and work on a base. The entire internet is locked down except for official military business, so an Airave device wouldn't work.
No internet, no cell signal and neither AM or FM penetrates. Maximum pain.
I'll try tasker, thanks guys.

tomplatz said:
I am military and work on a base. The entire internet is locked down except for official military business, so an Airave device wouldn't work.
No internet, no cell signal and neither AM or FM penetrates. Maximum pain.
I'll try tasker, thanks guys.
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Click to collapse
In that case, if you don't already have Tasker, I'd just turn airplane mode on yourself when you get to work & turn it off when you leave. Or there are free apps that will do it automatically that aren't as complex as Tasker. Unless you find another use for it, then go ahead.

Would roam control work to try verizon towers? I think they have a stronger signal locally.

tomplatz said:
I am military and work on a base. The entire internet is locked down except for official military business, so an Airave device wouldn't work.
No internet, no cell signal and neither AM or FM penetrates. Maximum pain.
I'll try tasker, thanks guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL you said it yourself. If the military doesn't want you getting signal, you're not getting signal. In general, if you can't get radio signal you can't get cell phone signal. Early cell phones operated on FM (type: frequency modulation) radio and what we're using now is basically a digital-type FM radio. In the end it's all EM waves and you're likely in a giant Faraday cage of a military base. I say avoid even trying to fix your problem and just go airplane mode.

University Campus Woes

I just transferred to the University of Minnesota,and it seems like T-Mobile has terrible coverage and penetration on campus; my average bars are lower, and my battery life has tanked, with battery stats telling me that the cell standby is taking 35-50%, with anywhere between 5-35% time without signal. I can only guess that the radio is sitting at max power trying to grab signal, but I may be wrong.
I've tried both the 26.08.04.30 radio, and the newest Bell one, both seeing terrible performance. I find myself needing my phone data, so I'd rather not slap on airplane mode or turn off 3G if I can help it. I was even considering tethering whenever I decide to get a laptop.
Anyone have any tips?
EDIT: A couple additions, fixes.
Sent from my G2

Does your school have WiFi pretty much everywhere? My university does, and I am on a newer Even More plan so I was able to get free WiFi calling (does not use minutes). WiFi saves battery especially when using data when compared to cellular data. Just make sure you set the WiFi sleep policy to never in Settings > Wireless > WiFi settings > Menu > Advanced

I've been attempting to use that as my solution, but it seems like there are plenty of areas with flaky wifi. I feel like that's going to make the radio work hard to try grabbing a good signal, in addition to Wifi Calling trying to enable if it drops. I'm seeing how it goes.
Sent from my G2

Wifi calling is your best bet, I use it on campus and in lecture halls all the time. If Tmobile has crappy service in the area there really isn't much you can do to change it. Sucks.
Sent from my T-mobile G2 using Tapatalk

[Q] weak coverage killing my battery Help?

I direct a summer camp in the summer and now that I've moved out to my summer location I have absolutely the worst data coverage at my camp. All throughout my campground my phone data switches from 4g to edge to no data depending on where I'm literally standing. I think that has been plummeting my battery life so I'm trying to find some best solutions. I'm currently running Intergalactic Rom which has giving me great battery life before I moved out here to camp.
1. Should I consider another rom such as a asop/aokp or does it matter?
2. I already tried locking my band selection to just edge but I can't receive phone calls when I do that. Is that a matter of having the right APN's? Right now my APN only shows the ATT Phone settings?
3. Does having the right combination of kernel settings, modems, etc.. make a difference too?
I would appreciate any help or feedback
Thanks

dmbrown81 said:
I direct a summer camp in the summer and now that I've moved out to my summer location I have absolutely the worst data coverage at my camp. All throughout my campground my phone data switches from 4g to edge to no data depending on where I'm literally standing. I think that has been plummeting my battery life so I'm trying to find some best solutions. I'm currently running Intergalactic Rom which has giving me great battery life before I moved out here to camp.
1. Should I consider another rom such as a asop/aokp or does it matter?
2. I already tried locking my band selection to just edge but I can't receive phone calls when I do that. Is that a matter of having the right APN's? Right now my APN only shows the ATT Phone settings?
3. Does having the right combination of kernel settings, modems, etc.. make a difference too?
I would appreciate any help or feedback
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turn off your data and see if that makes a difference. There are several apps out there that will let you switch it on off through a widget. I think one was something like aon on off, just a toggle.

Gage_Hero said:
Turn off your data and see if that makes a difference. There are several apps out there that will let you switch it on off through a widget. I think one was something like aon on off, just a toggle.
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will this affect whether i receive text messages or not?

No. Phone calls and texts will not be affected. MMS require data, though.

My 2g speed or edge is pretty sufficient. But I tested it out and I was able to place phone calls but not receive them. Is that a matter of configuring the right apn's and if i do stay on edge does that affect test messaging or mms?
Thanks again

service lost every so often

hey all,
I have att on my fire phone , and every now then(atleast once a day) I lose service. It would say searching on the signal bar and it never finds it lol. I would have to restart the phone and then it reverts back to normal. is anyone else having this issue?

I'm guessing it's the fact that LTE has lower signal quality than 3G and
once you force the phone to 3G (once per reboot) it will never disconnect.
LTE is used only for data, when you make calls it will switch to 3G anyways,
so call your phone while it's in LTE and you should notice signal improve ...
To switch do this:
Same as dialing *#*#4636#*#* but this is easier to use:
play.google.com /store/apps/details?id=diewland.testing.phone
Go under Phone Info, then select 3G auto I believe, 4th down from top.
Also, contact Amazon support (right from help on your phone) if the above fixes it.
Tell them you want settings for disabling LTE added to the phone,- I did that and they
said they've submitted to developers, but I guess it's best if more people request this ...