Develop Bugs

3G Icon On Notification Bar

New to Android phones, (I did a search but nothing was found), I was connected to Vodafone yesterday and there has never been a 3G Icon in the notification Bar (Network Signal has the 4 full bars)
When I am at home I use a Vodafone sure signal for 3G but it does not show in the notification bar either, (obviously I am connected to 3G when at home)
My network mode is set to GSM/WCDMA auto, so have I done something wrong or can some suggest how I can have this Icon showing.

I had the same issue - called up support and had them change my SIM card to the new one that came with the phone and since then I now get up to H depending if I'm in a decent area of Liverpool...

EddyOS said:
I had the same issue - called up support and had them change my SIM card to the new one that came with the phone and since then I now get up to H depending if I'm in a decent area of Liverpool...
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Thanks for the reply, this was a new sim card supplied with the phone I moved from T-Mobile to Vodafone so I could use the SureSignal to get rid of the crappy signal in the house.

Just solved the problem, if you switch off Wi-Fi then go into "settings/Mobile network connect to the internet it appears on the notification bar"

I thought you'd have it on already - glad you're sorted though!

I have only seen 'H' in my toolbar and none of the other notification (3G etc) mentioned in the manual there. Normal? Or do I just have a good connection?

Matt2887 said:
I have only seen 'H' in my toolbar and none of the other notification (3G etc) mentioned in the manual there. Normal? Or do I just have a good connection?
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The H means you have the HSDPA connection which is quicker than standard 3G. 3.5G if you will

ive also never seen a 3g icon, had the H and G one before

I use to get a 'H' on my kaiser
but on on my desire on Orange. I get a '3G+' symbol now. is this the same as 'H'?
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

Guys, remember that Android works differently from WIndows Mobile.
On WIndows mobile, you had the G, E, 3G or H all the time showing what signal you had. Android does not do that.
The 3G/H icon only appears when connected to the internet. the rest of the time it just shows signal bars.
And yeah, if wifi is on it will disconnect from the internet and that icon will disappear. cos after all, as long as you have signal when just using voice and text, it doesn't really matter whether it's 3G or not.
And Yes, 3G+ is the same as H. 3G+ is Orange's stupid marketing speak for HSDPA.

I have constant 'G' which changes to 3G/H when in areas that allow it...phone works fine so no issues since changing my SIM card

I am also experiencing this problem and to clarify it:
Sometimes (i think it has something to do with using camera) the animation stops working (the arrows stays shadow even if i am downloading) or the 3h/h icon disappears completely (but i am still connected to mobile data).
Disconnecting and reconnecting mobile data (e.g. swithing to wifi and back, rebooting phone or turning airplane on and off) solves this problem and the animated 3g/h icon (arrows are white when downloading and shadow when connection idle) is back.
Does anyone know how to fix this problem permanently?
I have had no such a bug on my Milestone

Quick 3g question

Can someone please explain how the 3g symbol/arrows/bars work?
I am just wanting to know how they relate with each other.
For example sometimes I have full bars and the 3g arrows are white, not transmitting data. And other times I have low signal bars and thr arrows are moving faster.
So if I have full bars should the arrows be moving all the time or is it just the nature of the beast and it transfers data when it wants to.
Thanks

Led4lyf said:
Can someone please explain how the 3g symbol/arrows/bars work?
I am just wanting to know how they relate with each other.
For example sometimes I have full bars and the 3g arrows are white, not transmitting data. And other times I have low signal bars and thr arrows are moving faster.
So if I have full bars should the arrows be moving all the time or is it just the nature of the beast and it transfers data when it wants to.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3G is actually seperate from the phone radio. The bars represent phone signal strength. If 3G (data) is down you can still make phone calls. 3G is like your internet and data. The arrows moving are your accounts and emal syncing.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

arrows show send and receive of data packets, they will blink, etc. but that has no relevance on the speed of your 3G connection or the strength.
3G is NOT separate from your phone radio, it is the same radio, which is why you can't have a data connection and voice connection at the same time.

stevesprivateaccount said:
arrows show send and receive of data packets, they will blink, etc. but that has no relevance on the speed of your 3G connection or the strength.
3G is NOT separate from your phone radio, it is the same radio, which is why you can't have a data connection and voice connection at the same time.
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I have googled things on the web while on the phone. Telephone bars and 3G strength are independent otherwise where does 2G and 1X come from? People out of 3G areas still have phone service.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

kennyglass123 said:
I have googled things on the web while on the phone. Telephone bars and 3G strength are independent otherwise where does 2G and 1X come from? People out of 3G areas still have phone service.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
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You have not "googled" anything while you were on the phone, at least not on 3G. The outdated version of CDMA Sprint uses doesn't allow for voice and data to be active at the same time.

Yea the 3G arrows are the internet up/down , the signal bars are separate thats your cell signal. Like when you turn off 3G you can still call and text , 3G is for the internet when youre not on wifi , the arrows light up when your phone is sending or receiving data
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

063_XOBX said:
You have not "googled" anything while you were on the phone, at least not on 3G. The outdated version of CDMA Sprint uses doesn't allow for voice and data to be active at the same time.
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I stand corrected...it was on 4G. Sorry. 3G and phone share the CDMA Radio but they are still 2 different animals independent from each other and from indicators.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

So is there any way to make the data send and recieve faster? Or is it just luck of the draw.

Led4lyf said:
So is there any way to make the data send and recieve faster? Or is it just luck of the draw.
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There were slight differences in 3G transfers with the different modems when I tested them on my Airave. EC05 was fastest with EG22 slightly behind. It varies greatly out in the real world on different towers.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

[Q] so what is the deal with the gray bars

went to use google wallet at the same petco that I have used several times before, but this time no blue bars just four gray bars and google wallet no worky?
running stock as can be

Grey bars mean your phone isn't connected to the google servers. A quick fix is to open the google talk app and it should re-connect.

I get greyed out bars (actually their greyed out as I typed this) with no lines in the signal either to represent bar numbers.
And yea..I don't use Google Wallet, stock phone, on Verizon.
Phone blows balls for getting and keeping a signal, first time on Verizon service and I HOPE to god this isn't how their service really is because after all the fame their the best this phone is leading me to believe otherwise.

Grey bars are not the cause of the problem, they're the reaction to your signal not being proper and sync not being up to date.

martonikaj said:
Grey bars are not the cause of the problem, they're the reaction to your signal not being proper and sync not being up to date.
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Proper? What does that mean in English? Starting to wonder if my phone is defective or its this software in the radio or possibly even hardware.

ztmike said:
Proper? What the hell does that mean in English? Starting to wonder if my phone is defective or its this ****ty ass software in the radio or possibly even hardware.
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Click to collapse
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proper
If your connection is dropping then it surely isn't going to keep synced to Google properly.... and then Google Wallet isn't going to work.
I dunno what your particular problem is, or whats wrong on your device. I'm just explaining that the grey bars are just a result of your phone not being connected continuously, not the problem that is creating your disconnection.

martonikaj said:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proper
If your connection is dropping then it surely isn't going to keep synced to Google properly.... and then Google Wallet isn't going to work.
I dunno what your particular problem is, or whats wrong on your device. I'm just explaining that the grey bars are just a result of your phone not being connected continuously, not the problem that is creating your disconnection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A link to the definition of proper..hm okay not a dumbass, I know what the meaning of the word is..what I asked for was what you were getting at and the problem.
All you had to say was their greyed out because the phone is not keeping a signal, but if that's the case do I have a signal when its greyed out, or just that the phone is not keeping a signal? I said I called my voicemail and got through but was a bit choppy. Not sure what I'm getting for data, nothing is displayed for that.

ztmike said:
Proper? What the hell does that mean in English? Starting to wonder if my phone is defective or its this ****ty ass software in the radio or possibly even hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you always cuss at people who take time out of their day to help others?
Thread moved to Q&A.

logging into google talk did not change anything other than not being able to use google talk as well, for purposes of discussion, the location I was at had 4 blue bars, prior to moving and staying at 4 gray bars.

and today at the market
had gray wifi, how is that possible?

I thought gray == dormant data connection?

Does anyone have gray bars only on 3G? I've had gray bars with no 3G symbol all day yesterday. Tried the google talk thing, doesnt work. Browser wont work either.
I thought it was a Verizon network outage but 4G works just fine (blue bars)

understand why 3g/4g does not connect
but why would you have gray wifi?

tommyz2kool said:
Does anyone have gray bars only on 3G? I've had gray bars with no 3G symbol all day yesterday. Tried the google talk thing, doesnt work. Browser wont work either.
I thought it was a Verizon network outage but 4G works just fine (blue bars)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a new sim. It should fix it.

ceber said:
had gray wifi, how is that possible?
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Click to collapse
Easy. Google's servers are down but your wifi or cell connection is still working. So therefore gray bars due to no google but data still up. Happens once in a while.
Green = google server connected
Gray = no google server, but doesnt mean the whole web is down

Gray bars means no connection to Google's servers.

Milestone 6 - intermittent loss of 3G services

For some reason I cant post in the Dev forum in the Milestone thread...
The ROM is impressive. But I seem to be having 3G data issues.
It seems that I lose 3G service and it will not come back until I stop/start the data toggle. The status bar still shows the 3G icon, but the bars are just light grey and I do not receive email and cant browse. I can still send texts and get/make calls. I havent been able to figure out a pattern yet, but the latest occurrence happened after I came out of an area with no signal (NYC Subway). Usually service comes back automatically as Im walking up the stairs to the outside world but sometimes it never comes back until I toggle. It also happens sometimes even if I dont go into an area with no signal (at the office). After I turn off the data toggle, and turn it back on, the 3G icon comes back on the status bar and the bars turn blue again and shows up/down arrow activity.
Anyone else seeing something similar?

I'm having trouble with 3g and I have no 4g on milestone 6 as well. I went back to an older build until it the next one drops and see if it's fixed.

stonesaber said:
I'm having trouble with 3g and I have no 4g on milestone 6 as well. I went back to an older build until it the next one drops and see if it's fixed.
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Click to collapse
4G connects for me with no problem when I want to use it.
But I lost 3G data again this morning after coming out of the subway. Noticed I had emails in my inbox at work and checked my phone and 3G was stuck again.

I'm having connectivity problems on my copy of Milestone6 as well. Same 3G problems as OP, and can't connect 4G like 2ndP. As well, I'm unable to browse wifi signals, nor able to connect. :-/

Poor LTE signal, doesn't switch to CDMA, WiFi calling flakey

When I am home I have little or no LTE coverage, and even though in network its set to LTE and CDMA, it never seems to switch to CDMA even though I have like no LTE coverage at home. I never have more then 2 bars, usually I have 1 or no service at all.
And WiFi calling is unreliable as well. Often it says it's logged in but it doesn't work, it it fails to login and then apparently doesn't try to login again. If I turn WiFi on and off, the WiFi calling usually then logs in.
Anyhow, if I can't get the phone to automatically switch over to CDMA or if I can't get WiFi calling to work reliably, I'm going to cancel my sprint service since my phone isn't really usable at home. I don't want to put the phone into CDMA only since I would have to reboot the phone every time I go outside to get back on LTE
BTW, I get great LTE signal right outside my house.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app

Same boat as you my friend.i stay on wifi

bonebeatz1234 said:
Same boat as you my friend.i stay on wifi
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Click to collapse
staying on wifi doesn't really help me since wifi calling doesnt seem to be very reliable. Right now staying on lte seems like a better option since at least i can see when i have no signal. Wifi calling half the time says it's logged in, but it doesnt work.

you may need to get an airave since you aren't having service in the house. Just call up sprint and let them know what is going on and ask for one. Hope this helps!

I'm just worried the airwave well be as reliable as the wifi calling since it's essentially the same thing.
I wonder if there's something in android I can tweak that will make the phone jump to CDMA if the 4g signal it too weak.
I've noticed that if I have one bar and make a call, it almost always jumps to full bars as soon as I started the call. I'm guessing it's jumping over to CDMA. But why doesn't it do that when the phone is idle?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app

merkk said:
I'm just worried the airwave well be as reliable as the wifi calling since it's essentially the same thing.
I wonder if there's something in android I can tweak that will make the phone jump to CDMA if the 4g signal it too weak.
I've noticed that if I have one bar and make a call, it almost always jumps to full bars as soon as I started the call. I'm guessing it's jumping over to CDMA. But why doesn't it do that when the phone is idle?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
I believe that the bars you see before initiating a call are the data signal strength. When you press the call icon the phone Radio switches to cell 1x signal. which is usually pretty good in most urban areas and that is why you would see the signal bars jump to full strength.

My wife uses WiFi calling at home and it works very well. Maybe disconnect your phone from the router and do a restart/reset of your router. Then reconnect.

pcmanager said:
I believe that the bars you see before initiating a call are the data signal strength. When you press the call icon the phone Radio switches to cell 1x signal. which is usually pretty good in most urban areas and that is why you would see the signal bars jump to full strength.
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Why would it show that if the phone is on wifi though?
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app

schlepprock said:
My wife uses WiFi calling at home and it works very well. Maybe disconnect your phone from the router and do a restart/reset of your router. Then reconnect.
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I've tried turning the wifi on and off on the phone. That will usually get it to work, but I have no way of knowing if it keeps working since as I said, it will sometimes say it's logged into the wifi calling but not work.
I tend to think it's not an issue with my router since every other online activity works great, including skype or streaming 4k videos on Netflix
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app

merkk said:
Why would it show that if the phone is on wifi though?
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app
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The Wi-Fi icon is also a signal strength indicator. When on Wi-Fi the signal bars to the right are mobile data, then when you receive or make a call they switch to cell tower reception strength. When I'm on wifi and see only one signal bar next to it I know that I'm on LTE. if I see full signal bars and I'm not ona call, I know I'm on 3G. if I turn off wifi I will see either the LTE with 1 bar or 3G icon with full signal. this is at my house so its always the same and its a easy way to check how the signal strength indicators work on your phone. make sense?

pcmanager said:
The Wi-Fi icon is also a signal strength indicator. When on Wi-Fi the signal bars to the right are mobile data, then when you receive or make a call they switch to cell tower reception strength. When I'm on wifi and see only one signal bar next to it I know that I'm on LTE. if I see full signal bars and I'm not ona call, I know I'm on 3G. if I turn off wifi I will see either the LTE with 1 bar or 3G icon with full signal. this is at my house so its always the same and its a easy way to check how the signal strength indicators work on your phone. make sense?
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I have two signal strength indicators on my phone. One for wifi, and one for call (or data). So i don't really understand how the wifi icon is also a signal strength indicator since there are two separate icons for that. Why would the phone show an indicator of the strength of data if I am on wifi and not using the data connection? On my phone (note 4, rooted but stock) i pretty much always have full wifi signal strength, but i have have zero bars/no service on the signal strength icon and when that happens, if anyone tries calling me, it never comes through. I don't have anything in the missed call log - just no call. Can't send a txt either.
The next time the phone drops to zero bars/no service and i happen to have someone else with a non-sprint phone, i'll try calling myself just to confirm the behavior.

Same for me. The signal and data quality is ****e compare to Note 3
Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

elcidroyale said:
Same for me. The signal and data quality is ****e compare to Note 3
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So on the same network you had better signal strength with a note 3 vs a note 4?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app