Develop Bugs

[Q] Should data always be 4G?

Reception is weak in my office at work. On my previous phone, Motorola Defy, I noticed my data would go back and forth between 'H' and '3G'.
With my GS2, data is stuck on 4G. I have watched it for hours now and even though I have no bars it does not change. Am I missing something? Is my device defective?
I appreciate your help with this.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

There might not be a 3G (icon) for the phone which is why it stays on 4G rather than drop to 3G.
At least that is the case with my G2X, it is either 4G or 2G but never 3G.
Not sure why, but that's how they made it.
Have you done a speed test to see if you are on 4G or not?
This phone also might have better connectivity to the network.
....

I can at least confirm there is an E for edge Found out today at my apartment in Boston (normally I have 4G with great speeds in Boston, but I guess the bathroom doesn't get good reception)

Thanks for the replies. Yes I ran 4 speed tests this morning in 4G and my max was 1490 Mbps so I think it's working well.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

There actually is a 3g icon. It is only displayed for Umts networks. The reason it was done that way is because there is no way to differentiate hspa from hspa+. Two network technologies for 3g were in use anyways and so it was easier to display all hspa and hspa+ networks as 4g and all umts as 3g.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Edit due to phone auto correct fail.

[Q] LTE roll outs

Okay, question here about 4G and 4GLTE, I bought an S3 as an upgrade and enjoy the phone but the 3G only sucks (until LTE rolls out here) so I switched back to my S2 which has 4G. My question is when LTE rolls out here, (been pushed back again and again) will I receive a notification so I will know to switch back, also when LTE goes live what do I have to do to my phone for it to start working on the LTE network? PRL?
Thanks from the Sprint Nashville market

Bookmark this site and check often....I'm seeing major updates for Austin daily... nothing official though.
http://www.sensorly.com/fullscreen/map/4G/US/USA/Sprint/lte_310sprint
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

LTE for Sprint was projected to be in Orlando Florida by now but it was pushed back until the end of the year makes me sad.
LTE is the only thing I miss about Verizon. Speeds are just amazing!
As soon as Sprint really kicks their LTE Roll out into high gear they will be one rocking company! Unlimited Data FTW!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Sigh...nothing even close to the LA area...although WiMAX never made it to where I live anyway, so I'm not holding my breath that LTE will...but still ...hopeful

Tell my boss that! We both got a gs3 but im on boost mobile and my 3g is fastee than his lol
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

LTE didn't quite work...
LTE was supposed to roll out in Waco, TX, and Sprint's map claims it's there, but my GS3 wouldnt pick it up... :/ Any ideas why?

jswearingen said:
LTE was supposed to roll out in Waco, TX, and Sprint's map claims it's there, but my GS3 wouldnt pick it up... :/ Any ideas why?
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Did you turn on the LTE radio? Mine was disabled by default. I haven't turned it on yet since I expect we won't get it for a while here.

If I am running Blazer ROM or any of the other customs, do I have to go back to stock to do PRL or Profile updates in order for LTE to work?

cdubbs684 said:
If I am running Blazer ROM or any of the other customs, do I have to go back to stock to do PRL or Profile updates in order for LTE to work?
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Nope. you can update both without any problems. I'm on Blazer ROM as well.
also... make sure that under *Menu >>More Settings >>Mobile networks >>Network Mode >> you have it set to LTE/CDMA

1970mueller said:
Bookmark this site and check often....I'm seeing major updates for Austin daily... nothing official though.
http://www.sensorly.com/fullscreen/map/4G/US/USA/Sprint/lte_310sprint
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
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Thanks for the helpful site, gonna check often as I have been promised "by the end of the year"?!

Wondering if Vegas will get LTE.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

thanks for the link

Thanks for the link for sensorly

t3lancer2007 said:
Sensorly lies! I live in one of the blue spots on that map for Austin and I haven't seen LTE at my home.
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I'm one of those whose testing created some of Austin's Sensorly tracks. I think there are several things going on:
1) The number of live LTE towers in Austin and Round Rock is still extremely small and the coverage is thin. Even some of the tracks I recorded, I cannot always replicate later.
2) These sites are still officially in development, so they may go offline sometimes. The tracks you see on Sensorly are not random, but reflect testing deliberately performed by geek enthusiasts to discover the unofficial LTE signals.
3) Sensorly does not record signal strength, only points where it detected any LTE at all. So these tracks may be minimal strength. And the points get extrapolated to fuzzy blobs in the Sensorly map display, which are even worse when zoomed out at all on the website. If your home is inside one of the blobs, that is an overgeneralized anomaly. But somebody probably detected LTE one time on a nearby street.
4) The GS3, even when running the latest LI3 firmware with all the fixes, still has trouble reconnecting to LTE again after it loses the signal. Sometimes I have to stop and toggle the data radio to force it to reacquire 4G.
So overall, GS3 users should not look at today's Sensorly maps of the area and expect them to describe routine LTE service yet.
p.s. If you are serious about tracking the Sprint LTE rollout, don't expect much information in this generalized forum. Go to S4GRU.com.

LTE in not officially live markets

I live in the DC area where LTE has not officially launched (though it has been announced as a market that will have it in the coming months). I've found that if I switch the phone to "CDMA only," wait for the 3G icon to disappear, then switch it back to "CDMA/LTE," if there is a Sprint LTE signal available, the OG will pick it up and use it. Without toggling, the OG stays on 3G. I am hoping that this toggling is only necessary because Sprint has not officially flipped the switch in my area. I have yet to use the phone in a market that officially has LTE, but will be sure to check if the OG automatically picks up 4G without toggling the next time I am in an official LTE market such as Baltimore.

Marty said:
I live in the DC area where LTE has not officially launched (though it has been announced as a market that will have it in the coming months). I've found that if I switch the phone to "CDMA only," wait for the 3G icon to disappear, then switch it back to "CDMA/LTE," if there is a Sprint LTE signal available, the OG will pick it up and use it. Without toggling, the OG stays on 3G. I am hoping that this toggling is only necessary because Sprint has not officially flipped the switch in my area. I have yet to use the phone in a market that officially has LTE, but will be sure to check if the OG automatically picks up 4G without toggling the next time I am in an official LTE market such as Baltimore.
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It will connect automatically when in lte coverage and live.
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda premium

for any and all info related to Sprint 4G... the forums @ http://S4GRU.com

i am getting 4g in freehold NJ as well, but only in certain spots, but luckily my house it doesn't show a signal bar, but i get 5-20mbps down and 3-10 mbps up. i suppose it is "testing" but i haven't seen it turn off since i got the phone on dec. 1st. needless to say, my bandwidth usage has gone up as i don't use wifi anymore :silly:

eatatjoes13 said:
i am getting 4g in freehold NJ as well, but only in certain spots, but luckily my house it doesn't show a signal bar, but i get 5-20mbps down and 3-10 mbps up. i suppose it is "testing" but i haven't seen it turn off since i got the phone on dec. 1st. needless to say, my bandwidth usage has gone up as i don't use wifi anymore :silly:
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I live close to you lol and get only 3G at 1 mbps. But that is awesome! I go there sometimes so maybe I'll test it!
Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2

I'm in NYC, and I get LTE in Harlem, on the Westside.

megamaster2 said:
I live close to you lol and get only 3G at 1 mbps. But that is awesome! I go there sometimes so maybe I'll test it!
Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2
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yea it was weird i got the phone dec 1st and didn't expect 4g to ever turn on and then i leave for work the next morning at like 7am and i look at my phone half groggy and was like 4G!? *goes to speedtest app and runs twice*
it turns on and off around monmouth county, depends on where you get lucky i suppose.

I'm north of you boo. Is that route 9?
Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2

megamaster2 said:
I'm north of you boo. Is that route 9?
Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2
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its through rt 9, so far ive had it turn on in freehold and on bits and pieces of rt 18 north. like manalapan or where you can get on 18 from 9, i guess only a handful of towers are testing. ill try to narrow down as i drive and find them and log them. i have a screenshot but i can't post links until i hit ~10 posts lol trying to fill that up soon.

Hey that's awesome lol I'll be driving through tomorrow so I'll try!
Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2

megamaster2 said:
Hey that's awesome lol I'll be driving through tomorrow so I'll try!
Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2
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hah yea as soon as you get it just speedtest and download stuff lol it feels liberating to stream netflix without wifi.

driving to work this morning, also have 4g on rt18 in east brunswick. 14down 8up.

Near New Brunswick or closer to East Brunswick mall area?
Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2

jat255 said:
For those of you doing all this driving, make sure to pick up the Sensorly app, and map your trips. It shows other people where good 4g signal is. For instance, there are a few pockets here and there around DC, but nothing in other areas. They seem to very actively be building out the network. I know I get LTE all the time in College Park.
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I can also confirm College Park and add Bowie and Friendship Heights as places where I've detected Sprint LTE.

tizonly1 said:
I'm in NYC, and I get LTE in Harlem, on the Westside.
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reallyy? I'm in NYC everyday 24/7 mostly downtown Manhattan to 86th. and no LTE. guess i'll have to check going up 125th

COCOA FL
95/w King St and eastward towards the coast. i got 4g!. 22 down 10 up!

Around Del Amo Mall in Torrance. Driving up Prarie Ave to the the 405. Signal strength fluctuated all the time. I got a signal but Speed Test app couldn't find a server so couldn't run it.

LTE? Does The Icon Change?

Silly question, but I'm curious. In my area, according to what I have seen on T-Mobile's website, there is some LTE coverage in the greater downtown area. Although I have "4G" just about everywhere, I have also been through the downtown areas and never seen an LTE icon or anything like that on my phone. Speed test results have also not shown anything significant either. Can someone with known LTE chime in?

02CWRX said:
Silly question, but I'm curious. In my area, according to what I have seen on T-Mobile's website, there is some LTE coverage in the greater downtown area. Although I have "4G" just about everywhere, I have also been through the downtown areas and never seen an LTE icon or anything like that on my phone. Speed test results have also not shown anything significant either. Can someone with known LTE chime in?
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Yep, here's a screenshot:
http://i.imgur.com/OubhiYj.jpg

It will say LTE along with the 4G icon
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium

ryceone said:
Yep, here's a screenshot:
http://i.imgur.com/OubhiYj.jpg
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Perfect! I hit the thanks button for you.

Wow 33mb download
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium

awesomedeals88 said:
Wow 33mb download
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Yeah crazy right?

A similar question (I have neither an S4 nor T-Mobile service at this time, but will in the near future).
When you switch from HSPA+ "4G" to LTE 4G... is there an interruption in service for a few seconds as you change networks? I have a Nexus S 4G on Sprint right now, and where I live if I drive 10 miles I will go back and forth between 3G and 4G several times. And every time 4G becomes either available or unavailable, I will have a several second interruption in service while it switches networks. It's so annoying that I sometimes completely disable 4G because I'd rather have slow steady 3G than all these switches back and forth with gaps. Does that make sense?

The111 said:
A similar question (I have neither an S4 nor T-Mobile service at this time, but will in the near future).
When you switch from HSPA+ "4G" to LTE 4G... is there an interruption in service for a few seconds as you change networks? I have a Nexus S 4G on Sprint right now, and where I live if I drive 10 miles I will go back and forth between 3G and 4G several times. And every time 4G becomes either available or unavailable, I will have a several second interruption in service while it switches networks. It's so annoying that I sometimes completely disable 4G because I'd rather have slow steady 3G than all these switches back and forth with gaps. Does that make sense?
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Its quite normal it just means your radio is switching signals and theres a small down time for a second while it searches for the change in frequency.
Your probably seeing the O with a line thru it for a split second then signal bars arise
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lojak29 said:
Its quite normal it just means your radio is switching signals and theres a small down time for a second while it searches for the change in frequency.
Your probably seeing the O with a line thru it for a split second then signal bars arise
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium
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Yes, I do understand the reason behind it and that it's normal for my phone.
But I have never used an HSPA+ or LTE network or phone and I'm asking if the same thing happens with the S4 when switching between HSPA+ and LTE. I assume it does, but would appreciate confirmation from someone with the phone, on Tmobile, with both networks available in their area. Thanks.

Question. .

Is there a way I can boost my signal somehow? I live in Orlando and when I'm in the field at some places I can't get 4g or very good service. For instance when I'm in Wintet Garden and as soon as I cross 50 I don't get 4g or anything. Almost like I fall off the planet. My wife has an s4 also and it does the same thing. Is it just tmo in the metro area?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

xxPLURxx said:
Is there a way I can boost my signal somehow? I live in Orlando and when I'm in the field at some places I can't get 4g or very good service. For instance when I'm in Wintet Garden and as soon as I cross 50 I don't get 4g or anything. Almost like I fall off the planet. My wife has an s4 also and it does the same thing. Is it just tmo in the metro area?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2
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Sounds like a Tmo reception issue since it happens with both devices.
You can check your dBm signal strength and see how it compares to when you're in a good signal area, both phones compared to each other, and/or individually.
Settings
More
About device
Status
(see attachment below, the lower the dBm, the stronger the signal)
But it sounds like a Tower/reception proprietary issue with T-Mobile.
You can always call Tmo to ask and/or confirm this.....

Here's a few screenshots. The one with the earliest time stamp is at my house, then the next is a mile from my home and the following is a mile after
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xxPLURxx said:
Here's a few screenshots. The one with the earliest time stamp is at my house, then the next is a mile from my home and the following is a mile after
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According to time stamp:
Home - Edge - strongest signal - 79dBm
1 mile away - 4G - weakest 107
2 miles away - LTE - weaker 106 -
I suggest changing your Network mode to possibly the 2nd choice in the list of the 4 options. You can find that here:
Change the setting accordingly till you find the best option.
As I mentioned, call T-Mobile and ask them about their LTE Network in your area, as it is not cconsistent. At your home, you have Edge, which is the slowest speed, but strongest signal. Compared to LTE, which you're connecting to, but weak signal, so suggest to change to no LTE in that area, so it hopefully forces your device to connect to stronger signal. Or words to that affect
Let me know.....
Settings
Connections
More networks
Mobile networks
Network mode
Try this app in the Playstore, as it will give you a better picture of your Signal strength and additional regarding your connection:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.android.telnet
Some reasons why mobile phone signal can be weaker or stronger in some areas.
For instance, a very strong signal outside of a structure, but not inside a structure, etc., etc.
The following are just some basics.
Regarding your issue, it my be T-Mobile growing pains regarding their build out, could be your geographic area, etc. etc......
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_signal

Thank you. I'll try when I get home today. All is good right now but I'm sure that'll change once I'm home
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Okay this is what that app tells me. This is with me sitting outside my front door.
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You have a strong Edge signal, as per your first posts and my response.
No LTE available near your home, or 4G.
I thought the issue was when you're away from your home, you were getting weak LTE, which is why I suggested to change your setting as per my previous post, as well as calling Tmo to see network availability in your area.

Biker1 said:
You have a strong Edge signal, as per your first posts and my response.
No LTE available near your home, or 4G.
I thought the issue was when you're away from your home, you were getting weak LTE, which is why I suggested to change your setting as per my previous post, as well as calling Tmo to see network availability in your area.
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xxPLURxx said:
Okay this is what that app tells me. This is with me sitting outside my front door.
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that tower that is close to me I found out is only a 2g (edge) tower, T-Mobile told me that they are getting their engineers out to look at it. My phone won't switch the towers because I'm so close to it. Wonder why it won't just pull off the 4g tower? Hopefully they fix it but idk how all that goes. probably a new tower I assume?

That was mainly one of the reasons I left T Mobile where I live I got only edge and about a mile away all 4G and now I'm using my t-mobile s4 on AT&T
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