Related
The problem: At home, my 3G signal is very weak - occasionally it reaches 2 out of 4 bars, often it's only one and it frequently drops out altogether causing the phone to switch to EDGE. At work, however, I get a very good 3G signal, so it would be useful to use 3G.
Now, in theory the "Auto" band setting (auto between GSM and WCDMA) ought to cover this; but in practice the 3G signal at home is just strong enough that the phone keeps trying to switch into 3G mode (and thrashing the battery) but the actual data speed I get (even over HDSPA) doesn't seem much faster than EDGE, and every time it loses the HDSPA link and drops to EDGE there's a long pause before the data starts flowing again.
I've tried switching the phone's band setting between "GSM" and "Auto", using the GSM setting at home, and Auto elsewhere; but doing that plays havoc with "Microsoft Direct Push". Switching the phone band causes the data connection to drop, which switches Direct Push off; switching Direct Push back on again loses the more detailed settings I have set in ActiveSync (where I download email manually during work hours but automatically outside of work). In addition, because the data connection is lost, any application that's using it generally has to be shut down and restarted.
Is there some way of moving the phone between "Auto" and "2G only" mode without messing up the Direct Push setting and, if possible, without severing the data connection? While actually in "Auto" mode the phone happily switches between HDSPA and EDGE without any side-effects; so it seems like there ought to be a way to tell the phone "be in Auto mode but for the moment pretend that there is no 3G signal even if there actually is a weak one", and then use that setting in weak 3G areas, switching back to normal "Auto" behaviour when you know the 3G signal has improved. Or alternatively perhaps "Auto" mode could be made to not try to switch to 3G until you get a 3-bar signal, but, once switched, try and stay with 3G until it drops to 1 bar?
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.
I frequently used the Phone settings on my Treo 750 to turn off 3G in the Band settings tab when I wasn't browsing the web or downloading files. It extended my battery life tremendously. So I was bummed to see this tab missing in my new Tilt 2 Phone settings. Well, it's there, just hidden.
Navigate to
HLM\Software\OEM\Phone Setting\ShowUMTSBandPage
and change the default from 0 to 1. Now when you go into Settings/Personal/Phone the Band tab is exposed. To force GSM only and save battery, change the "Select your network type" drop down to 'GSM'. But here is where I need some guru help. When you try to OK this change you get the following message:
"If you change the bandset setting, the PDP context/Data call will be deactivated. Do you want to continue?"
I choose Yes and everything seems to be OK. The phone stays in GSM mode and I can still surf the web and get my push email and phone calls. To change back to 3G (if available in your area) just select 'Auto' in the drop down. You will again get that same warning...select Yes. Obviously you shouldn't ever select the WCDMA option.
Now, if you want to create a quick shortcut to that tab and add it to Mobile Shell or whatever UI you want, create a shortcut with this in the target line:
\windows\ctlpnl.exe cplmain.cpl,20,3
For those of you worried about the PDP warning, here is some info I found on PDP context. Maybe you can tell me what it means in english.
PDP (Packet Data Protocol) context is a data structure, which is created on both the SGSN and the GGSN of the GPRS core network and is used to contain the subscriber's session information when the subscriber has an active IP session over GPRS. When a GSM or UMTS mobile user wants to use GPRS, the handset must first attach and then activate a PDP context. The process will allocate a PDP context data structure in the SGSN that the subscriber is currently visiting and the GGSN serving the subscribers access point. The PDP context data structure will store the subscriber's IP address, the Subscriber's IMSI, the Subscriber's Tunnel ID (TEID) at the GGSN, the Subscriber’s Tunnel ID (TEID) at the SGSN, and the Subscriber’s tunnel ID (TEID) allocated by the GSN. Through the PDP context data structure, the GPRS core network knows how to route tunneled data between the mobile phone and the IP network (e.g. the Internet).
Well it sounds to me that when you are making that switch it is dumping your current session & aquiring a new one.
It would be nice ot hear what other believe would be possible consequences, but it sounds to me that if you had an active browser session (or phone call), you would lose it and in the case of the browser session any session variables or context about your web session would be lost & you would need to refresh your browser.
I have done this reg hack, and I never get that msg. I use gsm because it has a better signal where I am cause the 3G is just about dead till they put more cell towers up, but I can switch between auto and gsm, and hit ok, and I never have gotten that msg. I am using the tilt 2 on ATT.
OK, forget my original post because there is an easier way on the Tilt 2. I was browsing through all of the .exe's in the windows folder and ran across CMBandSwitching.exe. Just make a shortcut to this executable and there you have it.
U could do that, but I found that by sliding to settings/communications/phone and then scroll to the bottom you can choose band.
Don't worry about the PDP thing. All it does is force the phone to reestablish a data connection. If you had anything currently using data that will cut it off until it reestablishes the connection.
AngelDeath said:
U could do that, but I found that by sliding to settings/communications/phone and then scroll to the bottom you can choose band.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good find. I like to leave 3G off unless I actually need it
3G On/OFF
This is funny but my AT&T Tilt 2 in GSM mode or let's say when 3G is off has a better coverage!
nice find, but is there anyway to get this to work for CDMA users?
sorry, a neophite here, how do you "navigate" to HLM/...., do you mean regedit? and how to do that too? my phone is htc tilt 2--and thanks a lot!!
OMG Thank you! You don't know how much I resented not being able to disable the 3G band like I could with my Hermes. Like most people replying, I also have issues with 3G reception in my area and this was exactly what I needed. This should definitely be included in the tips/tricks sticky post.
Why dont you use the nice little function that HTC has put on the device?
This is what I did on my htc touch pro2:
Browse to Windows/ on your device, and run the program "CMBandSwitching"
Nice little program which allows you to toggle between Auto (3G), GSM, WCDMA, and change band freq.
Just Copy this program and paste a shortcut into your start menu.
Then you can also put a shortcut on your home screen.
or you could just use one of the many 3g com manager cabs floating around that lets you toggle 3g from the comm manager tab
just install NoData from Modaco and then you re set
I enabled the Band tab in Phone settings and now I can have better reception in a couple of areas where 3G has a very poor signal. Great...
Now, if I shutdown the phone or go to Airplane mode while GSM is enabled, on powerup or on coming out of Airplane mode the phone will again go to 3G. A quick check on the Band tab shows that GSM is selected, but the phone is in GSM.
Is there a way to make this selection actually survive a power down or Airplane mode?
Thanks!
How can you set the Defy to WCDMA Preferred? It constantly reverts off of it.
Bump
Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk
You mean in the INFO menu? I don't believe you can. At least not with the stock ROM. I believe the choice is controlled by the firmware which varies from market to market, I presume.
That's the same as 3G only? Mine has the option under the mobile network settings. I get three choices (this is exactly how it reads): 2G only saves battery, 3G only better performance, and Automatic Default. Hm you should have the same thing.
In my handset, if you go into Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile networks, there is an option/drop-down box for Select network.
It gives you a choice between 2G only, 3G only and Automatic which is the default option and the only sensible one IMO.
edit: same as bobbyphoenix it seems.
Selecting 3G only means the phone will not use the 2G network ever, so if you were to end up in an area without 3G signal, you'd be disconnected.
Automatic means the phone will use 3G when available and 2G when it's not. As I said before, it's the only sensible choice.
Step666 said:
In my handset, if you go into Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile networks, there is an option/drop-down box for Select network.
It gives you a choice between 2G only, 3G only and Automatic which is the default option and the only sensible one IMO.
edit: same as bobbyphoenix it seems.
Selecting 3G only means the phone will not use the 2G network ever, so if you were to end up in an area without 3G signal, you'd be disconnected.
Automatic means the phone will use 3G when available and 2G when it's not. As I said before, it's the only sensible choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't answer the question. There are two settings within the testing menu: wcdma preferred and gsm auto prl. The former tries to hang onto 3G whenever possible, where the latter uses an internal list of networks and it decides when to switch.
hah2110 said:
That doesn't answer the question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does.
Automatic means the handset will use 3G whenever possible - ie 3G preferred.
No - they are two different things, as I explained. The Defy is using GSM PRL, NOT WCDMA Preferred.
hah2110 said:
No - they are two different things, as I explained. The Defy is using GSM PRL, NOT WCDMA Preferred.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When my phone uses wifi calling with wifi preferred (in the wifi calling menu) the INFO (testing) menu shows "GSM only". This choice will not allow 3G connection (2G, yes). When I turn off wifi, the phone switches to "GSM auto (prl)" and I get 3G. I read on one forum where someone claims they switched to "WCDMA preferred" then did a battery pull and it stuck. Also read that the WCDMA selection depletes battery faster. Hey, don't always believe what you read.
Hello everyone
We will be moving close to the border soon and I noticed our devices (my wife also has a Desire Z, though it is stock) tend to connect to services from across the border.
Now having turned off data roaming, this isn't that big of a deal but roaming calls still cost more this way AND I can't use navigation because data roaming is deactivated.
Now I know I can set my preferred service provider, but can I also lock it (meaning: turn off roaming completely) so I have to manually allow roaming to accur when, and only when, I truly need it?
If you go to Wireless and networking settings you can select "mobile networks", the same screen you select dataroaming...
you can select your mobile provider I think that when you select Search for network and you select one network it won't automatically select a new one if your connection gets low.
That's what I thought, too, but in reality, it didn't really work. Although I have received a hint that it might only work if mobile data was deactivated at that moment. I'll try this thursday... let's see what happens.