[Q] Note 2 not auto switching to 4G? - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note II

Hi guys, I'm plenty familiar with the Note II having had mine since October release. I'm having an issue where I will be in a solid 4G coverage area (at my home) and my phone will stay in 2G mode.
There is a problem with either the tower or the phone, I'm leaning toward tower because my wife has my old Sensation 4G which is also staying on 2G. Have any of you encountered/noticed that your phone stays in 2G even though you are in a 4G coverage area? For me either on the Sensation or Note II, I just pick WCDMA, 4G pops in and works great. The only problem is that I have to remember to put it back on auto when I leave the area. I looked up and attempted the cell codes for making the phone prefer 4G, but without success there. Also my phone picks up 4G automatically when I'm at work, so again leaning toward tower (but how and why the tower can control this I have no idea).
I also noticed some threads claiming wifi calling would detect wireless networks nearby and disable 4G. I'm leaning towards BS on that because 1. my wi-fi is almost always turned off (true unlimited 4G plan), and 2. when I disable wifi calling all together it still exhibits the same behavior.
I'm running out of ideas - any help is appreciated!

vinas1 said:
Hi guys, I'm plenty familiar with the Note II having had mine since October release. I'm having an issue where I will be in a solid 4G coverage area (at my home) and my phone will stay in 2G mode.
There is a problem with either the tower or the phone, I'm leaning toward tower because my wife has my old Sensation 4G which is also staying on 2G. Have any of you encountered/noticed that your phone stays in 2G even though you are in a 4G coverage area? For me either on the Sensation or Note II, I just pick WCDMA, 4G pops in and works great. The only problem is that I have to remember to put it back on auto when I leave the area. I looked up and attempted the cell codes for making the phone prefer 4G, but without success there. Also my phone picks up 4G automatically when I'm at work, so again leaning toward tower (but how and why the tower can control this I have no idea).
I also noticed some threads claiming wifi calling would detect wireless networks nearby and disable 4G. I'm leaning towards BS on that because 1. my wi-fi is almost always turned off (true unlimited 4G plan), and 2. when I disable wifi calling all together it still exhibits the same behavior.
I'm running out of ideas - any help is appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In settings>more settings>mobile networks>network mode:
You should ALWAYS be set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode)
This will automatically get you the best data signal available at your location. If you only get 2G in some locations, that's normal. You can try calling TMO support and have them check your address to see if you SHOULD have 4G at that location. If you really want to try to see what is going on, install an app called Open Signal Maps form the Play store. Among other useful things, it will geolocate the towers you are connected to complete with distance and mapped street address.
Where I live I only ever get 2 or 3 bars of 2G data. I use the TMO wifi calling app for all my calls and texting. This is only way I can get reliable service at home.

vouty said:
In settings>more settings>mobile networks>network mode:
You should ALWAYS be set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode)
This will automatically get you the best data signal available at your location. If you only get 2G in some locations, that's normal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying vouty. When I switch from auto mode to WCDMA I have 4 full bars. That's the funny part. Speedtest is giving me around 12Mbps down 3 up on average (I live right by the tower - like .5 mile), so there is for sure something strange happening. If I keep wifi on it really isn't an issue, but I prefer to not mess with wifi and just keep it in 4G while at home, but as frustrating as this problem is, the phone refuses to switch from 2G on it's own. Once I toggle from AUTO to WCDMA, and then back to auto - it will stay on 4G. It's almost as if I am waking it up and causing the phone to re-detect the signal.

vouty said:
In settings>more settings>mobile networks>network mode:
You should ALWAYS be set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode)
This will automatically get you the best data signal available at your location. If you only get 2G in some locations, that's normal. You can try calling TMO support and have them check your address to see if you SHOULD have 4G at that location. If you really want to try to see what is going on, install an app called Open Signal Maps form the Play store. Among other useful things, it will geolocate the towers you are connected to complete with distance and mapped street address.
Where I live I only ever get 2 or 3 bars of 2G data. I use the TMO wifi calling app for all my calls and texting. This is only way I can get reliable service at home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool app, very useful, appears I am on 3g at home. Turning off wifi to see if it changes to edge while using data.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

Related

[Q] Using 3G and 4G at the same time?

Has anyone been looking into running the 3G and 4G radios simultaneously?
Aside from the benefit of having an additional 1-2MB/s, I get very frustrated when I am in the middle of downloading something and I come into a 4G area. Since the phone will always choose 4G over 3G, the connection resets. I would love to have a way to keep the path available to the app using it.
I guess the same problem exists when Wifi is on and the phone connects to wifi while downloading over 3g or 4g.
Can this be done?
I also would love to see a dev pick this up. It could save my marriage...
great idea. Being able to simultaneously use them and multithread downloads would be awesome.
I'd be happy if someone could fix the transition from 3g to 4g and vice versa. Nothing like downloading a file from your phone and then you lose 4g and it loses the entire session and has to be redownloaded.
Thread moved to Q&A.
DssTrainer said:
I'd be happy if someone could fix the transition from 3g to 4g and vice versa. Nothing like downloading a file from your phone and then you lose 4g and it loses the entire session and has to be redownloaded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's going to be unlikely, as 3G and 4G are separate networks operated by separate providers (Clear vs Sprint). That's why I want to keep the 3G connection alive.
sw99 said:
That's going to be unlikely, as 3G and 4G are separate networks operated by separate providers (Clear vs Sprint). That's why I want to keep the 3G connection alive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think clear wire is responsible for everyones 4g, just a select group
chandlerw88 said:
I don't think clear wire is responsible for everyones 4g, just a select group
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could be wrong but I think sprint just resells clear wimax and calls it america's first 4g network.
sw99 said:
Has anyone been looking into running the 3G and 4G radios simultaneously?
Aside from the benefit of having an additional 1-2MB/s, I get very frustrated when I am in the middle of downloading something and I come into a 4G area. Since the phone will always choose 4G over 3G, the connection resets. I would love to have a way to keep the path available to the app using it.
I guess the same problem exists when Wifi is on and the phone connects to wifi while downloading over 3g or 4g.
Can this be done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When connecting to 4g or Wifi the 3g radio never really shuts off. The data part of the radio goes to sleep while the voice part remains active to send or receive calls or txts.
The 3g data service going to sleep when connected to the others is by design because it is slower than the other two services.
If you don't want the connection to reset turn 4g and wifi off, and only turn them on when you need the greater data speed. (this will also save your battery)
Also another solution is using one of the location based apps that will turn those on and off based off gps location.
Its not that i don't want to use 4g, i wish i could but its not reliable enough. If i have a large download, I'd like it to stay on the reliable network, but i still want to use the fast network.
I agree that the 3g network is still available, I'm hoping there is a way to force a static route over the 3g when needed.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

[Q]Force gsm nexus to automatically switch to 2G sooner in low reception area?

i noticed that i get much better 2g reception in my house than 3g so would it be possible to set the galaxy nexus to make the switch to 2g sooner and automatic? im using a toggle right now but it would be nice to be able to set the point at which the phone will make the jump to 2g.
The 3g signal is so weak in certain areas that i dont lose the signal but i wont be able to receive calls and goes straight to voicemail but the annoying thing is that sometimes the phone doesnt make the jump to 2g. Im using the mod in aokp to see my signal in dBm instead of the bars and have found the difference is -111 to -113dBm for 3G and under -100dBm for 2G in the same spot. i would like to be able to set the phone to make to jump to 2G when the 3G signal is weaker than -110dBm for example.
anyone? do we know how the phone decides when to switch to 2g?
Why don't you just keep manually toggling it as needed? Problem solved. That said goto YouTube and watch the everything is amazing but nobody is happy video.
And remember kids. Your smartphone is not a pacifier.
iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
cause it would be easier if it did it automatically like its suppose to. if i forget to toggle the 2g everytime i home then i miss a call in the house? this is a phone we're talking about im not asking for anything special just for it to work like its suppose to.
neotekz said:
? this is a phone we're talking about im not asking for anything special just for it to work like its suppose to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself. Now I need to go start a thread asking how come my phone won't clean my room. Ç'mon it's a smartphone.
iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
receiving calls and making calls is not something special for a 700 dollar phone. this is the first phone i got that has this kind of trouble switching between 2g and 3g. go troll somehwere else if you have nothing helpful to add.
Seriously what is so hard about manually toggling your phone to 2g at home? I have to do it occasionally still even though 3g isn't the juice sucker it used to be a few years ago. Another alternative is to get a micro cell but I an sure you don't want to pay ~$200 and $20 a month. There are apps that will do the 2g toggle when you're on your home wifi. Nfc tag might be able to do it too. It seems you want somebody to write an app specifically for your "problem".
iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
you're really not getting it, its not about a toggle and im not asking anyone to make an app so i dont have to use the toggle. im not talking about switching to 2g to save battery or data but when the 3g is weak or isnt there and there is a stronger 2g signal available. i am using a toggle right now but thats not a solution. this is a phone, i shouldnt have to toggle anything to make calls. All my previous android phones stayed in 2g 90% of the time in my house all by themselves.
Phones are suppose to be able to switch between 2g and 3g when 3g is not available or is too weak, the galaxy nexus is not doing that properly it hangs at 3g even to the point where it drops the signal and there's always is a good 2g signal that it should be going to. i have no 2g deadspots in my house but a few for 3g.
i've tried all the radios and they all have this problem some worst than others. i was just thinking if there is a way to mod the phone so that it will switch to 2g sooner or faster
And I am telling you to do it manually to solve your issue. You still want it done faster automatically and nobody here is going to be able to mod a radio for you. Aside from aaaaaaaall the barriers prohibiting devs from doing so, there is just plain and simple the issue of it actually transferring from 2 to 3 and 3 to 2, handshaking with the tower which is not instaneous. Like I said watch that video and get a grip and laugh. The best and fastest solution is manually. I have to do it myself occasionally for different reasons. If you don't like having to do something manually because you have a $700 smartphone then all I can tell you is good luck with the rest of your life.
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iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.
i looked into this some more and it turns out there is a setting that can do exactly what i want but is disabled in the new 4.0.4 update. in the *#*#4636*#*# menu you can set network preferred type to gsm auto prl which will only switch to 3g if there is a strong signal and will favor 2g. With the new update(4.0.4) the setting cannot be changed and is stuck on wcdma preferred which is the opposite of gsm auto prl, favors 3g over 2g. hopefully this can be fixed somehow so that the network settings can be changed.
neotekz said:
i looked into this some more and it turns out there is a setting that can do exactly what i want but is disabled in the new 4.0.4 update. in the *#*#4636*#*# menu you can set network preferred type to gsm auto prl which will only switch to 3g if there is a strong signal and will favor 2g. With the new update(4.0.4) the setting cannot be changed and is stuck on wcdma preferred which is the opposite of gsm auto prl, favors 3g over 2g. hopefully this can be fixed somehow so that the network settings can be changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd stay out of that menu on nexus. It has caused many a problem for gnex owners, one which is it automatically goes back to default setting no matter what you select and erasing smsc number randomly. Toggling 2g in settings or getting a 2g/3g toggle in power control is fastest and easiest solution still.
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iphone. helping computer illiteracy become popular since 2007.

3G on T-Mobile via 1900MHz Band

I recently switched from AT&T to T-Mobile, and like the rest of us was suffering without 3G due to our lack of compatibility with the 1700MHz WCDMA that T-Mobile uses. One of my friends (a T-Mobile employee), however, informed me that it is indeed possible to get 3G by using the 1900MHz band, which T-Mobile is currently re-farming to support WCDMA. This trick is simple and easy, and I've had success with it thus far, albeit only in one location as of yet. There is a downside, however... as long as the trick is in place (as long as your phone is set to "WCDMA only" below), you cannot connect to EDGE. In other words, in an area where there is no 1900MHz 3G coverage, this process must be reversed to fall back to EDGE. As such, you may lose connection randomly and be completely unaware of it for hours, and I will mock you openly for attempting to blame me if you lose your job because you missed a call from your boss, lose your girlfriend because you stopped texting her, or lose your bacon because your remote bacon-protection app couldn't connect.
Remember, this is in the testing phase. It WILL get better over time and hopefully one day we won't even have to consider whether a phone supports 1700MHz... for now, though, report your findings below, preferably with location, signal strength/type, and down/up speed.
==PROCEDURE==​
Go to dialer and enter *#*#4636#*#*
In the menu that pops up, tap "Phone Information"
Scroll down to the menu labelled "Set preferred network type" (it should be the first one) - this will likely be set to WCDMA preferred
Change it to WCDMA only
Switch to your main Settings app, then navigate to "Mobile Networks" (under "More..." by your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth)
Tap "Network Operators" and wait for the search to complete
Tap T-Mobile if it appears in the list
Once the phone has acquired a signal, you can return the Network Mode setting to WCDMA Preferred. Your phone should now switch back and forth between EDGE and HSPA+ fairly reliably.
===My Results===​
At my home (approx. Colfax and Yosemite in Aurora, CO) I get 0-2 bars, mostly 3G but some H+ if I'm holding my phone and moving around, and 2-3 bars H+ if I set my phone down. Speedtest results range between 4 and 10 Mbps, with around 90ms ping. I've been keeping my phone set down with wireless tethering enabled, and it's been 100% usable thus far.
--Update--
Having used it daily for a few weeks, I'm pleased to report that there is moderate to good connectivity to at least 3G in most places. I still find myself on EDGE regularly, but I usually can get a WCDMA connection. Now, however, I'm annoyed because I exceeded 5GB data usage and am being throttled to below-EDGE speeds, which defeats the purpose of having 3G. >_<
what about AWS band ????/ its work
saqi4you said:
what about AWS band ????/ its work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Almost certainly not; see here.
If you have it working for some reason, go over there to tell everyone.
I'll test this later tonight. I'd be cool with 3G or H+ if it works. I have a T-Mob pay-by-the-day sim card that I'd like to use to tether my Nexus 7 to when I'm traveling (which is fairly rare).
I'm new to all this but how is this different from changing the APN settings?
Is this method better than changing APN settings?
This didn't work for me, Portsmouth, NH. It picked up the T-Mobile network in Network Operators but when I tried to select it it took forever and then said unable to connect, failed to register. Attempted a few times on a ucdlk3 stock based custom rom (Intergalactic II) and also on stock rooted.
Probably just not in a good location for this to work.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Better cell network mode management

The tmobile service in my area sucks and it will stay on 4g lte even when I have a very bad connection which drops calls and gives me really bad speeds. Is there an app that will automatically switch lte/gsm/wcdma when the signal is very low so I wont drop calls, waste battery and give me poor dl speeds? Or is there anything else that I can do? Maybe with tasker or a tweak. I would appreciate any type of solution. Thank you.
Is there any thing I can do about this?
On stock Rom go to settings>more networks>mobile networks>network mode.
Pick the one you want. Probably gsm/wcdma auto connect.
dragon-son said:
On stock Rom go to settings>more networks>mobile networks>network mode.
Pick the one you want. Probably gsm/wcdma auto connect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. I already know about that option. I still want to have access to lte when I have a decent connection. Is there an app or a tasker configuration that if the signal is below a certain level it will switch networks? Also, which network it used to make phone calls? I thought all of them but my friend said phone calls are made on 2g. Thank you!
coolpepp said:
Thank you for your reply. I already know about that option. I still want to have access to lte when I have a decent connection. Is there an app or a tasker configuration that if the signal is below a certain level it will switch networks? Also, which network it used to make phone calls? I thought all of them but my friend said phone calls are made on 2g. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent From My GSIII
Is there any solution for this? Also when you are connected to lte are you still making phone calls through 2g? Thanks.
Is this a problem near your home? Can you use wifi calling to help fix the dropped calls? Not sure about how to get the phone to switch from LTE to 4G when the connection is poor. I do it manually right now because my LTE has been acting a little wonky lately where it won't even connect to LTE and leaves my phone in network limbo unless I force it to use 4G. I'd like to see a solution to the LTE - 4G switching too.
Last i recall, there is no tasker or app capable of doing such a thing like switching network preferences. It goes against "policy" per say. But your friend is right about calls being made through 2g. That is how you are able to use data whilst on a phone call. The data is being used through 3G and up, while the call is being used on 2G. now i am not sure about T-Mobile's "HD Voice" calling, that is prolly LTE.
I myself have looked through every single API google has trying to write my own app to change the network preferences and could not find it. There may be an option through root though. Havent found it yet.
Correct.
Calls - 2G
Data - 3G+
TM HD - New LTE Network.
elesbb said:
Last i recall, there is no tasker or app capable of doing such a thing like switching network preferences. It goes against "policy" per say. But your friend is right about calls being made through 2g. That is how you are able to use data whilst on a phone call. The data is being used through 3G and up, while the call is being used on 2G. now i am not sure about T-Mobile's "HD Voice" calling, that is prolly LTE.
I myself have looked through every single API google has trying to write my own app to change the network preferences and could not find it. There may be an option through root though. Havent found it yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Network Mode

I have a LG G4 H815 Eu on EE, under "Network Mode" it is generally set to 2G/3G/4G Auto, on a call it goes to 3G often 2G, when it drops to 2G I cannot then access the internet at the same time.
I've taken to leaving the setting on 3G only, which works fine and allows both calls and data at the same time, but obviously missing out on 4G.
My only options are 2G/3G/4G Auto..... 2G/3G....... and 3G only
What I really want are 3G/4G, is there any way to get this, I'm without root as of now.
Thanks
Gosh. Please educate yourself about cell networks. Your phone has to drop to 3G when making a call (yet) . There is hardly any 4G network capable of transmitting a call. Yes, the invented, released, published and implemented a cellular standard WITHOUT the possibility to make phone calls. You can eavesdrop on 4G so perfectly it makes the NSA guys jerk off, you can not make a phone call. Isn't it great how the needs of the customers are met? [emoji35]
When you only have 2G then your connection is simply so bad that you just won't have enough bandwidth to make a call and surf at the same time. (How the hell do you do that?)
Your phone should however go back to 4G when the call has ended and 4G is available.
Sent from outer space using telepathy
I don't think you read my post correctly.
I can have default 2G/3G/4G Auto but when on a call and it sometimes drops to 2G, data dies so I have to end call to use data.
I've now set it to 3G only and for the last few days it works fine on a call and data at the same time if needed, but obviously no 4G
Only other option is 2G/3G which is useless as 2G is where the problem lies.
I want a 3G/4G option, is this possible?
Are you in weak coverage areas? Your phone should only be dropping if you have weak 3G.
geoff5093 said:
Are you in weak coverage areas? Your phone should only be dropping if you have weak 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing, if I set it to Auto it frequently drops to 2G.
Since I've left it solely on 3G the signal hasn't dropped once even using it in the same places when on Auto it dropped to 2G.
I would like a 3G/4G option, any ideas how to get one? Thanks
john306 said:
That's the thing, if I set it to Auto it frequently drops to 2G.
Since I've left it solely on 3G the signal hasn't dropped once even using it in the same places when on Auto it dropped to 2G.
I would like a 3G/4G option, any ideas how to get one? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'll ask again, are you in a weak coverage area?
No need to ask again, I've just explained when i lock it to 3G it's perfect, why it drops to 2G when on Auto is anyone's guess

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