Cell signal - AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note I717

So my battery life is being mutilated thanks to my 1 bar of service here at work.
Is there any alternative to Airplane Mode? anybody mess with fast dormancy yet? Im just short of getting a cellular repeater.....
Outside of where i work, cell signal is stellar. It's definitely the culprit!

BigBison420 said:
So my battery life is being mutilated thanks to my 1 bar of service here at work.
Is there any alternative to Airplane Mode? anybody mess with fast dormancy yet? Im just short of getting a cellular repeater.....
Outside of where i work, cell signal is stellar. It's definitely the culprit!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call around AT&T stores and see if they will give you a microcell. It took 10 calls to 10 different stores to get it down to 25 dollars instead of 200

hyelton said:
Call around AT&T stores and see if they will give you a microcell. It took 10 calls to 10 different stores to get it down to 25 dollars instead of 200
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure what that is but i will google it.

Related

Weak signal. What to do?

In my home I get horrible 3g speeds. So bad I have to use wifi. Where I work (outside) I get terrible service and bad 3g speeds. I called Sprint about this issue and was told that area has good (not great) but good coverage. They told me to bring the phone in to have it looked at. I know its not the phone because this was the same with my Hero. I just want to know what my options are. I honestly feel like they should put a discount on my bill or give me unlimited roaming. This is a very bad problem. I drop calls like its going out of style and 3g isnt even an option. As for 4g, nothing at all. This has been going on for a while and Im really getting fed up. Any ideas?
We are all in the same boat.
As soon as we get a radio update.
Pardon my ignorance because I'm not sure how it works or what hardware you need, but the Sprint Airave signal booster is supposed to work great. A friend of mine works at Sprint and was telling me that evidently it plugs into your wireless router??? and goes for around $100 bucks but he swears that he's getting full bars throughout his entire house including the basement. Might at least help while at home...
Technically we all have free roaming. We roam for free on Verizon's network so in theory, you should never drop a call if you have either Sprint or Verizon service where you are. I know it worked that way for me on the Evo 4G and once I turned off all the roaming guard crap on the 3vo, it seems about as good as my old Evo 4G. So have you gone into Settings, Wireless, Mobile Network, and turned off the roaming notification sound and made sure you turn OFF all roaming guards?
Edit: BTW my neighbor has the Airave and it does give him 4 to 5 bars throughout his single-level 2850 sq/ft house. No problem keeping a call over there!
Mike
i have the airave and it does work great, call sprint complain about the service and they should give you one for free
ubcwigwam said:
and goes for around $100 bucks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one? Its $50 at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Sprint-Airave/dp/B0035TLZ3O
Called Sprint about this and the guy said Sprint charges a $36 activation fee for this type of unit. Also supposedly it does use your minutes on your plan, and you can pay an additional $10 a month to get unlimited minutes while connected to the Airave
EVOLICIOUS said:
i have the airave and it does work great, call sprint complain about the service and they should give you one for free
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard of a bunch of people getting free airaves for having poor signal at home. Is it true that it only works for voice, though, not 3g? I can make and receive calls ok, but the 3g and 4g signals at my house are awful. And they have been for over a year. They were bad on my OG Evo. I just would like to be able to surf the net on my phone. Or, even, tether occasionally, if we loose power to the main network. Thanks.
EniGmA1987 said:
This one? Its $50 at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Sprint-Airave/dp/B0035TLZ3O
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have had the airave since it was in existance. i was actually a tester for them before they went public. the one you linked it the old model 1X. the one you want is http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20014429-85.html
it is 3G capable. all and all a way better unit. if you call up explain your situation. for me what actually got me one many yrs ago was basically the truth. told them i am in a on cal field. i need my cell to ring when i am called no tgo to voicemail. if they could not provide me a way to fix it. i simply was going elsewhere. then i was offered to test a new device. ended up being the first airave. back then device was free and 4.99 a month which i was credited every month so was essentially free to me. now on the new one it is actually free per month 0 dollars. as long as you qualify.
its sprinnnnnt
Its definitely Sprint.. my company works with Sprint, and although they havn't said it was their problem, they are asking for all reports in our buildings of radio errors (network failure, data failure, can't make calls, text's come in with timestamp 4-5 minutes before the time they came in).
I personally thought it was the 3D, b/c I had a OG the day before and everything was fine, then I get to work and can't make calls with full signal. We have the sprint antanae's throughout our building, so something is up. It seems to only effect me at work though -- which is pleasantly located beneath the jet base flight path.
smarcin said:
I've heard of a bunch of people getting free airaves for having poor signal at home. Is it true that it only works for voice, though, not 3g? I can make and receive calls ok, but the 3g and 4g signals at my house are awful. And they have been for over a year. They were bad on my OG Evo. I just would like to be able to surf the net on my phone. Or, even, tether occasionally, if we loose power to the main network. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you get the Airvana which is the second version of the Airave, you will get 3G as well. I've had it ever since I had my first EVO. I'm in a great coverage area but for some reason, I don't get any signal in my apartment or about a 1/2 block in either direction from my apartment.
The Airave works great. Whether or not you can get one free (normally $99 + $5 per month) depends on your situation and if you convince them its the right thing to do. I had to talk to 4 supervisors and a manager before they agreed to give it to me for free.
I got an Airave for free, just dialed 611 and talked to a rep, said I had to stand by a window or go outside to avoid dropping calls. Didn't have a problem getting one, the rep agreed that would solve the issue. Works wonders in the house.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
spencer88 said:
I got an Airave for free, just dialed 611 and talked to a rep, said I had to stand by a window or go outside to avoid dropping calls. Didn't have a problem getting one, the rep agreed that would solve the issue. Works wonders in the house.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kinda sad that you need a airave or to go outside just to make a phone call. Did you tell sprint its 2011 ?
1. Yes there's a huge issue in terms of 3G speeds that have been going on since the Evo came out. There are more users on their network but they haven't expanded it. I took the issue so far that I was talking to people "From the Office of Dan Hesse" (Yes, I'm serious. I still have the voicemails and emails). It took them a while to go from "It might be your phone" to "OK, it's probably not your phone" to "The network in your area is crowded" to "Ok the network is overloaded everywhere". They promised me it would be fixed by May (this was going on since this past January). I used to get 1.5 Mbps 3G speeds and 15 (YES 15) Mbps 4G speeds, but now I'm lucky if I hit 500 Kbps on 3G and 4 Mbps on 4G.
And yes, they will send you an Airave. My internet bandwidth wasn't enough to support my Vonage VOIP modem and the Airave, so I put it aside. What they don't tell you is that if you don't use it for 3 months, you have to send it back or you owe them $200 (or $150, I forgot). You can always ask for it again later, but it's kind of grimy they don't tell you that. I got a surprise phone call about it. The good thing about the Airave is that after it's on your account, you can make it so that anyone can use it or you can limit it to certain phone numbers (like you and your family, for example). It does 5 calls at once tops. The BAD thing about it is that it will use your pool of minutes even if your calling a mobile number (free mobile to mobile doesn't apply).
And yes it does 3G. I HATE this about Sprint, but they're the cheapest carrier, which is why I put up with them. Also I just applied for a job with them; just waiting for the paperwork to go through on their end.
The alternative to the Airave is to download an app called Roam Control from the Market. Yeah it's like $4 but you don't need root to use it on the 3D. It lets you force roaming. But beware:
Sprint's roaming rule is this: If more than half the total minutes you use in a billing cycle are roaming minutes, for 3 months in a row, you'll get a warning letter in the mail. Do it again and they'll terminate you. Data I'm not sure, but being more expensive to them than voice, I'm gonna say don't go crazy. Also when you roam, even though it says 3G, you're on 1x.
I have thought about asking for an Airave, just havent gotten around to it. As for roaming, what people need to understand is that it really isnt free. When you roam mobile to mobile (which normally is free), eventually they start using your anytime minutes. When I had my Hero (rooted) I was able to set it to roam all the time, and I was on the phone a good 2 hours a day. Next thing I know, I had a $600 phone bill. I was told that if you use it excessively, they start to use your anytime minutes. I thought this was retarded since just about every call one makes, is to another mobile phone. I really just want them to give me unlimited roaming and Ill be set. Gonna give them a call eithher today or tomorrow and see what can be done. Airave will help me at home, but not on the road.
The Airave does have 3G but really, what's the point? It hooks to your internet router which probably has WiFi anyway so you might as well just connect via WiFi. We checked the 3G speeds on the Airave and got about 600/900. Connected to the same WiFi router, you get 17,000 and 2,000.
Mike
mikeyxda said:
Technically we all have free roaming. We roam for free on Verizon's network so in theory, you should never drop a call if you have either Sprint or Verizon service where you are. I know it worked that way for me on the Evo 4G and once I turned off all the roaming guard crap on the 3vo, it seems about as good as my old Evo 4G. So have you gone into Settings, Wireless, Mobile Network, and turned off the roaming notification sound and made sure you turn OFF all roaming guards?
Edit: BTW my neighbor has the Airave and it does give him 4 to 5 bars throughout his single-level 2850 sq/ft house. No problem keeping a call over there!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a tid-bit about roaming. Yes, it's free to roam, but I sometimes get stuck between a rock and a hard place with signal where it picks up the most faint Sprint signal, which is so weak that nothing works, but enough to not roam to VZ's network. Not much you can do about that if that happens to you.
What I just got, but haven't spent much time with yet is RoamControl (paid app in market). It allows you to force roaming and works without root on the Evo 3D. Though, I do want to say word of warning that Sprint can drop you from their service all together if you abuse the roaming. Not sure what the rules are about it, but word of warning.
mikeyxda said:
Technically we all have free roaming. We roam for free on Verizon's network so in theory, you should never drop a call if you have either Sprint or Verizon service where you are. I know it worked that way for me on the Evo 4G and once I turned off all the roaming guard crap on the 3vo, it seems about as good as my old Evo 4G. So have you gone into Settings, Wireless, Mobile Network, and turned off the roaming notification sound and made sure you turn OFF all roaming guards?
Edit: BTW my neighbor has the Airave and it does give him 4 to 5 bars throughout his single-level 2850 sq/ft house. No problem keeping a call over there!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you change in the settings? I've been looking to make the roaming popup go away, but I couldn't get it to go away on my OG Evo either...
ubcwigwam said:
Pardon my ignorance because I'm not sure how it works or what hardware you need, but the Sprint Airave signal booster is supposed to work great. A friend of mine works at Sprint and was telling me that evidently it plugs into your wireless router??? and goes for around $100 bucks but he swears that he's getting full bars throughout his entire house including the basement. Might at least help while at home...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Airave broadcasts it's own CDMA signal, and connects to your internet connection to route calls. If you call Sprint and complain about coverage, they'll usually give you an Airave for free with free service. I've got one (Airvana w/3G), and it works excellent.
mikeyxda said:
BTW my neighbor has the Airave and it does give him 4 to 5 bars throughout his single-level 2850 sq/ft house. No problem keeping a call over there!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no problem with brain cancer either i bet
Ryan00 said:
Kinda sad that you need a airave or to go outside just to make a phone call. Did you tell sprint its 2011 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We get coverage in the house, but it's a low signal with the occasional dropped call. The airave assures that we don't have any dropped calls.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

Network Switching: Boost Signal or Disable 3g/4g?

All,
I have a battery drain problem that only occurs in locations where I have poor signal, particularly the office building I work in every other week.
I believe my phone is constantly switching from 3G to HSPA+ to 2G and back.
Is there any way to boost the signal so it doesn't need to switch?
Or should I try to find a way to disable 3G/4G when I am at this particular location?
Or maybe there is something I have not thought of...
Suggestions?
The only way to boost the signal is to buy their (AT&T) socall signal booster (mini tower) that cost you $300.00USD.
BeenAndroidized said:
The only way to boost the signal is to buy their (AT&T) socall signal booster (mini tower) that cost you $300.00USD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it was $200. Call them up and complain. I got 2 for free
Yep, my local cor store had a bunch of refurb microcells for 50 bucks. Works great for me.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA App
For now my workaround is a wifi hotspot i am broadcasting from my laptop... but i have to be within 100 feet of my desk.
Warning: Created with Swype
I have only minor issues with my cell tower. Some time mms don't get sent out. Or takes about 5 sec to send out a call sometimes. My internet is a solid 12mb down and a 2mb up. So don't think its my internet.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
3G and HSPA+ don't really change much since HSPA+ is only used with high data transfers that require the multiple 3G connections.
Can you upload a screenshot of your battery graph, stats, and CPUspy?
BeenAndroidized said:
The only way to boost the signal is to buy their (AT&T) socall signal booster (mini tower) that cost you $300.00USD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the only option - Bidirectional amps don't have the numerous compatibility problems microcells have, however they're more difficult to install. At the workplace, they would have to be installed by facilities management - but corporate firewalls will probably prevent microcells from working anyway.
Also, microcells are notorious for murdering battery.
nh5 said:
I thought it was $200. Call them up and complain. I got 2 for free
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The prices vary, I don't have one and not planning to buy one either..
Entropy512 said:
Not the only option - Bidirectional amps don't have the numerous compatibility problems microcells have, however they're more difficult to install. At the workplace, they would have to be installed by facilities management - but corporate firewalls will probably prevent microcells from working anyway.
Also, microcells are notorious for murdering battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is true, it is not the only option.
Unfortunately for me, I have the worst of both worlds, I live out in the country, so I have terrible internet and crappy cell coverage, so for users like me, its not really much of an option. I do know that I am a minority, but it still is frustrating.
joshh20 said:
Unfortunately for me, I have the worst of both worlds, I live out in the country, so I have terrible internet and crappy cell coverage, so for users like me, its not really much of an option. I do know that I am a minority, but it still is frustrating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A Wilson amp might be your solution then.
If network switching is something you still want to pursue, Try saving the following phone number to your contact list...
*#2263#
When you type it into the dialer, choose: GSM Band/GSM All. Menu/Back/Menu/End. Restarting the phone is not required. You can always switch it back by re-dialing the number and picking Automatic. Menu/End.
Verify the settings held by *#*#info#*#* Phone Information/Network Type. Should say: GPRS.
I live on the rural edge of 3/4G and the network switching was annoying and possibly not helping my battery life. I have 3/4G disabled most of the time because I don't have a data plan anyways (I use wifi for everything). Normal battery life with several hours of calls, wifi, email, browsing, etc. on the stock 2.3.4/HK7 is 2-3 days.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-i777 using XDA Premium
Signal Booster will help
Entropy512 said:
A Wilson amp might be your solution then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
As mentioned by Entropy512, a signal booster may be a good solution for you.
Not only will it provide you with better signal but it will also help your phone save a lot of battery because it will only have to roam as far as the booster to get the signal source, compared to finding the closest cell tower.
For rural areas, if you are far from the cell tower, the installation of such a booster should be accompanied by an outdoors directional antenna pointed towards the cell tower and providing the highest signal gain inside your office.
Wilson boosters are among the most reliable ones, but you can also consider Cellphone-Mate or Wi-Ex, they may be a bit cheaper.
I used to have nasty 3G reception at my house and fixed it by getting a Wi-EX YX545 amp from the quantum-wireless website, they sell a bunch of boosters & antennas.
Hope this helps
If you just want to disable the connections rather than finding a way to boost the signal, try using Tasker. You can set it up so that when you reach your workplace, it will do what you want (disable data, enable airplane mode, etc). You can have the phone check for data periodically. As for voice calls, you can probably even set it to forward calls to your work phone.
As soon as you leave, the app will restore most of your settings (you probably would need to teach it how to stop forwarding calls).

Make antenna bigger

I am wondering is there a way I caj say extend my antenna, I'm working in camp in northern Alberta, I get service 3 ft out my room door, sometimes inside it... Just trying to figure a way to make it so I have service in my room apart from buying a booster lol going to go get a phone with telus on days off but that's not for 34 days
locked & loaded
Some phones have an antenna port under the battery cover. I don't see one on the 3d, however I just got mine a few weeks ago and never really looked too hard.
They also sell some signal boosters that will improve your service.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
AIRWAVE!
BrockFerens said:
I am wondering is there a way I caj say extend my antenna, I'm working in camp in northern Alberta, I get service 3 ft out my room door, sometimes inside it... Just trying to figure a way to make it so I have service in my room apart from buying a booster lol going to go get a phone with telus on days off but that's not for 34 days
locked & loaded
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a solution for you that you will love!
Contact sprint you need to prove to them that you do not have service...
I'm assuming your on sprint if not im sure other providers offer similar options
In my house I get no service sprint sent me a device called a airwave. It uses GPS satelites and an internet connection to host your own personal network for your home and outside. When you make a call it beeps 3 times showing your connected to this network. I get 3mbps down from 3g inside my own house its like wifi but more importantly I can talk on the phone without daggon calls dropping.
PM me if you have any questions would love to help you plus I'd like to reach that 10 post bull**** that xda imposes on people.
Otherwise there are antennas you can mount on your roof with signal repeaters may also be helpful. Go with the airwave if available for you!
EDIT Sorry didn't read your entire post... Idk if your living situation is permanent or not but.
You may be able to trick sprint if you tell them you still live in the US you can set your airwave up anywhere assuming you have a decent internet connection. **** you could be at the northpole on a satelite isp provider. O wait xda is saying I have to wait 5 minutes between posts edits... so before i smash my monitor im going to grab a chocolate milk
One More EDIT
You may also be able to roam by flashing other PRLS check out your options brother
Check it out
DAVE THE BARBARIAN...
mastadave said:
You may also be able to roam by flashing other PRLS check out your options brother
Check it out
DAVE THE BARBARIAN...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would not recommend using a different PRL to force roaming as Sprint will cancel you in a heartbeat.
You can try something like this:
http://blog.techiewarehouse.com/the-desktop-cell-phone-signal-booster-kit-for-your-htc-evo-3d/

GPRS on 3 UK

Hi all,
I have just switched to 3 in the UK and have noticed that there appears to be no data when the phone rolls back to 2G (out of 3G/HSPDA coverage) so I get no GPRS.
Is this right?
I am aware that 3 uses Orange for voice and calls when out of there own coverage areas, but should I not be getting GPRS on Orange?
Thanks.
Yep three are 3g or 3g+ only
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Oh dear..
Thanks for your reply.
Is there any solution to get GPRS while on Oranges 2G network?
gavin watson said:
Oh dear..
Thanks for your reply.
Is there any solution to get GPRS while on Oranges 2G network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope!!!!
Oh dear, dear!
This isn't good news for me! Slow connectivity is better than no connectivity!
Hmmm, seems like I am not 'On the network for built for the internet' if I get NO internet!
to be fair, i rarely find myself in an area of no signal, but when I am, 3's internet speeds are outrageously fast.
well worth it
It's ok in 97% if the UK when it's good it's very good but when it's bad it's bloody awful
I went to Scotland a week and found the 3% of the country without coverage it killed me no.internet or phone for that matter
In defense of 3 they are superb value where else could you get 2000 mins 5000 text 5000 3 to 3 minutes and unlimited internet for £36
I.use around 7gb per month via my phone and tethering
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Hi guys,
I'm not denying when there is 3G (and above) coverage it is very good. I was just shocked to learn that there is no GPRS backup, for me I'd rather have very slow data than none at all... It would appear from what I've found out that they don't want the users to have 'a bad customer experience' when on GPRS thinking that it's a slow network... Not sure I agree with that, especially when you desperately need data, even it is it GPRS...
I would really like them giving users the option to fallback onto GPRS by maybe manually entering APN settings, this way at least having a choice (knowing that it is GPRS and not their own 3G network)...
Interesting...
mancuk29 said:
It's ok in 97% if the UK when it's good it's very good but when it's bad it's bloody awful
I went to Scotland a week and found the 3% of the country without coverage it killed me no.internet or phone for that matter
In defense of 3 they are superb value where else could you get 2000 mins 5000 text 5000 3 to 3 minutes and unlimited internet for £36
I.use around 7gb per month via my phone and tethering
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly i couldnt put it better myself
mancuk29 said:
It's ok in 97% if the UK when it's good it's very good but when it's bad it's bloody awful
I went to Scotland a week and found the 3% of the country without coverage it killed me no.internet or phone for that matter
In defense of 3 they are superb value where else could you get 2000 mins 5000 text 5000 3 to 3 minutes and unlimited internet for £36
I.use around 7gb per month via my phone and tethering
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you 100% I went with three's one plan for the data, this month I have used 8.7GB from the 14th yes their signal can be sketchy at times but if I had a 1GB plan I would have clocked up hundreds on my bill so its bearable for me.
When I say their signal is sketchy I get a full signal on my window ledge but on the sofa under the window I get 1 or 2 bars literally less than one foot distance.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I'm not complaining about the price or the allowance, nor about their network speed. I was just saying it would be nice to have the option to fallback to GPRS data when 3G isn't available. I had no diea this would happen when I signed up 5 days ago, and it is a problem for me to not have that...
So far I am happy enough with the speed and the allowance, etc... Which is why I moved over to 3 in the first place...
If you are in a marginal signal area, you may have a reasonable signal outside your property, but because 2100mhz signal doesn't penetrate walls well, it may not get inside your house. Walk around the outside perimitter of you property, checking the signal strength as you move - if there is a good signal, then there are solutions for getting that signal inside using 2100mhz signal boosters, their use seems to be a legal grey area - but no one has been prosecuted for using them in the uk as I understand to-date. I too have no signal in 80% of the inside of my house yet am very close to a 3uk mast, but I live in a building with 2ft thick walls. I have just installed a signal repeater and, although I am still playing about with the siting of the antenna and booster, it has deffinately made a difference.
If you have only just taken out your contract with 3uk - you may be able to get out of it if you wish - they are obliged to check that there is an available signal at your registered address and should have refused your application if not. Hope this helps
gavin watson said:
I'm not complaining about the price or the allowance, nor about their network speed. I was just saying it would be nice to have the option to fallback to GPRS data when 3G isn't available. I had no diea this would happen when I signed up 5 days ago, and it is a problem for me to not have that...
So far I am happy enough with the speed and the allowance, etc... Which is why I moved over to 3 in the first place...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Three only use 3g I would when I first signed up to them I did ask about 3g coverage and they said they only use 3g, ask the right questions and you would have known, if it's only been 5 days you should be able to cancel if you want (I think three say 14 days and get another contract, but I personally wouldn't I'm happy with them because of the unlimited data.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
gavin watson said:
Hi guys,
I'm not denying when there is 3G (and above) coverage it is very good. I was just shocked to learn that there is no GPRS backup, for me I'd rather have very slow data than none at all... It would appear from what I've found out that they don't want the users to have 'a bad customer experience' when on GPRS thinking that it's a slow network... Not sure I agree with that, especially when you desperately need data, even it is it GPRS...
I would really like them giving users the option to fallback onto GPRS by maybe manually entering APN settings, this way at least having a choice (knowing that it is GPRS and not their own 3G network)...
Interesting...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wouldnt get too attached. 2G will be turned off and reassigned for new spectrum auctions in the very near future. i have been on 3 for 2 years and i have never not had 3G for long.
GPRS cant cope with normal web anyway. it was designed for WAP. its not a big loss trust me. At least you can still make calls.
delsus said:
ask the right questions and you would have known, if it's only been 5 days you should be able to cancel if you want (I think three say 14 days and get another contract, but I personally wouldn't I'm happy with them because of the unlimited data.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did ask, they told me that when out of their coervage it reverted to Orange, which I was on before. What they didn't say was that when it reverted to Orange, it wouldn't include data. I'm not saying they lied, they were however, a little economical with the truth!
I have spoken with them, they are allowing me a little more time (over 7 days) to see how it all works out. As I travel quite a bit I will have to see how much this affects me. I think I will end up staying as it makes more sense for me to have unlimited data than pay Orange quite a bit over my monthly plan for the extra data used...
gavin watson said:
I did ask, they told me that when out of their coervage it reverted to Orange, which I was on before. What they didn't say was that when it reverted to Orange, it wouldn't include data. I'm not saying they lied, they were however, a little economical with the truth!
I have spoken with them, they are allowing me a little more time (over 7 days) to see how it all works out. As I travel quite a bit I will have to see how much this affects me. I think I will end up staying as it makes more sense for me to have unlimited data than pay Orange quite a bit over my monthly plan for the extra data used...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh I would recommend staying, while three have a lot of drawbacks the well priced unlimited data makes it worth it imo up to now on a 1GB plan I would have an extra £700+ on my bill and I still have 13 days on this billing cycle. Anything other than unlimited data is unacceptable now in my eyes.
The only other option for unlimited data is t-mobile but it will cost more (I think £40+ with the phone)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Three has been 3G only for quote a few years now, when they first launched they used to use Orange or O2 for 2G fallback but they didn't renew these agreements as their own 3G coverage was deemed strong enough.
It would not have taken much research to find out they have no 2G coverage, also if you just asked someone before taking the contract out...did the name Three not give you any indication?
the only thing going for three is the 'cheaper' priced tarrifs, much faster 3G network and no fair usage, apart from that their offers are on parr with other special offers on other networks.
The lack of 2g is a bit of an issue if you are in a no coverage area, however if you do have coverage your fine.
A|ex said:
the only thing going for three is the 'cheaper' priced tarrifs, much faster 3G network and no fair usage, apart from that their offers are on parr with other special offers on other networks.
The lack of 2g is a bit of an issue if you are in a no coverage area, however if you do have coverage your fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that's what matters these days, data costs a lot more than voice and texts, you can rack up a larger bill in a shorter time with data than with anything else, also in the world of data speed matters a lot. Lets not forget the economy I get 5000 texts, 2000 mins and unlimited data for £34/month nothing beats that with a galaxy S3 and lets not forget the £700+ on my bill for data I have saved with 3, I don't think it's possible to do that with voice and texts.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I went through hell to get a 3 contract cancelled and a MIFI portable broadband dongle contract scrapped because I couldn't get a 3G signal. They dropped 2G in places they deem to be "good coverage" and are turning more and more of their back up network (Orange) off.
They are the worst provider by far. Now with T-Mobile and I get T-Mo and Orange coverage since the merger. Can switch as I please.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

Global network mode gives you better signal

Look at the pic and sumone please explain this to me I googled it and all I found was that using global gives you better connection by using all antennas in the phone and just keep the roam off so switch to global and keep roaming disabled to not get over charges but is it worth it
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
gabrielpina4 said:
Look at the pic and sumone please explain this to me I googled it and all I found was that using global gives you better connection by using all antennas in the phone and just keep the roam off so switch to global and keep roaming disabled to not get over charges but is it worth it
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmmm gonna have to check this one out
CCoR87 said:
hmmm gonna have to check this one out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This randomly popped up for me in Lowes yesterday. I was wondering whether it would cause additional charges so I didn't change anything.
gabrielpina4 said:
Look at the pic and sumone please explain this to me I googled it and all I found was that using global gives you better connection by using all antennas in the phone and just keep the roam off so switch to global and keep roaming disabled to not get over charges but is it worth it
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ordered mine online from verizon and when i posted this i was curious enough to check. Mine, by default, was set in global mode and reception has been 1000x's better then my GNex.
I'll try two battery charge cycles both ways (global mode) and one in LTE/CDMA mode and i'll report back.
gabrielpina4 said:
Look at the pic and sumone please explain this to me I googled it and all I found was that using global gives you better connection by using all antennas in the phone and just keep the roam off so switch to global and keep roaming disabled to not get over charges but is it worth it
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is funny that you would post this because I just had the opposite experience. I am on an unlimited Verizon data plan + pay for the unlimited mobile hotspot so it's our primary internet and we use it all the time. 2 days ago when we got home from work we had about 2 hours to kill before going to a pot luck so i wanted to surf the interwebz (specifically to watch the Youtube video about the Other Guys movie where Will Ferrell talks about Tuna's attacking a lion....). It worked slowly at first and then totally died.
So i called up 611 and wanted to report bad towers because we've been having a lot of storms lately and the lady said there were none and that i should go into the settings you just showed and see if it was on global. It was and she had me change it to the LTE option and BAM! it was fixed. Instantly.
I had already tried power cycling my phone and it did nothing so i think this fixed it. I know she was reading off a script on her screen but she said when the phone is on global mode it tries to reach too far to reach GSM towers as well as LTE and can mess up the data connection.
I have no idea if it's true but it makes sense to leave it on the LTE option since i am not currently traveling.
Just wanted to add my 2cp...
Parafly said:
This randomly popped up for me in Lowes yesterday. I was wondering whether it would cause additional charges so I didn't change anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would leave it the way it is. As soon as VZW updates their 4G to use the AWS spectrum we should all see better signal strength and what not.
andross77 said:
This is funny that you would post this because I just had the opposite experience. I am on an unlimited Verizon data plan + pay for the unlimited mobile hotspot so it's our primary internet and we use it all the time. 2 days ago when we got home from work we had about 2 hours to kill before going to a pot luck so i wanted to surf the interwebz (specifically to watch the Youtube video about the Other Guys movie where Will Ferrell talks about Tuna's attacking a lion....). It worked slowly at first and then totally died.
So i called up 611 and wanted to report bad towers because we've been having a lot of storms lately and the lady said there were none and that i should go into the settings you just showed and see if it was on global. It was and she had me change it to the LTE option and BAM! it was fixed. Instantly.
I had already tried power cycling my phone and it did nothing so i think this fixed it. I know she was reading off a script on her screen but she said when the phone is on global mode it tries to reach too far to reach GSM towers as well as LTE and can mess up the data connection.
I have no idea if it's true but it makes sense to leave it on the LTE option since i am not currently traveling.
Just wanted to add my 2cp...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason for this is because you were probably connected to a tower that was not part of Verizon's own network. Turning off Global means your phone only accepts connections to Verizon's towers, which probably connected you with a faster tower.
CCoR87 said:
I would leave it the way it is. As soon as VZW updates their 4G to use the AWS spectrum we should all see better signal strength and what not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya...except that won't even *begin* to happen until around the end of the year (October, if I'm not mistaken?), and only in select markets. It won't be in even a majority of LTE markets for another few years. AWS isn't even in its infancy yet.
gabrielpina4 said:
Look at the pic and sumone please explain this to me I googled it and all I found was that using global gives you better connection by using all antennas in the phone and just keep the roam off so switch to global and keep roaming disabled to not get over charges but is it worth it
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gabriel, what is that icon on the left of the wifi icon?
Thank you!
Kakamarsson said:
Gabriel, what is that icon on the left of the wifi icon?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the GPS icon.
niv3d said:
That is the GPS icon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But my GPS is off and the icon is still there...
How can i turn that icon off?
Boy, so much wrong information in this thread that my head is starting to hurt.
Let me clarify this for everyone, before everyone starts going, "zOMG Global Mode is the best!!11"
The "Global Mode" has been around for Samsung since the S1. Simply put, it's a way to turn off the INTERNATIONAL radios when you're not traveling. The phone turns off the global ready band radios and only uses LTE/CDMA when you're on your home network when you select the non-global mode. That is it. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not a magical tool to get better signal. It does NOTHING for your signal here in the US, much the same way clearing battery stats does NOTHING for your battery life.
I always keep it off because the firmware eventually scans the global (GSM) bands and well, however small or minute that might be, it eats battery.
Unless you're in South America, or Europe, you don't need the global mode on.
If you ever see the phone asking you about Global mode, is because your phone was out of service for a set amount of time. After that timer has elapsed, the settings apk will ask you if you want to turn the Global feature on (it's trying to be smart and thinking you're out of the country since you have no domestic CDMA/LTE signal) It happens to me all the time in my car port.
Hope this helps.
Kakamarsson said:
But my GPS is off and the icon is still there...
How can i turn that icon off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its the e911 icon and it cant be turned off. you can however flash a mod if you are rooted with a recovery.
andross77 said:
This is funny that you would post this because I just had the opposite experience. I am on an unlimited Verizon data plan + pay for the unlimited mobile hotspot so it's our primary internet and we use it all the time. 2 days ago when we got home from work we had about 2 hours to kill before going to a pot luck so i wanted to surf the interwebz (specifically to watch the Youtube video about the Other Guys movie where Will Ferrell talks about Tuna's attacking a lion....). It worked slowly at first and then totally died.
So i called up 611 and wanted to report bad towers because we've been having a lot of storms lately and the lady said there were none and that i should go into the settings you just showed and see if it was on global. It was and she had me change it to the LTE option and BAM! it was fixed. Instantly.
I had already tried power cycling my phone and it did nothing so i think this fixed it. I know she was reading off a script on her screen but she said when the phone is on global mode it tries to reach too far to reach GSM towers as well as LTE and can mess up the data connection.
I have no idea if it's true but it makes sense to leave it on the LTE option since i am not currently traveling.
Just wanted to add my 2cp...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure why you pay to enable the mobile hotspot. If you are still on unlimited then get foxfi. It works on the S4 with no root required. It can be a hotspot for you without paying verizon anything additional.
wouldn't that drain the battery faster?

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