I'm using a Rogers 920 on T-Mobile. I live in an area where refarming is actively happening but not yet complete and I got curious to know whether my 920 is using T-Mobile's AWS or the refarmed PCS (1900MHz).
Here's how to find out.
First, make sure your phone is actually on 3G (might be labeled '4G' or 'H' or whatever depending on the customizations made for your particular variant). You do this just by looking in the system tray at the top of the screen (swipe down from the top of the screen to expose the tray if it's not visible).
Enter the field test app by dialing ##3282# in the phone dialer. Then select WCDMA. You will see a bunch of info -- if it's not populated then wait a few seconds for it to populate. The third line will say UARFCN and it's this value that tells us the frequency being used.
Match the UARFCN value with a cell in the 7th column ("Channel Number (UARFCN) DL") in the UMTS-FDD table in this Wikipedia article.
In my case I frequently see 2062 or 2087, which are AWS channels. I have occasionally seen 537, which is a PCS (1900MHz) channel.
I've done a bit of speed testing and it feels like the phone gets better speeds on AWS than on PCS. I might be imagining this though.
Related
I just went to the ATT store to test drive the Atrix and it is literallylike 1/2 mile from my home...
The Icon showed H+, but the ATT guy told me we don't have 4G in our area....He said that I am connected to 3G and the only way to know if I am connected to HSPA is when the Up and Down arror are bold and not grayed out.
Is this true ? How can I be 100% sure if I have 4G
I think it only becomes 'bold' when you're actively transferring data, unless he meant that the arrows would become larger or something. But, the only way to know would be to check Speedtest every couple of weeks and see if it's gotten faster. maybe see if the AT&T reps can find out when 4g will be enabled in your area
Go to Settings>About Phone>Status - See "Mobile Network Type"
Unlike HSUPA and HSDPA, 14.4 HSPA+ isn't a "mode". What happens is your phone tells the network it can receive 15 codes at once, which are basically channels. 10 codes gives you 7.2 Mbits and 5 codes is 3.6.
The network decides how many codes are assigned to you the instant before it transmits data. You may not get all 15, because other people are using the network for data or voice. On the other hand, even if the backhaul hasn't been upgraded, you may use all 15, because the base station might burst the data at once, in order to save your battery.
The best you can tell is what dsjr2006 said.
So which one is HSDPA? Im getting taht one according to what dsjr2006 said.
according to the user manual on the phone, if it shows an H your connected with 4G, if it shows a 3 your connected with 3G. I might take that with a grain of salt, and would use a speed test to check actual speeds.
ATT claims that all the towers will connect 4g but not all of them have the speed to support that yet. Hence the H+ sign but 3g like speeds
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Is it possible to change the frequency bands on the ASGS2? For some reason I am unable to get data connectivity on the 850MHz band in one part of Houston, while 1900MHz works fine. The phone likes to flip between the two, probably because the 850MHz signal is a bit stronger at that location (850MHz = 3 bars, 1900MHz = 2 bars). I'm not sure if it's an interference problem or if the tower is just overloaded / broken.
I tried the ServiceMode menu, but get a RAT selection option restricted message. The sim card removal / hot-insert workaround doesn't seem to work reliably.
I've contacted ATT multiple times in the past 2 weeks and they say it's impossible that there's a problem with the towers and that it must be my phone. I've tried three different Atrix's and an ASGS2 and they all have the same frequency band issue. ATT wants to swap the phone through their mail warranty service, but I'm almost certain it's not the phone based on my previous devices exhibiting the same issue.
Am I taking the right approach here? Would messing around with the band options even help?
You can do it....but only with an i9100 modem...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Ok this has been bugging me.
My GS2, whether stock, or currently with UnNamed 1.3.2, the phone always says UMTS under Mobile Network Type under Status and I am confused as to why?
I live in the Northern VA market and all around here is solid HSPA coverage. I actually even live in an LTE area as well. But any where I go around here, including where I work, it always shows UMTS. Where I work (AT&T) our two display GS2's also always show UMTS. Our other phones show HSPA like they should. I also have an Atrix which properly shows HSPA.
So I never really know what network I am really on. I don't know whether I am really on HSPA and it's just displaying wrong, or I am actually on UMTS.
Anyone have a clue what is going on?
The framework lies and displays everything as UMTS. Simple as that.
It was funny - on the Infuse, the display rules seemed to be:
UMTS = UMTS
HSDPA = HSPA
HSPA+ = UMTS
Well it appears as if the GS2 is having the same problem as the Infuse then. Do you think it is inherent to Samsung Phones?
Also do you know if there is a patch to correct it to properly display the network?
I am using UnNamed 1.3.2 and I noticed in his thread a CWM flashable add-on called "Show true connection status in the status bar".
I know that won't really correct the issue, but I haven't tried that add-on yet. Do ya think that would work give a proper display, or would it be reading it from the same place that is having the issue?
*EDIT*
Oh I forgot to mention, that it appears that the Skyrocket doesn't suffer from this issue. Our display models at work properly display HSPA like they should.
Unnamed will differentiate between UMTS (3G) and H+ in the status bar.
Not sure about H vs. H+
Edit: Probably related to the fact that AT&T stock ROMs lie and always display H+ for any network mode other than GPRS and EDGE.
It idles in UMTS and switches to HSPA when data is in use. What your status bar shows is completely dependent on what the rom developer configured it to be.
I have similar problem. I wish to use edge to have better signal, but it is always UMTS...Usinig UNNAMED 2.2.1. There is not a option to choose network type. Anyone know what to do?
B.T.W. *#*#4636#*#*---->Phone information---->GSM only doesn't work. It won't save the option.
Simba501 said:
It idles in UMTS and switches to HSPA when data is in use. What your status bar shows is completely dependent on what the rom developer configured it to be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what's curious is the SkyRocket properly displays HSPA though. Whether it's idle or not it displays it correctly. The code can't be all that much different being as the Skyrocket isn't that much different of a device.
Also as far as displaying it on the status bar, the mod that you can get for UnNamed for the true connection on the status bar, is it reading it right from the network or just from the settings? My point is if the phone is showing UMTS, wouldn't the mod on the status bar still show it cause that is what the phone is showing? Or would it be correct?
Most hellraised Rom will have what you are looking for
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
My apologies if this has already been asked, or if it is a complete newbie question... but with all the hype, "sightings," and now the "Official Launch" of the T-mobile LTE network in Las Vegas (which from what I can see, seem to be in Band 4 (2100/1700MHz)... What are the chances that if this launches in an area nearby that we might be able to get LTE speeds using the i717 with the stock AT&T radio? Anyone in the Vegas area seen / tried / tested this?
Don't think that's the case. They just refarmed the 1700/2100 band to the 1900 band. Meaning, they used band 1700/2100 for their HSPA+42 network. They now moved their HSPA+42 network (in Las Vegas) onto band 1900. They are preparing to launch LTE next year on band 1700/2100 which is why they are refarming their network. Right now,however, I don't think they have LTE active anywhere. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.
curgervending said:
Don't think that's the case. They just refarmed the 1700/2100 band to the 1900 band. Meaning, they used band 1700/2100 for their HSPA+42 network. They now moved their HSPA+42 network (in Las Vegas) onto band 1900. They are preparing to launch LTE next year on band 1700/2100 which is why they are refarming their network. Right now,however, I don't think they have LTE active anywhere. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I know for a fact the reason for this big push is so that people using iPhones on T-mobile will be able to enjoy higher-than-edge data rates on T-mobile... they've got a whole add campaign backing that up, too! I'm just hoping it can be beneficial to some of us using other AT&T phones on T-mobile... That would definitely make my day! :fingers-crossed:
That is true. The iPhone runs 3G on band 1900. So with this refarming of their network, people with unlocked iphones will be able to finally get 3G speed on t-mobile's network.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 11:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 PM ----------
Any phone with band 1900 should benefit from the higher speed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
I don't see why you wouldn't. All LTE networks in Canada are AWS (Band 4) and its the same basic Note sold here. I believe mine went up to 30 Mbps real world when it was on Rogers LTE.
This tmob project "tmod" is in full swing across the country and going well. They are doing QA on a good chunk across the country as i type this. Even if you end up in an area waiting for fiber or a microwave hop (for your 4g) , you should be seeing better 3g signal as the sites are first maxed out for "capacity".
Real pain in the ass for the rest of us doing LTE for other customers,, cant get thru to my data center!
Good luck
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
freekquency said:
This tmob project "tmod" is in full swing across the country and going well. They are doing QA on a good chunk across the country as i type this. Even if you end up in an area waiting for fiber or a microwave hop (for your 4g) , you should be seeing better 3g signal as the sites are first maxed out for "capacity".
Real pain in the ass for the rest of us doing LTE for other customers,, cant get thru to my data center!
Good luck
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! Thanks for the info! I'm in the Seattle / Bellevue, WA area personally... hoping nothing slows down the infrastructure build up here... Would love to get higher speed data connection without the current radio hacks; just not sure if I'll ever be able to find out without constantly flashing back to the stock UCLF6 radio just to "test" every so often. Hoping if anyone out there sees it, they'll post here! :fingers-crossed:
For others who might be looking into this, there is a website out there to map "sightings" of new T-mobile 1900MHz network : www.airportal.de
Testing...
Ok... biting the bullet. Have a little extra time at lunch today, so I re-flashed my radio from the ICS-Blaze to the i717 latest UCLF6 radio, and removed all other mods I had in place..... Will drive to a few locations listed relatively near me on the link from the prior post, and see if I can't catch some of this elusive unicorn network testing goodness... Will report back! :fingers-crossed:
WOW!
Ok... so I did the testing. Annnnd...... SUCCESS! Though it wasn't quite that simple.... here's what I did:
With my reverted-to-stock radio, I drove to one of the flagged areas, and for about 5 minutes wandered around, with the phone seeing only a EDGE signal. Then I got to thinking that it might just not be prioritizing that protocol / type, so I went into the *#2263# service menu, selected WCDMA 1900, and literally, INSTANTLY got the high speed data link I was hoping for! Tried switching back to the "Automatic" mode, and it would still never intentionally switch to that service from EDGE, but forcing that frequency definitely worked, and with a very solid signal strength, and speed level. I did notice, however, that the network type seemed to be bouncing back and forth between UMTS:3 and HSPAP:15, for whatever that is worth. See the attached screenshots :victory:
One caveat, though... this is definitely only in 'testing' and very much localized, it seems. I tested the range, and it literally was only *that one tower* in the area serving that signal. I plotted the range and came up with a radius to pretty much prove it =(
Caveat aside, however.... I don't know about everyone else using the i717 on T-mobile, but this REALLY excites me Gives me hope that someday hopefully before too terribly long, I can stick rock-stock with radios on my Note, not worry about mods / etc, to only get relatively sketchy performance and occasional lock-ups...
BUMP'ing this cause LTE is officially out.
Anyone done any new tests or noticed anymore significant speed changes?
I pickled up LTE briefly a while ago getting on the highway on North Avenue in Chicago and THEN passing the same spot on the way back. Unlocked, rooted but stock i717. I also got some weird 50-70 upload speeds with regular (10-14) download speeds a bit before that; I don't know what that is. Here's the LTE-
Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
I believe this phone is capable of using LTE in the US. It has all the right frequencies so I would believe the hardware should be there. I've tried several different APN settings and called customer service to confirm my IMEI with AT&T customer service but I cannot get LTE speeds. Anyone else in the u.s. experiencing the same problems?
barely works in Europe, from the product page i bought it from on Aliexpress they said the 4g wouldn't work in the States .
here majority of the time it drops to 3g and when it does the internet doesn't work at all.
lost count how many times I've had to search again for my network just to refresh the signal.
the antenna in this phone was poorly placed. putting sim in slot 1/2 doesn't matter.
I've gone back to my nexus 5 with zero problems on 4g.
thats really disheartening. I knew there would be a catch to this phone somewhere. And it would appear that the phone does not support 4G LTE bands in the US. .
3.5G umtcs however it does, which is close to 4G speeds. But I do not know how many towers in the US run those frequencies, I will post my findings if I can get HSPA+ or above on a regular basis.
I have noticed my signal fluctuate a lot, Sad that the most basic feature is the most troublesome, this phone comes so close. I wonder if this is something development can resolve or if its just a poor radio.
It will but with network B bands. I think in July.
Check their blog
Really? A coming update in July? I will look on their blog
I live in the UK, but just holidayed in the US this summer...My 9000 wouldn't work for calls, although I read they're bringing out a US version soon. Used it for satnav in 3 states though with no problems.