[Q] SOME data works, some doesn't. I need to understand... - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

(on Net10) On the road I can usually get a browser to open but not much else seems to work the way it should. Navigation, Places, Latitude can't seem to determine my location, or find anything I search for, using towers. If I enable GPS I get my exact location but still can't find destinations (searching...goes on forever). Voice searches always end with "Connection problem". These problems occur whether I'm showing 4 bars of H+, or anything less. In other words--always.
If I'm in a place with wi-fi then all works fine and without hesitation.
No problems with calls, SMS, or MMS.
Can someone please clue me in to the different types of wireless data so I can understand what's not working?

Error msg from Google maps.

An update for future Google visitors: It's taken me lots of time and many calls to the mostly-inept reps at Net10 to get to the bottom of my strange on-road data behavior. I still don't have an answer to my question about
different "types" of data but after a full day of .08Mbps dl speeds I made yet another call and it was finally discovered that when Net10 ported my phone number the rep created a new account for it. When I called to register it it was incorrectly provisioned.
The many calls to Net10 where I was constantly assured "my account" is properly set up was a waste of time--they were looking at the wrong account.
This hopefully is rare so might not be any use to anyone but don't give up bugging them till you get the performance you were promised.

Related

Unable to recieve calls while browsing

Is anyone having a problem where calls go straight to voicemail when data is in use?
This is a serious flaw if its by design!
I'm on o2 with the latest rooted rom. Not the custom modaco one.
Well I've just found out this is a feature of 2g rather than a phone problem. You can only take calls and browse if you have 3g signal.
Maybe on O2, but I get calls coming in no matter what I am doing on my Hero with a 2G signal.
I'm on Orange.
Same on my Nokia's too.
We only have 2G at home so I know its not a 2G / 3G thing (for me at least).
Perhaps I need some different APN settings. Could someone else on o2 UK confirm whether this is a problem or not? Also if you could post your apn details?
My apologies.
You are right and i am wrong.
If browsing on 2G the call is routed to voicemail. Even if you press Home and stop browsing, the call is routed to voicemail.
It seems that only until you have tried to make an outgoing call will it kill something and accept incoming calls again.
No wonder I keep getting missed call texts from Orange.
It would appear that if the Hero is doing anything on GPRS (Weather, Mail, RSS etc) it will not accept calls.
Thats pretty crap.
My old Nokia's were not affected like this I'm sure... maybe they were and I never noticed.
if you can open a Browser window while on a call it will tell you that there is no data connection or to use WiFi.
So is this a 'feature' of the Hero or the 2G network ?
From further investigation it seems to apply to all 2g networks. I've done a bit of googling and there are a few posts about the iphone and similar issues.
I wouldn't mind if I could get a 3g signal in most places. I really hope that radio firmware gets better. Seeing as I can get 3g on o2 in a different phone at home.
Sigh, oh well... looks like people need to learn to SMS me or actually leave a message
This also explains why my TomTom used to crap out whenever I was on the phone (Nokia) sometimes... when it worked I must have been in a 3G area.
it's both phone and network dependent.
many phones do this on 2G, as there is no 2G device in the world that i am aware of that will do voice AND data at the same time.
However, due to this limitation, many networks have set up their network to forcibly terminate a data connection when a call is waiting to be routed to that phone. I don't know if it is a command that is sent to the phone that the phone has to interpret and support, or if it is simply killed from the network end.
some network/phone combos do it, some dont. it just depends on the combination of the two i think.
similar things happen on HSDPA, yet you can see the same HTC phone get forced down from HSDPA to 3G on t-mobile to accept an incoming call, but do nothing and get a voicemail on Vodafone!
Thanks for the response rhedgehog. I think if nothing else its good that people are made aware, I had no idea!
I would be interested to know whether other networks disconnect the data on the hero in order to receive calls. It would also be interesting to know whether other android handsets do the same.
My data habits have now changed. No more exchange push email - only check every 15 mins.

[Q] Use of Wifi to send SMS text and Data.

Is there anyone who is working on using a app to make all sms messages and data while on Wifi at home or work. I live in a town with not so great signal so im always on wifi but i still need signal to send and recieve messages calls.
I was wondering if it was possible to do this with a app or mod the rom to function this way.
That way i may also end the Radio Interference Shortage i see all to much do to from what i can figure is the phone bouncing on and off sprints network to roaming so often. ( seems to be worse on wifi.)
If you use the Google voice integration, it only sends over data connection.
Thanks for the info i just was reading about that. But looks like the only option.
rmaxson29 said:
Is there anyone who is working on using a app to make all sms messages and data while on Wifi at home or work. I live in a town with not so great signal so im always on wifi but i still need signal to send and recieve messages calls.
I was wondering if it was possible to do this with a app or mod the rom to function this way.
That way i may also end the Radio Interference Shortage i see all to much do to from what i can figure is the phone bouncing on and off sprints network to roaming so often. ( seems to be worse on wifi.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
personally, i have been using google voice for two years now and it was worked very well. when i have low cell signal but have good wifi or 4g, i open up the app and text.
if i have low wifi/4g signal but good cell signal, i text from the built in message app using SMS.
as a possible alternative, i've seen a new app being promoted, DeskSMS, from koush (ROM Manager developer). i haven't used it personally, but the main idea is to congregate all your text messages into one location so you can access from all devices. if you want to research more on DeskSMS, there is a lifehacker article reviewing it, here is a lifehacker article on it and the android market page.
edit: an airave is definitely a decent alternative if you're on sprint and need better service on one specific location. the OP posted his whole town has signal issues both at his work and at home and specifically questioned any apps be available to help handle better sms communication. an airave could solve your signal issues at home and at work, but is location dependent. i was able to get an airave from sprint for my home location at no charge due to our long tenure as a sprint customer.
hope that helps!
sounds like you may want to look into getting an airave, its a device that you hook up to your home internet that broadcasts service up to 1000ft from the unit..
Kind of like a wifi router but for EVDO

Google Talk Blocked...Is it affecting my push Gmail too?

At my new office they have a WiFi network set up for just smartphones. While connected, I can access the internet, use my facebook app, and use many other apps that require the internet.
The problem I am having is I do not receive my push emails (I use the stock Gmail app) while connected to this WiFi network. If I do a manual refresh inside Gmail, it will update fine. But nothing comes through otherwise. Another thing to add is I can't sign on to Talk either while on the WiFi network.
My guess is they have Google Talk blocked which affects push email. I remember the days of the EVO 4G when people were upset at the Talk process running in the background even though Talk was signed out. The reason was the Talk process running had something to do with Gmail push emails. Am I right?
So are there any work arounds to avoid the conflict?
I would just run it on 3G, but there is very bad 3G coverage in the building.
Anyone?...................
RedWingsFan said:
At my new office they have a WiFi network set up for just smartphones. While connected, I can access the internet, use my facebook app, and use many other apps that require the internet.
The problem I am having is I do not receive my push emails (I use the stock Gmail app) while connected to this WiFi network. If I do a manual refresh inside Gmail, it will update fine. But nothing comes through otherwise. Another thing to add is I can't sign on to Talk either while on the WiFi network.
My guess is they have Google Talk blocked which affects push email. I remember the days of the EVO 4G when people were upset at the Talk process running in the background even though Talk was signed out. The reason was the Talk process running had something to do with Gmail push emails. Am I right?
So are there any work arounds to avoid the conflict?
I would just run it on 3G, but there is very bad 3G coverage in the building.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My best guess, would be to check out logcat while logged into the Wifi network. I would hope there is some type of error or debugging out put there showing Android isn't able to either authenticate properly due to the way they're filtering traffice or GTalk isn't able to authenticate thus causing Android to not be able to sync. Ideally, Android will output the exact or close to exact url it is uses to authenticate which is being blocked and that'll help you understand the impact from the Wifi network filtering.
those are just some thoughts off the top of my head. hope that helps!
Probably. Mine is at work.
Via My HTC Evo 3D On The Now Network From Sprint.
After looking at the log, I see the Gtalk is trying to use port 5228 which some companies have blocked. It would be nice to be able to switch the port to 443 for Gtalk and/or gmail but I don't think that is possible with our phones.

[Q] Issues???

I didn't know where else to ask this so I created this thread to hopefully someone can help resolve my issue. Ok lets begin.
I am having issues with recieving phone calls where I live. I do not get the best of service but it works. Now the odd thing I am facing is I can get 4g outside of my house, literally outside my house. My wife has, unfortunately an iphone, and gets great service inside. She is able to recieve calls and whatnot. I am not. I will get text messages saying why I did not answer and I am not even recieveing these calls. Sometimes turning airplane mode on and off will trigger 4g which is weird but shouldnt affect calls or at least idts. As some will know I did have to Lg Flash tool to return to stock, so maybe my issue lies there, idk.
Now here is where it gets interesting. I am a google Voice user. I will recieve the voicemail but not once did it ring. I do not know if google changed something ever since merging Hangouts with Voice but its weird. I have always faced these issues no matter what phone I have used. If someone can please enlighten me with a solution I would greatly appreciate it. If this is not where to ask, mods please relocate. Thank you.
Edit: I am rooted through the stump method and I use a lot of WiFi on my phone. If that helps.
Make sure your mobile network is set to LTE/CDMA ...and not global.
I've done that and it eventually turns back to global...
Update profile and prl too
I guess I should have been more precise. I know all the basic routines to try and get good service. I am just curious if anyone else faces these issues?
Try wifi calling or maybe complain to sprint and get a free airrave. Also for Google voice there is a bunch of setting you can setup on the Web. Google "Google voice settings" and login and check all the settings. Mine were off and was sending people it didn't know directly to voice-mail.
See that's where my other problem lies... I have satellite internet because that's all that is available in my area. Sprint's airrave doesn't work with satellite internet. I've already tried. WiFi calling is my only option except, doesn't that use my internet data? I only have a set amount I can use a month.
treezy26 said:
See that's where my other problem lies... I have satellite internet because that's all that is available in my area. Sprint's airrave doesn't work with satellite internet. I've already tried. WiFi calling is my only option except, doesn't that use my internet data? I only have a set amount I can use a month.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that also uses data.

Do any carriers still allow texting on the S7+5G?

I bought this device ~2017 from Sprint for my elderly mother so she could stay connected with the family. One of the features was she could use it to text. She took to that like a fish in water, which made us happy. They did not have WiFi, so it was strictly cellular data. There was no voice, but that was not a problem. It had been working fine until...we got a Tmobile SIM in the mail. (Due to the merger of Sprint with TMobile.). This was supposed to be required due to the 3G retirement.
I installed the SIM. Everything seems to be fine. But then we notice the SMS stopped working. I called Sprint, they did some sort of reset and SMS started working. I went away in victory. But then an hour or so later we noticed SMS no longer worked. Skipping some steps, I took it to the store. We installed a new TMO SIM card. SMS worked again--for 5-15 min, then stopped. They did a warranty replaced of the tablet. Same thing. It first worked (send and receive texts) for <15 min, then failed. They would not allow me to go back to the Sprint SIM card.
I had the manager escalate this through their tech support. After a week or so, the answer came back: SMS is not supported on tablets.
This must be a policy. Certainly it can work. But it seems to be a restriction/problem on the carrier side. However I am not convinced it is really a policy and not just laziness.
What I am seeking from this forum is to learn the following:
A) Does anyone have SMS working on this device (SM-T978U).
B) If SMS works, what carrier do you have.
Alternately, I am looking for a work around that works seamlessly. Anything convoluted will not work for her. She also has an Alcatel GO flip 4. She now has WiFi.
You may want to look at an App like TextFree or Google Voice.
I can report that this was a carrier created problem. The explanation I received was that after the TMO Sprint merger, they pushed out PLMN's that allowed the devices to use the best available resource (TMO or Sprint), I am told. When the Sprint resources could no longer be accessed with the new TMO SIM card, the SMS no longer worked. If others had this problem, it may now silently be fixed. They need to push out an new PLMN and then "cancel" the location to forces the device to take the new PLMN. Works fine now.
My frustration is that the lower levels of tech support are really just customer service to help you use your phone. A rant on the whole experience is not worth anyone's time. For me, a chance encounter with a TMO employee in a local bar was required. Once I got to people with the appropriate level of technical knowledge, the problem was solved quickly.
The answer to the question in the title is 'YES'.
This is not a T-Mobile only issue. None of the US carriers allow LTE/5G tablets to text using SMS or RCS. I am not sure why. I had the LTE Tab S5e on Verizon and at no point could I text directly from the tablet using its number. I had to either use Google Voice or some other third-party app.
I now have the WiFi Tab S7 and the only way I can text is to pair it via Google Messages to my S22 Ultra or to use Google Voice.
The upside to using Google Messages is that I can use the same number on both devices. The only downside is occasionally I have to re-pair Google Messages.
I just bought a used T-Mobile Tab S7. I can sms with stock messaging app.

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