3G Tower Switching - PLEASE STOP

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MrG

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I have my Nokia 6680 now on Vodacom, and I have noticed that it is forever jumping between 3G and GPRS towers even if it is sitting in one place, why is this?

Is it the way Vodacom has their towers situated or the phone that is simply bugged? :eek:
 
Do you get this at all locations? If so your phone might be flaky.

Is it a problem, i.e. affecting your ability to make calls, etc?

You can force the phone to GSM-only if you want to but it probably defeats the object of having a 3G phone.
 
I have tested it and it happens in alot of locations, however there are some places where it does NOT happen. It has never caused problems for phone calls etc, just obviosuly the ability to make video calls. I can force it to GSM yes, but that would be no point as you said.

If I start a 3G connection it will always stay active, however as soon as I terminate that connection (after moving to another area) then it will go to GPRS if the GSM signal is stronger.

Edit: Today I noticed that it is as if when it logs onto a new tower it first goes with GSM then check if 3G is available there and only then makes the switch. I dont know if that is normal. I dont recall it doing this when I got the phone, and i do not think much has changed since then
 
I just downloaded NetMonitor for my phone and set it to UMTS as the ONLY option and now it sticks to 3G with a FULL Signal all the time :)

Just the problem comes in when I leave 3G enabled cells I think it is my 32K sim card, because I find it strange that it doesnt give me the option for UMTS in my phones band selection, but it is there now that netmeter "unlocked" it. The phones maunual says because I have not got a 3G (UMTS) (64K) sim card.
 
Thanks, I would really appreciate this.... As I said, I just find it rather strange that when i have it set to 3G Only then it never drops its signal strength, and when its set to Dual Mode, it jumps between the two.
 
MrG said:
I just downloaded NetMonitor for my phone and set it to UMTS as the ONLY option and now it sticks to 3G with a FULL Signal all the time :)

Just the problem comes in when I leave 3G enabled cells I think it is my 32K sim card, because I find it strange that it doesnt give me the option for UMTS in my phones band selection, but it is there now that netmeter "unlocked" it. The phones maunual says because I have not got a 3G (UMTS) (64K) sim card.
Click to expand...

MrG,

I have also loaded Netmonitor on my 6680 and that then allows you to lock it to 3G only or GSm only. This has nothing to do with the SIM card - it does the same with a 32k or 64k SIM. The standard software in this phone (as in some others like the Ericssons) only allows you to select between "GSM only" and "Dual Mode" - it does not have a 3G or UMTS only selection.

As the Netmonitor is a form of test software, it does contain this functionality which is normally only used by the engineers when they are testing the network.

I would guess that your switching between cells is due to either the "breathing" of the 3G cells or else a "low" level (which could also be as a result of cell breathing, which is a charateristic of WCDMA/UMTS/3G). The reselection from 3G to GSM is determined by the receive level of the 3G site and from what I have seen on Netmonitor occurs at 3G signal level of between -90 and -95dBm. Then as the signal strength increases again due to cell breathing or just general RF fading, the phone reselects to 3G.

Hope that helps a bit.
 
thank you V3G and 3G_rox, gladly appreciated for both of your responses.

What you are saying does make sense, would it not mean if it was cell breathing that both phones Nokia 6680 and Motoral E1000 would switch to GSM? I have it back on Dual Mode again and seems to be ok now. Every now and again it jumps to GSM, but in general it stays 3G, however the 3G signal is always available even when the phone switched to GSM.

I will do some testing regarding areas tommorow if I have time and see if this is my area or my phone, compare between Motorola and Nokia if I can.
 
3g_rox said:
MrG,

I have also loaded Netmonitor on my 6680 and that then allows you to lock it to 3G only or GSm only. This has nothing to do with the SIM card - it does the same with a 32k or 64k SIM. The standard software in this phone (as in some others like the Ericssons) only allows you to select between "GSM only" and "Dual Mode" - it does not have a 3G or UMTS only selection.

As the Netmonitor is a form of test software, it does contain this functionality which is normally only used by the engineers when they are testing the network.

I would guess that your switching between cells is due to either the "breathing" of the 3G cells or else a "low" level (which could also be as a result of cell breathing, which is a charateristic of WCDMA/UMTS/3G). The reselection from 3G to GSM is determined by the receive level of the 3G site and from what I have seen on Netmonitor occurs at 3G signal level of between -90 and -95dBm. Then as the signal strength increases again due to cell breathing or just general RF fading, the phone reselects to 3G.

Hope that helps a bit.
Click to expand...

Same here. Depending on where on my desk I put my phone, it will switch between GSM and 3G. And I noticed it happens when the signal drops below -90 dBm or thereabouts. Would've been nice if there was an option on the phone to use 3G until the signal dies completely before switching to GSM.

I've searched for the best position for 3G reception using celltrack. When I leave the phone there (it is near the window by the way) it stays on 3G, probably cause the signal is -83 dBm in that position.

I've also locked my phone to 3G with netmonitor, but yes, when I travel, I have to switch back and that means rebooting, better to just leave it in the same place. Locking to 3G is always a novel way of checking for 3G coverage while mobile.
 
I never knew that 3G is this sensitive :) I never knew, because if I am like in the lounge it is perfect and it never jumps, but in my bedroom, where there is a desk, on that desk it jumps between GSM and UMTS. I am glad in a way that others also get this because I thought its my phone that is totally messed
 
I have a USB cable extension to the window and always put the phone in the same place.
Download the celltrack app MrG, and find the best 3G signal. Netmonitor is only for GSM.
 
Please will someone post the link for Netmonitor and celltrack?
 
3g_rox said:
Screens 41.x of Netmonitor are for 3G..
Click to expand...
That menu does not seem to give the dBm signal strength. There is something called Intra RSSI that seems to be some indication of signal strength. The value seems to increase when the signal improves, and decreases when the signal drops. But I don't know how to interpret it.
 
I just checked and found that the Motorola and Nokia BOTH switch towers in my bedroom, so I have concluded that it is most probably due to Cell Breathing as listed above. Thanks guys
 
ajax said:
That menu does not seem to give the dBm signal strength. There is something called Intra RSSI that seems to be some indication of signal strength. The value seems to increase when the signal improves, and decreases when the signal drops. But I don't know how to interpret it.
Click to expand...

RSSI = Received Signal Strength Indicator (in other words - signal strength).

Celltrack for Symbian OS can be found at http://www.afischer-online.de/sos/celltrack/CellTrack.SIS - this is the one you need for Nokia 6680. Transfer it to your phone using bluetooth, etc and run the install.
 
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