i-phone signal secret

[Firefly]

iphone signal secret.....

Ok, I've had my iphone 3GS for over a year and have been happy with the DEVICE, but the 'service' provided by AT&T has been pathetic. Missed calls, dropped calls, no signal inside, can't send texts, surf, etc. I've been using the WiFi features at home and work and it's great to have as a smart device--- just want it to work as a PHONE for calls and texts!

So while I had to call AT&T today about a billing issue (there's 2 hours of my life I'll never get back) the guy asked if there was anything else--- YES I told him ---- the signal and phone service SUCKS --- especially when INSIDE my house or at work. My house I could understand a bit as I live in the country, but at work? On a street with where 30,000 cars a day pass by?

If you live in an area with strong 3G you probably have little or no problem with signal, but if you live in a city stuck in the technology of the 1990's like Battle Creek -- well --- your service probably sucks. AT&T users don't have 3G in Battle Creek. We can't even get Kenny G in Battle Creek. We have what is called 'The Edge', which is a hybrid 2G service shared by T-Mobile and AT&T.

Okay -- so on to the secret to better iphone service......

AT&T leases tower space from other vendors -- and therefore we don't get priority service. That is, if a tower is overloaded with traffic guess who gets low bandwidth or dropped first? Yup--- AT&T customers.

If you call and complain to AT&T they CAN do something to help you.

The rep said he could send me new 'provisions' to make things work better. I thought he was talking about those mini-towers you can plug in to your home internet that will carry a cell signal-- but no--- he was simply talking about some settings they would change on my phone.

So they CAN send these 'provisions' to your phone. You shut it down. Wait 2 minutes. Restart and then don't use the phone or any features for about 20 minutes. What this does is gives your iphone PRIORITY on the cell towers so you won't get dropped or 'bumped'.

Why doesn't AT&T automatically do this for everyone? My best guess is that it costs them more money to lease tower space if they want 'priority'. They figure if the dropped calls and outages are shared by tons of users that it's no big deal.


I've heard rumors about such practices by AT&T, but now I have first-hand proof of this method of allotting cell tower priority. Doesn't seem right to me to be locked into a contract with sucky service and no way out.

I just did the 'provision' change today and I can say that I instantly notice a big difference!

So call them and complain if you're having poor service.

 

[Firefly]

I've also been testing a service called Line2 for the iphone.

This gives you a second phone number and texting--- that will work over your cell service OR over a WiFi network if you're within reach of one.

So far--- BAD. Great idea but doesn't work well at all. Missed messages, calls, etc. Doesn't change well between WiFi and cell, etc.

I've often wondered why the cell phones don't use WiFi connections for voice and text when nearby-- especially for texting. Would make sense to me to free up towers.

 

[Mo Lee]

Know exactly what you mean. We have had ATT for a few years with no problems, however a couple of months ago they brought 3G to our area and my service went to crap. Could no longer get phone signal in the house and I'm less than 100 yds from the city limits. I spent several hours on the phone with them over a month with them saying it would be fixed. Finally after 5 different cases being opened with tech dept. I ask to be released from my contract since they no longer provided the same service I once had. They basicly told me they could not fix it and they would not release me and to suck it up. I threatened them with the state attorney general and my service did improve a little however now a month later I have to again go outside to call out or receive a call.

 

[Firefly]

Know exactly what you mean. We have had ATT for a few years with no problems, however a couple of months ago they brought 3G to our area and my service went to crap. Could no longer get phone signal in the house and I'm less than 100 yds from the city limits. I spent several hours on the phone with them over a month with them saying it would be fixed. Finally after 5 different cases being opened with tech dept. I ask to be released from my contract since they no longer provided the same service I once had. They basicly told me they could not fix it and they would not release me and to suck it up. I threatened them with the state attorney general and my service did improve a little however now a month later I have to again go outside to call out or receive a call.

Try turning 3G OFF... .under settings\general\network

Might work better for you.... these phones get confused easily when switching from 2g to 3g all the time. This will force it to use 2g.

 

[Mo Lee]

Try turning 3G OFF... .under settings\general\network

Might work better for you.... these phones get confused easily when switching from 2g to 3g all the time. This will force it to use 2g.

I will, never thought of that.
Thanks

Now that I look at the phone I may not have that option, will keep looking.

 

[arntufun]

iphone signal secret.....

Ok, I've had my iphone 3GS for over a year and have been happy with the DEVICE, but the 'service' provided by AT&T has been pathetic. Missed calls, dropped calls, no signal inside, can't send texts, surf, etc. I've been using the WiFi features at home and work and it's great to have as a smart device--- just want it to work as a PHONE for calls and texts!

So while I had to call AT&T today about a billing issue (there's 2 hours of my life I'll never get back) the guy asked if there was anything else--- YES I told him ---- the signal and phone service SUCKS --- especially when INSIDE my house or at work. My house I could understand a bit as I live in the country, but at work? On a street with where 30,000 cars a day pass by?

If you live in an area with strong 3G you probably have little or no problem with signal, but if you live in a city stuck in the technology of the 1990's like Battle Creek -- well --- your service probably sucks. AT&T users don't have 3G in Battle Creek. We can't even get Kenny G in Battle Creek. We have what is called 'The Edge', which is a hybrid 2G service shared by T-Mobile and AT&T.

Okay -- so on to the secret to better iphone service......

AT&T leases tower space from other vendors -- and therefore we don't get priority service. That is, if a tower is overloaded with traffic guess who gets low bandwidth or dropped first? Yup--- AT&T customers.

If you call and complain to AT&T they CAN do something to help you.

The rep said he could send me new 'provisions' to make things work better. I thought he was talking about those mini-towers you can plug in to your home internet that will carry a cell signal-- but no--- he was simply talking about some settings they would change on my phone.

So they CAN send these 'provisions' to your phone. You shut it down. Wait 2 minutes. Restart and then don't use the phone or any features for about 20 minutes. What this does is gives your iphone PRIORITY on the cell towers so you won't get dropped or 'bumped'.

Why doesn't AT&T automatically do this for everyone? My best guess is that it costs them more money to lease tower space if they want 'priority'. They figure if the dropped calls and outages are shared by tons of users that it's no big deal.


I've heard rumors about such practices by AT&T, but now I have first-hand proof of this method of allotting cell tower priority. Doesn't seem right to me to be locked into a contract with sucky service and no way out.

I just did the 'provision' change today and I can say that I instantly notice a big difference!

So call them and complain if you're having poor service.

I have a solution for you and it's only one word..... VERIZON. I have had almost every carrier and Verizon by far is the best in my area. ATT has great phones, but great phones do not mean anything if they don't work.

 

[Roger]

:agree: i have had verizon for years never dropped a call had my iphone for almost a month now i still have not lost a call somebody asked me why i did not wait for the new iphone this summer i told them because 5 or 6 months after that one comes out their will be another i'am not trying to keep up with the joneses. By the way here is an app which i use alot KEYRING

 

[Firefly]

I will, never thought of that.
Thanks

Now that I look at the phone I may not have that option, will keep looking.

Go to :

Settings \ General \ Network.

You turn 3G off there.

 

[Firefly]

I have a solution for you and it's only one word..... VERIZON. I have had almost every carrier and Verizon by far is the best in my area. ATT has great phones, but great phones do not mean anything if they don't work.

Easier said than done--- still under AT&T contract. Not to mention I don't feel like shelling out another $300 for a new phone.

Not sure Verizon is much better in my area.

In Europe they have their act together --- all cell phones use the same system---- so any phone will work from any tower. You can literally get 5 bars in a cave over there!

 

[Phil]

Good post Firefly.

Respectfully, the word is 'provision'. We write software that provisions wireless devices on various non-cellular networks around the globe.

Now... what you described is correct. AT&T and others too, try to first use their own towers and networks. They do allow you to 'roam' onto other networks where they have no coverage due to no resources (towers). AT&T have prearranged agreements with those other smaller cellular guys for wholesale usage of those sites. Correct... they get charged so they try to keep you (obviously) on their sites. NOW.... getting your unit re-provisioned helps everyone. Because, their costs go up in your area, management gets reports about roaming usage and costs, and from those reports AT&T and others prioritize where to expand their networks. Taaa daaaa.

We do software that helps track and analyze this type of network usage data for non-cellular networks (broadband wireless (like wifi on steroids), two-way radio, etc.).