Posted by nailerr
First post, so hello everyone. I registered because I have spent a fair few hours searching the web for a little info, and Estato was the most consistent source of information, but I have not yet quite worked out one thing, if someone could perhaps help I that would be great.
I have been reading about PS and CS for data, and so far I understand that CS is the old style connect-as-needed method where PS is packet data.
However.
Out the box my C702 has CS Only selected, and as such I only see the little G or E pop up in the signal area when connected to the data network. But in my area (Germany, T-Mobile) I also have the blue H symbol for HSDPA availability. The thing that is getting me is that the H is always there, although the G or E (E when in some buildings) only appear when connected for data. So am I assuming correctly that the H only announces the availability of HSDPA network, but not actual connection to it?
When I am using the network I usually have the small G, which I read here means GPRS. But HSDPA is not a GPRS connection as far as I can understand? Should I see a small 3G in place of the small G to denote actual connectivity? Or is it that HSDPA (or 3G sometimes) is actually a separate connection all together, aside the GSM/EDGE and GPRS network?
I am very, very confused. And as a tech type person it is causing me much brain ache to not be able to work it out! I have a flat rate internet connection with t-mobile and am slightly worried that using CS Only is using an older GSM link and costing me money on the "minutes".
Someone, please?
Many thanks!
Posted by StevenC
3G and HSDPA uses a higher band of frequencies. The more higher the frequencies are, the more the signal will attenuate or be affected by interference. Because of that you are more likely to have a low signal strength in 3g/HSDPA mode and hence the phone will automatically switch back to GSM/EDGE for a more reliable data transmission.
Posted by nailerr
Thank you for the reply, although the question really was not about that.
What I am trying to understand is why my phone has the symbol for what some people here and elsewhere have said means GPRS above the signal strength bars when it also shows the H for HSDPA? Is the H showing availability only, or that I am actually connected? If the G is indeed GPRS then it would appear that I am not connected to the HSDPA network. But I can find no solid info on this.
I of course get E and not G when in certain buildings, this is when the H also vanishes, and I understand why. But as you see, the question is more to do with how to tell which I am actually on. On to of that is using CS Only connections prevents 3G networks from working.
Cheers
Posted by StevenC
Yes you are correct. The G or H symbol is there just to notify the availability of the GPRS or HSDPA.
Posted by nailerr
I think perhaps I am making the topic a bit messy, had a think about it on the way to work:
Above the signal bars, in the top left inside the same area the G and the E show a connection to EDGE and GPRS, we have established that as correct. To the RIGHT side of that signal indicator in a separate spot is the badge for HSDPA and/or 3G depending on what is available.
I am always seeing H to the right, connected or not. I see the G inside the signal area at the same time as the H to the right (when connected for data).
Am I somehow connected to both GPRS and HSDPA?
As the H is always showing, connected to the data network or not (CS Only) I find it impossible to know which network I am actually using.
You see, it is showing two at once. But I was to understand UTMS is to replace GPRS, and they do not typically work in tandem.
Thanks again
[ This Message was edited by: nailerr on 2008-11-26 20:20 ]
Posted by buxjr
Hm..let's see
U are making sure that you'd pay what U used to the network provider,right?
I haven't got any clear info upon
2G (GPRS)
2,5G (EDGE)
3G (UMTS)
3,5G (HSDPA) -if i'm not mistaken of what their names are
But then,you might want to see your handset manual first
There might be some helpful information about those indicator on the screen of your handset
Yes,the HSDPA provide much faster speed of connection-but to my experience,the initial connecting progress would take some time before that speed it'd be run
Say,the STARTing connection would be as slow as GPRS,but then as it is 'running',it gets to incredible speed
I'm trying to conclude that the [H] with small (G) meaning that u can use HSDPA at that very time
and that isn't necessarily GPRS
hope this would help
Posted by nailerr
Well the manual was useless, SonyEricsson support gave me some tech details but ultimately pointed me to wikipedia.. Did not answer my question exactly but since the topic I have just left it on PS for packet switching, and found my data use to be a bit more stable. So, whatever my initial question was, and given I pay flat-rate internet now, it all seems to be details that don't matter enough anymore.
Posted by gtr83
AFAIK, to tell which network you are on, you need to see the small icon on the signal bars (not the badge to the right side of it). I also experienced this; on SE units there seems to be no exact way to tell if you're on HSDPA; it only tells you whether you are connected to GPRS/EDGE. The aforementioned badge only tells the availability of HSDPA or 3G signals. Sorry for such a repeat statement...
Posted by carkitter
Watching the symbol on the phone is an unreliable way of knowing what speed network you're on because sometime the correct info is not sent out by the celltower you are closest to, and sometimes the signal is blocked by the environment you are in.
For instance: I live in a suburb that gets signal at speeds up to 1.4Mbps (HSDPA) but my V640i only shows the 3G symbol, while at Uni I get 1.5Mbps but get a 3G+ symbol.
Also, outside where I work part-time I get 1.3Mbps (HSDPA) but inside I get GPRS and sometimes No Signal from the same celltower.
What I rely on is speedtests to determine what type of network is available. There is a speedtest/benchmarking App for Mobile phones but I can't get it to work properly on the V640i. I usually do a speedtest on my Laptop using the V640i as a modem. Since I got my iPhone 3G I use the Speedtest App from the App Store for testing local networks.
If you get an H, you'll definately be in a HSDPA zone, likewise, the g is a GPRS zone. But an E or 3G could be anything in my experience.
_________________
Voted Best Phone Review in Esato Awards 2008: My V640i Review
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2009-02-08 10:55 ]
Posted by nailerr
Which is why having a small G AND and large H at once confused me.
Having only a small E and no H is easier o work out, of course.
In the end I have decided it does not matter, I dont need to know how fast my connection is as I am not paying for it either way apparently.