Also you are using a "Group A" handset, which is the worst for rural areas
when it comes to Next G

"Snapper" <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote in message
news:4sj724lapd1cef78qtn8vbj07ka2687cb6@yarwho.com ...
> Bubba wrote...
>
>> There was every chance that Next g coverage existed where your phone went
>> to
>> 2G, however the 2G signal may have been slightly stronger
>
> Why would it do that?
>>
>> To really maximise your Next G coverage, I would recommend that you
>> change
>> the settings on your phone to stay on Next G only.
>
> The A501 has the following settings under "Network"
>
> 1. Automatic (which it's default is)
> 2. GSM 900/1800
> 3. GSM 850/1900
> 4. UMTS
>
> I just selected option 3. The antenna bar shows no signal and the 3G
> symbol
> isn't being displayed.
>
> And it's "searching" for a network connection.
>
> I then selected UMTS. As I changed it a message "UMTS only works inside 3G
> coverage areas" was displayed. Back at the main screen the signal is back
> to
> full strength and the 3G symbol is present.
>
> "3G" in this case refers to NextG as that is all there is as far as 3G
> services
> go in this area.
>
> I then changed it to GSM 900/1800. On the main screen I have full bars but
> there
> is an "E" symbol next to it. I do not know what that means. I'll have to
> look
> the manual up if I can find it.
>
> And shortly after I changed it to GSM 900 the cell name changed to the one
> where
> I live.
>
> I changed it back to "auto" and 3G is once more displayed.
>
> Next test was to remove the battery, wait a few seconds and put it back in
> and
> turn it on.
>
> The "cell name" is now back to Telstra. Which is what it normally
> displays.
>
> So, what you say is correct, then. Maybe there wasn't a NextG signal at
> all when
> I came back into a coverage area, so it briefly picked up the GSM cell,
> then as
> I travelled further it connected back to a NextG cell but the GSM cell
> name
> stayed.
>
> I would have thought that if there were two signals, GSM and UMTS/3G/NextG
> that
> it would've automatically picked NextG regardless of the strength. When I
> travel
> around here and particularly at work, NextG can drop down to one bar. I
> can
> compare my wife's GSM phone signal and often it may be getting a better
> signal.
> But in those cases it isn't swapping around.
>
> So, I'd be tipping that on the weekend that the phone didn't pick up a NG
> signal, only a GSM one.
>
>
>
> --
> Women do come with instructions. Just ask them.