T720 Reception Issue (GSM)

[COMfr3aK]

I just got a t720 on cingular. I upgraded from a motorola c331t which, at my house had 5 bars solid all the time. I live in the middle of nowhere on a hill, there is one cell tower on the next hill over that I know is Cingular tdma and now gsm. With the t720 I can get like mostly 2-3 bars, sometimes going to 4 which I thought should be a solid 5 like the tdma. I have made some calls and they still sound crystal clear, not cutting in ot out or anything. I'm just wondering can a better antennae have anything to do with it? Is it normal to get better tdma than gsm? I'm in my living room at the moment and it says 1 bar jumping to 2 sometimes. With the c331t I have solid 5 bars. Is there codes on the 720 I can get into a field test mode to see my actual signal strength? There are no other cingular towers or anyt towers around me for that matter so I know it's not getting weaker signal from another tower or something. Hoping someone has a suggestion...

[NYCDru]

Return the T720, get a v400....turst me...yoiu will thank us later.

[COMfr3aK]

Is the t720 known for pathetically below average rf? After reading posts it appeared that most people have problems with the CDMA t720. If the gsm is known for crappy reception I must assume that's what the problem is... I'd rather have like 5 phones to choose from that all work excellent than 20 phones to choose from and it's take your best shot and see what you get...

[NYCDru]

Originally posted by: COMfr3aK Is the t720 known for pathetically below average rf? After reading posts it appeared that most people have problems with the CDMA t720. If the gsm is known for crappy reception I must assume that's what the problem is... I'd rather have like 5 phones to choose from that all work excellent than 20 phones to choose from and it's take your best shot and see what you get...

On GSM networks the t720 gets "Average" reception. The V400 gets "EXCEPTONAL/UNREAL" reception. The T720 isn't bad it just isn't Awsome thats all.

[cbass2781]

Hmm, if you can make calls and they sound "crystal clear' as you mentioned, then why the concern? If you're worried about having the phone with the absolute best reception, that's one thing, but the bottom line is that you're phone is still functional where you need it... right?

[COMfr3aK]

Well I just figured they would still be clear since the tower is like outside the window but it just isn't getting as much signal as it should be.. Now that I've been using it and driving around and such there are places where it doesn't get service at all whereI think it should be... Yes the calls seem to sound fine when it has 2-3 bars I was just concerned as to whether or not I should be sending it back or not... It works, but could it work better? That's my question... Perhaps I'll just get a cheap gsm phone off ebay to test out my theories..

Also theoretically speaking, I've read and I think I understand it as, tdma has a further reception distance than gsm correct? If that were true, then wouldn't overlaying gsm on a tdma network cause gaps? Maybe I know nothing of what I'm speaking about but as I understand it...

[NYCDru]

Originally posted by: COMfr3aK Well I just figured they would still be clear since the tower is like outside the window but it just isn't getting as much signal as it should be.. Now that I've been using it and driving around and such there are places where it doesn't get service at all whereI think it should be... Yes the calls seem to sound fine when it has 2-3 bars I was just concerned as to whether or not I should be sending it back or not... It works, but could it work better? That's my question... Perhaps I'll just get a cheap gsm phone off ebay to test out my theories.. Also theoretically speaking, I've read and I think I understand it as, tdma has a further reception distance than gsm correct? If that were true, then wouldn't overlaying gsm on a tdma network cause gaps? Maybe I know nothing of what I'm speaking about but as I understand it...

1.) On GSM phones on PCS frequencies your "bars" will fluctuate alot. But if you have 2 to 3 bars you will be fine.

2.) GSM and TDMA have equal range. Its the PCS vrs. Cellular (1900Mhz vs. 800 Mhz) that you would have to worry about. The 800 gets better range generaly.

[COMfr3aK]

ahh ok, thanks for the enlightenment... I have been with tdma forever and know every dead spot in my area and in those dead spots just where to stand to be able to make a decent calle and am a newb to gsm for the time being... I'm in upstate NY so I believe the cingular gsm is 800.. however, I am well aware the "S" in gsm does not stand for satellite... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[COMfr3aK]

Finally problem solved!

There indeed WAS a problem with the phone. It was the antenna. I bought a new antenna off ebay and it did NOT make any difference so I started messing with it further and figured I would try something. I wrapped the metal screw end of the antenna in alumnium foil and then screwed it in. That must have made the contact that was missing as I now have 5 bars all over the place where I thought I should have and actual service where it was saying none before. Calls don't cut out, it seems to work.