phone signal

[Barciurek]

Hi
I recently bought Nokia 5300.. I used Nokia 6030 and Nokia 6010.. both of the 60s get 1-2 bars out of 7... Always in my window and if not, i stick my hand outside my window and I get it...
Now nokia 5300 doesn't get that signal at all. i have to walk about 500 metres away from my house to get signal... same thing with my dad's nokia e51...
i read, in fact on this forums, that it's because new phones don't allow that kind of low signal like older phones, i.e. 6030. Is there anyway to change it? I mean all I want is to get text messages and one bar is enough...

thanks for your help

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by Barciurek

Hi
I recently bought Nokia 5300.. I used Nokia 6030 and Nokia 6010.. both of the 60s get 1-2 bars out of 7... Always in my window and if not, i stick my hand outside my window and I get it...
Now nokia 5300 doesn't get that signal at all. i have to walk about 500 metres away from my house to get signal... same thing with my dad's nokia e51...
i read, in fact on this forums, that it's because new phones don't allow that kind of low signal like older phones, i.e. 6030. Is there anyway to change it? I mean all I want is to get text messages and one bar is enough...

thanks for your help

your dads right, most newer phones simply dont allow super low dbm usage.

i know youve been complaining of service for awhile, have you looked into other carriers? im just curious because it sounds like your having a heck of a time.

[Barciurek]

Originally Posted by Eric47

your dads right, most newer phones simply dont allow super low dbm usage.

i know youve been complaining of service for awhile, have you looked into other carriers? im just curious because it sounds like your having a heck of a time.

I have, Sprint and Verizon don't get coverage here.. plus im not interested in going CDMA.

[Eric47]

what about att or alltel>?

[Barciurek]

ATT gets signal with my 6030 in my bedroom... and alltel.. is there alltel GSM?

[clock3687]

Originally Posted by Barciurek

ATT gets signal with my 6030 in my bedroom... and alltel.. is there alltel GSM?

Alltel does have GSM, but its in the Southern and Western parts of the country. Have you thought about getting an amp and yagi set up so maybe you could use your phones in the house?

[Barciurek]

no im a complete noob in different technologies.. i've been raised and lived most of my life in the country with GSM and it worked well so i dont know other technologies with cell phones...

[Yugopro]

What about hot spot at home service?
Anyone have it?
Thinking about getting it as I usually get no service at home.
I was told this morning that it is only $10.00 a month.

[clock3687]

Originally Posted by Yugopro

What about hot spot at home service?
Anyone have it?
Thinking about getting it as I usually get no service at home.
I was told this morning that it is only $10.00 a month.

I've had the Hotspot@Home service since June of last year. I was in the same situation, where I had little to no coverage at home. It works extremely well. Callers dont know that I'm talking to them on Wifi vs GSM. The service has been fairly reliable, but there were some problems back in Nov-Jan where my phone wouldn't connect to wifi. The problems have since been resolved, and its been rock solid since Jan. Keep in mind that you can use the service w/o paying the extra $10/mo. That just gives you unlimited calling on wifi. If you don't, then i will just take minutes out of your calling plan.

[RadioRaiders]

Originally Posted by Eric47

your dads right, most newer phones simply dont allow super low dbm usage. .

Does anyone know if this is really true? And if so, what the reason is?

Better receiver senseitivity can be a reflection of a "cleaner" (ie: better made) amplifier, or a good intergrated antenna. Or Maybe newer phones are using cheaper parts, or weaker antennas?


....for me, I think my phones have had consistently good reception (ie: they haven't gotten worse). But then, I'm usually in good coverage areas, so it's hard to know...

[Yugopro]

Originally Posted by clock3687

I've had the Hotspot@Home service since June of last year. I was in the same situation, where I had little to no coverage at home. It works extremely well. Callers dont know that I'm talking to them on Wifi vs GSM. The service has been fairly reliable, but there were some problems back in Nov-Jan where my phone wouldn't connect to wifi. The problems have since been resolved, and its been rock solid since Jan. Keep in mind that you can use the service w/o paying the extra $10/mo. That just gives you unlimited calling on wifi. If you don't, then i will just take minutes out of your calling plan.

Do you mean that I can buy a wifi phone off ebay and put any tmobile sim in it and it will automatically work?

Do iphones do the same trick?

Can you put a Tmobile prepaid sim in a phone and have it work?

[Barciurek]

Originally Posted by Yugopro

Do you mean that I can buy a wifi phone off ebay and put any tmobile sim in it and it will automatically work?

Do iphones do the same trick?

Can you put a Tmobile prepaid sim in a phone and have it work?

no.. you need to pay monthly for this service.

[clock3687]

Originally Posted by Yugopro

Do you mean that I can buy a wifi phone off ebay and put any tmobile sim in it and it will automatically work?

Do iphones do the same trick?

Can you put a Tmobile prepaid sim in a phone and have it work?

Unfortunately, it isnt that easy, you need a phone that supports UMA, not just wifi. There are 6 phones currently that support UMA, the Blackberry Pearl 8120, Curve 8320, and 8820; Samsung t409 & t729 "Katalyst", and the Nokia 6086. There are a few more phones out there that support the standard, but AFAIK, no one has been able to get them to work with the H@H service. You can get one of the phones mentioned on eBay, drop your SIM in it and start making calls. I've seen the Nokia go for ~$50 T-mobile says they will have 7 more phones that support H@H by September.

Nope, the iPhone does not support UMA.

I believe you need to be a post paid customer to use the service, however, you do not need the Hotspot@Home add-on for the service to work.

EDIT: From the t-mo website: At this time, the Talk Forever services are not available on the following plans:

Postpaid single line plans under $39.99
Postpaid Family Time Plans under $49.99.
Control Plans; FlexPay, Prepaid, SmartAccess, kidConnect

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by RadioRaiders

Does anyone know if this is really true? And if so, what the reason is?

Better receiver senseitivity can be a reflection of a "cleaner" (ie: better made) amplifier, or a good intergrated antenna. Or Maybe newer phones are using cheaper parts, or weaker antennas?


....for me, I think my phones have had consistently good reception (ie: they haven't gotten worse). But then, I'm usually in good coverage areas, so it's hard to know...

i think its cheaper parts. yes. and also they dont want you trying to talk on super low levels where your quality will be bad or where the call is more likely to drop. or so thats my guess

only 1 of my 6 phones (my nokia 6030) can even get a signal in one of the grocery stores that i visit regularly. at 1 bar, i can place and recieve calls but the dbm is so low that it is not even audible and becomes a series of digital pings and pops before the call drops. this is at the back of the store mind you, all my other phones go totally without a signal before i even get 10 meters into the store.

[Yugopro]

I have hotspot@home and it is almost like talking from a landline.
I do have two tmobile accounts, I will put my other sim in my t409 and tell you if I have problems..