Rarely get EDGE, GPRS only

[wannabeflmkr]

I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem. I'm in Ocala, FL. Looking at T-Mobile's map, they have coverage all over the city with 3G everywhere here. Since the 8520 doesn't have 3G, my only hope is GPRS or EDGE. The only areas I manage to get EDGE is at the areas around either Wal-Mart around me. Everywhere else in the city, I don't seem to get EDGE.

Does this make sense to anyone else? I would think if they can have 3G coverage over the entire area (based on the map) that they would have EDGE coverage so we can actually get speeds exceeding GPRS.

It doesn't make me feel to confident in upgrading later to a 3G phone. Who knows, I might not get that.

So is my phone having a problem? Is this common? Any ideas?

[daga21]

FromDE,rarely see EDGE either. If I do it flips over to GPRS as soon as I touch anything

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[wannabeflmkr]

Well, as an update, I contacted T-Mobile and he found it odd that my signal was so weak given where I am. He put in a service request to try to find out what is going on. So who knows. I'm pretty much where I've been with it for now. We'll see.

[Strontium]

Originally Posted by wannabeflmkr

Well, as an update, I contacted T-Mobile and he found it odd that my signal was so weak given where I am. He put in a service request to try to find out what is going on. So who knows. I'm pretty much where I've been with it for now. We'll see.

I just moved from Houston, TX to the sticks, KY. Where I'm currently living, I can only get reliable signal roaming on ATT's network. However, where I work (near Paducah, KY/Metropolis, IL), I can't effectively roam on ATT's network. However, I get great TMO signal...only, it's GPRS. I always had EDGE, on TMO, in Houston and even in Baytown out in the middle of nowhere (where I worked). I'm guessing it has to do with local provisioning.

It's not a big deal, to me, as I don't really use the browser much. In fact, I'm happy that I'm not going to have to switch to VZW or ATT. But, I'm sure it wouldn't be fine for lots of other folks. I'm thinking either it's provisioning for that area or that they are sharing towers with the other guys. After reading your dilemma and knowing that I never had problems with EDGE in Houston, I don't really think it's a phone issue.

It might be as simple as needing a new SIM, too. I may even look into that haha.

[wannabeflmkr]

Originally Posted by Strontium

I just moved from Houston, TX to the sticks, KY. Where I'm currently living, I can only get reliable signal roaming on ATT's network. However, where I work (near Paducah, KY/Metropolis, IL), I can't effectively roam on ATT's network. However, I get great TMO signal...only, it's GPRS. I always had EDGE, on TMO, in Houston and even in Baytown out in the middle of nowhere (where I worked). I'm guessing it has to do with local provisioning.

It's not a big deal, to me, as I don't really use the browser much. In fact, I'm happy that I'm not going to have to switch to VZW or ATT. But, I'm sure it wouldn't be fine for lots of other folks. I'm thinking either it's provisioning for that area or that they are sharing towers with the other guys. After reading your dilemma and knowing that I never had problems with EDGE in Houston, I don't really think it's a phone issue.

It might be as simple as needing a new SIM, too. I may even look into that haha.

The SIM was brand new with the phone a month ago so I'm guessing it's probably not a SIM problem. I won't rule it out. CS even asked me how old the SIM was, too.

[Strontium]

I've certainly gotten bad SIMs, right out of the box, before.

[wannabeflmkr]

Originally Posted by Strontium

I've certainly gotten bad SIMs, right out of the box, before.

Like I said, I wouldn't rule it out. But I've also had not another single problem with it. So right now, I think everything is good with it. Maybe there's just too much obstruction in a lot of areas of the city. It just seems like it should be better. Oh well.

[pApAsBoi]

idk about you guys, but i get edge 90 percent of the time

[wannabeflmkr]

Originally Posted by pApAsBoi

idk about you guys, but i get edge 90 percent of the time

Where are you located? Since that has a lot to do with it.

[dessa22]

I have the same problem. It's a pain because I use the browser 90% of the time then I don't get any calls through. I've been having trouble with slow txts and voicemail alerts when I'm on the net too. For payin as much as I did for my 8900 I'd expect more. :s I'm in small town minnesota btw

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[KasiCatastrophe]

I had a similar problem up until a few weeks ago. I would get only GPRS at my new apartment but could go a mile down the road and would have EDGE again. I called T-Mobile & they said the coverage was great out here and I should have had EDGE all the time. They had me replace my SIM and it still didn't fix it.

A couple weeks later I picked up the 9700 and still the same issue; only getting GPRS, no 3G or EDGE. A few days after getting my phone I was leaving work and went to make a phone call. To my surprise I mysteriously had 3G coverage finally.

I called up T-Mobile immediately to ask if they had possibly launched 3G in this area that day. They said they hadn't, the last 3G launch closest to me was over a month prior to that and a good 45 minutes away from here. The rep said it could be possible that my phone just wasn't communicating with the towers properly. I explained about all the troubles I had before then and they still kept insisting it was my phone (same problem on four different phones; BlackBerry 8320, 8220, 9700 and a G1.. Yeah it was my phone all right ).

Now I have a very stable connection to the 3G network. Every so often it will switch to GPRS for a minute or two but it always goes right back to 3G.

I have a feeling there was a tower down in my area during that time, so it may very well be the same for you.

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[wannabeflmkr]

I'm certain now that it is a local problem. I was up in Gainesville, FL yesterday and during my whole time there I had constant EDGE coverage. So it's definitely an issue in this area. I hope they solve the spotty coverage problem soon.

It seems they haven't exactly gotten their stuff complete together everywhere yet with their coverage. Oh well. At least it works right?

[froggie427]

I almost NEVER had EDGE on T-mobile. The only time I usually saw EDGE was during the like 80% of the time my T-mobile Blackberry was roaming on at&t.

[mofoahh]

really depends on your location. I had edge all the time when i had my storm. I live nyc thats probably why. LOL towers everywhere. well almost.

[MaAdCow]

You all need to take into account "Signal Propagation." there can be several towers within a couple of miles, but if there are a lot of obstructions, metal buildings etc.. then the signal will be reflected and or absorbed. radio signals above 1 Ghz are real reflective, unlike the HF and VHF radio frequencies. I think EDGE is 1.8 & 1.9 Ghz.

It could be a combination of this, as well as Technical issues with the network equipment @ the tower, we had a tower that was out of service for almost 2 weeks, once. Living in a rural area, that had a major effect on coverage in my Area!