HTC desire connection problems and battery issues - I found the solution

pelirocco

I have mine with t mobile , and have noticed the signal is poorer then with my old phone

drkmavis

my desite is better tham my old iphone, that was shocking in low 3g areas.

JimArnold

there are many posts on here for many phones commenting on 3G reception problems, I used to have the same problem with my Nokia 5800 on 3 at home

If you are in a weak 3g area then the phone will prefer to connect via the weak 3G signal - which it then loses rather than the stronger 2G signal. The solution was to tell the phone to switch to 2G - which was fine combined with my home WIFI

My Desire is fine though its on T Mmobile

maxtweenie

I've just had a quick read through your post bubbesmoney, and it looks very informative so thank you. As I live on the Fens, in a weakish signal area, I've just done as you suggested. On the desk in front of me, the reading is -63. When I pick the phone up, it goes to -77. I must admit I've not had any reception issues with the Desire except where the whole of T-mobile's network is out in my area, which has happened twice briefly since I got the phone in March. Yesterday, on my way home from the office, I was watching live TV on Yamgo whilst the train was rattling through the tunnels out of Kings Cross. The signal only dropped once, in the longest tunnel, and came back as soon as we were clear of it.

BillScarab

I used to have a Nokia 6500S on 3 and that had fairly poor reception. I now have a Desire on T-Mobile and so far haven't had any reception problems.

I'm at work currently and the signal strength here isn't great, I get about 10 ASU with it sat on my desk. When I pick it up it drops to 9 or 8 at the worst.

I think you could do with rewriting your originla post though as it does seem to repeat things a lot and is dificult to read.

biddybaxter

I found this topic to be very interesting indeed as I am experiencing similar issues and I believe the antenna on the Desire is appauling.

My previous phone (now with work sim) was the HTC Touch HD (WinMob 6.1) and I recently got the Desire. I have kept the same sim and before "upgrading" I used to get HSDPA quite happily at work. Granted, this area must be on the edge of reception as it used to drop down the EDGE every now and then.

Since getting the Desire, I notice that at work I was only connecting with GPRS (not even EDGE). Added to this I wasn't getting calls so I tried calling my phone and 9 times out of 10 it would go straight to answer phone. This happens even though I had full bars. A bit of research seems to suggest that this is due to the phone constantly trying to do data connections and calls and data don't mix on 2g networks.

Anyway, I swapped my sim back to my WinMob and straight away I get full bars and HSDPA connection. Something is not right with the Desire.

Doing the test mentioned above, even connected at 2g, sat on my desk I get -77dBm and 19 asu. As mentioned above, I pick the phone up and it changes to -93dBm 10 asu. That is really quite appauling.

So far, to make sure I can get calls at work, the only option I have found is that I have to turn Mobile Data off. that is rubbish when it used to work fine on my old phone.

I hope HTC release a better radio update.

flyingscotno1

On T-Mobile. Phone on Desk -103dBm, to ear -99dBm.

Signal is HSDPA and is 2 bars- internet is quick and fine. Don't seem to share the problem here.

Toe-Jam

You lost me at the second paragraph....drama much ?

bubblesmoney

flyingscotno1 wrote: »

On T-Mobile. Phone on Desk -103dBm, to ear -99dBm.

Signal is HSDPA and is 2 bars- internet is quick and fine. Don't seem to share the problem here.

Was it a metal desk or with a lot of metal cabinets etc. Just curious why signal was lower on the desk.

The tech team couldn't explain why signal was so low just 350yards from the tower. So low that at best get 95dbm sometimes but most times between 105 to 111 and can't make a call at all. The signal drop I can demonstrate in all areas even when I just hold the phone with my fingers with palm away from phone. At home I get 77 to 90 dbm which increases by about 20 when I hold it. At one of my work places where three say signal is good to excellent with tower about 350 yards away I get next to no signal even outside the building with signal most of the time hovering around 100 to 110dbm.

If anyone has similar issues then please note down the dbm and asu values and then discuss with tech support so that they have a definite value rather than something vague like one or two bars etc. As soon as they heard the numbers I quoted the person I spoke to knew what the issue was and said cancelling contract was one option especially since there is no plan on improvement this year there.

I really like the phone inspire of this fault! When it works it is just great. Sat nav, apps, web browsing everything is fine. Speaker volume isn't great and the signal reception isn't great.
So wondering whether to buy another payg sim probably O2 or giffgaff and use in old phone for poor signal areas like one of my work places, plus was anyway wondering whether I work for another employer within driving distance for unrelated career moves which I was considering anyway.

Just mentioned the antenna issues here incase it helped others in poor or average signal areas make buying decisions after being aware of reception issues.

flyingscotno1

bubblesmoney wrote: »

Was it a metal desk or with a lot of metal cabinets etc. Just curious why signal was lower on the desk.

The tech team couldn't explain why signal was so low just 350yards from the tower. So low that at best get 95dbm sometimes but most times between 105 to 111 and can't make a call at all. The signal drop I can demonstrate in all areas even when I just hold the phone with my fingers with palm away from phone. At home I get 77 to 90 dbm which increases by about 20 when I hold it. At one of my work places where three say signal is good to excellent with tower about 350 yards away I get next to no signal even outside the building with signal most of the time hovering around 100 to 110dbm.

No not a metal desk, standard 'wood' well veneered chipboard work one.

Just done another test at home- left on bed for 30s, and got -71dBm 21 asu, held to ear for 20s and got -73dBm 20asu. Doesn't as yet seem to have an affect on me.

Just done 3, on bed -77dBm 18asu in hand no real change +/- 2dBM,