Signal problem with hero on 3

matam2k

Hi i recently upgraded to an htc hero on 3 network, the problem is its near impossible to get a signal on it at home, my old erricsson was fine and my partner is on 3 and she has no signal issues. Elsewhere it works not too bad. Anyone suggest who i could complain to or will i just have to grin and bear it?
Thanks

butterbeanmash

Have a look here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2523297

If you read my post(s) you'll see that I cancelled my contract for this very reason. 'Three' are well aware that their HTC phones have connection problems, which they hope will be solved by HTC firmware updates. I have absolutely no faith whatsoever that any update will solve this problem as I believe it's caused by 'Three's' insistance on trying to use their own 3G network even when it's not good enough for any kind of connection. The proof is really in the fact that since I have rooted the phone and changed the radio settings the connection is perfect.

bubblesmoney

butterbeanmash wrote: »

Have a look here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2523297

If you read my post(s) you'll see that I cancelled my contract for this very reason. 'Three' are well aware that their HTC phones have connection problems, which they hope will be solved by HTC firmware updates. I have absolutely no faith whatsoever that any update will solve this problem as I believe it's caused by 'Three's' insistance on trying to use their own 3G network even when it's not good enough for any kind of connection. The proof is really in the fact that since I have rooted the phone and changed the radio settings the connection is perfect.

butterbean you mention that the connection is perfect since you have rooted the phone. are you still on three network. or are you on another network. if you are on another network then rooting might not be the reason for the better connection.

the link you have given is to the thread started by me. with further fiddling around the signal strength values as shown on the phone and how i was holding the phone and also angle with my face, i was able to see that the signal attentuation is less if holding phone by just the fingers instead of having the palm around the device. also when speaking on the phone it is better to angle the phone so that the base of the unit (where the antenna for the desire and nexus is housed, i guess it is housed here for the hero too but just a guess) is away from the face in front as if you are holding the phone at a 45deg angle in front.

in my opinion, this is an issue only in weak signal areas of the magnitude of above -80 to -85dBM if you signal gets attenuated by 20-25dbm on holding the unit. i dont know if it is an issue with some frequencies as different 'cell zones' will have different frequencies from what i read.

also there seems to be a known issue sometimes where handsets are being on wifi for sometime when they come off the wifi struggling to get back onto 3g connection. this sometimes needs a airplane mode on off or reboot (off and then switch on again) of the phone as per some users or some say they have found going into network settings and selecting three again gets the signal.

best for the OP to see the dbm and asu values on the phone as i have described to find out in the link you have provided (if this facility is also available on the hero since from the same manufacturer) and then contact tech support for a solution if there is a problem in the network in that area or for a contract termination which ever is suitable for the OP.

ps: i decided to stay with three as was getting good download speeds of 5400kbps in other areas where i used the phone usually. it is a poor connection in one of my workplaces with no work around and three offered me the option of cancelling contract. i decided to stay as it was in one postcode poor connection for me and worked ok in others and was managable. worst case scenario i might take another PAYG sim from another network for emergency use in that postcode on my old phone. but havent taken a PAYG yet as might move employers in a few months maybe. so will decide about the PAYG option after deciding whether i am moving from my present job.

butterbeanmash

Hi Bubblesmoney,
Yes I'm sill with 'Three'. When I cancelled my contract I kept the phone as I was 6 months into the contract and I'd paid to upgrade. I went back to 'Three' on a monthly contract as they're still the best deal around. I think you're thinking too much about the intricate signal levels rather than when the phone actually switches from HSDPA to 3G to EDGE and to GPRS. The firmware that 'Three' insist on in every handset they sell requires that at almost any cost it uses 3G. When an occasional customer gets fed up with the signal drops, and knows what they're talking about, 'Three' back down almost immediately ~ to the point that they'll let the customer leave at no cost. I think they're playing odds; most people would assume that "it's not that much of a problem", or "I can live without constant data connection", etc, etc. I'm guessing that very soon now they'll come a-cropper because the whole point of all the 'phones today is their ability to remain connected, and all the 'phones that 'Three' sell (and I'm going back to my Nokia 6680 and n80) are crippled by the fact that when you buy a 'Three' phone you cannot choose to use 2G only in a poor reception area ~ this option is removed in every firmware of every phone that 'Three' sell.
And yet when you can choose this option, as I have, the connection is constant, continuous, strong and more often than not HSDPA.
'Three' have unfortunately made an uncomfortable, and entirely unnecessary bed for themselves, and there will be many more like me making them lie in it.

butterbeanmash

Incidently my radio is 63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26, and I'm using VillainROM 10.2. I've got 3 bars of HSDPA reception when previously the phone would be flickering between 1 and zero bars. And it's been, what, eight weeks since I've seen "Data connection blah blah, Cancel/Retry".
'Three' really, really should listen and learn from their customers...

Finefoot

I have no ends of problem with this phone!
Please can I have some pointers how to get out of contract? it is less than 3 months.
please feel free to pm me! many thanks.

bubblesmoney

butterbeanmash wrote: »

Hi Bubblesmoney,
Yes I'm sill with 'Three'. When I cancelled my contract I kept the phone as I was 6 months into the contract and I'd paid to upgrade. I went back to 'Three' on a monthly contract as they're still the best deal around. I think you're thinking too much about the intricate signal levels rather than when the phone actually switches from HSDPA to 3G to EDGE and to GPRS. The firmware that 'Three' insist on in every handset they sell requires that at almost any cost it uses 3G. When an occasional customer gets fed up with the signal drops, and knows what they're talking about, 'Three' back down almost immediately ~ to the point that they'll let the customer leave at no cost. I think they're playing odds; most people would assume that "it's not that much of a problem", or "I can live without constant data connection", etc, etc. I'm guessing that very soon now they'll come a-cropper because the whole point of all the 'phones today is their ability to remain connected, and all the 'phones that 'Three' sell (and I'm going back to my Nokia 6680 and n80) are crippled by the fact that when you buy a 'Three' phone you cannot choose to use 2G only in a poor reception area ~ this option is removed in every firmware of every phone that 'Three' sell.
And yet when you can choose this option, as I have, the connection is constant, continuous, strong and more often than not HSDPA.
'Three' have unfortunately made an uncomfortable, and entirely unnecessary bed for themselves, and there will be many more like me making them lie in it.

I have now changed the settings in the test menu after reading the battery improvement thread on xda developers forum on the threadyou had linked to in reply to the other thread started by me ( linked above in your earlier response in this thread). I am waiting to run down the battery to below 4% and then will try to delete the battery usage data and then switch off phone and restart and then charge fully in an attempt to reset the battery charge software to reflect the actual situation, as has been successfully tried by others to get better battery times.

I used the test menu accessed via the dialer using the code got from xda developers thread this brings up the phone and other settings like on the regular phone settings options but in addition gives some extra options. For example in my network settings page I just get options for wcdma only, gsm only and wcdma and gsm. But when I use the code got from xda dev thread and use that in dialer to get the test settings. There I access the phone settings and there I get extra options for the network, ie wcdma, gsm, gsm (prs), etc. As successfully tried by many uk hero owners who are rooted and with different roms. I don't want to root as I don't want to void the warranty. But will fiddle if not breaking the warranty to get the best setting for network strength and battery for my phone / network / location. The same settings might not work for others as they might be with different networks / locations / phones. I have selected gsm (prs ) setting. Contrary to logic this setting as has been tried and tested by many on xda dev it still gives hsdpa access, including for me. Download speeds still seem the same. I have to check if it gives a better signal in affected work postcode. Hope this gives me better battery times like many hero users got on xda dev.

Only thing is I did this without rooting, so still in warranty. Don't know if the results will be different from xda dev, as mine is a stock Rom and unrooted, but don't think that should matter. If it doesn't work then can always get back to old settings anyway.

Oh I went into the radio settings from the test menu and selected automatic option as didn't know whether UK and euro bands were the same and there was no option for UK band.

I didn't fiddle with anyother setting in the test menu. Now just waiting to run my battery down and recharge and will report back on reception improvement if any in poor signal areas and also consequently the battery times.

bubblesmoney

butterbeanmash wrote: »

Incidently my radio is 63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26, and I'm using VillainROM 10.2. I've got 3 bars of HSDPA reception when previously the phone would be flickering between 1 and zero bars. And it's been, what, eight weeks since I've seen "Data connection blah blah, Cancel/Retry".
'Three' really, really should listen and learn from their customers...

Can you quote the actual signal strength in dbm and asu if that option is available on the hero. It might be in an obscure place like the HTC desire where even the tech team didn't know how to access that reading on the phone and they asked me how I got the readings. I had to explain how I got the readings on the phone to the level 2 tech team guy.

Knowing the actual numbers is useful for comparison purposes instead of 2 bars etc of strength.

Thanks for the link to the xda thread, been doing some overtime reading on this and fiddling. Man this phone the HTC desire is customizable, I love this feature to make it just to suit my requirements.

Since I have two desires, one of which I haven't fiddled with, I will take both today and check it out in the weak signal area after I charge my phone fully after running it down to below 4% charge. It is on 9% now so shouldn't be long, I last charged day before yesterday. Fiddling certainly has improved my battery times.

EDIT: those battery times are including mys surfing the net time and all posts in this thread were made from the phone except this edit as my phone went below 4% charge (31hours after last charging and regular use, had made changes to settings and fiddled with various htc toggles etc) and is now on charging. when i got the phone i had to charge atleast 2 times a day sometimes 3 times a day and is a massive improvement on battery times with charging and discharging and use of htc power control widgets (controls in one widget present for controlling wifi, bluettoth, gps, synching, screen brightness), also have widget toggles from htc for airplane mode and another for switching off data connection but have rarely used those toggles and also have another downloaded toggle for switching ringer between on/vibrate/off modes. i use the ringer toggle often as dont want the phone ringing at work.

matam2k

Thanks to all who took time to post, i have been on phone to 3 and managed to get my contract cancelled as the guy eventually agreed a known issue with the hero and signal fluctuations. Just got my pac code sent to me by txt and they will send me a bag to return the phone and that will be that. 2 months into 24 month contract so happy with outcome.Just need to check how other network signals perform at my home.
Thanks :j

bubblesmoney

best of luck with a new phone and contract with another company.

I have just got back a few hours ago after doing my comparison tests at poor reception postcode and got dramatic results after me fiddling with the settings (test settings and not usual settings on the phone available to usual customers who dont know how to access the test settings on the phone).

since the OP in this thread has already cancelled his contract, i wont post more on this thread, but will update in the thread started by me on this issue https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2523297 of the results of fiddling which was a dramatic improvement in signal at same spot. hopefully there will be consequently improvement in battery life as well with the improved signal in poor reception area. by poor reception i mean no signal and now i managed to get 2 to three bars on the network signal strength and upto 10asu / 10-20dbm better signal than before in poor reception area.

please note that the three network level 1 and level 2 tech teams had given up on any improvement in signal in my situation and had agreed option to cancel contract. i had a call last monday from the CEOs office too after my repeated badgering them on the tech team number and three blog and by emails etc and even the CEOs office people said they would be happy to cancel contract as they cant improve signal. but now me fiddling with the test-settings has given me a 2-3 bar signal without any tech team input. will give my feedback to the tech teams on monday and to their blog and CEOs office too of my improvement in signal with me fiddling with the phones test settings after their tech teams had given up the ghost on improving the signal for me. so this IS A SOFTWARE SETTING ISSUE APART FROM POOR SIGNAL AND ANTENNA SIGNAL ATTENUATION.

i have not rooted the phone, so have not voided any warranty, so this will be an option to explore for all with poor signals (if their issue was similar to mine). i will post further details tonight on the thread i had started previously in this matter https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2523297 , will post further details there tonight after i have typed it up as am busy trying to get my daughter to sleep now.

edit : see my thread about poor signals and battery issues and how i circumvented the problem even after the tech teams of the network gave up the ghost on solving the problem and offered me to cancel contract. see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/33984067#Comment_33984067