Help 3G drops to 1X

[gridbug]

Just noticed this over the past day or so... most times when I'm not near a WiFi source, my 3G kicks in but on occasion it suddenly cuts down to 1X. What causes this and are there any settings that I may want to consider to keep my speed up (without compromising battery power of course)?

 

[bberryhill0]

How long does it stay at 1X?

 

[gridbug]

Not very long, but I noticed it when I was listening to Pandora, and also when I was texting. Just seems to dip down for a couple minutes or so, then bounces back up to 3G.

 

[NKT]

Not very long, but I noticed it when I was listening to Pandora, and also when I was texting. Just seems to dip down for a couple minutes or so, then bounces back up to 3G.

It will switch to 1x for texting. Texts are sent via the 1x network.

 

[gridbug]

Ahhh... I'll monitor it for a bit, see if it switches when I'm doing "regular" internet access on the network as well.

 

[Frisco]

It will switch to 1x for texting. Texts are sent via the 1x network.

Well I'll be.. thanks for that, mine has been dropping to 1x on occasion as well as the OP.

I'll have to pay more attention to when it happens, what I'm doing with the device and where, etc. I'd been thinking it was just a temporary drop due to atmospheric conditions or maybe poltergeists.

 

[gridbug]

I'd been thinking it was just a temporary drop due to atmospheric conditions or maybe poltergeists.

True, especially with the rain here over the past two days... granted, it's not a snowstorm freakout like most of the country at the moment, but it does beg the question: just how much can adverse weather/atmospheric conditions affect network signal?

Also re: poltergeists, I recommend the wacky weirdness of the Ghost Radar app.

 

[bobbyjason]

I dont even know what 1x is... never seen it. In the UK though, is that why? *shrug*

 

[Frisco]

...re: poltergeists, I recommend the wacky weirdness of the Ghost Radar app.

lmao.. the best post in the forum over there, "I hope everyone knows this isn't real... oh for the sake of humanity."

 

[NKT]

Yea, I can see my 6800 flip to 1x when sending/receiving texts. Most time I don't notice unless I'm watching the phone as one comes in.

The reason it flips to 1x is, texts are sent via the control channel on the 1x side of the cell. Your phone favors 3G so it will flip back once the text is taken care of.

 

[gridbug]

Mine's been switching to 1X when I access Facebook as well. Curiouser and curiouser...

 

[Bswartz95]

As others have said, it has to change to 1x for voice/text. However, mine does switch more than it should have to. I'm sure it's a strain on the battery, especially, if you put your phone in sleep mode while in 1x. From my experience, it will stay in 1x until you wake it up.

Also, recently, I've been noticing my 3g just turning itself off. I have to go toggle it back on when I wake my phone up. Seems sporadic.

 

[Fulltime Traveler]

We have been using Verizon cellular Internet service with various devices since 2002. Since EVDO has been available, I have seen our phones and USB modems switch between 1x and EVDO many times. When I look at signal strength, the switch has always been related to the strength of the two signals. If the 1x signal is stronger, they flip to that.

We have started spending our summers on the Oregon coast at a location where the 1x signal is almost always better than the EVDO signal. With my USB modem I can force it to EVDO, which gives me much better service in that location.

There seems to be no mechanism for forcing the Droid to EVDO or 1x.

All that is not to say that other factors could be involved. I'm no telecom engineer, so I won't speculate on whether services such as texting force the switch. I know for a fact that relative signal strength does, though.

 

[Frisco]

... I won't speculate on whether services such as texting force the switch. I know for a fact that relative signal strength does, though.

That has always been my suspicion.. seems to make the most sense to keep it alive on the next lower tier if the upper tier is iffy or missing in signal at times.

 

[NKT]

I know for a fact that texting switches the phone to 1x. Again, texts are sent via the control channel on the 1x "Voice" portion of the cell site"

HowStuffWorks "How SMS Works"

Now, that's not to say that RF conditions can't force your phone to switch between 3G and 1x. The EVDO carriers may be programmed with different propagation parameters that can affect the actual coverage. So if you're on the border of coverage your phone will drop 3G first, go to 1x then drop completely.

 

[NKT]

Here's information on forcing your phone to either 1x or 3G:

1. dial ##778
2. Choose Edit mode
3. Enter 000000
4. Open Modem Settings
5. Open Preferred Mode
6. Select the mode to lock. HDR=3G/EVDO Rev A, Digital Only=3G/EVDO Rev. 0, CDMA Only=1x

Please be advised that you can seriously hose your phone if you mess with some of the settings in PST mode. But locking it to 3G or 1x isn't a big deal.

 

[Fulltime Traveler]

What phone does that work with?

 

[NKT]

What phone does that work with?

Should work with all Droids. I just confirmed it on my wife's Eris.

 

[Frisco]

Here's information on forcing your phone to either 1x or 3G: ......

If you lock it to 3G what happens if the 3G signal is gone or too weak to be useful?

 

[NKT]

If you lock it to 3G what happens if the 3G signal is gone or too weak to be useful?

You will drop. That's the point of the "Automatic" setting. I will allow you to flow back and forth as RF conditions permit.

 

[Frisco]

You will drop. That's the point of the "Automatic" setting. It will allow you to flow back and forth as RF conditions permit.

So, the usefulness of locking into 3G is .... ?

 

[Fulltime Traveler]

Should work with all Droids. I just confirmed it on my wife's Eris.

The reason I asked is that ##778 doesn't do anything on my Eris.

Operator error?

 

[NKT]

So, the usefulness of locking into 3G is .... ?

Just because you can...

Really it would only be if you're on a border area and don't want your phone flipping back and forth all the time.

 

[NKT]

The reason I asked is that ##778 doesn't do anything on my Eris.

Operator error?

Me thinks so. Just pull up the dialer, dial ##778, hit call. It should pop up a window prompting you to View or Edit.

 

[Fulltime Traveler]

So, the usefulness of locking into 3G is .... ?

See my post earlier (post #13).