Help a few simple questions

[doops22]

Just got a new samsung mesmerize, upgrading from my blackberry curve 8530. I love the phone so far, just have a few questions. The signal reception seems to be worse on my new phone than it was on the blackberry. I've heard "samsungs just get worse service". How true is this, and is there anything I can do to get better reception? I'm at college and have very little service here. I was lucky to have one or two bars with my blackberry, and this phone is constantly in and out of service...

The only other question I have is about the pre-loaded apps. My blackberry had it's own software that I could connect the phone to via USB, and open the phones memory. I used this to delete all of the pre-loaded apps, extra languages, etc. to free up some space. This phone has loads more memory, and even after downloading a few apps and games I am hardly touching the phones storage limit, however I just don't want many of the pre-loaded apps. I will never use them so they are just taking up space. Is there any way to delete them?

thanks guys

 

[kmf]

The BB phones are known for stronger signal strength. The Samsung's are not. Check to see which android system is loaded on your phone: Settings>About phone>Android version. The latest version is 2.3.4. If you don't have this go to your USCC store and have them update your phone.

Another thing that you can do is make a *228 call. This will update the PRL which has to do with the cell towers recognizing your phone. Do this in your "home" area.

Regarding the pre-loaded apps that you want to delete: the only way to do so is by "rooting" your phone. There is lots of info regarding this in this forum.

 

[matt88si]

Before continuing and answering relative questions, welcome to the Android community!

As kmf said, the signal is based purely on your location and what towers your service is running off of. Dialing *228 is the same process USCC did when they activated your phone, so doing so again right after receiving the phone won't have as great of an effect as you'd think, unless the USCC store is miles away from your college (counties/states away). Samsung does have a poorer signal strength that Blackberry, but in the end the Mesmerize will outperform the Blackberry anyday. That 1Ghz Snapdragon processor really makes the Mesmerize a quality device. With the constant release of new phones, you'll surely see better and better devices appearing (such as the newly released Motorla Electrify).

The pre-loaded apps (or bloatware as you'll notice people here call it) is unremovable with your phone in a stock state. Being new to the Androind (I assume) I would recommend getting to know your phone, first, before attempting to root it and/or installing custom UIs.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to post here on the Phandroid Forums or message any of the users.

 

[LaTuFu]

BB's have fantastic signal strength compared to many other phones. Signal strength and email message management were two very strong points of RIM's platform that are not easy to give up when you move over to another platform.

You won't need any desktop sync software like BDM. Everything you need to do with your phone, you can do via WiFi and/or Bluetooth. It is rare to need a USB connection for anything other than convenience for file swapping.

 

[2acclaim]

you know what, never tried this. If I'm at home, hook into my wifi with the phone. is there a way I can directly share what's on the phone(such as my gallery) so I can access without plugging in?

 

[doops22]

Thanks guys. My girlfriend works at the US Cellular store that I got it from, so she made sure it was upgraded to the newest updates and everything for me. She has also told me about the *228 thing, it was only activated last saturday though and I'm only a couple hours from home so I don't think that will do anything. That kind of sucks about the 'bloatware', guess I'll just deal with it for now. I might root it some day, just don't want to brick my brand new phone.

2acclaim's post just got me thinking.. Can I send texts if my phone is connected to wifi? I know some of my friends here have ipod touchs, and have a texting app they use instead of trying to get service on their phones. I have great wifi service all over campus, I'd just have to go up to I.T. and get my phone access to the network (they use bradford persistant agent, not exactly sure what it is but pretty much anything we have has to get registered with them before it can gain access to the network.)
If not I'd guess there's at least a similar app as on the ipod touches. I'll have to look into it...

 

[scott_]

Can't say that I am an expert but I believe that the "texting" bandwidth is part on the "phone" service, not the "data" service that is utilized by the 3G connection or "wifi". If that makes sence.

The reason I suspect that, is that you have been able to text with older "non-internet" phones for years.

So if you don't have phone service, wifi won't help you with texting.

Although you will be able to use an e-mail app with wifi.

 

[2acclaim]

i don't have any texting plans. I use google voice texting exclusively. It does work on wifi because on my rooted nook doesn't have 3g

 

[LaTuFu]

you know what, never tried this. If I'm at home, hook into my wifi with the phone. is there a way I can directly share what's on the phone(such as my gallery) so I can access without plugging in?

There are apps like Software Data Cable that let you do WiFi file transfers.

Not sure about any apps that make your device a networked drive visible by other devices on the network. Wouldn't be too hard to do, so it's probably out there somewhere.

 

[matt88si]

The best way (in my opinion) to share media between your computer and phone is Picasa. Apparently, not too many people realize that Picasa is actually a Google feature that comes stock on Android phones. You can access your Picasa albums via your Google account at picasa.google.com.

When you're in your phone's Gallery, select the photo(s) you want to upload to your computer by tapping and holding on the first photo to enable the check boxes on the thumbnails. Then continue tapping which photos you want to upload in addition to the first. Afterwards, press your menu button and select Share. Then select Picasa.

Your phone should then upload the photos directly to your online album. Also, your phone will show what photos you have uploaded already by marking a seperate album in the Gallery with a Picasa logo in the lower corner.

Another method you could try is Google+. With the release of Google+ on the Android phones, Google also included the ability to upload photos straight to your online Google account via Google+. There is also the automatic feature that automatically uploads a photo you just took via your camera instantly after taking it. Kinda of a risky feature in my opinion, but just throwing it out there.

As for the OP's question, you cannot send text messages over WiFi. You know how when you're service is dwindling and you see that lovely 3G logo turn into a 1x? That 1x is the original signal strength of your phone's primary capabilities; phone calls and texting. All other data is used over 3G.

When you dial *228, that is signal you are updating.

 

[doops22]

As for the OP's question, you cannot send text messages over WiFi. You know how when you're service is dwindling and you see that lovely 3G logo turn into a 1x? That 1x is the original signal strength of your phone's primary capabilities; phone calls and texting. All other data is used over 3G.

When you dial *228, that is signal you are updating.

yes I knew that. I assume it's the same idea as the 1XEV vs. just 1x on my blackberry.. same idea.

The problem I'm having now is that sometimes, at least a couple times a day now, when I go to send a text message it says it sent. at say, 3:05. then a few minutes later I'll check it, say at 3:15, and it says sent, but now at 3:15, and every time I check it says sent, but at the time I'm checking it. The person never actually recieves them. I have to delete all text threads. then pull the battery for a few minutes, and restart and it will be fine for a while. My gf said hers (same phone) has done it once, also when she was in an area with little service. anything i can do about this??

 

[LaTuFu]

It sounds like it is struggling to find enough signal to send the message at all. Is it happening all the time, or only in the places where you have low signal?

 

[doops22]

It's only happened here in my dorm room. I keep the phone sitting on the corner of my desk near the window. most of the time in this spot I get one bar 3g, it occasionally changes to 1x/no service, even though I don't move it from this spot. It's happened at least a couple times the past few days. It will send texts fine for an hour or two, then will start doing that. the thing is even if I walk outside up the hill where I can get 3 or 4 bars 3g, it still does the same thing. It won't send or recieve texts until I pull the battery and reset the phone. And I have to delete the text threads first, if I try leaving the threads, resetting the phone and just resending the message it won't work. I have to delete them all, then re-type them after i restart.

 

[matt88si]

Unfortunately, reception is key when it comes to texting. Even if your phone shows 1 bar of 3G and ocassionaly swaps between 3G and 1x, the phone, itself, could actually be in a low-activity zone and thus making reception virtually unavailable. Being the case, I would check your phone's actual signal strength by going to Settings > About Phone > Status > Signal Strength. Check what the dBm is. -40 dBm is the minimum signal the phone is required to have to communicate with the towers. If it is any lower than that, then there is your problem.

Knowing some schools, they may have signal blockers for various carriers installed throughout their building and/to strengthen the signal of the carrier that is used most by faculty.

 

[doops22]

ill have to check that later. as far as the school, us cellular is by far the best carrier for reception here. I have friends with other carriers that are all worse.

 

[matt88si]

ill have to check that later. as far as the school, us cellular is by far the best carrier for reception here. I have friends with other carriers that are all worse.

Alright well if its not the school, then make sure other electronic appliances are away from the phone when attempting to send a text message. Electromagnetic currents emanating from other devices could severly distort the radio waves from your phone. Specially microwaves.

If it comes down to it, you may have just received a phone with a bad radio in it. Stuff happens like that when it comes to electronic devices. Luckily, USCC is great for phone replacement. Of course, the customer service reps usually try to make you feel like an idiot when attempting to solve the issue (telling you to turn off the phone, plug it in to charge, remove the batter and put it back in, etc.).

Best of luck!

 

[LaTuFu]

Knowing some schools, they may have signal blockers for various carriers installed throughout their building and/to strengthen the signal of the carrier that is used most by faculty.

I don't run across signal jammers on too many institutional sites. It's a capital outlay that doesn't provide much direct benefit for the $$$ spent. They would spend that money on a signal repeater network or a DAS setup.

OP: Your phone is having issues with weak signal. When you walk to the top of that hill, it will need a minute or two to find the towers again. You may want to look into a CDMA repeater for your room.

 

[scott_]

I've been under the impression that signal jammers were deemed illegal because "impeeding emergency communications" is against the law.

I think that there had been a few cases of theaters trying to install jammers and activate them during the show times and it was taken to court. I'm probably wrong, but......

 

[matt88si]

I've been under the impression that signal jammers were deemed illegal because "impeeding emergency communications" is against the law.

I think that there had been a few cases of theaters trying to install jammers and activate them during the show times and it was taken to court. I'm probably wrong, but......

I honestly wouldn't mind if they installed jammers in the theaters. Would make watching the movie a lot easier.

Haven't had any clear clarification if they're legal or not, but I thought 911 calls were on different radio waves than the standard calls?

 

[LaTuFu]

It's not legal in the US.

HowStuffWorks "Cell Phone Jamming Legal Issues"

 

[matt88si]

It's not legal in the US.

HowStuffWorks "Cell Phone Jamming Legal Issues"

Ah much better. Thanks, LaTuFu!

Of course I feel as if they will eventually allow jammers in the US for minor things. Then major. Then all things.