Help Not receiving calls when browsing on GPRS!

[jaseuk]

Hey,
I've just noticed a strange problem today, when I'm browsing the web on HSDPA or 3G and a someonce calls, the call takes over and I can take it, now when I'm on GPRS the call goes to voicemail, I've had my Desire since last Thursday and I have a 7 day return to shop swap out still in place (luckily) but is it a settings thing? Does anyone else experience this?

Thanks

 

[lookseehear]

I'm fairly sure this is a limitation of technology, and that you cannot browse and receive a call at the same time. I've experienced this too so don't worry, it isn't just you!

 

[jaseuk]

Yeah initially I had this thought but the thing is I would have thought that incoming calls would take priority, I'm on with 150 tech support as I type (Indian call centre it seems) she's trying but i'm on hold...

 

[jaseuk]

Alright so after completing her instructions of taking out the sim and battery with the phone on.... same problem, when browsing on GPRS no calls can come in, straight to voicemail. She investigated and stated pretty much what Lookseehear and myself thought, when you have a weak (G) signal calls can't come through. Bit strange as I don't remember any of my other phones doing the same thing?

Can I ask a favour, can you fellow Desire owners follow this procedure:

1) Go to a spot in your house where you only get G and start downloading an app.
2) Ask a friend/partner to ring you

Does it go straight to Voicemail or are you getting the calls? Also what Network are you on?
Can you help as my 7 days runs out tomorrow and I'll need to reserve a replacement with the shop.

Thank you in advance

Jase

 

[matttye]

"With a Class A GPRS device, data and voice transmission can take place concurrently. Most GPRS devices are Class B, meaning they switch between data and voice automatically, but the two cannot happen at the same time; however, the two are always on. There is also a Class C GPRS classification, which requires manually switching between data and voice."

From > What Is GPRS GSM? | eHow.com

This is just a GPRS limitation..unless you had a GPRS class A device. Personally I've never even heard of one.

 

[jaseuk]

I'm gonna have to ask, what class is the Desire then? By that excellent find it must be B??

Has anyone actually tested the process? Thanks people

 

[matttye]

I'm gonna have to ask, what class is the Desire then? By that excellent find it must be B??

Has anyone actually tested the process? Thanks people

I'd say it's definitely a B.

I haven't tested it because every phone I've owned with the ability to connect to the internet has worked like this

 

[jaseuk]

Cheers Matt,
Just had a quick look at the Desire spec on GSMArena and it states it's GPRS Class 10??

Any idea what that correlates to?

 

[jaseuk]

Just had a thought, from looking and actually thinking about that description of GPRS then the Desire should automatically stop Data and switch to voice transmission automatically, I just played with my missus Nokia 6500 and it works fine taking calls while browsing via GPRS?
I'm thinking I am going to swap it out with my local T-Mobile and then test it in the shop.

 

[matttye]

Just had a thought, from looking and actually thinking about that description of GPRS then the Desire should automatically stop Data and switch to voice transmission automatically, I just played with my missus Nokia 6500 and it works fine taking calls while browsing via GPRS?
I'm thinking I am going to swap it out with my local T-Mobile and then test it in the shop.

Maybe she's taking calls on 3G whilst browsing on GPRS? Or the 6500 could be one of the aforementioned GPRS Class A devices.

 

[jaseuk]

I've done some (well a lot) more testing, when on the homescreen and there is background information being updated (from the many apps on the other 6 pages) this also stops calls from coming through, this has to mean that my phone is defective in some way - it is going back and swapped out for another Desire.

 

[matttye]

I've done some (well a lot) more testing, when on the homescreen and there is background information being updated (from the many apps on the other 6 pages) this also stops calls from coming through, this has to mean that my phone is defective in some way - it is going back and swapped out for another Desire.

It's not defective. The apps updating in the background use GPRS too. If this is affecting you so badly then the best thing to do is turn off the data connection when you're not somewhere that has a decent 3G signal.

For example - I turn off data in my village because I just get GPRS, but when I travel to London/Hertfordshire it's just 3G and HSDPA everywhere, so I enable it.

 

[jaseuk]

So I have to turn off any data connections anytime I'm on G or else I won't get a call! That's pretty ridiculous, in my home I have varied connections sitting in the same couch! Seriously that can't be the answer??!!

 

[matttye]

So I have to turn off any data connections anytime I'm on G or else I won't get a call! That's pretty ridiculous, in my home I have varied connections sitting in the same couch! Seriously that can't be the answer??!!

That's pretty much it I'm afraid. Either that or miss your calls.. it's a limitation in the technology. Swapping out your phone for another will not change the limitation of GPRS.

You should invest in a wireless router so that you can use WiFi whilst at home (assuming you have an internet connection), that way your phone will be free to take calls.

 

[jaseuk]

Yeah been wireless in my home for years, but seriously this didn't happen with my G1, also from the GPRS description '...Most GPRS devices are Class B, meaning they switch between data and voice automatically' - with automatically being the keyword. It should just cut the data and switch over to voice automatically, unless the Desire is class C, which I seriously doubt. I guess the real test will be when I get a replacement on Friday, I'll post the outcome.

 

[matttye]

Yeah been wireless in my home for years, but seriously this didn't happen with my G1, also from the GPRS description '...Most GPRS devices are Class B, meaning they switch between data and voice automatically' - with automatically being the keyword. It should just cut the data and switch over to voice automatically, unless the Desire is class C, which I seriously doubt. I guess the real test will be when I get a replacement on Friday, I'll post the outcome.

They do switch between data and voice automatically.

When you start browsing the net it uses data, and when the phone rings it uses voice...but if you're actively loading a website, some may find it annoying for the phone to cut in and have the page stop loading. With class C devices you have to actually tell the device to use voice/data.

 

[WozzaX]

this used to happen on my iPhone 3gs as well.

use WiFi and your calls will be fine.

I know your frustration. I had loads of missed calls but its just the limitations of these phones.

 

[fazzieng]

Not beeing able to receive a phone call while using data??? That destroys completely the idea of mobile internet.. If thats the HTCs vision of smartphone then ill pass..

 

[WozzaX]

Not beeing able to receive a phone call while using data??? That destroys completely the idea of mobile internet.. If thats the HTCs vision of smartphone then ill pass..

Did you not read what I have posted above?

Other handsets have this issue so its not just HTC.

 

[fazzieng]

So what? Is that an explanation why

 

[lookseehear]

Are you just trolling or something?

How many times do we have to say that it is a limitation of the technology.

They could technically just not support GPRS, but then you'd have no signal when you went outside of a city or large town, would you prefer that?

edit:
you do realise that it can take calls while browsing on Edge, 3g or HSDPA right?

 

[WozzaX]

So what? Is that an explanation why

 

[WozzaX]

Are you just trolling or something?

How many times do we have to say that it is a limitation of the technology.

They could technically just not support GPRS, but then you'd have no signal when you went outside of a city or large town, would you prefer that?

edit:
you do realise that it can take calls while browsing on Edge, 3g or HSDPA right?

Well said.

 

[fazzieng]

Looks like ive gone 2 far..
I thought its related to HTCs problem with 3G connection.
In short, when you're on 3G connection you're unable to send/receive texts, make/receive calls or use the internet.

 

[WozzaX]

Looks like ive gone 2 far..
I thought its related to HTCs problem with 3G connection.
In short, when you're on 3G connection you're unable to send/receive texts, make/receive calls or use the internet.

No, just GPRS,

3G is fine for multi-tasking with voice, sms and browsing.