vB Easy Archive - 3G Expansion Central Connecticut, 850MHz????

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3G Expansion Central Connecticut, 850MHz????
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Posted by: DRC72

I'm noticing in the Cromwell area that 3G is showing up in areas that where GSM only for the last year or so. Does anybody know if their deploying 3G on the 850MHz band in Central Connecticut, or simply upgrading more towers with 3G on the 1900MHz band? My phone will show 3G full bars for like a few seconds, and then revert back to GSM. I'm noticing it more and more now.

Posted by: urmobilesky

Wirelessly posted (SAMSUNG-SGH-A707/1.0 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.3 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.0 configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0)

This ultimately depends if your area is native 850 or 1900, and the big push to expand the 3G network is kicking into high gear, and thats probably why you are getting changing GSM and 3G signals.

Posted by: DRC72

Now that TDMA/AMPS has been decommissioned, I'm hoping that there will deployment of 3G on the 850MHz band in CT.

Posted by: Loki008

I am noticing on my phone that it will switch constantly between 3G and GSM if i dont lock it into 3G. which is a pain considering the 3G coverage in CT. At least i get better battery life with GSM so unless i am using data i just keep it locked to GSM

Posted by: DRC72

I pick up 3G at my house for like 20 seconds, and when I try to make a call it will switch back to GSM. I guess their still working on the tower that serves my area.

Posted by: Wrangler3383

The network tech I spoke to in Rocky Neck told me that all 3G deployments in CT after November of last year are 850. The newest parts of the network to light up, the 95 corridor past exit 60 all have excellent range. I assume it is due to the 850 deployment getting under way.

Posted by: jonnydeals

I just picked up 3g on 850 mhz in waterbury! Its about time! I did a manual network search in umts only mode on my n95-4 and it shows att 3g but it wont let me select it. I would guess we're probably a month away from commercial launch, If I we're a betting man.

Posted by: DRC72

I think my area is getting really close to launching 3G on 850..... Hey jonny is there way to tell if I am picking up 3g on 850 with my N75?

Posted by: jonnydeals

is your n75 att /cingular branded or unlocked?

Posted by: DRC72

AT&T Branded and locked......

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

I just got 3G at my house in east Glastonbury! Finally! Full bars in 3G! Just turned it on today because this morning it wasn't 3G. Its the Birch Mountain Rd site.

Posted by: DRC72

As of today I get a steady 3G signal at my house in the Cromwell area!!!!!!

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

What should we expect from this change to 3G if we have a voice only plan/phone? unfortunately I just got rid of my 8525 b/c I wanted something smaller. I already notice that when my phone gets 3G is full service and doesn't drop a single bar it seems compared to Edge which can be 2 bars then up to 5 at times.

Other than this is better voice quality all we should expect ? Obviously for the data users it means much faster speeds.

Posted by: DRC72

Better voice quality, no AMR-HR codec(at least for now), plus 3G handles better in low signal areas.

Posted by: PaulieORF

As of today I am getting 3G at my condo in Southington. Never even sniffed it here before today. It's about damn time!

Posted by: DRC72

I'm loving it right now!!!!!!!!!!! 3G is so much more efficient compared to GSM.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

tell me about it, I get full service down my road with 3G and with EDGE I was dropping to 2 bars in some spots.

Posted by: DRC72

I briefly went back to GSM for 10 minutes, but 3G came back and it's been on since. Made a few calls on it. It's so nice not dealing with the AMR-HR codec.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I briefly went back to GSM for 10 minutes, but 3G came back and it's been on since. Made a few calls on it. It's so nice not dealing with the AMR-HR codec.

What does that AMR-HR codec do differently or worse than 3G?

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelloMotoI95CL

What does that AMR-HR codec do differently or worse than 3G?

AMR-HR ompresses the the audio so they can fit more calls on a GSM channel. It's not bad when there aren't to many people on that channel, but once it gets congested it tends to garble and muffle at times.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

I see, well, I drove around my town a bit and it seems the 3G is very very solid! I get full bars just about everywhere in 3G where with just EDGE it would definitely fluctuate down to 2 bars at times..I'm about to ride out towards Marlborough on my bike to see if its expanded that far as to fill in the gap between the 3G in Hartford and the 3G up at Storrs.

Posted by: DRC72

I've noticed more 3G coverage in the Farmington, and Plainville area. I did hit GSM again when I got into the Coventry/Storrs area driving down RT44.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

Yeah, just about all of Glastonbury, atleast west and east parts have 3G now (strong). But Marlborough didn't have it in the center of town which is only a few exits up.

Posted by: Wrangler3383

I just wish they would get route 2 all the way through Norwich.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrangler3383

I just wish they would get route 2 all the way through Norwich.

I'm surprised AT&T hasn't covered all of RT2 yet, especially being that it is a major highway. I know I91 from Windsor to the Mass line was all GSM, but that might of changed as of a few days ago.

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

I'm surprised AT&T hasn't covered all of RT2 yet, especially being that it is a major highway. I know I91 from Windsor to the Mass line was all GSM, but that might of changed as of a few days ago.

IMO that section of highway is more important that 2. I can't understand why they would leave such a small strip uncovered. It should have gone live with Springfield. Hopefully CT will be blanketed by years end

I'm not holding my breath though.

Posted by: DRC72

A lot of areas got turned up in this last go around.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

A lot of areas got turned up in this last go around.

Agreed. I'm just wondering why my service is so much stronger now than before because from what I remember at the first deployment of what was then Cingular Wireless' GSM from TDMA, it was suppose to be 850 from the get go and only certain phones would work here (i.e.- like the 1900 GSM's that Cali uses). But the 3G seems to be superior even though I've heard 3G runs off 1900.......is it that its a different frequency or just more stable.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelloMotoI95CL

Your getting 3G on 850MHz, and yes 3G is a more stable technology compared to GSM.... That is why you are finding the signal strength so strong. 850 penetrates buildings better than 1900MHz, plus it travels farther as well.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

But wasn't the GSM in place before already at 850? That's what I remember when CT first got the technology.

Posted by: DRC72

Yes CT is primarily GSM 850, with 1900MHz GSM sprinkled in between. I believe AT&T took the 850 spectrum from the TDMA/AMPS shutdown, and converted it to 3G. They probably took some away from the GSM side as well.

Posted by: cliffemu

woooohoooo! Reporting full 3G in South Windsor on my E51!... just like when I travel overseas haha but it's still not that fast comparatively... I'm sure improvements will be made. Better than edge anyways!

Posted by: DRC72

You'll love the call quality.....

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

not to mention the stability of the signal in places where a signal never even was thought to be possible.

Posted by: DRC72

Last time I was in South Windsor it was all GSM, except the I291 area...... It's nice to hear 3G has finally hit that area.

Posted by: bfbchief

I work in New Britain and live in the Northeast Part of CT near the MA border. I can confirm there is now 3G service from New Britain all the way to the MA border and into MA. Only a couple weeks ago I would lose 3g service around the old East Hartford Theater.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfbchief

I work in New Britain and live in the Northeast Part of CT near the MA border. I can confirm there is now 3G service from New Britain all the way to the MA border and into MA. Only a couple weeks ago I would lose 3g service around the old East Hartford Theater.

Are you referring to I84? So Union, CT to New Britain, CT is all 3G?

Posted by: bfbchief

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC72

Are you referring to I84? So Union, CT to New Britain, CT is all 3G?

Yes that is correct...I live in Woodstock (which borders UNION) Woodstock is still Edge...but all along I84 up into Sturbridge (where I got off) was all 3G

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfbchief

Yes that is correct...I live in Woodstock (which borders UNION) Woodstock is still Edge...but all along I84 up into Sturbridge (where I got off) was all 3G

Nice!!!!

Posted by: Wrangler3383

Alright lets go for blanket coverage AT&T!

Posted by: DRC72

One thing I am noticing though is that I do switch back to GSM more and more now. And this when the 3G signal is good. Maybe AT&T is trying to avoid congestion on the 3G network by switching people back to GSM when needed???? Lately it's been going back and forth a lot in my area.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

Could it be that you are inside? I've always noticed that inside if the phone is in my pocket or i'm in a well enclosed room it switches back to edge when the 3G signal isn't as strong. Eventually it will pick it back up well enough to switch over but there is a delay. I did noticed that 3G is all throughout Buckland Hills mall and near the Glastonbury / Manchester line around 384.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelloMotoI95CL

Could it be that you are inside? I've always noticed that inside if the phone is in my pocket or i'm in a well enclosed room it switches back to edge when the 3G signal isn't as strong. Eventually it will pick it back up well enough to switch over but there is a delay. I did noticed that 3G is all throughout Buckland Hills mall and near the Glastonbury / Manchester line around 384.

Yes this happens inside my house, but it will switch back to GSM when the 3G signal is strong. Could be network adjustments being made. Anyways RT 44 from West Hartford all the way up to the center of Canton was all 3G. Then it reverted back to GSM for the west end of Canton, and points behind all the way up to Barkhamsted. I didn't travel any further than that, but I would imagine it would be all GSM to the NY Stateline.

Posted by: jonnydeals

Waterbury,meriden,oakville,southington,berlin,wolc ott,middlebury,watertown,cheshire,beacon falls,woodbridge,branford,hamden,shelton,naugatuck ,guilford,southbury,ansonia,trumbull,new canaan,shelton,danbury,newtown,wilton,orange,betha ny,derby,new haven,stamford,east haven,ridgefield,trap falls,westville,monroe,prospect,horse hill, All WENT LIVE TODAY!

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnydeals

Waterbury,meriden,oakville,southington,berlin,wolc ott,middlebury,watertown,cheshire,beacon falls,woodbridge,branford,hamden,shelton,naugatuck ,guilford,southbury,ansonia,trumbull,new canaan,shelton,danbury,newtown,wilton,orange,betha ny,derby,new haven,stamford,east haven,ridgefield,trap falls,westville,monroe,prospect,horse hill, All WENT LIVE TODAY!

Nice!!!! Middletown is fully covered as well.

Posted by: mpacific

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnydeals

Wahoo!

Now I just need that 3G iPhone to come out

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

I wish ATT would step it up with the 3G platforms...I know alot of it is with the manufacturer but the SE K580 or whatever still never came out nor is the 3G Blackberry that was mentioned for May of '08 and who knows about that 3G iphone..they just released the bigger memory iphone with edge so that will stick around for a while.

Posted by: DRC72

From what I hear the 3G Iphone is a done deal.

Posted by: DRC72

All the places that I frequent in State are 3G areas!!!!!!! GO AT&T!!!!!

Posted by: kopy_kat

This sux for me! i have a UK phone, SE w850, which is a 3G phone.. but only has 900/1800/1900. and UMTS on 2100

Posted by: DRC72

You gotta get yourself a phone with 850 3G.

Posted by: kopy_kat

i actually have a 3G phone. an LG CU500. tested out works well. but the battery life on the phone has not been so great.. can't last thru the day.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by kopy_kat

i actually have a 3G phone. an LG CU500. tested out works well. but the battery life on the phone has not been so great.. can't last thru the day.

Yeah unfortunately 3G really cuts into the battery life, but it's worth it though.

Posted by: Loki008

Has anyone notice a network unavailable issue with 3G? i am finding that calls will drop at time with network unavailable with my n95-3 on 3G.

Posted by: DRC72

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loki008

Has anyone notice a network unavailable issue with 3G? i am finding that calls will drop at time with network unavailable with my n95-3 on 3G.

I have had it happen a couple of times.

Posted by: HelloMotoI95CL

My Z9 from time to time for no reason at all will lose service and say "Insert SIM" or "Check SIM" something like that and I have to reboot the phone...I don't really understand why. Oh Well. 3G Rocks though! I get service in so many more places but I find that where 3G is on the line, the phone doesn't hesitate to jump back to EDGE during a phone call or if its inside.