AT&T Moto users: 3G or AMR-FR?

[macizcool]

Hi everyone.

So I finally upgraded my AT&T phone from my beloved Nokia 6230. Due to the awful voice quality here, I decided to get the v3xx... Even though I have always hated the RAZR, I decided to get it so that I could do the seem edits and also it works with my k1m chargers.

The phone is OK. Kinda clunky and is an outdated style. However, it has the loudest earpiece volume ever and the 3G voice quality seems pretty good... Even though it keeps switching to EDGE (which I could change once I do some seem edits).

Getting to my question... I reeeeeeally wanted to get the k1 since I absolutely love my k1m. However, I am turned off due to the lack of 3G and knowing how bad 2G voice is here. Can anyone comment on their experiences with seem editing to AMR-FR vs. 3G voice quality?

I have one more week to decide.

Thanks everyone. Sorry for the long post, I am just really torn and wanted to give the most information possible.

[macizcool]

No comments? Am I too complicated? ~

[Malibu21]

Never tried FR, HR always worked for me, so cant comment on that, however, thats what I'd do if you keep dropping 3g, sounds like th 3g in your area isn't that hot.

[sin4me]

i've forced amr-fr on my att v9 and didn't notice any difference vs. 3g. i eventually un-did the seem edit and left amr-fr enabled but not forced, which is the default.

[macizcool]

Never tried FR, HR always worked for me, so cant comment on that, however, thats what I'd do if you keep dropping 3g, sounds like th 3g in your area isn't that hot.

AT&T sucks in general here...If I keep this phone, I am going to hack it to 3G only so that it doesn't switch over. I am thinking about keeping the phone.

[macizcool]

i've forced amr-fr on my att v9 and didn't notice any difference vs. 3g. i eventually un-did the seem edit and left amr-fr enabled but not forced, which is the default.

HR is almost always used here, and it is really crappy. Constant dropping out and distortion.

[George Knighton]

Can anyone comment on their experiences with seem editing to AMR-FR vs. 3G voice quality?

It seems unusual to me that you have difficulty with normal GSM but not 3G. They aren't usually going to roll out 3G in an area that does not already have excellent GSM coverage, but I guess it's possible.

You mention having a Razr and you mention having 3G, so I am going to assume that you are talking about a V3xx. Please correct me if this is a wrong assumption.

How many bars of signal strength are you showing when you have the EDGE icon?

How many bars of signal strength are you showing when you have the 3G icon?

If you are typically showing three bars or more on a V3xx, then go head and force AMR-FR or even EFR.

If you typically show only one or two bars, then my advice is not to force EFR or AMR-FR. The problem is that EFR has a low tolerance for below about -105db and AMR-FR has a low tolerance for below about -100db.

When your signal strength is very low, you will drop calls more often than if you were on typical GSM half rate.

However, with a moderate to good signal strength you can get good, clear calls by forcing EFR or AMR-FR. An array that gets full after you've made your call will not drop you. However, a call that you are trying to negotiate on an array that is nearly full might not negotiate because you are asking for space on the array that the controller could give to two other calls if it disallowed your call.

I know of many people who will try to lock their phones onto 850/1900 GSM in order to improve signal strength and in order to improve battery life.

You are the first person I've ever heard of who wanted to lock his phone onto 3G.

[Radiux36]

In my experience, the AMR-FR/EFR on the v3xx is as clear, if not clearer than the 3G.

[shoman94]

I disagree with George on AMR-FS. EFR sucks with less then 3 bars or -100db.

AMR-FR is best all the way to 1 bar or -110db.... Lower than that the tower will not keep you for the most part either way. You can seem edit your v3xx to disable AMR-HR and just use AMR-FS. You'll love it.....as tower handoffs are much smoother.

You can also seem edit so you can manually use 3g all the time by enabling menu options that will allow you to change things on the fly.

[George Knighton]

AMR-FR is best all the way to 1 bar or -110db....

I should never have mentioned bars, since we both know that it's not a true indicator of signal strength. :-)

This conversation has caused me to force AMR-FR on the V9 that I'm going to be carrying for a couple of days and I'll see how it goes!

[shoman94]

I should never have mentioned bars, since we both know that it's not a true indicator of signal strength. :-)

This conversation has caused me to force AMR-FR on the V9 that I'm going to be carrying for a couple of days and I'll see how it goes!

Your right cause each manufacturers bars are different... but even if you didn't mention bars...just db's... I would have given the same answer without the bars.... lol

[zephxiii]

AMR-FR on 2g should be fine as far as quality goes. You can seem edit to enable the network functions to force it on either 3G or 2G. If I had 3G here, i'd prob force it onto 2G for battery life.

More info here:
http://www.xti9.com/v3xx

[macizcool]

I didn't realize the conversation had continued while I was in the Caribbean. Yes, before I left, I decided to keep the v3xx. I actually went to another Walmart and exchanged my Cingular branded v3xx for an AT&T one. I kept the v3xx because the geek in me wanted to see where 3G was available. There are days I wish I would have gotten the k1, but this will do, especially since I don't use it that much.

Now if only I could get the network select menu enabled. This phone switches to EDGE too easily, and then I am stuck with the crappy voice quality until the end of my call, where I have to power cycle to get 3G back. I use a G4 Mac, so I can't do any seem edits

[zephxiii]

well if u can get a friend with a PC to help you out, or get a dirt cheap older PC (with xp on it) you will be very pleased with the V3xx once seem edited.

[macizcool]

Most of my friends have Macs. And I am a closeted phone geek, so I haven't had the nerve to ask my PC friends about using their PC.