Getting 2G speeds while tethered to TM506 in 3G area

[Ltsmba]

Sorry for making a second thread in the same day, but now that I've set up my phone for tethering, I have a problem.

I debranded the phone using the wiki page.

I set the phone to be used as a modem under USB network ->>> USB network type.

On my phone under USB Network ->>> USB Data Accounts its set to use the 1st one which is T-Mobile GPRS with the internet2.voicestream.com

Then I added the extra initialization commands into the modem advanced properties of the one called "Sony Ericsson Device 0017 WMC Data Modem".

It looks like this: +cgdcont=1,,"internet2.voicestream.com"

Then, I went into network connections and went to the properties of the USB Modem connection it made and set it to connect using the "Sony Ericsson Device 0017 WMC Data Modem".

The phone number is set to *99#

Eariler, when I pushed dial i was getting speeds of about .18 mbits tops. And now its not working at all.

Can somebody help me find out what I'm doing wrong?

[Ltsmba]

Well, now that I typed all that out... I managed to get it working with the Sony Ericsson Device 0017 USB Ethernet Emulation (NDIS 5) network adapter instead of the USB Modem thing.

I'm assuming thats what everyone else is using?

Anyways... its still maxing out at about .18 to .19 mbits while in a 3G area, so I dont understand why its so slow.

Also ping times are over 700, so I'm assuming its on the EDGE network?

Also.. next to my signal bars it shows an E.
I'm assuming that means EDGE?

I tried forcing 3G using that "MyPhoneExplorer" program but all it did was drop the connection and not connect to 3G.

Heres a picture of my 3G coverage.

[jet1000]

Your phone is not getting a 3g signal despite what the map says. You can see this in settings, connectivity tab, mobile network, select network. In a 3g area there will be 2 t-mobile networks showing. One has a 3g icon. Also you will see an H icon on your phone instead of the little E edge icon.

[Ltsmba]

Your phone is not getting a 3g signal despite what the map says. You can see this in settings, connectivity tab, mobile network, select network. In a 3g area there will be 2 t-mobile networks showing. One has a 3g icon. Also you will see an H icon on your phone instead of the little E edge icon.

Thank you for the response.

How certain are you of this? I would actually be relieved if you were very certain, because I just got off the phone with T-mobile and after putting me on hold for about 15 minutes trying to figure out the cause, he came to the conclusion that my phone was one of the "early released TM506 phones that does not come with 3G capability, and that the later released TM506 phones do support it".

To be honest that doesnt even make sense to me, because my TM506 is the Scarlet Red color, which was released even LATER than some of the other colors.

But at the same time thats confusing to me that the 3G coverage map would show my neighborhood as having 3G access when it actually doesnt.

Could T-mobile just be having issues in my area?


Thanks for your help.

[Ltsmba]

Okay when I go t othe Service Info and then into the Configuration Menu it lists the phone as

SAT on:

GSM850
GSM1800
GSM1900

Shouldnt there be a 1700 and 2100 in here somewhere?

[Ltsmba]

*Sigh* This just keeps getting better.

I just talked with a Sony Ericsson rep. HE says there have never been any TM506 phones that do not support 3G. That completely contradicts what the T Mobile rep said to me.

So that basically brings me back to what jet1000 said. Which is that even though the 3G coverage map shows me having 3G access, i DONT.

I find that very annoying, seeing as I bought this phone to take advantage of the 3G access.

[TeeJay3800]

How certain are you of this? I would actually be relieved if you were very certain, because I just got off the phone with T-mobile and after putting me on hold for about 15 minutes trying to figure out the cause, he came to the conclusion that my phone was one of the "early released TM506 phones that does not come with 3G capability, and that the later released TM506 phones do support it".

LOL! That is just ANOTHER example of untrue things T-Mobile reps tell you. I have been told sooooo many false things, I could make a huge list. I'm convinced at this point that when they can't come up with a good answer, they just say something not caring if it's true or not.

[jet1000]

How certain are you of this?

Very sure. If you go to Mobile Networks as I described previously and you do not see a 2nd T-Mobile network with a 3G icon, your phone is not getting a 3G signal. It doesn't matter which TM-506 you have, old, new, branded, unbranded, they will all show the second T-mobile network with the 3G icon if they are in range.

[Ltsmba]

Very sure. If you go to Mobile Networks as I described previously and you do not see a 2nd T-Mobile network with a 3G icon, your phone is not getting a 3G signal. It doesn't matter which TM-506 you have, old, new, branded, unbranded, they will all show the second T-mobile network with the 3G icon if they are in range.

Thank you very much.

You put my mind at ease

[kennypu]

LOL! That is just ANOTHER example of untrue things T-Mobile reps tell you. I have been told sooooo many false things, I could make a huge list. I'm convinced at this point that when they can't come up with a good answer, they just say something not caring if it's true or not.

sadly, when 3G was first launched here (in hawaii), i was wondering what the H icon was, and called customer support to make sure it wasn't anything bad. They didn't have any clue what it was. how sad. On top of that, they tried to make me master reset when I didn't have anything wrong, just asked a simple question.
SOO I called sony ericcson(looking up on google, i already knew what it was for, but i just wanted to make sure/research), and he told me it standed for HSDPA. lol. For hardware related questions you should call SE

[jimmies]

I think the map might be relevant outside, but indoors you may not be getting good reception. I have 3G outside but inside my apartment and even next to my window I'm not getting 3G.

[TeeJay3800]

Your phone is not getting a 3g signal despite what the map says. You can see this in settings, connectivity tab, mobile network, select network. In a 3g area there will be 2 t-mobile networks showing. One has a 3g icon. Also you will see an H icon on your phone instead of the little E edge icon.

Unfortunately, T-Mobile's 3G network is so poor that even when you DO see the H icon, you can still get 2G speeds.

I've never tethered my TM506, but when doing speed tests at dslreports.com/mspeed (using the 400k and 1MB file size), I've seen as high as 399 kbit/s and as low as 165 kbit/s. The 165 is definitely EDGE speeds, even though I had an HSDPA signal with full signal bars. How sad.

[jet1000]

I've never tethered my TM506, but when doing speed tests at dslreports.com/mspeed (using the 400k and 1MB file size), I've seen as high as 399 kbit/s and as low as 165 kbit/s. The 165 is definitely EDGE speeds, even though I had an HSDPA signal with full signal bars. How sad.

I don't think the dslreports test is accurate. To illustrate, I ran the test a couple of times and I came up with 383kbit/s and 269 kbit/s. I hooked the TM-506 to my netbook, and ran 3 speedtest.net tests and each time it was between 620-720 kbit/s download and 220 upload. (which is average for my area). I know other TM-506 users report closer to 1000 kbit/s.

So, tether your TM-506 and run a speedtest.net and you should get your accurate speed for HSDPA.

[kennypu]

btw, I have one question. does our body have anything to do with the connection? because I notice every time, I set my phone down, i have 3+ bars of HSDPA reception, but soon as I put my hand around it (not grabbing it yet), the reception goes down, and when i pull back, the reception comes back. has any one else noticed this?

[TeeJay3800]

btw, I have one question. does our body have anything to do with the connection? because I notice every time, I set my phone down, i have 3+ bars of HSDPA reception, but soon as I put my hand around it (not grabbing it yet), the reception goes down, and when i pull back, the reception comes back. has any one else noticed this?

It's funny you mention that. That's something I've noticed with the TM506, but no other phone. The cellular antenna is right below the hinge, and when my hand gets anywhere near it, I immediately loose 2-3 bars of signal strength. My hand has to be physically touching it though...just having my hand near it doesn't cause the signal fluctuation. I've owned a dozen cell phones over the years, and only noticed this quirk on this phone.