Replace SIM card for building penetration problem?

[tmotk]

I called support complaining about TMobile signal not penetrating my new work building well. I said I get about 4 bars by a window, 1-2 bars at my desk, and total loss of signal in the restroom. This is a modern office building with cubicles in downtown Saint Louis.

They said I have a very old SIM card and want to replace it, since its an old style they do not use anymore. I have HTC Sensation (an imported one to work with my legacy Total Internet plan).

Given I get good signal in other locations, up to a full rack of bars in some places, does it make any sense to replace a SIM card? Has replacing a SIM card helped anyone in this type of situation.

Would replacing a SIM card affect my data plan or cause it to get capped (its true unlimited/no cap/no throttle now)? Also, I havn't taken contracts or phone subsidies in so long that I am still on the 2004 T&Cs.

Thanks

[Loyal Servant]

A Sim card will not help you with coverage/signal issues.
They like doing that and I really don't understand it myself.

If they change your sim you do have to be careful that they do not change your plan or shove you on a contract extension... that is something that I have seen around the net.

[TheCellphoneGuy]

If you believe what is written here > http://blog.whitesites.com/Tmobile-3...26250_blog.htm, then a new SIM card should help you.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[DRNewcomb]

If you believe what is written here > http://blog.whitesites.com/Tmobile-3...26250_blog.htm, then a new SIM card should help you.

Someone would have to explain to me exactly why changing SIMs would help reception. All I've been able to find is that the USIM has additional and longer security keys, which should have nothing to do with reception.

[tmotk]

If you believe what is written here > http://blog.whitesites.com/Tmobile-3...26250_blog.htm, then a new SIM card should help you.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

That article concludes with

So if you are having 3G data connection issues with T-Mobile make sure you have a 3G Sim card.

My situation is more than a problem with 3G data. I can put my phone in 2G mode and I still have the issues with both phone calls and data. When I lose my signal in the restroom the phone becomes useless in either 2G or 3G. The bars still decrease at my desk in either mode.

What options do I really have to fix this? Any other Android phones with better radios than HTC Sensation?

[MasonDoctorJT]

I called support complaining about TMobile signal not penetrating my new work building well. I said I get about 4 bars by a window, 1-2 bars at my desk, and total loss of signal in the restroom. This is a modern office building with cubicles in downtown Saint Louis.

They said I have a very old SIM card and want to replace it, since its an old style they do not use anymore. I have HTC Sensation (an imported one to work with my legacy Total Internet plan).

Given I get good signal in other locations, up to a full rack of bars in some places, does it make any sense to replace a SIM card? Has replacing a SIM card helped anyone in this type of situation.

Would replacing a SIM card affect my data plan or cause it to get capped (its true unlimited/no cap/no throttle now)? Also, I havn't taken contracts or phone subsidies in so long that I am still on the 2004 T&Cs.

Thanks

How are everyone else's carriers in the restroom? How much of the day do you spend in the restroom anyway? I mean are you worried that if your office is hijacked, you might need to call authorities from the restroom or something?

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[Androided]

LOL!
SIM card has nothing to do with building penetration problem.
SIM card is ID device , not a RF device

[terryjohnson16]

How are everyone else's carriers in the restroom? How much of the day do you spend in the restroom anyway? I mean are you worried that if your office is hijacked, you might need to call authorities from the restroom or something?

Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using HowardForums

Lol...

Sent from my SGH-T989 using HowardForums

[tmotk]

How are everyone else's carriers in the restroom? How much of the day do you spend in the restroom anyway? I mean are you worried that if your office is hijacked, you might need to call authorities from the restroom or something?

This is more than just about the restroom and no I do not spend much time there. Signal is weak enough in other places to cause hiccups in service, dropped calls, intermittently non responsive data. The restroom is mentioned since its the worst place and is so bad that a call would not ring or even show up in the missed calls list, not that I want to answer there, but I should know about the call.

Back to my latest question, what options do I really have to fix this? Any other Android phones with better radios than HTC Sensation? Will T-Mobile's network modernization and spectrum reframing effort help?

[Kies]

Yes, and getting a new phone would too as the Sensation especially the overseas version without RX Diversity does not have great reception.

[tmotk]

Yes, and getting a new phone would too as the Sensation especially the overseas version without RX Diversity does not have great reception.

If the answer is to get a new phone, which high end Androids have the better radios? And which of them can I put them on my old Total Internet data plan (which is subject to the same phone choice restrictions TZones users face)?

[TheCellphoneGuy]

This is more than just about the restroom and no I do not spend much time there. Signal is weak enough in other places to cause hiccups in service, dropped calls, intermittently non responsive data. The restroom is mentioned since its the worst place and is so bad that a call would not ring or even show up in the missed calls list, not that I want to answer there, but I should know about the call.

Back to my latest question, what options do I really have to fix this? Any other Android phones with better radios than HTC Sensation? Will T-Mobile's network modernization and spectrum reframing effort help?

So, I guess that your workplace doesn't have Wi-Fi, as it would be the best solution to the problem, since T-Mobile has Wi-Fi calling.

Changing the phone won't really do much as no miracles can be done when overall reception is poor to non existent. You could buy a signal booster (Amazon sells them as well as other retailers) or you could switch cellphone carriers. There isn't really much that can be done, unless all of the sudden, T-Mobile decided to add a tower on top of your workplace.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[tmotk]

So, I guess that your workplace doesn't have Wi-Fi, as it would be the best solution to the problem, since T-Mobile has Wi-Fi calling.

Changing the phone won't really do much as no miracles can be done when overall reception is poor to non existent. You could buy a signal booster (Amazon sells them as well as other retailers) or you could switch cellphone carriers. There isn't really much that can be done, unless all of the sudden, T-Mobile decided to add a tower on top of your workplace.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

No wifi, except a corporate network locked down so tight only their own laptops can go on it. For a booster, I see this

http://www.repeaterstore.com/nextivi...s-booster.html

But it has two components, a window unit and a coverage unit, and I read it won't work well if the two units are too near each other. I don't really want to be trying to put equipment in someone else's work area. Is there any kind of amp that I could run completely at my desk to boost the signal to other nearby areas where it is weaker than at my desk? And I would hope it would pick up the signal at my desk a little better than my handset unaided and help my handset somewhat even at my desk. Anything less expensive?

[TheCellphoneGuy]

No wifi, except a corporate network locked down so tight only their own laptops can go on it. For a booster, I see this

http://www.repeaterstore.com/nextivi...s-booster.html

But it has two components, a window unit and a coverage unit, and I read it won't work well if the two units are too near each other. I don't really want to be trying to put equipment in someone else's work area. Is there any kind of amp that I could run completely at my desk to boost the signal to other nearby areas where it is weaker than at my desk? And I would hope it would pick up the signal at my desk a little better than my handset unaided and help my handset somewhat even at my desk. Anything less expensive?

Hmm, I see. Just a thought here, but does Sprint have good reception in your place of work? I'm asking, because you could technically buy a Mi-Fi device and use it to connect your T-Mobile phone via Wi-Fi for calling. It would be $35 a month for 2GB though.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobil...adband2go.html

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[Telekom]

I called support complaining about TMobile signal not penetrating my new work building well. I said I get about 4 bars by a window, 1-2 bars at my desk, and total loss of signal in the restroom. This is a modern office building with cubicles in downtown Saint Louis.

They said I have a very old SIM card and want to replace it, since its an old style they do not use anymore. I have HTC Sensation (an imported one to work with my legacy Total Internet plan).

Given I get good signal in other locations, up to a full rack of bars in some places, does it make any sense to replace a SIM card? Has replacing a SIM card helped anyone in this type of situation.

Would replacing a SIM card affect my data plan or cause it to get capped (its true unlimited/no cap/no throttle now)? Also, I havn't taken contracts or phone subsidies in so long that I am still on the 2004 T&Cs.

Thanks

PCS (1900 Mhz) is known for not penetrating buildings well especially if you are not close to a base station. I highly doubt that it's the fault of the SIM. Some reps like to say it's the SIM just to get customers off the phone..