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[Verizon] Why To Toggle 4G Off When Not Needed

gapi

Android Expert
I kind of found this by accident.......

I live in a weak 3G area and use a 3G Network Extender. It works fantastic but for the occasional full signal bars to a single. :confused: But..... it is always crystal clear and never drops a call.

I live 10 miles as the crow flies from the spotted beginnings of Verizon's 4G coverages in a single direction, and when I drive into it I still have to go a few miles to see it. More than 50 miles in all other directions.

So I just leave my 4G toggled on with no worries of it causing problems.

Recently I noticed I am getting 1 to 2 bars of 4G in my house! Nice. I go down the road away from the map coverage and get full bars.

It dawned on me the 3G signal bar loss indicated was due to 4G trying to kick in.

I toggled 4G off and keep full bars on 3G. Heh!

As for the network extender. It has been just what the doctor ordered. I used to get caller complaints of the phone ringing several times before I answered or it went to voice mail, when it only rang once on my end and I answered. It would drop a call sometimes. Voice quality would suffer too.
Now that I learned to toggle 4G off when not in use it is stellar. I live on 6/10 of an acre and its full bars on all of my square.

Got it on eBay for a c-note delivered, a refurb that looked brand new.
Had to cal Verizon to give em the mac address and they noted it was already activated on another account and they swapped it over. So much for the new looking NE being new eh. It works without calling Verizon but having it on your account allows you to configure what phones have priority access to it using the controls in My Verizon.

Samsung Model SCS-2U01
 
I would really like a network extender at work because signal in our PolySteel building can be pretty lacking some days. But damn they are expensive! So you just plug it into your broadband connection right? Do you feel like it slows your network performance at all? Our work connection is pretty slow already at only a 1mb connection and I would hate to deteriorate the signal any further. Also it works for calls and data, Slacker Pandora etc, right?

Thanks!
 
Not sure about in a poly steel building. It has a GPS so it will know it is in Verizon's legal coverage area so you will need to put it near a window. It does come with a 6 foot extension cord for the GPS if needed.
With 3 of 4 bars of signal I get download speeds shown below on 3G.
Before the extender I had 2 bars of signal and .31 down and even less up.
I am on a fast a comcast.com cable connection.

eBay it and return it if not liked. I got mine from ecomelectronics | Feedback Score Of 65072 | 98.8% They keep in close contact during the sale and have a phone number. And return policy.

steelbldg.png
 
That is with the extender. Without the extender it's only 1 1/2 to 2 bars

Yeah I know per your last post. What I was asking was if those 3G speeds are consistently that good for you while on the extender or if it balks up and down? :)
 
Yeah I know per your last post. What I was asking was if those 3G speeds are consistently that good for you while on the extender or if it balks up and down? :)


Sorry, it locks in hard.

Since 4G has just came into my area the tricky signal bar thing I see is it will show less bars here and there but maintain the same speed and stats in "About Phone/Status/Signal Strength. This is because LTE is toggles in and takes a peek at me once and a while.

Before 4g came it locked in at full bars like a pit-bull.

I have been posting hand-off issues in another post and just got off the phone with Verizon Tech and learned 4G will be nation wide soon.

As for the hand-off thing he said with the GN it is best to leave it in 4G. He claims it will only eat the battery when I start pulling data.

Yawn!
 
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