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[All LTE models] Toggle 4g/3g

I would just like to say that LTE sucks. Drains the hell out of my battery and I wish that someone would figure out how to turn the damn thing off.

Yes, I registered just to say this. :D

I moved your thread into the thread involving how to turn off LTE. Thanks for understanding.

Also, I don't know if AT&T has MSL codes, but you can type in ##DATA# (##3282#) and turn off LTE from here (provided you can get the MSL code from the carrier).
 
I have 2 separate apn the AT&T has a special apn for late which is pta. But I also have the 3G/4G apn
This are the setting just go it to setting, more settings (under wireless and network), access point names(apn), and click menu to make a new apn and fill in the fields with the information below (make sure u make what is caps be caps or it will not work)
Name: AT&T
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: leave blank
Port: leave blank
Username:WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password:CINGULAR1 (yes this is in CAPS)
Server: leave blank
MMSC:*http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
MMS Port: 80
MCC:310
MNC:410APN Type: leave blank
 
I have 2 separate apn the AT&T has a special apn for late which is pta. But I also have the 3G/4G apn
This are the setting just go it to setting, more settings (under wireless and network), access point names(apn), and click menu to make a new apn and fill in the fields with the information below (make sure u make what is caps be caps or it will not work)
Name: AT&T
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: leave blank
Port: leave blank
Username:WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password:CINGULAR1 (yes this is in CAPS)
Server: leave blank
MMSC:*http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
MMS Port: 80
MCC:310
MNC:410APN Type: leave blank


First of all THANK YOU!

So I put in everything as it looks above and now the LTE symbol is gone and it just displays a 4G icon, is this correct?
 
No, guys, those options aren't there. So, can anyone turn it off from their phone?
Are you sure it's there, because I don't think it is there on the other US versions? If so, how do you do it. I know how to in theory, as this is my 3rd lte phone. But how do you ACTUALLY do it on the S3?

I'm looking for the same thing (but for VZW). My rezound has a handy dandy LTE/CDMA or CDMA option. For all the innovations I'm salty this isn't easier to do. And no, I'd rather not use an app to do it

I moved your thread into the thread involving how to turn off LTE. Thanks for understanding.

Also, I don't know if AT&T has MSL codes, but you can type in ##DATA# (##3282#) and turn off LTE from here (provided you can get the MSL code from the carrier).

That's what I need, on my rezound (and other vzw phones) you could type in *#43xxx#* (i cant remember the numbers) and get the network select screen.

Can any confirm that this works for a VZW SG3??



Also on the subject of a mashed up thread, perhaps we can isolate and identify the solutions for various carriers and the OP or a MOD can edit them into first post?
 
Yes and if you ever need lte go it the settings and select the lte apn

Interesting! Sorry I'm new at this so can you tell me where I can find the two APNs to set up?

Also, if I separate it this way is the "LTE" APN an "LTE-only" setup or is it "LTE-and-below" setup. ie if I set it on that, will it only go to LTE and if it can't find LTE then it won't downgrade to 4G or 3G?
 
Yes and if you ever need lte go it the settings and select the lte apn


The other thing I'd be interested in is whether anyone has real experience (not just hearsay) that LTE on the GS3 sucks battery faster than non-LTE. My phone has been sitting idle at my desk all day, past 9 hours, and it is at 83%. I've probably had the screen on for a total of 5-10 minutes.

Wondering whether turning off LTE really would make that number 88% or 90% or something.
 
Interesting! Sorry I'm new at this so can you tell me where I can find the two APNs to set up?

The lte apn should already by set it should be called AT&T PTA if not just hit menu button and reset to default

The 4g/3g apn info is below
I have 2 separate apn the AT&T has a special apn for late which is pta. But I also have the 3G/4G apn
This are the setting just go it to setting, more settings (under wireless and network), access point names(apn), and click menu to make a new apn and fill in the fields with the information below (make sure u make what is caps be caps or it will not work)
Name: AT&T
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: leave blank
Port: leave blank
Username:WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password:CINGULAR1 (yes this is in CAPS)
Server: leave blank
MMSC:*http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
MMS Port: 80
MCC:310
MNC:410APN Type: leave blank

Also, if I separate it this way is the "LTE" APN an "LTE-only" setup or is it "LTE-and-below" setup. ie if I set it on that, will it only go to LTE and if it can't find LTE then it won't downgrade to 4G or 3G?

Lte chips do use more battery and since lte is everywhere where 4g/3g they work more to get the signal and end up killing more battery.
 
The other thing I'd be interested in is whether anyone has real experience (not just hearsay) that LTE on the GS3 sucks battery faster than non-LTE. My phone has been sitting idle at my desk all day, past 9 hours, and it is at 83%. I've probably had the screen on for a total of 5-10 minutes.

Wondering whether turning off LTE really would make that number 88% or 90% or something.

I can confirm my phone on lte will kill my battery more then 4g/3g and oc
 
Found what I was looking for. On other verizon phones you dial *#*#4636#*#* and you can switch between networks.

I will be testing this on my girl's SG3 as soon as she gets home and will report back
 
The lte apn should already by set it should be called AT&T PTA if not just hit menu button and reset to default

The 4g/3g apn info is below
I have 2 separate apn the AT&T has a special apn for late which is pta. But I also have the 3G/4G apn
This are the setting just go it to setting, more settings (under wireless and network), access point names(apn), and click menu to make a new apn and fill in the fields with the information below (make sure u make what is caps be caps or it will not work)
Name: AT&T
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: leave blank
Port: leave blank
Username:WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password:CINGULAR1 (yes this is in CAPS)
Server: leave blank
MMSC:*http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
MMS Port: 80
MCC:310
MNC:410APN Type: leave blank



Lte chips do use more battery and since lte is everywhere where 4g/3g they work more to get the signal and end up killing more battery.

I'll be damned that this actually seems to work a charm! I googled and saw some other posts on different sites with this same approach (of creating another APN) and it always seemed there were some issues of complaint such as

1) "yes but you'll see that it will switch back to LTE in like 10 minutes automatically" (mine seems to hold on plain 4G)

2) "your signal will drop out all the time" (I am running No Signal right now to test and see if that actually happens)

3) you won't be able to send picture messages or get texts (?)

4) one person said you needed to create 2 different APNs....1 for MMS and 1 under the wap.cingular. I guess MMS is Mobile Message and I see that your instructions above have more "stuff" in them which includes a MMS field.


So my question is.....to your knowledge......am I LOSING or GIVING UP anything by using this method should I want to run on plain old HSPA vs LTE? (besides download speeds of course). Does it give up HSPA+? Any other negatives? Just curious

Honestly this will all probably be a little lark for me anyway as I wasn't seeing major battery drop with LTE......and I like the speeds. I can't really care about whether my phone is at 67% by the time I'm headed home from work or whether it is at 63%. But it will probably bother me more to have to switch to LTE when I need to download an app or do fast surfing and then go back in and switch it back down to HSPA.

Thanks again for posting this....it is a very elegant solution.
 
I'll be damned that this actually seems to work a charm! I googled and saw some other posts on different sites with this same approach (of creating another APN) and it always seemed there were some issues of complaint such as

1) "yes but you'll see that it will switch back to LTE in like 10 minutes automatically" (mine seems to hold on plain 4G)

2) "your signal will drop out all the time" (I am running No Signal right now to test and see if that actually happens)

3) you won't be able to send picture messages or get texts (?)

4) one person said you needed to create 2 different APNs....1 for MMS and 1 under the wap.cingular. I guess MMS is Mobile Message and I see that your instructions above have more "stuff" in them which includes a MMS field.


So my question is.....to your knowledge......am I LOSING or GIVING UP anything by using this method should I want to run on plain old HSPA vs LTE? (besides download speeds of course). Does it give up HSPA+? Any other negatives? Just curious

Honestly this will all probably be a little lark for me anyway as I wasn't seeing major battery drop with LTE......and I like the speeds. I can't really care about whether my phone is at 67% by the time I'm headed home from work or whether it is at 63%. But it will probably bother me more to have to switch to LTE when I need to download an app or do fast surfing and then go back in and switch it back down to HSPA.

Thanks again for posting this....it is a very elegant solution.

Your not really giving up anything because you will have the same amount of data and you should get hspa+
 
i'm still waiting for someone to make a nice toggle for this option as well. but (although input intesive) if i want to keep LTE off for an extended period of time and use only 3G, i used the Service Mode to do this. (won't turn back to LTE as soon as you disconnect Mobile Data as with the Phone Info app option, some may prefer that).
The steps are:
From dialer, enter *#197328640# (this opens Service Mode)
From the first screen, open the menu and select "Key Input"
Enter this code to disable LTE only: 1187226 (these are just the menu number sequences)
Click OK, and u're done.

To re-enable LTE do the same, but enter 118721

I think also rebooting the phone will restore LTE. since the S3 has a quick reboot time, this might be an easier option for when you have a minute to spare, but don't want to bother with all the input.

As i said, a bit of input at first, but after a few times, u'll have it memorized and it only takes about 10 seconds to do.

I just hope someone writes a wrapper around this to automate it. i'm not that smart, so counting on others more intelligent than me. :)
 
I think for the at&t model a toggle could be easy as making it switch apns. If I had the knowledge to develop I would but that's a step I haven't taken
 
Your not really giving up anything because you will have the same amount of data and you should get hspa+


I'm sorta getting addicted to the LTE speed for surfing so I haven't used the APN toggle too much. I still need to run a battery test sometime to try to quantify the actual savings. It can't be much more than an extra 1% per hour I'd think (which does add up).
 
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