Help Can LTE be disabled on AT&T?

[qwer777]

I live in an area with no LTE.

 

[breadnatty08]

Not positive on this but, have you gone into Settings - Mobile Network - Network Mode and selecting GSM (only) not GSM/LTE?

 

[colnago]

If there is no LTE signal, the device will not connect via LTE. If you want to take it further, you can create another APN entry, with the AT&T "Media Net" settings. I've had some moderate success keeping my AT&T branded Note on HSPA that way.

 

[greggebhardt]

I live in an area with no LTE.

No need to turn it off. If it does not detect a LTE signal, the LTE radio will not even turn on.

 

[qwer777]

No need to turn it off. If it does not detect a LTE signal, the LTE radio will not even turn on.

I thought it was constantly searching, and wasting battery. Is this wrong?

 

[breadnatty08]

I thought it was constantly searching, and wasting battery. Is this wrong?

I believe Gregg is correct, but it doesn't hurt to turn it off if possible.

 

[qwer777]

Is there any definitive proof either way for those of us in non LTE areas? (I had serious typos every other word there... stupid half asleep brain)

 

[colnago]

My Note's battery didn't drain any faster while idle in Philadelphia, w/no LTE, than it does in Baltimore, w/a consistent -77dBm LTE signal.

 

[qwer777]

is -77 bad or good signal?

 

[colnago]

is -77 bad or good signal?

You'll most likely never see "better" than -50dBm, compared to the -105dBm levels, where calls start to fail.

FWIW, with all of my phones, I notice increased battery drain around -89dBm to -93dBm levels, again with the phone idle.