T-Mobile Coverage (Bar Indicator)

[pm5544]

Can I ask what everyone's network bars are like when in the comfort of your
home?

I am not referring to the wi-fi bars but the bars that are normally next to them, the ones that if the drop to zero often will disconnect a call.

Mine seem to jump from having none lit to having 1,2 or 3, vary rarely 4.

Someone who has the exact same phone and carrier and same settings seem to have a more reliable coverage.

Being sent a new sim by the provider, although I really do not think this will help but prepared to give it a go.

 

[SiempreTuna]

Coverage round my way is very iffy. I do occassionally see 4 bars, but more often it drops to no bars (but still working) or nothing at all (not working). My missus is not on T-Mob, but also has very dodgy reception. I blame the NIMBYs - object first, think .. actually, forget thinking, ever

Your problem sounds different, though: if the same model phone on the same network gets better reception, that would seem to suggest there's a problem with your phone .. or maybe the way you hold the phone

 

[pm5544]

Coverage round my way is very iffy. I do occassionally see 4 bars, but more often it drops to no bars (but still working) or nothing at all (not working). My missus is not on T-Mob, but also has very dodgy reception. I blame the NIMBYs - object first, think .. actually, forget thinking, ever

Your problem sounds different, though: if the same model phone on the same network gets better reception, that would seem to suggest there's a problem with your phone .. or maybe the way you hold the phone

Do you think I should try the new sim they are sending or you think that won't help in the slightest?

 

[pm5544]

New sim hasn't really helped.

Can I ask what other peoples bar indicator is like when in the home using the GSM/WCDMA Auto Mode?

 

[Stash68]

Im with Giffgaff and in my home the signal is dismal, rarely see 4 bars, normally 1 or 2 sometimes none, If i go inside Boots (the chemist) i get 4 bars all the time. Outside is not too bad, 3 or 4 bars most of the time.
Honestly i thought Giffgaff were providing sub-standard O2 signal . u know thats why its cheap but O2 sim in my phone gets same result.
It sux but what can i do?

 

[milesbennetdyson]

4 bars pretty much all the time. Might get none when I'm stuck up a mountain or in ashopping centre, other than that though I've never had a problem.

 

[gordandmichele]

Bars aren't the best indicator. Go into: Settings/About device/Status/Signal strength

Here's what the numbers mean:

dB Signal - A basic guide
-50 to -60 (very strong, near a cell tower)
-60 to -70 (extremely good, rare)
-80 to -85 (normal downtown)
-90 to -95 (getting on the weak side)
-95 to -98 (weak, dropping calls)
-98 to -100 (bad, hard to stay connected)
-100+ (basically no usable signal)

I never get higher than -107 on my S7560, so it basically doesn't work in the house.

 

[pm5544]

Bars aren't the best indicator. Go into: Settings/About device/Status/Signal strength

Here's what the numbers mean:

dB Signal - A basic guide
-50 to -60 (very strong, near a cell tower)
-60 to -70 (extremely good, rare)
-80 to -85 (normal downtown)
-90 to -95 (getting on the weak side)
-95 to -98 (weak, dropping calls)
-98 to -100 (bad, hard to stay connected)
-100+ (basically no usable signal)

I never get higher than -107 on my S7560, so it basically doesn't work in the house.

I can range from -85 right up to -111.

Is it normal though for this signal to flucutuate so much at any given moment?

Mine can be -87 one second then jump up to -99 the next, and I mostly have the network mode set to GSM only to get slightly better results while I am in the house.

 

[gordandmichele]

If you are moving around the house, the fluctuations can be great. If you remain in one place, you generally won't see fluctuations of much more than 10 db.

It usually takes a minute for the readings to "settle down" after the phone moves. When I put my BB on a counter with nothing moving around it, the readings are pretty static. If I move it, the readings can jump by +-15 db instantly.

My problem with the Ace II X is that when I put it next to the BB, the readings are 25 to 30 db worse than the BB, and I can't even connect to the cell network. Seems like it just has a much inferior antenna. My wife's Galaxy S III doesn't have the same problem.

 

[pm5544]

Regarding masts, if there is a mast, and the operator is O2 according to the mast site map, is it only o2 customers that use this mast?

In other words can Virgin Mobile (T-Mobile) or (Orange) customers receive data from another operators mast?

Is there a reliable mast site that shows Virgin T-Mobile masts only?