Database Users

Xperia Issues and Thoughts

I've had the US version for a few days now and figured I would share my experience thus far. This is not a definitive list. I ordered through sonystyle.com and am operating on T-mobile in the US.
The good:
1. Phone build is spectacular.
2. Screen resolution is the best I've ever seen.
3. Wifi picks up and logs on quicker than any phone I've had.
4. Touch-flo cabs can be added very easily. Can mix and match the two GUI's.
The bad:
1. Internet and regular calling access is sporadic. I need to perform a soft reset every few hours or nothing works.
2. A fully charged battery will be used up by evening if push email is auto and have moderate phone use.
3. The phone doesn't seem to be able to switch towers in the middle of a phone call. The calls are dropped and you have to call the person back.
Overall, the phone is really incredible and it's being hampered by OS build or something. If the phone didn't have the potential that it does, I would send it back. I figure I'll be patient and wait for the dev team to patch or cook something. I've used the HTC Touch Pro (Fuze) and the Xperia is definitely more sexy and has a better build and keyboard (personal opinion). It will be interesting to see if any others have the same issues and if it's associated with T-mobile US only.

cooool you have the X1a? Do you mind dumping your ROMs please?

Lurchy24 said:
1. Internet and regular calling access is sporadic. I need to perform a soft reset every few hours or nothing works.
2. A fully charged battery will be used up by evening if push email is auto and have moderate phone use.
3. The phone doesn't seem to be able to switch towers in the middle of a phone call. The calls are dropped and you have to call the person back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
none present on my X1i. For the battery, just wait, is still new... use it for 5/6 cycles and should be better. Also no issue for internet/calling and don't understand what you mean about towers...

Lurchy24 said:
The bad:
1. Internet and regular calling access is sporadic. I need to perform a soft reset every few hours or nothing works.
2. A fully charged battery will be used up by evening if push email is auto and have moderate phone use.
3. The phone doesn't seem to be able to switch towers in the middle of a phone call. The calls are dropped and you have to call the person back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1°) The BT and wifi are bugged. The BT disconnects sometimes (already told in other threads) and the wifi passwords are sometimes just lost.
But on 3G/GPRS/UMTS no problem and no need to perform soft reset.
2°) ouah, perhaps you have a problem there... I have (in France) a software that retrieves the mails (every 15 minutes) with a specific data connection.
This with some Wifi on, UMTS on and some calls, my X1i makes a lot more than a single day.
Did you install something that is draining the battery?
3°) weird, I live in a place where 3G signal is low, and I definitly swap from "2G" to "3G" without a hitch, even while a phone call.

Lurchy24 said:
The bad:
1. Internet and regular calling access is sporadic. I need to perform a soft reset every few hours or nothing works.
2. A fully charged battery will be used up by evening if push email is auto and have moderate phone use.
3. The phone doesn't seem to be able to switch towers in the middle of a phone call. The calls are dropped and you have to call the person back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not had any problem with #1 and #2, and I'm also on pushmail mode. By the evening, I would still have 50-60% depending on the activities I carry out with my Xperia during the day time (obviously lesser if I do alot of video playback, etc)
for #3, I doubt any phone would be able to switch tower w/o dropping the call. It's the case for any GSM phone, and I could prove that since I got a UMTS access point (equivalent of the tower except that this is a "personal" one ) at home, and once I walked out of the coverage zone, the call will drop regardless of which phone I hold.

By towers, I think he means cell towers, i.e when he is in the range of one tower, lets say while driving, then leaves that tower's range and goes oto another tower, it doesnt switch, it just drops the call.
Rory

Yep, I know where the points are on my drive when the range of one tower ends and the other begins. My previous phones could all make the transition without issue. My Xperia definitely can not. 25 minute drive = 3 towers and 2 dropped calls.
Had to soft reset twice this morning before I could get a call to go through. The phone says connecting and then connected but nothing comes through. Real pain in the butt.
Perhaps I have a defective model? Anyone else using X1a on T-mobile in US. I would like to know if it's a ROM issue that can be fixed or somehow the phone isn't compatible with T-mo US....

Lurchy24 said:
Yep, I know where the points are on my drive when the range of one tower ends and the other begins. My previous phones could all make the transition without issue. My Xperia definitely can not. 25 minute drive = 3 towers and 2 dropped calls.
Had to soft reset twice this morning before I could get a call to go through. The phone says connecting and then connected but nothing comes through. Real pain in the butt.
Perhaps I have a defective model? Anyone else using X1a on T-mobile in US. I would like to know if it's a ROM issue that can be fixed or somehow the phone isn't compatible with T-mo US....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if the ril file jack posted would help?

What is that file and where can I find it? Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a shot.

rorydaredkign said:
By towers, I think he means cell towers, i.e when he is in the range of one tower, lets say while driving, then leaves that tower's range and goes oto another tower, it doesnt switch, it just drops the call.
Rory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes I know he's refering to the cell towers.
I do have a home version of cell tower at home too. It doesn't switch and it happens for all the phones.

zenkinz said:
for #3, I doubt any phone would be able to switch tower w/o dropping the call. It's the case for any GSM phone, and I could prove that since I got a UMTS access point (equivalent of the tower except that this is a "personal" one ) at home, and once I walked out of the coverage zone, the call will drop regardless of which phone I hold.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but you are talking crap. The whole point of the GSM standard is to get phones to carry on talking as you move location. I suggest you read about Handover (or Handoff). The Wiki page isn't the best I've seen, but it does try to explain it.

artesea said:
Sorry but you are talking crap. The whole point of the GSM standard is to get phones to carry on talking as you move location. I suggest you read about Handover (or Handoff). The Wiki page isn't the best I've seen, but it does try to explain it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok I stand corrected. my apologises.
I just noticed that my phone (and my wife's phone) cuts off once I move out of my home umts access point, so I assume its the same for all the cell towers. (on hindset, mine being be a scaled down cell tower so I shouldn't be using that to prove commercial one )
That said, in reading further, do you know if soft or hard handoff is generally implemented in CDMA network? I suspect it's the latter, and that probably explains why you have dropped call due to inability to switch to the new channel fast enough?

zenkinz said:
ok I stand corrected. my apologises.
I just noticed that my phone (and my wife's phone) cuts off once I move out of my home umts access point, so I assume its the same for all the cell towers. (on hindset, mine being be a scaled down cell tower so I shouldn't be using that to prove commercial one )
That said, in reading further, do you know if soft or hard handoff is generally implemented in CDMA network? I suspect it's the latter, and that probably explains why you have dropped call due to inability to switch to the new channel fast enough?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt your home-hosted access point would be allowed to perform a handover with public cell tower, that's why it cuts off. It's like trying to move from one WLAN SSID to another. If you read more about handover, you'll notice that it includes a lot of security measure also. If handovering and handovered base stations are under different controller(RNC), all encryption information has to be passed from old controller to the new one, etc...

Yes, The point of GSM is that it 'hands off' the call as you pass by different cells automatically, so no dropped calls.
In fact, this is ONE reason they do not want people to use mobile phones on aeroplanes, is that since you would be on top of many towers/cells at one time, then they would be constantly changing/swapping among cells, and if there were a lot of people doing that, the chatter between the cells would be very great and overload them. Thats why they want to set up a cell on the plane itself, so that all the mobile phones talk to that cell only (as the strongest signal).
It has nothing to do with interference to the plane systems. If that was the case, it would be so easy for a terrorist to crash a plane, just bring on a radio transmitter and everyone dies.

Yes, it's the handoff that can't happen.
Othertimes, when I'm sitting in one place, I'll have 3 bars and the signal will suddenly disappear. The phone will take 15 seconds to reaquire and then it will be fine. Usually seems to happen when someone tries to call me. It's almost like the phone hasn't maintained a connection. Very annoying.

Problem with Hero on T-mobile UK

Hi!
I have the handset for few weeks and for couple of days I have a problem at the times to connect to internet. Look like Hero try to send data but there is problem with downlink. Some times when you turn off and on the internet it seemsd to be working at the times ....
I have already updated the software to the newest from T-mobile but still the same problem.
Any ideas ???
Thx

Well i have the same problem with Telus in Canada I thought it was a network problem but now you have me wondering if it is a defect.

same here on T-mobile UK in London... I noticed a reboot solves the problem most of the times... But I am not too sure why it happens in the first place. I noticed it seems to happen in very crowded locations rather than when I am somewhere with not too many people. Every time I install a new radio I hope to see the problem disappear, but it never really does. Quite disappointing... :-( Hope for a fix in the near future though.

I've been getting the same problem.
The HSDPA icon will change to 3G, then the connection will stall completely. I'll have to put the phone into airplane mode and back again to restore it.
T-Mobile tried fobbing me off with my contract didn't allow high speed data, to the next person telling me to just try it in a different post code, they're not aware of any problems, with finally the most recent tech support person telling me T-mobile is aware of a HSDPA and 3G problem that should be fixed in 5 days, please bare with us.
W*nkers.
I definately feel like I've bought a red herring with this phone. Or should have at least got it straight from HTC. I'm reluctant to put a new ROM on there so soon after getting it.

In Canada it seems like it is a network problem. I went out of town about a hour and data worked, came back and it did not work. Phoned and was told it is a network issue and to bear with it they are fixing the problem in a couple days. It seems odd that the same thing is happening in two different across the ocean at the same time though. Who knows if it is the same problem though.

I have the same issue with Orange till this weekend when the phone won't work on 3G at home at all even though it gets a signal. The 3G netwrk is down in my home cell area for a week so I'm stuck on 2G. 2G speeds on some sites are even better than 3G as it doesn't stall on the downlink.

I had this issue but it seems to be OK now. Probably a network issue.

Hi !
It look like the blame is the simcard
Someone suggest something and it give me idea. I have put bit of paper betwen simcard and the thing that hold it and then just a bit on top of it and does seem to have problem. It look like Hero have very sensitive simcard holder
Good luck

All fine here!
I'm in south London, UK and never seem to have a problem with the internet. I'm extremly impressed as on my bus journeys I frequently stream like radio without much problem. I hope things improve.

I'm also in south east london
I get awesome speeds with HSDPA, but not so great with 3G.
I generally stream from last.fm and it pretty much stalls when on 3G. Web-browsing on 3G alone is also not that great for me.
This sounds like it's more a problem with the coverage than the phone though (althoguh it's interesting that a reboot/re-enabling mobile net fixes it).
Couple of things to try:
1 - Download a speed-test and see what speeds you're getting.
2 - Check coverage here: http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/coverage/street-check/

im having problems to , i spend half the time on Wifi and only use mobile network if im out and about, but im barely getting 3g and im in heart of england (birmingham)

[POLL] Is your 3G worse after updating with new radio?

Just a simple poll to see how many people have worse 3G stability after the radio update. Personally, it's really bad for me.... I'll get about 5-10 mins of 3G (4 bars) access before it decides not to work in any app. To use data, I have to switch over to Edge which works 100% of the time.

I still get the same 3G as far as I have noticed, but I'm seeing some strange data rates: just tested at 903 down and 789 up. I've had more than a few of these results, even some where the up speed is higher than the down. All since the new radio. App I'm using is speedtest.net FWIW.

Hmmm... I did notice my 3G is faster but so much less stable. I still can't access the 3G since I started the topic. Hopefully someone else from Oklahoma sees this thread... maybe it's just my area.
I can get on EDGE all I want... I just can't do 3G, regardless of the fact I have 4 bars of it. It just pings the server every 5 secs and gets nothing in return, almost like the server is either refusing it or not there. I wonder if I have a bad APN?
I'm using the stock 2.1 rom+update from the other day... I installed a small superuser+highmem hack from modaco just to root it. No other mods/themes have been installed.

I believe the bars are just relating to standard voice connection status not the quality of your 3G. I could be wrong though. I think you can have a great voice conn and shoddy 3G and vice versa.

In Chicago and I have the same issue. I had no 3G problems before the update and now my phone constantly switches between 3G/Edge/no service.
My battery life is also very very poor now due to this.
Not very happy. Half the time I get no 3G at all now whereas before I had 4 bars almost everywhere.

Those that are having problems,
Settings | wireless & networks | mobile networks| network operators | Select your network.
verify if your troubles continue.

bofslime said:
Those that are having problems,
Settings | wireless & networks | mobile networks| network operators | Select your network.
verify if your troubles continue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still having the problem... but after selecting T-Mobile, it now is showing the "upload" as solid instead of pinging every 5 secs... but I still get nothing downstream.

I play HomeRunBattle3D a lot and it constantly gets a weak connection or drops me out of the game.
At work I have 3G in only 1/2 the office now...
I flashed it to help but it def makes it worse for me.
I just applied the fix from above and will check back here after a few days...
I flashed this and I am using CM5 beta4 not sure if the E79 update has something else in the software as I dont think CM5 is using the OTA fixes yet so maybe the problem is there?

mine is difinately worse as well. Also after choosing tmobile network I think it made it even worse again. I assume this is similar to the problems others were having with the old radio when mine was fine. I was just hoping to maybe get some better reception with the new radio because that was lacking a bit.
now in my office where I used to get 3 bars 3g my phone is sitting here with 2-3 bars Edge. hmmm...I must admit though that it is browsing much faster on Edge than it was before...? Possible the roms are reading the radio incorrectly?
I used the phone on ATT edge before switching to tmobile and I was impressed by how fast even browsing was on ATT edge especially when Tmobile 3g didn't feel too much faster after I switched over. Tmobile edge was also dog slow. now Edge seems to have sped up a good bit....I might try flashing the stock rom for now and see how that does with the new radio.

Looks like those that are having issues are not running the stock rom (but have the new radio flashed). I'd be willing to bet switching back 100% stock (2.1 update-1)would resolve the issue.

bofslime said:
Looks like those that are having issues are not running the stock rom (but have the new radio flashed). I'd be willing to bet switching back 100% stock (2.1 update-1)would resolve the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running stock.

Just to update everyone... I've had a good solid 3G connection for the past hour or so... with no hiccups.
*crosses fingers*
I'm beginning to think this is an issue on T-Mobile's end...
EDIT: Nevermind... there it went again.

SANTilt said:
I still get the same 3G as far as I have noticed, but I'm seeing some strange data rates: just tested at 903 down and 789 up. I've had more than a few of these results, even some where the up speed is higher than the down. All since the new radio. App I'm using is speedtest.net FWIW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not yet received the OTA update and I am seeing similarly large upload numbers today as well (it just started happening as of this morning). This is in the SF Bay Area. I'd be willing to be that they are more due to network upgrades than any changes in the 3G radio.

I'm on stock N1 bought on launch date. I had fine 3G before update and fine 3G after update. I would say I'm in 3G 99% of time. It even goes into HSDPA when I begin to surf and and when pages are done loading its back to UMTS..I've maybe only seen Edge once or twice since I've got my phone. I'm on Tmobile in Louisville .

It's been about the same pre/post update. It's rock solid 3-4 bars 3G w/HSPA most places, but bouncing between 3 bars of EDGE and 4 bars of 3G, with it usually being 2 bars of 3G at home. Before updating, it might have received one less bar everywhere.
3G seems to be around -100db, while 2G is around -70. Plus or minus 10db.

mine stayed the same, almost no 3G almost always edge, but now my GPS does not work.

Nexus on vodafone spain
I just had a single annoying problem related with 3G BEFORE the update...
And after the update...gues what?
It´s more of the SAME:
-Everytime I receive or make a CALL...my 3G connection switch to GPRS and doesn´t recover unless I change over Airplane Mode.
Please...tell me that I´m the only one

3G was fine before the update, and now rarely works, and takes a long time to start when it does.

Im in San Antonio TX and before update, my 3g would go to edge every now and again. Not too big of a deal really. But after my update (I did the OTA manually thanks to the forums! ) I get 3g constantly and have yet to see the edge pop up.

My connection is definitely much less stable. I now strugle to load pages when I have a 3g icon and at least 2 bars of signal. Before the update I had no trouble loading pages even with a really weak signal. Something is definitely ****ed with this half baked update.
I also posted athread on google support forums, please contribute your findings there as that i the only place where google can actually see feedback.
Here is the link to the thread:
http://www.google.com/support/forum...3c&hl=en&fid=7b75b3f3af2ac53c00047ee0be368e98

Airave - Potential Cause of Network Location issues on 2.1 ROMS

If you've been watching the 2.1 ROM threads closely since we started getting 2.1 on our Hero, you will have probably noticed that I've been complaining (in addition to others,) that at times my location is showing a city 30 miles away from my location. GPS works fine, but network location alone, which used to be spot on in 1.5 ROMS, was acting funny.
Quite a few others confirmed similar behavior, and some not.
I use an Airave for Sprint Coverage when making calls since I have terrible signal in my area. It basically switches you over to it, and makes a 1x call over VOIP.
I've noticed that when I turn off the Airave, my location returns to normal (even though sometimes I have to reboot.) With it off, I am no longer having any issues at all.
This means that somehow the 2.1 ROM is either accessing the Airave more often, or some other reason that isn't immediately apparent to me.
I was excited to see a PM from Earldriscoll today, saying that he is seeing the same behavior, and ALSO uses an Airave.
This makes me feel a lot better about the issue, but annoyed at the same time. I'm lucky in the fact that I'm moving to a new place in a few weeks and won't need the Airave anymore.
What do you guys think?

Anyone?
This could be a big impact to all Airave users.

dont have an airave wish I did I get crap signal in my house

Its not just 2.1. I had the same issues on 1.5. And its not just android devices that have this issue. I have seen it with blackberry 8330, palm pre and touch pro 2. I believe if you read the manual it tells you that using airave services will cause interference with location based services.

im having the same issues with no airave, and had it on cooked 1.5 roms as well

If you're at home why do you need airave or if you use an airave in the same location everytime why would you need location-based services...not flaming just curious to better understand the dilemma

kmartburrito said:
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed in airave coverage my location is 22.7+ miles off

I use an Airave, and I am also being detected about 30 miles off of my location! I am in central Atlanta, and I show up as in Lawarenceville when using my Airave!

You've Been Warned....
kmartburrito said:
If you've been watching the 2.1 ROM threads closely since we started getting 2.1 on our Hero, you will have probably noticed that I've been complaining (in addition to others,) that at times my location is showing a city 30 miles away from my location. GPS works fine, but network location alone, which used to be spot on in 1.5 ROMS, was acting funny.
Quite a few others confirmed similar behavior, and some not.
I use an Airave for Sprint Coverage when making calls since I have terrible signal in my area. It basically switches you over to it, and makes a 1x call over VOIP.
I've noticed that when I turn off the Airave, my location returns to normal (even though sometimes I have to reboot.) With it off, I am no longer having any issues at all.
This means that somehow the 2.1 ROM is either accessing the Airave more often, or some other reason that isn't immediately apparent to me.
I was excited to see a PM from Earldriscoll today, saying that he is seeing the same behavior, and ALSO uses an Airave.
This makes me feel a lot better about the issue, but annoyed at the same time. I'm lucky in the fact that I'm moving to a new place in a few weeks and won't need the Airave anymore.
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When i ordered mine the woman on the phone warned me prior to actually placing the order that it can possible throw off your location services in some areas, she said it was the wi-fi that does it, and asked me if i still wanted it.....Well i got it 2days later and i couldnt be happier when you place a call the signal meter completely fills. Awesome hows that for a battery saver. If you sleep @ the place you have the airave, it will save you battery life. The more time by it, the better the battery life....Sorry they didnt forewarn you like they did me. Salesperson was slipping i guess.

This actually makes a lot of sense.

Yeah this is a fact. I guess the location is based on where the Airave connection is coming from through the internet. There is a GPS wire on the Airave but not for sure it works, but then again I have it next to the window and not outside.

gravesy56 said:
If you're at home why do you need airave or if you use an airave in the same location everytime why would you need location-based services...not flaming just curious to better understand the dilemma
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries, I know you're not flaming
For me, it's an annoyance specifically with a few apps I use a lot. One of them is weatherbug. It gives you weather alerts based on your location. I have been getting some false weather alerts, because my phone thinks I'm in a completely different city over 30 minutes away. 30 miles can mean a lot from a weather standpoint. I also don't like that this also makes my weather on the HTC clock show incorrectly.
Finally, in an app I'm developing, it uses network based location, and it has been driving me mad as this problem, for me at least, manifests only on 2.1 based roms. Here I have been pulling out my hair thinking it was something with my code when doing 2.1 testing, but in fact it really wasn't at all.
So I agree, at home it really shouldn't matter, but sometimes when I want to see the weather forecast for tomorrow, I'd like to see my hometown instead of some place I never care to visit or live.
Just an annoying side product of using the Airave I guess. I literally cannot make calls in 50% of my home without the Airave, so it's a necessity.

kmartburrito said:
Just an annoying side product of using the Airave I guess. I literally cannot make calls in 50% of my home without the Airave, so it's a necessity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slightly off topic
Whats annoying is the Airave is the only sprint product I haven't voided the warranty on...

Now guys think about why the airave would cause this issue....
Your airave uses your broadband internet connection, and the network switch is probably somewhere about 22.4 miles away .....
Now troubleshoot.................

azyouthinkeyeiz said:
Now guys think about why the airave would cause this issue....
Your airave uses your broadband internet connection, and the network switch is probably somewhere about 22.4 miles away .....
Now troubleshoot.................
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it's obvious when you realize the Airave is the one supplying the location to your 2.1 based Hero.
However, for me, it didn't ever happen on 1.5. Also, since I was an initial beta tester for the Airave, I didn't ever get explained to me that it could "interfere" with location services. It took me a bit to pinpoint the Airave as the culprit because it didn't do it for my 1.5 roms. So yeah it's easy to say what you said when you know the answer. If that answer isn't available to you, however, it's not so simple!

I feel kinda stupid for not realizing this also, of coarse mine says dallas, TX when i live 20 miles south of austin(couple hundred miles difference). F's my weather up something fierce.

azyouthinkeyeiz said:
Now guys think about why the airave would cause this issue....
Your airave uses your broadband internet connection, and the network switch is probably somewhere about 22.4 miles away .....
Now troubleshoot.................
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats what I said earlier #11. It actually has a GPS wire that is supposed to go outside to get the actual GPS location

wtphoto said:
dont have an airave wish I did I get crap signal in my house
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got one and didnt like it too much but it was free. All I did was call and tell them that since the last PRL update I was losing signal and they said they would send it out free of charge. And to add to that they also gave away 2yrs of service for free as well. If you want one you can call and tell them the same thing and see if they will help you out like they did me.
I still have mine and if they didn't stipulate that when done with it I had to send it back or pay for it I would send it to ya in a heartbeat.

I got my airave when I called to cancel because I just could not switch to roaming at my house.
Anyway, as far as it working, it is the berries man. But beyond that my phone has always showed the weather about 10 miles off. But when I pull up apps that geocode me, it pins me spot on to where I am at. No problems at all.
BUT I have only had it for about 6 hours. Let's see if that changes in the next couple days.

I have also noticed this.
I am running DC's 2.2v2 and my htcwweather and htcclock both tend to show about 100+ miles off(in Bellingham,WA but shows Artondale,WA). The weird thing is that it is consistent on the location. When at home it always show the same location but it is wrong.
This being said other GPS features are correct. When I run google maps or sprint nav it does find the correct location and it is spot on.
The thing that baffles me is why this is the case? I am guessing, and remember this is just a guess, that the HTC apps are using cell tower triangulation while the others actually use the GPS unit. This is my conclusion and I am not sure if it is correct, just a guess since when I do an update on the weather it doesn't activate the GPS on the top...

GPS Issue, only in some areas. GSM network dependent.

Bit of an odd one. Basically at home with the phone on my home network T-Mobile I simply can't get a GPS fix. This problem has only happened in the last couple of weeks previously its been fine, a fix within seconds.
As some of you may know T-Mobile and Orange in the UK have now enabled roaming between the 2 networks. If I force the phone to roam onto Orange I get a GPS fix with-in a minute. Switch the network back to T-Mobile back to no fix.
If I'm in a different area, network on T-Mobile, fix within seconds. I thought maybe it's quick GPS wrongly loading the wrong area because of an issue in the cell db, I've set quick GPS to never update and now the GPS appears to cold start although quick GPS still says the data it has is valid for x number of days.
I've tried defaulting the phone but exactly the same with defaults and using GPS Test rather than TomTom.
Does anyone have any ideas? Is anyone else having the same issue?

I just tried another test. I roamed onto Orange and got a GPS fix in TomTom, I then set my network back to T-Mobile and the GPS fix was lost! As I switched networks I left TomTom running in the background.

A bit more testing. If I force the phone onto 3G T-Mobile the GPS works fine. My theory is what ever frequency the cell here operates on (some 5 miles away in the 1800MHz band) must be causing the some issue with the hardware
I'm thinking that most people wouldn't be able to experiment to see this, I'm just lucky or unlucky depending on how you look at it that I'm in a position where I can switch networks therefore changing frequency within the 1800MHz band and I can stay in the same place to test it. I've had in the past where the GPS would loose its fix for no reason and then just come back while travelling on a motorway I wonder if this was the same thing. Also the chances of someone owning a HD2 using the GPS and being on a cell who's frequency causes a problem is pretty small, and if your travelling you're likely to just think it's dropped for some reason, and oh yes it's back again now so think no more of it.

You are getting confused between GPS and GPRS.
GPS is the satellite system that you use to pinpoint your location (as with TomTom). If your phone is indoors or has a restricted view of the sky, then it cannot receive a signal.
GPRS is a data connection between your phone and the telecoms company. It is basically 2.5G, which way a intermediate step before 3G became set up.

fred_up said:
You are getting confused between GPS and GPRS.
GPS is the satellite system that you use to pinpoint your location (as with TomTom). If your phone is indoors or has a restricted view of the sky, then it cannot receive a signal.
GPRS is a data connection between your phone and the telecoms company. It is basically 2.5G, which way a intermediate step before 3G became set up.
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No, completely understand the difference between GPRS and GPS
I've proven with out a doubt that when using the t-mobile cell serving our house (2g) there is no GPS signal. Use another network still 1800 and there is GPS, use 3g, or move to another area on t-mobile there is GPS.
GPS was working at home while on t-mobile upto a couple of weeks ago, I can only think that the cell has had some work done and has changed frequency.

twerki78 said:
No, completely understand the difference between GPRS and GPS
I've proven with out a doubt that when using the t-mobile cell serving our house (2g) there is no GPS signal. Use another network still 1800 and there is GPS, use 3g, or move to another area on t-mobile there is GPS.
GPS was working at home while on t-mobile upto a couple of weeks ago, I can only think that the cell has had some work done and has changed frequency.
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Silly question, but have you got AGPS activated? Because it can give you a rough location based upon the local cell transmitter info and any GPS satelite signals you may be recieving.

fred_up said:
Silly question, but have you got AGPS activated? Because it can give you a rough location based upon the local cell transmitter info and any GPS satellite signals you may be receiving.
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I have AGPS disabled. I doubt my operator supports it. I have tried with QuickGPS disabled and enabled but makes no difference.
If I get a fix while on Orange, leave which ever GPS enabled application I have running, running in the background, force the phone back onto my home network (TMobile), go back to the GPS application there's no fix and no satellite signal being received not even a hint.
I've also tried with the SIM card removed and GPS performs perfectly!

Thank you, I thought I was going mad - my GPS has been working perfectly since I got the phone 6 months ago but in the last week has been dropping out or refusing to start at all.
I tried a hard reset, which fixed the problem until I started driving the next day - after a few minutes TomTom lost it's way. Using a bluetooth GPS proved the signal was good, so I was coming around to the idea that the phone was broken...
I have also now read other users that have had GPS problems when roaming, although usually when switching between countries.
Looking on the T-Mobile website about the orange roaming issue it say 'there might be a few quirky side-effects' but I haven't even signed up for the Orange roaming option, sounds like T-Mobile has changed something for everyone?
I have read that fixing the network choice to manual, not auto, can help with GPS issues while roaming - I've yet to test this.

boomboomer said:
Thank you, I thought I was going mad - my GPS has been working perfectly since I got the phone 6 months ago but in the last week has been dropping out or refusing to start at all.
I tried a hard reset, which fixed the problem until I started driving the next day - after a few minutes TomTom lost it's way. Using a bluetooth GPS proved the signal was good, so I was coming around to the idea that the phone was broken...
I have also now read other users that have had GPS problems when roaming, although usually when switching between countries.
Looking on the T-Mobile website about the orange roaming issue it say 'there might be a few quirky side-effects' but I haven't even signed up for the Orange roaming option, sounds like T-Mobile has changed something for everyone?
I have read that fixing the network choice to manual, not auto, can help with GPS issues while roaming - I've yet to test this.
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I've had the issue for a couple of weeks I would say. Certainly last weekend I couldn't get a fix for ages when I set off and it wasn't until I was a way away from home that the GPS got a fix. This was before the roaming got switch on, of course it doesn't mean they were not doing something with the cell/network.
I too can get a perfect fix with external GPS or with a GPS nav system, or by changing networks! I've also tried another SIM card in the phone, again T-Mobile and get the same results.

I've attached some screen shots.
1st T-mobile no satellites, you'll notice that there isn't so much of hint of signal.
2nd Changing network.
3rd T-Mobile Orange and GPS fix.
All screen shots were taken with the phone in the same place.

Just come back from a drive just to test the GPS. Basically driven 30 miles away from home fixing the phone to T-Mobile and 2G and the only time I got a GPS fix was when the phone lost signal.
Parked in a layby and switched over to orange and got a fix with in a few seconds! Just can't figure out what the connection with being on T-mobile 2g is!

What Radio version is your phone using?

fred_up said:
What Radio version is your phone using?
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Have the same issue with various official T-Mobile ROMs.
I had a play with updating my AGPS settings last night using the Google settings from this thread: http://ip208-100-42-21.static.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=544421 when working on Orange couldn't notice any difference, with T-Mobile still not GPS fix.
I left the GPS running over night on T-Mobile, admittedly indoors but somewhere I know I get a fix, there was still no fix 7 hours later.

I live in a rural village covered only by one cell mast. GPS starts and runs fine at home with or without the phone turned on. if I walk over the other side of the hill, different cell mast, the GPS drops out immediately - I can't test if 3G fixes the problem as it doesn't work here. Once the GPS has stopped I can't get it to start again, even switching the phone off to airplane mode doesn't help. Only a soft reset, with the phone still in airplane mode will allow the GPS to start.
Switching the phone back on and the GPS drops, however walking back over the hill to home - back to my original cell mast and the GPS starts again.
I'm pretty sure t-mobile have rolled out a change to their 2G system, but not to all masts? rural ones maybe last done hence why my home cell still works.
How to proceed from here? T-Mobile are kind of hard to talk to.....
One thing I did notice was in Memory Map the satellite view normally flicks across satellite numbers until it finds a signal, if the T-Mobile problem occurs this process stops and it would appear to have frozen the service?

I take back the hard to talk to part of my last post, I emailed support from the website and they phoned me back within 2 hours!
As to be expected they couldn't give any instant answers but I gave this thread as a reference and the problem is to be escalated.
The call centerthen phoned me back and asked if I was happy, also to offer me 30 minutes free calls for next 3 months - very nice thank you.

Good work boomboomer. Hopefully T-mobile will find something. I'd like to know what they find, still can't understand the connection between a GSM network and GPS though. I haven't tried a controlled test with flight mode but will try that later. Out of interest what part of the country are you in? maybe it's just a pocket of cells that are affective? I'm in the BA8 postcode area.
The problem certainly only affects 2G, 3G is fine.
I'm out of the country this week but fingers crossed T-Mobile will find the problem. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with a problem.

I'm quite a distance away, DT2 here.
I've been asked to test the GPS over the next few days and keep a log of when and where it doesn't work, they said their network people will ring me soon.
At least this fault is 'interesting' in the words of their technical support guy, he'd never heard of anything like it, so there's hope they will give it some time.
On the plus side they've also given me a free month of internet, so I can't fault their customer support focus.
Incidentally, do you have SPB shell installed? This was the only change I'd made on my phone at the time this problem started.

boomboomer said:
I'm quite a distance away, DT2 here.
I've been asked to test the GPS over the next few days and keep a log of when and where it doesn't work, they said their network people will ring me soon.
At least this fault is 'interesting' in the words of their technical support guy, he'd never heard of anything like it, so there's hope they will give it some time.
On the plus side they've also given me a free month of internet, so I can't fault their customer support focus.
Incidentally, do you have SPB shell installed? This was the only change I'd made on my phone at the time this problem started.
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I didn't get chance to do any testing today at Heathrow as ended up being a bit rushed. I wouldn't say your not a million miles away. 22miles ish, the Cell that covers our home is in Dorset which is pretty useless when you have to call 999 because you get connected to Dorset who then can't pass you to Somerset and you end up being in a situation where you have no way of contacting Somerset 999 not great in this day and age! But I'm not going to get started on that one on this topic.
It's quite possible its a regional problem.
No I haven't installed SPB shell, I have tried it with a defaulted phone but still had the same problem.
I'm out the country now until Friday, but will do some testing when I return on my return journey. I'll fix the phone to 2g T-mobile and keep an eye on where the GPS drops out.

Oh dear, just got a call from T-Mobile technical networks - they don't support GPS as part of their service and won't be spending any time on the problem, case closed. They did say the problem seems to be with HTC devices only, blackberrys are not effected so it sounds like they have heard of the issue eleswhere?
Looks like it's a network switch required to solve the problem, shame that as I've been with T-Mobile for over 7 years.

boomboomer said:
Oh dear, just got a call from T-Mobile technical networks - they don't support GPS as part of their service and won't be spending any time on the problem, case closed. They did say the problem seems to be with HTC devices only, blackberrys are not effected so it sounds like they have heard of the issue eleswhere?
Looks like it's a network switch required to solve the problem, shame that as I've been with T-Mobile for over 7 years.
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Hmm, T-Mobile sold me the phone for use on their network, the phone is sold with a GPS, that now doesn't work on their network surely they need to spend sometime working with HTC to resolve the problem.
I do have a case open with HTC under the ref 10gbc410001235 they were supposed to be taking it up with tier 2 but as yet I've not heard anything back. I'll have to follow it up when I'm back in the UK. It might be worth you also logging a fault with HTC quoting my ref. at least if 2 people call in with the same problem they may start to think it's not just one crazy with the issue!
My other half has a HTC Desire, I haven't checked the GPS on her phone. Not sure if they use the same chipset, of course one is WM the other android. I wonder if its a problem for all HTC phones or just the HD2?