anyone know how to force an E71 to use 950GSM only?
7 months, 2 weeks ago.
34 comments so far
I've been really baffled as to my connection issues here in longford. Friend on Meteor is getting good connectivity with his Meteor phone since we installed our GMS booster mast - but I'm wondering whether it's a phone thing - not just a carrier issue.
He's using a Nokia 6230i, I'm on an E71, and my business partner is on an E65. We're wondering whether the 6230i is getting more advantage from the GSM booster
Now, if 3 Ireland have sent you that phone to try and keep you as a subscriber, and it only operates properly on GSM, then it defeats the purpose of having a subscription with a 3G operator.
That's a legend response @runningwithbulls - that makes a lot of sense - I'm going to look at reinstalling my old e65 to see if i can get access to more options and test it out.
I'm hesitant to feck around with the E71 as I may have to return it. At least I can mess up the e65 all I want!
@alexleonard the reason Dual Mode is flaky is the phone is constantly changing between GSM and UMTS ("3G").
If you move into a better 3G coverage area I am sure you will get faster network speeds. But of course, that doesn't help when you live in an area of low 3G coverage.
If the phone doesn't work "properly" in your area, don't hesitate to drop 3 Ireland and move to someone else.
also, regarding the network access options you have:
the difference between @map s e71, your's and mine is probably down to the operator installing operator-specific firmware. Thats a pretty usual thing. They install all their operator specific options (3 Mail, 3 Music shop...etc).
Thanks again dude. Just tested the *#7370# thing - I can't believe they hadn't done that before they sent me the phone (resulting in me having other people's text messages and email accounts on the phone.
Yeah, I think it was @rcadden yesterday saying that I should just buy a phone outside of the carriers. Of course the price difference is pretty phenomenal.
Well I guess if this reinstall option from Nokia will work as I hope it will then it's possible to bypass the operator crap and get the phone as the manufacturer intended it...
"your phone software is already up to date. If you wish you can reinstall it."
So I said yes please, and it did an update.
The phone restarted and after the welcome screens etc it returned to the same state it goes to after running *#7370# - which means that my network mode choices are still only Dual Mode or UTMS.
Which means Three are still affecting my settings I assume.
@alexleonard the reset isnt going to format it back to a non-operator phone. That is only going to reset it back to no users modifications-sms messages, installed software, contacts.
It still retains the operator specific firmware.
Think of it as ubuntu OS. Typing 7373..etc removes user, but it is still ubuntu flavour linux. Ubuntu=operator specific firmware.
If you want to run generic linux, you need to install nokia generic firmware. Easiest way is to find a phone shop who would do it for you. There is a nokia shop in dublin (not an official nokia store)
Hey. Thanks again for the responses
I'll test out umts mode but I think with our gsm booster there's absolutely nothing.
generally with the booster off in dual mode my phone would show low reception that would fluctuate an awful lot. More often than not I'd have to leave the house and walk to the end of our drive to be able to make a call.
With the booster on, and the phone in dual mode I can have full reception but get constant connection errors.
@alexleonard well if you have to go to those extremes to get a telephone signal, to actually make a basic call, then I'd send it back, tell them to cancel your subscription as soon as possible.
If you have used that number for a while, you could also ask to get it ported to your next operator.
Thats a pity, as some of 3's services are quite good. The streaming TV being one.
Anyway, its a no-go if you can't even get a basic call through.
This is a comreg site that lists cellphone masts in Ireland (I am not sure if 100% up-to-date).
You can find your area and see which operator has the most masts, the closet to your house etc.
You might find that none of the operators have masts near your house - your option then would be to call them all up, tell them you can't get service from any.
One operator may actually (not often, but it does happen) reconfigure one sector its network of to provide you with coverage.
Like I said, that doesn't happen often, but its worth a try.
Looks like we're surrounded by Vodafone and O2 masts. We were on Vodafone when we first moved here but I think we're just in a dip or something. At a guess, if Meteor is working well on GSM only, I'd say Vodafone would be ok as well.
Also, if Meteor are working fine, then O2 would probably be grand as well - don't Meteor and O2 mast share?
@alexleonard I don't know about Meteor and o2 sharing masts. You could ask them.
Unless you are looking for 3G coverage, specifically, I'd suggest going with an operator that runs a GSM network as well as 3G. That comes down to Vodafone, Meteor, and o2.
The next thing you need to find out is which operator has best coverage in your area...
I was out for the afternoon walking in Derrycassin - nice little forest walk. I think without a doubt we'll be moving. We've been able to test out Meteor as Donn's older brother is staying here at the moment and he's on Meteor. It seems to be working absolutely fine. He can make and receive calls and we can't. So that's a good sign.
We've no need to be on 3G really. Got a decent net connection at the home/office and I use wifi on the phone to do all I need to do (except the Jaiku app, which unfortunately is 3G only). Obviously it's nice to have 3G when I'm away from home, but any of the other carriers will suit my needs for the occassional bit of travel.
It'll also be great to be back on a business account (which 3 deemed not-suitable for us for some unknown reason). I really hate switching phone carrier all the time. I seem to have switched once a year for the past 3 or 4 years. We were on Meteor when we moved to Leitrim and the phone reception was miserable. So we broke contract (with their approval) and switched to Vodafone, who were fine, until we move to Longford, where it became miserable. So we tried 3 then (which was a super bad idea) and we've been stuck with that for a year.
The thing here is to look for an operator who runs at least a GSM network. If they have a 3G network, then that's a bonus (when/if you're visiting an urban area).
You can get more acceptable phone reception (NB: for telephone calls) with bad GSM coverage than with bad 3G coverage (gross simplification, but it's basically true).
If you live in a "rural" area, always look for a) excellent GSM coverage, b) an accurate 3G coverage map, or c) an easy no questions asked get-out-clause.
If 3 had their own GSM network then I would not be suggesting moving away from them, but they don't..
I wouldn't be moving house, just because of mobile coverage!
See if you can get a SIM for each operator, like @topgold suggested, and try each of them.
Also: get onto 3 about porting your number. They have to. (But check with Comreg for sure)
If you need any help let me know: b@jaiku_username.com
34 comments so far
I've been really baffled as to my connection issues here in longford. Friend on Meteor is getting good connectivity with his Meteor phone since we installed our GMS booster mast - but I'm wondering whether it's a phone thing - not just a carrier issue.
He's using a Nokia 6230i, I'm on an E71, and my business partner is on an E65. We're wondering whether the 6230i is getting more advantage from the GSM booster
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
This is the booster we bought: http://url.ie/wd8
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Any help or thoughts would be fantastically helpful!
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
In Settings > Phone > Network I can only choose between Dual Mode and UTMS - not sure if this would cause an issue with the GSM booster.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Definitely UTMS does nothing. No connection whatsoever. Dual mode is flaky at best.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Yeah, it's not looking likely at the moment. Not finding anything on the web. I'm assuming the E65 will be the same but will switch sims now to check
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Hmm, just switched sims - Network Mode options on my e65 as follows:
That's it.. heh.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Yes, I have choices: Dual mode, UMTS and GSM in my E71.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by map
Right. So the carrier has probably fecked around with things..
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
the reason your friend's phone's signal is better is that picocell you bough operates only at GSM frequencies, not UTMS.
So that is never going to help your phone as long as you use dual-band (GSM and UTMS) on your phone.
If you use GSM only on your phone, then that picocell will help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSMfrequencybands http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTSfrequencybands
Now, if 3 Ireland have sent you that phone to try and keep you as a subscriber, and it only operates properly on GSM, then it defeats the purpose of having a subscription with a 3G operator.
Makes sense?
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
That's a legend response @runningwithbulls - that makes a lot of sense - I'm going to look at reinstalling my old e65 to see if i can get access to more options and test it out.
I'm hesitant to feck around with the E71 as I may have to return it. At least I can mess up the e65 all I want!
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
@alexleonard the reason Dual Mode is flaky is the phone is constantly changing between GSM and UMTS ("3G").
If you move into a better 3G coverage area I am sure you will get faster network speeds. But of course, that doesn't help when you live in an area of low 3G coverage.
If the phone doesn't work "properly" in your area, don't hesitate to drop 3 Ireland and move to someone else.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
@alexleonard I wouldn't worry about fesking up the E71, you can reset it to default by using *#7370# and typing 12345 when it asks about a lock code.
Of course: make sure you have a backup of your contacts and stuff.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
That's class! Man, @runningwithbulls (and Jaiku in general) rocks!
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
also, regarding the network access options you have:
the difference between @map s e71, your's and mine is probably down to the operator installing operator-specific firmware. Thats a pretty usual thing. They install all their operator specific options (3 Mail, 3 Music shop...etc).
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
@alexleonard heh, you're welcome. i hope you get it working (but like i said, make sure you have made up your mind 100% by the time the 7 days is up).
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
Thanks again dude. Just tested the *#7370# thing - I can't believe they hadn't done that before they sent me the phone (resulting in me having other people's text messages and email accounts on the phone.
Muppets.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Feel free to blame your operators, I don't have any operator specific in my phone.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by map
Yeah, I think it was @rcadden yesterday saying that I should just buy a phone outside of the carriers. Of course the price difference is pretty phenomenal.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
and that is where the operators win...
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
Well I guess if this reinstall option from Nokia will work as I hope it will then it's possible to bypass the operator crap and get the phone as the manufacturer intended it...
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Hmm.
So I ran Nokia Software Updater and it said:
"your phone software is already up to date. If you wish you can reinstall it."
So I said yes please, and it did an update.
The phone restarted and after the welcome screens etc it returned to the same state it goes to after running *#7370# - which means that my network mode choices are still only Dual Mode or UTMS.
Which means Three are still affecting my settings I assume.
Nokia Software Updater reads my phone as
Nokia E71 (RM-346)
Firmware Version: Current: 100.07.76 Update: 100.07.76
Any thoughts on how to force it back to true factory defaults or has three got it locked down somehow?
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
Same version here.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by map
I might give the carrier a call and see if they'll advise me on how to enable switching to GSM only.
I doubt they'll be helpful..
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
@alexleonard the reset isnt going to format it back to a non-operator phone. That is only going to reset it back to no users modifications-sms messages, installed software, contacts.
It still retains the operator specific firmware.
Think of it as ubuntu OS. Typing 7373..etc removes user, but it is still ubuntu flavour linux. Ubuntu=operator specific firmware.
If you want to run generic linux, you need to install nokia generic firmware. Easiest way is to find a phone shop who would do it for you. There is a nokia shop in dublin (not an official nokia store)
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
since it is an operator specific firmware, they seem to have removed the option to run the phone in gsm.
This would make sense as 3 are a "3g" only operator.
Every time a subscriber (ie you) want to roam onto GSM, it costs them a certain fee.
They will probably try to keep you running the phone on umts, or at best dual mode.
two things:
when the phone is on umts, and you have no signal can you make a call?
when the phone is on umts, and you have signal can you make a call?
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
Hey. Thanks again for the responses I'll test out umts mode but I think with our gsm booster there's absolutely nothing.
generally with the booster off in dual mode my phone would show low reception that would fluctuate an awful lot. More often than not I'd have to leave the house and walk to the end of our drive to be able to make a call.
With the booster on, and the phone in dual mode I can have full reception but get constant connection errors.
So anyway, the upshot is - bye bye three!
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
@alexleonard well if you have to go to those extremes to get a telephone signal, to actually make a basic call, then I'd send it back, tell them to cancel your subscription as soon as possible.
If you have used that number for a while, you could also ask to get it ported to your next operator.
Thats a pity, as some of 3's services are quite good. The streaming TV being one.
Anyway, its a no-go if you can't even get a basic call through.
Before you choose your next operator you could have a look here: http://www.askcomreg.ie/mobile/siteviewer.273.LE.asp
This is a comreg site that lists cellphone masts in Ireland (I am not sure if 100% up-to-date).
You can find your area and see which operator has the most masts, the closet to your house etc.
You might find that none of the operators have masts near your house - your option then would be to call them all up, tell them you can't get service from any.
One operator may actually (not often, but it does happen) reconfigure one sector its network of to provide you with coverage.
Like I said, that doesn't happen often, but its worth a try.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
Looks like we're surrounded by Vodafone and O2 masts. We were on Vodafone when we first moved here but I think we're just in a dip or something. At a guess, if Meteor is working well on GSM only, I'd say Vodafone would be ok as well.
Also, if Meteor are working fine, then O2 would probably be grand as well - don't Meteor and O2 mast share?
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
@alexleonard I don't know about Meteor and o2 sharing masts. You could ask them.
Unless you are looking for 3G coverage, specifically, I'd suggest going with an operator that runs a GSM network as well as 3G. That comes down to Vodafone, Meteor, and o2.
The next thing you need to find out is which operator has best coverage in your area...
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
You should see if @patphelan would gift you his unlocked Nokia E71 then test Vodafone and an O2 SIMs in it.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by topgold
@topgold yes, if @patphelan could lend alex a phone and 2 SIMs.
In fact any phone would do..as long as it was unlocked.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
Hey guys,
I was out for the afternoon walking in Derrycassin - nice little forest walk. I think without a doubt we'll be moving. We've been able to test out Meteor as Donn's older brother is staying here at the moment and he's on Meteor. It seems to be working absolutely fine. He can make and receive calls and we can't. So that's a good sign.
We've no need to be on 3G really. Got a decent net connection at the home/office and I use wifi on the phone to do all I need to do (except the Jaiku app, which unfortunately is 3G only). Obviously it's nice to have 3G when I'm away from home, but any of the other carriers will suit my needs for the occassional bit of travel.
It'll also be great to be back on a business account (which 3 deemed not-suitable for us for some unknown reason). I really hate switching phone carrier all the time. I seem to have switched once a year for the past 3 or 4 years. We were on Meteor when we moved to Leitrim and the phone reception was miserable. So we broke contract (with their approval) and switched to Vodafone, who were fine, until we move to Longford, where it became miserable. So we tried 3 then (which was a super bad idea) and we've been stuck with that for a year.
7 months, 2 weeks ago by alexleonard
The thing here is to look for an operator who runs at least a GSM network. If they have a 3G network, then that's a bonus (when/if you're visiting an urban area).
You can get more acceptable phone reception (NB: for telephone calls) with bad GSM coverage than with bad 3G coverage (gross simplification, but it's basically true).
If you live in a "rural" area, always look for a) excellent GSM coverage, b) an accurate 3G coverage map, or c) an easy no questions asked get-out-clause.
If 3 had their own GSM network then I would not be suggesting moving away from them, but they don't..
I wouldn't be moving house, just because of mobile coverage!
See if you can get a SIM for each operator, like @topgold suggested, and try each of them.
Also: get onto 3 about porting your number. They have to. (But check with Comreg for sure)
If you need any help let me know: b@jaiku_username.com
7 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls