Next G network. Another twist to the story
Submitted: Monday, May 07, 2007 at 10:16
ThreadID:
45172
Views:
4526
Replies:
8
FollowUps:
13
This Thread has been Archived
phil
Hi,
There has been much discussion recently about the coverage, or lack of, using the Telstra Next G network as compared to CDMA.
A few days ago I was in the local Telstra
shop and brought this up while talking to an unusually knowlegeble sales person. He said that there have been quite a lot of Next G phones that have been supplied with the network selection parameter set to GSM. This means that they do not act as a NextG phone at all. The correct setting is AUTO which allows the phone to detect the Next G network if available, or to default transparently to GSM if not (eg. overseas) The phone should show Next G on the display.
This may help some people.I hope. I will keep my old CDMA phone for a while longer hovever.
Phil I
Reply By: Footloose - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 10:50
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 10:50
Thats interesting, thanks Phil.
AnswerID:
238353
Reply By: Russel & Mary - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 12:34
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 12:34
interesting phil. Did he say that ALL Next G phones should have "Next G" on the display?. This might be why I am so pi##ed off with my Samsung. Rus.
AnswerID:
238370
Follow Up By: StephenF10 - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 14:35
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 14:35
My Samsung A701 shows "3G" on NextG and "E" on GSM.
Stephen.
FollowupID:
499480
Reply By: John R (SA) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 12:48
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 12:48
I read a similar thing on another
forum the other day. I've changed my settings & it doesn't seem to have made much difference, though it was set to 2G (GSM, I believe).
For those with an LG;
Settings -> Connectivity -> Network -> Preferred Lists -> 3Telstra (3G) needs to be at the top of the list.
Also ensure;
Settings -> Connectivity -> Network -> Network Selection -> Automatic is set.
There is a small 3G in the top left corner of my screen.
Considering the similarity between the Samsung & LG, it shouldn't be too hard to apply the above to any other make of phone.
AnswerID:
238374
Follow Up By: hl - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 13:08
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 13:08
Hi,
Another way of telling if you are in a NextG area is to look at the display and check if it shows the location you are in. If the phone is in a GSM only area or is set to only work on GSM, it will show your location, on nextG it won't.
Cheers
FollowupID:
499468
Follow Up By: Member - Jerry C (WA) - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 00:14
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 00:14
Hi All,
There are certainly a lot of theories about this subject, but there are two parameters which are fixed.
CDMA and NextG operate in the 850MHz frequency band. 3G is an enhansment to the GSM system and operates in the 2100MHz band.
Cheers, Jerry.
FollowupID:
499607
Follow Up By: Mr Fawlty - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 10:35
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 10:35
John R, mate you are the font of all knowledge. I had a look at
mine and adjusted the settings to those you suggested and presto...
Now all I have to do is find someone who I can make an urgent, important video call to.....
FollowupID:
499641
Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 13:12
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 13:12
So does the Next G work the same
places that the Telstra CDMA do?? I just received a letter from Telstra sayint the CDMA System closes in February and i should get a new Next G NOW!! The letter did say that Next G covered 97% of all Australians already but what it didnt say was that it covered the same
places as the CDMA network.. From that omission i gather its not as good!!! Michael.
AnswerID:
238377
Follow Up By: StephenF10 - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 14:31
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 14:31
Telstra is putting NextG equipment on all existing GSM and CDMA towers, so coverage should be at least as good as CDMA.
Stephen.
FollowupID:
499478
Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 13:18
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 13:18
Phil, some people actually fiddle with their phones and change the parameters. More fool them :-( They actually change that themselves to GSM. Best give them the ability to select the most advantageous one. Heather's phone is a tri-band phone so works a fair way around the world. Next G being best at home.
As to your point about keeping your CDMA, that is short sighted if you want to use the technology. CDMA won't work overseas anyway, except some may work on the Eastern Island states, sometimes called New Zealand.......
AnswerID:
238378
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 14:55
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 14:55
I'm waiting until I see what Nokia are about to release in the next month or so.
Don't like the lack of external aerial interfaces on the current crop of phones. (excluding Telstra's own brand)
I was also hoping to get a phone without a camera, so I could incorporate both the CDMA and GSM phones into one piece of technology.
(I work in a place that forbids camera enabled phones)
Don't like my chances I'm afraid and the cheapest NextG "plan" is $23/month.
Bugga!!!
AnswerID:
238394
Follow Up By: phil - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 15:37
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 15:37
I was told that all the Next G phones also do tri or quad band GSM. However if you use the data facilities the data rate will be lower when you are connected via GSM.
Apparently the network determines which network you are connected using and incoming calls are automatically routed by the correct path. So you only have one phone number.
I was shown at least 2 phones which had an external aerial socket, and one that used a small coupler on the end ofthe patch lead in place of a plug. All had cameras.
I am keeping my CDMA for now because I use it only as a phone while travelling. I have no network coverage where I live. All I need is a simple phone.
FollowupID:
499489
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:16
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:16
Phil,
Perhaps I didn't clarify my "desire" properly.
What I intended long term was to have a NextG phone that replaced the CDMA phone and eliminated the need for a GSM one as
well.
I too, just want a simple phone. Not interested in all the other crap associated with NextG, but whatever, it cannot have a camera. If I want to take a picture, I have two digital cameras to do that and much better than one on a phone.
FollowupID:
499528
Follow Up By: GerryP - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:59
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:59
The LG TU500 apparently has an external antenna connection with their car kit. The kit is currently on special (in SA anyway) for $49 (reduced from close to $400)if you change over from your CDMA plan. The kit also incorporates bluetooth so you can use the phone remotely and still have the benefit of the external antenna. Am going in soon to find out more and probably take the plunge.
Gerry
FollowupID:
499591
Follow Up By: Richard W (NSW) - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 07:18
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 07:18
>GerryP posted this followup
>The LG TU500 apparently has an external antenna connection with their car kit. >The kit is currently on special (in SA anyway) for $49 (reduced from close to >$400)if you change over from your CDMA plan.
On the $40 plan and above in NSW. I went the $30 plan :(
FollowupID:
499622
Reply By: phil - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 15:41
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 15:41
I have also heard that some people have been sold 2100Mhz GSM 3G phones in the mistaken belief that they were Next G.
Now that really would restrict coverage!
Phil I
AnswerID:
238399
Reply By: Bros 1 - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:26
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:26
phil,
Bought a Telstra ZTE next G this week to replace the old CDMA Motorola.
Shows 3G in top left hand corner. So are you saying that it should be on AUTO?
Or the Telstra bloke/tte said so that is.
Cheers,
Bros.
AnswerID:
238454
Follow Up By: phil - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 21:47
Monday, May 07, 2007 at 21:47
As I understand, it will show 3G or NextG when connected to the Next G network, and something else if dropping back to GSM in absence of Next G.
Auto is apparently the setting parameter which should be used to achieve this behaviour.
Phil I
FollowupID:
499570
Follow Up By: hl - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 06:48
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 06:48
Hi,
I also have one of these. It shows 3G when on the NextG network and just "3" as
well as location when in GSM mode, which would be pretty rare unless you force it.
I have the car kit with that too and it works
well, although it is more fiddly to put the phone in then the old Nokia. I also works very
well as a modem for a laptop and internet/email access is good enough to make the laptop somewhat redundant. So, while I was reluctant to change from my old Nokia, the extra features on nextG are pretty amazing. If the coverage pans out to be similar or better than CDMA, it is definitely a win.
Cheers
FollowupID:
499620
Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 10:45
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 10:45
The plot thickens.
I bought my Samsung 701 from local Telstra
shop and called in on another matter today.
Asked them about the display of 3G etc and she said the way to tell if my phone was connected to the Next G was to check the Sim card, which she did and it showed Next G.
So another slant on situation.
Pedro
FollowupID:
499643
Follow Up By: hl - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 15:12
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 15:12
And another:
If you have a Telstra 3G phone and stick the 3G simcard into a NextG one, it works just fine!
Cheers
FollowupID:
499657