FAQ: Does ENS make for better coverage and/or connections?

Post-merger Cingular still has two separate networks, the old ATTWS (blue)
network and the old Cingular (orange) network. While both ATTWS and Cingular
customers can now freely roam on the other network, thus given all subscribers
the same coverage, frequency band issues aside, the difference is that such
roaming can only happen when there is no "usable" home network signal, and a
"usable" signal can actually be pretty crappy.

In other words, ATTWS (blue) handsets will only roam on the Cingular (orange)
network if there is no "usable" ATTWS (blue) network signal, and vice versa,
even with ENS. Thus in any given location a blue handset may get much better
service (on the blue network) than an orange handset (given a "usable" orange
signal), and vice versa.

The new Cingular ENS handsets and Cingular (orange) 64K SIMs (if you have
both) make it possible for Cingular to manually change your "home" network (to
blue or orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better of the
two networks until the two networks are actually integrated. However, even
with ENS, the handset still *isn't* able to automatically select the better
network signal -- GSM roaming rules still apply.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

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› See More: FAQ: Does ENS make for better coverage and/or connections?

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:cNADe.4981$p%[email protected]...
> Post-merger Cingular still has two separate networks, the old ATTWS (blue)
> network and the old Cingular (orange) network. While both ATTWS and
> Cingular
> customers can now freely roam on the other network, thus given all
> subscribers
> the same coverage, frequency band issues aside, the difference is that
> such
> roaming can only happen when there is no "usable" home network signal, and
> a
> "usable" signal can actually be pretty crappy.
>
> In other words, ATTWS (blue) handsets will only roam on the Cingular
> (orange)
> network if there is no "usable" ATTWS (blue) network signal, and vice
> versa,
> even with ENS. Thus in any given location a blue handset may get much
> better
> service (on the blue network) than an orange handset (given a "usable"
> orange
> signal), and vice versa.
>
> The new Cingular ENS handsets and Cingular (orange) 64K SIMs (if you have
> both) make it possible for Cingular to manually change your "home" network
> (to
> blue or orange) OTA (over the air), thus giving subscribers the better of
> the
> two networks until the two networks are actually integrated. However,
> even
> with ENS, the handset still *isn't* able to automatically select the
> better
> network signal -- GSM roaming rules still apply.
>
> --
> Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
> John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

The above coincides with what my prepaid service (Beyond Wireless) says (the
following should be read in the context of their offering on the blue TDMA
network):

"The networks are NOT merging. They are simply saving money by choosing one
tower or the other in areas where the blue and orange overlap. They may take
down a blue tower and start using the orange tower for both networks, but
the size of the blue coverage is not going to be affected. The Carolinas is
a separate issue and not subject to this. The towers lost in the Carolinas
are still lost, not being replaced with the orange in the area (I asked that
specific question). I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't just make
the switch along with the rest of the country. However, all former AT&T
customer in those areas did not become Cingular customers, they became
SunCom customers, so they really don't have anything invested in the area
except for resellers such as our self, but since we don't offere service in
that area, they are not concerned ..."

Russell

they can change you from blue to orange or vice versa, but good luck getting them to do it. The cs reps have been instructed to tell customers there is only one network now.

ens has nothing to do with making your phone switch to a stronger signal. all is does is load balancing. its just a temporary solution until the two networks are intagrated.

your best option is you need to change networks for a better signal is to enable manual network selection on your phone so you can change from orange to blue on your own. I leave my on 410 (orange) at work but switch it to 480 (blue) at home

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 21 Jul 2005 13:29:53
-0500, troyboy30 <[email protected]> wrote:

>they can change you from blue to orange or vice versa, but good luck
>getting them to do it. The cs reps have been instructed to tell
>customers there is only one network now.

I've had no problem getting a number of phones switched for friends -- all it
took were the right words and a bit of persistence.

>ens has nothing to do with making your phone switch to a stronger
>signal. all is does is load balancing. its just a temporary solution
>until the two networks are intagrated.

Correct.

>your best option is you need to change networks for a better signal is
>to enable manual network selection on your phone so you can change from
>orange to blue on your own. I leave my on 410 (orange) at work but
>switch it to 480 (blue) at home

Cingular has disabled manual network selection on all the phones I've checked.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

all you have to do is use motokit and uncheck the option for advanced menus. If you want to be able to change the search option from auto to manual you can do this with seem edits. It does mess up the voicemail notify on some cingular phones. search for x8's seem edit guide and you will see how to do it.

I have manual selection on my phone becouse i turned it back on.