Is Cingular now all GSM?

>TDMA or analog.

....thanks guys...now another question: TDMA is the digital signal that followed
AMPS, the original analog signal...is this correct? Oh yeah, and what are
"field test screens", and SMS messages??
Muchas gracias...
Aaron Worley

---

› See More: Is Cingular now all GSM?

On 26 Dec 2003 09:47:20 GMT, [email protected]nkbgone (Aaron
Worley) wrote:

>Oh yeah, and what are
>"field test screens", and SMS messages??

SMS = Short Message System. Part of the GSM spec. which other
technologies also used. Earlier TDMA phones could only accept
messages and could not originate messages. Some carriers such as
Sprint PCS don't have traditional SMS in that you need to go to the
web to retrieve messages.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
add .com to reply

The Detroit market has been transitioned to GSM since Oct, 02 and my
6340i still starts with TDMA/AMPS first. I was told in Dec, 02 that
my phone was the first GSM accessible phone in my area and still one
of a very few when I wondered why I hadn't been picking up very much
GSM. Now give any TDMA service and anything but Cingular GSM. Suffer
from echo problems on incoming calls and lower voice level except from
other cell phones. I do not suffer these problems on ATTWS,
VoiceStream(T-Mobile), Einstein PCS, USA 360, 390, 450, Iowa Wireless,
etc. GSM systems.

Chris
Please respond on Usenet
Happy Holidays!


"NOLA" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
> Cingular sets the 6340i to TDMA preferred or GSM preferred depending on your
> home market. When I got mine, it was set to TDMA preferred as yours is, but
> then about a week before they turned on GSM here, it was changed to GSM
> preferred. I started picking up GSM before it went live and only get TDMA
> when there is no GSM signal.
>
> Tom

GSM will not hand-off to TDMA/AMPS and vice versa. When you get a GSM
signal and the call leaves GSM, you'll probably get the 3 quiet beeps
then nothing. Suppossedly they are trying to fix this problem and
make GSM hand-off to TDMA/AMPS. Altough I see this as the same
situation with my SPCS phone and you are on a call on the SPCS network
and lose the signal, it will aways drop the call and not hand-off to
another CDMA or AMPS carrier.

Chris
Please respond on Usenet
Happy Holidays!



Aboutdakota <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> There is a smooth handoff between TDMA and AMPS, and AMPS to TDMA. I
> have not actually used my GSM mode yet, as I've been roaming in
> TDMA/AMPS territory since I got my phone. I should start picking up a
> GSM signal by the end of the year via Western Wireless.
>
> ==AD

It will try to hold a Cingular signal either GSM or TDMA before it
will search for another carrier. And it will hold it down to 0 bars
of signal strength, usually the point that it will switch. This is
one of the few problems with the 6340i. I was in Earle, AR at the TA
truckstop and it would keep switching from a 1 bar Cingular signal to
a 6 bar ATTWS signal. It drove me nuts trying to make a call.

Chris
Please respond on Usenet
Happy Holidays!


"Pat" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> This is the Gait phone I found on Cingular.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/y0mj
>
> In the Greater Boston area and local regions around RTE495, does it nicely
> flow between the various towers based on signal strength or does it try to
> use GSM and only go to TDMA when there is no GSM or so weak a GSM there is
> no other option than TDMA?

My 6340i usually doesn't beep the call forwarding notice very much
anymore. I do have menu 12 'Field Test'. I usually get the GSM
carrier on my alpha tag, but I can get ATT Wireless and
VoiceStream(T-Mobile) as these or Cingular Extend. I've gotten
Einsein PCS, Iowa Wireless, USA 350, 390, 450(US Cellular) and
Microcell(Canadian) among others.

Chris
Please respond on Usenet
Happy Holidays!


Jud Hardcastle <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Quickest way I've found: select menu--select messages--scroll up two
> clicks to "Service command editor". If it's grayed out you're NOT on
> GSM. Some of the call forwarding options are also grayed out on
> TDMA/amps and the options themselves behave differently. On GSM, if
> call forwarding is active (or you have voicemail) when you PLACE a call
> you'll hear a beep and the display will say something like "call
> forwarding active". The only way I've found to distinguish TDMA from
> AMPS is via the field test screens--and the lack of SMS messages :-)
>
> PITA. Why couldn't they have a G/T/A indicator--oh I forget--the poor
> consumer isn't supposed to know or care which system he's on--right.

To find how to get a Nokia 6340i in to field test mode see this link:

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=au...um=11&filter=0

Chris
please respond on Usenet
Happy Holidays!


[email protected]nkbgone (Aaron Worley) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> >TDMA or analog.
>
> ...thanks guys...now another question: TDMA is the digital signal that followed
> AMPS, the original analog signal...is this correct? Oh yeah, and what are
> "field test screens", and SMS messages??
> Muchas gracias...
> Aaron Worley

Hey Chris, I tried to send this to your e-mail address, but couldn't firgure
out how to do it...and went to usenet, and they wanted to charge me to send you
something...thanks, Aaron Worley
Hey, sorry to bother you...you seem to know more about this subject than
Cingular does! What exactly is the purpose of "field test mode"? Is it possible
to re-assign which signal my 6340i will look for first?
Also, another question, if you're inclined to answer: I've been using my
6340i as a modem with my laptop for internet...however, I'm in Northern
Michigan now (UP) and the phone is on AMPS, I'm pretty sure, and I'm not able
to get through to the Cingular dial-up number like normal...is this because
data can't be transmitted through analog signals?
Thanks a whole bunch,

Aaron"Wes" Worley
Aaron Worley

Wes, the field test mode will allow you to see whether you are on GSM,
TDMA or AMPS. Section 01-01 thru 01-13 are for GSM only and 01-01
will show you the channel you are on and the signal strength (usually
-49 to [-]113-the lower number the better the signal strength) and
will list CCCH. A few screens later it will show the channels
available. 01-09 wil show the LAC (local [gsm]area code and CID (cell
id-similar to TDMA/AMPS SID). Some of the later 01 pages, do not fool
with them as you can change them. 21-01 thru 21-09 are for TDMA/AMPS
only. On 21-01 you will see signal strength, channel #, channel state
and DCCH for TDMA and ACCH for AMPS. 21-02 will show you the SID as
the lower right #. You will get an idea of the other screens if you
use field test mode. Also, on any screen you can press * for two
seconds and a cryptic explanation will come up, then press * again for
two seconds to get back. You will not have any control of which signal
it picks, it will all be autonatic. I have no info on modem usage on
the 6340i as I don't use my phone as a modem. When I'm on the road in
my 18-wheeler, I use Flying J's Wi-Fi at a couple hundred (and
growing) truckstops around the country. I got an introductory rate of
$99.95 (has now gone up to $199.95 -still a good rate compared to the
rip-off WI-Fi in hotels, airports, etc.) for one year of service. At
home I have SBC/Yahoo DSL.

Chris
Please respond on Usenet in the newsgroup
Happy Holidays!




[email protected]nkbgone (Aaron Worley) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hey Chris, I tried to send this to your e-mail address, but couldn't firgure
> out how to do it...and went to usenet, and they wanted to charge me to send you
> something...thanks, Aaron Worley
> Hey, sorry to bother you...you seem to know more about this subject than
> Cingular does! What exactly is the purpose of "field test mode"? Is it possible
> to re-assign which signal my 6340i will look for first?
> Also, another question, if you're inclined to answer: I've been using my
> 6340i as a modem with my laptop for internet...however, I'm in Northern
> Michigan now (UP) and the phone is on AMPS, I'm pretty sure, and I'm not able
> to get through to the Cingular dial-up number like normal...is this because
> data can't be transmitted through analog signals?
> Thanks a whole bunch,
>
> Aaron"Wes" Worley
> Aaron Worley

Chris Russell wrote:
> GSM will not hand-off to TDMA/AMPS and vice versa. When you get a GSM
> signal and the call leaves GSM, you'll probably get the 3 quiet beeps
> then nothing.

This is not good for me. I'm constantly moving driving between
Cingular's GSM and someone else's TDMA. I'd be dropping almost every
call!

It is very possible that the phone may switch to ATTWS GSM or T-Mobile GSM,
the largest GSM roaming partners for Cingular. Also, how do you know that
it didn't switch to Cingular TDMA (outside NYC and CA) and then it could
switch to a TDMA/AMPS roaming signal. Currently my 6340i is camping on DCCH
(TDMA) on Detroit metro area's very east side. Sometimes it stays on TDMA
driving all over the metro area-even though GSM was supposedly turned on
10/02. I have had very few calls drop running out of a GSM signal. Also,
they are supposedly working on a GSM handoff procedure for a phone upgrade.

Chris
Please respond in the newsgroup

"JRW" <no_addy@no_.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Chris Russell wrote:
> > GSM will not hand-off to TDMA/AMPS and vice versa. When you get a GSM
> > signal and the call leaves GSM, you'll probably get the 3 quiet beeps
> > then nothing.
>
> This is not good for me. I'm constantly moving driving between
> Cingular's GSM and someone else's TDMA. I'd be dropping almost every
> call!
>

>This is not good for me. I'm constantly moving driving between
>Cingular's GSM and someone else's TDMA. I'd be dropping almost every
>call!

However, if you NEED to make that call, you will and be happy that you are not
looking for the ever disappearing pay phones. Besides, standing out in the cold
and the rain and the snow is not as preferable as just re-dialing the phone.

And have you noticed that there simply are no more "Phone Booths" any more to
get you in out of that above mentioned weather.

--
John S.
e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net

John S. wrote:

>>This is not good for me. I'm constantly moving driving between
>>Cingular's GSM and someone else's TDMA. I'd be dropping almost every
>>call!
>
>
> However, if you NEED to make that call, you will and be happy that you are not
> looking for the ever disappearing pay phones. Besides, standing out in the cold
> and the rain and the snow is not as preferable as just re-dialing the phone.

I wouldn't mind using a payphone, it would certainly be clearer.
However some of the areas I work in don't even have paved roads,
much less a Sonic or Dairy Queen.