6340i that won't do GSM?????

Sorry Jud, but you are wrong. My 6340i has picked up all of these
carriers in my Home area of Metro Detroit. Cingular TDMA/GSM/AMPS,
ATTWS TDMA/GSM, T-Mobile GSM, Microcell GSM and Bell Mobility AMPS.
I've picked up ATTWS GSM right in front of a Cingular tower that was
down at the moment. So if you can't get anything but Cingular in your
home market, something is wrong with your IRDB. This is probably true
only with GAIT (not so with GSM-only as I've read before). I've
picked up 100's of other carriers around the country. Most GSM
carriers will identify themselves on my alpha tag. (Einstein PCS, USA
680,360, 380 etc., Iowa Wireless, ATTWS, Voicestream, and msny more)

Chris
Please respond on Usenet



Jud Hardcastle <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
> > Nokia 6340i is what a friend got on my recommendation. However, the GSM is
> > not working at his home. Yet, TDMA is working on his AT&T phone. Since AT&T
> > leases Cingular's TDMA towers, why does the 6340i not abandon its futile
> > attemp to use the GSM? Is there a way to program around it?
> >
> >
> I'm a little confused. If ATTWS is leasing time on Cingular's TDMA
> towers in that area, then Cingular itself should have TDMA also--they
> haven't turned off TDMA anywhere AFAIK. The phone should be switching
> to Cingular TDMA if it looses Cingular GSM and to Cingular AMPS if it
> looses both (while in the home area). Has the phone been activated on a
> GAIT plan--otherwise it may not know to look for Cingular TDMA.
>
> The 6340i won't switch to ATTWS if your friend is still in his Cingular
> HOME area -- the roaming agreements don't allow for roaming on another
> carrier within a home area and the ATTWS id will be in the banned list
> on the phone. GAIT, as implemented, is NOT the end-all-solution for
> poor GSM coverage, al la California.
>
> And, no, there is no way to alter the 6340's carrier lookup logic.
> There are no network options in setup.

---

› See More: 6340i that won't do GSM?????

The problem is that you can NOT make the 6340i do what you want it to
do. It will do it on it's own. My 6340i always searches for
TDMA/AMPS channels first before going to GSM. The only exception is
if you turned it off on a Cingular GSM signal, it will immediately go
back to that signal on boot-up. The only way that you can always get
GSM is with a GSM-only phone. The 6340i was not designed to always
get GSM, it was a bridge between TDMA/GSM/AMPS so tht you would have
service in almost any market nor matter the mode. At home in the east
side of the Detroit area, many times I pick up Cingular TDMA and keep
it as I go around the Detroit area.

Chris
Please respond on Usenet


[email protected] (HF) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> [email protected] (Chris Russell) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > If you wanted GSM, you should have gotten a GSM-only phone.
>
> c'mon, really?
>
> How about having the 6340i do what its supposed to do? Sounds like a
> legitimate query.
>
> [snipped the rest of your post [the good stuff ]]

Chris Russell wrote:
> The problem is that you can NOT make the 6340i do what you want it to
> do. It will do it on it's own. My 6340i always searches for
> TDMA/AMPS channels first before going to GSM. The only exception is
> if you turned it off on a Cingular GSM signal, it will immediately go
> back to that signal on boot-up. The only way that you can always get
> GSM is with a GSM-only phone. The 6340i was not designed to always
> get GSM, it was a bridge between TDMA/GSM/AMPS so tht you would have
> service in almost any market nor matter the mode. At home in the east
> side of the Detroit area, many times I pick up Cingular TDMA and keep
> it as I go around the Detroit area.

The Sony Ericsson T62u allows you to pick modes.

Menu -> Settings -> Networks -> Protocol Stack

o GSM Pref
o TDMA Pref
o GSM Only
o TDMA Only
o TDMA Persistent
o GSM Home Pref
o Use SIM

Right now, I am in a roamin area with Western Wireless. I have noticed
that often GSM or TDMA signal is available, but not at the same time.
GSM is better during the day, but usually drops off during the night.
Likewise, TDMA is great at night, but pretty much drops off during the
day. It is getting more consistent with coverage both day and night for
both TDMA and GSM. I suspect that Western is just getting the bugs
worked out, as GSM signal has only been up for one week.

==AD

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Sorry Jud, but you are wrong. My 6340i has picked up all of these
> carriers in my Home area of Metro Detroit. Cingular TDMA/GSM/AMPS,
> ATTWS TDMA/GSM, T-Mobile GSM, Microcell GSM and Bell Mobility AMPS.
> I've picked up ATTWS GSM right in front of a Cingular tower that was
> down at the moment. So if you can't get anything but Cingular in your
> home market, something is wrong with your IRDB. This is probably true
> only with GAIT (not so with GSM-only as I've read before). I've
> picked up 100's of other carriers around the country. Most GSM
> carriers will identify themselves on my alpha tag. (Einstein PCS, USA
> 680,360, 380 etc., Iowa Wireless, ATTWS, Voicestream, and msny more)
>
Chris,

"This is probably true only with GAIT". Which is why I asked "Has the
phone been activated on a GAIT plan". Obviously it functions quite
differently without the GAIT IRDB. On GAIT you wouldn't even be SEEING
those alpha tags--you'd be seeing Cingular and Cingular Extend--I have
seen nothing else anywhere in Texas, including ATTWS and T-Mobile, since
DFW changed to GSM as the home system type.

Can you make AND receive calls (without oper assist and/or credit card)
while the phone is on a non-Cingular carrier within the home area? If
so some people may be better off NOT activating it on a GAIT plan. What
was your original plan--TDMA or GSM? If TDMA what are you using as a
sim card?

Jud

> > >
> > I'm a little confused. If ATTWS is leasing time on Cingular's TDMA
> > towers in that area, then Cingular itself should have TDMA also--they
> > haven't turned off TDMA anywhere AFAIK. The phone should be switching
> > to Cingular TDMA if it looses Cingular GSM and to Cingular AMPS if it
> > looses both (while in the home area). Has the phone been activated on a
> > GAIT plan--otherwise it may not know to look for Cingular TDMA.
> >
> > The 6340i won't switch to ATTWS if your friend is still in his Cingular
> > HOME area -- the roaming agreements don't allow for roaming on another
> > carrier within a home area and the ATTWS id will be in the banned list
> > on the phone. GAIT, as implemented, is NOT the end-all-solution for
> > poor GSM coverage, al la California.
> >
> > And, no, there is no way to alter the 6340's carrier lookup logic.
> > There are no network options in setup.
>

I just transferred my TDMA Nation 500/3500 $49.99 plan to the 6340i.
You can't use the phone at all without the sim card. I have picked up
and used ATTWS GSM & TDMA, T-Mobile GSM, Microcell GSM (Canadian) and
Bell Mobility AMPS (Canadian) in the Detroit metro area in addition to
Cincular TDA/GSM/AMPS. Online, my bill lists GAIT Interoperqability
and GAIT Calling Areas. I have never gotten oper. assst. anywhere (I
travel all over the country in my 18-wheeler).


Jud Hardcastle <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
> "This is probably true only with GAIT". Which is why I asked "Has the
> phone been activated on a GAIT plan". Obviously it functions quite
> differently without the GAIT IRDB. On GAIT you wouldn't even be SEEING
> those alpha tags--you'd be seeing Cingular and Cingular Extend--I have
> seen nothing else anywhere in Texas, including ATTWS and T-Mobile, since
> DFW changed to GSM as the home system type.
>
> Can you make AND receive calls (without oper assist and/or credit card)
> while the phone is on a non-Cingular carrier within the home area? If
> so some people may be better off NOT activating it on a GAIT plan. What
> was your original plan--TDMA or GSM? If TDMA what are you using as a
> sim card?
>
> Jud
>

Well, to wrap this thing up (as the original poster)...

It turns out the phone was improperly activated and that for two weeks it
had been running TDMA only.

It took two trips to Cingular to get that straightened out. But it finally
does both GSM and TDMA. It also promptly switches between the two, but not
during a call, only when in standby mode.

All's finally well in 6340i land. <grin>

"Mike Nassour" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> It took two trips to Cingular to get that straightened out. But it
finally

Did they offer up any free anytime miutes for your trouble??

[email protected] (Chris Russell) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> When you keyed in *3001#12345# did the numbers disappear? If not turn
> the phone off, then back on and try it again when it boots up and gets
> a signal. The numbers should disappear. Then reboot the phone and it
> should go into field-test mode. This will also create Menu 12 to be
> able to go into field-test mode very easily. You have 01-01 thru
> 01-13 for GSM and 21-01 thru 21-09 for TDMA/Amps. At Menu 12 enter
> ie. 0101 and press OK and it will go to that page. To go to any page,
> just drop the'-'. Enter 0000 to go back to your regular screen at
> Menu 12.
>
> Chris
> Please respond on Usenet
>
>
> Bob Niles <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > On 16 Dec 2003 17:31:44 -0800, [email protected] (Chris
> > Russell) wrote:
> >
> > >Generally if you are in a GSM conversion market, your 6340i will
> > >always try to find a TDMA/AMPS signal before it goes to GSM. I have
> > >watched my phone do this in field test mode. It runs through all the
> > >TDMA channels and tries to register, then it goes to GSM and searchs
> > >channels until it can register there.
> > >If you wanted GSM, you should have gotten a GSM-only phone. You also
> > >didn't say if you were getting a good signal. Search on Google Groups
> > >about field test mode-it gives you a menu selection with much useful
> > >info available.
> > >
> >
> >
> > Could anyone give me the exact steps to get my Nokia 6340i into field
> > test mode? I have tried *3001#12345# , then power off, power on
> > andit does nothing. Am I missing something.

...and just what does field test mode do, determine which signal
is being used, and/or which one it is searching for? I did the above,
and the phone went into field test mode, but now I don't know what to
do! (6340i) Thanks...

I have to wonder if you got that t62u from a source other than
Cingular. I know that Cingular took out the Network Selection section
in our Nokia 6340i and heard that they did it also on the t62u. It
would be nice in a few places that I go, but not absolutely necessary
for me.

Chris
Please respond on Usenet
Happy Holidays!


Aboutdakota <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> The Sony Ericsson T62u allows you to pick modes.
>
> Menu -> Settings -> Networks -> Protocol Stack
>
> o GSM Pref
> o TDMA Pref
> o GSM Only
> o TDMA Only
> o TDMA Persistent
> o GSM Home Pref
> o Use SIM
>
> Right now, I am in a roamin area with Western Wireless. I have noticed
> that often GSM or TDMA signal is available, but not at the same time.
> GSM is better during the day, but usually drops off during the night.
> Likewise, TDMA is great at night, but pretty much drops off during the
> day. It is getting more consistent with coverage both day and night for
> both TDMA and GSM. I suspect that Western is just getting the bugs
> worked out, as GSM signal has only been up for one week.
>
> ==AD

Chris Russell wrote:
> I have to wonder if you got that t62u from a source other than
> Cingular. I know that Cingular took out the Network Selection section
> in our Nokia 6340i and heard that they did it also on the t62u. It
> would be nice in a few places that I go, but not absolutely necessary
> for me.

I bought the phone used off Ebay. However, might it be possible that it
would be required because I am on a TDMA plan (Preferred Nation)? I
have noticed, being close to Canada, that weak Rogers signal is much
more usable than a moderately strong WW GSM signal (which I bet will
improve as they get used to running GSM).

==AD

Your t62u does not have the Cingular IRDB in it does it? I know that
two of Cingular's roaming partners in Canada are Microcell GSM and
Bell Mobility AMPS (since they are CDMA/AMPS only). I don't know if
you have made calls on the RogersATT GSM or TDMA/AMPS signal as I
don't know if they are a Cingular roaming partner (even though it has
the ATT connection and I found on their website that Cingular is their
partner for RIM devices). All other roaming is listed as ATTWS.
Since you are on the Preferred Nation plan, it would need the Cingular
IRDB and any GSM use would require operator assistance (since it is
not part of the Pref. Nation system).

Chris
Please respond on Usenet in the newsgroup
Happy New Year!


Aboutdakota <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Chris Russell wrote:
> > I have to wonder if you got that t62u from a source other than
> > Cingular. I know that Cingular took out the Network Selection section
> > in our Nokia 6340i and heard that they did it also on the t62u. It
> > would be nice in a few places that I go, but not absolutely necessary
> > for me.
>
> I bought the phone used off Ebay. However, might it be possible that it
> would be required because I am on a TDMA plan (Preferred Nation)? I
> have noticed, being close to Canada, that weak Rogers signal is much
> more usable than a moderately strong WW GSM signal (which I bet will
> improve as they get used to running GSM).
>
> ==AD

Chris Russell wrote:
> Your t62u does not have the Cingular IRDB in it does it? I know that
> two of Cingular's roaming partners in Canada are Microcell GSM and
> Bell Mobility AMPS (since they are CDMA/AMPS only). I don't know if
> you have made calls on the RogersATT GSM or TDMA/AMPS signal as I
> don't know if they are a Cingular roaming partner (even though it has
> the ATT connection and I found on their website that Cingular is their
> partner for RIM devices). All other roaming is listed as ATTWS.
> Since you are on the Preferred Nation plan, it would need the Cingular
> IRDB and any GSM use would require operator assistance (since it is
> not part of the Pref. Nation system).

Actually, in North Dakota, the phone will work with GSM. I talked to a
rep that stated as long as my phone read "Cingular" and not "Cingular
Extend", I will not have roaming charges. She said that any company
that has TDMA coverage for me will most likely have GSM coverage for me,
but I will not be able to roam on other GSM systems (T-Mobile, some
AT&T, et al). While picking up the Rogers signal, I did try dialing 611
or *611. I received a message stating that my call could not be
completed as dialed, in both French and English. While in AMPS, I
either received the the same message, or one in English only stating
"You are roaming on the SaskTel Mobility Network. Your call could not
be processed at this time." while dialing 611. Rogers is the only GSM
carrier in the area, so there was no mistake roaming from another.

I would almost have to assume that I got GSM IRDB with my TDMA IRDB
because when WW GSM went live, my phone picked that up, and when set to
"Use SIM", even picked WW GSM before WW TDMA. Also, I noticed that I no
longer roamed on Verizon Wireless after my IRDB update. I'll be in
Cingular territory until summer, so I'll try my phone then and see if it
behaves any differently.

==AD