n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

I talked to my current cell provider (Einstein PCS, a local company in WI, USA) and they offer a $5.95 unlimited data plan that uses GPRS mostly and EDGE on a few towers.

I'm not very familiar with cell data technology. Will this work with the n900. Are there frequencies or other details I need to check to find out if it will work? Is GPRS too slow to be useful?

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

This will work with the N900 fine as its a standard Quad Band GSM unit. To be honest trying to browse the web will be painful over GPRS. It should be fine for sending and receiving emails though. EDGE is passable but obviously 3G is best if you want to do VOIP/Skype etc. If its your only option I hope you have good wifi at home and at work/school.

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

GPRS is too slow. EDGE is OK for simple websites, but it's no fun watching YouTube on EDGE. Internet radio with 128kbps or below works well on EDGE.
AFAIK, the N900 is quad band for GSM so there shouldn't be a problem with the data plan.

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

The N900 supports

Optimized for WCDMA 900/1700/2100
Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900

# GPRS class A, multislot class 32, maximum speed up to 107/64.2 kbps (DL/UL)
# EDGE class A, multislot class 32, maximum speed up to 296/177.6 kbps (DL/UL)
# WCDMA 900/1700/2100. Maximum speed PS up to 384/384 kbps (DL/UL)
# HSPA, maximum speed up to 10 Mbps (DL), 2 Mbps (UL)

As long as your provider is operating a GSM service on 850, 900, 1800 or 1900 mhz frequencies you should be able to use the N900 with EDGE and GPRS.

Anyone using the N900 with AT&T and many T-Mobile subscribers (myself included) will be using EDGE. Personally I want more speed but I will take what I can get. For faster downloads you can use WiFi hot spots that may be available.

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

Also, in theory using EDGE only will increase battery life (assuming you can disable 3G radio)

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

To give you more information about the speed, here's a quick summary:

GPRS -> EDGE -> 3G -> HSDPA

GPRS being the slowest.
HSDPA also known as 3.5G is the fastest on the market.

The N900 supports all 4.

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

This theory is 100% correct. On my E71 in NYC:

(not constant data, just checking email every 30 mins, total 20 mins browsing, 20 mins talk)
9am - midnight: 3G = 60% battery left
9am - midnight: switch to GSM (EDGE) = 85% battery left

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

I concur, my N82 will last 2-3 days with the 3G disabled, around a day with it enabled.

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

I found in the n900 manual where you change the settings:

Settings > Phone > Network > Manual > yournetwork > change from dual to GSM.

I'm hoping one create a toggle icon on the desktop to turn from dual to GSM and back.
Kevin

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

This might be an stupid question, so please bear with me. Are there HSPA bands?
I live in Mexico and hence are limited to these 2 GSM carriers http://gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_mx.shtml
I'm currently a "movistar" subscriber, all the technical information they publish about their network is that it is "GSM 1900", commercially they say they have "3.5G". I currently own the N800 that I connect to the Internet using EDGE from my SonyEricsson K750 via Bluetooth.
In case I can talk myself and Santa Claus into getting the N900.
What kind of speed would I get if I put my current SIM card on an unlocked N900?
I hope my post don't confuse you and you could provide some insight into this doubt that's keeping me awake at night ;)

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

HSPA uses the same bands as UMTS/WCDMA ("3G"), so you'd get the same EDGE speeds as you do now. It wouldn't get better with TelCel either since their 3G network is 850MHz which is not supported by the N900.

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

I see. Thanks on clarifying! Any rumors of a Mexican version of the N900?
I've been pondering on getting either a Nokia E71 or 6790 to serve as the N800 3.5G modem and GPS receiver.
What do you guys think of such an approach? Good idea? Possible? Would I be better of buying the N900?

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

Anyone notice that when a GPRS signal is lost, it can sometimes take over a minute to reacquire a connection, even after entering a strong signal area? Longest was four minutes.

First "phone" I have had that does this.

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

Same here. I love my phone but this is a problem. Do we have defective units that need to be exchanged or is this happening with everyone?

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

since this thread is about GPRS/Edge for n900. i have a question.

I have n900 bought from USA to India. I am using local service provider (AIRTEL). I have their plan active which means i can use their edge/gprs.

but it is not working in n900. the settings are not proper and people at local nokia showroom and center are of no help and neither people at service provider. they say its not launched yet in India so no information.

is there any way i can get it working?

thanks

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

Whenever I go to a basement that can't get the GSM signal the N900 stays off-line. Later, when I get back to an area where the signal is strong it takes more then a couple minutes to come back on-line. However, if I switch it to offline mode and then to online mode, it gets the signal in a few seconds.

Maybe the N900 is programmed to search for a signal at longer intervals when it loses it... What do you think?

Re: n900 with GPRS / EDGE
 

Do you get any signal at all for making normal calls?