N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

This is the best web & media device I have ever owned:

1. Web = amazing
2. Audio = very good
3. Video = quality and format coverage is amazing
4. Apps, more codecs and games...... well, when they finally do come out, I am sure they will be amazing too;)

With a VERY heavy heart though, as a phone, the following problems easily make this the worse "phone" I have ever owned and leaning me to a return.

I have worked in the same area for seven years and used the N-Gage, Dash, T349, G1 and Nokia 3610 and have NEVER had one connection problem. Since using the N900 for travel on the same roads I now get the following in the exact same areas/spots:

"No data service" followed quickly by "No cellular service". The N900 then takes a few minutes before it reacquires any connection at all- even after entering a high coverage area. I have lost connection to calls in those areas and have been methodically testing my other phones for comparison. Zero cellular connection problems with the other phones and no data issues with the Dash or G1.

At home where I normally get steady full bars of 2G, I can leave the N900 in the same place and I get "dancing bars" that range from no data service to two bars of Edge. G1 is rock solid in same place with full 2G bars.

Had I not loved everything else about the N900, it would already be going back. I was on tier 2 Tmo tech support for an hour trying to figure it out. They changed my data profile from Android data service to smart-phone, but I doubt that is going to make a difference. Prior to that, my IMEI was registered and I got a new SIM for the N900.

I would expect the radio on these devices to either work or not work, so I can not see how I am the only person having connection problems with the N900. Everyone else raves that they get much better reception, but has everyone checked in weak areas?

This is SO frustrating, but I need to at least have a reliable phone connection while on the road. Two devices is not an option, since I could use the G1 for phone calls and my Archos 5 for media and Flash already. I wanted ONE device to cover it all.

I am not seeing how I am the only person having these problems, so maybe there is a problem with the radio, but when I am in a place with a good Edge signal, it works great. It is when I enter places that do not have a good signal is where I have the problem.

The irony sucks, but irony usually does- suck.

added:

BTW: My Nokia tech support experience was sad- The "tech" person I spoke with did not know the difference from GPS and GPRS :eek: Really.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

mine is already on it's way back for the exact same reasons. :(

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

Is it not possible firmware will correct this , or are these hardware issues?

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

More than likely hardware issues. probably can't correct signal attenuation issues in firmware unless a possible baseband update, and even then it's highly unlikely.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

Are you guys getting your units replaced? Or getting a refund?

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

I'm just getting a refund, the cs from Nokia I spoke with was not friendly at all to pursue an exchange.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

Its so weird my signal is actually better with my N900

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

By default mine will be a refund, since Dell is having a hard time fulfilling orders. I will then not get the discount (got mine for $469). I will wait until the dust settles with the N900 and see if this can be fixed.

So are there two bad batches? One with reboots and mic problems, the other with weak reception for low signals. Probably not, but there seems to be three camps:

1. Reboot & mic problems
2. Weak reception in low 2G signal areas and "dancing bars"
3. Perfect units

I think that after the lust wears off and people actually go out and drive around with the N900 in low signal areas there may be a few more of item 2. The thought if getting stuck on a Kentucky road in the winter with no phone coverage is not pleasant. Yes, I know that for many years there were no phones and people got stuck on roads, but we have phones now- it should at least work and that is the point.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

The only issuye that I have noticed is that my N has problems switching into 3G coming out of a 2.5 zone.

I have set my Network to Manual (T-Mobile) and it seems to be better then when it was Automatic.

I was planning on talking to t-mo about that... but I may just hit my head against a rock for an hour and see if it achives the same result.

But I was excited yeasterday I saw 3.5G for the first time.

N900: Can't live with "her" can't live without "her"
 

My poor reception issue in low 2G areas almost made me make "the call" to Dell to return the N900. Then all of it's sexiness lured me away from the phone:

1. Great web
2. Lots of fun Flash games play great
3. Music sound quality and nice volume level
4. Killer codec support for video
5. New Maemo interface and its interesting newness
6. Current emulators show great old school potential
7. Quake 3 and other future ports- you KNOW Duke Nukem must be coming.
8. Cool, though sometimes "lovingly" sarcastic Maemo Talk forum folks.

The N900 is like a sexy lady who you know will eventualy screw you over (in this case, probably getting stuck on a remote Kentucky road- not able to get a signal), but you can not turn away from its beauty.

I also feel like Smeagol from Lord of the Rings, muttering about "my preciousss".

I think I will watch one of the LOTR movies tonight- extended edition:eek:

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

Threads merged.

Re: N900: Can't live with "her" can't live without "her"
 

Where I live and work only Verizon Wireless has reliable reception. I have friends who cannot use their cell phones in the building where we work and others who have to walk outside of their homes to make a phone call. I, of course, have Verizon.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

Hi All

Just thought I would give me experience on the GPRS issue.

Picked up my N900 yesterday - absolutely love it! Coming from HTC Tytn, you can imagine the difference. (although do have N800, so used to N900 already).

So, at the bus stop this morning standing 30 meters from a mobile tower and I had 2g reception with 1 bar, then I lost connection altogether. This made me think the phone call be faulty.

On the bus, whilst sitting in traffic, I had 3.5g. Downloaded and installed OMWeather, countdown and message viewer. So thinking maybe not a faulty phone but software issue?

Then when I got to work, sitting in the coffee shop reasonably near a cell tower - I had a steady 3g signal and has been for the past few hours.

The only things I did to my phone was to turn off automatic search of WLAN.

Therefore, I'm hoping that the issue could be a firmware/software one.

I'm not techy, I don't really know how these things work but thought I would share experience to try to balance the faulty phone assumption.

Phil

ps. was slightly annoyed at no Exchange2003 support out-of-the-box, though am I right in assuming this is coming?

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

I got the same compared to iphone 3G and 5800XM.
I know N900 is missing the att 3G freg, but is it missing some other frequency from the tmobile or att in there? Or do Europeans have this problem too? Interested about this.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

what is network selection? what purpose does that function serve? Mine was set to automatic so i switched it to manuel and it gave me the option of tmobile 3g or att 2g, I chose tmobile 3g.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

I have had this issue with T-mo before. It is called palm tree effect. Too close to a tower and the signal goes over you...

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

This is indeed strange. My lab is in the badement where I get zero signal on my previous phone. But the N900 gets a solid one bar there, which is great for me.

Re: N900 probably going back - weak GPRS reception
 

Thats the same experience I have had - dont ask me why but my N900 gets better reception than my G1 ever did. Even better now I have a new SIM