GPRS / EDGE / 2G data connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

Got a weird bug. When I make a phone call while using edge (2,5g), the connection is lost. This does not happen when I'm using 3g. Anyone else notice this?

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

I noticed that my edge turns itself off when I go to make a call. I am with AT&T so all I have is edge.

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

I think that is normal for edge. 3g works on a different set of frequencies than voice. I am new to GSM myself but in the CDMA world you can not do data and voice at the same time.

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

That's behavior as normal for edge, and one of the features of 3G. If anything I've noticed that my N900 is more verbose about it's network status than any phone I've had before.

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

Yes this is quite normal, Edge operates over the same frequencies as GSM voice so you can't do both at once.

A wifi or 3g connection will persist though (I called my mom while downloading my debian chroot image for instance)

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

Ahaa. never noticed it on other phones before. But as you say, the n900 announces it.

Thanks!

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

Yeah. It's standard behaviour on GSM/EDGE situations. GSM 3G allows both data and voice at the same time. Verison and Sprint have the same problem even on their 3G networks. No voice and data at the same time.

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

Some networks/phones are capable of doing simultaneous voice and data on EDGE, but it's not supported by many networks or many phones. (It requires the network to carefully schedule the voice and data timeslots for the particular phone on the same radio channel)

I don't know if the N900 has support for it or not. Not that any US networks support it anyway (for those of us in the US).

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

with edge (basically a upped bandwidth version of gprs, itself a packet variation on gsm) you also risk that if your doing a extended data transfer, and someone tries to call, they cant reach you.

that, or the transfer will, if possible, suspend, and the call get through, or in the worst case the transfer will fail and need restarting...

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

sounds to me like such a setup would take up the equivalent of two calls in the cell one is connected to at the moment, not surprising if not many operators make said feature available, if it exists (first i have heard of it).

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

Well, it actually takes up far more than one call, as do most EDGE data transfers. It's not unusual for a carrier to limit any particular device to 4 download timeslots and 1 upload, even when they are capable of more.

So really, when compared to a normal transfer, the extra timeslot taken up by the voice call isn't much.

Personally, I'd be happy with 3+1 and voice. (that would limit you to about 170Kbps downstream in ideal conditions, or 100 more realistically)

The feature is called dual transfer mode, btw.

Edited to add: And having just looked it up, N900 supports it.

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

well thats interesting, makes one wonder why they went with UMTS in the first place ;)
(except for maybe the lower latency that is)

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

The N900 is a Class A, Multislot Class 32 device. So it can support simultaneous voice and data. I think the problem with you is the operator. We have two operators, one supports simultaneous voice and data, other doesn't. So the problem is not EDGE or N900, it's most likely the operator.

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

According to the specs provided by Nokia, the N900 is a class A EDGE/GPRS device. Forum Nokia lists that it also supports DTM Class 11. I suspect it is not truly class A, as that would require two GSM radios, but rather only class A DTM. If that is the case, the operator's equipment must support DTM to maintain a data session concurrent with voice.

Re: Edge connection dies when making a call
 

it's normal. When i used n95 the same thing happened

N900 calls not being answered because of GPRS connections
 

Hi,

I experience that the N900 is not reachable because of an active GPRS connection. I prefer having phonecalls over data, how does this work? And can I change this preference?

Best regards,

Johan

Re: N900 calls not being answered because of GPRS connections
 

I've no problems receiving calls with an active GRPS Connection.

Re: N900 calls not being answered because of GPRS connections
 

I'm not sure that is fixable on 2G (including EDGE)

Re: N900 calls not being answered because of GPRS connections
 

AFAIK dropping GPRS connections automatically for incoming calls on 2G (3G can handle both simultaneously) is the carrier's responsibility.

My N900 always drops GPRS/EDGE connections when a call comes in (T-Mobile D), so this can't be related to the phone software.

Re: N900 calls not being answered because of GPRS connections
 

Re: Issues, questions regarding GPRS / EDGE connections and voice calls
 

Threads merged.

Re: N900 calls not being answered because of GPRS connections
 

NuMetal,

I've tested it this way.

Create an IM account and set this account online and than place a call from an other phone to the N900. Connection will not be disconnected.

Set the IM client offline. Disable automatic email checking an other applications that can generate trafic. Then place a call from an other phone to the N900. The connection will be disconnected.

I don't think this is network dependend, maybe some of you could try.

It is only with 2G not with 3G or 3.5G.

I'm connected trough Vodafone (NL). I just called the Vodafone professional helpdesk and they told me it is phone dependant.

BR

Johan

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

I can confirm on O2 - UK connected to 2G with IM online I got voicemail instead of the phone ringing as expected.

So far I have been lucky to mostly be connected to 3G when out of the house and always connected to WiFi at home. However I have at least one friend whose house drops me to 2G so it will be a real problem as I will have to consider staying offline there unless this is fixed. I need to be contactable at all times as my mum is disabled.

Re: CAN'T have SIP and mobile at the same time
 

I have a problem that when I am browsing the internet no one can call me on my phone number. Only when i close the internet i start receiving the calls. Can someone help me by giving me a hint?
thanks

Re: CAN'T have SIP and mobile at the same time
 

Sounds like you're on a 2G network (GPRS or EDGE) and they don't disconnect your data connection for incoming calls (2G can only handle one of those at a time). Contact your network operator.

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

Posts moved into thread.

Re: CAN'T have SIP and mobile at the same time
 

I'm pretty confident that the problem is in the phone and not the network. I'll try today with an G1 on the Vodafone network so I can confirm this.

BR,

Johan

Re: CAN'T have SIP and mobile at the same time
 

I've tried this:
G1 on Vodafone: same problem
E71 on T-mobile: works like it should
P1i on Vodafone: same problem

So I think now that it is a network issue.

BR,

Johan

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

I've issued a ticket at Vodafone. I'll let you know about the results.

BR

Johan

Receiving a call during Internet access?
 

Hello guys and Happy New Year!

I wish all of you good health and success!

When I am using my new N900 I found a specific issue:

When I am traveling I am using from time to time N900 as a modem.
When I start using the Internet and someone is calling me in the same moment the Internet access stops and I can only make or reject the call. After the making/rejecting the call it tooks a little more time to connect again the Internet.

In my previous mobile - E90 I can make calls and surfing in Internet simultaneously.

What do you thing - it will be possible to fix my issue within some of the nexts software updates?

Thank you in advance.
Regards.

Re: Receiving a call during Internet access?
 

If your only on a 2G net connection then this is normal for nokias, but if your on a 3/3.5G connection then you should be able to do both at the same time.

Re: Receiving a call during Internet access?
 

Hello biggzy!
Thanks for quick reply!
I am using preferably 2G and with E90 I do not have problems at all.

Regards.

Re: Receiving a call during Internet access?
 

it's because browser cache, not because of data protocols

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

Threads merged.

Re: Receiving a call during Internet access?
 

same network/operator? either the E90 has two gsm radios, or the network you used your E90 on allows DMT while the one your N900 is on do not.

i sure wish there was a way for the phone to notify the user about this, so one could point to a message or something, rather then a lot of guesswork...

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

The network operator is same - Mtel in Bulgaria.

When I used to use E90 all my colleagues using Nokias, but no E-series suffered from same problem- even one of them (I think it was Nokia 6600) when you are surfing and call cames the mobile stops his Network Connection ( via PC Suite).
So I think it is was software issue in the past.

For me it can be solved with update, because N900 has very powerfull hardware.
I was told that E90 can make both calls and Internet access because it has a dual core prosessor.

Regards.

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

Dual core shouldn't matter. It's GPRS itself that limits transmission to either data or phone, not both at the same time. No CPU can fix that, only dual-GSM (two radios) can, as tso said.
EDIT: Update: Not entirely true, see link in tso's post below.

Exactly how the phone behaves (i.e. automatically stall the network connection and accept the call, or reject the call, or whatever, would be a software issue. Maybe the different behaviour you see is down to that.)

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

except, as i myself was corrected on earlier in the thread, DTM (i incorrectly called it DMT earlier).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gprs#Hardware
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_Transfer_Mode

note that this requires the support of the mobile network, as it needs to coordinate that end so that one get an acceptable mix of data and voice traffic.

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

Thanks for the link, very useful. I wasn't aware of that feature.

Re: GPRS / EDGE connections dropping during, or blocking, voice calls
 

nor was i when it was first mentioned. altho i am not surprised at it seems to be fairly recent (2007) feature, and one that seems to be poorly marketed compared to HSPA support (funny that, as GSM/GPRS seems to be highly adaptable to new usage scenarios).