Thread: 3G off fixed my battery life!
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texaslabrat is offline texaslabrat
2009-12-28 , 21:38
Posts: 271 | Thanked: 220 times | Joined on Sep 2009
#39
Originally Posted by go1dfish View Post
I tend to think the issue is not so much 2g vs 3g, but the drain in switching/looking for 3g.

At my home in San Diego, my 2g signal is weak, but I have a pretty strong 3g signal (tmobile).

I get better battery life on 3g only than dual mode. Can't say if I'd get better battery life on 2g only though.

I read somewhere else on this forum that tmobile simultaneously uses 2 frequencies for 3g, one for upload one for download. I'm curious if this might have a detrimental effect on battery life (in comparison to networks who use a single frequency for both)
No networks use a single frequency for both. In AT&T's case, both frequency's happen to be in same *band* but are different frequencies. However, point taken that the different bands could use more physical resources (ie multiple radios) whereas a single band send/receive could get away with one..thus there is a power difference. That said, it's the transmitting that kills it more than anything (and it's transmitting while searching for a 3G signal as it has to register with a prospective tower). That's why turning off 3G is a battery saver in areas that cause it to constantly hunt for a new lock...and why turning off applications that transmit a lot is also a battery saver (eg Skype)..and why doing both is a really really big battery saver
 

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