Signal Strength Problems

A

Ameishell B

New member
live in a suburb of Chicago - One of T-Mobile "highest" coverage areas so I'm told. I often have 4-FULL bars but the text reads GPRS - Seldom does it say EDGE. I was told by RIM that without EDGE, I wont get emails or data - only text and voice. Is that true? If so, what's going on?
 
This is correct. You need EDGE to use any sort of data. You might be in a good area for T-Mobile's voice service, but not for data. You can double check the coverage maps for voice and data and wi-fi on their website: www.tmobile.com
 
That is not accurate at all. GPRS is data. Its much slower than EDGE but does work. You should call Tmo and find out why you are not getting EDGE. If you see GSM on your device that means you have voice but no data. ~via BB (wap.rabroad.com)~
 
AT&T can use data on GPRS. Homeboy's using T-Mobile. I heard it straight from a Blackberry Support Rep when I first starting using Blackberrys that T-Zones can work using GPRS, but not BIS or BIS email.
 
I should've posted differently in and said "you need EDGE to use any sort of data on T-Mobile's Network."

I just re-read over it and I sound like a pompass bootyhead!
 
Terripin, I live in Arkansas, I'm a T-Mobile customer and, here, I NEVER get EDGE service unless I'm browsing on AT&T. I've not read up on the what your are and are not suppolsed to be able to do but I'm an expert on what can be done with GPRS-only service. You CAN use it for data - it's slow as molasses but you CAN do it - I just turned off my wi-fi and did it again. You can also get emails and, of course voice service. As far as emails go, I don't really understand it but I sometimes get emails when I'm in a no service area - "SOS" - and can neither get nor place a call. Go figure that one out.

As far as the going to the coverage map on T-Mobile, it's not that accurate either. On their map my house shows the weakest service but I'm full bars as far the the signal strength goes. Conversely, when I go to my home town in E. Texas which shows to be one of their strongest signal area I get A LOT of SOS there.

Why to I continue to do T-Mobile. It's cheap and the wi-fi is great!
 
~via BB (wap.rabroad.com)~ well thanks for educating me. I always told people on TMO you must have EDGE because that's what they told me. Guess we need to be out in check every once in a while. Sorry for the bad info.
 
No need for apologies - sounds like you got your info from a "reliable" source. It just can't always be categorized as it should be. It's confusing to me too - that's the main reason I avoid contracts - you can get locked into something that's supposed to be, and isn't, for a couple of years. Of course I miss out on a number of features that are offered to the "regulars" - it's my choice.

I'd be trying some carrier's data access card around with my laptop if it didn't require a 2-year commitment.
 
T Mobile suggested it might be a SIM ad they're gonna give me a new one...I will update after I swap it if it improves any...
 
stepping up to the plate again, TMO gave me a new Curve and a new SIM - that's great service. Improvements? yes. But still wish the 8320 was 3G capable...
 
i would assume from what i'm hearin tha itisthe im card hich does happen from time to time. i would go to the store a get a new sim, worse case scenario is the device.
 
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