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From: Leon on 11 Jul 2010 15:21
On 11 July, 15:57, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Gents,
>
> My trusty old Nokia 2115i only gets one and very occasionally two bars.
> It does connect but calls fail. Can't get a new one before the next trip
> because it needs to be sent from VirginMobile and the local stores don't
> have any that would work. Is there some "typical" problem that happens
> with such phones, like bad solder joints?
>
> Or are there any issues with the Sprint network these days? That's what
> it uses.
>
> --
> Regards, Joerg
>
> http://www.analogconsultants.com/
>
> "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
> Use another domain or send PM.

I've been using a Nokia 3210e for about 10 years without any problems
on the Orange network. I got it unlocked a couple of years ago so that
I could test other SIMs I was using for data with GSM modules. I've
just got right up to date with one of the new Dell Streak tablets.
From: Joerg on 11 Jul 2010 16:10
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:38:43 GMT, the renowned Jan Panteltje
> <pNaonStpealmtje(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> On a sunny day (Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:15:19 -0700) it happened Joerg
>> <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in <89u5glFj7mU1(a)mid.individual.net>:
>>
>>> Tim Williams wrote:
>>>> "Joerg" <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in message
>>>> news:89u4evFdeoU1(a)mid.individual.net...
>>>>> My trusty old Nokia 2115i only gets one and very occasionally two
>>>>> bars. It does connect but calls fail. Can't get a new one before
>>>>> the next trip because it needs to be sent from VirginMobile and the
>>>>> local stores don't have any that would work. Is there some
>>>>> "typical" problem that happens with such phones, like bad solder
>>>>> joints?
>>>> With RoHS where it is, doesn't that go without saying? ...
>>>
>>> Yup. That's why I was asking. Maybe someone knows stuff like "Oh, the
>>> connection over yonder tends to always come apart".
>>>
>>>
>>>> ... Then again,
>>>> my also quite old Nokia 6015i is still going strong, original
>>>> battery!
>>>>
>>> So was mine, until something happened. Maybe a local EMP event which is
>>> a possibility in my line of work.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Heh, while googling about them, I saw a list of AT commands. Maybe
>>>> you can hack a serial/USB connection to it and run some diagnostics
>>>> on the modem?
>>>>
>>> Nah, I don't want to go quite that far.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Regards, Joerg
>> My advice: Do not buy a phone locked to a specific carrier.
>
> No Chinatowns where you live? I can go to any number of little cell
> phone outlets and get pretty much any phone unlocked-- usually the
> asking price is around $25 cash. You can do it yourself too, but
> there is some risk of bricking the phone, depending on type.
>

Ok, I don't know the cell phone carriers in Canada but what would you do
with an unlocked phone in the US? Most major carriers only offer the
same monthly plans like usual with contract and then you get a phone for
free anyway, or almost free if you want a really fancy one (which I
never had a desire to have).

Anyhow, I just tried the phone out south of Highway 50 and there I was
able to get a connection. Looks like some larger outage. But, of course,
info about that is nowhere to be found on the compnies' sites.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.
From: Joel Koltner on 11 Jul 2010 20:18
Joerg wrote:
> Ok, I don't know the cell phone carriers in Canada but what would you
> do with an unlocked phone in the US?

1: Take it to other countries with you, swap the SIM card (since pretty much
all U.S. carriers have, let's say, "highly opportunistic" rates while
travelling outside the U.S.), and still have access to all your same
applications, contacts list, etc. Very nice compared to having two phones...

2: For people who use pre-paid plans, it's convenient to, e.g., sign up with
AT&T, pay'em $30 or so for 3 months with some fixed number of minutes, and at
the end of that term shop around who then has the best plan for the next 3
months (or whatever). This isn't really viable for businessmen who need
stable incoming phone numbers, but for regular consumers (and in particular
teens) it has a certain attraction.

With CDMA this doesn't really apply since of course, in the U.S., CDMA phones
don't have SIM cards... and even now switching a phone between the two major
CDMA carriers (Verizon & Sprint) is often a hassle.

The CDMA carriers have occasionally released a dual-mode CDMA & GSM phone,
though, which has appeal as well. Basically scenario #1 up there applies...
my mother does this, using Sprint here in the U.S. and Vodafone (GSM) when
she's in New Zealand or jetsetting around.

---Joel

From: mpm on 11 Jul 2010 20:22
On Jul 11, 9:57 am, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Gents,
>
> My trusty old Nokia 2115i only gets one and very occasionally two bars.
> It does connect but calls fail. Can't get a new one before the next trip
> because it needs to be sent from VirginMobile and the local stores don't
> have any that would work. Is there some "typical" problem that happens
> with such phones, like bad solder joints?
>
> Or are there any issues with the Sprint network these days? That's what
> it uses.
>
> --
> Regards, Joerg
>
> http://www.analogconsultants.com/
>
> "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
> Use another domain or send PM.

Couple ideas to try:

Can you put the phone in "test mode"?
http://www.wpsantennas.com/pdf/testmode/FieldTestModes.pdf

Maybe you can reset it, or find the RSSI (signal strength) screen and
do some experiments.
Go outside, find a nearby Sprint tower, etc... See if it's really the
phone, or maybe Sprint has made some recent changes to the network,
and now you're sitting in a coverage black hole.?

If the latter, the phone should still operate normally at other
locations (i.e., where Sprint has not made any network changes).

Now of course, I have no idea if Sprint did any cell splitting, or any
other maintenance work (i.e., antenna downtilts, replacement of
defective antennas, water in the coax, etc., etc..,) that may have led
to your troubles...
There are many things that can go wrong. (Even bad passive
intermodulation as things on the tower vibrate in the wind!)...

The point is, most (if not all) of those things will be localized to a
given tower, not the whole network. Move, and the problem should NOT
move with you, if the culprit is a particular tower in the network.

And of course, we're just talking the RF path here, but that seems
reasonable since you mentioned an apparent reduction in the number of
bars you see.
An actual RSSI reading from the phone would prove much more
informative, but I'm not familiar with your particular handset.

If you happen to live in one of the areas where Sprint is rolling out
its 4G network, you can bet workers were on the towers recently.
Perhaps something got damaged or dislodged. Happens all the time.

Or, hey, it's an old phone. It's certainly possible its receiver is
kaput.

Good luck!!

-mpm
From: Spehro Pefhany on 11 Jul 2010 20:37
On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:10:56 -0700, the renowned Joerg
<invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote:

>Spehro Pefhany wrote:
>> On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:38:43 GMT, the renowned Jan Panteltje
>> <pNaonStpealmtje(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On a sunny day (Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:15:19 -0700) it happened Joerg
>>> <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in <89u5glFj7mU1(a)mid.individual.net>:
>>>
>>>> Tim Williams wrote:
>>>>> "Joerg" <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in message
>>>>> news:89u4evFdeoU1(a)mid.individual.net...
>>>>>> My trusty old Nokia 2115i only gets one and very occasionally two
>>>>>> bars. It does connect but calls fail. Can't get a new one before
>>>>>> the next trip because it needs to be sent from VirginMobile and the
>>>>>> local stores don't have any that would work. Is there some
>>>>>> "typical" problem that happens with such phones, like bad solder
>>>>>> joints?
>>>>> With RoHS where it is, doesn't that go without saying? ...
>>>>
>>>> Yup. That's why I was asking. Maybe someone knows stuff like "Oh, the
>>>> connection over yonder tends to always come apart".
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> ... Then again,
>>>>> my also quite old Nokia 6015i is still going strong, original
>>>>> battery!
>>>>>
>>>> So was mine, until something happened. Maybe a local EMP event which is
>>>> a possibility in my line of work.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Heh, while googling about them, I saw a list of AT commands. Maybe
>>>>> you can hack a serial/USB connection to it and run some diagnostics
>>>>> on the modem?
>>>>>
>>>> Nah, I don't want to go quite that far.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Regards, Joerg
>>> My advice: Do not buy a phone locked to a specific carrier.
>>
>> No Chinatowns where you live? I can go to any number of little cell
>> phone outlets and get pretty much any phone unlocked-- usually the
>> asking price is around $25 cash. You can do it yourself too, but
>> there is some risk of bricking the phone, depending on type.
>>
>
>Ok, I don't know the cell phone carriers in Canada but what would you do
>with an unlocked phone in the US? Most major carriers only offer the
>same monthly plans like usual with contract and then you get a phone for
>free anyway, or almost free if you want a really fancy one (which I
>never had a desire to have).

When you go overseas (anyplace with a GSM network, which is just about
everywhere most of us would want to go but Japan- and they seem to
have 3GSM now) you buy a local SIM card and swap it out, saving tons
of money. Some phones even have dual SIM cards, obviously they are not
popular with the carriers where phone rates subsidize the purchase of
handsets.

(22M download, so it might take a couple of seconds)
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/GSM_WorldPoster2009A.pdf


I don't see much saving domestically since all the plans I have access
to include subsidized handset purchase, as you say. Even a Blackberry
is almost free ($69) so teenagers frequently sport them. I don't have
a contract now (havn't had one for a few years), so I _could_ switch
anytime, but there's not enough saving going with another carrier to
make it worthwhile. I guess if you lose or kill your handset it might
be nice to buy another on eBay etc. and unlock it rather than getting
tied into another 2 years of contract. I did that once with my trusty
old T28.

>Anyhow, I just tried the phone out south of Highway 50 and there I was
>able to get a connection. Looks like some larger outage. But, of course,
>info about that is nowhere to be found on the compnies' sites.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff(a)interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
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