New theory for signal drop/loss of data and dropped calls

[MMcCraryNJ]

So after reading mostly every post I could find on the net regarding the Vibrant and its signal bar issues, it's pretty apparent that most everyone experiences the signal indicator dropping when the phone is held a certain way, however this only seems to affect some people's data throughput and voice service. I have read a couple of people that do not have these dropped bars, but those posts are few and far between, so I think it is safe to assume that there is a definite bug with at least the way the phone displays signal.

I have a new theory. Now, I'm no expert with cellular technology, so this may, and probably is, totally wrong. But as I was unboxing the phone, I noticed that this was the first time I got a new SIM card with any T-Mobile phone since my first, the original T-Mobile PocketPC Phone Edition, in what was that, 2002? 2003? Every other upgraded handset I've ever owned didn't come with one and it was assumed you just pop it out of your previous phone and you were good to go. Have SIM cards changed at all the way they handle these newer networks, especially HSDPA and HSPA+, or is it still all of the same? My new SIM doesn't work because I believe it isn't registered to my account on the network, so I am using the old one. It is a dumb theory I know, but its worth thinking about. Someone who is better educated will probably school my noobness, but I just found it interesting that this is the first phone on T-Mobile that can take advantage of these newer networks for both voice and data, and also the first one to include a brand-spanking new SIM card, in my experience anyway.

If this theory is totally stupid, does anyone else have any other theories?

 

[danbenfoster]

Also received a new SIM card, unasked for. No idea if and how this could affect signal, though.

 

[designerfx]

New sim cards should have basically no input on your reception. It just tells your phone which signal ranges to use. Thats it. Also contact storage.

Meanwhile you have to seriously hamfist your phone to cause anything, none of which would result in a dropped call nor a stopped data transfer.

Please stop the false hype. Vibrant won't drop calls like the iphone would.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

 

[smerff]

The old sim cards can only register on the network some 90k times or somesuch before they go bad. The swaps between 2g + 3g networks are causing lots to go bad faster. The new sim cards don't go bad at that point. That is the only difference. You will know if it's gone bad if you're getting "sos emergency calls" or "unable to register," but it shouldn't have any effect on loss of data/signal temporarily. It will simply no longer connect at all, period.

 

[designerfx]

You sure about that magic 90k number? Got a link to back it up?

I would have a year tops if that were even true.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

 

[smerff]

No links, sorry. I'm in cust care for t-mobile, and it was in one of our updates explaining why exactly we were getting these mysterious new sim card codes in the system when there was no other noticable changes to the sims. No increase in storage for contacts, or anything else, we were all kinda "huh"

Edit:After searching around for a relevant link I stumbled upon the one below stating that it might cause similar problems, although I've yet to see that being related in any of the troubleshooting I've done. At least the specifically UICC problem.
forums.t-mobile.com/t5/myTouch-3G-Slide/cannot-make-calls-losing-signal-apps-force-closing-Problems/m-p/416847

 

[heygrl]

Sim cards can cause some problems for people. I can safely say that even with the weakest of signals MY Vibrant will xfer data. I have the screen shots to prove it. I've yet to drop a call. The only thing I have a problem with is the GPS and the occasional pausing. I wish we could get some information from T-Mobile and Samsung about this matter and when they plan on fixing it. I see they're working on it by "leaking" betas to i9000 handsets. They need to fix the bars too because it's more annoying than anything. Otherwise I love the phone. GPS/zero bars will do for now but I want it to match the rest of the phone. The phone has no problem seeing up to 14 sats (only on stock settings) but will not connect to them.

My sim card is the one that came with the phone. Some networks have a special 3G authentication based on your sim but I don't believe T-Mobile is one of the carriers that use this.

 

[Pneumatic]

I am using my old sim card and I still get attenuation when I cover the bottom of the phone. I have never lost a call due to it so I have always figured that it is just faulty reporting of the signal. In my house, where I get pretty bad service, I can make it show no bars but I can still receive a call (I got one while I was playing with it by odd coincidence)