Why isn't my NL 920 available while 4G?

[Nomade_81]

NL 920 not available while 4G on

Hello everybody!

I have a problem. When I have 4G as a maximum network speed, my Nokia Lumia 920 (Cyan OS version 8.10.12393.890, Country Variant Russia) often looses connection to the network and I am often unavailable (people who call me hear that either I switched off my phone or out of coverage area). Although the phone`s signal bar shows full or close to full signal. The same happens when I choose 3G as max speed. So now I have 2G as maximum only like 10 years ago. Please give any advice!

 

[gpobernardo]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

Hello everybody!

I have a problem. When I have 4G as a maximum network speed, my Nokia Lumia 920 (Cyan OS version 8.10.12393.890, Country Variant Russia) often looses connection to the network and I am often unavailable (people who call me hear that either I switched off my phone or out of coverage area). Although the phone`s signal bar shows full or close to full signal. The same happens when I choose 3G as max speed. So now I have 2G as maximum only like 10 years ago. Please give any advice!

Could you test your SIM on a different phone, preferably a different phone model?

You may want to check with your mobile service provider for the specific area in your country for that, since their mobile data level coverage may not be uniform across all regions.

 

[Nomade_81]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

Thanks for your answer!
Well, I used a Sony Xperia V with this SIM long time and in the same places at work and at home and I did not have this issue. Sony always switched very quickly between 2G-4G and nobody ever told me I was unavailable.
So that is the question why NL920 becomes unavailable under same conditions.

 

[gpobernardo]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

Thanks for your answer!
Well, I used a Sony Xperia V with this SIM long time and in the same places at work and at home and I did not have this issue. Sony always switched very quickly between 2G-4G and nobody ever told me I was unavailable.
So that is the question why NL920 becomes unavailable under same conditions.

I think the differences in the performance of the Xperia V and the Lumia 920 lies in their cellular connectivity specifications. The Xperia V can access 5 LTE bands, compared to the L920 that can only access 2 LTE bands - accessibility to more bands generally makes the phone more flexible and increases the chance of being able to connect to an LTE-enabled network. This is most probably the reason why the Xperia V performs "better" than the L920.

However, as an illustration, the Lumia 1020 and the Lumia 1520 can tune in to 4 and 5 bands respectively. While the L1520 can access as much bands as the Xperia V, they don't access the same bands - the Xperia V accesses "Band 5" while the L1520 accesses "Band 8", all the rest being the same. On the other hand, the L1020 can access "Band 5", but that's the only similarity between the L1020 and the Xperia V. These mean that if only Band 5 is available in your area, then the Xperia V and the L1020 will be able to connect to LTE... the L1520, despite having the same number of accessible bands with the Xperia V, will not be able to access LTE.

 

[Nomade_81]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

Thanks for the detailed answer!
So, what may be the solution of this problem? I decided for myself to switch to my Sony Xperia V again for many other reasons. But when I want to use my L920, what shall I do? Leave the 2G as maximum only as I did before? And change it to 4G every time I need quicker connection?

 

[gpobernardo]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

Thanks for the detailed answer!
So, what may be the solution of this problem? I decided for myself to switch to my Sony Xperia V again for many other reasons. But when I want to use my L920, what shall I do? Leave the 2G as maximum only as I did before? And change it to 4G every time I need quicker connection?

If you've got a Wi-Fi connection, you could use that instead of 4G. This way you can keep your L920 connection at 2G. If you absolutely need a fast internet connection without Wi-Fi, then you could do as you suggested: switch to 4G temporarily and then switch back to 2G when you're done. It just seems that (with the "detailed" discussion on network bands above) the L920 is somewhat incompatible with the network in your area.

Another option is to buy a close-to-entry-level Windows Phone (435, 535*, 630, 640)... at least until you decide to get a fully featured Windows Phone (830, 930, 1xxx, next flasghip).

*- The L535 is "okay", but it has a very persistent touch screen issue, so I would recommend something else even if I got an L535 for myself as a temporary phone.

 

[Nomade_81]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

Hi! I just checked the bands of my carrier and guess what L920 doesn`t support neither of them! (What?!) So you were right.
My carrier supports Band 38 (2600 MHz), Band 20 (800 MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz). And L920 has LTE FDD Band 17 (700 MHz) and Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz) only. So neither of carrier`s bands.
Sony Xperia V has LTE bands: 1, 3, 5, 7 and 20. That makes 3 of 4.

 

[gpobernardo]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

Hi! I just checked the bands of my carrier and guess what L920 doesn`t support neither of them! (What?!) So you were right.
My carrier supports Band 38 (2600 MHz), Band 20 (800 MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz). And L920 has LTE FDD Band 17 (700 MHz) and Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz) only. So neither of carrier`s bands.
Sony Xperia V has LTE bands: 1, 3, 5, 7 and 20. That makes 3 of 4.

What's the plan? Windows 10 is coming and maybe (just maybe and hopefully) a new set of Lumia phones will be announced with it.:wink:

 

[Nomade_81]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

I don`t know. Maybe one day I`ll get a new one, but one thing I can tell you - I am so disappointed with my L920. I am using my Sony Xperia V the third day already and never been unavailable since then. Next time when I am going to buy a new phone I`ll check the specs for sure.

 

[gpobernardo]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

I don`t know. Maybe one day I`ll get a new one, but one thing I can tell you - I am so disappointed with my L920. I am using my Sony Xperia V the third day already and never been unavailable since then. Next time when I am going to buy a new phone I`ll check the specs for sure.

Hopefully that new phone would be a Lumia, or at least a Windows Phone. The newer phones have more band frequencies now, and you check them for compatibility with your region first just as you suggested.:smile:

 

[Nomade_81]

Re: NL 920 not available while 4G on

I read an article today about some rumors of new 940 and 1040. So will see, maybe I`ll get one of them.

 

[Nomade_81]

UPD: I solved my problem with my Nokia Lumia 920 which had network issue (call dropped). Dial ##3282# - Accept - Settings - WCDMA - 3G only then hit back arrow till you are out of the menu. Had no network problems since then.