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Resolved Question

Why is voice ok, but data signal weak?

Aug 16, 2016 6:42AM PDT

I have a general connectivity problem where I stay. Looking for alternative mobile service provider, I managed to get a Vodafone guy to come to our place to check the signal strength inside the premise.

Voice seems to work fine. But, my more pressing need is data. Their dongle on my laptop as well as test mobile hotspot to my laptop failed to give good data connectivity. My laptop was showing excellent strength to the hotspot, but hotspot-to-tower was problematic.

I am curious to know why there is a mismatch between voice and data signal strength. The sim card in the dongle and test mobile were 3G. We do not have 4G here.

Discussion is locked

abanerji has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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It would take months to understand why.
Aug 16, 2016 7:04AM PDT

You are asking about how cellular voice and data differ. They do so that's the quick answer.

As to improving this, I think you are using this indoors and cellular often has trouble indoors. Try moving the hotspot device to window sills around the home. I owned a few of these and this helped.

As to 3G/4G it really doesn't matter. You can have issues on either.

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I put the hotspot in the balcony facing the tower direction
Aug 16, 2016 7:21AM PDT

Thank you for your reply.

Is it possible to get any web link, which explains this voice-data mismatch to a non-technical person?

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I never found a good web site about that.
Aug 16, 2016 7:30AM PDT

While it may be interesting to discover that voice and data are not using the same systems (this changes with VoLTE) the knowing how it works has yet to help fix it on the client side.

As to placement, I had to test all the outside areas available to me the last time. Later the usual ISP install happened and I didn't use it any longer.

I now have a regular smart phone with data and hotspot but the first carrier I used when I moved here took down a tower and it went to rarely working. I changed carriers and had to change the phone but it's all good now. Still the same issues with indoor use. Works better when I'm not in the center of the home.

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VoLTE
Aug 16, 2016 8:53AM PDT

Thank you. It is always great to exchange with you in the forum, and learn something new.

I hope that our service providers do something for better signals Sad

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Sometimes data/voice use different frequencies
Aug 16, 2016 10:11AM PDT

For example, Vodaphone may be using 900MHz for voice and 1800 for data in your area. (Where *do* you reside, by the way????) Lower frequencies tend to have better wave propagation through solid objects, hence a possibility that your data signal is weaker indoors.

I would also consider testing a different brand hotspot device for good measure.

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Ah-ha!
Aug 16, 2016 10:37AM PDT

Thank you for mentioning about the frequencies ... not that Vodafone would do anything to help me! But, good to know.

I am in a "village" (with hilly terrain, and trees all around) of Goa, India.
Our quasi state owned landline company provides reasonable broadband (even as "high" as 1 - 2 Mbps) when it works ... and then, when things go wrong (underground / overhead cable fault, last mile issue, etc.), it takes them days and sometimes a couple of weeks to restore service!

Earlier, I had the "luxury" of a working secondary 3G mobile data service. Some months back, they launched 4G from the same tower (nearest to my place). I have poked their service centre to know whether 4G is conflicting in some way with their old 3G ... no answer, what else?
Just to make the story short. I kept up with their highest management (including Chairman's office), and have been told two months back that they are "aware" of the issue, and taking steps to make a new tower, but can't give any timeline to complete. Currently, our entire neighbourhood is suffering.

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What are PGSM and DCS?
Aug 17, 2016 1:07AM PDT

I have seen in my handset settings PGSM 900 band and DCS 1800 band. What do these signify please? And, do these have any bearing in the way voice and data may operate in different frequencies?

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Re: PGSM and DCS
Aug 17, 2016 2:12AM PDT
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Thank you for the link
Aug 17, 2016 3:27AM PDT

Yes, fortunately my mobile works when it rings, or when I call somebody (but, only outside in the balcony) .... small mercies of the service provider Wink

When it comes to data connectivity, mobile rarely works. Dongle "works" at below good old dial-up speed ... even google home page does not load!

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This problem is mostl likely..
Aug 17, 2016 7:25AM PDT

...related to lack of infrastructure/backhaul and/or tower issues. It happens in non-third world countries too unfortunately Sad.

You are however lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. My family who traveled to Goa fell in love(!)

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Learning telecom
Aug 17, 2016 10:38AM PDT

Thank you. I have been able to enter the telecom world in the past two days, courtesy all you experts here. Backhaul is a great term, and I am going to use it for effect when the next time I speak to a service guy!

Thanks for the good words about Goa. I moved in here years ago, and all is great except these niggling communication / internet issues.

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Answer
data signal
Aug 22, 2016 1:59AM PDT

the issue is solved by your phone settings, you should turn it on