Does the phone search for 4G signal even in a 3G-only city?

[potove]

Does the phone search for 4G signal even in a 3G-only city?

I'm wondering if the phone will waste battery life by constantly searching for 4G signal where there isn't any.

There is no 4G within 200 miles of my city.

If so, can the user manually keep the phone in 3G only?

Thanks!

[WCMack · Accepted solution]

Dear potove,

Yes, you can keep the phone in 3G only mode.

On any home screen, press the menu button (left physical button) and then select Settings > Wireless and networks > Mobile networks > System selection and set to CDMA mode.

[timnyc]

Yes. Thank you for the answer to that question:

That is how I have been making sure I am set to 3g mode to save lots of battery during the day.

Q: What is the difference in 3G mode (also known as CDMA mode) on the Samsung Charge between "Home" and "auto" options?

(i guess i should look it up in the manual (especially as I would like to maintain connections on 3g that often reverts to 1x)

[WCMack]

Dear tim,

Hmmm...I don't see that setting in the relevant area. Can you tell me how you got to that choice...give me a clickpath. Thanks.

[greend21]

The click path is Settings - Wireless & Network - Mobile Networks - System Selection - CDMA Mode.  I was wondring the same things as him.  Is this info the same for everyone else?

Hardware Version: i510.06

Firmware Version: 2.2.1

Baseband Version: i510.06 V. EE4   SCH-I510.EE1

Kernel Version: 2.6.32.9
Build Number: SCH-I510.EE$ 

[WCMack]

Yes, those are the settings I have.

[greend21]

I wonder why the Home and Automatic options do not show up on all phones though.

[WCMack]

Dear greend21,

I don't know, but I have seen evidence on this forum of subtle differences in the settings menu before. I have also experienced a situation in which certain settings choices were visible only after a soft reset, and once I turned off the phone after that these settings choices became invisible again . I can only conclude that this build of the OS is not completely stable.

[JoeNe]

I do have the Home and Auto selections on my phone.  I believe Home Only would prevent roaming outside your home network area.  This equates back to the days when there were no nationwide plans.  Perhaps this setting is in the phone for other countries or people who may still be on a legacy plan coming over from a company VZW acquired.

[timnyc]

my CDMA mode that I am in unless I need speed usually in the middle of the day when 3g speeds are way low here in manhattan on this device...4g sucks up that battery as we know with these 4g 'droids

today but for a moment had "CDMA Mode" Home turn into for the first time "CDMA mode A" and "CDMA Mode B" .... funny how these phones can be

verizon also says phones are 'just upgraded' so ' different things can happen at  any time' .... comforting!