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Poor AT&T Signal Strength in Chicago.... Help

tired

Apr 23, 2004, 4:49 AM
Ok, let me begin by saying that I'm a cellular novice, to say the least... so when I need answers, I go to the experts.

Here's my problem. I recently purchased a V600, service AT&T, location Chicago. Despite all the rants and raves about how great the reception is, 8-10 times indoors, I can't even get a signal. I've switch phones, hoping that it was a unit error, No luck.

YOUR HELP would be greatly appreciated. What do I do? Unlock the phone and take it to T-Mobile or Cingular? Flash/Flex or what ever the hell that is? Wait a while until the AT&T merger with Cingular? Or scrap the idea and go back to my v8160 with Verizon, continue living in the dark ages, but have a phone that works. Unfortunately, like the rest of you, I don't have 3+ phones, and in my line of work I can't keep missing calls. ANYTHING, ANYBODY?
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michko

Apr 23, 2004, 8:18 AM
I live in the SW Subs of chicago and had AT&T GSM for about a year. Had a lot of reception and drop calls. I switched to TMobile and haven't had a problem. I've used my V600 that I bought online thru a seller and have it set to TMobile's browser and I love it.

I have had a few problems with the phone itself, but reception wise it's very good.

Good luck and let me know if you need any help.

Michko 🙂
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tired

Apr 23, 2004, 6:11 PM
Pardon my ignorance, and thank you so much for your response… how would I go about switching? I would assume that first I would need to unlock the phone. Then port my number to T-mobile. And finally, download (flex/flash is it) T-mobile’s software. Are these the correct steps… and since you’re from Chicago, anywhere to unlock the phone? Oh, I forgot, I probably will need T-Mobiles code right… I’ve got to ask for the V400 codes right. Any help (i.e. instructions or a trusted website) I would be extremely grateful. Some of us have our strong points, and cellular technology is not my. I just dial and answer….
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michko

Apr 23, 2004, 11:22 PM
Well if you just enrolled with AT&T within 30 days you can cancel your contract and return the phone to them. You'll wind up paying for only the time you used. You will not get charged a cancellation fee.

If you've been with AT&T (in contract) and you want out, then you'd have to cancel the contract and probably pay $175 plus any difference that is owed b/c you got the Moto V600 at a discounted rate.

Now if it's the later of the two, then you'd probably first have to request the unlock codes for that phone. Once you get them and unlock the phone, you'll have to go to TMobile and tell them you want to transfer to them and you need to "port" over your number from AT&T.

Once you're switched over, you can remove the mMode and the AT...
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tired

Apr 23, 2004, 11:53 PM
Thank you so much for your help. I'll try and return the phone to AT&T first, and if that doesn't work, I let you know and then maybe you can help walk me through me unlocking and flashing the phone. Finally, someone who knows what I'm talking about and how to help, will be in touch. Thanks again.
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tired

Apr 24, 2004, 11:48 AM
So here are my options...

Option (a) - Keep my AT&T V600, find the unlock code on the web (any suggestions on a site?) take the phone to T-Mobile, port my number, and then flash the phone (again with your help) to remove all the AT&T crap. Plus to this option is that I only paid $150 for the phone, I already have a $100 credit with AT&T because of where I work. Thus, it wouldn't be much of a charge at all. And further, this phone doesn't seem to have the technical malfunctions others are talking about.

Option (b) - Return my AT&T V600 because it has been within 30 days, full refund. Buy an unlocked V600 over the web, which currently is running at about $499 unlcoked - Vodaphone Packaging via CellPoint. Then take it to T-Mobile. The ben...
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panga_go_plango

Apr 24, 2004, 12:19 PM
Check out these people:

http://www.gsmphonesource.com/products/customer/home ... »

If you go through them, your options are

1:
Online unlock - $30 (prices are down finally)
Flash/flex yourself - check out:

http://v600.cjb.net/ »
http://s87445123.onlinehome.us/triplets/ »

2:

Onsite unlock - $25
Onsite flash - $30

The plus to option 2 is that you don't have to worry about doing it yourself, but you have to pay extra for shipping, and if they screw up your phone, you likely have a hairy mess on your hands.

Personally if I had to do it, I'd go solution #1.
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ltxi

Apr 24, 2004, 2:14 PM
GM Phonesource does good work and has quick turn around. Return shipping seven to 8 bucks.
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michko

Apr 24, 2004, 12:38 PM
best bet to go thru this is contact me directly. You can do this by double clicking my name underneath the thread. This will take you directly to me via email. Going thru the forum can take a little more time.

If you bought the phone thru AT&T, then you'll have to get the unlock codes from them. They might have a rule that you have to be with them for 90 before you can get the unlock codes.

As for flashing the phone, not a problem. I can lead you thru it. Or if you want to get a new V600 unlocked and unlogoed, I have access to a brand new one. No B/S. I bought 3 of them. One for me, one for girlfriend and one for a b-day gift for a friend of mine. However he loves Sony Ericsson so I was going to list it on ebay.

Let me kn...
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OCCfan

Apr 23, 2004, 11:35 PM
you shouldnt have to switch services at all .the v600 is a quad band phone which means it can pick up all 4 gsm frequencies(800/900/1800/1900).at&t,and cingular mostly use 800/1900in most areas,and tmobile uses 900.just manually set your phone on the 900 frequency,and you shuold pick up tmobiles signal.maake sure you dont have to pay for roaming charges first!!!
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rhinoliver

Apr 24, 2004, 8:02 AM
Just to clarify, t-mobile doesn't use the 900 frequency; that's only for other countries. T-mobile uses the 1900 frequency only where cingular and at&t use 1900 and 850. So manually switching frequencies would not work because you are already trying to pick up both 1900 and 850. So you would need to switch carriers so your phone could have the t-mobile software/codes in order to pick up their particular 1900 towers.
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arouth

Apr 23, 2004, 11:34 AM
http://store.yahoo.com/cellcrew/boosterantenna.html »

Try this, its supposed to amplify the signal. I've ordered it and if it works i'm keeping the phone, if it doesn't then i'm returning it.

hope it helps!
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michko

Apr 23, 2004, 12:41 PM
Save your money, the antenna booster is garbage. The phone reception is fine, it's the service that's the problem.

I use it on TMobile all over Chicago and suburbs and never had a problem. Reception is better than Nokia and Samsung for me.
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jonkbriggs

Apr 23, 2004, 3:57 PM
Dont buy the booster that is the biggest scam running!
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michko

Apr 23, 2004, 4:01 PM
You know it....if you believe it, I've got marsh land for you???? 🤣
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