[ale] OT cellular protocol versions

[Alex Carver]

Sounds like a Sidekick.

What network is he on?  That affects the communication channel.  Not
everything is LTE just yet, lots of things are still using various
modulations and channel types (2G GSM, 3G EDGE, CMDA, 4G LTE or WiMax).

It might be his phone, it might not be. Tower sharing can cause
interference and vegetation can cause other issues.  If the phone gets
dropped a lot then the tiny SAW filters used in some phones can be
damaged causing poor reception.

On 2015-01-22 15:21, David S Jackson wrote:
> Hi All (or Ale)  :-)
> 
> 
> I have a friend whose cell phone (about 4 years old) has a hard time
> talking to his local cell tower at inconsistent times of the day.
> Either he has not noticed a consistent time during which his connection
> goes south, or the going south of his connection does not happen at a
> predictable time.  
> 
> I had thought that the age of his phone might mean that older protocols
> possibly weren't supported as easily as newer protocols.  But I don't
> really know anything about cell phone protocols.  Is that a likely line
> of inquiry, updating his phone?
> 
> I suggested he get a burner phone and see whether that phone made a more
> consistent connection.  My friend is retired and not about to get a
> smart phone.  
> 
> I don't recognize his old phone.  I didn't look at it closely--didn't
> think I'd be posting about it.  But mainly, it's one of those older
> phones where there is a texting keyboard that slides apart from the
> display.  It's slightly closer to square than a wide keyboard. The
> battery appears to be fine.  Not a big power consumer.  He says the
> fluctuation seems to not originate from his phone.  Might it be that
> newer protocols have greater support and older protocols have less
> support?  Or am I dreaming that after too much saki at lunch?
> 
> Thanks,
> Dave
> 
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