Speeds on AT&T!

I’ve had plenty of time playing around with AT&T and their so called 4G.   I’ve once talked about Data Speeds and broadband Modems.  So I thought it was high time, we talk about understanding your coverage area.  Even though you have a smart phone, in essence it is just a modem because you are basically using it for Data.   I’m not saying that buying a Cell Phone Antenna sticker [Affiliate Link] will not work, it just varies because of personal opinion on them.   Some say it will work others claim it is just foolishly wasting money.   I tend to think if you paying a dollar to try it out, it at least is a good try!

Why Do I get poor Reception or Signal?

 This is almost a really common question because everyone at some point as a really bad signal strength and thus some blame it on their cell phone, others on their service provider.   I’m here to explain to you that it is more than likely more than one reason why your not getting the signal you are wanting and I am going to go into detail about that.   Even if you were standing right next to an cell tower, you might still not get any signal! Some of the more common reasons are:

• Cell Phone Antenna — Depending on where the manufacturer put the antenna, you may always have problems but it isn’t always the culprit.   
• Other devices — you may not know this but your TV is putting out interferences and even you Microwave could be causing problem with your signal getting to your phone.   
• Location of Cell Tower — Even if you next to a cell tower that might not be in your network and thus you may not be connecting to that tower.  Depending on which provider you are using will depend on which tower you will user.  
• Walls — If you are in an open park, you will have problems with signal strength due to the thickness of walls and how radio waves have a hard time getting through them.  Another reason why you might have low signal strength.

As you can see there are many factors to why you might not be getting a very good signal where you are.  I am not saying that you can’t blame it on your phone or provider.   This is just so you might figure out ways to increase you signal strength.

Straight Talk With T-mobile!

I’ve decided to have a little try on the T-mobile network using the Straight Talk Sim card.  I’m going to be ordering the SIM to use with the HTC Inspire to see if that works any better.  I think this will be very educational for me to find out some of the APN Modifications that I will have to do to my phone and thus will teach me a lot about T-mobile in the process! In the coming weeks, I will have a step by step guide on which APN’S seem to work best for me and hopefully it will help you out in the same process.   Thank you for all your support and using my Amazon Affiliate Link, every time you use it to buy from Amazon really helps keep my blog up and running.  

Paul Sylvester

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No Rom is ever Perfect!

I’m not saying that you will find a ROM that is ever going to be perfect.   It is however going to make your job a lot more hassle free!  I say that with the aticapation that some of the readers, one of them is Todd Lacy, told me about a ROM that I Must try.   So I downloaded that one one and it will be list a few of the ROMS that I’ve tried for my HTC inspire.  I will have a fun time with these ROM in the hopes that in the next few weeks, I can buy me another HTC Phone [Affiliate Link], I believe HTC is the best company right now and I want to stick with the company.

ROM’s That I recommend!

This won’t be a really big list unless someone wants to comment but here are the ones that I thought might be really nice to try and I downloaded and will try in the next few days.   I am going to report back on each one of these and tell you what I think of each and everyone of them in a blog post detailing the problems I had and if there was a solution.   Once I do a ROM, and explore them.   You will get as much information as I can come up with to assist your decision on which ROM is for you!

 

• Cyangen MOD — I used this MOD for a few weeks and it hasn’t been bad but It could be better!  It had so many bugs with the HTC Inspire that I thought it was time to look somewhere else.   Some of the bugs that I think it had was Signal Strength.   I simply don’t know so I decided to try other MOD’s!
• ClearDroid — This is looking promising but I won’t hold my breathe.   As I install it, it made me feel really good.   It came up with the HTC Logo as if it was an official ROM from HTC.  Everything that I have done with this little ROM as been promising because it even install all the HTC Apps that you would normally see!  So give a week or two to check this one out and I’ll let you know!
• ATT Sense 3 ROM (Thanks to Todd Lacy) — Haven’t done anything to this one yet but it was a 300 meg download and thus I will do this last.  I haven’t done anything else but to download this one.  I will look at this one in a few weeks after I give Cleardroid a chance!

 

Those are the three that I’ve found so far and would love to hear which ones you recommend for your HTC Inspire 4G Phone that works with Straight Talk.   Other than those three, I’ve not tried anything else or will try anything else unless you request it.   So be sure to Contact me and tell me which ones you want me to try with my HTC Inspire and I’ll be certain to look into them for you and tell you what I think!

Paul Sylvester

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Water logged Phone, Needs Replace!

After many long months with the HTC inspire 4G, I’ve pretty much decided that is probably time to get a new phone.  I’ve had many great success with the phone and I like it very much, so I’m not about to leave the HTC phone maker [Affiliate Link].  I’ve had many times of finding that right phone, and I’ve even shared how I do find phones.  It just means I not going to buy a new phone, because buying a new phone is way to expensive for my taste.  I however know what I’m interested in and I’ll be sharing them with you.   I’m more interested in what people think of these phones and if they how they work than anything else but I will also be sharing how to use them with Straight Talk over, once I buy one of these phones.

• HTC Droid Incredible Music WiFi GPS PDA Phone Verizon [Affiliate Link] — Looks to be a more sturdier than the Inspire and probably even more easily to put one of the Other O/s on like Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich!
• HTC EVO 4G Bluetooth Camera WiFi GPS PDA Phone Sprint [Affiliate Link] — Great little Phone but it is still a lot newer and more money out of pocket but still looks to be a very sturdy phone.   It works on Sprint Network so It should be good to use with Straight Talk.
• HTC Desire Bluetooth WiFi Music PDA Phone US Cellular [Affiliate Link] — A newer version of the Inspire so it is a step up from the Inspire but not a very big step in my opinion and thus I am unsure as to how long it will last!
• HTC ThunderBolt High-End Android 4G LTE Phone Verizon [Affiliate Link] — A lot higher in expenses than most used phones but it could very well be used on AT&T when they roll out in my Area.  Until then I would still be able to use this on their network but without the speed of LTE

As you can see I’m really thinking about this and how I can best make my choice.   I am open to the possibilities of getting a phone in the next few weeks and you can help me decide which one you want me to work with in reguards to unlocking it for Straight Talk.  Just leave a comment and tell me what you think and which ones you like yourself.  

Paul Sylvester

My Amazon Affiliate Link

 

Tuff little Phone!

When I first got this used HTC inspire Phone, I didn’t expect to be so durable.  I even showed you how to unlock your HTC Inspire and make it work it Straight Talk!  Recent past have talked about some of my other favorite durable technology, like the MX Anywhere Mouse [Affiliate Link].   The mouse is very durable just like this phone,  I’ve been using this mouse for over 2 years and still think this is very useful!  

So why bring up the mouse, well I used to have a post about water damage on the mouse and how to fix it.  It went out the window when I upgraded to Squarespace I believe.  Oh well, it was a great post about how to fix your mouse in case it got wet.  

My Cell Phone got dunked in liquid!

I won’t say how, but I will say most people will say that it now longer will work and I think even the cell companies like to use that lie to get you to buy a new cell phone when this happens.  Anyway, I don’t know who came up with the idea of getting electronics wet means it is ruined.   I also know about the side effects of rust and moisture but most of the time you can fix that with a little sun and letting it dry.   If moisture got in the electronic it can get itself out! That at least is what I think and what I have seen it do in the past.  

Some Points to Consider!

• Don’t expect it to work right after you think it is dry.   It might take a little longer than usual for it to be dry enough to work.
• If your 10$ keyboard needs clean, just drop it in water and then let it dry.   You’d be surpised how cleaner it is afterwards.  Just remember to disconnect it from power supply and give it plenty of time to dry off approximately a day or two should do!  
• If your Cell phone or Keyboard gets wet, remove batteries or power it down quickly to prevent any electrical arching which could result in damage to the electrical equipment.  
• If you can keep the battery door open to let it dry!
• If you think it is ruined, then you can’t do any more damage by trying to dry it off and use it again!

I don’t recommend this for anything else.   If you happen to get your laptop wet then you have problems.  I am talking about a keyboard for the desktop and only a desktop.  

After I’d dried off my cell phone, it started to work again.   If it didn’t at least I had a way to go buy a cheap HTC Cell phone and thus saving me money.  If you need a used cell phone, I suggest checking Cellular Country [Affiliate Link], they guarantee that it will work on delivery or your money back!  That’s where I’m going to buy my next cell phone from when it is time!

Paul Sylvester

My Amazon Link