Is there a way to "force" the S3 to connect to a 4G network?

**Metorks** · 09-24-2012, 10:08 PM

Hi all,

I'm a new AT&T S3 owner, coming over from a Sprint Epic 4G. I'm super-happy with both the phone and the carrier so far, but I do have one problem:

At my workplace, which AT&T coverage maps show as having 100% non-LTE 4G, the S3 seems to want to stay on the 3G network (letter E in the status bar (EVDO, I guess?)). When it's on the 'E', the phone service is great (3-5 bars) but the data connection is nearly non-existent--struggling even with emails and reader feeds. Every once in a while, the phone will switch to 4G, but with only 1-2 bars. When it does this, everything is great--fast data, and great phone service. However, I'm lucky to see it switch over for more than 5-10 minutes a day, then it flips back to the 'E'.

My question is this: Is there any way to 'force' the phone to use only the weaker 4G signal? I did a bit of searching, but couldn't come up with much except for solutions for forcing to 3G from 4G...essentially the opposite of what I want to do.

I haven't rooted yet. I was going to wait for JB to hit, but I can root if it's needed for what I want to do.

Any help you guys can offer would be welcome.

Thanks,
Kevin

**titans30dude** · 09-24-2012, 10:11 PM

Att is gsm so does not use evdo its got to be edge which is like 2g very slow compared to todays technologies and maybe do a soft reset of the phone or maybe u are in a building and the 4g hspa cannot reach all the way inside

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Android Central Forums

**Paul627g** · 09-24-2012, 10:40 PM

There is nothing out there to my knowledge that does what your asking. Stay on 2g/3g yes.. Stay on 4g, no.. As soon as the device detects the signal quality is dropping its always going to default back to 2g/3g.

I have not seen anything in any custom ROMs that changes this either.

Double check your PRL and make sure its up to date and see if that makes any difference.. To my knowledge PRL only deals with defining roaming areas/towers but those changes from time to time so it could make a different in signals and what its holding onto if your PRL is out of date.

PRL is under Settings/About Phone... Should be an option for firmware/software/prl updates.

**Metorks** · 09-24-2012, 11:54 PM

Thanks for the prompt replies. I tried to update the PRL, but it just couldn't do it on the slower network. I'll give it a shot again while I've got a good connection. Also, I've seen the radio icon show both E and G. I thought E was the faster of the two, but maybe not?