[philip8454]

My (Bold, At&t) account is registered in Birmingham, Alabama. I bought it last week and spent a week using it in Birmingham. It worked great. 3G ALL the time; never dropped back to edge network.

Last night I flew back to Los Angeles, pulled battery to reboot.

All day long, the bold is flipping back and forth between Edge and 3G (I'm outdoors and in Beverly Hills). Also, even my Edge signal is weaker than in Birmingham. Does B'ham possibly have a stronger 3G network than LA?

Is it possible that my phone being registered in B'ham, AL but being used in LA is causing problems?

One bad result is that it appears to drain my battery a lot faster. Any ideas? Does LA (Bev Hills) 3G suck? Do I need to do something to my Bold? Thanks

[JSanders]

No, if it is AT&T, using it anywhere in the US should be ok. Traveling isn't an issue.

Likely, you are in an area with low signal. That is possible.

BTW, i am in Birmingham also, and I have had great 3G coverage around the metro area, no problems switching from 3G to EDGE at all.

Last weekend driving south on I-65, I lost 3G around Alabaster and regained it about Prattville in the Montgomery market.

Your battery drain is a result of the searching for 3G.

[sslbun]

I'm having the same problem. I live in downtown manhattan. I have an iphone too which always has 5 bars of 3G in my apt. My bold flips from gprs to edge to 3g constantly. it's been on edge all day today.

and it seems to drop a lot of calls more than my iphone, which is sort of unexpected. i got the iphone really just as a toy, expected the bold to be as good as my 8800.

[zerog46]

Have you contacted AT&T to make sure there is no service problem in your area.

[rextilleon]

There have been a ton of 3G network issues with ATT---Just look at all the problems that new Iphone users are having. I even heard that someone started a class law suit against Apple and ATT for false advertising. One of the issues was the inability to hold a 3G signal. Anyhow, perhaps BB owners will go the same route.

[JSanders]

Perhaps not all will go that route. Honestly, I have not had any issues keeping a 3G signal as I posted above.

I know some have, though.

[philip8454]

I also had NO problems holding a great 3G signal while in B'ham (my home service area). The problem is here in LA. My question is really: Will I have a decrease in reception while I am roaming ANYWHERE?

[Jarrod623]

I live in Dallas and had these sames issues the first week i had the phone...

edge, 3g, edge, 3g....

After switching to .185 I have been solid 3g, and my battery life has improved aswell.

[TroyDBrown]

It is just California! There is a long history of California and cell service.

Many communities including Beverly Hills do not want cell towers and have all passed city and county ordnances preventing the building of new ones which leaves you with only being able to install them on not so tall buildings. Hence very bad reception.

There is also the whole AT&T, SBC Global, Cingular, T-Mobile tower issue.

When Voicestream (T-Mobile) came into California they had no towers and decided to have roaming agreements with AT&T. Then through many buyouts, name changes, selling of towers to allow for the purchase and world domination of AT&T, AT&T lost a vast majority of towers in California and had to use ones from SBC Global.

California is a major work is progress still. You reception will not be as good here as other places.

[philip8454]

Jarrod, help me out please. If I update my OS to the latest out, how do I save my 3rd party applications? Someone care to guide me through the entire upgrade process? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

[TroyDBrown]

Originally Posted by philip8454

Jarrod, help me out please. If I update my OS to the latest out, how do I save my 3rd party applications? Someone care to guide me through the entire upgrade process? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

If you follow the instructions at the top of the forum for your device 3rd party applications are included when upgrading the OS.

[JSanders]

1) Actually OS .190 is even better I am hearing from various Bold users for keeping and holding the 3G signal.
Google for it "4.6.0.190" and use the same directions as you will find posted here in our 9000 forums Sticky Note for the .185

2) Did you even read the post from Troy, about California issues? He is in the LA area, he will know of what he speaks.

3. Your third party applications will reload after an OS upgrade. I recommend backing them up, though, as a safety measure.
http://www.blackberryforums.com/rim-...arty-apps.html

[TroyDBrown]

Here is the link:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/gene...ilanguage.html

[JD914]

Wirelessly posted

I'm on .185 and the only time I get an EDGE signal is when I'm not in a 3G area other than that my 3G is on all the time.

[Jarrod623]

Thanks for the assist Sanders

Philip Sounds like you should be fine dude. Not sure if you need to update your OS as Troy said he has seen those same AT&T issues. If you still wish to update go for it.

[philip8454]

Yes, I read Troy's response and thanks Troy and the rest of you. You can't get good, first hand info like that just anywhere. Hard to believe, as big and advanced as LA is, and I have better coverage in Birmingham, Alabama.

So far as updating the OS, my only reason to do so would be that my battery usage now sucks. Is it worth it for that?

Thanks again

[Jarrod623]

I have noticed a difference as many others have. If you decide to update and need help just post and I shall answer.

*At work till 6 Centeral Time and Very Bored