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Battery drain after switch to T-Mobile?!?

rdunlap

rdunlap

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 13, 2013
320
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So me and my wife switched to T-Mobile last week and we brought over our phones as well. We've both noticed that the battery drains significantly faster now that we are on T-Mobile. Has anyone else experienced this? Just trying to figure out if there is something I need to do or how I can prevent this from happening.

Thanks in advance!
 
Whats your signal like? Coming from the UK (assume your in the US), I have had problems with my new network due to the masts in my area constantly switching from 4G to 3G and weak signal. When weak the phone looks for signal constantly, if your being switched between masts or from 4G to 3G can also eat up battery.

Might be worth checking area with t-mobile as they might have issues???
 
QzzB said:
Whats your signal like? Coming from the UK (assume your in the US), I have had problems with my new network due to the masts in my area constantly switching from 4G to 3G and weak signal. When weak the phone looks for signal constantly, if your being switched between masts or from 4G to 3G can also eat up battery.

Might be worth checking area with t-mobile as they might have issues???
Click to expand...

At my home (inside) I currently get about one bar of service. It is still LTE but just one bar. I've never not been able to get a phone call or anything but it's not very strong. If I walk around my street I get a lot better service. Everywhere else I seem to get very good (and fast) service and data speeds. T-Mobile has a 4G / LTE Cellspot (mini tower) on the way to me to increase my service. They say this works really well for weak inside service.

Once of the reps also told me that they are "modernizing" the towers around my area and this should finish March 3rd so maybe this will increase service in my area?
 
The 1 bar might be the drain - as I believe the phone constantly tries to connect to better masts due to the signal strength. If they are modernising and upgrading can only improve the situation, but in my experience in the UK they always say these things, but hardly ever see any change.

Might be worth just checking the battery status on the phone (Settings > Battery) and see what is causing the drain. I think (don't quote me) but it might come back with Phone - Low Signal or similar which might be looking for network. Not 100% sure thats what it means but might be a indication.
 
rdunlap said:
So me and my wife switched to T-Mobile last week and we brought over our phones as well. We've both noticed that the battery drains significantly faster now that we are on T-Mobile. Has anyone else experienced this? Just trying to figure out if there is something I need to do or how I can prevent this from happening.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

What device did you bring over? The biggest jump in coverage for the T-Mobile LTE network has been via the deployment of their Band 12 Extended Range LTE towers -- the only iPhone models able to access Band 12 are 6S models and newer. Without those, you're probably going to experience some battery drain as the phone searches for stronger signal.
 
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My 6 plus does not have LTE band 12, zero signal inside my home. Picked up the CellSpot $25 deposit, works so well I have hidden it behind the TV and forgotten about it.
 
Number 41 said:
What device did you bring over? The biggest jump in coverage for the T-Mobile LTE network has been via the deployment of their Band 12 Extended Range LTE towers -- the only iPhone models able to access Band 12 are 6S models and newer. Without those, you're probably going to experience some battery drain as the phone searches for stronger signal.
Click to expand...

I brought over an AT&T iPhone 6s Plus.
[doublepost=1488391372][/doublepost]
gretafour said:
My 6 plus does not have LTE band 12, zero signal inside my home. Picked up the CellSpot $25 deposit, works so well I have hidden it behind the TV and forgotten about it.
Click to expand...

I actually have one on it's way to me. Did you notice an improvement in battery life after getting this installed? Also, does this affect your internet connectivity at all? I know it says you need to plug it into your router.
 
gretafour said:
My 6 plus does not have LTE band 12, zero signal inside my home. Picked up the CellSpot $25 deposit, works so well I have hidden it behind the TV and forgotten about it.
Click to expand...

I'd go with wifi calling instead of a dedicated carrier cellspot.
Better at battery, you dont need to install additional devices or setup and works for text/calls/mms and voice.
 
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gretafour said:
My 6 plus does not have LTE band 12, zero signal inside my home. Picked up the CellSpot $25 deposit, works so well I have hidden it behind the TV and forgotten about it.
Click to expand...

The TMO CellSpot is GREAT. I got it to boost my WiFi Calling but it's just a really great router. It has replaced the AirPort Extreme I had, which was failing anyway. But basically, I just made my CellSpot my main WiFi Router and best of all it was "free." It has incredible range.

Also, if you're at home with WiFi, go into Airplane mode w/ WiFi on and see if that improves your battery. I do that at the office where the LTE signal isn't very good and it extends my battery.

Applejuiced said:
I'd go with wifi calling instead of a dedicated carrier cellspot.
Better at battery, you dont need any to install additional devices or setup and works for text/calls/mms and voice.
Click to expand...

The CellSpot is really just the ASUS TM-AC1900 modified to prioritize WiFi Calling so it does use WiFi calling rather than boosting an LTE signal. It is faster and has much farther range than my old AirPort Extreme. I highly recommend getting one.
 
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E3BK said:
The TMO CellSpot is GREAT. I got it to boost my WiFi Calling but it's just a really great router. It has replaces the AirPort Extreme I had, which was failing anyway. But basically, I just made my CellSpot my main WiFi Router and best of all it was "free." It has incredible range.



The CellSpot is really just the ASUS TM-AC1900 modified to prioritize WiFi Calling so it does use WiFi calling rather than boosting an LTE signal. It is faster and has much farther range than my old AirPort Extreme. I highly recommend getting one.
Click to expand...

Nice, so its a stronger WiFi router basically?
 
E3BK said:
The TMO CellSpot is GREAT. I got it to boost my WiFi Calling but it's just a really great router. It has replaced the AirPort Extreme I had, which was failing anyway. But basically, I just made my CellSpot my main WiFi Router and best of all it was "free." It has incredible range.

Also, if you're at home with WiFi, go into Airplane mode w/ WiFi on and see if that improves your battery. I do that at the office where the LTE signal isn't very good and it extends my battery.



The CellSpot is really just the ASUS TM-AC1900 modified to prioritize WiFi Calling so it does use WiFi calling rather than boosting an LTE signal. It is faster and has much farther range than my old AirPort Extreme. I highly recommend getting one.
Click to expand...

I think they have both a wifi router and a mini cell spot, aka femtocell. Both are called CellSpot for some poorly thought out reason. I have the 4GLTE CellSpot. I didn't want to mess with Wifi calling. It does a great job handing off calls to regular tower when I leave, and only needs a GPS signal (antenna included) for initial set up. After it's set up you can hide the GPS antenna. It's limited to my home internet speed obviously, but I'm usually on wi-fi at home anyway. I live in an apartment complex and while neighbors could probably connect, I've had no problems. In fact I'm happy to share the signal.
 
gretafour said:
I think they have both a wifi router and a mini cell spot, aka femtocell. Both are called CellSpot for some poorly thought out reason. I have the 4GLTE CellSpot. I didn't want to mess with Wifi calling. It does a great job handing off calls to regular tower when I leave, and only needs a GPS signal (antenna included) for initial set up. After it's set up you can hide the GPS antenna. It's limited to my home internet speed obviously, but I'm usually on wi-fi at home anyway. I live in an apartment complex and while neighbors could probably connect, I've had no problems. In fact I'm happy to share the signal.
Click to expand...

Ahhh ok. I have the WiFi one. I thought the LTE one went by a different name.

CoriG said:
How do you get a cell spot for free?
Click to expand...

Call TMobile. They will charge a $25 deposit to your account and send the CellSpot to you. Deposit is refunded when you turn it back in.
 
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E3BK said:
Ahhh ok. I have the WiFi one. I thought the LTE one went by a different name.



Call TMobile. They will charge a $25 deposit to your account and send the CellSpot to you. Deposit is refunded when you turn it back in.
Click to expand...
Thank you@!
 
E3BK said:
Ahhh ok. I have the WiFi one. I thought the LTE one went by a different name.



Call TMobile. They will charge a $25 deposit to your account and send the CellSpot to you. Deposit is refunded when you turn it back in.
Click to expand...

That easy?
Do I have to claim that I get no signal in my house and ask for one?
Do they give them out easy?
 
Pretty sure it's the weak signal coverage

I had the opposite happen last year... I switched from a network that had an average of 1 bar of signal at work to a network that has 2 or 3 bars on average and my old 5s started ending the day with around 40% battery left instead of around 20%
 
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