Battery drain after switch to T-Mobile?!?

[rdunlap]

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!

 

[QzzB]

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???

 

[rdunlap]

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???

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?

 

[noobinator]

Yep, the signal is the problem for sure.

 

[QzzB]

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.

 

[Stevessvt]

Maybe try using wifi calling.

 

[rdunlap]

Maybe try using wifi calling.

I have wifi calling turned on. After a reading a little bit it could be related to voLTE.

 

[its Dale]

try a hard reset on the phone? Unfortunately they always say that they are working on a tower "near you".

 

[bufffilm]

Poor reception is a well known battery drainer.

Google it to try come up w/mitigating things you can do.

 

[Number 41]

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!

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.

 

[gretafour]

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.

 

[rdunlap]

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.

I brought over an AT&T iPhone 6s Plus.
[doublepost=1488391372][/doublepost]

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.

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.

 

[Number 41]

I brought over an AT&T iPhone 6s Plus.

Ah.

Well, I switched to TMo 2 weeks ago and haven't noticed any worsening battery issues. Though, TBF -- my 6s+ battery kinda sucks after a year and a half.

 

[Applejuiced]

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.

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.

 

[0970373]

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

[Applejuiced]

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.

Nice, so its a stronger WiFi router basically?

 

[0970373]

Nice, so its a stronger WiFi router basically?

Exactly that. I hadn't realized how terrible my AirPort was until I got this. lol.

 

[Applejuiced]

Exactly that. I hadn't realized how terrible my AirPort was until I got this. lol.

I need to check it out, my old router is starting to suck lately...

 

[gretafour]

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.

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.

 

[CoriG]

Nice, so its a stronger WiFi router basically?

How do you get a cell spot for free?

 

[0970373]

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.

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

How do you get a cell spot for free?

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.

 

[CoriG]

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.

Thank you@!

 

[Applejuiced]

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.

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?

 

[rdunlap]

Exactly that. I hadn't realized how terrible my AirPort was until I got this. lol.

Which AirPort Extreme did you have?

 

[deano1972]

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%