How to turn off 3G on the Captivate

[jfeicht]

Does anyone know if you can switch back & forth from 3G to 2G if you "root" or jailbreak the Captivate? I know I could get a better signal on 3G with AT&T 3G Microcell, but I really don't want to pay $150 plus $20 extra per month to get a signal I should be getting anywa, or that I don't have the option to change to Edge because AT&T wants to promote Microcell. I am with the person who said they may change if AT&T doesn't stop wtih their selling scams. I like the phone but I have more options with different carriers.

[choji]

Do not do Step 5! You will not be able to send texts if you change the SMSC number. I did this and now i am stuck with not being able to send a text! I am trying to find a solution so if anyone has one, PLEASE let me know how you solved it!

[alchemist1]

If you are using Samsung captivate, the best way to turn off 3G/GPRS/HSPDA network is by using an app called "APNdroid". By activating this app, you can turn off 3G. if you want to use 3G, just turn off the app. As simple as this. 

[alchemist1]

Apart from the above, I would also suggest you to do the following --

Settings --> Wireless and Network -->Wi-fi settings --> Advanced (in menu) --> wifi sleep policy --> and choose Never. 

This is important because the cell phone, downloads lot of info when not in use.

Also, in Accounts and Sync, you can deactivate background syncing, though you may not be completely able to deactivate, but some thing is better

[know1]

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alchemist1 wrote:

If you are using Samsung captivate, the best way to turn off 3G/GPRS/HSPDA network is by using an app called "APNdroid". By activating this app, you can turn off 3G. if you want to use 3G, just turn off the app. As simple as this. 

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That doesn't do what we're asking. We want it to leave the Edge network on for phone calls and data. This turns it off for all.

[alchemist1]

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know1 wrote:

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alchemist1 wrote:

If you are using Samsung captivate, the best way to turn off 3G/GPRS/HSPDA network is by using an app called "APNdroid". By activating this app, you can turn off 3G. if you want to use 3G, just turn off the app. As simple as this. 

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That doesn't do what we're asking. We want it to leave the Edge network on for phone calls and data. This turns it off for all.

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oops, my mistake. I saw lot of forums posting the same questions, as most of the time they don't want to use internet on cellphone, but it still draws the data. So, I assumed its the same and posted. APNdroid removes everything, but can be deactivated by click of a button.

[cebeling]

I can't believe AT&T doesn't give us a choice on what network to use.  Their crappy algorithm does a terrible job sitting there waffling between 4 bars of edge and 1/2 a bar of 3g and then choosing 3G over the better legacy network. 

3G doesn't go through building walls as well as edge

3G drains the battery significantly faster then edge

They keep harping on speed like thats all we do is surf the internet on our phones non-stop.

The Quality of Service for PHONE/Text/Email should be a priority and internet should be on the back burner. Its a telephone remember? Id rather be on a slow legacy network with a high QOS then be on some hyped up 3G network with a horrible QOS. I pay for the effin service so let me choose what network to use! Even the stupid IPhone and Blackberry Bold can choose its networks why not android? They better fix it soon or I am returning this phone in 25 days and doing an ETF. 

Verizon here I come..... 

AT&T Customer since 1991. 

[bravisha]

After all the digging and searching around, I found two apps that work perfectly on Samsung Captivate for toggling mobile data (3G)

- Juicedefender (it has a widget you can use to toggle 3G quickly)

- SMODA Widget (It doesnt have too many 5 star ratings but works fine on my samsung captivate).

My phone is rooted but I believe it is not a requirement of either of the above apps. Hope this info is useful for other captivate owners.

[know1]

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bravisha wrote:

After all the digging and searching around, I found two apps that work perfectly on Samsung Captivate for toggling mobile data (3G)

- Juicedefender (it has a widget you can use to toggle 3G quickly)

- SMODA Widget (It doesnt have too many 5 star ratings but works fine on my samsung captivate).

My phone is rooted but I believe it is not a requirement of either of the above apps. Hope this info is useful for other captivate owners.

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The SMODA widget KIND OF works, but it really doesn't just force the phone to use the Edge network. When I turn of 3G using it, my phone can now not sync to receive emails. It's only turning off data.

What I want to be able to do is force the phone to use the Edge network, and that doesn't seem to be possible.

This isn't just about battery life. Rather, I found that the phone actually works better for most things on the Edge network except for download rate. There have been times that I couldn't make a call with 3G (with full bars) and could with Edge.

[fastnissan]

Very frustrating that I can't force a switch to EDGE, both the Captivate and the Epix seem to prefer to try for a non-existant 3G signal at my house rather than use EDGE, at least with the Epix I could force it into edge. My Fuze and N97 have no problems with switching to edge.

[blackviper71]

From the XDA forums:

Enter the Phone app.
Dial *#*#197328640#*#*
Select [1] DEBUG SCREEN
Select [8] PHONE CONTROL
Select [4] UE STATE CONTROL

If you want 2G, select:
[3] CHANGE RAT TO GSM

If you want 3G, select:
[2] CHANGE RAT TO WCDMA

Hope this helps.

[fastnissan]

Seems to work fine for me, thanks. It's a little annoying to have to type that all in and not just have a simple toggle.

[spartan07]

Free SMODA Widget worked for me (Captivate -i897)

hxxp://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/tools/smoda-widget_gxcz.html

Hope this helps someone

[Mokitdown]

SMODA works like a charm on my captivate, as far as I can tell. I live in a spot where I barely get a 3g signal, and it ALWAYS drops my calls and txt messages fail. When I had my iphone before this I could shut it off because the E network signal was fine. So I can tell right away that the app works because my signal bars are 3-4 now which, hopefully, means I'm connected to the E network.

[Max69 ACE - Wizard]

SMODA doesn't turn off 3G, it disables all data, which is undesirable. The procedure posted by blackviper71 is the best way to turn off 3G and still keep a data connection. Save the code as a contact, and when you start entering *#*.. the contact will pop up and you can select it without entering the whole code.

The only thing I would change in the instructions is going back to 3G. The normal state of the phone is Dual, but using CHANGE RAT TO WCDMA sets your phone to UMTS only, so you might not get a data connection if you're in an EDGE only area. To go back to default, enable and disable Flight mode.

[know1]

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blackviper71 wrote:

From the XDA forums:

Enter the Phone app.
Dial *#*#197328640#*#*
Select [1] DEBUG SCREEN
Select [8] PHONE CONTROL
Select [4] UE STATE CONTROL

If you want 2G, select:
[3] CHANGE RAT TO GSM

If you want 3G, select:
[2] CHANGE RAT TO WCDMA

Hope this helps.

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This is what I was looking for. Now since it is actually possible, there should be an app or a way to make a shortcut.

[gary_lankford]

This is good! Stupid question though; if I am almost always solidly in edge and seldom come near 3g should I just leave the settings alone?

[Max69 ACE - Wizard]

You can turn it off and leave it off if you choose to. The only time I go back to the setting is when I reboot the phone. The setting does not stay if you reboot or use flight mode.

[champoux]

Alternate method that's a little quicker to get to and survives flight mode.  It does still reset when the phone restarts:

Dial *#*#2263#*#*  (mnemonic: *#*#BAND#*#* for band selection)

Select [3] GSM BAND
Select [1] GSM ALL
Select "Select GSM All Bands"
Menu key > END

[cesierra]

Thanks, this worked for me.

[dstar9]

YES! Thank you! Finally I don't have to charge my phone twice a day because of the spotty 3G reception at my work!

[cesierra]

I am looking for a way to add a shortcut to *#*#2263#*#*

tried adding it to a contact but just dials it on sipdroid

tried LauncherPro activity shortcut, but I can not find it on the list.

any ideas?

[A2Curve]

There is an application in the marketplace called "SamServMode" that will bring up the service menu on Samsung handsets, which is more convient then having to type the access code into the dailer constantly.

[Max69 ACE - Wizard]

You can save a contact, you just can't dial it directly from your contact list. If you save a contact, then start dialing, by the time you get to *#* the phone will display the contact and you can select it.

There's also an app called SGS Tools that has all the known codes and is updated whenever a new code is found.

[Helaynakumari]

It worked! Thanks so much, that was super helpful. & Better than any information I have received.

[cellularcrazy09]

What did they do at the store, because I am unable to send and receive texts now...

[barbj050]

i have tried downloading smoda it installs the disappears...same thing with ANDroid..where does it go

how do i find it ..i want to turn 3g off..sometimes....help..it like it went into space...thanka