T616 receive sensitivity?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Jack Mac - 16 Nov 2003 14:27 GMT

I have an interest in upgrading to a T616.
I stopped by a cell phone kiosk in a local mall.
I was told by the rather knowledge-seeming
attendant that the T616 has a rather poor
receive RF sensitivity compared to some of
the other cell phones. I was disappointed!
I would have dismissed this comment but I'd
read in a few weeks ago a similar remark about
another SE model phone.
Anyone have any experience pro or con this
being a problem..... or even true?

Jack Mac

Reply to this Message

Jason Cothran - 16 Nov 2003 17:52 GMT

I have been considering upgrading to the T616 also, and from everything I
have read, it has awesome RF. Apparently, the signal meter on it is rather
sensitive, but from what I have read, even with 0 bars showing, calls can be
completed without being dropped crystal clear.

> I have an interest in upgrading to a T616.
> I stopped by a cell phone kiosk in a local mall.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Jack Mac

Reply to this Message

Cambie - 16 Nov 2003 19:59 GMT

> I have been considering upgrading to the T616 also, and from
> everything I have read, it has awesome RF. Apparently, the signal
> meter on it is rather sensitive, but from what I have read, even with
> 0 bars showing, calls can be completed without being dropped crystal
> clear.

In my experience so far with the T616, you are sort of right. I was
pretty disapointed with my t616 at first because of what I thought to be
poor RF reception. The signal meter rarely shows anywhere near full
strength in the city I live. However, for the most part I've never had a
problem receiving on placing calls when the phone says it's got a low
signal. With that said, even though I am able to make and receive calls
with a low signal, it is definately NOT crystal clear. More like cloudy
water clear. But when I am able to get a full strength signal, this
phone's got brilliant clarity.

I'm still not completely sold on this phone. It's menu's are a bit of a
pain in the a.s to get used to (is there not a button to press to exit
all menus? do i really have to back out of a menu 4 or 5 levels deep
just to make a call?). The camera has been in my experience near
worthless. Not that it doesn't work well, but it seems like after two
pictures the things out of memory, and I guess I don't really need
grainy digital pictures anyway. The screen is difficult at best to see
in bright daylight. On the pro side, I really wanted a small phone again
after carrying around that monster 6340i, and this phone has definately
satisfied that need. And in general, the phone has been satisfactory. I
guess I'm just not as wowed by it was I thought I was going to be.

Reply to this Message

Jason Cothran - 16 Nov 2003 21:44 GMT

> In my experience so far with the T616, you are sort of right. I was
> pretty disapointed with my t616 at first because of what I thought to be
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> satisfied that need. And in general, the phone has been satisfactory. I
> guess I'm just not as wowed by it was I thought I was going to be.

Thank you for the first hand commentary. Are you satisfied enough to not say
" I wish I would have bought ... ", or is there something else you would
adise getting? RF, bluetooth, and the size are probably my top three
concerns (in order 1-3). Also, I have read where the screen is easily
scratched. Have you had any problems with this or do you keep it in a case?

Reply to this Message

Cambie - 18 Nov 2003 08:44 GMT

> Thank you for the first hand commentary. Are you satisfied enough to not say
> " I wish I would have bought ... ", or is there something else you would
> adise getting? RF, bluetooth, and the size are probably my top three
> concerns (in order 1-3). Also, I have read where the screen is easily
> scratched. Have you had any problems with this or do you keep it in a case?

I think I'm more along the lines of "I wish I also had.." meaning I wish
I had multiple phones to use. I am satisfied with this phone, it's just
taken some time to say that. I like the possibilities of bluetooth,
although I haven't successfully been able to dial up with my laptop
connected via bluetooth. I did get a bluetooth headset to work, but it
turned out the unit was defective and the mic didn't work, so i returned
it. I haven't tried another yet.

As far as the screen goes, I haven't noticed any major scratches. So
far, most of the scuffs I get I can get out with the cloth that comes
with the phone. I have been very worried it won't stay unscratched for
much longer, but I haven't seen any nice phone cases for this phone yet.
I've never been a fan of cases.

Reply to this Message

Jim - 17 Nov 2003 05:48 GMT

I upgraded to theT616 after many years of owning a Motorola StarTac
(still my favorite phone in some ways). But the T616 has great
reception, even in marginal areas, in my experience. The only weirdness
I encountered was when travelling out of area, the phone is always
asking you to confirm a new "local time" with Daylight Standard
settings blah blah. I get this sometimes even when driving 3 miles away
to the other side of the hill from where I live. I think it has
something to do with passing through signal zones?

Also when I was on the east coast, the T616 occasionally needed to be
reset (turned off then on again) when passing through different states
-- New Jersey to Manhattan, for example. But otherwise performed
flawlessly.

I do wish there was a software hack to make the signal strength and
battery level meters larger on screen, though. I could do with a
smaller "pretty" screen desktop and larger icons and typeface... :)

Reply to this Message

Cambie - 18 Nov 2003 08:40 GMT

> I upgraded to theT616 after many years of owning a Motorola StarTac
> (still my favorite phone in some ways). But the T616 has great
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> to the other side of the hill from where I live. I think it has
> something to do with passing through signal zones?

I get this too. I thought it was weird, but it's not that big of deal I
guess.

Reply to this Message

bones boy - 17 Nov 2003 07:02 GMT

>(is there not a button to press to exit
>all menus? do i really have to back out of a menu 4 or 5 levels deep
>just to make a call?).

On most SE phones, just holding down the "back" softkey for 1 second
or more will get you back to the main screen. I haven't played with
the T616 but other Ericsson and SonyEricsson phones (t68i, r520, t62u)
will do this.

Reply to this Message

Cambie - 18 Nov 2003 08:39 GMT

>>(is there not a button to press to exit
>>all menus? do i really have to back out of a menu 4 or 5 levels deep
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the T616 but other Ericsson and SonyEricsson phones (t68i, r520, t62u)
> will do this.

thanks for the tip, i'm sure that'll do it. you have saved me a lot of
headaches :)

Reply to this Message

krudge - 16 Nov 2003 23:52 GMT

Correct.
I had mine for 1 day and used it only for 16 seconds before I decided to
sell it back on Ebay.

It's as bad as T68(i)

> I have an interest in upgrading to a T616.
> I stopped by a cell phone kiosk in a local mall.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Jack Mac

Reply to this Message

J Haggerty - 19 Nov 2003 04:10 GMT

I tried ATT's GSM coverage with a SE T616 and Nokia 3650, but
unfortunately, live in a house in a valley with poor GSM coverage. At
least being on the fringe allowed me to compare the sensitivity and
reception of those 2 phones (plus a Nokia 6200 that I asked for to see
if I could get better reception than the other 2).
Of the 3 phones, the T616 showed the lowest signal strength on the meter
(fluctuated between 0 bars and 2 bars in my house) BUT! The T616 also
had the best reception of the 3 phones, and the best clarity.
The 3650 showed 3-4 bars when the T616 showed 1-2 bars, but others had
trouble hearing me and I had some trouble hearing them with the 3650.
The 6200 showed 2-3 bars, and reception was the same as the 3650.
Overall, if I had to keep one of the phones, it would have been the
T616, which I liked very much, and which worked even better away from my
house. The T616 is misleading, because you think it's not getting a good
signal due to the low number of signal strength bars, yet it was getting
a better signal than both the Nokias even though they had more bars.
Alas, since I need coverage in my home, I elected to go with another
carrier and a GAIT phone, since TDMA coverage here is still pretty good.
Hope to pick that out tomorrow, with the choice being a SE T62u and
Nokia 6340i.

John H

> I have an interest in upgrading to a T616.
> I stopped by a cell phone kiosk in a local mall.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Jack Mac

Reply to this Message