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Disable phone LTE for more reliable texting weak cell signal?
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Home › Forums › General Forums › General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion › Disable phone LTE for more reliable texting weak cell signal?
- This topic has 7 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 9 months ago by john syrell.
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Jun 21, 2020 at 4:31 pm #3654292
I like to send a text to tell my wife I’m ok when I reach a spot in the backcountry where there’s phone service. I’m using Verizon on an iPhone 5s. When my phone shows 1x or 3x, texts fail, even though I’m seeing 2 or 3 bars. Sometimes texts fail even when the phone shows LTE.
This doesn’t make sense, because texts must use less bandwidth than voice. Does anyone have any workarounds? Would disabling LTE help? The phone would drop back to 2G or 3G, which might be reliable. I could also disable iMessage and turn off MMS, so the text would go as an SMS which might be more tolerant of a poor connection.
Any ideas?
Jun 21, 2020 at 5:36 pm #3654300I have the same phone and I think turning off iMessage works
Jun 21, 2020 at 5:37 pm #3654301I’ve tried turning off iMessage. Not conclusive.
Jun 21, 2020 at 6:05 pm #3654303I’ve been there.
my understanding is that sometimes you’ll see weak signals but they’re not necessarily signals you can use other than for 911.
years ago with an AT&t phone on top of Mount Whitney, I was trying to send a text but couldn’t even with four bars while other people were texting and talking ….
Jun 21, 2020 at 6:13 pm #3654305Instead of turning off iMessage, turn off both WiFi and Cellular Data and try that. Don’t turn these off by using Airplane Mode, leave that off. You can turn off MMS too, but not sure that’s necessary if you’re just sending text.
Jun 21, 2020 at 10:35 pm #3654326I’ve had such apparently sufficient signals fail to send texts, while phone calls worked perfectly.
Jun 24, 2020 at 4:19 pm #3654507Some good tips. Thanks. I’ll try them next time I’m out in Desolation.
Jun 25, 2020 at 6:42 am #3654582Thanks!
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