Forum Discussion
TMobile Home Internet causes phones to not work
I have just recently started using TMobile Home Internet (the 5G Nokia device that looks like a tall coffee can). When the device is plugged in, our TMobile phones (multiple versions of iPhones) lose about half of their signal strength - and calls end up going to voicemail. Plus text messages (SMS) do not send (get errors).
If we turn off the Home Internet device, signals return to normal and everything works again.
We have had 3 of these devices - and the behavior was observed on all three. (The first one had a broken power button and I had to hold down the button to get it to work. When I got it working - I noticed the problem immediately. The second device had an issue with the SIM activation, but even without an active SIM we still noted the same issue. The third device is in service right now - same problem.)
NOTE: we only have about 2-bars of signal at our house (even the Nokia 5G device has only 2-bars), so this drop in signal to our phones is sufficient to take us out of service.
Has anyone else experienced this behavior?
Is there anything we should try to fix this?
Also having the same issue. My home has poor T-Mobile coverage inside but on tone corner I can set up my T-Mobile gateway and get about 4 bars, but all of the phones connected to it have issues connecting to regular T-Mobile service now. Another problem I am now experiencing is Wi-Fi calling doesn't work well when connected to the gateway. It works fine when connected to xfinity? Anyone have any ideas?
I have same problem. Is there a fix?
Bajaskier wrote:
I'm less than a mile from a 5G Ultra tower per the T-Mobile map. Gateway in window facing the tower and I get 2 bars and a 1.4mb speed test. Will have to unfortunately stick with Spectrum unless tech support comes-up with a solution.
If not yet done so, try "placement assessment" available from the T-Mobile mobile app -from intro screen under bar graph click "more about connection quality". Cell transmitters are directional so tower distance is but 1 factor. Also seems for 4g LTE (always my primary signal - usually 4 bars) the left side, when viewing gateway, pointing toward tower/placement indicator seems best.
Lastly, individual speedtest results vary widely from second to second… do at least 2 tests back-to-back. With similar tower distance, and within cell transmission cone, I'm getting 105/37 mbps up/dn on average (dn outliers 27-220 mbps).
I'm less than a mile from a 5G Ultra tower per the T-Mobile map. Gateway in window facing the tower and I get 2 bars and a 1.4mb speed test. Will have to unfortunately stick with Spectrum unless tech support comes-up with a solution.
rwilson2 wrote:
Speed vary a lot during the day - sometimes they are below 20Mbps too… But they still work for my needs.
I turned off the WiFi on my phone and I do now see 2 bars of signal. Not sure why the WiFi would affect my LTE signal (note: we have both a 4G iPhone and and 5G iPhone, and both see the problem). Also, my phone isn't connecting to the TMobile device's WiFi. Maybe I should just try turning that off too?Update… find the problem, 3 phones & gateway competing for signal/bandwidth? Possible, inelegant solution is use VOIP (Wi-Fi-based calling) at home with call-forwarding… just beware at this point not all are compatible/supported (Google Voice purposely does).
I carried my Nokia modem around the house and only see 2 bars from the tower.There are 3 towers,2. about 1000 meters and one at 600 meters.Presently the modem is in the basement running my TV on5MHz and VoIP phones(3) and security cams(4) on 2.4 MHz. and all work fine although my ethernet speed is only about 80 mbts and 2.4 GHs wireless around 20 Mbits and 5MHz wireless is around 60mbits.Tmo used to have a signal booster available which would be a help as I,m not too crazy about disassembling my modem to add an antenna..
n2itivguy wrote:
@Den_in_USA, 2 bars on the gateway doesn't mean you're only stuck with 4G. I get 2-3 bars on my gateway but generally connect to both a primary and secondary (5G) signal. I'm not sure where you ever heard 2 bars means 4G, but that's sorely incorrect.
n2itivguy,
Thanks for the correction!
@Den_in_USA, 2 bars on the gateway doesn't mean you're only stuck with 4G. I get 2-3 bars on my gateway but generally connect to both a primary and secondary (5G) signal. I'm not sure where you ever heard 2 bars means 4G, but that's sorely incorrect.
Yes, although I get a high of 90Mbps download, right now it’s only 7Mbps.
Speed vary a lot during the day - sometimes they are below 20Mbps too… But they still work for my needs.
I turned off the WiFi on my phone and I do now see 2 bars of signal. Not sure why the WiFi would affect my LTE signal (note: we have both a 4G iPhone and and 5G iPhone, and both see the problem). Also, my phone isn't connecting to the TMobile device's WiFi. Maybe I should just try turning that off too?
