My device doesn't recognice all the mobile operators

[Guest melodiante]

Hello.

I have tested different roms, different Gen 2 versions (also gen1 and gen3 firmwares) and always I have the same problem: In the place where I live (Traslasierra, Córdoba, Argentina) I cannot connect to any mobile network operator except one: Movistar.

When I go to Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile Networks > Network Operators > Search Networks, only detects one of the 3 available in this area (Movistar, Claro and Personal). And precisely the one with the weakest signal. I have tested 3 different cels to detect networks and all of them show me the 3 avaliable operators, but I cannot get the same result with this ZTE Blade.

When I travel to the closer city, it detects all the operators without a problem with a very high radio signal and all of them work flawlessly in 2G/3G and also access data over mobile network. But when I return home, 15 km away from the city, I have strong signal of all the operators with other cells but the Blade only detects the weakest operator.

I think is not a problem with the reception of the signal because when I am in the city all it works perfect. Maybe is a problem of the Operator's antennas, that they don't transmit any header or data and then the Blade doesn't recognize them.

Of course, the mobile is unlocked (free) and I have tested CM 7 (different builds), Elite roms and ZTE 2.3.5 Stock without success: always the same behavior.

I wonder if could be an issue with the radio, but this is updated in the last firmware, doesn't it? Now I am using gen2 v10 custom. Should I try another version? And what about the Baseband? Is the baseband the identifier of the radio version actually using? In About phone says it is P729BB01 with the CM 7 11152011 NIGHTLY Blade, Build GWK74 and Kernel 2.6.35.7-perf+.

Anybody can help me or give me any idea?

Thank you very much :-)

(Sorry for the copy&paste from XDA, but nobody answered)

Edited January 12, 2012 by melodiante

[Guest garethp]

I had a similar problem, and it turned out to be the antenna cable inside the phone was disconnected. I have seen a few other people with the same problem.

If you are in warranty take it back to the shop, but if you are not in warranty it is an easy job to take the back half of the phone off and check this cable.

I used this guide clicky, but you only need to follow the first part to remove the 8 screws and take off the back cover.

When you take the cover off, check the following two antenna connections circled in red:

click for a bigger picture

On mine the bottom connector was disconnected.

[Guest melodiante]

I had a similar problem, and it turned out to be the antenna cable inside the phone was disconnected. I have seen a few other people with the same problem.

If you are in warranty take it back to the shop, but if you are not in warranty it is an easy job to take the back half of the phone off and check this cable.

I used this guide clicky, but you only need to follow the first part to remove the 8 screws and take off the back cover.

When you take the cover off, check the following two antenna connections circled in red:

click for a bigger picture

On mine the bottom connector was disconnected.

Thanks, but I forgot to say that I dissasembled 1 dozen of times the device and moving up all the copper connector to the case and revised this cable and connector you are speaking. As I said, precisely the only provider that recognizes the device is the one with the worst signal.

I think that it is a firmware or radio version problem more than a physical issue.

Thank you very much anyway :-)

[Guest melodiante]

Anybody knows if the radio version changes with every firmware version and if the bugfixes are listed in any place?

Nobody had a similar issue?

Thanks :-)

[Guest melodiante]

Anybody knows if there is any new radio update since TPT Gen2 v10 (http://amphoras.co.uk/index.php/downloads/blade-tpts) that is the one I am using now?

[Guest shmizan]

there's gen 3..

[Guest melodiante]

there's gen 3..

Yes, but only a few roms work with Gen3. Doesn't it?

Anyway, I tested a few months ago a Gen 3 with a rom for Gen3 and didn't work neither the recognition of all the mobile operators neither other functions like wifi.

I am a little bit desperated because it doesn't looks like a hardware fault but nobody looks like to have the same issue.

Thanks and regards :-)