I recently changed to the number indication, is there a way to change back to the bars?

Also, does anyone have a good working knowledge of how the number system works from 256 down?

ALT-N-N-M-L-L should toggle between the two modes.

It's ALT-N-M-L-L on other BlackBerrys, but since the N key is also the B key on the 7100t, you have to hit it twice.

Don't know specifics about the RF level. I know that RIM folks I've worked with don't like to troubleshoot on devices that that are getting 100-256.

111 is the lowest I've seen my 7100t go before it loses signal completely (256).

My house is in a very weak T-Mobile signal area, and my 7100t usually shows between 105-110. For as low as that is, it does a pretty good job of making calls. I've had NOKIA phones that do a lot better, but that's what they're known for.

I live in a Manhattan apartment with tons of concrete and steel. My numbers range between 75 near the window, and 110 in the kitchen...which is located at the furthest point from the window.

It's very interesting viewing the signal numbers instead of the bars. On many phones, I've had 0 bars and had excellent RF, and 4 bars with awful RF. Go figure!

whoa neat!

I get fine reception in our basement studio, but when I turned on the number system, It's only showing 92. So... idk but I seem to have always been getting good signal down here at 92.

This is interesting with the numbers on... I like that though - more detail.

Thanx

Only 92? I'd kill for ANYWHERE in my house to be in 90's. Heck, even low 100's.

Thought about a repeater? Much less messy than killing.

I get decent signal in my house (around low 90s to around 105) and I was considering doing a cell repeater specifically for my basement because I get no coverage there, but the repeater kits I found cost upwards of $500. Also it gets kinda weird because the frequency T-Mobile is listed as using is different from the seperate Blackberry frequency and I'm not about to spend like $1000 on 2 repeaters when I'm the only one in my family with a blackberry. Has anyone here has installed a repeater in their house or office? Anyone with any experience with them?

I'm getting 74-81 in Ann Arbor on a clear morning.

I installed a repeater system with three indoor antennas in my office building. I had to install a dual band repeater system to get T-Mobile and Cellular. T-Mobile works on 1900Mhz band and most cellular is 850Mhz. Nextel is another system in itself. You can't combine Nextel and Celluar 850Mhz but you can combine T-Mobile and Nextel. The system cost $3500 for T-Mobile 1900 and cellular 850. It did the trick though and my boss is happy.

Nice...I didn't know you could do that.

With UMA (http://www.umatechnology.org/), hopefully having to add repeaters won't be necessary in the future for GSM phones. Instead, they can use WiFi, which is a lot less expensive to deploy (for those offices that haven't already done it).

Our T-Mobile National Accounts rep said earlier this year that T-Mobile was looking to have phones that support UMA out by 3rd quarter. Wonder if that's still on track?

So 54 at my house is good, or bad? The lower the number the better?

Yeah, the lower the better. 54? Wow.

54 would be very good. It's actually -54 dBm, a measure of signal strength (or field intensity if you like those words).

Most manufacturers specify their receiver threshold, that is the signal required to make a connection, in dBm. For example, Motorola Canopy 900 MHz gear has a receiver threshold of -90 dBm, as long as the received signal is above that then the device will function. (Assuming the other end sees an appropriate signal as well)

Some 802.11a/g cards specify different bitrates for higher intensity signals, ranging from -74 dBm for 54 Mbps to -93 dBm for 1 Mbps.

Off the top of my head I don't know what the receiver threshold is for the 7100, but I'd have to guess its in the -111 to -113 dBm range.

Hi everyone,

when using the numbers as your strength indicator anything 90db and below the units work good. It gets a litte crappy when I go above 100 and cuts out at 105>.

Wednesday evening T-Mobile had an outage for about 90 minutes (5 PM~6:15 PM) and ever since then my signal has been excellent, in the 54~78 range.
Calls are crystal clear and I don't have that weird delay anymore when dialing regular numbers or voice mail.

I commute between Kenosha, WI & Wheeling, IL (45 miles) and now am satisfied with the previously sub-standard signal strength. Way to go T-mo

Ski