Tru 3G using T-Mobile on 1900mHz in the USA

[inquisitor]

Frequently disappearance and reappearance of 3G coverage has been reported from many places where T-Mobile are refarming the PCS band. Either this is caused by the cells actually being switched on and off during the intial setup or the network is providing new cell reselection criteria to your phone which then switches back to 2G. You could switch your phone to 3G-only so you can rule out that your phone has been ordered by the network to use 2G instead of 3G.

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by inquisitor

Frequently disappearance and reappearance of 3G coverage has been reported from many places where T-Mobile are refarming the PCS band. Either this is caused by the cells actually being switched on and off during the intial setup or the network is providing new cell reselection criteria to your phone which then switches back to 2G. You could switch your phone to 3G-only so you can rule out that your phone has been ordered by the network to use 2G instead of 3G.

The phones I am using are unlocked AT&T Huawei U2800As.
I assume they are testing. Two days ago I had never seen 3G on T-Mobile here.
Phone is too simple to either have control of which network or 2G/3. And it goes back from 'E' to '3G' [2G/3G]. And back again. And back again. The airportal.de map for the first time today shows a 3G tower in the doughnut hole I talk about [zipcode=90240]. Not near me though. [Doughnut hole is bounded by following freeways: 60 to the North, 91 to the South, 710 to the West, 605 to the East {and out further East also}].

inquisitor, I always appreciate your knowledgable and wise insights.
thank you for responding.

[rfranzq]

In case anyone is wondering, Spot Mobile and Piranha Mobile can and do operate on 3G on T-Mobile's refarmed 1900mHz band.