removing the sim and RF question

[dan409]

I was just wondering when you remove the sim card from your phone you can still make emergency calls right ???? Sure you can !

I have noticed that when I turn on my phone with the sim card removed I always get 5 full bars of reception.

My question is this. Where is the signal coming from? Is it possible that it is from another carrier. When I put the sim back in and it locks on to my carrier(at&t) I don't get nearly as strong a signal ???????

Thankis Dan

The reason that I am asking is that I have just moved and may have to switch carriers...

[lehnherrba]

Without a sim the phone is probably scanning all networks

[dan409]

that's what I was thinking. And if this is true I just have to find out which one is the strongest in my area.. That would be pretty neat if that's what the phone is doing.

It would be a pretty easy way to find out which carrier has the best signal in the area ??

[mtm]

you can search the network manually by chossing the network selection, and then there is the list of network, and i think the best signal is whichever in the top (but maybe your provider is in the top, that will be the number 2).. maybe.. i dont know too..

i forgot which handphone that can search and sort by its received quality signal..

[ancho]

That is the emergency signal itself.. I think so. I don't think that the strongest signal is at the top of the list of network providers.. The top of the list is always your network provider. I use in Paraguay 4 network providers (don't ask why, je) and whichever sim card I use, always show at the top of the list the actual network of the sim car.

[gbluez]

NO simcard > scanning all available BTS.
The bar shows the best reception.