Mobile Phone Shows 3G, 4G, H, H+, E And G In The Bar - AskingBox

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Question by Lily | 2012-11-26 at 19:06

I have noticed a strange behavior on my mobile phone. Especially when I am on the mobile Internet, in the status bar at the top of the display, again and again hieroglyphic signs are changing. So far, I have seen the combinations "3G", "4G", "H", "H+", "E" and "G".

Can anyone tell me what this means? Some of the characters are changing very quickly from time to time, but it seems to have no effect otherwise.

ReplyPositiveNegativeDateVotes E-Tinker522Best Answer776 Votes

You do not need to worry about this signs. The signs stand for the network and the standard by which you are currently on the network.

You should know, that as time went on, better standards for mobile phone networks have been developed which were notably faster than their predecessors. Depending on where you are, how your phone is set and the other circumstances, your phone uses different of these standards. The standard by which you are currently logged on, is then displayed in the status bar on your phone.

First, there was only the GSM network, then there were improvements of the GSM network, finally the newer and faster UMTS network, and again improvements of it. The faster UMTS network is not yet available everywhere, so, often you have to go over the older and slower GSM network even today.

About the abbreviations:

• G stands for GPRS and is the slowest standard, used is the GSM network (2G).
• E is an extension of GPRS, it is called EDGE and it is correspondingly a little faster, but still uses the old GSM network (2G).
• 3G stands for UMTS and is the successor to the GSM network and faster.
• H and H+ are standing for HSPA and HSPA+. Both use the UMTS network, where H is faster than 3G and H+ is faster than H.
• 4G or LTE stands for LTE and is much faster than H or H+.
• 5G is even faster than LTE and is currently being rooled out in many areas.
• 6G is the next stage of development, expected in the 2030s.

There is now also a little info on the subject available that contrasts the different transmission standards and networks more precisely: Difference between GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA and LTE.Last update on 2018-03-07 | Created on 2012-11-26

ReplyPositive Negative Guest273391 Votes

So very well explained... Short and sweet... Explained from a layman's perspective... Liked it...2013-04-23 at 23:56

Positive Negative Guest36118 Votes

Thanks for this preciseness E tinker.it was very helpful and I feel much better about my service now.2013-05-30 at 15:58

Positive Negative Guest2557 Votes

@E-tinker. You are the man! Beautifully said. A1 is your score. I really wany to Thank you for this piece. Stay blessed dude!2013-07-11 at 05:01

Positive Negative Guest943 Votes

Now there's a sliding scale that's easy to understand and useful to know, good work tinker :)2013-07-13 at 00:40

Positive Negative Guest2034 Votes

I really wany to thank u for very well explained Short and good information.

Thanks a lot2013-07-22 at 06:16

Positive Negative Guest1523 Votes

Short, sweet and precise!! Thanks for the info!! xD2013-09-08 at 21:16

Positive Negative Guest430 Votes

Mr. E-Tinker thanks for the info........ Nicely explained. Now I have the clear picture.............. :)2013-10-30 at 08:52

Positive Negative Guest216 Votes

Its has really helped and cleared my concept all the signs shown on network tower and its meanings explained so nicely...well done bro!2013-12-02 at 14:26

Positive Negative Guest-220 Votes

Thank you for the detailed explanation of the difference of each one, cos me, myself don't really know what all these means. And my nephew was asking me about it since he got his Motorola Droid XT912 I sent him back home in the Philippines. He can use it without tweaking the phone since it's a global phone. Thanks again.2013-12-23 at 15:30

Positive Negative Guest515 Votes

Thanks Tinker!!!! Your explanation was precise and to the point. I used to wonder why my mobile internet sign keeps on changing to E, H, H+, and 3G. Thanks again for this wonderful explanation. :)2014-05-25 at 09:32

Positive Negative Guest214 Votes

Good explanations buddy. Keep helping the people who actually requires. Thanks for now. And I will ask for lot doubts. Don't hesitate. Thanks once again.2014-06-25 at 08:40

Positive Negative Guest915 Votes

I have Samsung Note3 but when 'G' appears on my signal bar then the net stops working. Please help..2014-11-08 at 08:22

Positive Negative Guest08 Votes

Amazing explanation. Thank you. I knew my phone was slow when not showing 4g but now I know the break down. Saved to my bookmarks for future reference. ☺2014-11-11 at 19:34

Positive Negative Guest26 Votes

I had little knowledge about those.I know only the meaning of G and E. But now I've clear idea.

Easily and well defined.

Thanks and like it.2015-01-08 at 16:08

Positive Negative Guest22 Votes

Thx very helpful answer and great question I really wanted tto know them too.....2015-03-06 at 03:59

Positive Negative Guest-19 Votes

Thanks, very helpful. I get H+ most of the time on my phone, and I thought I was not getting 3G speeds. This clears the apprehension. Thanks again and God bless you!2015-03-12 at 06:03

Positive Negative Guest02 Votes

Thanks for the information dude. Great knowledge :):)

I was so worried of that network sign anyways thanks.2015-07-03 at 16:25

Positive Negative Guest-15 Votes

Thanks you for your help, I was confused cos my phone got change itself from H to H+ .

I am really happy now.2016-01-15 at 23:21

Positive Negative Guest00 Votes

Thanx 4 the brief but concise explanation.. So even a plank like me could make sense of it..So many of the Techy responses have a tendency to confuse as opposed to inform..2017-05-16 at 07:26

Positive Negative Guest00 Votes

Thank you! I was scared for a second that the H and H+ meant it was either roaming or my phone was calling out for help.2018-03-25 at 01:26

Positive Negative Guest00 Votes

Does anyone know what a 4G phone will show on its display if it is in a 5G network?

Question moved to: What does a 4G Phone show if it is in a 5G Network?2019-07-02 at 12:18

Positive NegativeReply Guest-414 Votes

@E-Tinker - Good info. But it dont connects to google play and other apps. while it connects to internet..!! What to do?2013-06-19 at 18:09

ReplyPositive Negative E-Tinker618 Votes

Curious problem. Please open a new topic and give us more information about the issue, otherwise it is hard to find a solution.

Maybe, restarting your mobile device can help, another reason might be that you have a poor signal (google play needs many data to transfer) - there can be several reasons responsible for that.2013-06-28 at 14:46

Positive Negative Guest214 Votes

Thank you great help. I am a novice and panic when I see an unusual sign in case it is going to cost me money!2013-08-20 at 17:42

Positive NegativeReply Guest414 Votes

I recently noted a R over t bars. What does R stand for?2013-09-21 at 21:22

ReplyPositive Negative E-Tinker1224 Votes

A R in the status bar usually means that your mobile is in Roaming Mode. That means, you are not connected to your usual network of your provider.

This can happen, for example, if you are abroad and the phone is connecting to another mobile network that is available there.

See: Phone showing R in Status Bar.2013-09-22 at 17:31

Positive NegativeReply Guest315 Votes

Really useful answer in all matters. I m verry verry happpppy with ur all answers. Gooooood job. Keep it up. Jai hind.2013-11-12 at 08:59

ReplyPositive Negative Guest08 Votes

My mobile is showing H+ network on 2G data plans. Is there any use with 3G data plans, which r more expensive than 2G plans.2013-11-23 at 08:19

ReplyPositive Negative Guest412 Votes

Usually, if you only had paid for the 2G speed, you can nevertheless use the 3G network - but the speed is limited to 2G.2013-11-23 at 11:46

Positive NegativeReply Guest010 Votes

I got a 3g net pack but it is still showing "E" and the speed also is very poor bth my phn n sim are 3g pls hlp.2014-02-16 at 20:02

ReplyPositive Negative Guest-19 Votes

Even though you updated your carrier to 3G, it shows you "E" which is 2G when you are in a area/place/cellar where 3G signals are not reachable/available. Then your carrier automatically goes to 2G(E).2014-07-09 at 07:34

Positive Negative Guest44 Votes

Have you checked the APN settings for your network?

You can do this by going to Settings > More > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names, select your SIM (if you have more than 1 inserted) and then check the settings with your network operator.

Also, go to Settings > More > Mobile Networks > 3G Service and ensure the 3G service is enabled on your active SIM.

Also in Settings > More > Mobile Networks > Data Connection and make sure this is enabled for your active SIM.2014-12-17 at 10:50

Positive Negative Guest02 Votes

1. Go to Settings. 2. Go to More Settings under WiFi/Bluetooth/Data Usage 3. Go to Mobile Networks 4. Here you should get 3 options GSM/WCDMA(Auto Mode), GSM Only & WCDMA Only. 5. Select GSM/WCDMA(Auto Mode) You should be good to go!2014-12-17 at 10:55

Positive NegativeReply Guest04 Votes

And what does L stand for? Does it stand for LTE? And now I have to make sure my comment is long enough.2014-03-15 at 18:45

ReplyPositive Negative Guest15 Votes

Never heard about a L in the status bar - but of course, the symbols can differ from phone model to phone model.

So if L is an indication for the Internet speed (perhaps, it could also be a sign from an other app), it would probably stand for LTE although normally 4G is the symbol for LTE. Or it is standing for W-(L)AN or (L)ocal.2014-03-16 at 02:36

Positive NegativeReply Guest06 Votes

Man what an answer simply liked it. I will definitely bring you my future problems related to the phone networks, but one question though i have that is how can you understand if your provider gives you unlimited data usage or not, such as the Lyca mobile has recently offered unlimited data usage for a price but i read on the internet that they will drop it to 128kbps after 10GB of usage. so was wondering if you have any solution for this. Thanks2014-05-08 at 15:04

ReplyPositive Negative Ghostrider113 Votes

Please open a new topic for each new questions, otherwise it is hard to find answers and the answers cannot help other people who are searching for them.

About the thing with your provider: Most providers are limitting the traffic after usage of a specific amount of data. That's common.

Of course, if they do not communicate this, I think this is not legally. So good changes for your lawyers...2014-05-08 at 22:02

Positive NegativeReply Guest117177 Votes

Summary:

Symbol	Name	Generation	DownSpeed	Date
G	GPRS	2G	0.054 Mb/s	2000
E	EDGE	2.5G	0.218 Mb/s	2006
3G	3G	3G	0.384 Mb/s	2003
H	HSDPA	3.5G	7.2 Mb/s	2006
H+	HSDPA+	3.75G	42 Mb/s	2011
LTE	LTE/4G	4G	100 Mb/s	2013

2014-05-30 at 11:29

ReplyPositive Negative Guest06 Votes

That's weird because my phone runs slowest when it says H and only works when it says LTE and barely works when it says 3G. For internet.2014-06-10 at 05:14

ReplyPositive Negative Guest-28 Votes

I have a Samsung Galaxy and it displays the E and I have no Internet cant send photos or nothing. I don't know what to do it works in same places and then doesn't work at all.2014-08-18 at 05:55

ReplyPositive Negative AskingBox Moderation410 Votes

Question is already answered: Smartphone showing Internet symbol in status bar, but no Internet connection available.

By the way, please open a new topic for each of your questions.2014-08-18 at 12:30

Positive NegativeReply Guest24 Votes

My status showed h+ all these years.... I don't what went wrong it shows E since a week .. n th network s slower than ever... Tired trying to figure out why? n what should I be doing to bring it back to h+?2014-11-08 at 16:32

ReplyPositive Negative Guest-15 Votes

Select WCDMA network it will stop changing. Your phone is catching 2g 3g both networks.

It will solve the problm2015-06-29 at 13:07

Positive NegativeReply Guest02 Votes

I bought a 4g bundle and there is no lte. Is this buffering or just bad reception or does need to be fixed?2015-01-09 at 23:54

ReplyPositive Negative Guest24 Votes

I got H in the bar of my mobile phone. I had gone through your answer and I understood the meaning for it.

Thank you for the explanation.2015-01-15 at 08:42

ReplyPositive Negative Guest11 Vote

Thank you. Does it also mean that I have data connection? Because with my other phone showing 3G, I have data connection.2015-05-15 at 21:01

ReplyPositive Negative Guest00 Votes

Just so you know. It helped non techie people like us. :) I know it should represent hierarchy of speed, I just dont know which is which. Hahaha!2015-07-22 at 17:06

ReplyPositive Negative Guest00 Votes

Hi my littler brother got the internet on his phone but h sign doesn't show up. What does it mean. Thanks.2015-09-06 at 19:31

ReplyPositive Negative Guest00 Votes

Thanks, for your explaination.

It was very helpful.2018-01-21 at 15:48

ReplyPositive Negative Guest00 Votes

Thanks just wanted to know what 3h signal was as not really clued up with technology.2018-02-15 at 13:40

ReplyPositive NegativeReply

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