I've been using an IPAQ 910c for a couple of months now and was unimpressed by 3G.  When I got the 910c  I took the SIM card out of my IPAQ hw6925, found that it was a 3G card, and inserted it into the IPAQ 910c.  I live in the Atlanta metropolitan area and, according to AT&T's 3G map, I live just on the edge of a high 3G coverage area.  The IPAQ never connected to 3G at my home and it looked like I would still be stuck with Edge.

Then when I went to work in downtown Atlanta, a high 3G coverage area, I was disappointed by an inconsistent 3G connection and never experienced any real improvements in speed.

I also noticed that the enormous 1940 mAh Li-Polymer battery that the IPAQ 910c uses was exhausted at an unusually high rate, due to what I believed was the device's constant searching for a solid 3G signal.  After researching this issue I decided to turn off the 3G functionality altogether.

You can turn off 3G: Tap Start > Settings > Personal tab > Phone icon > Band Switch tab Change the radio switch from "Auto" to "GSM Only" Tap Apply button

A few days ago I was messing around with the phone settings of the IPAQ 910 and selected the "Find Network" option (Tap Start > Settings > Personal tab > Phone icon > Network tab > Find Network button).  The IPAQ searched for cellular networks, found AT&T's network and connected to it.  The connection also initiated the Auto option in the "Band Switch tab," so it essentially turned 3G back on.

Later that day I noticed the E at the top of the screen had changed to an H.and this was when I was home.  I also noticed that instead of a measly one and half bars, the IPAQ shows a strong cellular signal at home - I have never been able to rely on my cellphone at home because of poor signal strength.  Since then, I've been enjoying a strong cellular signal and a very fast 3G data connection at home.and 3G is fast!  There are two types of potential 3G connection:

1. UMTS (Universal Mobile telephone System) provides typical speeds of between 220 to 320 kbps; also allows simultaneous voice and data calls. When connected via UMTS, you'll see a large 3G and small 3G on the top of the screen.

HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) provides typical speeds of between 400 to 700 kbps; also allows simultaneous voice and data calls.  When connected via HSDPA, you'll see a large H and a small H on the top of the screen.

I am not just experiencing 3G on the IPAQ 910, but the best and fastest kind of 3G, High Speed Download Packet Access! Oh, and the battery life on the IPAQ, although not stellar, has improved considerably too.

All I can figure is that when I selected the "Find Network" button on the device, the 3G connection as well as the cellular connection on the phone was optimized.   If you've got a 3G phone and have not been satisfied with its performance try letting the phone find the network and see if it resolves your issue.

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