Q: How do I turn off 3G on the iPhone 4S?

TallBearNC,

Why don't you post the instructions to DSLreports. They will allow everything/anything (well almost) and it is free !!!

Here is the link to the correct forum on DSLreports to use for your post. All things Macintosh

I don't have 3G tower problems but I would prefer to put my phone on "E" to conserve battery and all this hype over "Siri" for me is just silly. She was fun to play with at first but now it is the next day and the beer has warn off, if you get my drift. Anything I can do with Siri I can do with Google Voice except I don't get the smart arse answers when Google doesn't understand what I am saying. Oh - and it really troubles me that Siri goes out and uses 3G data and extra battery to access the Siri server to come up with the wise-guy answers.

HolmanGT, I myself think that Siri is overrated.

Although I do have 3G problems along with wanting to conserve my battery while using EGDE.

As my EDGE service is extremely strong.

N19h7m4r3,

Now if we can get TallBearNC to post the instructions on www.dslreports.com we'll be Golden !!!

PS - I don't think it is necessary to go to all the trouble of doing a YouTube thing but whatever is easier for him is fine with me.

Multi-Post Oops

Multi-Post Oops!!!

One thing Apple can't fx is the 4S battery drain. 3G does tax it a bit, but the main issue is you have an iPad 2 inside an iPhone case with no advances in battery tech. The 4S simply lacks MilliAmpHours of capacity in its batter

The iPad 2 is a large device, and can phsyically hold a larger batter with more capacity. That's why it lasts so long.

IMO the only way to give a 4S the batt life of a 4 is to go by a 2000 mah (MilliAmpHours) capacity battery case. So far 2500 is the best I can find. Anything over that isn't a case but a battery brick u plug into the phone.

Output ma is important. The 4s needs 1000ma to charge fast and carge while using it. All batt cases do 500. So they work to recharge the 4s slowly. Or you can leave the pack on and the phone will just drain much slower

Anyway, off topic. :)

TallBearNC,

What about the instructions on setting Edge mode. Everyone knows the battery is too small except for Steve Jobs and he isn't going to tell anyone.

Pretty poor taste.

The battery problem on the 4s is not universal so the size of the battery is not the issue (size doesn't matter?). Plus if the A5 is idling it pulls almost no more power than the A4.

Please don't interrupt TallBearNC so he can post his workaround.

We can't wait for you to post this. Go ahead and post on MacRumors. I posted this there:

Some are questioning why some of us want to turn 3G off, and two points they are not getting:

1. WiFi is WAY faster than 3G, even 4G. If you have WiFi at work and at home, turning off 3G more than DOUBLES your battery life for talk time, and with WiFi, you still can talk and surf at the same time, and have Siri work great.

2. From Apple's website, iPhone 4 battery specs:

Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter

Talk time: Up to 7 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM)

Standby time: Up to 300 hours

Internet use: Up to 6 hours on 3G, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi

Video playback: Up to 10 hours

Audio playback: Up to 40 hours

Notice the TALK TIME is 14 hours on 2G (Edge), vs 7 hours on 3G.

[B]THIS IS WHY IPHONE 4S GSM USERS WANT THE OPTION TO TURN OFF 3G![/B]

Also from Apple's website, the 4S specs:

Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM)

But Apple took away the option to put our iPhone 4Ss on 2G.

We would like it back!! It can be done, as you have shown us.

Please go to MacRumors and post how! Thanks in advance.

I'm of to the gym, and then a DR appt. after that I should be able to post on dslreports, etc sites

I have a few ways people can do this without JBing the device, and none violate your warranty or agreement with apple

TallBearNC,

Thanks for the reply, now all I have to do is be patient - Ugh!

Oh - for me please only the alternate to JBing. Back in my Motorola days I did a lot of system hacking akin to JBing, still have more than my fair share of "Bricked Moto Phones" laying around. I am not the smartest kid on the block but I wouldn't "Truly" hack (i.e. JBing) my expensive iPhone on a bet. but a minor instruction change in a system inf file sounds reasonable and doable.

Thanks and I will be waiting with bated breath.

TallBearNC

Any word on when you will be posting the instructions on how to get that switch back ?

I'm sure many like myself are eagerly awaiting it.

Does prefs, root, General some Escape codes

path equals Network sound like the cuplrit ?

Or is my greppping not working lol

Nah it wasn't!

Found some interesting files in the backup which relates to GSM module

Will do some diffs against 3GS with option enabled/disabled see if that get's me any closer !

g4vin,

You are a glutton for punishment... hacking into that code blind can be pretty darn frustrating to say the least.

Maybe TallBearNC should have gone to the DR. appt. before going to the gym.