Are 2G GSM networks capable of Soft handoffs?

[tortillasoup]

I'm on AT&T and I noticed that when using EDGE (2G) and I'm on a call, during the call I'll hear brief dropped audio and clicks/pops throughout the call. During the call I'll have the network stats pulled up so I know what tower I'm connected to and the signal I have and I can see that the degradation in the call quality is directly attributed to the phone transitioning to a different cell tower. I've read that what I'm experiencing is a Hard hand off but that even in a hard handoff, I for the most part shouldn't be experiencing this issue. So regardless of the handset I use (this issue is worse on my Bold 9650), this issue persists. So the question I have is, are GSM (2G, GPRS, or EDGE) capable of a soft handoff? I've noticed the phone is ping ponging to about 4 different towers in my area while on the call which is a problem because every time it gets handed off, the quality of the call briefly degrades. The only way I'm able to avoid this issue is to keep the phone absolutely stationary. Regardless of what tower I'm connected to, the signal for the most part is at least 3 bars or -90dbm but otherwise it's usually like -75dbm or as low as -67dbm which is very strong signal.

Anybody know?

 

[soccerballtux]

as the Eurotards in their infinite wisdom originally designed GSM, a phone could only talk to one tower at once. This is back when Cingular had all the horrible stigma of dropped calls, something like 5% when 1% was the norm.

In later variants they followed USA's usual superior grasp of technology and included [WCDMA] things from CDMA like multiple towers listening to the same signal at once so that if a building got in the way or tower lost your signal for a moment, another tower could pick up where the first left off.

which is all to say that if I had to guess yes, that's what you're experiencing.
But honestly few people here are going to know for certain. Check HowardForums (not that anyone there will see it), and if you're lucky at XDA someone who knows their stuff might see it. Also try possibly the EE section of stackexchange network or another one of them if there is one for phones. It's really hard to say. The folks who really know what they're doing are busy raising families now. Good solid info on the net is harder to come by than it was 10 years ago, and it gets drowned out [like on XDA] with garbage.

actually, don't even bother with howardforums.