Poor Signal While Connected To Data

So, this issue has come up for me lately, quite a pain.

I'm running Juicy 7, not the latest version, but there haven't been anything but Manila changes since my version. Sitting here at work, and in my apartment... if the phone's data connection isn't active, I'll have 5/5 bars, and all will work well. If something enables the data connection, it drops to 1/5 bars, usually 0/5... I will start to miss calls and texts, but the data connection will work fine, very fast and with low latency (tested via tethering).

DDTM mode is set to enable, before anyone mentions that. I just miss the calls because the signal is so low.

I remember reading a while back about some sort of poisoning, where the phone connects to two points on the tower for EVDO access, and it can cause problems like I'm seeing. Does any one recognize what I'm trying to say? And what can I do to correct it?

Also, Sprint has 3G coverage entirely around here, and my TP has had HORRIBLE reception when compared to any other Sprint phone I've seen. My roomate's BB pearl, for example, gets 4/5 bars where my TP sees 0/5. I know bars aren't relevant, but my TP skips in calls when this is happening, and his BB does not. Even my Helio got great service.