Why does my Signal suck? - Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Hi,
I own a VZW Galaxy Nexus, I'm not as phone savvy as I use to be and I can't for the life of me figure out/ find and reputable sources about why this phones signal sucks so terribly bad. Presently in my house I can rarely send texts and my calls will drop due to lost signal. I live in PA a few miles from Chambersburg/ Waynesboro (for those who may know the area). When I go back to MD I have no problems pretty much. I'd like to chalk it up to just where I live but I feel like theres another reason.
I've got Android Revolution HD not the 4.1.0 one (downloading now) I have the one prior. It works great, very smooth, no random reboots unless Im playing music, using the GPS, and charging it (which is odd...). I've read a couple different things about PRL one being that it can screw up your 4G and the other being that its no big deal. I have yet to do it because honestly I still don't believe it will make a difference.
What I am looking for is some confirmation so I can stop beating my head against a wall when I'm trying to send a text. Even over wifi I can't send one (idk if you can but I figure it shouldnt hurt it). I'm sort of missing my HTC Droid Inc 1...too bad the screen got smashed.

No one has a answer for me?

Patience young padiwan... someone will reply shortly.

I did notice something though, when my modem when completely herp derp and I had it shut off down stairs I got better reception then I do upstairs in my room with my PC : /
Edit: no idea if this means much but checking signal strength and it was at -100 dBm 1asu then went to -93 dBm 2asu,

Is your baseband I515.10? If so that's probably why. I have had two Verizon gnex, one with I515.10 and one with I515.9....
After talking to many people on here it seems that people that had a phone that shipped with I515.10 (including myself) have pretty frequent signal drop. Whereas the people that have I515.9 (what my first one was), do not.
It's a shame, but there isn't really much you can do about it other than call and complain that it is a well documented problem, and hope they send you a better one.
It's frustrating for sure, but I still wouldn't trade this device for any other.
Also, forcing the PRL CAN ruin your sim card, but it's not like it's a guarantee. As far as I know though, there isn't really any benefit in taking the risk and trying since the device auto updates PRL.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Yep my baseband is I515.1 ...LAME guess im gonna go call VZW

Good luck buddy.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

just as a reference, texts rely on cell signal, so if you dont have cell service but have wifi, texts wont send/receive.

called them and it turns out i'm on the very edge of two distant Cell towers one at 5miles and another at 7miles. Biggest issue is the terrain because I like in Southern PA there are a lot of mountains and hills which interfere. The Tech rep also mentioned something about the time of year going into play because of the amount of water in the surrounding area which he got from an engineer @ VZW.

In all honesty it sounds like they were feeding you a load of crap. Not that there's no truth to what they say, but if you had a different phone that worked in your home, but your galaxy nexus is not working? Then what the verizon representative was saying would not be aplicable.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Yeah... That makes no sense at all man. It's just coincidence that 60% of Nexus owners have the same problem?
If you raise enough hell, the will send you another... Trust me.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Ysosrslawl said:
called them and it turns out i'm on the very edge of two distant Cell towers one at 5miles and another at 7miles.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can confirm this based on using an app called OpenSignal (free from the market). One of the tabs in the app is "Map" and will show your current location, as well as the location of the tower your phone is connected to, with a red line between the two.

It's because it's SAMSUNG PEOPLE.
No one will admit if anyone has any experience with any Samsung device they should know compare an HTC or iphone or moto photon signal to any SPRINT SAMSUNG PHONE ITS NOT SPRINT.
It's the Samsung software or hardware that's been glitched since day one since the first epic
They all have weak signal u can compare a photon which is Motorola to this galaxy nexus
Galaxy s2, galaxy s3 any Samsung, WEAK SIGNAL PHONES, and not one person realizes this with comparing the experience of device to Device on the same network
. How can u get 5 constant bars on a photon or 2 or 3 on HTC evo or sprint I phone in the same area, but always 1 bar on Samsung phones All on the same network. ITS SAMSUNG SKIMPIN OUT ON THERE BUILD QUALITY whether hardware or software related, it pisses me off they persistently ROLL OUT brand new Devices all year and waist good phones cause they can't build a stronger signal phone.
So forget about complaining about signal issues it won't change until they figure the real reason out
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

I have personally never had a signal issue, but I also have a baseband of .9. I feel this link gives a good insight of signal reporting on the GN.
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/25921-this-is-why-your-verizon-nexus-signal-sucks/

Related

Is it just me? (LTE GNex, terrible data.)

My Galaxy Nexus has the most unreliable, horrible, inconsistent data connection I have ever used on a phone.
I go from 4-->3--> No Gs all day long. I'm in Houston, which has a fantastic LTE network (when I'm using a different phone....)
I'm currently on CM9 with 4.0.3 leaked radios, the performance has been bad through stock as well though. Maybe I'll go back to stock and try it again or something.
Should I use the 4.0.2 radios again?
Has anyone else felt the same way?
Thanks.
I think you may be the first one to bring this up
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
In Charlotte,NC my phone has been nothing but outstanding. The only place I go to 3G is at my desk in the middle of a massive building with shielding. It's just awesome. 4 Bars 4G at my house down in South Carolina too.
I actually have had no such issue with stock or CM9. I'm in Dallas but live on the edge of the 4G area and my workplace has the amazing ability to shield LTE signal so I'm switching to 3G twice a day.
Is_907 said:
I actually have had no such issue with stock or CM9. I'm in Dallas but live on the edge of the 4G area and my workplace has the amazing ability to shield LTE signal so I'm switching to 3G twice a day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd love for it to just be verizon having problems here.
I'm not so sure that's the case though.
Just flashed a different rom, I guess i'll try the 4.0.2 radio again.
get off the leaked radios and go back to stock. goodness...
aohus said:
get off the leaked radios and go back to stock. goodness...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did that. It seems to be a bit better. Could be placebo though
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
eallan said:
My Galaxy Nexus has the most unreliable, horrible, inconsistent data connection I have ever used on a phone.
I go from 4-->3--> No Gs all day long. I'm in Houston, which has a fantastic LTE network (when I'm using a different phone....)
I'm currently on CM9 with 4.0.3 leaked radios, the performance has been bad through stock as well though. Maybe I'll go back to stock and try it again or something.
Should I use the 4.0.2 radios again?
Has anyone else felt the same way?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My experience is exactly the same. My Thunderbolt always had a solid, reliable and fast 4G connection in the same locations. My Galaxy Nexus is just like yours: "4-->3--> No Gs all day long". I'm on 3G at least 50% of the time. That never happened on the Thunderbolt.
I've tried the 4.0.3 radio too and it didn't help. It was no better and no worse for me.
MountainX said:
My experience is exactly the same. My Thunderbolt always had a solid, reliable and fast 4G connection in the same locations. My Galaxy Nexus is just like yours: "4-->3--> No Gs all day long". I'm on 3G at least 50% of the time. That never happened on the Thunderbolt.
I've tried the 4.0.3 radio too and it didn't help. It was no better and no worse for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad I'm not alone, I remember reading something about verizon's authentication servers having issues, hopefully it's something on their end they're fixing. Maybe the "real" update will help us out.
eallan said:
I'm glad I'm not alone,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not alone. Here is some stuff I collected from other threads:
Verizon claims Galaxy Nexus LTE signal is fine, update still coming to change meter
http://androidcommunity.com/verizon...update-still-coming-to-change-meter-20111221/
What do you guys think? Is there still a problem with the Galaxy Nexus and LTE. I personally think there is some sort of issue that will still probably be addressed in the update and Verizon just isn’t saying so. Here is a quick video I made showing my Galaxy Nexus stuck on 3G sitting next to my XYBOARD 8.2″ tablet with 4G LTE. The XyBoard constantly has not only more bars, but a better and faster connection. You tell me?
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Missed calls, text that wont send, 6 hour battery life… looks like i had better return the Nexus while i still can. Its a shame, i like the phone, i just wish i could make calls with it.
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I have noticed drops on the data side in places where i have a friend sitting next to me with full 3g signal on an incredible 2. My wifes nexus has dropped calls at least 15 times since she got it and data has been the same as mine
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Aaron Osler
My phone has serious call dropping/connection loss. I had the tech at my local Verizon store compare it to his Nexus which also had weak signal strength (about -96db). We also compared signal to other phones in the store and found the other phones to have around -84db which is much much better. That spread is the difference between barely hanging on to 1 bar and a solid 3 bars on my Nexus. I don’t think Verizon is being honest because my experience is that the signal is weaker on the Nexus, not just looking at the bars. I am also getting sudden disconnects going from any number of bars to dead instantly. Dropping calls is completely unacceptable. I can understand problems with the cutting edge 4G signal, but the phone call function is the same thing they have done for years. Oh, and don’t forget it’s A PHONE. I have until Jan 15th to return the phone so if they don’t have my phone working 100% of the time like all of my previous phones I will be returning it and reactivating my Envy3. My phone reports 10% time without signal. Cell Standby reports 10% of battery usage. I didn’t sign up for being tethered to a charger all day just to keep my phone from diving into cold brick mode while I sit at work less than 1/4 mile from the cell tower.
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C Dedi
As a current owner of all 3 of Verizons top tier Android phones (Razr / Rezound / G-Nexus), I can easily state that there exists a radio performance gap between two of my devices compared to the 3rd. My Razr & Rezound pull solid bar(s) status regularly, my G-Nexus on the other hand is much more temperamental with its signal strength. Of all 3 devices, the Rezound displays the best signal the most often (haven’t been disappointed yet), with the Razr usually pulling a close second. As an overall performer, I have to give it to the Rezound, even if its not my favorite of the three. Now listing them by personal preference (general feel), it goes something like this: Razr – G-Nexus – Rezound. The Rezound would score higher, if it didn’t ’feel’ like so many other HTC phones I’ve owned in the past.
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Is anyone actually looking at their signal strength reading in Settings/about phone/Signal ? I have compared my Nexus against my wife’s Samsung regular Galaxy , my original Droid, and even a 3 + year old laptop built in Verizon air card 3g signal and the Nexus has a noticeable worse signal reception(no 4G in my area yet). When the other devices are showing say -74-75dbm my Nexus is only receiving -93-100dbm. That is NOT a software fix issue. I am on my second Nexus after Verizon Tier2 techsupport did a signal survey in my area and confirmed a good 3G signal and had me exchange my phone. Same crappy reception numbers and I frequently get a Network Problem Check your internet connection message while using apps. I don’t see a software fix helping and will likely be exchanging my phone for a Rezound or returning alltogether and waiting it out.
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LT_Blondey1492
I’m a Samsung galaxy nexus user. I have had a problem with the signal of this phone. It has been a problem since I started using the phone. I’m in a 3G area. You would think since it’s a 3G and 4g phone. It should still work. I went to Verizon’s store once already, all they did was chAnge the sim card. That didn’t change the signal none. It worked when we were there. I think it’s funny how my husbands 4g droid bionic works while the Samsung galaxy nexus doesn’t. They are both 4g phones and the verizon helper said we didnt have 4g area where i lived. Like I said its funny how his 4g is able to work still. I really like the Samsung galaxy nexus phone but I need service. It didn’t even work at the Walmart I go to either. The only time it actually gave me signal was when I was in the verizon store. Why wouldn’t it work there it’s their phone. All their phones will work there, but once you leave they won’t work anymore.
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Tloomos
There’s more going on than just a dfferent representation of signal strength. I’ve run dozens of tests with my Verizon Galaxy Nexus side-by-side with a Verizon HTC Rezound and the Rezound blows the Nexus away every time. I expected the Rezound to perform better on tests like what Vellamo puts it through since the specs on the Rezound are a bit better, but I really wasn’t expecting much difference on the speedtest.net results. The Nexus consistently achieves half the bandwidth of the Rezound.
The more I use the Nexus, the more I like it, but this connection/performance issue doesn’t sit well with me. I’m not sure why Verizon would hide it if they thought that the update was going to improve actual performance and not just the bars, but I’m waiting and hoping. I have until Jan 15 to return it and pick up the Rezound instead. If they can address the connection issue before then, I’ll gladly stick with it.
And for what it’s worth, I would prefer that the bars be more accurate rather than giving me an inflated perception of my signal strength. As long as I know how to interpret the number of bars I have and the connectivity and performance is on par with other comparable devices, I really don’t care if their device shows 4 bars when mine only shows 1.
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Is it just me? (LTE GNex, terrible data.)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1440307
My Galaxy Nexus has the most unreliable, horrible, inconsistent data connection I have ever used on a phone.
I go from 4-->3--> No Gs all day long. I'm in Houston, which has a fantastic LTE network (when I'm using a different phone....)
I'm currently on CM9 with 4.0.3 leaked radios, the performance has been bad through stock as well though. Maybe I'll go back to stock and try it again or something.
Should I use the 4.0.2 radios again?
Has anyone else felt the same way?
Thanks.
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Dreaded signal issues and my in depth 3g testing. Is it hardware?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1441187
Thanks for posting this. I definitely think there is more going on here with the Verizon GNex's signal than just the way it is reported. It's not just 3G either. I had 2 Rezounds before I got my Galaxy Nexus, and actually have had two Galaxy Nexii. I am certain I got much faster 4G speeds, 3G speeds, and a stronger signal on the Rezounds than either Galaxy Nexus.
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I absolutely loved this phone also. but was VERY dissapointed after getting it home, it had a very weak signal and was dropping cals, something that ive never experienced with verizon. me and my wife have the razrs so i was able to do a side by side signal comparison here in dallas. my rersults were more dramatic than yours (OP), both razr's had about -85db and the GN was -104 in 4g. needless to say it was returned.
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New Leaked Radios CDMA, LTE
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1403133
...had more dropped calls with this phone than any other I have ever had on vzw.
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https://encrypted.google.com/search...issue+OR+problem&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&hl=en
The VZW Galaxy Nexus has signal issues. The constant bouncing from 4G to 3G to nothing and back is so annoying I have to just leave 4G off. I'm hoping it is an issue that can be addressed with a radio update at some point.
Raibyn said:
The VZW Galaxy Nexus has signal issues. The constant bouncing from 4G to 3G to nothing and back is so annoying I have to just leave 4G off. I'm hoping it is an issue that can be addressed with a radio update at some point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, here's to hoping.
same here
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Raibyn said:
The VZW Galaxy Nexus has signal issues. The constant bouncing from 4G to 3G to nothing and back is so annoying I have to just leave 4G off. I'm hoping it is an issue that can be addressed with a radio update at some point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
happens to me all day.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
I flashed the 4.0.3 radios a week or two back and I noticed it being worse on my phone. Is it safe to just downgrade radios by flashing them?
Also where are the links for the 4.0.1 and 4.0.2 radios? I was on 4.0.1 radios when I first rooted and it worked fine. But when I flashed 4.0.3, then I started noticing issues :/
I bought my Galaxy Nexus in the Houston area over the holiday while staying with family. I had a very reliable 4G connection, even in the outskirts. My mother's Bionic was constantly bouncing between 3G and 4G, though. Out here in Los Angeles I get a full 4 bars of 4G and average above 20,000kbps.
I have the signal dropping/switching issues some days, some days not. It seems pretty split personality to me....same places, different times, different behaviors.
Mine works fine.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
xXJay_RXx said:
I flashed the 4.0.3 radios a week or two back and I noticed it being worse on my phone. Is it safe to just downgrade radios by flashing them?
Also where are the links for the 4.0.1 and 4.0.2 radios? I was on 4.0.1 radios when I first rooted and it worked fine. But when I flashed 4.0.3, then I started noticing issues :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed back to 4.0.2 with no problems.
Mine is working fine here.
The phone itself DOES have issues when the switchover MUST occur.....I have 4G all day until I walk into my kids school. Old concrete block building, etc.....drops down to 3G everytime. BUT on the Nexus it takes a while.....Ill have 30 seconds or so sometimes without any signal while it locks back onto 3G. I *think* that can be fixed via firmware/software (since I believe lots of other phones have had similar handover issues)
The biggest issues with 4G seem to be if you are in a fringe area where it can kinda get 4G but not great 4G. You arent in a fringe area though, so Im not quite sure.....try forcing it to CDMA only and see if the radio stays connected reliably. I know its not LTE, but its just a troubleshooting step. A friend of mine has "reception" handover issues on his Bionic, set it to CDMA only and hasnt had one issue for over a week. its not a fix, but it at least makes the phone useable.......or could signify some bigger issues with your phone if you still have trouble with CDMA only.

Samsung Signal Atrocity

Been a power user of smart phones since they've existed, unlocking modding, etc.
I have never had a phone with worse data reception period.
Owned the GS2 since launch. Tried everything. Every combination known to man to get signal consistency that even comes close to an HTC phone or even my original pocket pc from UT Starcomm...
I once streamed a broadcast of the CUSA BBall tourney in the mountains in Co in like 2003 or 4 on one of those bad boys ...
No way I could do it on this galaxy s2. Not unless I was sitting still with no other devices at sea level in a giant grassland.
The phone is gorgeous, screen near perfect, feels great in hand, great durability, best phone I've ever had in almost every area...
BUT when you can barely browse the web, or use banking apps because timeouts and disconnects and 4g sleeping/searching won't stop...
It may as well be a paper weight. Will never buy a Samsung again; never should have left HTC. Tried as hard as I could to believe and prove that this was the best phone you could buy. Signal issues kill it in a long term use review.
Buy HTC. Radio is most important thing on a phone period.
I've been noticing the same thing with the signal reception. If this phone had a better radio it would honestly be the best phone. I will never buy HTC again because of the lack of updates and the piss poor battery life. Also HTC sense is garbage. But yet again these are just my opinions. If HTC comes out with a good phone that's not a brick maybe I'll try it.
Agree, they are big bricks and die quick, but the reason may be that they lock onto that signal like the fat guy that lucked into the insecure 8 or 9.
Big time web browser. Trying to justify switch to evo lte. Long term phone user and I get big time value mod, etc because of the price. Hard to dump something less than a year in for me.
Don't worry both Samsung and Sprint has the fix for you. They will release the fix in the near future.
Its called the Galaxy S3
LOL
Signal Strength on FD24, FD26 & FE07 Is Erratic. Yeppppppppp!
I cant remember it being this bad on GB...but my memory is horrible. This signal bullsh*t on ICS is KILLING my battery, and i cannot charge my phone where i work. I have to walk with an extra battery and a charging case for that battery.
Sprint & Samsung have until the OTA to fix this issue...if this OTA fails to make the phone live up to a reasonable use of its potential...im jumping to Verizon & the Droid Maxx.
Between the GPS...signal stability & 3G speeds....ive just about f*cking had it.
it took you this long to realize this? when i had my samsung moment replaced 4 times due to data loss and modem issues, i told myself i would never buy another samsung phone. look how that turned out.
samsung has terrible radio support. it's not just the phone radio, it's their GPS and wifi too.
I read these threads all the time... Never really post in them a lot though....
From what I've read its all about the area you live in. I live and work in Center City Philadelphia and get ok to good 3G & 4G signals and never really have any of these issue of timing out, slow downloads or issues with browsing.
I do count myself lucky though cause when I go to visit my family (they live in the sticks) its wifi only for me... So I do feel your guys pain.
Sent From My Galaxy Class StarFighter
SouthPhilly said:
I read these threads all the time... Never really post in them a lot though....
From what I've read its all about the area you live in. I live and work in Center City Philadelphia and get ok to good 3G & 4G signals and never really have any of these issue of timing out, slow downloads or issues with browsing.
I do count myself lucky though cause when I go to visit my family (they live in the sticks) its wifi only for me... So I do feel your guys pain.
Sent From My Galaxy Class StarFighter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope it's not the area you live in. having traveled to just about every major city in the US in the last 5-6 years, my moment and the e4gt have always lost signal completely multiple times. while travelling, my htc evo never once experienced those problems, and gps lock was always instant.
i dont believe it's an area/location problem at all. i think it's more like samsung has terrible cdma support. you dont hear much about their gsm phones having these issues.
cnstarz said:
nope it's not the area you live in. having traveled to just about every major city in the US in the last 5-6 years, my moment and the e4gt have always lost signal completely multiple times. while travelling, my htc evo never once experienced those problems, and gps lock was always instant.
i dont believe it's an area/location problem at all. i think it's more like samsung has terrible cdma support. you dont hear much about their gsm phones having these issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea its my job to travel weekly to multiple cities....and my HTC NEVER had such issues with the radio.
Yep never had a issue with any signal or gps on ANY of my HTC phones.
Samsung wireless radios are POS!
Waiting on user reviews to see if I'll get the EVO 4G LTE
Sent from my EPIC TOUCH!
I live in Houston, TX the #1 coverage city for Sprint. First Samsung I've owned. Hardware was just so killer vs the then market leading (regardless of whether or not you liked the gimmick) evo 3d it wasn't close. Never knew signal issues could be crippling because I owned HTCs, so I never had issues.
The issues I did have... Build quality, shaky early sense, camera quality, screen quality... ALL don't even matter if you can't load a webpage, upload a photo, etc.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
Dose anyone even know if the S3 will carry the same radio the S2 has? many times the phone manufacture will use same hardware ie gps Bluetooth to same money.
Wow I must be really lucky. I live in Reno and I have never ever had any signal issues. sure it goes from full to 2 bars from time to time but I have never lost signal.
rujelus22 said:
Wow I must be really lucky. I live in Reno and I have never ever had any signal issues. sure it goes from full to 2 bars from time to time but I have never lost signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here and I live in Alabama, nowhere near the areas that will see 4G or LTE first.
The OG evo has one of the best antennas on a cell phone, ever. You can't make a blanket statement that HTC is awesome when plenty of their phones have ****ty antennas. Have you used an Evo 3D or design? You would be complaining there too. God forbid you get an iPhone, which has the worst antenna I've ever seen. My store is literally across the street from a tower, and iPhones get 2 bars and horrible data speeda where my ET is pegged and gets 1.5mbit down on 3g.
You probably got your gs2 at about the same time the iPhone came out, when the 3g network got saturated with all the morons "upgrading" front 4g android phones or poor souls upgrading from blackberries with 1x. This phone has performed exactly as I expected it to.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Wow......no "Cool Story Bro" posts yet? I'm proud of you guys.
Let's hope it stays like this.
jayharper08 said:
Wow......no "Cool Story Bro" posts yet? I'm proud of you guys.
Let's hope it stays like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stool Corey Bro /runs
PS: As much as i hate to admit this, its all true. I was playing with a friends photon the other day....this was getting amazing reception where as i get NONE at my house :\
Well first off I do agree that the E4GT does have a horrible modem/radio. The worst i have ever had on a smartphone. Don't get me wrong this is the best phone I have ever had but I get a GPS lock half the time I try and after a minute or 2. Its just pathetic. Ya I know some people say my GPS works great but my dad and 2 friends have this same phone and all have the same GPS and poor signal problems. So if your GPS works great you are very lucky. As for the data speeds I have ran speedtest side by side on the E4GT OG EVo and 4s side by side. E4GT>4s>OG Evo by not to much though(at least that is the results I got).
I think the biggest culprit here though with data speeds is sprints ****tastic network. I usually average 300kbs. I'm sorry but im not paying $180 a month for those kinds of speeds when VZW and ATT 3g speeds are 6-8 times better than that(not to even mention 4g and lte). Also VZW and ATT are not even more expensive. For the same thing Im getting on sprint I can get at ATT(3gb monthly data) for the SAME price. On VZW(4 gb monthly data) its 10 bucks more. I realized unlimited data means nothing if you have crappy speeds. If you alive in a sprint area were your lucky to get 4g or lte soon more power to ya.
As for buying a samsung phone? Its possible but not until 1) They stop making there phones ugly (not the sII but the sIII is butt ugly IMO) 2)get better modem/radio/GPS 3) change from pentile display. At least in online pictures the sIII's display looks worse than our phone.
HTC One X here I come!!! (sooo excited)
/end rant lol sorry/
I live on LI Ny, and the coverage is horrible here, I work in Queens, it's the only time I can actually brows the Web, besides wifi.. And no 4G on LI..
Bobby O's Epic Touch..
I have noticed that if you have your bluetooth connected and then enable gps, I don't get a gps lock until I disable gps, then bluetooth, and then enable gps. It's been like that on every ICS rom I have tried.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2

Anyone else considering switching to a different phone?

hi guys,
so i have an S3 and i LOVE it to death. i am running Task AOKP rom which makes the phone 100000 times better but even on stock TW, the phone was great. however, what i am noticing (and from doing some reading a lot of other people notice as well) is that the reception of the phone is really lacking. over the past few days, i have been doing some experimenting with my S3 and a few other phones that i have access to. almost in every single situation, the S3 reception was drastically worse than the other phones. here are a few examples:
1) yesterday me and the wife went to a friend's wedding. when we got there, i had zero reception (x on the reception bars) while my wife's iphone had 3 bars (both ATT).
2) at work, i always have 1-2 bars and not that great reception while my coworker with an HTC phone on ATT has full service.
3) at my house, i have a few areas that the phone just struggles to get even a single bar and both my wife's iphone as well as all my previous phones (galaxy s2, iphone 4, blackberry etc..) never had that issue.
this is my second S3 unit and the previous one was not that great reception wise as well. i tried every kernel and rom you can imagine and even reverted back to stock a few times just to make sure its not rom related.
at this point, i am actually considering selling the S3 and going with an HTC One X even though i prefer everything about the S3.
have you tried different modems...just a sugestion.....some people get better reception when they flash different modems
Plays2 said:
have you tried different modems...just a sugestion.....some people get better reception when they flash different modems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, tried every single one of the modems that has been released so far. at first i was sure that it is just my phone or my area but a google search shows that this is pretty known issue with the S3 which is not giving me too much hope. like i said, i LOVE the phone and love its features but this one is starting to get me down.
Are you using a protective case? I've read where some cases cause reception issues.
I am quite sure that the radio in the sgs3 is not as strong as many other phones I've had. Wifi and mobile connection are much weaker compared to other devices. I am also sure that its the hardware as no matter what modem or rom I'm running its low signal in areas where friends on the same carrier with different devices are fine. It's normally not a big deal in areas with a strong signal but in areas with a weaker signal its very noticeable when others with different hardware have a signal still.
redger725 said:
Are you using a protective case? I've read where some cases cause reception issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no case. i even tried it without the back cover and the results were the same
blue265 said:
I am quite sure that the radio in the sgs3 is not as strong as many other phones I've had. Wifi and mobile connection are much weaker compared to other devices. I am also sure that its the hardware as no matter what modem or rom I'm running its low signal in areas where friends on the same carrier with different devices are fine. It's normally not a big deal in areas with a strong signal but in areas with a weaker signal its very noticeable when others with different hardware have a signal still.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, that's what most posts are saying in random forums. if it is a hardware issue, no modem in the world will make it better. i also agree that it is not a big deal in areas with strong signal but yesterday i had zero service which meant no incoming or outgoing calls for 3-4 hours while my wife had no issues with her iPhone (made me look really bad especially after all the **** i give her about owning an iPhone )
Its weird because in places other people dont have reception (they have iphones and other android phones), such as elevators, basements, in sky scrapers, i have reception and they don't. Maybe the network i'm running on (rogers) is well implanted in the city but i honestly have not noticed any worse reception in my GS3 compared to my other phones like the GS2 or iPhone 4
I switched from an iPhone 4 and I have actually got better reception and call quality with my S3 than I ever did with my iPhone. I am on ATT too.
Have you tried disabling LTE to see if you can force it to HSPA?
also have you tried a new sim just for good measure?
I haven't had much issues with respects to service when comparing it to my Nokia Lumia 900 and iPhone 4
Drew
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium
I get better reception that my old iPhone 4 and my infuse... areas where I use to drop calls don't anymore. Example: an area up north where I go shoot firearms, I would lose service about 1 mile before heading up the mountain road, now, I have service the entire time except for about a mile up when I go between a sub station and a dam, but once I pass it, I'm good to go. Many parts of i5 I would drop service, now there is only 1 part where service gets spotty and I may drop the call. Several other places that I learned drop calls no longer do for me since getting the s3... not sure why our experiences are different, maybe you had bad luck and received 2 defective devices. I'm in California btw, splitting my time between sf bay area, Sacramento and Redding.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Yeah I can't wait to ditch my S3, looking to get a S4 when it comes out.
cheetablaze said:
Yeah I can't wait to ditch my S3, looking to get a S4 when it comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this to lol:thumbup:
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
I get great reception as far as I can tell. At my friend's house, his iPhone gets awful, call-droppingly bad reception and I have no issues. Both AT&T.
*#*#4636#*#*
put that in your dialpad and than go to phone options and btu it to gsm/lte preffered. if you were like me the setting should be on wcdma originally in which case i had horrible reception like you
I notice no issues with stock.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
I'm pretty annoyed by the lack of OEM accessories that we were promised.
Also annoyed that JB hasn't been officially released yet by the four major USA carriers.
But I'll be darned if there is anything better to switch to.
Phone OR manufacturer. We complain a lot, but Samsung and the Galaxy series have always been the Android leaders.
I get great reception. Full 4g lte coverage in my area. S3 is a great device. No regrets. Best phone out there by far.
I am getting signal and "0" call drops when in lift too and in car parking lots... where all my previous phones used to drop signal crazy!!!
I get great reception. ATT, Miami. My old iPhone's couldn't compete.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Rattles said:
hi guys,
so i have an S3 and i LOVE it to death. i am running Task AOKP rom which makes the phone 100000 times better but even on stock TW, the phone was great. however, what i am noticing (and from doing some reading a lot of other people notice as well) is that the reception of the phone is really lacking. over the past few days, i have been doing some experimenting with my S3 and a few other phones that i have access to. almost in every single situation, the S3 reception was drastically worse than the other phones. here are a few examples:
1) yesterday me and the wife went to a friend's wedding. when we got there, i had zero reception (x on the reception bars) while my wife's iphone had 3 bars (both ATT).
2) at work, i always have 1-2 bars and not that great reception while my coworker with an HTC phone on ATT has full service.
3) at my house, i have a few areas that the phone just struggles to get even a single bar and both my wife's iphone as well as all my previous phones (galaxy s2, iphone 4, blackberry etc..) never had that issue.
this is my second S3 unit and the previous one was not that great reception wise as well. i tried every kernel and rom you can imagine and even reverted back to stock a few times just to make sure its not rom related.
at this point, i am actually considering selling the S3 and going with an HTC One X even though i prefer everything about the S3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was it in San Antonio, tx
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

Pisspoor radios on S3

Apparently, now "everyone knows" that the hardware radios on the S3 are crap.
This information was not readily available when I originally was comparing it to the other options out there when looking to move on from my Evo. I would have never bought what is essentially a wifi-only mini-tablet (when at home) if I had known how bad it was. And I know I could have returned it but I didn't realize how crappy the radios were until I needed to use my cell frequently from my home for both calls and internet.
Anyhoo... really disappointed with this phone. The Evo radio kicks this things a**. Never had the inability to call out of my home...
Maybe dump it on ebay... looks like they go there for more than I paid...
Sconnie
Call sprint and complain. I did and now have a free airave. Not the ideal solution but my coverage is fine everywhere but my house :-|
The S3 radios are really good for me. I also had the Epic Touch and Evo LTE and their radios suck especially the Epic Touch.
I have the best reception I have ever had with any android phone. Might be they are upgrading your area with new LTE network. I had 2 to 3 weeks of terrible service when they upgraded here.
I had an og epic, an og Evo, a Galaxy Nexus and by far the S3 is the best.
Transmitted with a portable device using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2
Guess someone didnt get the memo that they are doing a nationwide network upgrade and backhaul
I like to break stuff!
Cool post, please do sell your phone and give all glory to HTC. Goodbye! :crying:
It's usually ROM-based. I used CM10 on my S3 and whenever it got LTE it would just switch to 1x for some reason.
But then I flashed a TW ROM and I got constant LTE
Haha I've also had the best reception and reliability with the gs3
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
They have been doing network vision improvements in my area. My service has gotten a lot better from when I bought my phone.
I went from have 2-3 bars to full signal inside my house.
Sent from a planet far far away.
On both the N2 and the S3 I het amazing signal way better than evo LTE or Nexus. Ill by your N2 for 350 if your unhappy
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app
SconnieRoadie said:
Apparently, now "everyone knows" that the hardware radios on the S3 are crap.
........
Maybe dump it on ebay... looks like they go there for more than I paid...
Sconnie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently most people disagree with you. Either you got a bad phone or somethings going on in your area. Most of us (including me) are really happy with the phone, and there haven't been any mass uprising of angry SIII owners complaining about reception. In my case I live in a really low signal area for Sprint. I've gotten 0 to 2 bars on my last 2 phones, (HTC Touch Pro 2, Samsung Epic Slider). I get 0 to 2 bars on my SIII. Virtually no dropped calls even with 0 bars.
In the other hand, you clearly came here to dis on Samsung. Mission accomplished.
SconnieRoadie said:
Maybe dump it on ebay... looks like they go there for more than I paid...
Sconnie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I paid 50 for each of my s3 ill give you 25 for yours
Transmitted with a portable device using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2
poit said:
Apparently most people disagree with you. Either you got a bad phone or somethings going on in your area. Most of us (including me) are really happy with the phone, and there haven't been any mass uprising of angry SIII owners complaining about reception. In my case I live in a really low signal area for Sprint. I've gotten 0 to 2 bars on my last 2 phones, (HTC Touch Pro 2, Samsung Epic Slider). I get 0 to 2 bars on my SIII. Virtually no dropped calls even with 0 bars.
In the other hand, you clearly came here to dis on Samsung. Mission accomplished.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He must be using the terms "everyone" and "knows" extremely loosely - it is as impossible to speak for everyone without talking to them first as it is to know something that isn't true
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
I have found the Qualcomm radios and GPS in the SG3 to be vastly superior to all my previous android phones. Started out with a Samsung Moment, then had a HTC EVO 4G, and finally a Samsung Epic Touch. This phones radios are the best - not your typical Sammy GPS and Radios.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Doing a side by side comparison, the S3 has a much more reliable radio than the LTEvo. Sitting next to each other, I had 4G all day, while she was lucky to get 4G for 10 minutes the entire day.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
The fact that the OP has not returned to this thread and other posts he has made since November leads one to believe he is just Trolling. He doesn't seem to care what others have to say or respond to his post. He has a similar post about radio and signal from back in November and has yet to acknowledge the reply in that one.
View attachment 1720299
Transmitted with a portable device using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2
My S3 gets way better reception than my Epic 4G did. I do not even need the Airave in my house any more. Not sure who your ":everybody" is but as suggested maybe your phone is bad. You should try reflashing the modem or something.
So does HOW the rom report the signal value affect performance? I'm just curious because I've used stock TW, unofficial AOKP, and CM10.1 roms and Open Signal reports good voice reception and poor data while I'm at work and I wouldnt be able to access anything involving the internet (pandora, basic web surfing, etc). This weekend I flashed the latest pacman rom and Open Signal is reporting OK/Good mobile data reception and I've been running pandora for the last 3 hours with no problems. I dont think sprint is doing any work in the area that would suddenly cause things to change like this and my signal status being reported by the phone is still hovering around the -100dBm mark as usual. Any thoughts?
I can also agree that the s3 has great reception, I got hit by the nemo blizzard and everyone that was at my house for the two days of no power my phone was the only one with service.
Sent from my SPH-L710 Running TPR
I actually agree with op, I believe the radio sucks for phone calls anyway
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

Really disappointed in the 3g/4g data signal

I've seen threads of people not happy with the data signal, but I didn't realize how bad it was until I was in a movie theater today. I couldn't get any data signal, not even basic google search. I even tried re-booting and still nothing. Picked up my wife's iPhone 4s and it was flying around internet sites.
I tested the same thing afterwards at the local food market and the exact same thing. My phone, no inside signal, her iPhone, perfect.
How can a phone become so popular with such crappy signal?
I've seen complaints too but I've got to say that my One has been on par with my iPhones, Galaxy S3, Blackberry's, etc... No signal issues here whatsoever
The other person on my plan has an iPhone 5 and we both usually have the same amount of signal anywhere we go
dspcap said:
I've seen threads of people not happy with the data signal, but I didn't realize how bad it was until I was in a movie theater today. I couldn't get any data signal, not even basic google search. I even tried re-booting and still nothing. Picked up my wife's iPhone 4s and it was flying around internet sites.
I tested the same thing afterwards at the local food market and the exact same thing. My phone, no inside signal, her iPhone, perfect.
How can a phone become so popular with such crappy signal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
note 2 is popular as can be and mine drops calls everyday.
I would get it swapped out. Maybe you got a dud. HTC usually has better radios than everybody but Moto.
josh995 said:
I've seen complaints too but I've got to say that my One has been on par with my iPhones, Galaxy S3, Blackberry's, etc... No signal issues here whatsoever
The other person on my plan has an iPhone 5 and we both usually have the same amount of signal anywhere we go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only huge issue I have with it is its TERRIBLE hand-off, at least when my iPhone 5 or DNA lost 4g LTE it would grab it the moment it was available again. The One just holds onto that crappy 3G for dear life until I force it to go to LTE again.
Edit: Or wait 5-10 minutes.
I don't notice a difference from my Galaxy S4.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app
I've had the phone for two weeks and saw the 3G icon for the first time today. Signal has been fine...
Ranger093 said:
The only huge issue I have with it is its TERRIBLE hand-off, at least when my iPhone 5 or DNA lost 4g LTE it would grab it the moment it was available again. The One just holds onto that crappy 3G for dear life until I force it to go to LTE again.
Edit: Or wait 5-10 minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's weird! I haven't experienced that problem either. I've only noticed my One on 3G once but the hand off to LTE seemed pretty normal to me. I can't really comment on that issue though because my area is pretty much all LTE so I don't deal with the hand offs.
I wonder if it's a defect in your phone? Does the One allow us to update the PRL? I remember the HTC EVO had an update PRL option that I think could do something with service issues... something or other, I can't really remember.
josh995 said:
That's weird! I haven't experienced that problem either. I've only noticed my One on 3G once but the hand off to LTE seemed pretty normal to me. I can't really comment on that issue though because my area is pretty much all LTE so I don't deal with the hand offs.
I wonder if it's a defect in your phone? Does the One allow us to update the PRL? I remember the HTC EVO had an update PRL option that I think could do something with service issues... something or other, I can't really remember.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I don't think it is, GrayWolf has the same issue. I live in Minnesota and frequently travel to jobsites where there is concrete and such. Because Verizon hasn't upgraded every cell site with LTE yet just "Most of them" I frequently go into 3G. When the device goes into 3G for an extended period of time sometimes it takes a reboot to get back to LTE, most of the time it takes awhile to go back. And sometimes it goes right away, it's pretty annoying to be honest and may make me go to the Droid Maxx.
Lte onoff in the market helps me out. It was used for the thunderbolt to turn off the Lte radio when it was new. I toggle to Lte only, wait for it to get a signal them back to cdma+lte
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk 2
josh995 said:
That's weird! I haven't experienced that problem either. I've only noticed my One on 3G once but the hand off to LTE seemed pretty normal to me. I can't really comment on that issue though because my area is pretty much all LTE so I don't deal with the hand offs.
I wonder if it's a defect in your phone? Does the One allow us to update the PRL? I remember the HTC EVO had an update PRL option that I think could do something with service issues... something or other, I can't really remember.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your sim card updates the PRL.
Sent from my 4G LTE HTC One
I'll get a change to test out my reception later. I do know the 4G on the One seems almost twice as fast as my Rezound though.
I find my signal is much better on the One than on my previous SIII or SGN.
Samsung has the worst radios. The Galaxy Nexus absolutely blew in that respect and, everyone came up with theories about false calibration of bars and whatnot, but the fact remained that it sucked with weak reception and poor hand-off between 3G and LTE.
Mike02z said:
I find my signal is much better on the One than on my previous SIII or SGN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
godhamba said:
Samsung has the worst radios. The Galaxy Nexus absolutely blew in that respect and, everyone came up with theories about false calibration of bars and whatnot, but the fact remained that it sucked with weak reception and poor hand-off between 3G and LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found my Samsung Nexus was horrible, my Galaxy S3 was good... but now my One is not good again. I just hung up with a vzw CSR and he told me they had some problems with SIM cards when the One was released and to go get a new one. He said the SIM card could absolutely fix the problem.
dspcap said:
How can a phone become so popular with such crappy signal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My experience has been similar to what you had today. It seems mostly indoors I experienced the problems. I'm wondering, were you able to unlock your phone on day one? I did, and I'm wondering if custom ROMs or other changes we've been able to make have affected our reception.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app
pmterp said:
My experience has been similar to what you had today. It seems mostly indoors I experienced the problems. I'm wondering, were you able to unlock your phone on day one? I did, and I'm wondering if custom ROMs or other changes we've been able to make have affected our reception.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried on day one, but they couldn't activate my phone... ughhh... but I was told today to get a new sim card.
godhamba said:
Samsung has the worst radios. The Galaxy Nexus absolutely blew in that respect and, everyone came up with theories about false calibration of bars and whatnot, but the fact remained that it sucked with weak reception and poor hand-off between 3G and LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus was disappointing in several ways. I didn't go by the bars, but the dBm readout under settings. The Rezound was on par with my DInc, and soon I'll see how The One holds up to that.
Ranger093 said:
No I don't think it is, GrayWolf has the same issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My issues were related to a bad ril in CyanogenMod.
Only thing I notice now is that text messages take forever to send.
GrayTheWolf said:
My issues were related to a bad ril in CyanogenMod.
Only thing I notice now is that text messages take forever to send.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is ril part of the ROM? I'm running hyperdrive and wonder if it could be related?
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app
My reception in general was better on my DNA. I am yet to see 5 bars on my One, but I'm also yet to see no signal. Using apps like dropbox from the gallery is nearly impossible, takes too long to load even a couple pictures let alone swipe through them. Don't care, I love this phone. My DNA shipped out to the buyer today. No regrets.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using XDA Premium App

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