Develop Bugs

[Q] 4g Problem with my new phone

This is my first 4g phone.
I am not sure the 4g is working properly. Need some input.
I have the 4g turned on. This phone seems to flip flop between 3g and 4g connection. It does not seem to hold a steady 4g connection and seems to often be downloading on 3g.
Did I get a dud? Should I try and have it swapped out?
Annoying to be paying a premium for 4g service when more than half the time I am getting 3g download speeds.

If it matters, I live in Las Vegas

I'm having the same problem
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

azmtbiker said:
If it matters, I live in Las Vegas
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Click to collapse
I live in Vegas, too. If you're trying from inside a house, you'll be lucky to hold a 4G signal. While they've got the valley pretty well covered, it's still not great. Some towers have greater coverage than others. I live in NW and have no 4G until about a half mile from my home.
The only place I know to have solid 4G is on the Strip/Convention Center area. I use it to stream during my shift.
....

Just so you know : you are not paying for 4g. It's a premium data charge, which is charged to all subscribers with or without 4g phones. Just thought you should know what your paying for.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

azmtbiker said:
This is my first 4g phone.
I am not sure the 4g is working properly. Need some input.
I have the 4g turned on. This phone seems to flip flop between 3g and 4g connection. It does not seem to hold a steady 4g connection and seems to often be downloading on 3g.
Did I get a dud? Should I try and have it swapped out?
Annoying to be paying a premium for 4g service when more than half the time I am getting 3g download speeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive noticed the 4g radio is a little finnicky sometimes, however haven't noticed anything coverage related. Using EVO view right now...this thing has a much better 4g antenna. My embedded laptop gets the best though. I'm in Vegas too...and work for clearwire.

Full bar 4G here but I am not in Vegas. It should sleep when not in use but when its switching between 3G and 4G alot, it eats battery. Sprint 4G is notorious for not being great indoors
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Update
Well, after another day without the device hooking up to 4g for crap, I headed down to the sprint store.
Of course at the store, 4g is working. I tell the lady working there what is going on and she seems incredulous of my claim as the 4g currently seems to work.
The lady takes the phone, plugs it in to a cable. After 3 minutes she hands it back to be me and says, "it is now aligned with the towers." I said, so it should work. She says yes. Is this really a real thing??
I will post tomorrow with results of another days use.
Dunno if it is a hardware or software issue but has definitely not been working as it should. Wont even hook up to 4g in the car let alone in a building.

I also live in las Vegas, NW in fact and my GPS lock on is timeless , fast as heck, but for some reason at the Strip, is slow(almost never with the Epic4G) but a few seconds it takes with the ET4G.
The 3G speed varies on what area you're at sadly, sometimes for some reason when im in the parking lot of Paris, I have no connection, and even my phonecalls drop, but the moment i exit, baam! it works, 3G speed is up and down, recenty after updating my Profile and PRL, it has been snappy some what amazinly, and 4G hit and Miss in some areas.
Is fast on my own opinion anyway , for 4G i only get one bar at this very moment, but is still fast.
---------- Post added at 03:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 AM ----------
Vegasden said:
I live in Vegas, too. If you're trying from inside a house, you'll be lucky to hold a 4G signal. While they've got the valley pretty well covered, it's still not great. Some towers have greater coverage than others. I live in NW and have no 4G until about a half mile from my home.
The only place I know to have solid 4G is on the Strip/Convention Center area. I use it to stream during my shift.
....
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Exactly lol, but at home NW i also get it too.

Other thing I notice is when it switches from 4g to 3g, the 4g will not turn back on unless it is manually switched on and off.

azmtbiker said:
Well, after another day without the device hooking up to 4g for crap, I headed down to the sprint store.
Of course at the store, 4g is working. I tell the lady working there what is going on and she seems incredulous of my claim as the 4g currently seems to work.
The lady takes the phone, plugs it in to a cable. After 3 minutes she hands it back to be me and says, "it is now aligned with the towers." I said, so it should work. She says yes. Is this really a real thing??
I will post tomorrow with results of another days use.
Dunno if it is a hardware or software issue but has definitely not been working as it should. Wont even hook up to 4g in the car let alone in a building.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since it's your first experience with WiMAX, if you're expecting to drive around and keep 4G connected, it ain't gonna happen. Pretty much you have to be stationary and in good coverage area. And take the coverage maps with a grain of salt.
....

azmtbiker said:
Other thing I notice is when it switches from 4g to 3g, the 4g will not turn back on unless it is manually switched on and off.
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hmm.. I haven't tried this myself..Only tried 4G and it stayed there no change, I'll do this when im at home, since im at work at the moment.
Though if you can replicate this problem, do it for the Sprint Rep and see if they can exchange it for ya.

Vegasden said:
Since it's your first experience with WiMAX, if you're expecting to drive around and keep 4G connected, it ain't gonna happen. Pretty much you have to be stationary and in good coverage area. And take the coverage maps with a grain of salt.
....
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this is disappointing to say the least...well many of us have given sprint a fair try...i only wonder how do some ever get use to this...i know for a fact this is not the norm for all carriers while i guess some really do get good coverage with sprint.

Mine does the same exact thing
azmtbiker said:
Other thing I notice is when it switches from 4g to 3g, the 4g will not turn back on unless it is manually switched on and off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

When I go from one spot to another in the car, the 4g signal is lost and phone reverts to 3g.
I have to toggle 4g off/on to reconnect.
I did the tweaks listed here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1265990
but no help.
Did the tweaks improve this for anyone? Anyone else having this issue?

Am i the only one with 4G problems?

Looked in General and Q&A and can't find anyone complaining about 4G reception. This stupid phone doesn't hold 4G indoors ANYWHERE I go. My Galaxy S2 never had problems like this. This phone is always switching to EDGE. ALWAYS!!! Really causing me to regret my purchase. Also, my "4G" speed test has never gone faster than 3.5-4Mbps down, where my GS2 averaged 9-15Mbps. Only flaw I have had with this phone. I read Verizon users are having the same issues with their GS3. This damn phone annoys the hell outta me and hope the Galaxy Note doesn't have the same radio as this because I can't wait to replace this phone. I love it and how fluid the ui is, but I pay for the 10GB data plan, but this idiotic phone doesn't allow me to use it. And I've had it replaced twice. Gonna replace the SIM later today and see if that helps. So, am I the only one? And I live in an excellent 4G area according to T-Mobile.

This may not help, but could be worth a try.
Open the dialer and enter *#*#4636#*#*
Once u hit the last * it should open up a menu. Select Device Information, scroll down a little and there should be a box to click on. Choose WCDMA Only and see if you can get onto 4G now. If you can get 4G, you can go back and choose WCDMA preffered and see if it acts ok on this setting.
Worth a try at least. Good luck!
And have you called tmobile to see if they are having problems with any towers in your area?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

You don't have to insult the phone, just state your problem. Sheesh
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

IRIE4IPIER said:
Looked in General and Q&A and can't find anyone complaining about 4G reception. This stupid phone doesn't hold 4G indoors ANYWHERE I go. My Galaxy S2 never had problems like this. This phone is always switching to EDGE. ALWAYS!!! Really causing me to regret my purchase. Also, my "4G" speed test has never gone faster than 3.5-4Mbps down, where my GS2 averaged 9-15Mbps. Only flaw I have had with this phone. I read Verizon users are having the same issues with their GS3. This damn phone annoys the hell outta me and hope the Galaxy Note doesn't have the same radio as this because I can't wait to replace this phone. I love it and how fluid the ui is, but I pay for the 10GB data plan, but this idiotic phone doesn't allow me to use it. And I've had it replaced twice. Gonna replace the SIM later today and see if that helps. So, am I the only one? And I live in an excellent 4G area according to T-Mobile.
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Click to collapse
I'm having some similar issues. I can get 4g indoors, but seems to switch around without even moving the phone. I'm wondering if it's a "feature" of the SGS3. Uses less battery to hold EDGE/3g and then when it detects data transfer, switches to 4g... I dunno.
That being said, you can try installing the new OTA which has a new radio. Or if your rooted etc, flash the radio zip Wild put up. I've noticed some improvements with signal strength, but it still seems to swap based on what I'm doing.
Anybody more knowledgeable have any info on this "smart data management"?

The phone will only stay at 4G during data transfers, while idle it'll drop back to 3G. I don't think it should be dropping to edge/2G though.
Did you try the method I mentioned in my other post?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

DocHoliday77 said:
The phone will only stay at 4G during data transfers, while idle it'll drop back to 3G. I don't think it should be dropping to edge/2G though.
Did you try the method I mentioned in my other post?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did and thank you for bringing that to attention , I don't know how I let that slip my mind, I used that setting to fix my last two Samsung phones, Nexus S and GS2. They both would do this just not as bad as the GS3, now the phone holds its 4G/3G much better with WCDMA only turned on. Now I have zero gripes about this phone.
Anyone know what the difference is between HSPA:10 and HSPA+15? Is the latter the HSPA42 T-Mobile advertises?

hold the phone upside down. works wonders i swear lol. especially when you're trying to download something.

Hows the radios working for ya??????

Ok, ready to pull the trigger on a Note 2 but having the ET4G and the issues with reception, Im a little hesitant on Sammy phones now.. I love my Epic T but low up and download speeds kill me. Im missing calls and its not showing up in my call log and texts messages too. I have friends who have the GS3 and some love it and some hate it. Two friends can sit side by side with their SG3 and have totally different reception, I dont get it. I hear the radio and antenna are the same from the GS3 but wondering if the size of the antenna in the Note 2 has changed and if so, is that change enough to help reception issues?
Any input from those who just got one would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't seen lte, but 3g is just as good as you can get on Sprint
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app

I too have the epic touch, a d then the s3.
Although I cannot comment on note 2,because I don't have it yet, the s3's radio is much better than epic touch.
Instant gps lock and no LOS

I too have the E4G and have just been patiently waiting....I almost jumped on the SIII, but thought I would wait. I think GN2 is what I have been waiting for.
The missed calls (never ringing), daily lock ups and reboots are driving me crazy!

I picked mine up this morning, I'm very happy with reception so far, seeing a lot of improvement over my old epic 4g, and the download speeds seem a tad inproved in my commonly trodden areas
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app

I cannot hold a steady 3g data connection. Network mode is set to cdma/lte/evdo and it keep bouncing on and off for 3g. just came from the Evo lte and that phone at the same spot can hold a 3g eHDRP or Evdo just fine. Going to see if sprint can reprovision this phone for me. If this is a normal thing with samsung phone then I have no choice but to return it.

theoner1 said:
I cannot hold a steady 3g data connection. Network mode is set to cdma/lte/evdo and it keep bouncing on and off for 3g. just came from the Evo lte and that phone at the same spot can hold a 3g eHDRP or Evdo just fine. Going to see if sprint can reprovision this phone for me. If this is a normal thing with samsung phone then I have no choice but to return it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let us know the outcome please. Haven't jump ship yet thou, just reading a lot cause I don't want to have the LTE connection issue like the evlte.
Thanks

LaloHigh said:
Let us know the outcome please. Haven't jump ship yet thou, just reading a lot cause I don't want to have the LTE connection issue like the evlte.
Thanks
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Click to collapse
Update:
Phone is now connecting better after switiching perferred roaming from automatic to sprint only. All my previous phone have no problem when set to automatic roaming. Well at least now my data is not dropping like it was. My real test by putting it on sprint only (home on samsung's phone) is to see if it will connect to LTE where's LTE is available. I will find out after work when I'm on my way home since I get no LTE connection here at work.

Anyone coming from the galaxy s3 miss the simultaneous voice and data? I can't believe this phone can't do it unless connected to lte.
Sent from my SPH-L900

How is the wifi? The S3 was weak on stock rom, then improved with AOSP roms.

kronium said:
How is the wifi? The S3 was weak on stock rom, then improved with AOSP roms.
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Dont know about s3 but wifi definitely better than my daughter soon to be evo lte.

Just got 4g Lte in my neighborhood

I got home today from a 6 weeks job training and to my surprise 4g works and it hasn't been announced in my area yet. I live in Springfield Virginia. Pics below. Sprint LTE ftw
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

4g lte was turned on in my area, northeast Michigan even though there hasn't been an official release from Verizon.. It was a nice surprise
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

4g is worthless unless you're downloading stuff and not near WiFi.
It drains battery like crazy and has no effect on calls or texts.
I turn it off until I need it.
Sent from my Nexus 7

Sveke said:
4g is worthless unless you're downloading stuff and not near WiFi.
It drains battery like crazy and has no effect on calls or texts.
I turn it off until I need it.
Sent from my Nexus 7
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Click to collapse
Nice opinion but it's not fact. 4G is great, it does not do anything for battery on my device because I always have 4 bars in the city I live in. I enjoy having it for fast browsing, fast loading of apps like facebook and currents etc.
I can't wait until there is nothing but 4G available, then let's see you say how "worthless" it is. Seriously.

uuuh Springfield, you know the Simpson family? xD

dankblaze said:
Nice opinion but it's not fact. 4G is great, it does not do anything for battery on my device because I always have 4 bars in the city I live in. I enjoy having it for fast browsing, fast loading of apps like facebook and currents etc.
I can't wait until there is nothing but 4G available, then let's see you say how "worthless" it is. Seriously.
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Click to collapse
OK bro, Mr minority 4 bars of 4g...
Who has that? Its a known fact that its a major drain on those of us with crappy 4g, the majority.
Sent from my Nexus 7

Sveke said:
OK bro, Mr minority 4 bars of 4g...
Who has that? Its a known fact that its a major drain on those of us with crappy 4g, the majority.
Sent from my Nexus 7
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Click to collapse
Actually, 4G is pretty normal in almost all major cities at this point which is where a much higher population of people reside statistically. This means more people get 4G than don't. If you live in the sticks then that may be an issue for you but it definitely does not mean 4G is worthless.
BTW, no need to be rude just because you don't live in an area that has good 4G reception.
Sent from my AOSPA Galaxy Nexus

aboxico CALL:
I see no utility in 4g for a phone other than battery draining

dankblaze said:
Actually, 4G is pretty normal in almost all major cities at this point which is where a much higher population of people reside statistically. This means more people get 4G than don't. If you live in the sticks then that may be an issue for you but it definitely does not mean 4G is worthless.
BTW, no need to be rude just because you don't live in an area that has good 4G reception.
Sent from my AOSPA Galaxy Nexus
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Click to collapse
BALL GAME!!! This man got facts and that's something sveke lacks lol

dankblaze said:
Actually, 4G is pretty normal in almost all major cities at this point which is where a much higher population of people reside statistically. This means more people get 4G than don't. If you live in the sticks then that may be an issue for you but it definitely does not mean 4G is worthless.
BTW, no need to be rude just because you don't live in an area that has good 4G reception.
Sent from my AOSPA Galaxy Nexus
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Click to collapse
Even in small cities.
I live in a small town of 3,000 and we have Verizon LTE.
No HUGE towns nearby either, nearest medium size town being 21 miles away.

Kartiel said:
I got home today from a 6 weeks job training and to my surprise 4g works and it hasn't been announced in my area yet. I live in Springfield Virginia. Pics below. Sprint LTE ftw
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in Landover, MD and get LTE at my home.
I went to Temple hills,MD area and got 23MB down!
I think all sprint says is the DC-MD corridor is supposed to be completed by end of year
Tethering at LTE speed to my Nexus 10 is priceless!!!

I love having 4G LTE. Mine is not as fast as others who have posted in this thread, but it still beats the hell out of 3G. I don't notice it draining the battery any more than wifi, and with those speeds, it is better than wifi.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Sveke said:
4g is worthless unless you're downloading stuff and not near WiFi.
It drains battery like crazy and has no effect on calls or texts.
I turn it off until I need it.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same, that's why I love AOKP ROMs with the LTE toggle

My 2 cents...
Im in Nashville, TN and over here, on Verizon, I have LTE everywhere. In fact, I never see my phone drop to 3G.
Is it a battery drain? Yes it is. Which is why I also toggle LTE off when Im not using it.
Do I actually use it? Well, If I was on Sprint with "Unlimited LTE" or if I had unlimited with Verizon I would use LTE 24-7 if I had unlimited data. In fact, If I had unlimited data I would just remove my Comcast Wifi and use LTE for all my data at home LOL.

what about battery life?
I heard it eats like a horse...

No, it eats like a dinosaur on gnex.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium App

Sveke said:
has no effect on calls or texts.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean other then giving you voice and data at the same time?

Here in Houston, where we supposedly were part of the initial LTE rollout, 4G is still a hit or miss. 1 mile down the road from my old apartment, I could get 30 mbps down, 15 mbps up, but inside my apartment, I only had 1 to 2 bars of dead slow 3g.
Also, signals indoors are usually horrendous. I'm giving sprint until the end of my contract in a year to show me they can improve.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Got the same thing right around Christmas and i thought i was dreaming. Hey when you live in a rural area and have to use satellite for internet 4g is a welcome surprise.
Speeds aren't the best I've seen, approx 10mg down and up, but that's way nicer than the 3g i was used to.
I think in general battery life had improved. Typically i would try to toggle LTE off when home but half the time I'd forget so it'd drain a bit quicker searching.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

LTE has been slowly creeping (literally) into Colchester, CT for a couple months now, it finally got to my house. I used to have 3G with maybe 0-1 bars, now it's 4G with the same, getting about 2.8 mbps, but it's actually usable now!

Anyone running pure 4.3 stock

Data and call quality on these custom roms have been fine up until a few months ago. Either It's a fluke and just so happen that I been having issues around the time 4.3 dropped or the rom has issuses. I tried several 4.3 roms and still issuses with data speeds and drop calls. I called sprint and get the towers been updated and there's no outages in your area bull crap or lies of sending a box to boost signal free of charge ****. I never ask on this forum alot I rather figure it out myself but im completely lost. The only thing I haven't did yet was go back to 4.1 stock. My backup to that is gone Thanks to a dead 64 gig sd card and I don't wanna waste my time if the results are gonna be the same. Sprint was great for a year but things are bad took 3 hours to download 3 mb app smdh. I don't wanna leave sprint but I might not have a choice. It's hard to say it's my phone because my wife evo 4g lte dont even see 4g unless she jump on my internet tether or make a call in the bedroom to avoid a drop call. I literally get great coverage everywhere in town but at home. At my mom house I get download speeds of 15mbps all day long and at home download speeds of 0.63mbps and my phone say 4g lte on both really sprint. If you have any suggestions please steer me in the right direction before I blow 450 dollars leaving to another carrier. I would just be happy with no drop calls skip the internet at this point.
If your running stock with that knox mess let me know if things are different with calls or data hell I'll even give cm a try if it works.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Well I think your answer lies in your post. Everything works fine as long as your not at your house you stated. So it is a signal issue on sprints part not software or your phone.
FYI T-Mobile is offering to pay your etf's if you are looking to go that route.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Yeah I was checking that out and about to make that switch today just left the tmobile store just waiting on wife to pick a phone . Sprint been ok but I need better coverage in the midwest these storms and drop calls is not safe . Thanks for the suggestion Im gonna miss this phone. Off to the lg g2.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app