Develop Bugs

Weak wifi Signal

For some reason my area inexplicably became a dead zone about a month ago and now I have to rely on wifi calling. Only problem is this phone seems to have a weak wifi radio. My ipod touch and my laptop always have more bars. I get about 1 or 2 bars in my office and it drops calls at that point.
I read somewhere that different kernels can help with this issue. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also interested

You HAVE to have cell service to make calls on wifi. If it can't at least register with the network it won't work.

What case are you using, my case weakens my WiFi signal
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

I go case free. And wifi calling works perfect when I am in the same room as the router. Go to another room and I constantly get call drop notifications.

regerer said:
I go case free. And wifi calling works perfect when I am in the same room as the router. Go to another room and I constantly get call drop notifications.
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Tmobile just told me today that this is a known issue with the SIII wifi... They supposedly are working on a patch from Samsung...

jmfixitman said:
Tmobile just told me today that this is a known issue with the SIII wifi... They supposedly are working on a patch from Samsung...
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i agree wifi is weak. at school i have a hard time connecting to their wifi. in settings it shows strength as very good but when i try to connect it takes along time and then doesnt connect after all because it says the signal is weak.

That's odd. I can't recall ever having an issue with wifi...
Is it supposedly a problem on all variants?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Yes i've noticed that the WiFi reception is a bit weak with this device....I noticed it because I rely heavily on it in my house for WiFi calling, and I compared it with previous devices I've used with WiFi calling in the past.
I'm just sayin!

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+1 for me noticing really weak WiFi.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

Are you guys sure it isn't the router? Or perhaps it just reads/reports signal stregnth different than your older phones. (As in, the signal is just as strong, but your old phone reported that signal as 4bars, while the gs3 reports it as 3)
I'm not saying everyone is wrong, I know you're probably right on for your situation, I'm just trying to toss out things you may not have considered.
Right now I'm in my garage, about 15 yards away from my router with 2 walls (one brick) between, and I'm showing full signal. I can double that distance, add more walls and sitting in my car I still pull a signal. Yes it is far weaker but still useable.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Just a quick question. When wifi calling is on, the signal bar for your cell reception should be blank correct?

drrayl said:
Just a quick question. When wifi calling is on, the signal bar for your cell reception should be blank correct?
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Correct.
I'm just sayin!

[Q] Wifi calling range

I am currently running the latest version of Wicked rom. I have been using T-mobile for the last few years on several different phones. I need to use stock based roms with wifi calling due to the fact I have no cell signal in or around my home. I have been using my Galaxy S3 for the last couple of months , and I just don't get the range from wifi calling like I have with my other T-Mobile phones. When I get down to 2 bars of wifi signal my S3 drops wifi calling and searches for cell signal. This greatly reduces my wifi calling range around my house.All of my other T-Mobile phones keep wifi calling active until I completely lose wifi signal. Is there a script or tweak that can be made to make wifi calling active until wifi signal is lost? I have searched many times but I just can't seem to find any info. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Settings - More Networks - WiFi calling - Connection Preferences
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

chreiton said:
I am currently running the latest version of Wicked rom. I have been using T-mobile for the last few years on several different phones. I need to use stock based roms with wifi calling due to the fact I have no cell signal in or around my home. I have been using my Galaxy S3 for the last couple of months , and I just don't get the range from wifi calling like I have with my other T-Mobile phones. When I get down to 2 bars of wifi signal my S3 drops wifi calling and searches for cell signal. This greatly reduces my wifi calling range around my house.All of my other T-Mobile phones keep wifi calling active until I completely lose wifi signal. Is there a script or tweak that can be made to make wifi calling active until wifi signal is lost? I have searched many times but I just can't seem to find any info. Any help would be greatly appreciated
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Aside from Doc successfully answering your question, you may wish to check this out. It should increase the WiFi range of your S3 in exchange for a little of your battery.
http://gs3.wonderhowto.com/how-to/pick-up-better-wi-fi-signal-your-samsung-galaxy-s3-0144988/
(Works on stock only too)

TheLastSidekick said:
Aside from Doc successfully answering your question, you may wish to check this out. It should increase the WiFi range of your S3 in exchange for a little of your battery.
http://gs3.wonderhowto.com/how-to/pick-up-better-wi-fi-signal-your-samsung-galaxy-s3-0144988/
(Works on stock only too)
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Wow! I had long forgot about that! The only issue here is you will have to redo this every time you reboot as it does not stick. I spent a good bit of time on this back on ICS, but ended up moving on to other things. I just tested and on 4.3, it does work by just entering *#0011#, but as has always been the case, it turns back on if you reboot.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 02:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:59 AM ----------
Kinda funny to me how I keep seeing "New" info and discoveries when it was known about a year and a half ago! Lol. But then, I did forget about it....
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

DocHoliday77 said:
Settings - More Networks - WiFi calling - Connection Preferences
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
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Thank you for you response. I changed the settings in connection preferences, but i'm still not getting what i'm looking for. Even when I set my phone to wifi calling only, the S3 still drops wifi calling with 2 bars of wifi signal left. It must have something to do with the S3 wifi calling app itself. With my last 3 T-mobile phones which were a G2x, exhibit 4g and optimus L9 I was able to get 100ft + outside my house before I lost wifi calling. With the S3 i cant even get 5 feet and I lose it.

chreiton said:
Thank you for you response. I changed the settings in connection preferences, but i'm still not getting what i'm looking for. Even when I set my phone to wifi calling only, the S3 still drops wifi calling with 2 bars of wifi signal left. It must have something to do with the S3 wifi calling app itself. With my last 3 T-mobile phones which were a G2x, exhibit 4g and optimus L9 I was able to get 100ft + outside my house before I lost wifi calling. With the S3 i cant even get 5 feet and I lose it.
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I've found the wifi signal indicator to be far from accurate in terms of signal strength. For example, when you are at 3 bars, the signal strength might be at 30-40% already. 2 bars is a very weak signal, which is why wifi calling is disabling itself.
There are a couple things you can try. First is getting on the MD5 train. Flash an MD5 ROM along with the MD5 firmware. Get the firmware here: https://db.tt/5C5M8FpD. WARNING, it is the for SGH-T999 only and will brick you if you have a variant (n/l/v) For ROM, S3Rx or Dandroid, if I'm recommending.
Also, check with your router to verify which standard the phone is using. 2.4GHz has a longer range than 5GHz. Also, make sure it's not using 802.11b. Mine was doing this. Had to disable it in the router.
Keep the router away from other electronics, elevate it as much as possible. If the router has external antennas (like the Linksys WRT54GL), you can get high gain antennas (which do help if you know what you're doing), but aiming them properly is important. http://weekendtechnotes.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/antennaradiationpattern2.jpg for reference. Understanding how the signals work may help you in your situation. And remember, the more walls and objects the signal has to penetrate to get to your device, the weaker it gets. A few walls can easily half it's effective range. I don't know what router you are using so no more on this for now.
That's about all the information that I can give you without knowing more about your situation.

Great info from aerowinder! To add, if you are up for it, install inSSIDer from the store. Make sure you aren't using a heavily crowded WiFi channel. Should be easy enough for most to just look at its graphs and know if it's overcrowded.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

[Q] Sending MMS While on WI-FI Calling?

Hey guys,
I haven't been on a stock ROM with T-Mobile in a while, but I was wondering if its normal not to be able to receive MMS messages while on WiFi calling?
Noticed that I had a bunch of messages come through when I turned WiFi off.
Thanks!

MinimalistChris said:
Hey guys,
I haven't been on a stock ROM with T-Mobile in a while, but I was wondering if its normal not to be able to receive MMS messages while on WiFi calling?
Noticed that I had a bunch of messages come through when I turned WiFi off.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've always had this problem with several phones, M7 G2 G3 Z1S.
Usually rebooting will fix things up
Sent from my LG-D851

I can't receive mms while on Wi-Fi Calling neither
Sent from my LG-D851 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I think wifi calling is weak and it comes in an out maybe an update will fix these issues

Mine works great for SMS and MMS. I just switched from AT&T this weekend and that's actually been my favorite thing haha! I have terrible reception inside the hospital where I work but great wifi. I used to have to go outside to check messages and now I get it all over wifi!

Wifi on s5 always strong this is weaker logs me off wifi calling at work and s5 had a constant signal at home since Im closer to router its always on

raw2000j said:
Wifi on s5 always strong this is weaker logs me off wifi calling at work and s5 had a constant signal at home since Im closer to router its always on
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Well in my opinion I just went out and bought a new ac dual band wireless router and issues went away. I was on old router that was about 1.5 years old and was having issues even with note 3. I bet ya if you try new routers that are up to ac and you be all set.

BACARDILIMON said:
Well in my opinion I just went out and bought a new ac dual band wireless router and issues went away. I was on old router that was about 1.5 years old and was having issues even with note 3. I bet ya if you try new routers that are up to ac and you be all set.
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Yes I have ac in home and I have no issurs at home but at work wifi sucks and with s5 had no problem comparing the two seems wifi range is less.My wifes s5 when Im connected says 866mbps my lg g3 is 379mbps so seems like wifi radio on s5 is better.

raw2000j said:
Yes I have ac in home and I have no issurs at home but at work wifi sucks and with s5 had no problem comparing the two seems wifi range is less.My wifes s5 when Im connected says 866mbps my lg g3 is 379mbps so seems like wifi radio on s5 is better.
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Mine get those crappy numbers on the 2.4 side not the 5 GHz side. Honestly I get better WiFi signal with this phone than note 3. At home I get horrible cell so then sent me the cel-fi booster and that thing is great.

Whats that cel=fi booster?
---------- Post added at 06:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:11 AM ----------
Maybr my unit defective

raw2000j said:
Whats that cel=fi booster?
---------- Post added at 06:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:11 AM ----------
Maybr my unit defective
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Cel fi is an in home cell tower for the most part. If you look on your coverage map at our location and service is shotty they will hook you up with this thing. Works great.

[Q] Internet and phone use at the same time???

I just noticed that I cant use the phone and surf the internet at the same time?? Is anyone having this problem? And if so is there a fix??
Thanks

It's not a problem, it's designed that way. None of the Spark devices have that capability unless you're running Wi-Fi for data while on a call, or using VOIP.

That sucks, just when you give sprint some hope they do this! If I had known I might have stayed with them after 15 years with them.

claude9039u said:
I just noticed that I cant use the phone and surf the internet at the same time?? Is anyone having this problem? And if so is there a fix??
Thanks
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On 3g you can. The gf and I tested it last night. 3g yes you can.

jhill110 said:
On 3g you can. The gf and I tested it last night. 3g yes you can.
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You were using Google voice or some other VOIP service. It is physically impossible to run a CDMA voice call and data at the same time on a Spark device. It doesn't have the hardware to do this. Try it again with Wi-Fi turned off and without using your VOIP service.

jhill110 said:
On 3g you can. The gf and I tested it last night. 3g yes you can.
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I might be missing a setting or something because I can't.

pilotmills said:
You were using Google voice or some other VOIP service. It is physically impossible to run a CDMA voice call and data at the same time on a Spark device. It doesn't have the hardware to do this. Try it again with Wi-Fi turned off and without using your VOIP service.
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Straight up call. It works. Give it a try. Btw, no VOIP. What would be the point?
---------- Post added 20th November 2014 at 12:25 AM ---------- Previous post was 19th November 2014 at 11:53 PM ----------
DarkManX4lf said:
I might be missing a setting or something because I can't.
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Click to collapse
Make sure you are not in LTE mode. 3g and it will work.

Is there a way to make it automatically switch down to 3G when on a call, instead of losing the data connection completely? I was really surprised when I discovered this issue present on the Note 4 which did not exist on the Note 3.

You're wasting your time. It doesn't work unless you're using a VOIP service. It's a Spark device limitation. I have yet to actually see any kind of proof that this guy is making calls and using data at the same time. Perhaps it's because it's not possible on the Note 4 on Sprint.

Doesnt work for me.. 3G only.. in a call...NO data!!

pilotmills said:
You're wasting your time. It doesn't work unless you're using a VOIP service. It's a Spark device limitation. I have yet to actually see any kind of proof that this guy is making calls and using data at the same time. Perhaps it's because it's not possible on the Note 4 on Sprint.
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Pardon me pilot but your flat out wrong. I use data often while taking in cdma mode (3g) . No VOIP of any kind... Just sprints network.
Do you even have a GN4 to try it out? Doesn't sound like it.

Interesting that you seem to be the only one that's ever gotten this to work. Go to the play store and install the signal check app (lite or pro). You don't even have to try to use data, just make a call, open the app, take a screen shot and post it here, then we can discuss.
Sent from my Evo 4G <bwaaaa>

He has a special note 4 made just for him that allows data..
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 12:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 AM ----------
The only devices that did simultaneous voice and 3g data were the Evo LTE, GS3 and Viper. No CDMA before or after could do it. Spark devices are not an exemption.. No voice and data till voice over LTE rolls out which won't be anytime soon.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Free mobile app

Thanks for actually understanding Spark devices and their limitations, unlike some others. Still waiting for a screenshot. I guess the photoshopping is proving more challenging than he expected. . .

Sprint could never truly do voice and data simultaneously. The only time it could was on previous LTE devices since there were two separate antennas. 3G and lower antenna and the 4G LTE antenna. Currently LTE on sprint is purely data. So while you were on a call, the LTE antenna was free to be used.
Spark phones only have one antenna to handle everything. It is a one lane highway and will be that way until VoLTE.

kjhud said:
Sprint could never truly do voice and data simultaneously. The only time it could was on previous LTE devices since there were two separate antennas. 3G and lower antenna and the 4G LTE antenna. Currently LTE on sprint is purely data. So while you were on a call, the LTE antenna was free to be used.
Spark phones only have one antenna to handle everything. It is a one lane highway and will be that way until VoLTE.
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That wasnt the only time. The 3 devices i mentioned ealrier did data on 3g and voice simultaneously although as fast as they came up with that they also ended it too. But yup on the VoLTE.
Sent from my SM-N915P using XDA Free mobile app

No simultaneous phone call and data is probably my only complaint with the Note 4. Coming from the Note 2 and I could talk on the phone and browse the web on 3G/LTE at the same time without missing a beat. I really miss that. Now evrytime I get a call while i'm browsing the web etc, I get a blank white screen with a error message. The biggest flaw with the phone in my opinion!

Project Fi

Anyone else using Fi with their 5X? If so, please share your thoughts on WiFi calling. I have the setting enabled in the phone app, but the only way I can get my phone to make a call over WiFi is to turn on airplane mode and enable WiFi. The call quality seems so much better over WiFi and I would prefer my calls at home to be routed over WiFi. My WiFi signal is very strong, much better than my cellular signal with T-Mobile or Sprint.
Is there any way to prioritize WiFi calling or is this working as intended, and WiFi calling is only to be used as a last resort?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I've found that my 5x with Fi only picks wifi calling when cellular service is practically non-existent. Still haven't had any problems just letting it decide which to use.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

That's odd, the couple phone calls I've made start on Wi-Fi with no issues. I even had one that I started on Wi-Fi this afternoon and walked out of the house and drove away with no drop of the call or unnatural break in the conversation. Really cool stuff!
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

How about using hangouts dialer?

I was excited to try it but have been disappointed with the coverage... I am frequently in areas away from Wifi and not in large cities and the t-mo and sprint service consistently is less than or nonexistent compared to my at&t S6 edge riding shotgun. This is eastern Oregon and Idaho. I am giving up my FI after this month ;(
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

tke918 said:
How about using hangouts dialer?
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I could, but I believe that would mean when I leave home it would switch to using cellular data rather than cellular voice service. That could eat into a lot of data. I'd much prefer to use the regular phone app and have it default to WiFi calling when I'm at home.
It's admittedly a minute detail. Overall I'm also a little unclear with exactly how Fi service is supposed to work. With it being in beta, answers can be hard to find. For example, I thought the handoffs between WiFi and cellular were supposed to be pretty smooth, but I've had 5+ second hiccups when switching from WiFi to cellular calls (starting the call in airplane mode to force WiFi calling, then leaving my house after turning airplane mode off).
I guess overall I'm not sure what to expect. That's why I'm trying to figure out how it works for other people.
tke918 said:
How about using hangouts dialer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I spent hours pouring over this (and also enabling band 12 and Sprint Spark) and got nowhere. Google's being pretty tight about this stuff
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk