Database Users

Phone signal strength problems - anyone else had problems

I have moved from a Nokia 7610 to a Wizard (on O2). I have fallen in love with it for all sorts of reasons.
The major hassle so far is signal strength. I'm not sure if I have a dud phone? For the last month I have run the Nokia and Wizard in parallel. I am constantly finding myself out of range or with one bar of signal. The phone doesn't function reliably with a single bar. Most irritating is that this happens at home also. (The nokia was on O2 also).
If there is not a solution to this I may have to go back to the nokia and accept what I was trying to avoid - having to carry a phone and a PDA.
Thanks - Kneale

do you have another pda phone you can run it against?
reason i ask is dont forget that nokia phones have more bars than the jams do
so for instance, 8 bars in nokia (full) would be eqiv to 5 bars in the jam (full) if that makes sense
ignore the numbers at the top, i dont know the exact number of bars

Thanks. No - I don't have another PDA phone. I realise there is a difference in number of signal bars. I'm simply not getting a good enough signal in to make it functional as a phone.
I work as a doctor and need a 100% reliable phone more than a PDA. Just beginning to get into all the software / music / video / etc. aspects of it however. Would find it hard to give up now!
Kneale

Dont expect this phone is going to have premium reception... the only phone I found exceptional is Sony Ericsson Z600 so far...
People said 1.12.0 GSM firmware would have better reception. You might try to upgrade your ROM. I think O2 provided latest official firmware as well, so you might wanna test with it.

Yes - my cda is the same. My SE 700i has a far better reception. The O2 seems to fall out of range alot - I have to out it into flight mode on then off!

I also posted a while ago that the signal strength is pretty poor. Never had much trouble with my nokia but in a few places eg work im pretty much on the 1 bar and have lost the signal on one occasion.

Thanks for this. Finally got so irritated with it that today I visited the O2 shop and then spoke to the on-line customer service. Both were very good.
Bottom line is that they are sending me out a replacement to try in case I have a dud. I'll let you know how I get on.
Kneale

i think i will need to retract what i said!
for the last 24 hours, my reception goes down and then nothing, just the dots
have to go into flight mode then out and i get my bars back

Of cource, about signal stregth, nokia is the best.
But you can improve signal stregth of your pda phone by switching it to manual network searching mode.
Go to phone/ settings/ networks/ manual.

oainot said:
Of cource, about signal stregth, nokia is the best.
But you can improve signal stregth of your pda phone by switching it to manual network searching mode.
Go to phone/ settings/ networks/ manual.
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Click to collapse
How will that improve signal strength exactly ?

knowsleyroader said:
oainot said:
Of cource, about signal stregth, nokia is the best.
But you can improve signal stregth of your pda phone by switching it to manual network searching mode.
Go to phone/ settings/ networks/ manual.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How will that improve signal strength exactly ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't, but it can speed up the re-acquisition of cell (i.e. less search time).

WiFi Poor Signals

Surprise me that I read nothing about the poor receiving quality of the Hermes when I one meter away from the router the signal drops down dramatically with 50% and after ten meters I read only 10% or something is there something to do about this? Maybe a bad antenna inside the Hermes or Faraday effect?
Any suggestion is welcome or am I the only one with this matter.

Heijdemann said:
Surprise me that I read nothing about the poor receiving quality of the Hermes when I one meter away from the router the signal drops down dramatically with 50% and after ten meters I read only 10% or something is there something to do about this? Maybe a bad antenna inside the Hermes or Faraday effect?
Any suggestion is welcome of am I the only one with this matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid the TyTn (Hermes) does not have a strong reception on wifi. Fine up to 10 metres and if not too much in the way upto 15 or so. Ok generally in and around normal house but if it's Buckingham Palace not too hot. Just the compromise we pay for having to pack in allthe other features I'm afraid.
Mike

I believe part of the problem is the antenna placement. While I don't know exactly where the antenna is located, I do know that when the device is held in your hand it has a considerable lower receive signal strength (as much as 10dB).
Give it a try. Set the device on the table and see what you measure. Then hold the device in your hand and see the difference.
Tim

tolson said:
I believe part of the problem is the antenna placement. While I don't know exactly where the antenna is located, I do know that when the device is held in your hand it has a considerable lower receive signal strength (as much as 10dB).
Give it a try. Set the device on the table and see what you measure. Then hold the device in your hand and see the difference.
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right. The antenna is along top edge. When in landscape your left hand tends to obscure it.
Mike

The WIFI reception on these devices is exteremly horrible. There must be a problem in the design, as it don't do more than 10 meters. We have a Andes in the house as well and it has no problems at all with wifi reception.
There must be a fix out there. I purchased this device specifically for the wifi .

have you noticed the connector for spar external place on the back of the TYTN? an is found rubberizes near the camera. I have attentively looked at the photos of the inside and I believe that this is related to the form radio and not to the wifi.
I would like so much to realize a connector wifi for external spar (you see PSP wifi connector) even replacing that connector radio with a wifi and connecting a cable on the chip wifi TNETW1250.
the welding of the cable should be made on the chip TNETW3422M.
Is there someone who has photo more detailed of those that are on the forum of xda?

Have y'all tried the Best Performance setting?
I have not used Wifi, nor will I ever (that is what 3G is for - since 3G is faster than my DSL connection...), but others have reported that changing to Best Performance helps...

I had three TyTN's and the last one had a horrible WiFi reception....10 meters at best. I had a Loox 720 (from a friend) for reference...with this PDA I could walk about 50 meters before reception became unusable. When it comes to WiFi reception this device has a major production tolerance. It makes me wonder if there is some kind of QC over there at HTC. My devices shouldn't have shipped in the first place.
b.t.w. I used all available settings and at in economy mode reception was even worse....signal meter at 30-40% only a few feet away from my wireless router (my reference Loox... 100%!!)
worst of all...instead of fixing it they just release a new device.

Ce said:
I had three TyTN's and the last one had a horrible WiFi reception....10 meters at best. I had a Loox 720 (from a friend) for reference...with this PDA I could walk about 50 meters before reception became unusable. When it comes to WiFi reception this device has a major production tolerance. It makes me wonder if there is some kind of QC over there at HTC. My devices shouldn't have shipped in the first place.
b.t.w. I used all available settings and at in economy mode reception was even worse....signal meter at 30-40% only a few feet away from my wireless router (my reference Loox... 100%!!)
worst of all...instead of fixing it they just release a new device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a curious thing - yes I get good reception up to 15 meters then drops off badly. BUT if I'm driving around with wifi on it detects an endless stream of home networks that in many cases must greatly exceed 10/15 meters.
Mike

jeffreycentex said:
Have y'all tried the Best Performance setting?
I have not used Wifi, nor will I ever (that is what 3G is for - since 3G is faster than my DSL connection...), but others have reported that changing to Best Performance helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion I think you correct with this setting only the interval of the cheksum when connected and not the sensivity of wifi receiver.

possible wifi boost ?

i know there are many threads on subject, but none fits exactly...
considering the fact, that i must have high performance setting enabled to be able to succesfully connect via wifi, is thete a chance to gain better signal using even more power by using stronger battery ?
i've seen 2200mAh battery for Jade, will this provide more power or it just lasts longer ?
sorry if my question sound stupid, but i have no knowledge about electonics...
p.s. anyone using this battery ? does it lasts 2x longer ? [over 1100mAh]

It will just last longer.

.. and remember, signal strength also depends on the wi-fi router itself. Some transmit stronger signal, some weaker.

With a stronger battery it will only last longer when the battery will be empty.
I think that a radio rom-tweak will work.
but did you change the wifi settings to "high performance"

Marcell-o said:
but did you change the wifi settings to "high performance"
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Click to collapse
sure, i mentioned it in my post. without it i wasn't able to connect
Marcell-o said:
I think that a radio rom-tweak will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you explain please ? what is radio romk tweak ?

bad wifi

hi. im using essential rom 1.7 and latest radio available, but where ewer i go wifi signal dont exeed 1 bar. in settings wifi is set to performance. what am i doing wrong? is there some other radio that i shoud use or what??

Not only WiFi is bad, the overall reception (GSM/GPRS/3G/HSDPA) with the TD2 is very bad!

-KJ- said:
Not only WiFi is bad, the overall reception (GSM/GPRS/3G/HSDPA) with the TD2 is very bad!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe upgrade your radio? i would not say the TD2 is "very bad" but not as good as previous devices
im using 4.47.25.21 and its alot better,

Wifi of my device working fine. In my house if I stay in the room where is the router wifi I have four bars of signal, three or two bars in the others rooms depending on distance from router. The time to fix is always a few seconds.
For data/voice connection I set the band to GSM net, and not to 3G, because in this way I have a better duration for battery and a good costant reception. Furthermore, there is no excessive reduction of the speed of data connection.

rumpleforeskin said:
maybe upgrade your radio? i would not say the TD2 is "very bad" but not as good as previous devices
im using 4.47.25.21 and its alot better,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My radio is 3.43.25.19 (ROM 1.39.404.4 NLD). I don't want to loose my warranty by installing unsupported ROM's or radio's.

I got 3G & WiFi

I have both of them at the moment. Bought both. The WiFi indeed have a lighter back cover. The 3G is all black in the back. From the software perspective, very similar, no differences.
You can activate the 3G version via WIFI and not need to have the first month 3G service as some have described in the rumor.
The 3G version comes with a old build, the WiFi is two versions newer. So if you install flash beta on the 3G version, it will ask you to update the build as well. Where as WiFi, no issue with flash install.
Other than the back color and the verizon logo, pretty much identical.
I will post more finding on my post blog - http://mobiletech.knguyentu.com/2011/03/motorola-xoom-wifi-version-initial.html

I'm interested in two things:
1. Max screen brightness: any differences at all? Colors?
2. Battery Life: I'm wondering if the lack of a cell radio in the WiFi only version will help with battery life. With my 3G device I never used the cell radio but it still showed "cell stand-by" using 2%-6% of stand-by battery life. I'm hoping the lack of cell radio will add a little bit of battery life.
Thanks!

Old MuckenMire said:
I'm interested in two things:
1. Max screen brightness: any differences at all? Colors?
2. Battery Life: I'm wondering if the lack of a cell radio in the WiFi only version will help with battery life. With my 3G device I never used the cell radio but it still showed "cell stand-by" using 2%-6% of stand-by battery life. I'm hoping the lack of cell radio will add a little bit of battery life.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you gone into settings and disabled mobile networks?

Steady Hawkin said:
Have you gone into settings and disabled mobile networks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup.........

Turn on airplane mode, then turn wifi on. That'l actually shut down the 3g radio.
Otherwise the radio wil still be on, you just won't use it.
This is easier if you have widgets that enable/disable certain things. (I use the weather paid widget widgets to do this, but any would work.)

c0t0d0s2 said:
Turn on airplane mode, then turn wifi on. That'l actually shut down the 3g radio.
This is easier if you have widgets that enable/disable certain things. (I use the weather paid widget widgets to do this, but any would work.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I've already returned my 3G model...just waiting for Amazon to deliver my WiFi model
This is still good advice for those with 3G model and would like a little more battery.
Thanks

You can didable 3g in setting.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

okay man forget the 3G thing I took it back already
1. how is battery life on wifi only compared to 3g version
2. how is the screen. is max brightness the same on wifi? How do colors compare? Side by side screen comparison would be cool to see if there are any differences.
thank you

Any noticeable weight difference or thickness difference? I am wondering if they just took out the PCI modem or substituted a new board.

felt like same weight, same thickness side by side.

i have noticed better color, faster startup from cold boot, better brightness from 3g to wifi

ebpman said:
i have noticed better color, faster startup from cold boot, better brightness from 3g to wifi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the info

Old MuckenMire said:
Thank you for the info
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Click to collapse
He was pulling your leg. There is virtually no difference in anything except the 3g/4g radio and maybe the color of the back of the device. I have both in my possession. 3g is for me. Wifi is for the wifey.

jdenman03 said:
He was pulling your leg. There is virtually no difference in anything except the 3g/4g radio and maybe the color of the back of the device. I have both in my possession. 3g is for me. Wifi is for the wifey.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually he posted the same thing in another thread
here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=12444826#post12444826
he sees a difference between the two he had/has

It seems the WiFi version is much more stable than 3G version. From looking at the build, the WiFi is 3 build newer...
WiFi - HWI69
3G - HWI66
that newer version could attribute to more stable USB connection, more snappy usage, and potentially better screen clarity.
Another piece....
3G version is very picky on the USB cable. You need to use the actual USB cable that came with the Motorola Xoom. WiFi version on the other hand, I can use the generic version fine. A cheap $2 one I get at fry's.
I tried on the same PC, so it is not the PC differences.

How about sound quality? Is the wifi only version louder/clearer or the same as 3G version. Thanks

Seems the same to me. They both have stereo hardware.

smilepak said:
It seems the WiFi version is much more stable than 3G version. From looking at the build, the WiFi is 3 build newer...
WiFi - HWI69
3G - HWI66
that newer version could attribute to more stable USB connection, more snappy usage, and potentially better screen clarity.
Another piece....
3G version is very picky on the USB cable. You need to use the actual USB cable that came with the Motorola Xoom. WiFi version on the other hand, I can use the generic version fine. A cheap $2 one I get at fry's.
I tried on the same PC, so it is not the PC differences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do know the latest update for the 3G is HRI66 and NOT HWI66. You have this mixed up.

ericdabbs said:
You do know the latest update for the 3G is HRI66 and NOT HWI66. You have this mixed up.
Click to expand...
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Did not know that. Thanks for pointing it out.

I have noticed the same finicky unstableness when it comes to the USB cable. Someout right weirdness too with JUST the cable causing the computer to recognize and attempt to connect to a ghost device. (wierd groundings? bad connections?)