Database Users

Going from H, 3G to E or G possible solution

Hey guys as soon as I notice this connection/data problem I decied to make a thread about it because this issue has been posted before but with little success on fixing it.
So have you guys notice that the signal of the HD2 will go from HSDPA or 3G to EDGE to GPRS and so on (sitting on the same spot) has this happened to you...?
I think that 99% of HD2 users have experience this. One of the the things that was causing for such a bad reception is also the 2.08.50.08_2 radio (in some areas) I live in L.A. California and I had that problem then the new 2.09.50.20_2 Radio seem to help out with this issue.
BUT!
That is not the actual problem, its not just software its actually a HARDWARE problem as well, Yup!
For you see HTC decied to put the Antenna AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PHONE not on the top. Almost 99% of the devices that receive some sort off signal (such as a radio or a phone) are made with an antenna ON THE TOP for obvious reasons, probably one of the reason why HTC decided to go through with this (even knowing that this issue would emerge) is because of the camera and the phone being so thin.
Check out the picture (the antenna is right under the batterie pins) so every time you hold your phone just around the buttons section at the bottom you are actually blocking the signal therefore making the connection go back and forward
SO WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?
Well one solution is...

You might be right on. My 1st gen iPhone had the antenna on the bottom and that would cause poor reception if you covered it up. There was even testing done to prove that was the case. It only had edge so it didn't bounce around like your HD2. BTW, I live in LA and have never had an issue with the 3G, as a matter of fact, I'm nearly always on 3G, I can't even remember the last time I saw E. I live on the West Side, maybe more towers around here, or I'm holding it "right"???
I personally think it's a combination of what you found and the T-Mobile network.

I think its more than just antenna placement. I have set my phone on the table and watched it go from H to 3G to E. The antenna is not covered up so there is some other issue going on. My coworker also has the phone and doesn't have the 3G issue. While the placement of the antenna could be part of the issue I think it can also be fixed with a radio update. I remember when I had the Wing I was able to boost reception with a radio update, yeah it shortened battery life but not by much. I'm hoping for a radio update that would make it a stronger connection.

tuppaacc said:
For you see HTC decied to put the Antenna AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PHONE not on the top. Almost 99% of the devices that receive some sort off signal (such as a radio or a phone) are made with an antenna ON THE TOP for obvious reasons, probably one of the reason why HTC decided to go through with this (even knowing that this issue would emerge) is because of the camera and the phone being so thin.
Link to the HD2 hardware pictures
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=582652
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-Exactly what item in that picture are you saying is "the antenna"?
-Can you please reference a link where you found that identification?
EDIT: A question for the others experiencing the "connection flipping" that this thread is about: do you ever notice the connection icon changing while you a have an "active" connection (i.e. when you're actually passing data), or only when the connection is live but idle? I'd like to add this to some other anecdotal evidence that a couple of us are looking at for a related theory on the cause.

Sorry to say, but it is not the antenna placement. My wife's phone gets 3G all the time and mine doesn't. I called Tmo and is waiting for a replacement.

I dont even get an H i only get 3g or edge im in los angeles but this makes sense.I doubt the antenna booster might work

guys, guys, it is not just an antenna placement problem as xeebot and speoples20 are stating is a COMBINATION OF BOTH I've been using the newest radio updated for one day and it seem to fix most of the Issue (haven't gone down all the way to E) like I said on my first post if you feel its the radio try the 2.09.50.20_2 Radio or the 2.7 they seem to be the most reliable ones.
if you still having doubts try covering up the bottom part of your phone with one or both hand and see your bars go down and sirphunke look at the attached picture that's where the antenna is, if you look thoroughly on the others you will notice the cable that hooks to the antenna at the bottom.

tuppaacc said:
guys, guys, it is not just an antenna placement problem as xeebot and speoples20 are stating is a COMBINATION OF BOTH I've been using the newest radio updated for one day and it seem to fix most of the Issue (haven't gone down all the way to E) like I said on my first post if you feel its the radio try the 2.09.50.20_2 Radio or the 2.7 they seem to be the most reliable ones.
if you still having doubts try covering up the bottom part of your phone with one or both hand and see your bars go down and sirphunke look at the attached picture that's where the antenna is, if you look thoroughly on the others you will notice the cable that hooks to the antenna at the bottom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so with the new radio you haven't had the data outage???

tuppaacc said:
if you still having doubts try covering up the bottom part of your phone with one or both hand and see your bars go down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just tried this and I'm afraid to say it's the truth...I think this is the worst thing the engineers could have done!

tuppaacc said:
sirphunke look at the attached picture that's where the antenna is, if you look thoroughly on the others you will notice the cable that hooks to the antenna at the bottom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh....I am looking at the attached picture
Again, there's a number of components in that picture, and I'd like to know exactly which one you're saying is the antenna. The only cable I see in this shot is the one hanging loose in the middle right of the picture...and in the other pictures that cable can clearly be seen plugged into the side of the SIM card housing.
I've seen this same set of pics that was first posted here at xda, and I've seen all manner of other tech sites link and refer to these pics, but in none of them have I seen indiviual components identified/located...so I ask you again to please reference where you found your information, because as far I can locate these are the only component-level views of the inside of the HD2

josemedina1983 said:
so with the new radio you haven't had the data outage???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah with the new radio the signal is amazing as loong as I'm not holding the phone from the bottom
sirphunkee said:
Uh....I am looking at the attached picture
Again, there's a number of components in that picture, and I'd like to know exactly which one you're saying is the antenna. The only cable I see in this shot is the one hanging loose in the middle right of the picture...and in the other pictures that cable can clearly be seen plugged into the side of the SIM card housing.
I've seen this same set of pics that was first posted here at xda, and I've seen all manner of other tech sites link and refer to these pics, but in none of them have I seen indiviual components identified/located...so I ask you again to please reference where you found your information, because as far I can locate these are the only component-level views of the inside of the HD2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reference where i found this info!? Like I said on my first post IT IS SOMETHING I NOTICE!! (its right at the top) haha
There... I updated the pictures on the first post I think that's the antenna (because it resembles many other phones I've open myself) the top ones could be the speaker or the flash GPS or BT, so no room for the antenna. Now you get what I'm talking about??
If you want to confirm this just open you own phone or contact HTC as I'm not a tech and neither was I there wen they build this phone...
lol

Diamon2 T5388++ NEW GPS reception fix

EDIT: DISREGARD THIS. GO TO POST #3 and #4
Hello guys,
this is my first post so if I'm posting in the wrong section please bear with me.
I recently bought a T5388++ HTC diamond 2 clone. Everything was fine except that I couldn't get a GPS fix. (In the Start -> Settings -> System -> GPS Settings [Satellite State] I only had *red* satellites)
I used the "aluminum foil in the back side" fix, which worked well and I could get a fix.
Being an uneasy person I open the back cover of the cell phone to take a look (beware the headphone cables).
Now here is the good part.
On the left side (near the sd card and where the stylus ends) is probably the GPS antenna.
In the inside, on the board's side, there are two metallic "pins" which (when the cover is closed) touch the back of the antenna. What I did was to add some foil on the back side of the antenna so the contact with the pins would be more tight.
This worked like a charm and the signal is very good. I can even get a decent fix (3-4 *blue* satellites) from inside the house.
Sorry for the lack of pics, if anyone tries it, post a couple pictures and I can show you what I did exactly.
EDIT: DISREGARD THIS. GO TO POST #3 and #4

Pics!!!!
Here are some pics.
First unscrew the four screws, one at each corner of the phone.
Then slice the phone with the help of small flat screwdriver or some other tool. (there are some appropriate notches for that purpose)
**Beware of falling parts**
In the forth and fifth pic you can see where I install the alu foil.
Now you can close the phone and enjoy your newly found GPS!
[I also tried some solder, but the results where almost the same]

Congrats.
However, I can assure you that is not the GPS antenna. Based on the antenna size and shape (its a small inverted F antenna, see the black sticker that is attached to in on top of the stylus case) I am assuming it is either the Bluetooth or WiFi antenna.
The GPS antenna is a bit higher, it is the small pink 'cube' thingy on top of the phone, connected by the micro coax connector.
I had reported before the micro coax is loose in some devices, and I suspect you 'accidentally' fitted it better while opening and closing the phone.
But congrats on your successful operation anyway, being able to open and close the phone and still have a working one is already good, and often, just doing that and ensuring all connectors are clean and properly fit solves a all sorts of problems.

Yeap you are right!
I have read you saying this about loose connectors, so when i first opened the phone I refitted the micro coax.
In my defense I tried to see if this was the antenna. I disconnected it and opened the GPS. Seeing many satellites on the screen (red ones) I concluded that this was not the GPS antenna. (I thought maybe WiFi since I've seen this type of connector on my laptop's wifi)
But having read your post now, I tried a new experiment and found out that the "red" satellites appear, due to the A-GPS (with neither "my" GPS and THE GPS antenna).
Damn...
So could someone change the title to "OLD GPS reception fix"

I had the same problem with GPS. I have risked and have changed orientation GPS of the antenna - GPS perfectly works. BUT now the speaker in which I hear the interlocutor doesn't work for me. At other person after the assembly has broken touch the panel. Therefore it is better not to recommend to open phone.

onde consigo a rom do htc t5388+ idioma PTG ?

magicwolf said:
I had the same problem with GPS. I have risked and have changed orientation GPS of the antenna - GPS perfectly works. BUT now the speaker in which I hear the interlocutor doesn't work for me. At other person after the assembly has broken touch the panel. Therefore it is better not to recommend to open phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You changed the orientation of the antenna. In which way?
When I opened the phone to see if the connector is set right one cable to the speaker was dispatched (very bad soldering). I had to remove the old cable and solder another one because it was not only loose it was broken, too...grrrr...that's very bad.
But I was lucky and did't burned my phone
So, I also recommend to be VERY careful when opening the phone.
BTW: It is much simplier to open the T5388++ than my ASUS P535.

MicAlter said:
You changed the orientation of the antenna. In which way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a picture it is visible as I oriented the antenna.

cybermaus said:
Congrats.
However, I can assure you that is not the GPS antenna. Based on the antenna size and shape (its a small inverted F antenna, see the black sticker that is attached to in on top of the stylus case) I am assuming it is either the Bluetooth or WiFi antenna.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please identify Wifi antenna? Look in attachment:
"C" is GPS antenna.
What is "A" "B" "D" ?
"D" - I see little piece of aluminum foil, but nothing else. Under this foil is place for stylus only and above foil is contact + Vibration Motor.

Somewhere I reed a tip not to hold the hand on the bottom of this phone during the phone call in order not to shield located there GSM antenna, so it means B is probably GSM. Are you sure C is BT and not GPS?

You're right. "C" is 100% GPS antenna. My mistake. (I've changed it now in original post.)

Well, my guess is B (at the bottom) is GSM, based on the fact it is larger (lower frequency) and seems to have two (one for the 850/900 MHz and one for 1800/1900Mhz), which leaves A and D for Blue and WiFi.
PS: Or GSM has two because it has 2 radio's? I wonder if they would share antenna or not, since it is a dual-sim dual standby, I guess the could share)

serak_hd2 WiFi probl.
If you have opened your phone already you can easily discover which one is wifi and BT. Just put a peace of paper on one contact (blocking connection), reassemble (screws are not necessary) and try connect to BT devise (compare to previous performance(distance)) if it is gone (or big performance difference), you blocked BT if not, it was WiFi. After you know which is Wifi, just try to ensure good mechanical contact from antenna till the board (bending contactors little higher or putting allufoil (aluminum can oxidize quickly, so it is not the best solution)). Try not to touch the board, some of the components can be sensible to static discharges. If you have not opened it yet, try to consider ones more the possibility to change it by your seller for new one.

problem with touch screen
t5388 + + touch screen does not work, but the image looks perfectly fine.
How to fix this?
thanks

cybermaus said:
The GPS antenna is a bit higher, it is the small pink 'cube' thingy on top of the phone, connected by the micro coax connector.
I had reported before the micro coax is loose in some devices, and I suspect you 'accidentally' fitted it better while opening and closing the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also had this problem, the connector was loose, now I have very good signal. No aluminium foil needed. Your post saved me!
My recommendation to other people trying to solve this problem: be VERY careful when you open your phone.

Droid-X and signal strength

hey all i have two droid-x that have had default froyo 2.2.340 and also the newest OTA 4.5.596 and also CM7 which is what they both have.
i have had them setup exactly the same way when i run these tests.
on my (lets call it "the good droid-x") it has great wifi and cell phone radio reception
on my (lets call it "the bad droid-x") it has crappy wifi and cell phone radio reception
you can tell something is not right when they are sitting side by side with the identical software (as mentioned above)
i am guessing its a bad antenna connection and that the wifi and cellphone radios use the same antenna.
i did not check with BT but for sure 100% the wifi and cellphone radios are about 1/2 of what im getting with the good droid-x
could someone please pull up a picture and circle what they think the antenna might be so i can try and see if i have a break?
it could be also that maybe the chips are not getting enough power or something but the phones function the same it seems so i dont know.
if someone could shed some light it would be great
i switched batts and battery covers and that didnt do anything either.
thanks

just wanted to give an update
there was some connections crossing in the phone that should not have been
i cant believe phone did not blow up on me
the led connectors were all touching
dont ask me how the phone kept functioning but i seperated those 3 big led connectors and now everything is working good

Very glad to hear you found the problem. Where did you get this bad unit? Is it possible someone had already opened it up?

zehkaiser said:
Very glad to hear you found the problem. Where did you get this bad unit? Is it possible someone had already opened it up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most definately
this was what it was when i got it
http://iowacity.craigslist.org/mob/2443460199.html
i checked it out at a walmart parking lot...everything worked but i didnt really notice that the signal strength on the gps, wifi and cell radio were really CRAPPY to put it mildly.
so i replaced the screen (was hoping that might have been part of the problem)
powered it all up and everything was functioning the same as it was (crappy)
so i thought it must be the antenna must have came loose or something
couldnt find any info on antenna...many of you know i been asking in here and phonearena and in irc but no one seems to know the exact location
so i decided to switch the motherboard out with my good droid-x and guess what it did the same thing.
so that told me it was on the motherboard for sure
so i got my magnifying glass out and found some bad areas right away
seperated the crossed connectors and put it back together and BAM
has a better signal then my good one
im a happy camper now
i have 2 droid-x`s
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
i circled the area in RED those led connectors were pushed into each other and the little standoff was smashed down.
if it would have been like the old camera FLASH`s where they charged up...i would have hated to see what would have happened to me when i took a picture
BOOM!!

Need fix
Hi m16-maniac! i need the photo to fix my dx, the link its out, please send me to [email protected] or post here. VERY VERY THANKS.

Sony Xperia Z3C GPS FIX - an Hardware problem

Hi all,
during these months I have had a lot of problems with GPS Fix with my Z3C. These problems occurred after the update to 6.0.1 and I thought that It was a software issue.
In my case, GPS works well after upgrade but It degraded little by little. Applications like GPS Status reported a very very low satellite signal.
Reading every possible forum, I found some guys that explain how to "solve" the problem plugging the usb and powering the phone. An other post specified that the solution was not the "powering" and the fix become better if you lightly pulling the usb connector to you... and It was true! So the problem was not software.
So I opened the phone, disassembled the mainboard from the chassis and tryed to understand what part was involved in the "usb pulling solution".
I found that many connectors (like a little pin) were connected to some particular parts to the chassis (as if it were used as antenna).
In this photo you can see where the mainboard connectors impact on the chassis.
(Sorry the forum prevent me to post link or image)
And this is the specific connector involved in "usb pulling solution"
(Sorry the forum prevent me to post link or image)
It seem that this connector was linked in the edge of connection area, not in the middle as the other connector.
So I gently bent the connector upward and reassembled the phone.
After that, the GPS Status reported a signal very high. Never seen a signal so hight before!
The fix was very fast and the accuracy was constantly under 3mt
I'm not an expert, I'm only a normal user. I hope that this thread can help some other like me that need GPS works very well for run, drive and play.

Thank you for this post - I've been fighting with my GPS for months and am about ready to open up the phone too. Any chance you could post the images externally somehow? It would make this a lot easier to follow for me.

Wulfhere said:
Thank you for this post - I've been fighting with my GPS for months and am about ready to open up the phone too. Any chance you could post the images externally somehow? It would make this a lot easier to follow for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying to post images but the forum reply me in this way:
"To prevent spam on the XDA forums, ALL new users prevented from posting outside links in their messages. After approximately 10 posts, you will be able to post outside links. Thank you for understanding!"
I'm asking to the moderatos if is possible to unlock me.
I will let you know
Anyway... start watching "sony z3 compact disassembly" on youtube. You need some tool to do this without destroy the phone. But trust me, is not so difficult. In particular, take care about the battery door opening.

gepp81 said:
I'm trying to post images but the forum reply me in this way:
"To prevent spam on the XDA forums, ALL new users prevented from posting outside links in their messages. After approximately 10 posts, you will be able to post outside links. Thank you for understanding!"
I'm asking to the moderatos if is possible to unlock me.
I will let you know
Anyway... start watching "sony z3 compact disassembly" on youtube. You need some tool to do this without destroy the phone. But trust me, is not so difficult. In particular, take care about the battery door opening.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just add a few 'well done Mr Developer' messages to a few threads, you'll soon get to ten

great news waiting for photos, maybe link to photopucket or something ?

Nice you've fixed it yourself!
gepp81 said:
It seem that this connector was linked in the edge of connection area, not in the middle as the other connector.
So I gently bent the connector upward and reassembled the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already disassembled a plenty of Sony phones (from Xperia X10 pretty much to every single later Sony phone that was available in Poland) and the issue with bent connectors is very very common. I also had this problem in my Xperia PLAY where my WiFi and cellular network connectors were bent and were linked on the edges of the plates.

ALL Connectors
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pgldca344e3h7be/WhatsApp-Image-20160710.jpeg?dl=0
GPS Connector
https://www.dropbox.com/s/egh4vjmpt96qdzp/WhatsApp-Image-20160710%20%281%29.jpeg?dl=0

romcio47 said:
Nice you've fixed it yourself!
I've already disassembled a plenty of Sony phones (from Xperia X10 pretty much to every single later Sony phone that was available in Poland) and the issue with bent connectors is very very common. I also had this problem in my Xperia PLAY where my WiFi and cellular network connectors were bent and were linked on the edges of the plates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a connectors map?

Hell. I had the same problem : suddenly the GPS signal became very weak, almost unable to catch any satellites and degrading over time, so since I still had 1 month warranty I sent it to the repair center and they changed my PBA (which is the motherboard, I believe.) It is now working like a champ again. If I were to get the problem back in a few month, after my warranty expiration, I'll definitively try to do what you did.
Thanks for the info.

gepp81 said:
Do you have a connectors map?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, no... but I recommend visiting iFixit site where some of the phones are nicely described.

Thanks a milion gepp81!
I ve ordered some replacement parts and tools and I will try to resurrect my z3 gps.

Yarymo said:
Hell. I had the same problem : suddenly the GPS signal became very weak, almost unable to catch any satellites and degrading over time, so since I still had 1 month warranty I sent it to the repair center and they changed my PBA (which is the motherboard, I believe.) It is now working like a champ again. If I were to get the problem back in a few month, after my warranty expiration, I'll definitively try to do what you did.
Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same with me.
I believe that since we got a new imei number e got new warranty. I have to check the law.
Enviado do meu D5803 através de Tapatalk

Can anyone confirm this please? It looks weird to me. According to service manual all antenna connectors are on secondary side of mainboard (accesibble without removing battery, just after opening rear cover and removing that frame around, which has 4 screws, if I remember correctly).

It works
IkE Blaster said:
Can anyone confirm this please? It looks weird to me. According to service manual all antenna connectors are on secondary side of mainboard (accesibble without removing battery, just after opening rear cover and removing that frame around, which has 4 screws, if I remember correctly).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works. All the connectors are on one side of the motherboard (not the battery side). The picture gepp81 posted shows the antenna area where the connectors connect to, so not the actual gps connector.

Thanks a lot!
I had absolutely no GPS signal.
After trying every software tweak / wipe / rom.... (I was hopping it was a software issue) I finally tried your solution, straighten all the little contacts, and now my GPS has a wonderful signal!!!
I destroyed my back cover, but it doesn't matter I prefer that than no GPS

Wow, thank you. I can also confirm this. Despite that official service manual says something different.
Previously zero signal at all (23 satellites with 0 SNR), sometime 1 very weak satellite. Now 9 fixed, another 6 visible. Those 15 doesn't have very strong signal, but it's usable.
I am thinking about using some thin wire to improve it (like this: https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z3-Compact/GPS-issue/m-p/1006245/highlight/true#M12642 ).

Another successful story here - gps stopped working, i updated my rooted kitkat to slimm 2.4, opened phone, did the connectors trick, but gps was still dead. Then after few days i checked "Device only" in Location settings and GPS came back to life! Now works with "High accuracy" mode as well

lakicamm said:
Another successful story here - gps stopped working, i updated my rooted kitkat to slimm 2.4, opened phone, did the connectors trick, but gps was still dead. Then after few days i checked "Device only" in Location settings and GPS came back to life! Now works with "High accuracy" mode as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also had problems with my gps. First I thought it was water damage. But pulling with the usb connector made it work again.
Did the trick with bending the connector. Now I have signal but is is not very strong.
Is there a way to make the signal stronger?
Is the copper strip the antenna?
Can I replace this with another copper strip that works as a better antenna?
Or .....?

If your gps antenna is somehow damaged, you could fix it using silver paint:
http://www.2spi.com/category/silver-paints-pastes/
I didnt try it, but friend of mine uses it to fix broken boards on laptops... Should work in phones too

Same problem. I sent my phone to service. They changed motherboard. Now GPS Works perfect. And my warranty is extended for 2 years, because of different motherboard and IME. Thanks Sony, very good service

[SOLVED] Extremely weak Wi-Fi signal

The Wi-Fi signal on my I9505 is terribly weak. Sitting at the same desk the router is on - full signal; Walk 3-4 meters away - signal drops to 1 line; Go to a different room - disconnects due to no signal. I can only see 3 networks at 1 signal line while on another phone I get 11 networks - all with signal at 2+ lines.
My router is perfectly fine (works as expected and has great coverage on other phones/laptops - it still gives off great signal if I go next door/above/below me).
Phone software side I'd say is fine too, but I'm not 100% sure:
Issue happens both on latest WizCyan (TW based) and on latest RR (CM14 based), both using different kernels.
Currently on XXUHPG1 bootloader and baseband. PDA version is XXUPPI1 (according to the "Phone INFO" app).
Hardware side, I've tried a few things - bent all of the golden springs I could find just a tiny bit upwards, tried to clean the gray contacts on the mid bezel as best as I could (dry microfiber) - they weren't dirty or anything, but they seem scratched/shiny where the spring would have come into contact, is that bad? (I can take pictures if necessary)
I even flipped the blue antenna wire around (though I think that one only affects cell signal).
I also have to note that there's something wrong with my Wi-Fi IC / mobo because sometimes it stops working altogether (won't turn back on), needing a reboot or physical intervention. I doubt that would affect signal strength, as long as it's actually turning on, I guess?
Edit:
SOLVED!
Well, this is probably a very unique/fringe case - I found out there was a crack in my motherboard, just below one of the antenna connectors. I also found out that pushing down on where the crack is relinks the motherboard connections and gives back the full Wi-Fi signal. So I "ghetto-rigged" a piece of plastic to push down on the crack when I put the mid-bezel back in, and it seems to be working for now. Hope it holds up and doesn't cause other issues.

Actually, it could affect signal strength. You might want to check your antenna wire running down the right side of the battery compartment and make sure it isn't broken or partly disconnected.

You should also note that some phones have better antennas, thus having better reception.
So comparing it to a different phone isn't really a good way to measure the effectiveness.

Took some pics, I've no idea if they're of any help. Maybe somebody can tell if there's something wrong.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Actually, it could affect signal strength. You might want to check your antenna wire running down the right side of the battery compartment and make sure it isn't broken or partly disconnected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the wire I had flipped around. I even disconnected it to see if there's a difference, and it only weakened the cell signal. Full cell signal when I put it back. No change regarding Wi-Fi. If I run the phone with the mid bezel off, I only get 2 lines even next to the router, and it doesn't even connect - so I suppose the mid bezel antennas connect?
Pwnycorn said:
You should also note that some phones have better antennas, thus having better reception.
So comparing it to a different phone isn't really a good way to measure the effectiveness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, still, from full signal to 1/0 lines as soon as I go from my desk (and router) to my bed 5m away isn't right. Wi-Fi reception used to be as good on my S4 as on the other phones. (I can't remember exactly when this started.)

I believe you have a radio chip issue. Something that software cannot fix.

Solved. Thank you for trying to help.

@cLick1338: Telling people you solved the issue without revealing the solution doesn't help anyone who may come across this thread in the future. So how did you solve it?

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
@cLick1338: Telling people you solved the issue without revealing the solution doesn't help anyone who may come across this thread in the future. So how did you solve it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had edited the first post. Figured it would be most visible for such people.

cLick1338 said:
I had edited the first post. Figured it would be most visible for such people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you edited it yesterday I wouldn't have noticed it. The XDA app automatically drills down to the first unread post and I don't always think to scroll back up.
Sorry.