I wanted to say a few words about my own experience with 4G reliability.
I have the good fortune (I think) to work in an office that's probably a quarter-mile from a 4G enabled Sprint tower (we can actually see it) So even when I go into the center of my building to pinch a loaf, I can get 4G.
Yet, when I was sitting by my desk, streaming internet radio apps--or even without using the connection deliberately at all, it would cut out and revert to 3G every hour, at least once an hour or more. Bad for streaming music continuity and sometimes flaky for other things too.
Needless to say after weeks of this, I was like WTF.
Then I tried an experiment. (Which is still in progress, but so far so good.)
I had the phone resting on top of my computer tower underneath the desk. Logical place, right, as it's wide, flat, and away from desktop clutter.
But I suspected something might have been being emitted from the computer to cause interference. (RF signals or whatever you engineer types care to call it.)
Sure enough, soon as I put it on the desk and away from that, 4G reliability became rock solid.
Microwave oven emissions too--it doesn't like those. (But why use it in the kitchen, right?) And of course with the patchwork quilt of 4G around any city, driving with it can cause interruptions. But I thought I'd let you know, in case you can make similar experiments/adjustments!
Interesting. I too have been annoyed by the unexplained reverts while using at my office. Phone's not sitting ON the computer tower, but it's pretty close. Think I'll give it a try on the other side of my desk.
And sometimes it'll take seconds to register your action, such as clicking on a link, it'll put the loading line, stall with the z's and after like 5-10 seconds it'll actually wake up and connect
4g is butt
The ping is butt
3g is butt
I want my hero's radio back
I got 3mb/s download using 3g on that phone! Ad the ping wasjust 30ms!!! On this phone, I get in the low hundreds kb/s (usually around 2-300) wit a ping of 200 ms!!!!
Samsung screwed up with the modem
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
That would explain why it keeps dropping the shoutcast radio stream when I am driving so often. Even my previous phone, Blackberry Tour, had a better connection. Still, Epic >>>>>> Tour. I would take Epic over it just for the ability to force roam on VZW
Of course microwaves will kill the 4G. Those things splatter 2.4ghz all over the place and I'm sure it bleeds over. That's the whole reason that "we" were given 2.4ghz for wireless since no one else wanted to share with microwaves.
Funny story, I don't get 4g in my apt building. I am on the first floor with lots of trees around me. I put my phone in a small metal bowl one night.....tada! I get 4g in my apt with it sitting inside of this lil metal bowl.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
1NfE5T said:
Funny story, I don't get 4g in my apt building. I am on the first floor with lots of trees around me. I put my phone in a small metal bowl one night.....tada! I get 4g in my apt with it sitting inside of this lil metal bowl.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
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Seriously?? I only get it if I'm by a window or outside. Was ur meteal bowl aluminum or stainless steal?
nate13jp said:
Seriously?? I only get it if I'm by a window or outside. Was ur meteal bowl aluminum or stainless steal?
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When will we start seeing results from Sprint's Network Vision plan to improve in-building coverage?
Nice little experiment there lol. I hope we get 4G in our area soon!
----------------
Sent from my Epic 4G
You created a parabolic reflector. Kinda like the satellite dish, you know?
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
I live in Bmore and the 4G I've been getting here in many areas has been fantastic. It holds stronger on 4G than my Moment did on 3G. I actually have 3G turned off and toggle 4G when I need it. In my house and at work, the 4G holds and doesn't disconnect. (Except in the basement of my job)
Eazail70x7 said:
I live in Bmore and the 4G I've been getting here in many areas has been fantastic. It holds stronger on 4G than my Moment did on 3G. I actually have 3G turned off and toggle 4G when I need it. In my house and at work, the 4G holds and doesn't disconnect. (Except in the basement of my job)
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No offense but the whole state of Maryland is much smaller than most major metropolitan cities. I think one our two cell towers will pretty much cover you. I think the problem for me at least occurs when I am traveling in my car where coverage is extremely spotty.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
No offense taken. I too also go in and out of 4g coverage when traveling on the highway. But once I am in a 4g zone, my coverage is pretty strong, even indoors. Although in some places like wal mart, the mall, ect., I lose signal. I suppose there are benefits to Baltimore being first to have WiMax coverage?
smoothone said:
No offense but the whole state of Maryland is much smaller than most major metropolitan cities. I think one our two cell towers will pretty much cover you. I think the problem for me at least occurs when I am traveling in my car where coverage is extremely spotty.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
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Um? Maryland is 12,000 square miles. Baltimore is 90 square miles. So your telling me WIMAX which has an effective outdoor range of 4-5 miles is going to cover 12,000 square miles? I would think that even the small city size of the city of Baltimore is covered by several towers, however when I searched I got this:
"Baltimore has 180 WiMax towers in use, out of an expected total of 300 when the deployment is complete. "We have coverage of 70% of the city," explains Bin Shen, Xohm's vice president of product and partnership management."
edit: other cities Chicago 228 sqm, Los Angles 498 sqm, Dallas 385 sqm, NYC 468 sqm (including greater metro area)
edit: a little more research. Clear actually shows you exactly where each tower is and Baltimore has a couple dozen at a minimum that are listed on the coverage map. Many mush closer than 1mile apart from each other. In order to see the towers you need to be zoomed in on the map pretty closely.
4g in Boston has been nothing but great. I get excellent signal indoors and out, while I drive too. I also get 4g, 35 miles north of Boston in Haverhill MA (where I live). I always keep my 3g off cause I have no need for it. I make sure I get the most out of that $10 permium charge.
nate13jp said:
Seriously?? I only get it if I'm by a window or outside. Was ur meteal bowl aluminum or stainless steal?
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Stainless steel bowl...I sit it on top of my desk. But if I still get disconnects on 4g I move it by the window. Steady 4g connection ;-)
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Related
In the doctors office I have no data and two bars for voice/text. My wife's g1 has perfect 3g. I restarted my nexus but no change, 0 data. This is the first data issue I've had other than the standard loss or lowering of data connection when entering a building. So is this the 3g issue Google's trying to resolve or is the g1 just a superior device? Thanks
DMaverick50 said:
In the doctors office I have no data and two bars for voice/text. My wife's g1 has perfect 3g. I restarted my nexus but no change, 0 data. This is the first data issue I've had other than the standard loss or lowering of data connection when entering a building. So is this the 3g issue Google's trying to resolve or is the g1 just a superior device? Thanks
Click to expand...
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Try moving your hand
Video:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5622550#post5622550
Paul22000 said:
Try moving your hand
Video:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5622550#post5622550
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Good call, I did try that though
Also, if you tell the phone to switch to 2G only in the settings - if it then gets perfect Edge, but the 3G was non-existant - that would be another symptom of the classic 3G problem...
It is my experience that the G1 gets better reception in general. Outside of fluctuating 3G I do not consider the N1's reception bad, just not as good as the G1. The antenna at the bottom thing was a poor decision though that I do not see being correctable. Not a deal breaker but I think it would have been far better if they found a way so that the hand did not interfere with reception. If you are in a strong reception area like me it will rarely make a difference. On the edges of coverage and where there is significant interference from buildings it makes for more of a problem though.
JanetPanic said:
It is my experience that the G1 gets better reception in general. Outside of fluctuating 3G I do not consider the N1's reception bad, just not as good as the G1. The antenna at the bottom thing was a poor decision though that I do not see being correctable. Not a deal breaker but I think it would have been far better if they found a way so that the hand did not interfere with reception. If you are in a strong reception area like me it will rarely make a difference. On the edges of coverage and where there is significant interference from buildings it makes for more of a problem though.
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People say that they did this so as to limit the amount of radiation when holding the phone to your head.
The wifi is at the top, and when covered (with both hands though) the signal drops just the same.
Curious about what's an acceptable signal strength.
I get around -100. It definitely isn't acceptable, but I use wifi for data so it isn't all bad.
i get no higher than -102, even outside... i live in a deadzone. good thing they donated an airave to me!
Anywhere higher than -105 is reliable. Any lower and it'll still work but it gets sketchy.
I usually get around -105 or -110. If I walk outside I can get -70 or -80 though. My house is built like a damned Faraday cage I swear. Even back when I had AT&T it sucked inside, but step outside & it's just fine.
How can I test dBm?
063_XOBX said:
How can I test dBm?
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Go to dialer, type *#*#4646#*#* and it'll open a menu. Press "Phone Information" and it'll open a page that has it listed on there somewhere.
My apartment building is more or less a cell phone Faraday cage....I'm lucky to get signal at all, and my desk is five feet from a window. -110 dBm on my desk...no bars, but enough signal to send/receive SMS.
Open the window? 3 bars and -90 dBm. If I need to wifi tether I just slide the phone between the screen and window, problem solved.
You can also access the data by doing ##DEBUG# (##33284#).
I'm getting between -78 and -74 here in my house, I get about -95 in my office (which is basically a big metal room inside a building with big thick cement walls, but I'm on the top floor relatively near some windows).
Im getting -63.50 dBm right now from my bedroom teehee
Just wait til we figure out how to adjust signal strength!
EDIT: Just came back to say -59.50 dBm xD
Ranges from -100 to -60... Currently at -75..
Swyped from my EVO via XDA app
Im getting -88 at home..
*This was posted from my Evo 4G using Tapatalkpro! Great app, if you want to browse and post through many dfferent forums*
I noticed that I have much less reception on my new vibrant. I use to have full 3g in my house or outside my area with G1. Now I see zero bars to one bar and scattered throughout my area. I know this is a problem with other as well...
i guess my question is if there is any tips to increase the reception like the gps fix. Or if having wifi or gps on help with reception? Or just wait for a update.
Thanks
the vibrant shows less bars of reception than most other phones. However, this doesn't mean it is actually getting less reception. It's all how it displays the signal.
My vibrant is great at holding onto a signal in low coverage areas, much better than my last phone.
zumbahlenm said:
I noticed that I have much less reception on my new vibrant. I use to have full 3g in my house or outside my area with G1. Now I see zero bars to one bar and scattered throughout my area. I know this is a problem with other as well...
i guess my question is if there is any tips to increase the reception like the gps fix. Or if having wifi or gps on help with reception? Or just wait for a update.
Thanks
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i feel the same with my vibrant. i think this phone has the death grip syndrome like the iphone 4. maybe a hard case will help out.
b0ricuaguerrero said:
i feel the same with my vibrant. i think this phone has the death grip syndrome like the iphone 4. maybe a hard case will help out.
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No other phone has it's antenna made like the iPhone 4, use your brain. NO other phone with an internal antenna or otherwise COVERED antenna will have the same problem as the iPhone
Ok, but I'm with the guys that say their G1 had better reception. I had 2 bars 3g in my house with G1 and only get edge in my house on my Vibrant.
Sent from my Vibrant using the XDA app.
Shagman68 said:
Ok, but I'm with the guys that say their G1 had better reception. I had 2 bars 3g in my house with G1 and only get edge in my house on my Vibrant.
Sent from my Vibrant using the XDA app.
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The G1 doesn't have better reception, just better antenna placement. I'm sure if you moved your hand away from the antenna or put it in the same orientation as the G1 it would pick up 3G. The G1 has a medicre antenna, -101dBm at my house where there is no LOS with ANY cell tower. It would occasionally get worse. That's pathetic. My CLIQ got -91dBm even with my hand blocking the antenna. Not getting 3G doesn't mean the phone has poor reception, it's a number of things and most of them being a weak 3G signal to begin with. First thing to check would be the CID's for the 3G and 2G network around your house to see if they're coming from the same tower.
././. nevermind
well theres something screwy....
g1 def held better calls, i can barely have a phone call with the vibrant cutting out.
I guess i have to take my finger off the antenna?
Are the cases for our phones partially blocking signal strength on our Evo's antennas.... sorry if this is a bone head question....
Sent from my Supersonic EVO Using 4G Speeds
K-Driod said:
Are the cases for our phones partially blocking signal strength on our Evo's antennas.... sorry if this is a bone head question....
Sent from my Supersonic EVO Using 4G Speeds
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Probably a little, I dont know by how much though.
If the pic in your sig is from your phone I don't think you have anything to worry about though. A 11ms ping is sick, I would love to have that when playing black ops.
Your signal would only be degraded if the case you are using is made of some sort of metal or has a high metal content.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Any object you put between an antenna and a transmitter will have some effect on signal strength. However, it's highly unlikely the little bit of plastic and/or rubber contained in a case will have enough effect that you will notice it unless your case is made of metal. Things like trees, hills, or being inside a building or a car will weaken your signal far more than putting a case on.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G with Tapatalk
Actually, it is possible that a case could improve your signal slightly. The reason for that is that your body (hand holding the phone) being close to the antenna will attenuate the signal. The case gives you a little more space between your hand and the antenna, so the signal will be attenuated less. In reality, probably won't make a measurable difference either way.
kinda like how apples solution to antennagate was free cases..
Only case I had that used to mess with my signal was a aluminum case. Long time ago couldn't even remember which phone it was on
Sent from my Evo while i should be working
Hi all,
I'm going to try bidding on a MT4G on ebay within 3 hrs, so I hope I can get a few replies before that!
Could anybody tell me how the 3G signal strength is on this phone? When I had an HTC HD2, when holding it normally from the bottom I would lose a massive ~20dB in signal. This was often enough to knock the phone from having a couple of bars down to no signal.
3G signal is very important to me, since my provider does not have a GSM/EDGE network. So, if I lose 3G reception I'm totally disconnected.
If anybody could post some numbers here on their signal strength in dBm while resting on a table and while held in the hand naturally from the bottom, I'd appreciate it! Does the phone lose more than about ~10dB when held?
Thanks,
Faruk
Faruk88 said:
Hi all,
I'm going to try bidding on a MT4G on ebay within 3 hrs, so I hope I can get a few replies before that!
Could anybody tell me how the 3G signal strength is on this phone? When I had an HTC HD2, when holding it normally from the bottom I would lose a massive ~20dB in signal. This was often enough to knock the phone from having a couple of bars down to no signal.
3G signal is very important to me, since my provider does not have a GSM/EDGE network. So, if I lose 3G reception I'm totally disconnected.
If anybody could post some numbers here on their signal strength in dBm while resting on a table and while held in the hand naturally from the bottom, I'd appreciate it! Does the phone lose more than about ~10dB when held?
Thanks,
Faruk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4G+3G strength are based on the coverage for your area, if 3G is bad in you area then chances are 4G will be bad too. Check the coverage map for where you live, for me I always get 3G/4G/2G anywhere.
don't know if this helps but i get jumps from -75 to -85 when laying device on couch than holding in hand or just touching while on couch, but i don't have the stock radio either.
tjlawson09 said:
don't know if this helps but i get jumps from -75 to -85 when laying device on couch than holding in hand or just touching while on couch, but i don't have the stock radio either.
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Thanks for taking the time to test it out for me, I appreciate it
Ace42: Yeah of course, signal strength will depend on coverage. But with my HD2 I had a major "death grip" issue where at home I have great signal strength (about -80dBm) but when I held the phone it would drop below -100 dBm. You'll notice if you search google and youtube that a lot of people have the same issue with the HD7 and Desire HD since they share the same design. In comparison, I don't have any such problem with my Blackberry 9700... It basically sucks in most respects except for signal strength
Well my current reading is -75, it seems to stay in this range when held.
Thanks man!
Well, I lost the auction... Dunno if I should spend more effort and find another one with the good screen, or if I should just tolerate my Bold 9700 for now and wait for the new wave of handsets coming out within the next few weeks...
Faruk88 said:
Thanks man!
Well, I lost the auction... Dunno if I should spend more effort and find another one with the good screen, or if I should just tolerate my Bold 9700 for now and wait for the new wave of handsets coming out within the next few weeks...
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Wait for Sensation next month, thing has "2X" 1.2Giga dragons under the hood and qHD res and other goodies(Maybe Adreno 220?).