Signal loss - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hey guys, long time lurker infrequent poster. I recently got my nexus (loving it by the way) but there is 1 thing that I have noticed that kind of bugs me. Noticed everytime I'm connected to my data connection my signal bars go down considerably. (No data i get full bars 95%of the time, with hspa or hspa+ im lucky to get even 1) This will happen whether i disable my data in the settings, or connect to wifi.
I am kind of new to the whole unlocked device idea having to add the APN settings and what not, and I definitely did not have this problem with my last two devices. (Galaxy S i9000, Galaxy Nexus) if anyone has some insight that'd be great, I'm going to head down to my carrier store tomorrow, to see if they might be able to help me ( chances are probably not they're pretty useless)
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

MakoVince said:
Hey guys, long time lurker infrequent poster. I recently got my nexus (loving it by the way) but there is 1 thing that I have noticed that kind of bugs me. Noticed everytime I'm connected to my data connection my signal bars go down considerably. (No data i get full bars 95%of the time, with hspa or hspa+ im lucky to get even 1) This will happen whether i disable my data in the settings, or connect to wifi.
I am kind of new to the whole unlocked device idea having to add the APN settings and what not, and I definitely did not have this problem with my last two devices. (Galaxy S i9000, Galaxy Nexus) if anyone has some insight that'd be great, I'm going to head down to my carrier store tomorrow, to see if they might be able to help me ( chances are probably not they're pretty useless)
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using a new carrier, for you? T-mobile maybe? Are you indoors?
The nexus 4 generally has very good reception, unless their is so,ethi g wrong with the device.
If your a new t-mobile customer building penetration can be low compared to other carriers.

Outside, inside, happens everywhere. And I'm on Bell. Same plan, same carrier as my last two phones.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

I noticed some issues as well, but only on custom ROMs. My only conclusion is that it was something with the APN. I googled and found some APN settings to try, which has really helped me. For me, it was mostly with 3g to hspa switching, it'd toggle back and forth and would time data out. Since I've changed those, works much better. I'm on T-Mobile though.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

What exactly did you change? That sounds exactly like what happens to me.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Related

Nexus 4 drops all service when entering HSPA+ area

Hey guys lurker here finally registering to get some help.
I have a nexus 4 with T-Mobile. I bought it unlocked through Google and have it on the same plan I had my G2 on.
My problem is every time I get into a HSPA area my service just drops. Like completely drops. I cannot even make a call. It will come on then off then on then off. It makes the phone useless. When I'm on edge it's perfectly fine.
I went to T Mobile and got a brand new sim car and that did not help my problem.
Much appreciated any help I can get.
Factory reset first and see what happens.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Ok
CobieS said:
Hey guys lurker here finally registering to get some help.
I have a nexus 4 with T-Mobile. I bought it unlocked through Google and have it on the same plan I had my G2 on.
My problem is every time I get into a HSPA area my service just drops. Like completely drops. I cannot even make a call. It will come on then off then on then off. It makes the phone useless. When I'm on edge it's perfectly fine.
I went to T Mobile and got a brand new sim car and that did not help my problem.
Much appreciated any help I can get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That happens when the radio on the N4 switches between 3G and HSPA doing a factory reset won't affect the radio. In other words its the carrier coverage in your area. Try Straight Talk with At&t
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Never had this problem with my g2
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I've got a Nexus 4 on AT&T and i've got HSPA (no +, i've checked in settings). It seems when my phone switches between towers i lose service until i go in and select AT&T from a list of available networks. On other phones in this area i always have Tmobile and AT&T, but with this one i'm getting two AT&T's. I usually select AT&T, but the last few days i've tried selecting "automatically select network." It doesnt appear to have made any changes. Just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas before i factory reset this bad boy.
Factory reset, reflash of the stock ROM using the nexus toolkit, unroot and custom Roms cm10 and paranoid android. Nothing has helped my issue. I have the LTE plan and the WAP APN gives me hspa+. Still getting a signal drop every time I move more than a mile or so.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Doubt anyone is even watching this, but i called google and the rep says it sounds like a hardware issue. Getting a warranty replacement.
Jrob2k said:
Doubt anyone is even watching this, but i called google and the rep says it sounds like a hardware issue. Getting a warranty replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having this exact setting did a replacement help you at all?

Aaaargh fecking signal!!

Why does my phone show full signal yet all apps that use mobile data either run shockingly slow or not at all!! My steam app is constantly reconnecting yet signal is constant! In BBS it's showing i have good signal for a matter of minutes and is mostly showing poor or unknown signal nearly the whole time the phone is on!
My set up is the latest AOKP rom and faux's kernel
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
nuclearmonkeyuk said:
Why does my phone show full signal yet all apps that use mobile data either run shockingly slow or not at all!! My steam app is constantly reconnecting yet signal is constant! In BBS it's showing i have good signal for a matter of minutes and is mostly showing poor or unknown signal nearly the whole time the phone is on!
My set up is the latest AOKP rom and faux's kernel
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be you only have full bars of 2G data speed. You are either being throttled for excessive use from your carrier or your carrier only has 2G speeds where you live. Where I work the entire county only has 2G Edge speeds from AT&T even though their coverage map shows 3G for the area. Check your data type and speeds with an app like Network Signal info.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.android.telnet&hl=en
Happens to me a lot as well. I show full 4g and yet everything times out and wont load because data is so slow. I'm also in a good coverage area where i get 12-14 Mbps speed with other phones and when this one is acting normal.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
The towers you are connecting to are probably overloaded. Thin of them as a wireless access point at your house with 1 internet line. If too many connect to and use that line, the connection gets slower. Would be nice if cell providers posted tower stats in your area. Would save a lot of angry calls
stretched said:
The towers you are connecting to are probably overloaded. Thin of them as a wireless access point at your house with 1 internet line. If too many connect to and use that line, the connection gets slower. Would be nice if cell providers posted tower stats in your area. Would save a lot of angry calls
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think in my situation it is not this. My wife has an HTC one s and my brother a sgs2 and they will have great data speed while i have dead slow even though we are on the same carrier and in the same room.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Got the same problem
My pbone is acting wired showing full signal but no traffic gets through
Also sometimes the signal just greys out and i dont get any connection until switching flightmode and back
Im at aokp to... Maybe its relaxed to the rom
Im on Stock kernel
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
MoooN said:
Got the same problem
My pbone is acting wired showing full signal but no traffic gets through
Also sometimes the signal just greys out and i dont get any connection until switching flightmode and back
Im at aokp to... Maybe its relaxed to the rom
Im on Stock kernel
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happened to me on stock, cm, aokp, and now pa. I don't know what it is. I just hope an update will fix it.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Glad im not the only one suffering.. I didnt really have the problem on stock so much.. just since unlocking and flashing new roms.
To the person who mentioned carrier throttling, its certainly not that as one minute i'll get full speed and the next (youtube for example) will just stop and start saying no signal retry and then if i turn the phone off and back on again it will work. How can a carrier throttle you when you only have a 2Gb usage limit and then they charge you afterwards that makes no sense.
Also its not a 2G problem as Signal checker shows 3G and also now EE all around my area. Besides my wife's S3 on the same network is getting full speeds where im not or anything even though im apparently at full strength H
I hope this gets sorted soon as its also affecting calls.. I'll have what looks like full signal while playing a game then suddenly a text to say someone tried ringing me like 3 minutes before!!
probably switching from HSDPA to HSPA+.
did you notice a H on top of your signal bar, that switches to H+ when the lag is over?
I have had this problem for a long time, since I got my Galaxy Nexus and now again on my Nexus 4, and finally got so fed up that I have been testing it all day and getting screenshots ready to make my own post about this so I am pretty relieved to see this post!
I live in Philadelphia and use T-Mobile. I have had T-Mobile here for years and never had this problem before. When they upgraded to 3G I had amazing speed boosts and when they did HSPA+ it got even better but that was on a G1/G2. On my Nexus phones the internet is damn near unusable in center city but what is so odd about it is that in my Google searches about the problem I can only seem to find posts raving about T-Mobile in the city and how Philly keeps getting improvements including the new improved 1900Mhz HSPA+42 but I have never even seen my Nexus 4 on the +42 network the best it goes to is +15 and even that makes no difference because the internet is so slow and unrelaible that unless I am on Wifi, my phone just sits in my pocket useless.
I'm really at my wits end about this and no one, Google or T-Mobile seems to take responsibility or have any advice on how to fix it except the pointless factory reset.
I've seen a brief mention on XDA about a fast.tmobile.com APN and I changed to that and I'd like to imagine that it showed some type of improvements but certainly not with data speeds/latency/integrity of connection. If anything, it may have improved signal 'strength' (used lightly because regardless of what my strength is listed as the connection sucks.
To be clear, I am connected to HSPA and HSPA+ when the connection is being used, like it should, but these are the best speeds I managed to get throughout the day today as I moved around campus trying different spots.
Please, someone have advice!!
Could it be kennel related? Did you guys try just being on stock ROM?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
ftarules said:
Could it be kennel related? Did you guys try just being on stock ROM?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using the stock kernel, stock radio although not the stock ROM. I am pretty sure I had this problem before I rooted (I say pretty sure to be conservative with my answer since I am not 100% sure but I am definitely 90%)
Is anyone confident about their knowledge regarding APN settings? I have seen like 15 different configurations for T-Mobile's APN and have no idea which one to try and would prefer not to just go through them one by one -- I've got things to do!
ftarules said:
Could it be kennel related? Did you guys try just being on stock ROM?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again.. I'm pretty sure i didn't have this problem while on stock but i could be wrong. My GNex was exactly the same. And I'm on orange UK so completely different network to the T-Mobile USA so surely can't be random that we're both having the same problems
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I had the same slowness over cellular, 9kbps or so. I changed APN's, rebooted and just got 2463kbps.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1791526
drdjr said:
I had the same slowness over cellular, 9kbps or so. I changed APN's, rebooted and just got 2463kbps.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1791526
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this only work for at&t users though?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I'm on stock 4.2.1. Phone is rooted and boot loader unlocked. For about two days now I'm having signal drops from 4bars, then greyed out 4 bars and jumps between H to 3G. Settings for LTE revert to WCDMA every time I lose reception. Also dialer crashes/ force closes if I have an incoming call and sends all calls to voicemail. I can dial out but at the end of my calls when I go to hang up I see the popup that phone process crashed.
My carrier is Bell Canada and the phone worked fine for about 10 days before this started happening.
Any tips or advice to help me out is appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Bump.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Signal issue, new Nexus 4 design

Hopefully someone can help me sort this out.
I purchased a Nexus 4 on Jan 29th for myself and it has been great. So I purchased a 2nd Nexus 4 for a family member just the other day (March 22nd). I have T-Mobile, phones are on a value family plan with unlimited 4G.
The issue is that this new Nexus 4 does not get the same type of signal mine does. At my home we don't get good signal strength and are on EDGE2. However, I get service on my old Nexus 4 phone everywhere. The new Nexus 4 will sometimes change to GPRS and other times just show no network. I've looked at the dBm and the new phone tends to be worse, but even when the dBm is the same there are still issues.
For instance, I had both phones driving home and in one section of my drive the network cuts out. My old Nexus 4 loses service, but within 30 seconds when I'm further down the road it reconnects and I have 4 bars. However, the new Nexus 4 loses service, but wouldn't reconnect. The dBm readings even just stop changing in the phone status section of the OS. I unlocked bootloader, reinstalled everything straight from Google, and relocked bootloader but it didn't help.I have seen this happen in multiple places and somehow by messing with the phone I eventually get it to show signal again. It's not that simple to explain or show because when I'm in great 4G coverage (like you get in tmobile stores) you don't really see a "problem". However when in EDGE coverage (and you have another of the same phone to compare) you can see the issue.
I've contacted T-Mobile and they are suppose to get back to me, but I'm not getting my hopes up as I'm really thinking it's something wrong with the phone. I don't believe it is the SIM at fault because I've switched my SIM card into the new Nexus 4 phone and had the same issues, and my family members SIM card in my old Nexus 4 works fine.
Now, looking at the new phone compared to the old one I noticed it is a "new" design. It has the newly added little "feet". The screen colors also look less "vivid" and "bright". Perhaps in the design changes they also messed with the antenna? I'm going to contact Google next, but I just didn't want to deal with all their RMA BS if it is something else.
Anyone have any insight? Perhaps something I can check or have T-Mobile/Google check?
I noticed that my replacement nexus 4 doesn't get as good signal as my old one did. Have only had a day to test it so far.
I decided to pull the back off since it is rather simple to see if anything looked odd/different.
Everything looks the same and nothing stood out as being wrong. However, I removed the speaker part on the bottom of the phone and checked the connections for the antenna. They looked fine, although the cable did have a bit of a "indent" (didn't look nicked or exposed) towards the top connector. I pushed them down anyway for good measure and put the speaker back on.
The phone is now getting drastically better signal. Where I was getting no network service I'm getting 3-4 bars on EDGE like my old phone is getting. However, it still seems possible to get it not work and it seems that pushing on the "bottom" parts of the phone the signal would get better. So I'm beginning to feel like there is a connection issue with one of the components in the phone. So even though it seems like I've really rectified the issue, I'm probably going to return it because I'm afraid that during handling and day to day use the issue will manifest itself.
I had terrible network connectivity that wouldn't go higher than 1mbs... after some research, I realized that my data plan may not have been allotted correctly for a 4G-capable phone after coming off an iphone4. I called ATT and gave them a fake EMEI for a galaxy captivate (a 4G phone) as someone suggested, viola, HSPA+ speeds again.
---------- Post added at 07:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:45 AM ----------
However, I am back on the forums tonight because I think the Nexus 4 just has terrible radio signal overall. It takes me a couple of tries to go online on network... it's getting so ridiculous that I can't wait for the day I get a new phone. And I know it's not my network because another phone next to me on the same plan/network can connect just fine when mine is struggling.
OP translation, Hey guys, my Nexus 4 has 2 nubs on the bottom. Its degrading my signal.
Lol jk.
No, seriously though, is your data getting throttled? I still have my Revision 10 N4 and all is fine. Try putting your Sim in another phone and see if data speeds are the same? If not, then you have an issue with your device.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
@deegaf...What APN are using?
Edit...The reason I ask is because I'm on Att as well and I'm getting the same speeds as any other phone I've used. I get the same or a little better than my wife's iPhone 4 too. I'm using the "Phone" APN.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
do you have the same radio/baseband on both device?

Weak signal, poor reception, dropped calls

Anyone else having these issues? I've noticed that places I always had at least 1-2 bars with my note 2 I will not have any service with my note 3. Also I have been dropping calls in areas that I never did. Could this be my new sim card or should I exchange my phone? I also feel that my wifi connection stability/range is slightly worse than before.
Mine is the same way,don't get the signal my note 2 would and 4G is weaker also .
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
steve44618 said:
Mine is the same way,don't get the signal my note 2 would and 4G is weaker also .
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope this is just a first software or sim issue. Or at the very worst a first production run issue. I will likely be bringing mine to Verizon this weekend to test and new sim or exchange if that doesn't make any difference. Annoying.
Idk how much it will help you but I noticed I was in 3G a lot of the time as well. Definitely more than my N2, I switched my preferred network to LTE/CDMA instead of Global and I now have 4GLTE way more. As far as the wifi and phone reception, I myself haven't noticed any huge difference but I did read the international version of the N3 already received 2 updates and they supposedly not only improved the wifi and antenna signals but also battery life. Who knows when we'll see an update though. We are on Verizon.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Ibkevin said:
Idk how much it will help you but I noticed I was in 3G a lot of the time as well. Definitely more than my N2, I switched my preferred network to LTE/CDMA instead of Global and I now have 4GLTE way more. As far as the wifi and phone reception, I myself haven't noticed any huge difference but I did read the international version of the N3 already received 2 updates and they supposedly not only improved the wifi and antenna signals but also battery life. Who knows when we'll see an update though. We are on Verizon.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that and it actually made my signal significantly worse. I switched back to global and my problem seems way worse tonight than any day this week. Can barely hold onto a signal in places that I never had an issue before. Battery pull didn't help at all. I constantly get a message that says I can't send messages and then asks me to retry. Frustrating, will be going to Verizon tomorrow or Friday to return/exchange
Just now noticing this
I wonder if this has anything to do with being rooted? it seems like I just started dropping calls like crazy just today. I do remember getting the sent error on some text messages, though I can't remember if that started befor or after rooting.
Haven't had a single issue with signal or dropping calls. Also my 4G speeds are pretty insane. I'm thinking there are some units with defective radios.

Bad antenna? Horrible signal and Wi-Fi

Am I the only one that has bad signal with this phone? My Wi-Fi cuts out and I barely get signal in places where I got 4 bars on my iPhone. Is there a fix to this?
Euforeik said:
Am I the only one that has bad signal with this phone? My Wi-Fi cuts out and I barely get signal in places where I got 4 bars on my iPhone. Is there a fix to this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having the same issue with my note 3. Seems to have gotten slightly better the past few days, but still poor compared to my note 2. Thinking about taking it back to Verizon this week. Anyone know how the return/exchange process works? If I exchange it and still have problems then what are my options? Or if I return it do I get my upgrade back? Can I then repurchase it and have another 14 days to test and potentially return it?
This is my only complaint about my phone. No problems on WiFi, but 4G reception is inconsistent and I often find the phone switching to 3G in places my Note 2 wouldn't. In that situation, I can use Tellinfo to force LTE only and I often have reception. The only problem with this is in places where 3G would actually be appropriate, I obviously then have no service.
This leads me to conclude (and hope) that it's a software/modem firmware issue rather than a hardware issue--the device is switching to 3G when staying on LTE would be appropriate. As such, we might hope for a fix.
bladerealm124 said:
Having the same issue with my note 3. Seems to have gotten slightly better the past few days, but still poor compared to my note 2. Thinking about taking it back to Verizon this week. Anyone know how the return/exchange process works? If I exchange it and still have problems then what are my options? Or if I return it do I get my upgrade back? Can I then repurchase it and have another 14 days to test and potentially return it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am almost certain there is a restocking fee but they may waive that/it may not apply if you are dealing with a defective device.
I have an ac router with 2 channels I sit 3 ft. From it and get poor connection errors and it's slow when it does work. I have Fios as well.
There has to be bad drivers or radio.
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
Drachnem said:
I have an ac router with 2 channels I sit 3 ft. From it and get poor connection errors and it's slow when it does work. I have Fios as well.
There has to be bad drivers or radio.
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out my ac issues thread there is a fix
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Drachnem said:
I have an ac router with 2 channels I sit 3 ft. From it and get poor connection errors and it's slow when it does work. I have Fios as well.
There has to be bad drivers or radio.
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have same exact problem. Except I'm using century link
beamed from transporter room 3
My first N3 had great WiFi & signal strength, build date 10/2, but had a crooked camera.. I've since had 2 replacements both with WiFi & signal issues, same 10/6 build date.. I will be searching Best Buy for an earlier build date or perhaps one from a more recent batch within the past week if that's even possible.
Sent from my SM-N900V
Jay A whY said:
My first N3 had great WiFi & signal strength, build date 10/2, but had a crooked camera.. I've since had 2 replacements both with WiFi & signal issues, same 10/6 build date.. I will be searching Best Buy for an earlier build date or perhaps one from a more recent batch within the past week if that's even possible.
Sent from my SM-N900V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm interesting. Thanks for this info I will probably go to Verizon Wednesday for a replacement or to at least test signal strength side by side with another device
I have luckily had vast improvements. Reception has been much better my note 3 compared to my s3. No more dropped calls. Always have a 3g or 4g signal as where I never had. Always on wifi at this location but finally sending out pics with ease.... This has definitely been some thick icing on the cake. I love it
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
What's ur build date? @ loopers
Sent from my SM-N900V
Jay A whY said:
What's ur build date? @ loopers
Sent from my SM-N900V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do we find this? The only date I can find is under kernel verison. It states September 24th
bladerealm124 said:
How do we find this? The only date I can find is under kernel verison. It states September 24th
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When u register your phone via the Samsung website, it will tell you once you input the imei info and tab to the next field.
Sent from my SM-N900V
I had the same problem with my wifi (slow link speed "5mbps" even tho I had great signal) I solved the problem by changing the channel on my wireless router from channel 11 to channel 10 now I have awesome Internet speed "75mbps" compared to what I had before. Try it, it might help you guys' problem also.
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda premium
Mine has a build date of 10/02. I'm hoping this is just a software issue. The signal is not horrible by any means. But it seems to be slightly worse than my note 2. I had a few dropped calls the first few days I owned it(never had one with my note 2) and areas where I would at the very worst have 1 bar of 1x I now have no signal(fades in and out constantly). Sometimes I even struggle to send texts in areas that it was never an issue with the note 2. Now you've got me scared that I'll get an even worse one if I exchange it. Did you get your replacements through Verizon? How painful is the process? Also any experience getting Samsung to fix an issue like this under warranty? I'm not sure what my best option is but I only have two more days before my 14 day exchange period runs out. Fwark.
Not sure of the build date of my first Note 3 , but my second Note 3 has a build date of 10/2 and both have wifi stability issues
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46632006&postcount=20
Tested my note 3 tonight side by side with my girlfriend's S4 and they had about the same signal strength(note was about 10dBm worse at first but quickly adjusted and was actually better for a short period). But after watching them for about 10 minutes they seemed to be almost identical. My signal seems to be a bit better more recently than it was previously(did a soft reset last night and cleared cache as well). The only time the poor performance is really noticeable is in my living room at home where I now have no service 90% of the time making it very hard to send texts and mms. Previously with my note 2 I had at least one bar of 1x most of the time and rarely lost service completely. Hoping this will improve with a software update. I don't plan on taking mine back since it seems likely to get the same or worse performance from a replacement
My wifi is strong 50mbps, its the 4g thats my issue this radio sucks compared to my 3 year old droid bionic.
I wonder how much of the signal issues has to do with the power management. The radio and s800 provide
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
I am in downtown San Francisco and at best have only 1 bar showing on 4G. I spoke to VZW service, the rep told me it's counter intuitive: yes San Francisco is saturated as best as VZW can as far as LTE is concerned, but because there are so many people using LTE in such a small area, connectivity is virtually "0".
Is this horse manure?

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