[Q] How can I fix my note 3's signal reception? - Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So... my Note 3 is like new, no exterior damage at all, I've taken well care of it, but I'm having some problems with signal reception.
Using LTE/GSM/WCDMA mode (or LTE preff with CM based roms) where the phone prefers 4G signal, I have 1 or 0 bars of signal, I miss calls and texts and web browsing using data is really slow!
Using GSM/WCDMA (3G mode in CM based roms) I have like full bars but slow internet using data, I don't miss any calls or texts (at least I didn't notice it) but when I am in the train and I pass through a tunnel, the signal is lost and it never recovers, I have to remove my battery and reboot the phone to regain signal (my other phone, a Galaxy Nexus, loses signal only inside the tunnel, then in seconds it reconnects again like it should, I also have full bars everywhere and no problems with the same SIM card, I also have an LG G2 at home and LTE works very well with the same SIM on that phone, it's just Note 3 that has really poor or no reception at all).
I don't think this is normal and I don't renember having problems like this in the past, how can I fix it? Please help me since I can't find any info by browsing and everyone knows Samsung isn't cheap when it comes to fixing things with knox 0x1, and I am fine fixing it myself if I know what to do.
Do phones use different antennas for LTE and 3G/2G? Is it an antenna problem? How can I pinpoint the problem? How can I repair it?
Thanks in advance.
EDIT: forgot to mention, I've tested this on many custom roms (CM13, CM12.1, RR, N5 ports, S6 ports, Aryamod, Stock Samsung Lollipop, Stock Kitkat) the problem is the same everywhere so I think it is hardware problem.

Related

Reception issue

I've placed my Omnia 7 next to my girlfriend's Focus in a place in my house that has traditionally been very poor in reception. She is able to get 1-2 bars on 3G compared to my NO SERVICE-zero bars on EDGE under the same network (ATT). Is anyone else getting fairly weak reception on their Omnia and is it all possible that my 4 year old SIM card is accounting for the difference in signal strength?
Next chance I get, I'll try swapping our SIMs....
I am not too sure of this but maybe the Omnia 7 isn't using its full potential on the US carrier since it is a EU device. (this shouldn't matter really but I am trying to say that it might be a software issue of how the phone switches connections)
By that I mean that some forum members (check the Focus Forum) have fiddled with the diagnostic codes to make their Focus phones have a more stable 3g or above connection.
Trying looking into that and posting there since the Omnia community is a little bit smaller it seems.
Or the phone is just not up to scratch ;D
Eriatarka said:
I've placed my Omnia 7 next to my girlfriend's Focus in a place in my house that has traditionally been very poor in reception. She is able to get 1-2 bars on 3G compared to my NO SERVICE-zero bars on EDGE under the same network (ATT). Is anyone else getting fairly weak reception on their Omnia and is it all possible that my 4 year old SIM card is accounting for the difference in signal strength?
Next chance I get, I'll try swapping our SIMs....
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Click to collapse
It could be your SIM if its old and not a 3G sim. Do you get 3G elsewhere?
The reason i ask is that EDGE is a 2G tech.
I work in mobile tech support myself, and i have seen SIM cards cause some seemingly random issues. (1 in particular was a handset unable to read SIM contacts, but his prior phone was OK)
On the other hand, i have also noticed 1 bar less then was displayed by my prior HD2. I have dismissed this as you should not reply on the number or bars to determine signal strength. They are coded differently. There is no standard, and in fact, changes by the Carrier can effect 'bars' displayed on the phone. (Think of a little buzz box with a 20ltr tank reporting 1/2 full, while a 4x4 with a 40ltr tank reporting 1/4. Both have the same amount of fuel)
ive noticed i get a bar or two less than my girlfriends desire and my diamond2 all on the same network & with new sim cards. this generaly means when she has 3G or HSDPA im stuck with GPRS unless were in an area with 3 or 4 bars.
Not entirely sure, but I think the Omnia 7 doesn't support US 3G frequency bands, that's why it's limited to EDGE - and then it depends on where you live... I suppose it's entirely plausible AT&T has a strong 3G network in your area, but not an EDGE one
mine has a good reception ... as good as other devices ...
In my House I sometimes got 4 dots but when a call comes through the connection is lost between talk without walkin on the same spot.. First I thought ok bad reception (had not before with my xperia1) But yesterdaynight I got the same problem outside my home. So the conversation gets totally jammed.
And I live in the Netherlands and not in the county side but in the big city...
So I managed to switch the SIMs on my girlfriend's Focus and my Omnia and unfortunately the poor signal remained on the phone, ruling out the SIM card having any negative effect.
I will get 3G outside my home and sometimes 3G+ (I'm not sure what the difference is), but inside my house, side-by-side, the Focus gets better reception and is more often on 3G whereas my Omnia will get worse reception often on EDGE.
Lame!
I might have to drop some cash for ATT's Microcell... Damn you ATT.
I notice it as well.
When I used my HD, the reception was fine inside MRT tunnels. Now with my Omnia 7 (same SIM card, by the way), I can't get a clear signal inside MRT tunnels during my commute.
Shame.
I don't know what caused it, though.. Anyone can shed a light on the issue ?
Mine has just suddenly started to not have any signal ANYWHERE in the house... the other 2 Vodafone phones here have near-full signal.
Eriatarka said:
So I managed to switch the SIMs on my girlfriend's Focus and my Omnia and unfortunately the poor signal remained on the phone, ruling out the SIM card having any negative effect.
I will get 3G outside my home and sometimes 3G+ (I'm not sure what the difference is), but inside my house, side-by-side, the Focus gets better reception and is more often on 3G whereas my Omnia will get worse reception often on EDGE.
Lame!
I might have to drop some cash for ATT's Microcell... Damn you ATT.
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Click to collapse
Hi I think I have found you a solution. Having been on the Focus forums I have noticed that people have enabled full "3g" through the root menu in diagnosis software.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=839154&page=8 ..... read this first please. Looks like it enabled full 3g but messed up his GPS settings (could be that he configured it wrong) Always make sure that you write down your original settings when using Diagnosis tool!!!!!!
If this doesn't help you then maybe flashing a different rom onto it would work.
I played around with some of the diagnostic settings but nothing really changed.
How exactly do I access the root menu to change the 3G settings you mention?
*#197328640# - Root Menu
Things you can do with this code
Speed up your internet by enabling hspda/hsupa
*#197328640#
1,8,3,5,2,3,[END]
Just be careful with this stuff. And always remember to back up your previous settings by writing them down somewhere so that you can restore it.
The link I gave you above leads to these codes.
BTW .. samsung updated the diagnosis tool .. if you have 0.9 something you might be fine! But if it updated then you will not be able to get into the root menu.

Bad Reception with this phone?

Hi,
Was wondering if anyone got bad reception with their phone. I tried 3 different carriers since I had my ideos, in neither of them I ever had very reliable reception and lately the problem is getting worse. I'm running aurora 4.1a and I loose reception all the time, and the battery drains so quick because it's always looking and looking. My sister, my mum and my dad all have good reception (2 of them with my old carrier and 1 with my current carrier).. I can put my dad's phone (same carrier) next to mine.. he will have full bars with 3g and I'll have no reception at all!!!!!! Then it connects and disconnects again, and so it goes... Anyone having such issues?
Thanks.
Tcm9669 said:
Hi,
Was wondering if anyone got bad reception with their phone. I tried 3 different carriers since I had my ideos, in neither of them I ever had very reliable reception and lately the problem is getting worse. I'm running aurora 4.1a and I loose reception all the time, and the battery drains so quick because it's always looking and looking. My sister, my mum and my dad all have good reception (2 of them with my old carrier and 1 with my current carrier).. I can put my dad's phone (same carrier) next to mine.. he will have full bars with 3g and I'll have no reception at all!!!!!! Then it connects and disconnects again, and so it goes... Anyone having such issues?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having the same problem, I'm running Aurora ICS. I use to always have good reception everywhere, Then suddenly I've just been unable to. Any help would be great! If I do find out any fixes to the issue myself I will sure let you know.
Good to know that I'm not the only one! Thanks. Hope we find a fix soon.
I've fixed mine now, What I've done is I've gone into Settings > Wireless & Network > Mobile Networks, and scrolled all the way to the bottom, and simply re-registered on the network and selected Use only 2G Data. Mines now working fine with full connection everywhere. However I don't know if our problems are exactly the same, however this is what fixed mine. Sorry if this doesn't help.
I have the same issue. Mine connects to 3G and has good connection, but then it simply disconnects and moves to 2G or reconnects to 3G some time later. That happens pretty frequently and I thought it was an issue with the carrier, but now I am not sure anymore.
Blefish, that is EXACTLY what happens to me, and I tried 3 major carriers in Australia (the only 3 that have their own actual towers). Just after I posted this thread, I happened to do the same thing as IwAsBlack recommended and... so far it seems to work. I have generally better connection and I haven't seen that ugly no reception icon since! Of course, internet browsing will be generally a bit slower but then again, it's better than staring at the phone for 3 minutes until it reconnects just to open Google.
You haven't stated which model you have. I got rid of a Motorola Bravo for at U8800-51 and I have excellent performance over AT&T (US). Crystal clear even with only one bar and I have never had a dropped call.
Have the same issue on any ROM with any mobile network in Belarus. Can't use 2G as recommended above 'cos of a huge use of mobile internet for some net-radio.
Sorry for bad Eng.
Its a U8800 Q&A forum, I didn't think that I had to state the version since I have a U8800.
Yesterday I tested and kept an eye on for the whole day! The reception since changing to 2G only has been AWESOME! Only had a drop out when I was in the subway (of course!) but aisde from that, I had amazing reception not to mention.. that my phone lasted the whole day with still 15% left!! (3G on, it would have to charge it twice while I'm at work) So, it fixed my reception AND my battery problems.
Tcm9669 said:
Its a U8800 Q&A forum, I didn't think that I had to state the version since I have a U8800.
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Click to collapse
FYI, Ideos X5 U8800 describes four different models.
I know it does. What I meant is that I have the Normal U8800 model, so I didn't feel like it was necessary for me to point any variant model number like PRO or 51 or H, because it's STANDARD U8800
So we can make a conclusion that U8800 does not operate well on 3G. I can't switch it myself because I want to use internet too. And I am pretty sure we can't do anything about it, no matter if the problem is in hardware or software.
Blefish said:
So we can make a conclusion that U8800 does not operate well on 3G. I can't switch it myself because I want to use internet too. And I am pretty sure we can't do anything about it, no matter if the problem is in hardware or software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mate, if you switch to 2G you will still be able to browse the internet! It will only be a LITTLE bit slower, better than having constant disconnection!!! I constantly use the internet to sync my gmail, send free texts, browse the net and a bunch of other stuff.. works even better on 2G with constant reception, not to mention the benefit of the phone battery lasting a whole day (AND still have internet).. so switch to 2G and you will like it... still good internet only with better reception
Same issue
Having same issue when using GSM/WCDMA auto or preferred modes. works normal on GSM network only.
Even when I have no signal of 3g, gsm is working in the background.
problem arises when I have a call, 3g signal drops to minmimun, after the call phone tries to reconnect with the 3g signal but drops the GSM signal in the process.
Try this , as soon as you disconnect the call, try to call yourself from other at that instant only. Your phone will be shown unreachable because phone drops the GSM signals.
rdagar said:
Having same issue when using GSM/WCDMA auto or preferred modes. works normal on GSM network only.
Even when I have no signal of 3g, gsm is working in the background.
problem arises when I have a call, 3g signal drops to minmimun, after the call phone tries to reconnect with the 3g signal but drops the GSM signal in the process.
Try this , as soon as you disconnect the call, try to call yourself from other at that instant only. Your phone will be shown unreachable because phone drops the GSM signals.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine works on wcdma, but that is because i have the radio.
Sent from my U8800-51

No data but shows h+, toggle

Hi all,
Not sure if this is a problem as my network is upgrading to 4g, but recently I have on occasion seen h+ as my data signal but the phone will not connect at all. No Internet. Emails won't sync. Nothing. I have found that a restart seems to sort it out or flight mode toggle. This didn't always work though. This has only happened recently.
Anybody else have this problem, could it be the network upgrading? (Although I have only seen 4g on my phone once in a different location and the speed was not exactly great, I have seen over 20M on H+ and 4g was about 10)
Getting a 4G signal doesn't necessarily give you good speeds. 4G in our country sucks. I get 4G signal often but my speed still hover around 0.1kb/s up to 1.2mbps, but most of the time it's only < 600kb/s. Fastest I get is only 10mbps, that is around past midnight when everybody is already asleep. And yes, I also get H+ and 4G signals with 0kb/s speed.
The speed was more an observation than anything else, the issue is the fact that I have a network signal, I have H+ being displayed but no connection, as it sometimes clears with a toggle it would point to a phone problem surely?
I also experience that, even with my previous S3.
Guys I have the same problem. I just swapped from S3 to S5. I wouldn't like to change s3 but loosing connection was happening more and more often. Usually I was loosing data signal and only solution for that was rebooting the phone. Once I had to restart it 3 times in a row. Now I have S5 since almost two weeks and I noticed that sometimes I have H+ but I can't use internet at all. It's really annoying. Is it a problem with operators or phone? I am with EE now in UK but I had s3 in Orange.
I have saamung galaxy s5 g900f.my phone show h+ on stausbar but no internet in my room but when im on my hose roof internet is back.i have also s2 gti9100 same netwark fast internet on my room and my house roof. Help Help help
zargam ali said:
I have saamung galaxy s5 g900f.my phone show h+ on stausbar but no internet in my room but when im on my hose roof internet is back.i have also s2 gti9100 same netwark fast internet on my room and my house roof. Help Help help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stop hijacking peoples threads, make your own - you already had posts deleted for this exact thing

Samsung phones and low signal areas?

This is something I have noticed with Samsung phones having owned an S2/3/4. In good signal areas no issues, in weak areas they are a disaster.
Yesterday at work a mast/tower was getting worked on so we were all connected to a different mast, we usually get full signal at work. My S4 was getting no bars, my friends Xperia something or other had 4 bars, another friends iPhone 6 had 3 bars.
Another annoyance is a quirky thing I have only seen Samsung phone do, Emergency Calls Only yet the phone is displaying full bars signal. What seems to happen here is you have no signal on your network so the phone detects any network to enable the ability to make an emergency call. Unless you look at the lock screen displaying the operator name, you have no idea that you actually have no signal.
Does anyone else have these issues?
I should add if I load the GPE rom all is fine, its only TW related it seems

All of a sudden I've lost 4G reception! HELP!!

Hi All,
First time poster with an unusual problem. I live in Australia and have a Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900F which is the European model. Up and till recently I was getting Telstra 4G reception. Now all of a sudden I'm only getting constant 3G reception. I have confirmed that there are no 4G network repair/maintenance/upgrade issues in my area. It was only in the last week that I noticed the constant 3G reception so I can't really pinpoint a specific incident or exact date as to when it actually started happening. Here is what I have tried thus far:
Phone restarts, changing network settings and switching to flight mode.
I've confirmed that the phone network is set to LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect).
I have done numerous hard resets, cache wipes, Dalvik cache wipes, drive wipes, etc.
I have rooted and unrooted the phone numerous times.
I have tried several different stock and custom ROMS.
I have tried 4G SIM cards from other phones.
Tried numerous network switching apps.
NOTHING WORKS!
I always love to tinker with my phone so I'm always looking for ways to improve the phone's performance. It may be that an app (battery improvement/tweaking type apps) I installed somehow changed the network settings but I would have thought a million hard resets would have sorted that all out but apparently not. At the moment I'm running a rooted stock Android 5.1 ROM. I've tried stock Android 4 and 6 as well with no joy.
Here is the unusual thing. When I put in another 4G SIM card into my phone the network still remains on 3G but as soon as I put my SIM card back in 4G magically reappears. It's bizarre. At least I know my phone can still get 4G. You would think that would solve the problem but it doesn't. When I am in an area where the 4G signal is weak the stronger 3G signal kicks in as it is supposed to. When I get back into an area with strong 4G reception the phone remains stuck on 3G and no matter what I do it won't go back to 4G unless I go through the convoluted process described above.
I am all out of ideas. I think I have tried everything possible. I've trawled the web and I appear to be the only person in the world with this problem. I don't know if it is a software or hardware problem with my phone. My SIM card works in other 4G phones so I don't think it is part of the problem. At the end of the day it's not a big deal as 3G is fine but I'm just one of these people that has to fix a problem. Worst case scenario I'll probably upgrade the phone in the next 6 months.
Any suggestions or tips other than what I have listed above would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Bulky

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