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Is there anyway to improve the signal strength on the mini S ? It doesnt seem to be giving me anywhere near as strong a signal on O2 as I got with my Nokia 3650.
Im sure I remember reading something on a model of phone where you could improve the reception although it hit the battery a little.
your thinking of the nokia's and other phones where you could enter a keypress and it would increase the signal and reduce battery life or you could decrease signal and increase battery life. but with my jam in Texas i do have a really bad reception issue, but thats because i have the international jam thats 900/1800/1900 and cingular runs on 850/1900 so thats why i'm getting the k-jam which is quad band... maybe if you go to the power settings and click move the slider to best performance, see if that helps
How do you realize signal strength is lower? Have you actually noticed lower speech quality or is it only the lower count of antenna bars on your display?
Keep in mind that there is no standard on how signal strength has to be displayed. Nokia phones tend to show more bars, whereas a Siemens phone receiving the same signal strength (in dB) would show fewer bars. They do that intentionally, so customers think a Nokia has better radio quality.
inquisitor said:
How do you realize signal strength is lower? Have you actually noticed lower speech quality or is it only the lower count of antenna bars on your display?
Keep in mind that there is no standard on how signal strength has to be displayed. Nokia phones tend to show more bars, whereas a Siemens phone receiving the same signal strength (in dB) would show fewer bars. They do that intentionally, so customers think a Nokia has better radio quality.
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My wife said I was going louder and quieter on one occasion although I could hear her fine. In some places its only on 1 bar on the signal strength indicator. I believe there are 3 or 4 in total arnt there ? So I would consider it a weak signal.
Posted this in the Fascinate forum, but I'd like to know if it is affecting your devices as well:
I believe there is a bug in the signal strength indication on the Fascinate, the one that shows the signal strength in -dBm.
You can see the signal strength of the cell signal on the Menu, Settings, About, Status screen. Or you can place a widget on your Home screen. There are several widgets available, I'm using Mobile Signal Widget.
I have a network extender, which basically creates a cell tower right in your home. With my Motorola Droid, I used to get signal strengths down to about -50 something and 60's in indicated signal strength. I can hold both of our Fascinates right next to the network extender's antenna and they will read no better than -86 dBm. So far I've seen signal strengths from -86 dBm to -106 dBm (terrible).
I believe there is a bug in the software (Baseband) on the Fascinate. Previously, I thought the hardware (antenna/radio) wasn't very good, but now it may be software related.
Has anyone seen a signal strength stronger than -86 dBm on the Fascinate/Epic?
I remember seeing it at -68 dBm on my Epic yesterday.
Hmm, thanks for that. Was that on 3G?
I also feel that this is impacting battery life. My signal is always reading worse than the Evo and TP2 (in the same location) but calls are not dropped.
This leads me to believe that the signal is actually better than the phone thinks. but since the phone thinks the signal is weaker than it is, it boosts the radio power (thus eating more battery.)
If this is not the case, the flip side is much worse and the Epic's antenna is a poor design, requiring higher power.
Every phone that Samsung comes out with that runs Android and the QSC6085 modem processor always has the same general problems.
The Fascinate, Epic 4G, Moment, Intercept, and Acclaim all generally have poor battery life, signal, GPS, and network performance issues, and other related bugs.
I know of other phones like the Droid/X/2 that have the same Qualcomm modem and have no issues whatsoever with network and GPS connectivity.
Is there any way to get source for the Droid phones and fix what's wrong on the Epic?
Thanks for all the replies. Verizon CS wasn't any help, at least the one Guy that responded to my email that I sent them.
LOL. He told me I have to contact the developer of the signal strength app I had on my phone for the problem I was reporting. WTF?
I responded by asking him to send it to higher level technical support personnel.
We'll see how that goes.
In the meantime, I'll probably exchange my Fascinate for a Droid X to get a phone with better reception, GPS function, and network performance.
xliderider said:
Posted this in the Fascinate forum, but I'd like to know if it is affecting your devices as well:
I believe there is a bug in the signal strength indication on the Fascinate, the one that shows the signal strength in -dBm.
You can see the signal strength of the cell signal on the Menu, Settings, About, Status screen. Or you can place a widget on your Home screen. There are several widgets available, I'm using Mobile Signal Widget.
I have a network extender, which basically creates a cell tower right in your home. With my Motorola Droid, I used to get signal strengths down to about -50 something and 60's in indicated signal strength. I can hold both of our Fascinates right next to the network extender's antenna and they will read no better than -86 dBm. So far I've seen signal strengths from -86 dBm to -106 dBm (terrible).
I believe there is a bug in the software (Baseband) on the Fascinate. Previously, I thought the hardware (antenna/radio) wasn't very good, but now it may be software related.
Has anyone seen a signal strength stronger than -86 dBm on the Fascinate/Epic?
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I have the newest Airrave just installed today its in the other room behind my flatscreen and I get 65-db GPS locks in milli seconds and calls are crystal clear data is extremely fast
I briefly had a G2 and quickly returned it to T-Mo and stayed with Verizon due to the signal attenuation issues I had. Additionally, I saw numerous posts about this on AF, XDA, T-Mo Forums and a few other places I cannot remember. My question is, have the software updates that have been pushed through helped this problem any? I really liked this phone, aside from the signal problems and now with it being free through the 20th at T-Mo, I would like to give it another shot, but not if I am going to have more problems.
For those who are wondering what I am talking about, the G2 issues I (and many others) had were similar to the problems iPhone 4 users had where the signal dropped down to very low or nothing by simply holding the phone. I could sit at my desk and watch it go from an H with full bars, then drop to E, to no service, then it would gradually return when I placed it back on my desk.
Additionally, the reason I made a post about this is that the forum topics about this seem to just have stopped, nobody really seems to be screaming "it's fixed!!!" So just trying to get some input as to whether it really is fixed.
Thanks for your input!
ive noticed this as well. It usually happens when I surf the web. No idea? It is annoying but it won't cause me to send it back. I love it too much compared to all the others i've gone through. I'm sure they will isolate the problem and it will get better. (here's hoping)
Never had any places on the phone that I touch where signal will just drop, though out here in the middle of practically nowhere my signal will randomly drop sometimes regardless of what I'm doing with the phone.
I think I suffer from this as well. It constantly drops my data, especially at my house. If I set it on my desk with mobile hotspot it works great, and I'm not touching it so I may have issues with that
I've yet to have this happen. Constant h in my status bar and signal is strong.
Probably a defect phone?
Sent from my Pear phone.
It happens. It happens with every phone, including the G2. It just depends on where the antenna is and how it's held. You can play around with attenuation by enabling dBm signal strength in CM.
To enable it, go to Settings > CyanogenMod Settings > User interface > Status bar > Check Show dBm.
dBm is measured in negative numbers. A higher (less negative) number indicates higher signal strength.
-80dBm is stronger than -100dBm for example.
This is actually a non-issue.
Explanation:
The phone actually picks up signal BETTER than other phones... especially when the signal is weak. The effect that you are seeing is actually the reception returning to a *normal* level when you happen to be holding it in some particular way.
I have two phones; an HTC DREAM and an HTC VISION. Sitting on my desk at work, the DREAM will show 0-1 bars, but connected, the VISION will show 2-3 bars. Holding both in my hand, the DREAM will continue to show 0-1 bars, the VISION will drop to 0-1 bars and both will read the same dBm. Same signal when held, the VISION is just more sensitive (i.e. sensitive in terms of able to hang on to a weaker signal, not sensitive in terms of flakiness).
In contrast to apple junk, the apple junk actually has the antenna wrapped around the outside of the phone. When you hold it in your hand and the signal drops, it isn't suffering from attenuation, its being GROUNDED OUT.
dhkr123 said:
This is actually a non-issue.
Explanation:
The phone actually picks up signal BETTER than other phones... especially when the signal is weak. The effect that you are seeing is actually the reception returning to a *normal* level when you happen to be holding it in some particular way.
I have two phones; an HTC DREAM and an HTC VISION. Sitting on my desk at work, the DREAM will show 0-1 bars, but connected, the VISION will show 2-3 bars. Holding both in my hand, the DREAM will continue to show 0-1 bars, the VISION will drop to 0-1 bars and both will read the same dBm. Same signal when held, the VISION is just more sensitive (i.e. sensitive in terms of able to hang on to a weaker signal, not sensitive in terms of flakiness).
In contrast to apple junk, the apple junk actually has the antenna wrapped around the outside of the phone. When you hold it in your hand and the signal drops, it isn't suffering from attenuation, its being GROUNDED OUT.
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Whatever the cause is, the phone was unusable when I held it in my hand normally. The only semi-fix was to hold the phone at the top near the earpiece, which was uncomfortable...or never touch it.
miller7796 said:
Whatever the cause is, the phone was unusable when I held it in my hand normally. The only semi-fix was to hold the phone at the top near the earpiece, which was uncomfortable...or never touch it.
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Seems like you just have a poor signal or faulty phone to begin with. I don't have that issue at all. In fact this phone seems to hold a data connection in weak areas better than my previous android phone did. If yours was that bad then there was something horribly wrong that warrants replacement.
You may also try CM7, it seems to keep a signal even better than my current ROM does. Not sure why, maybe it's just a placebo effect.
Humm, no issues with Wifi, H or G3 dropping, Bell network though, BUT when I switch from H/ G3 to wifi, if I am on bluetooth, it gets all garbled and I have to hangup call. I would think a location issue or some form of interference you guys are having.
KCRic said:
Seems like you just have a poor signal or faulty phone to begin with. I don't have that issue at all. In fact this phone seems to hold a data connection in weak areas better than my previous android phone did. If yours was that bad then there was something horribly wrong that warrants replacement.
You may also try CM7, it seems to keep a signal even better than my current ROM does. Not sure why, maybe it's just a placebo effect.
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Nah, I'm positive that the sentiment is that the radio hardware does suck and there are definite attenuation challenges. I've now verified this through a myriad of different Desire Z's here.
At my work desk I get HSPA and HSPA+ speeds at times. However holding it drops it down so there are 0 bars and it stays on HSPA, drops to 3G with no bars, back up to HSPA, etc... lots of unnecessary band switching whereas other handsets will not do this. They'll get a lower signal/dB all together though. And their attenuation is a lot less.
If you hold the phone upright the reception is much better. Drop it down and hold it in landscape mode and there is an immediate drop and sometimes it begins switching bands depending on the service area you're in. It can be quite annoying being right on the cusp because that's a huge battery killer.
I really wish there was at least some modest software fixes to accommodate for this flaw. I know that much can't be done hardware wise at this point but I think some improvements should be attainable through updates and optimizations. Hears to hoping because I love my Desire Z!!
bongd said:
Nah, I'm positive that the sentiment is that the radio hardware does suck and there are definite attenuation challenges. I've now verified this through a myriad of different Desire Z's here.
At my work desk I get HSPA and HSPA+ speeds at times. However holding it drops it down so there are 0 bars and it stays on HSPA, drops to 3G with no bars, back up to HSPA, etc... lots of unnecessary band switching whereas other handsets will not do this. They'll get a lower signal/dB all together though. And their attenuation is a lot less.
If you hold the phone upright the reception is much better. Drop it down and hold it in landscape mode and there is an immediate drop and sometimes it begins switching bands depending on the service area you're in. It can be quite annoying being right on the cusp because that's a huge battery killer.
I really wish there was at least some modest software fixes to accommodate for this flaw. I know that much can't be done hardware wise at this point but I think some improvements should be attainable through updates and optimizations. Hears to hoping because I love my Desire Z!!
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Click to collapse
I agree. I experience this the most when I browse the web since I usually browse with the keyboard open.
There is a SIGNIFICANT amount of drop in Wi-Fi signal strenght whem the keyboard is open and your hand is covering the left side (top for portrait). However when the keyboard is closed and you cover the TOP again the signal drop is maybe by 1 bar....
As far as 3G/4G to EDGR drops are concerned.... that can be taken care of... if you go into radio diagnostics (*#*4636#*#* > Phone information) and selecting WCDMA ONLY...... this will prevent phone going into EDGE if minor fluctuations occur in the cell signal. Mind you, this option is only useful if you are in a GOOD 3G/HSPA+ coverage area....
Cheers
funkadesi said:
There is a SIGNIFICANT amount of drop in Wi-Fi signal strenght whem the keyboard is open and your hand is covering the left side (top for portrait). However when the keyboard is closed and you cover the TOP again the signal drop is maybe by 1 bar....
As far as 3G/4G to EDGR drops are concerned.... that can be taken care of... if you go into radio diagnostics (*#*4636#*#* > Phone information) and selecting WCDMA ONLY...... this will prevent phone going into EDGE if minor fluctuations occur in the cell signal. Mind you, this option is only useful if you are in a GOOD 3G/HSPA+ coverage area....
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just remember to change it back to allowing Edge if you are going to travel outside the 3G/HSPA area.
I have noticed this since day one. It was very obvious at weak signal locations such as were I work. Inside a steel building with 20 machines running on 480 volts. I have enabled 180 degree rotation in CM settings and have used it this way so much that I have no doubt that the signal is reduced when the phone is held the "normal" way, in either hand. If I hold it upside down, trackpade at top, then it is fine.... also if the H signal is strong, more than 2 bars.. then it doesn't matter how you hold it.
I have compared this to my G1, that I still own. And the problem is that the G2 seems to have trouble switching from weak H to weak E and I can replicate a loss of signal everytime. I mean that an"x" Is displayed over the signal strength meter. And I can not make calls. This never happened on the G1. I have even disabled the ability to use H and it solved the problem. So then I took the htclib_ril.so from the G1 and used it in the G2. This didn't seem to change much.... So I believe that it IS a problem with the radio, or a problem in the librilswitch.so that does not get referenced in the G1 build.prop. But is in the G2...
If anyone knows how to make adjustments to when the phone switches from H to 3G to G to E I would really like to know. I think it could be the solution we need....
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
When I check my phone it always say HSPA and never HSPA+ whats up when will I know if I'm on 4G I'm in a 4G market Philly!!
I received my G2 yesterday, and it is a lot better at handling a signal when you hold it in your hand. There's still a slight drop in reception when you hold the phone, but more of what you should expect to happen rather than a complete drop down to the dreaded X. Still testing it out a for a few days before deciding to drop Verizon, but I sure do like that I can talk and use data at the same time on the G2.
I've had this problem with my new G2. With either the stock ROM or CM 6.1.1 when I hold it the signal drops. This is a non-issue in areas where there's good coverage, but at my house where the signal is quite weak this usually means the difference between signal and no signal. If I don't hold it the signal improves. My Cliq gets better signal here than my G2 does. Also, the Cliq doesn't suffer any noticeable signal issues when I'm holding it.
It's funny, as I go about my daily routine with my G2 instead of my Cliq, I notice these things. I get much weaker signal in certain areas with my G2 where I got acceptable signal with my Cliq.
trees247 said:
When I check my phone it always say HSPA and never HSPA+ whats up when will I know if I'm on 4G I'm in a 4G market Philly!!
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I don't believe there's an HSPA+ icon. Just H.
Try using the Speedtest.net app to check your speeds. There's no HSPA+ on my network but I still get decent speeds. I just wish coverage was better so I wouldn't switch bands and lose signal all the time. The radio hardware on the G2/DZ sucks!
dhilberg said:
I've had this problem with my new G2. With either the stock ROM or CM 6.1.1 when I hold it the signal drops. This is a non-issue in areas where there's good coverage, but at my house where the signal is quite weak this usually means the difference between signal and no signal. If I don't hold it the signal improves. My Cliq gets better signal here than my G2 does. Also, the Cliq doesn't suffer any noticeable signal issues when I'm holding it.
It's funny, as I go about my daily routine with my G2 instead of my Cliq, I notice these things. I get much weaker signal in certain areas with my G2 where I got acceptable signal with my Cliq.
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The only option I have found yet,(limited time to tinker) is to turn on 180 degree rotation and hold the phone "upside down" it seems to work every time.... So when I am in a place that has weak signal and I need to use data, I flip it around, and it works fine.... I know this is lame considering I paid so much for the phone but.... it does work.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
not feeling wifi on this phone at all compared to my old hd2, not getting any bars at all showing and connection is poor, anyone else seeing this?
stoolzo said:
not feeling wifi on this phone at all compared to my old hd2, not getting any bars at all showing and connection is poor, anyone else seeing this?
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So far no. Full bar for me. Weird..
This is why I hate when new devices get released.
Using the phone outside my 2 story townhouse(router upstairs) with 3bars. Vibrant and hd2 was either 0-1 bars.
Yes, I'm finding it really weak as well, in fact it just dropped back to 3G as I typed this.
I noticed it shows as weak, yea....
Mine seems to have a weaker signal strength on my top floor compared with my desire. Also when running speed tests it struggles to hit 3Mbps downstream on a 38Mbps BT infinity line.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Stronger signal for me .
jje
definitely a weaker signal for me compared to my desire.
i'm getting 2 bars out of 4 despite being in the very next room to my router. it's 4 bars on my desire.
:-(
Might I suggest that the difference may be in the amount of interference your Wifi is experiencing? Try switching to a different "channel" on the router or even from 2.4 to 5GHz band (not sure if the phone supports this but worth a shot). I used to have a problem with this when i first got my SGS1 and when i swapped my wifi router to a new channel the problem disappeared.
Good luck
huh, to me the signal is the same if not better than the hd2.
the same here european version! 5 meters away it shows 1 bar only.
I'm currently 20m away from my router and behind a couple of walls and I get 2/4 bars on the Wifi and on the Speedtest app I get
Ping: 25ms
Download: 5946kbps
Upload: 3882kbps
In my opinion that qualifies as decent signal strength and quite a bit better than what I got with my N1.
edit:
And just to clarify, if I'm in the same room as the router I get full bars on Wifi.
I'm having no problems with WiFi. I get full signal in my living room (the same room as the router), and in my kitchen (which is about 10m away and has 2 stud partition walls and one masonry wall between it and my living room) I get 2 bars. So its as good as I'd expect, however I haven't tried checking my connection just outside my flat, but I live in an old school house with 2ft external walls, so I'm guessing I wont get much of a signal.
My laptops' WiFi behaves the very same. If your WiFi is worse than your previous phone....something wrong!
Wifi is fine on mine. I'm 2 floors away from the router and can get a two bar signal no problem.
Low also although it seems to perform ok.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
for me
2.4ghz band is stronger than my sgs 1
and 5ghz band is weaker than my sgs 2
I noticed on my s1, froyo showed more strength bars than when I installed gingerbread. Maybe it is just a display problem caused by gingerbread?
Wifi signal is more stable than in sgs1 or my HTC desire.
10m from router, 3 walls
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
I get slightly higher signal strength with the SGS2 than I do with my Nexus One (dBm as viewed in Wifi Analyzer).
However, I do have definite throughput issues -- can't get over 2mbps downstream on my SGS2 vs 6-8mbps downstream on my Nexus One at home. However, on my work network it's a different matter - the SGS2 is slightly faster than the N1. To me this suggests that either there is a compatibility issue between the SGS2 and certain APs, or the SGS2 is more prone to interference than the N1...
Hi, you could try wifi analyzer app, it will show you the strongest signal on channels.
loved my g2 but i think it has weaker signal on low signal areas. i made a comparison with my iphone 5s same sim network, iphone 5s has at least 2 or 1 dot of signal and never drops but my lg g2 always show an x on the signal bars. anyone experienced this? any solution or maybe its a hardware problem?