Hey guys,
Something I'm interested in. Not sure how many of you will have experience with the 4s though...
I work in a store in central London which is in a pretty old building. Our store build is achient and it's all concrete and metal floors, along with the old brick of the building.
To say simply, signal in our shop sucks. We get 3g on the counter, but it's very dodgy. Many people get no signal downstairs in our office/staff area which is also a basement.
Many of us are on the O2 network, including me now (via the excellent giffgaff!). All of my colleagues on iphone 4 get no signal around the manager desk area. I do, though it's a little more dodgy than when I was on vodafone. (used to get a solid Edge connection all the way to the back, then solid G)
What really surprised me is that one of my colleagues now has an iphone 4s, which has a far improved antena design. He does not get signal on the managers desk. I do...
Has anyone else seem the Sgs2 radio beat the 4s radio? I'm using the kl1 radio and the reception has been amazing on it.
It seriously really surprised me. Makes me want to keep my baby for a long while longer!
Cheers
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Yes but that's comparing to my colleagues we've moved into a new building reception is poor I get a decent signal on a good modem where as some colleagues with iPhones suffer.
Also found that giffgaff/o2 in the same building is better than Vodafone.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
The iPhone has a very bad antenna design, from an engineering standpoint. Form over function.
tableteer said:
The iPhone has a very bad antenna design, from an engineering standpoint. Form over function.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The iPhone 4 sure had an engineering fail, but you definetely can't be serious by saying the 4S has an antenna flaw. It doesn't, and it gets just as good a signal as my GSII does.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
I've tested the radio both in Los Angeles and Beijing. In Los Angeles, the reception on my i4S is quite a bit better running on ATT network. Download and upload speeds are about 2X better on the i4S. Call quality is also better on the i4S. With wifi the i4S and sgs2 get about the same dl/ul speeds but the i4S has a much better range.
In Beijing with both phones operating on China Mobile's crappy edge network both are about the same. Call quality is equally good with maybe a slight nod to the i4S as it has more volume. Wifi is still the same story with the i4S getting 2-3X the range as my sgs2.
Why not club together , or get the company, to buy a signal booster? This would just be a relay cell to the nearest O2 cell.
Related
Pretty much as topic, not sure if anyone has any first hand experience of it.
higly doubt that since i heard 3g issues were because of tmobile. So far i havent heard of bad reception from the early incredible reviewers but we wont know till its out.
i doubt it... seeing as how the chipset is different(cdma chipset not gsm) and the carrier is different... your results may very tho...
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
Sorry I wasnt very specifc, I was thinking in the UK, O2 to be specific. N1 and BBerry Bold 9000 sitting next to each other, N1 on not even half 2G, BBerry on max 3g.
Well considering it won't be released in the UK you'll never know? Why even ask?
Honestly77 said:
Well considering it won't be released in the UK you'll never know? Why even ask?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping we would eventually get a UK version, but obviously we've just been shafted with the desire.... WE HAD THE N1 ALREADY WHY GIVE US THE SAME PHONE
Really doubt it. T-Mobile 3G bands require a second Antenna. The Antenna was located at the bottom of the nexus which was a design flaw and thus why 3G was terrible. Not to mention T-Mobile has terrible 3G coverage.
I just made the move from T-mo Nexus one to the Incredible through Verizon.
I had two replacement devices sent to me because of the 3g issues and all the other problems this device was plagued with from day one.
The incredible so far has been perfect. No 3G issues at all.
I am sure that T-mo's 3g coverage was partly to blame but that wasn't the only cause of this problem. With a T-mo G1 and a T-mo Nexus one sitting side by side often the N1 would bounce back and forth between 3g and Edge if it was able to get the 3g at all. This was with all 3 N1's I used. all the while my G1 had a perfect 3g connection.
Not the Incredible. Great phone. Incredibly snappy. Fast 3g through Verizon. No complaints as of yet.
Fingers Crossed...
my friends incredible southern california area has been getting really low 3g signals. im always at full HSDPA bars and he gets 1 or two bars if hes lucky.....
ive also read that a lot of phones has been rebooting randomly on its own, and some speculate on that low signal. you think his phone is defective?
one of the area's the rebooting was happening in (reportedly) was one of the Carolinas (quite a few customers), and Verizon speculated that it had to do with the local towers causing the problem,
Also the signal bar indicator looks to be a software problem, do a comparison of signal strength and you will see what I'm talking about. I looked at 3 different phones that had full bars, mine had only one bar..but when you look at the signal strength it was almost identical.
my major gripe is battery life, but I just ordered the Seidio replacement
Gimpeh said:
Really doubt it. T-Mobile 3G bands require a second Antenna. The Antenna was located at the bottom of the nexus which was a design flaw and thus why 3G was terrible. Not to mention T-Mobile has terrible 3G coverage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lots of HTC phones have the antenna at the bottom of the phone The Touch HD and the Incredible to name a few. \
I have had no 3G issues, The antenna indicator always reads a bar less then my droid did in the same spot but the phones perform the same and I have read that this is most likely a false reading
h2opoloplyr_11 said:
my friends incredible southern california area has been getting really low 3g signals. im always at full HSDPA bars and he gets 1 or two bars if hes lucky.....
ive also read that a lot of phones has been rebooting randomly on its own, and some speculate on that low signal. you think his phone is defective?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the dB's, not the "bars". Bars read a little lower, but signal strength is better on DI compared to a lot of other phones.
Overall, I thought moto droid's quality and reception were good, the DI appears to be a few steps above that!
So far, DI's been flawless!!
You canals force 3g by dialing #*#*4636*#*# and select evdo from phone information menu. That's what I use when I really need to browse.
syntrix said:
Check the dB's, not the "bars". Bars read a little lower, but signal strength is better on DI compared to a lot of other phones.
Overall, I thought moto droid's quality and reception were good, the DI appears to be a few steps above that!
So far, DI's been flawless!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
duh why didnt i think of that??? LOL
my 3G reception has been terrible on two Incredibles. varies from -100 to -105 dBm. and its not a service area issue. my room mate has a droid and gets excellent 3G speed and call quality in the same room. My data speeds are slower than at&t 2G and voice is to the point of unusable. some of these phones that go out are certainly bad
Verizon CS has been very helpful in this process, but i still dont have a phone thats usable
my friends incredible southern california area has been getting really low 3g signals. im always at full HSDPA bars and he gets 1 or two bars if hes l
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the dB's, not the "bars". Bars read a little lower, but signal strength is better on DI compared to a lot of other phones.
Overall, I thought moto droid's quality and reception were good, the DI appears to be a few steps above that!
So far, DI's been flawless!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked my signal strength compared to my fiance's droid, my incredible got the same and sometimes better. the bars on the incredible lagged some and would show one less. For the most part they fluctuated about the same.
Sent from my ADR6300 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
This is the lamest "mod" ever.
If you are experiencing dropped wifi because you are just barely within signal (like I am at work), holding the phone in landscape orientation with the backlit hardware keys on the right will increase your wifi signal by two bars. Im assuming the chip is on the right side of the phone.
Cheers
Sent from my Atrix using XDA App
I definitely got to try this on Monday....my wifi signal sucks @ work:-(
Mine does the opposite.
Never live in the past but always learn from it.
Lol it works and I'm sat next to the router! How bizarre.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App
Tennis11 said:
Mine does the opposite.
Never live in the past but always learn from it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it depends on router location. Both orientations should be tried. This saved me because holding the phone upright drops signal every few minutes, but landscape is a solid 2
Sent from my Atrix using XDA App
makes sense that the wifi antenna is on the right since if it is plugged into a dock (left side down, where the hdmi/usb are), the wifi would be able to get the best signal....dont know this for a fact but makes sense
Room7 said:
makes sense that the wifi antenna is on the right since if it is plugged into a dock (left side down, where the hdmi/usb are), the wifi would be able to get the best signal....dont know this for a fact but makes sense
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point
Sent from my Atrix using XDA App
from my understanding,
the way antennas work is that they have a null/hole perpendicular to how they're pointed.
in other words, if the transmitting antenna is pointing straight up and down, then the receiving antenna should be pointing straight up and down for the best reception. otoh, for the WORST reception, the receiving antenna should then be pointing sideways (if the transmitting is pointing straight up and down.)
therefore, in a perfect world, if you wanted the best coverage...on a router with two antennas, you'd point one straight up and down, and another sideways. that way you have everything covered...the straight up and down, and the sideways...and everything inbetween.
but we don't live in a perfect world...and there are walls, reflections and cancellations...and so came the rise of the "rabbit ear" tv antenna position..two antennas pointed 45degrees off center...which is a compromise. each antenna is now more likely to pick up "something" vs "nothing". you may not get the best reception, but you won't get the worst...and you shouldn't get "holes".
and so with the atrix, it'd depend how the wifi antennas are situated vs how your router antennas are situated vs the wifi reflections off the walls, etc.
also, if you think about it, if the antennas are on the side...then in portrait mode your hands are covering the antennas, whereas in landscape mode you're not.
The atrix has N draft wireless and i have been less than impressed with the signal strength seeing as my iphone back in the day could get much better signal in identical situations. However this does not by any means diminish the awesomeness of android over iOS
Khoops66 said:
The atrix has N draft wireless and i have been less than impressed with the signal strength seeing as my iphone back in the day could get much better signal in identical situations. However this does not by any means diminish the awesomeness of android over iOS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because of the location of the wifi chip on the phone. I get better signal with my Atrix lanscape, hardware keys to the right, than I could get with my iphone 4 in ANY orientation.
Sent from my Atrix using XDA App
Khoops66 said:
The atrix has N draft wireless and i have been less than impressed with the signal strength seeing as my iphone back in the day could get much better signal in identical situations. However this does not by any means diminish the awesomeness of android over iOS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im holding a new atrix an a new iphone4. Not only is the atrix reception better it can see 6 wifi networks, the iphone only 2.
On data 2g when in devon i was downloading apps and checking emails while the iphone couldnt get any reception on the same mobile supplier.
Jonnym
i like both phones and there os's but the atrix is far better connected
Jonnym said:
Im holding a new atrix an a new iphone4. Not only is the atrix reception better it can see 6 wifi networks, the iphone only 2.
On data 2g when in devon i was downloading apps and checking emails while the iphone couldnt get any reception on the same mobile supplier.
Jonnym
i like both phones and there os's but the atrix is far better connected
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has not been my experience at all. My Atrix gets worse wifi connection under all circumstances compared to my iphone 4.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Damn that does work..
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Jonnym said:
Im holding a new atrix an a new iphone4. Not only is the atrix reception better it can see 6 wifi networks, the iphone only 2.
On data 2g when in devon i was downloading apps and checking emails while the iphone couldnt get any reception on the same mobile supplier.
Jonnym
i like both phones and there os's but the atrix is far better connected
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in Devon and just waiting on my Atrix to be delivered so I can move my IP4 back to 2nd / spare phone. where I work is right on the fringe area of 3g signal and i find the Iphone will hold onto 3g and end up dropping calls, when it should let it go and drop to 2g like most phones do when they are in the same place.
Its good to know in your experience the Atrix has better signal and hopefully in a couple hours I'll be able to post the same confirmation. I also have a wifi network close by our office that lappies can see but normally phones dont so will be interesting to see if the Atrix lists it.
Kevin
I would like to also confirm holding it sideways as mentioned really does seem to work! mad.
Jonnym
Tinyk said:
I'm in Devon and just waiting on my Atrix to be delivered so I can move my IP4 back to 2nd / spare phone. where I work is right on the fringe area of 3g signal and i find the Iphone will hold onto 3g and end up dropping calls, when it should let it go and drop to 2g like most phones do when they are in the same place.
Its good to know in your experience the Atrix has better signal and hopefully in a couple hours I'll be able to post the same confirmation. I also have a wifi network close by our office that lappies can see but normally phones dont so will be interesting to see if the Atrix lists it.
Kevin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't take my experience as a all encompassing rule. Where we were there is no 3g at all. My laptop is about the same on seeing the other networks as my Atrix but better at staying connected to them.
Any one had any luck using BTopenzone?
I used to own an Atrix and got rid of it because of the Wifi performance and a couple of other minor things. I'm wondering though, if I loaded a custom rom, could it literally improve the Wifi performance?
On my Inspire, the Wifi strength got better when I loaded cm7. Has anyone that's loaded cm7 on their Atrix noticed an improvement in Wifi performance?
I would literally have to hold the Atrix in landscape orientation to pick up signal at work where my iPhone 4 and Inspire can pick it up regularly.
Sent from my microwave
I'd have to say that your particular phone had a problem. Mine has awesome wifi strength. Way better than my Tilt2 or iPhone 3GS....and way faster since it's "n".
Maybe I should use the term range not performance.
I had 3 different Atrix's and they had the same range and were all dead in the same spots.
Sent from my microwave
Haven't noticed a difference in roms and wifi performance....
My 3gs hasvway better range then ny ATRIX ... so sad.
Still ... its not an issue since I have pretty good 3g coverage in my area.
Sent from my alien
Yes, unfortunately the atrix wifi range isn't that good. I have trouble picking up signal where others do so easily.
I wonder if the antenna is too small... would it be possible to "embed" a wire inside the back cover and connect it to the regular antenna to create a makeshift range extender?
Edit: iI think the phone's radio has influence over wifi reception, but it can only go so far. Might not be 'improveable' as much as we'd like to.
s1mpd1ddy said:
Haven't noticed a difference in roms and wifi performance....
My 3gs hasvway better range then ny ATRIX ... so sad.
Still ... its not an issue since I have pretty good 3g coverage in my area.
Sent from my alien
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Click to collapse
Very sad yes. I work in a lead lined building and have no service whatsoever, I completely rely on Wifi.
Sent from my microwave
That'd be your particular device's problem. Atrix got best wifi performance IMHO. Very fast and responsive. SpeedTest.net results shows that with the wifi at my home, my XT720 returns a speed of 7~8 Mbps where Atrix always returns 12~16 Mbps of speed.
I'd say the reduction in range is due to the improvement in speed.
My Atrix get's my wifi signal about 20m through 4-5 concrete walls, occasionally I've also noticed it get's it through 3 levels in my apartment building, though I don't have anything else to compare it too.
seh6183 said:
Maybe I should use the term range not performance.
I had 3 different Atrix's and they had the same range and were all dead in the same spots.
Sent from my microwave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt a ROM will significantly improve the wifi range on the Atrix, more of hardware thing IMO.
Same behavior for me at work too. My old BB 8900 can hold onto the weak wifi signal (around 80-90dbm) better than my Atrix. If I run too much data on wifi on the Atrix, the wifi will throw too many errors and disconnect. I ran logcat to see all of the fun stuff going on to figure this out.
Fortunately work is upgrading the wireless network soon .
There has been several radio firmware packages released since you got rid of yours I think. The latest AT&T one (1.77.30P) definitelly made things better all around for me.
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
beatphreek said:
There has been several radio firmware packages released since you got rid of yours I think. The latest AT&T one (1.77.30P) definitelly made things better all around for me.
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
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I wish there was a way to test this without going out and buying a phone.
Sent from my microwave
seh6183 said:
I wish there was a way to test this without going out and buying a phone.
Sent from my microwave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The new radio helps the range a little vs the radio in 2.2.2 for me. The wifi disconnects less frequently, but it still disconnects from time to time. If you rely solely on wifi it's not worth it IMO.
My wifi is awesome and all I have are access to g routers. Speed and distance.
I voided my warranty and your mum.
gnahc79 said:
The new radio helps the range a little vs the radio in 2.2.2 for me. The wifi disconnects less frequently, but it still disconnects from time to time. If you rely solely on wifi it's not worth it IMO.
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Click to collapse
I agree. Thank you for the info.
Sent from my microwave
Especially the Verizon version. M8 is about equal or slightly weaker than the S4. That metal body apparently needed a little more plastic strip areas.
rushless said:
Especially the Verizon version. M8 is about equal or slightly weaker than the S4. That metal body apparently needed a little more plastic strip areas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this a question? or a statement? or what?
M8 has stronger signal than S4, HTC radios are MUCH better than Sammy's. As are Moto's.
TechSavvy2 said:
Is this a question? or a statement? or what?
M8 has stronger signal than S4, HTC radios are MUCH better than Sammy's. As are Moto's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not always... The Evo Lte on Sprint had a terrible radio.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
yeah its not always like that.
As far the M8, it seems no better or 1 to 2 dBm points weaker than the S4. We also have a 5s and DNA to compare with. In order of reception:
DNA
5s
S4/M8
My family's comparison suggests the M8 is not a great device for radio reception on the Verizon network in the areas we live. The wifi also seems weaker on the M8. Too much metal?
The one phone we have not tested yet is the S5, so as per the topic, does it have better reception than previous Samsung models to the S4? I am not juggling anymore phones and my son
is an HTC fan. Loves the DNA and the M8.
I would like to know this as well before I make the jump
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
I live in an area where I'm a tenth of a mile in any direction I can get good 4g signal, but at my house I can't even get a string signal on my roof, so I feel like I have good perspective on signal strength. I had 2 note 3's and one was better than the other but both pretty poor and would loose signal 75% of the time. The s4 and s4 mini have the best. The HTC one was in between those two extremes. So far with the s5 I feel like it is a bit better than the s4 and on our with the s4 mini.
jonno95 said:
I live in an area where I'm a tenth of a mile in any direction I can get good 4g signal, but at my house I can't even get a string signal on my roof, so I feel like I have good perspective on signal strength. I had 2 note 3's and one was better than the other but both pretty poor and would loose signal 75% of the time. The s4 and s4 mini have the best. The HTC one was in between those two extremes. So far with the s5 I feel like it is a bit better than the s4 and on our with the s4 mini.
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Click to collapse
That's impressive. I hope this is true for the San Diego area because I currently have a HTC rezound from over 2 years ago and looking to upgrade possibly to the gs5. The rezound has great reception in my opinion and I'm hoping if I do get the gs5 that it will be just as good if not better.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
Please use the thread here for this discussion...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2690799
I am really trying to love this phone and not go back to my Galaxy S8(Which I also loved). Without blasting about how or why or whatever else we could come up with to be derogatory, please tell me in the poll what service you are using with and if the signal is the same, worse or better than your previous device on the same network. Thanks in advance!
Eric
Verizon here. Signal seems to be on par with all my previous phones.
Previous device: HTC 10 - PH-1 is Better, significantly.
Also have a S7 Edge as a work phone - PH-1 is Better, not but by a few dB but still better.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA Labs
I'm on AT&T and my signal is horrible with this phone compared to other phones I've used at home. I usually get a strong signal but I'm having a horrible one and constant drop outs. I posted in the t-mobile signal thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=73653547&postcount=34
I saw your post, my signal has been subpar to say the least... I am wondering if this phone is having issues with GSM and dropping down to HSPA or something. It doesn't even try... My other phones would do that if the signal was atrocious but rarely needed too. It seems like this one just is horrible inside buildings as I get "decent" signal outside. Before, my service was on par with Verizon IMO.
Cricket wireless on par with other phones used. Just as good and no worse.
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
are you in an area that gets good ATT reception?
I'm on AT&T also and my signal is much worse. I have a weboost booster in my house too and I watched the signal drop from full bars to nothing at like -120 dBm and back to like -90dBm several times. I already switched back to my pixel XL till I decide what I want to do. I should have solid signal with a booster in my house.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
graffixnyc said:
I'm on AT&T and my signal is horrible with this phone compared to other phones I've used at home. I usually get a strong signal but I'm having a horrible one and constant drop outs. I posted in the t-mobile signal thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=73653547&postcount=34
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HAve u tried my thread man: https://forums.oneplus.net/threads/...lte-faster-and-fixes-all-your-problems.77304/
bestlands said:
HAve u tried my thread man: https://forums.oneplus.net/threads/...lte-faster-and-fixes-all-your-problems.77304/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
spotmark said:
Verizon here. Signal seems to be on par with all my previous phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here in Hayward, Ca.
T-mobile here in Bay Area. Seems faster than my old Sony.
So with limited results it seems the issue is intermittent?
I tried a Verizon sim in my phone and had decent reception, I swapped my tmobile sim for a brand new one at the store and I don't think it made a difference... I don't know what to do
Verizon here. For me, it's hit or miss. After being on Wi-Fi, it takes a while to reacquire a good data signal. Also, I seem to be dropping a data signal in places where I never did with my Google Pixel.
I'm hoping some kind of update might fix these issues. Until then, I am going back to my S8
AT&T Florida, same signal quality as the last two phones, S8+ and Pixel XL.
The thing I never thought would bother me is not having a case at all on the phone, I mean its slicker than snot.
I never even thought about it being designed to NOT have a case before I bought it.
But then how would you attach the camera with a case on it.
I do have a skin for the back of it on the way, hopefully it wont affect camera attachment.
going_home said:
AT&T Florida, same signal quality as the last two phones, S8+ and Pixel XL.
The thing I never thought would bother me is not having a case at all on the phone, I mean its slicker than snot.
I never even thought about it being designed to NOT have a case before I bought it.
But then how would you attach the camera with a case on it.
I do have a skin for the back of it on the way, hopefully it wont affect camera attachment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just needing a case so I can connect the phone to the CD slot mount in my car. Just a lightweight, basic case for that usage. And somehow there are no cases available at all.
Where did you buy the skin?
I went back to the s8 for the time being, I need a phone that is reliable and at this time that is not my essential device
MetroPCS - Atlanta coming from a 6p I get better signal everywhere. Calls sound clearer.