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I live in a really good LTE area, I almost always have 4 or 5 bars no matter where I go.
I've encountered a strange issue, however, in that sometimes I will have a very strong LTE signal-- but the phone will drop to 3G anyway. Restarting the phone will usually make 4G appear for a couple minutes, and I can speedtest at the usual LTE speeds, but then it will randomly drop back to 3G & speedtest at 3G speeds.
I should note that this doesn't happen in all areas, only a few around town where I'm at quite often. One is right by a Verizon store, and I know that there is strong 4G coverage in that area because all of the 4G phones in there have 5 bars.
Has this been happening to anyone else? Is there a way to switch to 4G-only like on the Thunderbolt? I've done some searching but have so far come up empty handed.
Edit: I should note that I'm using a rooted kernel, but this problem happened before I rooted in the exact same fashion.
I'm sorry to say that you probably have no idea what your 4G signal strength really is. You sure can't use the bars at the top of the screen - Those only show your phone call signal strength ... Not your 4G data signal strength.
There is an app out there that will show the different signal strengths available to your phone, but I can't remember the name right now (it's in the Market). If I think of it, I'll repost.
Cheers,
Oh I see... I had just assumed there was a correlation since my speed test results-- around 20mbps down and 6-10 up before switching back to 3G-- seemed to suggest I was getting fairly good reception.
¿GotJazz? said:
I'm sorry to say that you probably have no idea what your 4G signal strength really is. You sure can't use the bars at the top of the screen - Those only show your phone call signal strength ... Not your 4G data signal strength.
There is an app out there that will show the different signal strengths available to your phone, but I can't remember the name right now (it's in the Market). If I think of it, I'll repost.
Cheers,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mobile Signal Widget.
Sent from my Droid Charge running Humble 1.4
kvswim said:
Mobile Signal Widget.
Sent from my Droid Charge running Humble 1.4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I was thinking of: Network Signal Info
vash1053 said:
Oh I see... I had just assumed there was a correlation since my speed test results-- around 20mbps down and 6-10 up before switching back to 3G-- seemed to suggest I was getting fairly good reception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard to say about your 4G reception drop-outs.
As far as the signal strength indication in the status bar, I found out the hard way. There was a posting a few months ago, where somebody was asking if there was a way to force your Charge to use the LTE network all the time. I actually found a way to do it, but there was a hefty price to pay: You couldn't make phone calls or send text messages. When configured to force LTE only, you could get lots of that 4G love for internet browsing, and you could see the 4G icon in the status bar. However, you also saw a red slash for the signal strength icon, indicating there was no signal.
So, weak or no correlation between the signal strength display and actual 4G signal strength. Someone else confirmed this in that thread.
¿GotJazz? said:
Actually, I was thinking of: Network Signal Info
Hard to say about your 4G reception drop-outs.
As far as the signal strength indication in the status bar, I found out the hard way. There was a posting a few months ago, where somebody was asking if there was a way to force your Charge to use the LTE network all the time. I actually found a way to do it, but there was a hefty price to pay: You couldn't make phone calls or send text messages. When configured to force LTE only, you could get lots of that 4G love for internet browsing, and you could see the 4G icon in the status bar. However, you also saw a red slash for the signal strength icon, indicating there was no signal.
So, weak or no correlation between the signal strength display and actual 4G signal strength. Someone else confirmed this in that thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The signal strength in the notifications bar correlates to the quality of the calling/texting signal (evdo I think). Has nothing to do with the data signal strength.
Sent from my Droid Charge running Humble 1.42
So I've been monitoring things using the suggested apps for a couple weeks, and I'm getting -65dbm on LTE before it switches to 3G in these select areas... I'll post a screenie when I get home.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
This is happening here in Tampa a lot lately. Friends with tbolt are seeing same thing. Started three days ago or so.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
First ~1 - 10 minutes of being at one of these strange areas:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/vash1053/SC20110816-145555.png
After ~1 - 10 minutes:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/vash1053/SC20110816-150708.png
Is there, perhaps, a 3G tower nearby that's erroneously "weighted" heavier than the nearby 4G tower? I have no idea if it even works like that, heh.
Had an odd incident yesterday when my phone switched to 3G and wouldn't switch back to 4G until I rebooted the phone.
Rebooting cures a number of ills, apparently.
This happens to me occasionally, all I do is switch to airplane mode and then switch back.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
I use that method (restarting and the airplane mode trick) and sometimes it works, but never in the areas described in my OP. It might work for a minute or two but it always reverts...
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
Your phone is set to find and capture the strongest signal regardless of download speed... If 3g and 4g are both coming in at -65 dbm then its really a coin flip but your 3g is winning the consistency battle at holding at or below -65
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA Premium App
-55dbm is about the best you can do signal wise... 3g will always get closer than 4g so on fringe areas your 4g won't work
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA Premium App
I wish there was a way to lock the phone in 4G only, especially in a good LTE area.
T-Mobile acknowledges a known issue with data connectivity on the One S:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-4288
I'm guessing this is the same issue others have reported on the EU One S(wherein the data indicator jumps back and forth between H and 3G and takes ages to load), but the T-Mobile US software, like on all their recent phones, is modded so the indicator will only ever say 4G.
Reviewer has also stated that using EU-based ROMs on the T-Mobile US One S will cause "data bugs," so I'm wondering if this is what he is referring to. If it is, the bug appears to exist in both the T-Mobile US ROM and the EU ROM.
Has anyone had this issue in their T-Mobile US One S? What are your experiences? I've mostly been at home and on wifi since I got the phone a few days ago.
I had an issue with using an EU rom and the data switching back and forth from H and 3G. I reverted to stock nandroid (provided by reviewer) and haven't had an issue with switching between 3G and 4G while at work. As with you I am on Wi-Fi at home so I'm not too sure if I am affected. But I do know that while I was on the EU rom I had drastic drops in signal and network speeds as compared to the stock rom.
Sent from H1S using xda Prem
shinkinrui said:
T-Mobile acknowledges a known issue with data connectivity on the One S:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-4288
I'm guessing this is the same issue others have reported on the EU One S(wherein the data indicator jumps back and forth between H and 3G and takes ages to load), but the T-Mobile US software, like on all their recent phones, is modded so the indicator will only ever say 4G.
Reviewer has also stated that using EU-based ROMs on the T-Mobile US One S will cause "data bugs," so I'm wondering if this is what he is referring to. If it is, the bug appears to exist in both the T-Mobile US ROM and the EU ROM.
Has anyone had this issue in their T-Mobile US One S? What are your experiences? I've mostly been at home and on wifi since I got the phone a few days ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I am using stock US T-mobile, as of yet unrooted because I might take it back. Connectivity is soo spotty. I have not contacted t-mobile yet because I want to collect as much info as possible. It's either 4g or nothing, that's true. And often, it's nothing. My old 3g phone would drop to edge and stay connected. This one will just drop the connection and that happens to often.
I've been using the One S for about a week and zero issues. My residence is only covered by edge but Park City and Salt Lake City I get solid 4g with zero drops or hiccups.
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using XDA
No issues here. I drop from HSPA to Edge in a fringe area but data never stops.
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda premium
I don't have any data problems only time I see it low is when I turn it on it goes from 2g 3g to 4g. I haven't encountered any problems yet other then WiFi dropping then reboots when I try to reconnect
Sent from my HTC One S using XDA
I'm affected. Many times when I open the browser to search for something, I'll get the No Data Connection window pop up, even though status bar shows 3G or 4G. I close that, reload the screen, try again and it usually works. It's as though it fails to hook up to the network until it tries a few times.
I dont really have data drop issues. My 2 issues are that it switches from hspda to umts periodically, but that doesnt affect data.
I have a concern though that I feel like reception is poorer on this phone. my gs2 would hold a better signal. In fact on the gs2 i never dropped calls, whereas on the one s i had a few.
Can a radio update fix this?
mikea3000 said:
I dont really have data drop issues. My 2 issues are that it switches from hspda to umts periodically, but that doesnt affect data.
I have a concern though that I feel like reception is poorer on this phone. my gs2 would hold a better signal. In fact on the gs2 i never dropped calls, whereas on the one s i had a few.
Can a radio update fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite possibly.
u think a radio fix can correct an issue with one handset getting a stronger signal than another? isnt that a hw issue?
mikea3000 said:
u think a radio fix can correct an issue with one handset getting a stronger signal than another? isnt that a hw issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What? You're comparing two different devices. A radio issue can cause lower signal so a radio update can give you more signal.
seangprice said:
I've been using the One S for about a week and zero issues. My residence is only covered by edge but Park City and Salt Lake City I get solid 4g with zero drops or hiccups.
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, also in the Salt Lake area... maybe this a regional issue?
Same issue here in Boston. I don't get dropped but the signal goes up and down most of the time.
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda premium
I'm not having any issues and I'm getting great data speed
I'm in Louisville ky
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda premium
Good god, praise Heysoose H Christ. Finally SOMEBODY acknowledges there's an issue.
---------- Post added at 03:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:53 PM ----------
strker45 said:
I'm not having any issues and I'm getting great data speed
I'm in Louisville ky
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just performed one, and got the delay/interrupt, my results were:
Download: 110kbps
Upload: 710kbps
A previous attempt last week netted 9102 down, 2065 up....that was obviously WITHOUT the bug.
I am near Chicago First let me just say for some reason my reception really never goes past 3 bars and sometimes I have none at all in places the sgs2 would have plenty dont know if this is just me...but man when data is good its phenomenal I have got up to 25mb down and 3 up but the interruptions in reception and data kill that pretty bad..so I am very torn about this phone I hope it isn't hardware related because the EU version has the same bug..
Same here most of the time I only have a max of 3 bars and I noticed sometime when I have all bars when i pick it up I lose a bar or two
Yes, phone does have connectivity issues. I live in New York and my previous phone would never go down one single bar on 4G, except in my job where my 4G goes down to 2 bars.
Now my bars go up and down like waves and jumps from 4G to 3G constantly, and in my job I just get 2G. It really sucks. Let's hope it's fixed with a hardware update and that it's not the actual chip.
Experience is exactly as you specify. Stock Rom always displayed 4g....custom Roms flip between 3g, h and I even saw an e today?!
Although time with stock was limited...I do believe, whether just a label or not, seemed data was faster with stock. Regardless....no complaints.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium
I don't think I have ever had a phone with Tmous where this wasn't a problem. I just figured it was T-mobile's network kicking me off so I wouldn't hog all the bandwidth. In other words, every smartphone I have had with tmobile has had this issue.
Not recommended to flash the modem unless you are in a good 4G area. I clean flashed AOKP M1 ROM flashed VRBLI5 modem . While in good 4G area had no problems as soon as I left (I am a truck driver) my signal and data started acting up. No data or 1x data signal also cell signal very week and a few dropped calls. So I flashed the VRLAHE modem now I got 3G back signal also better.
I think that VRBLI5 is optimized for 4G but this is just my experience.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Thanks for the heads up.
No problem ever since I flashed back to VRALHE modem an hour ago l had no problems with my signal or data. Good 3G n 4G n cell signal. Glad to help.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Excellent. I will check this out.
Lehocki said:
No problem ever since I flashed back to VRALHE modem an hour ago l had no problems with my signal or data. Good 3G n 4G n cell signal. Glad to help.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Playing Devil's advocate here, could the bad signal just have been a really crappy area? I'm in the northeast and I know parts of Maine I fluctuate considerably and lose signal all together. Other phones do the same so I know it's not my S3.
So tempted.. I already DL the file!
¤ Sent from The Third Galaxy ¤
"Playing Devil's advocate here, could the bad signal just have been a really crappy area? I'm in the northeast and I know parts of Maine I fluctuate considerably and lose signal all together. Other phones do the same so I know it's not my S3."
Not really as soon as I flashed "HE" modem signal and data returned to normal. As I said I'm a truck driver and in the past year and a half since I got my first android phone there were only 4 or 5 occasions my 3G dropped to 1x and that was only in PA and WV in the mountains. Where I was now in IL on an interstate it should not have happened. VZW has the whole USA covered with 3G. A couple months ago I was driving through WY not a town in a 80mile radius and still had 3G. Believe me I was pleasantly surprised.
Sent from my GT-P3110 using xda app-developers app
New modem is working great for me. Did a speed test and got 28 down and 3 up on the extended network.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Worked fine for me too while I was in a good 4G area the problems started once I left the city. As I mentioned it is probably optimized for 4G . If you are and stay within the city that has 4G you probably not going to c a difference between HE and I5
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Lehocki said:
Worked fine for me too while I was in a good 4G area the problems started once I left the city. As I mentioned it is probably optimized for 4G . If you are and stay within the city that has 4G you probably not going to c a difference between HE and I5
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I usually stay on 3g until I step out of my house or until I go to town. I haven't noticed a difference thus far in my area. I was also in a extremely strong 4g area when I flashed and it changed to 3g without a problem and has the same service I have always had. I'm personally running Paranoid android 2.52.
Sent by one of my many Anthromorphic Personifications
The new radio reflects a better signal for me...all phones act different, so this alarm topic is just your experience.
Lehocki said:
Not really as soon as I flashed "HE" modem signal and data returned to normal. As I said I'm a truck driver and in the past year and a half since I got my first android phone there were only 4 or 5 occasions my 3G dropped to 1x and that was only in PA and WV in the mountains. Where I was now in IL on an interstate it should not have happened. VZW has the whole USA covered with 3G. A couple months ago I was driving through WY not a town in a 80mile radius and still had 3G. Believe me I was pleasantly surprised.
Sent from my GT-P3110 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kinda messed up about your trip thru WY, the parts Maine that don't have any coverage from Verizon have plenty of towns lol.
well i hate to be that guy but i.think your issue is on your end
... lastnight the club where i shoot trap has no lte. my device usually will drop data there. this is the first time i had solid 3g and it even switched down to 1x but data never dropped! also lte signal seems improved aswell. imo this is the best radio to date.
this radio has been an improvement for me. in my office i am lucky to get 3g. this new radio has given me a steady 3g signal all day so far
New radio is working fine for me as well.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Just wanted to add my experience as well. After 24 hours using this radio, I can say that signal is much improved on 1x with data off and LTE had never been this fast for me. Pulled 48 down 20 up this morning here in Hollywood.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
On the official release of Miui which has had many reports of data issues. Flashed new radio yesterday, I am in a fringe 4g area, and the handoffs from 3g to 4g seem to be much better for me. Previously after moving into a 3g area, I would have to go into airplane mode in order to get 4g back, now it seems to be switching on its own.
I wish someone would explain the whole rpm thing. Does it need flashed with the modem? Does it need flashed everytime we change the Rom? Do we even bother flashing it if we are not on the stock Rom? Why has there never been an rpm zip with every other modem?
We need answers!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
xsteven77x said:
I wish someone would explain the whole rpm thing. Does it need flashed with the modem? Does it need flashed everytime we change the Rom? Do we even bother flashing it if we are not on the stock Rom? Why has there never been an rpm zip with every other modem?
We need answers!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok now bear with me...lol I have been extensively doing some research on this topic. It seems RPM has to do with power management for the radio. This was implemented on the G7 update. I had no clue because I never take OTA's...In order to see the signal improvements the rpm file should be flashed with the latest radios. However nothing negative will occur by not flashing the RPM.zip. I believe this was an attempt to help fix ril issues with data handoffs and spotty 3g signal.
So if you flash just the I5 radio and dont notice any improvements or even worse signal try flashing the rpm.zip and I can about gurantee an improvement will be noticed. I can not believe how much better the 3g to 1x signal and data handoff has improved!! Anybody is more than welcome to chime in and correct me if this is incorrect. There is not much info on this topic as I spent a couple hrs putting bits of information together to come up with this conclusion...hope it helps!
I flashed this new modem/radio,and frankly, I see 4g on my phone more now than I did with the G1 that was on it previously. Everything else works as good, possibly better than before, though I did not take any measurements before flashing.
Hello!!
Thanks everyone for stopping in.
so I have had my S3 since Black Friday .. 97 cents at Sams Club.. Woot
Ever since I purchases my phone I have yet pass 3 Bars for reception. Is this normal? I live in Arizona so I'm not sure if this is an issue I should worry about or if it is just normal.
Is there any way to figure out if my phone is defective? or has reception issues?
I did a speed test and
have gotten around 4500>7600dwn / 2000->3000up
I have Rooted/Unlocked and flashed a couple of different roms and So far am using a Root66 Rom. ..
I dont really use my phone as a phone all that often but so far haven't noticed any dropped calls or download stalls.
any Advice?
thanks everyone.
I have a Signal Strength of -103dBm 35asu..
I am also in Phoenix and I was thinking the same thing, what modem are you using? I have just resorted to 3G and even then I haven't seen more then 3 bars. I'm on cleanrom 4.5 with stock kernel.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Im in West Phoenix and I do see low signal in my house (usually 1-3 bars with 2 being the norm). But out and about I get 4-5 bars 90% of the time when I am driving. I see normally about 14/4 on 4g and 1/1 on 3g at my house and usually 25/10 in Buckeye when I am there. Even with 1 bar in my house i have yet dropped a call. I find that the HE modem works best for me so I rock that with a K3 base.
not really sure on what modem I am using.
As Far as I know everything should be stock 4.1.1 from Root66's rom.
I am just hearing all these discussions with signal issues with the s3
the only thing i can really do to troubleshoot it is go down to the verizon store and see if they have a phone on a network I can test against.
If they get better signal on their phone.. then I would have to assume my phone is jacked.
troubleshooting these issues is difficult without a base to compare our statistics too.
currently I am in Apache Junction and 4g signal is abysmal .. 515dwn 1000up
..
but its apache junction.. so blah.
Ya It probably spotty on the east side I havent been over there in a while so I cant comment on how my phone is over there. If you are running a stock rooted K3 image then you are gonna be on the K3 radio which is the most current. You can flash another radio in your recovery from here and see if it helps.
I live on the east side (not as far as aj) and I get great signal. Full bars everywhere I go and 35-40 down 10-20 up. I would agree with going into a store and comparing side by side.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Edit: Stupid auto signature, I've got an s3 as well.
Signal sucks in apache junction. Lol. I used to stay out there. My little bro is there now with his Razr and he keeps complaining to me about signal.
I bet you get full bars in South Scottsdale/North Phoenix.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I'm in Boonton Nj and noticed over the past 2 days my phone getting stuck on 3g whereas I had several bars on 4g. I've refreshed my Carbon, liquid and Miui Roms but this signal change persists. I can't figure out how I can have consistent 4g signal one day and then barely have 3g the next. Any suggestions out there?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Could be the signal itself. Also in nj and have been getting 3g in places I usually get 4g this week. As long as you're not permanently in 3g I think we should just wait it out and see if it gets better.
You could always flash a new radio to see if that improves anything
corbn89 said:
Could be the signal itself. Also in nj and have been getting 3g in places I usually get 4g this week. As long as you're not permanently in 3g I think we should just wait it out and see if it gets better.
You could always flash a new radio to see if that improves anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's seems to be just in my house but I've noticed very poor signal throughout most of Morris Essex and Passaic counties, but just over the past 2 days.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Yeah I've noticed it in Sussex and Essex somewhat.
Essex -80 to -90 dbm
Sussex -108 dbm
Go to this thread to find flashable radios and modems. Switching radio may/May not improve signal. Usually I find no difference but that's just me
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1788313
Is anyone on VRBMA2 and having data issues the past couple of days, issue bein with both 3g and 4g