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Hello, I'm on my third Mesmerize from UScellular. It is a very buggy phone. The most unreliable phone I've ever owned. The alarm app fails often, the email app usually has to be force closed and reopened to check for new email. It obviously misses calls often, and even can't send texts, and misses some some texts as well. I hate the phone. I got the new EE19 radio update last tuesday and Friday it missed a call, and Saturday it missed two calls back to back, and couldn't send a text message for about 10 minutes . I took it back to the store, and was very upset. I thought they would give me a different phone all together... hopefully something that works. But no, they are doing a warranty replacement .
Should I sell the phone, and get better brand? If I learn how to flash ROM's and change the rom and kernel will it be more reliable? Will I still have the missed call issue with the EE19 radio and a custom ROM, or would I need to try a new radio as well? Any thoughts, tips, advice, pointers would be greatly welcomed!!!
HikingMoose said:
Hello, I'm on my third Mesmerize from UScellular. It is a very buggy phone. The most unreliable phone I've ever owned. The alarm app fails often, the email app usually has to be force closed and reopened to check for new email. It obviously misses calls often, and even can't send texts, and misses some some texts as well. I hate the phone. I got the new EE19 radio update last tuesday and Friday it missed a call, and Saturday it missed two calls back to back, and couldn't send a text message for about 10 minutes . I took it back to the store, and was very upset. I thought they would give me a different phone all together... hopefully something that works. But no, they are doing a warranty replacement .
Should I sell the phone, and get better brand? If I learn how to flash ROM's and change the rom and kernel will it be more reliable? Will I still have the missed call issue with the EE19 radio and a custom ROM, or would I need to try a new radio as well? Any thoughts, tips, advice, pointers would be greatly welcomed!!!
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I wonder if part of it is a reception issue. If you've gone through three phones, and each time you're having not just missed calls but text problems also, that suggests to me it's not getting the kind of signal it needs, at least for the phone network portion of it.
That said, I think it's entirely worth asking: have you done ANYTHING at all to customize it? Rooted it, loaded a custom ROM, recovery, kernel, radio, anything? Has your e-mail and alarm app broken that same way on all three phones? If you're having these problems right out of the box with ZERO customization on your part, then it's possible you've just been monumentally unlucky with which particular phones you've gotten; they say each specific unit can function differently compared to another as far as performance benchmarks and which ROMs work and which don't.
I question if a custom ROM would solve your problem, or just introduce more. I suspect it's possible either way in my opinion. You could try them with the understanding they may not do a thing for you---or may make the phone perform even worse.
I personally haven't had a problem with mine. I happen to like the phone, especially with Odin/Heimdall to go back to a stock configuration when all else fails (and I don't run a TouchWiz ROM, but even then those weren't THAT bad). Certainly no missed texts, and I didn't really notice any missed calls either. To me, that means you're either (A) getting lemons, (B) have a reception issue, or (C) are messing with your phone and aren't telling us. I'm cool with giving the benefit of the doubt on C.
If you're really motivated to get it figured out, try keeping a journal with where you are, what time it happened, and what failed and how.
Thank you for the reply.
The phone is 100% stock. This one has not been rooted or compromised in anyway. I did root my first one, and tried to install a lagfix, unsuccessfully. But then reverted back to stock. The first one ONLY had the missed call issue, which Samsung tried to address with the new EE19 radio update. But they took my good Mes, and make me swap it out within my 30 days for another "hoping it would fix the missing call problem". I knew it wouldn't because thousands of other users were having the same issues.
The second handset is the one with all the issues, the stock alarm app force closes during the night and wont go off in the am (twice) or when I turn the alarm off at night it still goes off in the am. The email app has to be force closed all the time and re-opened. It does drop a lot of calls, and is cuts in and out during calls. Reception does seem to be a major issue, but everyone else's phones work fine. We have several uscellular phones here, and a co-worker with a Droid 2 global from verizon (his signal strength is MUCH better than mine). I'm hoping its a broken antennae. The first one worked flawlessly in the same locations (before the leaves sprouted though).
-I've had many other issues too, like the screen going black and unresponsive except for the status bar. No buttons work, but it allows me to power down, BUT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON without battery removal. Other bugs, and issues too.
On this second handset I have the new EE19 update, which seems to be exacerbating my problems. I didn't have much for texting issues pre-update, and now post update get a lot of them. Maybe the EE19 radio is not as good? I have not actually received the third phone yet, but have no confidence in it now.
I don't have a computer programming degree or background, and am not familiar with flashing custom roms, and linux and all of that. But I'm trying to learn, and may try some different radios, and different roms. I'm interested in gingerbread for EE19, but its hard to search on here. I also want a voodoo lagfix.
The Mes does have a pretty weak antenna from what I have seen. There are a lot of people that have said they get worse reception with it then they did with a similar USCC phone (Desire for example).
I live in the middle of bumfuct and I have some of the missed call, text issues though not horrible and as with ee19 as I did with ec10. Depending on how I hold the phone I can go from full reception to no reception, same thing room to room. Also, there are times where I'll get no interwebs access without a battery pull and restart, like it won't reconnect after so long. If I was to guess though I would say its more of a reception issue than an overall phone issue. I have been on ec01 and the issues remained the same, but I like my mes, especially in comparison to the acclaim I had before it, though the acclaim did have better overall reception everything else about was "the gay". Have you tried different alarm clock, email apps from the market? Maybe that would help. I had no issues with my blackberry curve before the acclaim but it wasnt nearly as fun as the androids I've had. I'd say if the new apps don't help, maybe try a different phone, lg, htc, blackberry, there is lots of options out there.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
I agree that it does sound like a reception issue. Problem is, I live in the downtown of a college city, and am supposed to have full 100% reception. I work in My state Capital, and once again, full reception. My other work location also has full reception according to their coverage maps. I think they need to issue me a real phone, and not just more Mesmerizes.
HikingMoose said:
I agree that it does sound like a reception issue. Problem is, I live in the downtown of a college city, and am supposed to have full 100% reception. I work in My state Capital, and once again, full reception. My other work location also has full reception according to their coverage maps. I think they need to issue me a real phone, and not just more Mesmerizes.
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ummm .... didn't you choose the phone?
Not really. They only had two options at the time. The samsung mesmerize with 7hr battery life, and the HTC Desire with a 2.5hr battery life. I made the logical choice.
I would say at this point make them give you another mez and give it a try. Unfortunately, my experience with this phone and the belief project in general, they are taking “swapped" phones and recycling them back into the pool. I guess they are banking on someone else getting the phone and not realizing its a flaming hot mess.
I had to get 2 swaps done to get one that works.
The problems you described are very unusual for the phone in my experience.
Get one more swap, then get the store to apply the EE19 update before you register it. Do a PRL update after that (*228) and you should be good to go. I'm going on 2 weeks with a stock EE19 from the shop. I rooted with S1C, been running great since I got it.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using XDA Premium App
HikingMoose said:
The samsung mesmerize with 7hr battery life, and the HTC Desire with a 2.5hr battery life.
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So where did you make up that information from?
LaTuFu,
I believe you are absolutely correct! They do take their returned phones and ship them right back out to unsuspecting customers. Mine arrived today with packing tape all over the screen, and a scratched up camera lens. What kind of warranty replacement is that? So much for Uscellular having "the best customer satisfaction and network satisfaction of any national carrier".
Ok so my girlfriend was a big iPhone fangirl but after a year of harassing her and her seeing what i can do with mine she decided to give it a try. After a while debating different screen size, shape etc she decided on nexus s in white. Of course, finding a decent nexus s for ATT in white was a pain but I eventually found a pristine one and jumped on it
I had her try out a few different roms, and she complained to no end that her battery sucked, things crashed etc. It was like she was finding reasons not to like it.
Finally got it stable on bugless beast, found a keyboard she like and all seemed well except...
The phone doesn't get service at her job where the iPhone did. As a result I think that's what's killing the battery cause when she isn't there it seems ok. It just keeps searching for signal. About everything else I was able to fix but i guess its pretty reasonable that she expects it to work where her last phone did, and so far i can't do much about it. Admittedly the reception does suck. It's consistently about 2 bars and 10+ DBM lower than my galaxy s2 both on ATT.
Does anyone have a decent remedy for this? She's back to the ifail and I'm going to have to eat my losses trying to sell a phone a paid too much for cause she had to have it immediately
Tthanks in advance
flash a different radio perhaps?
Hmm i remember doing that for my inspire a few times, assuming it's similar where certain ones seem better in certain regions does anyone have recommendations for anything that works well in the NY area or does it not matter? Flash them through hboot on here?
Thanks
The radio will make things much better. I have ATT and I have been using the KB3 radio which seems to work very well.
Not sure about ny, just be careful and flash the correct radio for the 9020a.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Ugh. Tried 3 different radios. Still not good. 3g and WiFi both. I've never seen WiFi signal be fair to good in the same room as the router 15 feet from it. Makes no sense
Maybe you should exchange the phone.
brought to you by my iced out ns4G
right, there may be something wrong with the phone itself. what radios have you used? have you tried the hsdpa tweak http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14587622&postcount=5
Not to get off subject but does that tweak really make a huge difference ?
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
So I flashed the new radio onto my device (TweakStock with kernel version 2.6.35.7-EP4-g311a209). Baseband confirms FP1.
Still get snap, crackle and pop on calls whenever I change the volume during a call.
Hate this phone compared to my old Fassy.
Maybe if you stop adding milk it won't snap crackle and pop?
Have you tried a warranty replacement?
Sent from my handheld Linux computer using electromagnetic radiation.
Doesn't the kernel communicate between the hardware and software? Perhaps you need the FP1 kernel as well to get all the benefits mentioned in the update package.
I have updated to full FP1 stock, but I have never had the popping/crackling issue so I can't tell you if it makes a difference.
Wrong thread
I am still getting the static/pop and I am completely stock. I going to go back to a EP4D rom later this week.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
kentompkins said:
So I flashed the new radio onto my device (TweakStock with kernel version 2.6.35.7-EP4-g311a209). Baseband confirms FP1.
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As imnuts said in another thread, the fix is most likely a combined radio+kernel update. You shouldn't expect it to fix anything if you're still running EP4D. I haven't experienced any call quality issues whatsoever running Nitro's FP1.
Fwiw I've never had a sound issue w/volume changes, Froyo, gummy, various leaks, ep4x, fp1 stock, or eclipse ohm Food modem. Very rare static on outgoing calls, like 5 since 6/11, but that's it. Maybe hardware?
kj1060 said:
I am still getting the static/pop and I am completely stock. I going to go back to a EP4D rom later this week.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
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Did you take the OTA update or did you do it yourself? Still trying to cling to any hope that this issue will be fixed.
TIA
I took the OTA.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
Made a few calls, did the usual things to reproduce the issue....I *think* I heard it happening on one of my calls. I'll have to make a few more but so far I'm not hopeful
I just hope it fixes the rare, but horribly loud shrieking that has hurt my ears on a few occasions. Admittedly, I don't think I've had that problem since the EP4D radios, but...
I still drop calls on these radios. I don't think I can tell a difference with these radios, however, it does sortof seem like I get a bit more throughput. What boggles my mind is how insanely variable bandwidth and latency is on the cell networks. I can't ever seem to get consistent results unless its like 4am and the phone is on the case's stand, stationary. Even then the speedtest results vary a lot.
One interesting thing is that my connection appears to be more stable since I've un- 3G Turbocharged. That script seemed to make the radios more unstable. I've been comparing my Charge's 3G to the Verizon MiFi by Novatel, and I gotta say, the Charge does appear to be more stable and provide a better overall connection (except when it doesn't.)
Didn't want to derail, but I cannot scientifically conclude much about the radio performance- it seems to not suck as bad. Then again, I am not running the FP1 ROM or kernel...
xdadevnube said:
I just hope it fixes the rare, but horribly loud shrieking that has hurt my ears on a few occasions. Admittedly, I don't think I've had that problem since the EP4D radios, but...
I still drop calls on these radios. I don't think I can tell a difference with these radios, however, it does sortof seem like I get a bit more throughput. What boggles my mind is how insanely variable bandwidth and latency is on the cell networks. I can't ever seem to get consistent results unless its like 4am and the phone is on the case's stand, stationary. Even then the speedtest results vary a lot.
One interesting thing is that my connection appears to be more stable since I've un- 3G Turbocharged. That script seemed to make the radios more unstable. I've been comparing my Charge's 3G to the Verizon MiFi by Novatel, and I gotta say, the Charge does appear to be more stable and provide a better overall connection (except when it doesn't.)
Didn't want to derail, but I cannot scientifically conclude much about the radio performance- it seems to not suck as bad. Then again, I am not running the FP1 ROM or kernel...
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Yeah that would be the only way to determine if it had any effect is comparing it to something like the MiFi before and after. Speeds in my area don't drop during busy hours or anything like that because on a mifi they stay steady around 20mbits all the time, apparently they aren't overcrowded yet. So I must say the new radios do seem more consistent. Before I would jump around from 5-20mbits. Now I'm constantly 18+mbits down and 15+mbits UP
wscaddie56 said:
Did you take the OTA update or did you do it yourself? Still trying to cling to any hope that this issue will be fixed.
TIA
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Issue is not fixed. I am on stock and the first call i made after the upgrade I had static and pop. So lame. This is also my second replacement for the same issue.
I basically STILL get a "squeal" that lasts about 1/4 second and happens at random. I have updated to FP1 and it is still there!!! AHHH!
Any chance not mounting the system could affect the accuracy of the flash in CWM? I didn't mount before flashing. Now I went back and did it...we'll see.
mhemu said:
Made a few calls, did the usual things to reproduce the issue....I *think* I heard it happening on one of my calls. I'll have to make a few more but so far I'm not hopeful
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Suspicion was confirmed, I still have the annoying snap/crackle/pop sounds while making phone calls
Horrible Shrieking
Though it happens very rarely, I've gotten an intermittent LOUD 1/4 second shrieking static sound during phone calls that makes my ears bleed and kills all puppies and kittens in my immediate vicinity. It only happens maybe once every few months but it will continue happening every few seconds until I end the call. This is my second Droid Charge, been through every ROM and radio under the Sun on both phones.
I'm now on TS1.4/PBJ/FP1 and it still happens. As mentioned above, it is likely a combined kernel/radio problem, so maybe going full stock FP1 will resolve it. It is such an infrequent issue, however, that I will probably just continue to deal with it.
Since I got EP4D radios, my data connection has been flawless (before EP4D I was better off using carrier pigeons), but the FP1 radios have given me a noticeable increase in speed. That said, I don't really need more than 25Mb/s, but now I get 40 down and 20 up according to Speedtest.
PreceptorJR said:
I basically STILL get a "squeal" that lasts about 1/4 second and happens at random. I have updated to FP1 and it is still there!!! AHHH!
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There is a thread out there someplace where a group of coworkers with the same phone narrowed it down to specific hardware versions of the charge. I used to have the problem as well but after calling for a replacement and receiving a device with a different hardware version, I've had no problem! Search for that thread....check you hardware version under your battery yo see if its one of the affected listed on that thread. For the life of me, I can't remember the thread title otherwise I'd just post it.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA
Same problem for me.. i'm on DC #3. today i spoke with a tech, and instead of troubleshooting the phone again, she offered me a factory reconditioned Nexus.. it will be here tomorrow.. not new but better than a 4th DC... what's funny is, just 2 weeks ago they said i couldn't get another type of phone.. i also have the insurance so if that messes up i can get that replaced too.. FYI.. she also said there was no reports of problems with that phone after the new update, i strongly suggest calling and reporting it. if it helps my tech was named Jenifer..
102mm said:
Same problem for me.. i'm on DC #3. today i spoke with a tech, and instead of troubleshooting the phone again, she offered me a factory reconditioned Nexus.. it will be here tomorrow.. not new but better than a 4th DC... what's funny is, just 2 weeks ago they said i couldn't get another type of phone.. i also have the insurance so if that messes up i can get that replaced too.. FYI.. she also said there was no reports of problems with that phone after the new update, i strongly suggest calling and reporting it. if it helps my tech was named Jenifer..
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Ah good for you!
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA
So my and my girlfriend switched both from Droid X's back in September, with that said we never had any issue with signal at our house(all ways had full bars 3G). Soon as i came home with my S3 i noticed that both of our phones had poor signal strength 3G 1 bar or 1x. I called verizon tech support they had no idea what was going on and were wanting to replace my phone, saying my phone was the issue. However my Girlfriends S3 was having the same problem now i don't think that both phones are defective and the tech rep was wanted to replace my phone with w refurbished one which i just bought this one brand spanking new. So i was wondering am i the only one with signal issues? And my other questions are .... Is it hardware or a software (radio) issue? Will there be a fix / Update?
It's just Samsung doesn't have good radios.
There's suppose you be an vrlhd update that suppose to help with signal and data
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
So there is no hope to get a new radio update at all?
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Theres a update coming soon that'll improve the signal issues with the S3. Its not JB update.
Good at least some hope for my S3.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I got the vrlhd radio and I don't think it really did anything. It might even have made my wifi at home slower! But maybe I'm just paranoid lol
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I don't think the HD radio did anything to improve my already piss poor reception either.
Synergy r73, Trinity Alpha 7 thanks to the monkey
Yeah none of the radio updates have made any significant difference for me. At my house, my old Motorola phones always had full (4 bars) of 3G, and my bionic actually could pick up a bar or two or 4G every now and then.
My GSIII gets a bar or two of 3G at best, and my reception fluctuates between -100 and -80. I would've never gotten this phone had I known the reception would be this weak.
Everything else about the phone is good, but none of it matters when you can't really use it like a phone and have to depend on wifi, which is somehow also weaker than any other device I've ever used.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
There's no two ways about it - Samsung radios suck @$s. I dumped a Galaxy Nexus earlier this year for this very issue and switched to a rockin' radio Moto razr maxx.
It may be hard to believe, but the s3 radio is actually better than the Nexus was. Fortunately for me I moved to an area with strong 4g almost everywhere, hence I can enjoy the rest of the s3. If I hadn't moved, however, there is no way I would have given up the moto.
It would be nice to see Samsung get their act together. Oh, and don't expect a software update to fix anything.....it won't.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using poor radios
rlatjs17 said:
Theres a update coming soon that'll improve the signal issues with the S3. Its not JB update.
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If you are referring to the HD verison it's not making much difference for most. Or do you have information on something else?
I can barely if at all use my phone at my house or my neighbors across the alley..I have to be on WiFi..I have tried every radio including the leaked HD radio..all horrible..part of me really hoped Samsung would somehow fix this seeing as how they have acknowledged that it is an issue...is there any other way they are going to be able to fix it? Meaning is it just the radio and all they can do is keep trying? Or is there stuff they can fix more on the software side..maybe the RIL (radio layer interface) which as I understand is kind if the middle man software wise between the radio and the operating system..idk just sucks to have such an amazing and fast phone and to really be ready to get rid of it because it is that un usable..and don't get me going with touch wiz..I can't believe how sloe that makes this phone..aosp ROMs are easily 3 times as fast but then they have the data drop issues which are just starting to be fixed now by the RIL patch... ugh so much to think about..wish there was another phone out with a big developer community that was good unlike the galaxy nexus
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
aholeinthewor1d said:
I can barely if at all use my phone at my house or my neighbors across the alley..I have to be on WiFi..I have tried every radio including the leaked HD radio..all horrible..part of me really hoped Samsung would somehow fix this seeing as how they have acknowledged that it is an issue...is there any other way they are going to be able to fix it? Meaning is it just the radio and all they can do is keep trying? Or is there stuff they can fix more on the software side..maybe the RIL (radio layer interface) which as I understand is kind if the middle man software wise between the radio and the operating system..idk just sucks to have such an amazing and fast phone and to really be ready to get rid of it because it is that un usable..and don't get me going with touch wiz..I can't believe how sloe that makes this phone..aosp ROMs are easily 3 times as fast but then they have the data drop issues which are just starting to be fixed now by the RIL patch... ugh so much to think about..wish there was another phone out with a big developer community that was good unlike the galaxy nexus
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
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Maybe the JB update will have better software side support? Or maybe you could take it to your Verizon store and see if it's an issue with your phone? Idk
Well I know its a known problem and I read somewhere that Samsung acknowledged the issue but either way I'm going to call for a replacement just to see if it makes a difference..just gotta think if what to say..cause I know if I just say I have signal issues they will say that smasung is working in an update to fix it..lots of people on all the forums have said that's what they were told when they called for signal issues
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I apologize if these questions were asked before, but I could not find anything that helped through searching.
Both my wife and I are having issues with the signal on our phones. We get drops and a weird noise occasionally occurs (a weird gargle sounding noise or something like a fax machine). I'm running the latest Ultragen, and she's running the latest AntonX Barebones. I just find it weird that both phones do the same thing.
So, the question is, do all these ROMs use the same modem? Could switching to a different modem help solve the issues I'm having? How do I find out which ROM uses which modem? There's nothing listed in the phone's "about" section of which modem is being used.
Any feedback would be awesome!
About phone>baseband. That will tell you what modem your running. Fb's got thread for modems in the Dev section.
Try some and see if it fixes it. I've never had that issue and don't remember anyone else having it either.
Thanks, Hechoen! I'll check out FB's thread and just do some trial & errors. I'll definitely post back with my findings just in case anyone else runs into this issue.
I forgot to mention that I'm on T-mobile; although I doubt it is carrier related since both phones are having the same problem and I'm in Chicago, where the signal is strong.
For what it's worth I guess TMOB and MetroPCS are in the process of merging. Some people on are having strange issues. So if this has started recently I'd call TMOB and *****. Also try going back to stock on both phones for a few days. If it still does it then call TMOB and ***** some more. LOL Good luck.
I didn't know they started implementing that... I'm definitely gonna *****! LOL Thanks for the heads up!
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app
Sound like an interesting proposal for them to merge if they could only get their four g up and.running it would be great
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