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Has anyone else noticed the drop in WiFi signal when you cup the phone in your hand? Put the phone in your left hand so your palm is on the left side with your fingers on the right. Watch the WiFi signal tank.
It's not a big deal nor do I know if it affects anything - just a funny observation.
Just confirmed this with WIFI Analyzer. I would lose about ~10 db whenever I cupped the bottom and the second I released it went back to normal. Must mean that the WIFI antenna is on the bottom of the device. Not that it matters much as 10 db is a minimal drop.
Very interesting, when not cupping the device returns to normal. This was with my case off. The second I put my case on my WIFI signal plummeted while not even touching it. I use a silicon case that just wraps around the device. After removing the case the signal shoots back up.
Weird, huh? Mine will drop from four WiFi bars down to one.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
That's crazy. Works everytime without fail. Lucky for me I never hold it like that.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
I experience the same thing, but does not seem to affect performance.
-sent via 1.21 giggawatts of android.
It's not happening for me. Weird.
I know that the antennas on the TB run through the back cover. If you open the Battery/SD/SIM compartment cover, you will notice some contacts that are in different spots and corresponding contacts on the cover. These are antenna extensions. Thusly, covering the back of the phone will drop your signal pretty good. Try holding it in a gapped grip (fingertips only instead of cupping) or hold it at the bottom (near the kickstand) and it will alleviate it.
Why it attenuates so much when you have a silicon cover on boggles my mind. I have a soft interior and hard edge silicone/plastic two piece case on and maybe a small attenuation of WiFi and Cell signal. One bar max, a few DB in stats. Dropping from full bars to one is crazy for just the cover.
You think cell phone manufacturers would have learned from Apple....
the desire s has this issue really bad. my nexus one does it too. i've been able to cup my phone and drop cellular AND wifi bars on pretty much every phone i've owned, nokia n95, n97, etc. some just have it worse than others so you may not notice it on certain devices. but its always existed.
if you are standing next to your router, than the signal will over power any attenuation you try to impose on the device. so in the same room you wont notice, but far away with weaker signal and you will attenuate for sure.
Breezer23 said:
You think cell phone manufacturers would have learned from Apple....
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Apple wasnt the first and wont be the last...
moosez3 said:
Apple wasnt the first and wont be the last...
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Though they did make one of the biggest errors.
That's true but Apple made Antennuation a household term.... Kinda lol.
Apple had a problem with signal? AT&T, aka A Fee & Fee, had users too dumb to know they were using too much data? It was an iBlame issue. My daily rant quota.
Seriously, though, with internal antennas, this can be an issue. I have not verified if my signal attenuated or not, nor has it affected call quality or data transmission that I am aware of.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
ryocoon said:
Why it attenuates so much when you have a silicon cover on boggles my mind.
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Silicone cover made in china and full of lead????
kendive said:
Silicone cover made in china and full of lead????
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lol. But do not make too much fun of them, they may cash in our country's debt..real trouble then.
I bought a brand new Sensation 4G 31 days ago, found out it had horrible issues with Wifi (Which is how I make 90% of my calls), and tried to return it (Around a week ago). I was told if I came back another day to see the manager, I wouldn't have to pay the restocking fee (50$) because it was defective, so I did. The second day, I was told that no, I could NOT get the restocking fee revoked and that I HAD TO have the original credit card to return the phone. I was not told that earlier, and it was not in the device return policy. It was impossible to get that card, but I offered to get the card number (They said no), leave the phone with them until I could get the card (A few weeks. They said no), or use the already paid funds to pay for the phone bill (They said no) They told me I had until the 21st to try to return it. I came in today and I find out that no, I had until the 20th to return it. So I try for a replacement because hey, whatever... It's just as defective, but they revoke the restocking fee and let me use a different credit card (some money had to be recharged)
I feel cheated and lied to. The Wifi death grip (Though its more like a touch) is a huge issue for me. It means I can't watch netflix, play games, browse in landscape, or receive/send phone calls (I use internet calling). Yes, I understand there should be constraints when returning a phone and having the same credit card keeps things orderly. But refusing to budge from that position for something that's not in their return policy, telling me to keep trying another day until I'm out of my 30 day return period, and then immediately doing everything when I give up and decide to get a replacement phone? It's unfair.
(Yes, this is a bit of a rant, I'm sorry. I'm going to try to contact the regional manager. I really liked T-Mobile...)
You have to realize though no matter what phone you have if you put your hand over the WiFi antenna the signal will drop. No changing the physics of it, 2.4ghz is not happy with us water sacks lol.
The ordeal they put you through is inexcusable though, definitely complain until they make it right.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
mike105105 said:
You have to realize though no matter what phone you have if you put your hand over the WiFi antenna the signal will drop. No changing the physics of it, 2.4ghz is not happy with us water sacks lol.
The ordeal they put you through is inexcusable though, definitely complain until they make it right.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
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Doesn't the Sensation have the 5 GHz band as well?
aNYthing24 said:
Doesn't the Sensation have the 5 GHz band as well?
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I heard it doesnt, and I haven't been able to connect to the 5 GHz band on my router. Either way, 5 GHz has a very short range and isn't terribly useful unless you're in the same room as the router.
mike105105 said:
You have to realize though no matter what phone you have if you put your hand over the WiFi antenna the signal will drop. No changing the physics of it, 2.4ghz is not happy with us water sacks lol.
The ordeal they put you through is inexcusable though, definitely complain until they make it right.
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And yes, that's why the first two attempts were trying to get a refund, not an exchange. When they finally told me that no, you actually can't return it today, I broke down and asked for a replacement hoping it would be better. I don't get wifi even if I'm down the hallway of my router... (15ft, same floor, doors open)
Strange. Lower end HTC phones have it but the Sensation doesn't...I think it might be a software issue.
Anyway, onto the point of the thread. Did you get the back cover exchanged as well when you attempted to exchange the phone? That's the main culprit of the issue. HTC is also giving free replacements for the back cover if you call them.
If you look back a month ago through my history, I posted a video showing my Sensation doesn't suffer from the deathgrip issuevand remains at full bars in the basement and second floorbof my house. It also works outside aswell. The router us on my first floor. Anyway, why don't you try a better router if u can't return it?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
I got an entirely new phone when I replaced it.
And yes, I was looking through old posts about the WiFi deathgrip and saw your posts/videos, jrwingate6, but there were also the people who returned their phone 5 times and still had issues. If it's the phone, it seems to effect a huge batch of them. If it's the router, I've been in hotels and houses and have had issues constantly. The router I currently have is supposed to be strong, and it dropped down an open hallway (I don't know the specs). I'll be on campus after August, where I can buy a router for my room, but will be at the mercy of the WiFi gods anytime I go outside. I bought the phone to call mostly over WiFi, hoping to avoid a cellular plan if I can help it, because the campus is covered in routers.
Sorry to hear that mate....but I hv sensation that too covered with a gel pack cover and I tried all possible grips but I never hv death grip...dt know why...I even followed the death grip video bt still on strength 5....
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA Premium App
Yea, I forgot to mention. I have heard of a gel case fixing the deathgrip grip issues for some. Also, have you set the phone to max wifi performance? Make sure the router is set to its max transmit power as well.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
Xlythe said:
I got an entirely new phone when I replaced it.
And yes, I was looking through old posts about the WiFi deathgrip and saw your posts/videos, jrwingate6, but there were also the people who returned their phone 5 times and still had issues. If it's the phone, it seems to effect a huge batch of them. If it's the router, I've been in hotels and houses and have had issues constantly. The router I currently have is supposed to be strong, and it dropped down an open hallway (I don't know the specs). I'll be on campus after August, where I can buy a router for my room, but will be at the mercy of the WiFi gods anytime I go outside. I bought the phone to call mostly over WiFi, hoping to avoid a cellular plan if I can help it, because the campus is covered in routers.
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Sorry your having so much trouble bro. It sounds like if its not the router than you must have gotten your sensation from a bad batch. My router is downstairs in one corner of the house and my room upstairs in the opposite side of the house and my speed test shows speeds around 10mps. Death grip still a issue, but my N1 had a slight death grip, so I'm used to it.
I bought those rubber cases from a T-Mobile store and it only made the issue worse. It's constantly a bar lower with the case on, and any pressure (even gravity) causes it to lose the remaining 3 bars.
I had a Nexus One since the day it came out and loved that thing. I didn't have any WiFi issues with it, but it started dying on me. Wouldn't charge, couldn't connect it to a PC, volume down button started degrading. Still, for an 18 month phone, it was a champ.
get the tough case-mate, mate. you can grip your phone w/o worrying about signals. no issues here so far.
theredundant said:
get the tough case-mate, mate. you can grip your phone w/o worrying about signals. no issues here so far.
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Have a link, and is there a way to try it before you buy it? And do you have the WiFi deathgrip without it on?
Honestly didn't notice grip issues... But here's the link, and not sure if u can try it. But read reviews
http://www.case-mate.com/HTC-Sensation-Cases/Case-Mate-HTC-Sensation-Tough-Cases.asp
Xlythe said:
Have a link, and is there a way to try it before you buy it? And do you have the WiFi deathgrip without it on?
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Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App
wow, that case looks really good! its not cheap though but looks good. How does it feel in hand?
lalitsehgal21 said:
Sorry to hear that mate....but I hv sensation that too covered with a gel pack cover and I tried all possible grips but I never hv death grip...dt know why...I even followed the death grip video bt still on strength 5....
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA Premium App
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Hi Lalit Sehgal 21
I am seeing from your post reply, you say you have no deathgrip issues with your htc sensation on which you are using a gel case, can you please confirm that you are 100% sure you are not facing any deathgrip issues with the HTC sensation in regard to the WiFi Signal,
Also please tell me what brand of Gel case are you using for your htc sensation and what is its cost.
thanks your reply in advance
Arun Rajendran
Bangalore
I received my replacement back cover today in hopes that it would resolve my signal strength issues.
It doesn't. My sensation loses signal if I hold it normally. It gets reduced signal from using any case/cover as well. I get 1-2 bars and if I leave it in my pocket at my house, I lose signal all togther.
My father has one and the same issues as well, and my cousin has the same issues.
With other phones, MyTouch 4g, Motorola Cliq, etc, We have 3-4 bars all the time, no matter what.
The antenna on these is poorly designed, and it could be complicated by software/radio configuration.
Just wanted to let people know that getting them to send you a back cover may not solve your issue.
I think I'm going to send it back for service/testing, but I'll bet it passes and they send the phone back. If it only works 10% as well as you think it should, but 10% is 100% of their spec's, then 10% it will be... HTC may have lost a customer..
Have minimal WiFi antenna attenuation, and it hasn't affected my usage, at all. And I mean :::zero::: You will be okay. None of the Sensation handsets have 'better' casings than others. Honest.
you're pretty lucky. considering I haven't had this issue ever since I got my sensation. but its the unbranded one.
Id guess something is wrong with your hardware, inside the phone. I hold my phone funny and still have great reception. Heck, I even put thick lead sheet in the way of the antennas and still had good reception!
Id do an exchange.
Matt
It's not the back. I had a sensation with dust under the screen. Got a warrant replacement (just the front), and now I have the death grip issue.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Maybe.
I think I'm going to send it out, but if it's all 3 (purchased at different times from different places) then what is the issue? It drops some bars if you hold the phone. Even when you don't it is lower bars than my Motorola cliq)
I'm pissed. If they tell me nothing is wrong, it will be my last HTC.
Uhmm daaa.. Do you read instruction mannual? Dosent read shh... and posting dumb things.. EVERYTHING about anntena is written there.. the operator antenna is at the bottom of the phone! (there are little holes at the back cover) so avoid covering the holes and it should be fine! - Because as you probably noticed the wifi & operator antenna is the little gold plates on inside of the cover... and thats why you get 'death grip' when you cover them... - Basicly 1/3 of the cover WORKS AS AN ANTENNA! So no replacements will fix this.. it is just the way it is!
When I cover the antennas one bar dropes for me, but thats it... Of course when i pull the cover out i almost have no coverage(because no antenna is connected)
Hi guys!
I've been using my HTC Sensation for a month now and I'm really reaally happy with it EXCEPT with the WiFi death grip. But I read this earlier today, an article from GSM Arena: http://blog.gsmarena.com/htc-sensat...re-there-different-versions-of-the-sensation/
As you can see, from the article, there are different versions of the back covers for the HTC Sensation.
It seems that the one with 3 contacts in the back cover doesn't experience the death grip at all. So now I am looking at this replacement back cover at ebay that has three contacts: http://www.ebay.ph/itm/ORIGINAL-HTC...asesPouches&hash=item1c1f636ebf#ht_2847wt_960
Im hoping it will fix the death grip issues but first...
Is anyone here using a back cover that has the three contacts inside for the antenna and are you still experiencing the death grip?
I just want to know if this is a worthy spend for the money. Its the perfect phone for me already.
mulawingalang said:
It seems that the one with 3 contacts in the back cover doesn't experience the death grip at all. So now I am looking at this replacement back cover at ebay that has three contacts: http://www.ebay.ph/itm/ORIGINAL-HTC...asesPouches&hash=item1c1f636ebf#ht_2847wt_960
Im hoping it will fix the death grip issues but first...
Is anyone here using a back cover that has the three contacts inside for the antenna and are you still experiencing the death grip?
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The one in the link only has 2 contacts as far as I can see.
I dunno bout you mate but im using the Sensation XE and the back cover on my phone has the same contact points as the one in the picture...
Just to clarify how many contact points does your current phone cover have?
Sorry about that. This one has three antenna contacts at the back: http://www.ebay.ph/itm/NEW-Full-Hou...ltDomain_0&hash=item3f0e652d2a#ht_2175wt_1139
My HTC Sensation has 2 antenna contacts only. Are you experiencing the WiFi death grip on the Sensation XE and do you have 2 or 3 contacts at the back cover? Thanks!
My phone cover has the same number of contacts as the one shown in your first link... So it has 2 contacts i guess...
but on the other hand im pretty close to my wireless extender... Also its running on wireless N... and so far i havent had any issues with my wifi... maybe its cause im using it at home..
BlackRozeInc said:
My phone cover has the same number of contacts as the one shown in your first link... So it has 2 contacts i guess...
but on the other hand im pretty close to my wireless extender... Also its running on wireless N... and so far i havent had any issues with my wifi... maybe its cause im using it at home..
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I kinda have the same configuration you have at home. WiFi N and so on. But whenever I hold the top part of my phone, the signal of the WiFi all of a sudden falls from 4 bars to 1 bar or none.
Correct me if I'm wrong but do you think that if change my Sensation's back cover to the one that has 3 antenna connectors, would it help? Thanks!
I've ever asked this question here before.The answer is some say it's worked and some say it didn't,so I decided to not take this risk
There a video on Youtube 'Sensation death grip', the guy is trying to tell you that adding a strip of foil might help? That's not why I mentioned the video though, I mentioned it because I'd noticed that the back on his Sensation has the 3 contacts, possibly suggesting that even his phone has signal problems.
UKseagull said:
There a video on Youtube 'Sensation death grip', the guy is trying to tell you that adding a strip of foil might help? That's not why I mentioned the video though, I mentioned it because I'd noticed that the back on his Sensation has the 3 contacts, possibly suggesting that even his phone has signal problems.
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Just watched and you're right. Sigh, I guess the case with the three antenna connectors won't really help. Btw, does the WiFi death grip also apply with the new Sensation XE?
Mine has the 3 contacts and still has the wifi death grip so don't bother finding a 3-contact back; it won't help.
Each contact is for a different antenna.
Someone else posted something similar to this not too long ago regarding the difference between the S4G and SXE back covers. His cover (like mine) has 3 contacts, but the XE cover only had two. I did some looking around and found the FCC filing for the S4G, which lists the 3rd contact to be the GPS antenna. The others are the WLAN (wi-fi) and a "Diversity" antenna. There is a PDF attachment that was submitted to the FCC with the descriptions of each antenna in that thread.
Details in this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18815345&postcount=4
See the whole thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1321315
/thread
~T.J.
This has been asked and covered numerous times, it's an extra pin for the 4g version if I'm not mistaken, but users have made 4g work without that extra pin. no biggie.
mulawingalang said:
Just watched and you're right. Sigh, I guess the case with the three antenna connectors won't really help. Btw, does the WiFi death grip also apply with the new Sensation XE?
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Doesn't seem to have any issues with WiFi so far... and i tried a lot of ways to cover the back of the phone... (palm, pillow, books)
maybe its an issue with WiFi range?
Today my friend and I was sitting down for lunch and he had 1 to 2 bars. and I had NONE. Both ATT, and he was about to search the web, MMS, and make calls,
My HTC Inspire! had a X over the bars.
So here what he has, One of the New Motorola ATT Phone with ICS 4.0.4
and I looked at his Radio number.
QINARA_BP_1045.703.41.07P
-------------------------------
I have tried 4 or 5 Radios to match his signal, but have not came close.
I'm on the JellyTime Firmware,
also some one else has a Iphone 4s and his signal are good.
I know when I got the phone it was Good them and now..... poor signal,
Here is a Screen shot of his phone
buggme said:
Today my friend and I was sitting down for lunch and he had 1 to 2 bars. and I had NONE. Both ATT, and he was about to search the web, MMS, and make calls,
My HTC Inspire! had a X over the bars.
So here what he has, One of the New Motorola ATT Phone with ICS 4.0.4
and I looked at his Radio number.
QINARA_BP_1045.703.41.07P
-------------------------------
I have tried 4 or 5 Radios to match his signal, but have not came close.
I'm on the JellyTime Firmware,
also some one else has a Iphone 4s and his signal are good.
I know when I got the phone it was Good them and now..... poor signal,
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The only way to guarantee all the functionality of your device is to use stock roms that where actually made for it. When you use ported roms that where never intended to run on your phone then you are not going to have optimized performance, it's just the way it is. There are only 2 gingerbread base for the inspire, so if you want the best out of your device, stick to those.
Your especially going to have issues when using a Rom like jellybean that isn't even a finished product yet. That's why it's in beta. And honestly Ics or jellybean will probably never run tip top since HTC will never release these versions for our devices.
One thing that a lot of people tend to miss. Check that the antenna contacts are clean and are making complete contact.
I did the wifi and GSM Antenna cleaning and bending the pins up.
1ChesterD said:
One thing that a lot of people tend to miss. Check that the antenna contacts are clean and are making complete contact.
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anyone remember the Cheap Antenna Boosters that cost around $1 US. and it stuck on the back of the phone under the battery?
now I know 90% of them did not work. because the batter would block the Signal, or back them I had the Nextel with metal door and battery.
But I might take Cat5 wire. to build a fractal antenna to lay under the cover. I know there one on the door/cover now.
buggme said:
I did the wifi and GSM Antenna cleaning and bending the pins up.
anyone remember the Cheap Antenna Boosters that cost around $1 US. and it stuck on the back of the phone under the battery?
now I know 90% of them did not work. because the batter would block the Signal, or back them I had the Nextel with metal door and battery.
But I might take Cat5 wire. to build a fractal antenna to lay under the cover. I know there one on the door/cover now.
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I'm curious to see your results with this. I had a booster on an old Samsung flip phone and it gave me another bar in most places. Heck, if it works you might be able to sell them on eBay.