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I've got a brand new Desire S and I love it. Fast, smooth, responsive. Battery life (OK, over my total 2 days of ownership only!) has been brilliant - 9% drop overnight for example.
I'm about to return it.
Why? Because of one thing that makes it almost unusable.
I am, of course, referring to the "Grip of Death" - as per the iPhone 4.
There are a few oblique references to this on the net, but I can't find any detailed posts.
Some mention has been made about this only being a WiFi issue, and it is true that WiFi is badly affected. However I also see 3G signal drops when I hold the phone in portrait mode with my hand wrapping around the base (as most people would in normal "phone" use) - which is, of course, where the antenna is (incorporated into the battery cover)
The WiFi drops on mine are tragic - I can be 3 metres from an access point and if you hold the phone incorrectly (!) the WiFi signal drops out completely and you are on 3G data. Even if directly under the AP you can easily get the signal indicator to drop from full to under 50%.
However the 3G drops are also bad. In my flat, which has a good signal, I can get to one or zero bars of 3G signal just by picking up the phone.
So I have a phone that is unreliable in picking up calls, switches to 3G data when there is a perfectly good AP just nearby, and is basically, generally unreliable.
It's a shame because, apart from this, it's a brilliant little device.
Am I the only one affected this badly? Maybe I have a poor example?
I have a case arriving today to see if it will help. Otherwise it's back to the shop!
hmm..you are the first person to report a drop in 3g signal
can any one else confirm this?
or is it just that the OP got a defective unit?
(i am unable to test as i still dont have my device yet )
I'm wondering if only certain phones are affected. Engadget doesn't mention it and this review specifically says it isn't a problem. It is a mixed bag of responses from posters here. Is it possible that Techradar got an early review model and the problem has since been fixed? You think HTC would comment one way or another since this could affect sales.
Just tried it on my DS, but the death grip does not influence my 3G signal.
With wifi on, I manage to lose only a little bit of signal while holding it in such an unnatural way that it will never occur using it normally.
TheUndutchable said:
Just tried it on my DS, but the death grip does not influence my 3G signal.
With wifi on, I manage to lose only a little bit of signal while holding it in such an unnatural way that it will never occur using it normally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you try covering the back of your device as much as you can with your hands & test the wifi & 3g signal?
it would be very helpful for us
Covered the back as much as I could, no problems with 3G, Wifi drops to zero...
TheUndutchable said:
Covered the back as much as I could, no problems with 3G, Wifi drops to zero...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am relived that there is no 3g signal drop
the wifi part is a bit depressing but i can manage without wifi...(but hope they fix it somehow)
@JonathonDesmond i think you got a defective unit try returning it for a new piece
& also tell us if the case helped
kartkk said:
i am relived that there is no 3g signal drop
the wifi part is a bit depressing but i can manage without wifi...(but hope they fix it somehow)
You will never hold the phone like I did when using the phone normally. I pressed some buttons with my nose
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kartkk said:
You will never hold the phone like I did when using the phone normally. I pressed some buttons with my nose
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol
but i hope htc does something like give replacement battery covers which fix the issue..because that is the only hardware defect that people are exaggerating about..
Ok, a few tests, as long as I still have it:
Portrait mode:
No issues in normal one- or two-handed operation.
As soon as something, e. g. my hand, covers the top plastic part at the back the wifi signal goes from all bars down to the dot, or disconnects entirely. I'm not so sure about the mobile signal, some of the time it drops to about half the bars it's had before, but with a considerable delay, and it's a bit erratic at the best of times, so it might just as well be other (environmental) causes.
Landscape:
I really only do this two-handed, with the left hand holding the phone, fingers bunched behind it, thumb in front, covering the HTC logo and first few mm of the screen; the right hand operates and/or stabilizes the phone.
This instantly kills the wifi stone cold dead. 3G actually stayed the same or got better(!)
To sum up: wifi is badly affected to the point of uselessness, 3G doesn't seem to be.
hmm..
can you try the wifi again in landscape? this time without touching the aluminum part of the phone?
(dont cover the aluminum part with your hand or any other item)
kartkk said:
can you try the wifi again in landscape? this time without touching the aluminum part of the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I don't see how that would be possible? Covering the top plastic part without covering anything else, I mean. I tried a few contortions and nearly dropped it.
Care to elaborate?
it is a bit tricky i know (dont drop your phone trying lol)
how about putting on top of two books?(such that the books only touch the plastic )
i just want to know if it is the metal chassis which is causing this problem
Good thinking!
Desire S propped up on two stacks of books so that nothing touches the alu parts: all bars. (It did drop one bar from time to time, but that's just normal fluctuations, whereas putting it down on a desk or something reliably takes it down a notch.)
please people contact htc
mariu$ said:
please people contact htc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why? We arent't their QA department and I've no hopes of getting more than ... err ... yes, "You're holding it wrong." in soothing customer rep speak. Raising awareness of the issue is the best one can do, IMHO - once the tech mainstream press picks this up there's at least a chance of a fix. (That is, if one is actually possible, it might be a concession to the design.)
fallenguru said:
Why? We arent't their QA department and I've no hopes of getting more than ... err ... yes, "You're holding it wrong." in soothing customer rep speak. Raising awareness of the issue is the best one can do, IMHO - once the tech mainstream press picks this up there's at least a chance of a fix. (That is, if one is actually possible, it might be a concession to the design.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm in contact whit the HTC Dutch support desk. After a view mails whit the 1st line of support they send me to the technical support.
It looks like that they are doing there job.
i tried and tried and tried again... i couldnt find any sings of the grip of death!!
fallenguru said:
Good thinking!
Desire S propped up on two stacks of books so that nothing touches the alu parts: all bars. (It did drop one bar from time to time, but that's just normal fluctuations, whereas putting it down on a desk or something reliably takes it down a notch.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just as i thought it is the metal chasis....
i have heard that wifi has problems passing through metal...
if this really is the reason then i think nothing much can be done ...
can someone else also verify this?
just got phone and wifi definitely drops when held landscape
a video. Im not calling yall liars, but ive had 3, and all have the issue so I just dont see how others dont. Unless its the routers, and yours is way better than mine cause mines junk, but never had issues on other phones.
Anyways, please post a video showing in another room from your router, covering the top landscape style and take a video showing the bars. I dont care if they drop some, Those that say it dont vanish can I please see a video. I JUST DONT GET IT.
Thanks, p.s. I got my 4th sensation on the Way. I want this phone but dont want the wifi issue cause i use wifi 90%of the time.
smashpunks said:
a video. Im not calling yall liars, but ive had 3, and all have the issue so I just dont see how others dont. Unless its the routers, and yours is way better than mine cause mines junk, but never had issues on other phones.
Anyways, please post a video showing in another room from your router, covering the top landscape style and take a video showing the bars. I dont care if they drop some, Those that say it dont vanish can I please see a video. I JUST DONT GET IT.
Thanks, p.s. I got my 4th sensation on the Way. I want this phone but dont want the wifi issue cause i use wifi 90%of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't have another video camera, so you'll just have to trust me, or trust the videos that are posted on YouTube that show it working. I'm in another room, landscape, hands wrapped around the phone every which way, the wifi connection never drops. I don't have a case on the phone. Using Wifi Analyzer I do get about a 20-25dB drop in signal, but it's still plenty strong enough to stay connected and not drop data.
It's more likely something about differences in routers than the phone. Maybe signal strength, or g versus n, or the specific channels being used. Not saying there are no bad phones, but if you try 4 phones and they all do it then it's probably related to something about the router.
I've not got a video but I don't hold my phone when using it in landscape (I rarely use landscape at all tbh). I put it on my lap so don't have the issue
please please post a video someone. This is my only issue. If its my router and I need a N ill buy one, but I need a video of someone going to the router, then watching them walk to the end of the house in the room and do it. If it does not kill your wifi I will be sold and figure out why mine is..
Do you have a N router?
Is it just G?
This is serious and Ive only seen videos of them effected and experienced the same.
Ok so I took my case off and had to wrap my hand completely over the top end of the phone to show a difference, but it did drop two bars ,now since ill never hold my phone in that manner this will never be a problem for me , so I would say that the case makes a diff and its definately there , I really don't like holding it in landscape mode ever , i rarely do
For ref, I have a G router (a rebranded Thomson)
EddyOS said:
For ref, I have a G router (a rebranded Thomson)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but you said you dont hold your phone in landscape. I for one play online FPS games in landscape and need it.
Can you test in landscape? since you dont go in landscape? or did you already and have no issue?
please post a video. If yours is fine there are good ones and ill find it. If not im trading back for my g2x today because that
so far Im getting. I have no wifi issue cause I never cover it?
well if you do hold your phone in landscape and have no issues, then please post a video. In portrait im golden, but when I landscape it completely depletes.
Here's a video that shows signal drop but no disconnect when the wifi signal is strong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j64GKuuczoE
This is just what mine looks like. Drop in signal, no disconnect.
Notice the other low signal wifi's in this vid do drop away. The same guy also posted a video showing a total drop in connection if the wifi signal is relatively low at it's peak. So, at least part of the reported problems could be due to a relatively low max signal.
If you don't have Wifi Analyzer get it and post a vid so we can see what's going on.
I will make you a video the second I get off work at 4pm. I will show the router on video, then walk up stairs, hold the phone in landscape and show that none of my bars disappear. Do I get anything in return or do I just prove I'm not a liar? I am really not trying to knock anyone here but I find it odd that we can all buy top of the line phones but still use shifty routers. A goog router will make your life a lot better for a fraction of the cost for your phone. I suggest everyone get into the year 2011 and atleast by a N router, if not a dual band N router.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
samnada said:
Here's a video that shows signal drop but no disconnect when the wifi signal is strong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j64GKuuczoE
This is just what mine looks like. Drop in signal, no disconnect.
Notice the other low signal wifi's in this vid do drop away. The same guy also posted a video showing a total drop in connection if the wifi signal is relatively low at it's peak. So, at least part of the reported problems could be due to a relatively low max signal.
If you don't have Wifi Analyzer get it and post a vid so we can see what's going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok that. WEll, hes next to the router, so thats why the wifi dont die, but I garuntee that if he goes in another room it will die. WE need to see where his router is before we judge if his connection never drops. I bet hes in the same room.
WIfi analyzer vs my vibrant is amazing. Vibrant perfect barely loses db. Now the sensation loses 20 no problem. So in a room with wifi it will be connected, but in a room with less signal, you will cover the signal and kill it. It shouldnt be like that.
smashpunks said:
Ok that. WEll, hes next to the router, so thats why the wifi dont die, but I garuntee that if he goes in another room it will die. WE need to see where his router is before we judge if his connection never drops. I bet hes in the same room.
WIfi analyzer vs my vibrant is amazing. Vibrant perfect barely loses db. Now the sensation loses 20 no problem. So in a room with wifi it will be connected, but in a room with less signal, you will cover the signal and kill it. It shouldnt be like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've identified why people are reporting different experiences, which is exactly what I said. If the signal is strong then the connection won't drop. If it's weak enough at max then it will drop.
The loss of about 20-25dB by holding the phone certain ways is known, and isn't likely to vary much be getting your 4th or 5th Sensation. You could try holding it differently, or maybe some types of cases (with or without PT ) may help. Or you can get a router with a stronger signal.
Whether or when HTC will do anything to fix or improve the issue remains to be seen.
samnada said:
You've identified why people are reporting different experiences, which is exactly what I said. If the signal is strong then the connection won't drop. If it's weak enough at max then it will drop.
The loss of about 20-25dB by holding the phone certain ways is known, and isn't likely to vary much be getting your 4th or 5th Sensation. You could try holding it differently, or maybe some types of cases (with or without PT ) may help. Or you can get a router with a stronger signal.
Whether or when HTC will do anything to fix or improve the issue remains to be seen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe Ill try a stronger router. Im going to try a few locations with wifi, if it perfoms bad, Bye Bye. My other phones pick up wifi outside buildings.
Your right, if i hold it in portrait its strong, but I shouldnt need to do that. Ever.
smashpunks said:
Maybe Ill try a stronger router. Im going to try a few locations with wifi, if it perfoms bad, Bye Bye. My other phones pick up wifi outside buildings.
Your right, if i hold it in portrait its strong, but I shouldnt need to do that. Ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right, you shouldn't need to hold it differently to hold a WiFi signal. Do you still want me to make a video showing that non of my bars drop while on a different floor from my router.
I actually get a stronger WiFi signal on my Sensation than I do on my G2X.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
jrwingate6 said:
Your right, you shouldn't need to hold it differently to hold a WiFi signal. Do you still want me to make a video showing that non of my bars drop while on a different floor from my router.
I actually get a stronger WiFi signal on my Sensation than I do on my G2X.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please, I would love that... Cause if so I just need a stronget router even though my other phones work fine sitting on them..
I live in a small apartment and I have a good router (bought it like a month ago) even when I'm standing directly in front of it, the signal will drop (I watch the meter in wifi analyzer drop) If I'm in another room it drops even more. I have my phone set for max wifi performance too. One night I really noticed it while streaming a video from my computer via splashtop. Every time I held it a certain way the video would actually stutter. I wonder if the people experiencing it have some kind of grounding problem with the phone. It's not a huge issue for me because it never fully drops and when I hold it in landscape mode I just make sure My hand doesnt cover all three anntena holes on the back. It seems when your hand is in contact and covers all 3 that it drops. I should be getting another sensation on friday. I hope 1. the wifi drop isnt as bad 2. That I get the better sharp screen
graffixnyc said:
I live in a small apartment and I have a good router (bought it like a month ago) even when I'm standing directly in front of it, the signal will drop (I watch the meter in wifi analyzer drop) If I'm in another room it drops even more. I have my phone set for max wifi performance too. One night I really noticed it while streaming a video from my computer via splashtop. Every time I held it a certain way the video would actually stutter. I wonder if the people experiencing it have some kind of grounding problem with the phone. It's not a huge issue for me because it never fully drops and when I hold it in landscape mode I just make sure My hand doesnt cover all three anntena holes on the back. It seems when your hand is in contact and covers all 3 that it drops. I should be getting another sensation on friday. I hope 1. the wifi drop isnt as bad 2. That I get the better sharp screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have one coming soon as well. Ordered today. Will see how it goes. I just don't think I should have to get a new router when my others phones work great.. I'd say grounding causeof if I put tp between my phone and case I can't get it to drop... Move the 2 layers of pt and it goes away.
Sounds like you should just ditch the Sensation; some feedback from my experience; I have the Rubberized case on mine and at work with the case I get about 1-2 bars of WIFI; without I get almost full.
Turning it landscape also kills the connection with case and drops to 1 bar without case so thats pretty ****ty although I don't use my phone landscape or really play games on it but for people who do I could imagine that sucking pretty hard.
Was gonna do a vid but I don't think it's really necessary. If you have a strong signal (ie sitting next to the router) your likely not going to notice anything at all; if your on a medium signal it's likely you will lose bars or total connection.
Not really sure what video proof is going to do for you however as it really doesn't matter what others are experiencing in this case outside of their verbal explanation.
I have to agree, this issue is annoying. In my house I have 2 MT4G's a Thunderbolt and the Sensation. None of them drop wifi signal like the sensation does.. I don't use a case and sitting 3 feet from the router I'm ok, even turning around facing away from the router at 3 feet I'm ok but it does drop a couple of bars. In other rooms I have full bars but if I cover or hold in landscape as has been shown I loose all or down to 1 bar and most of the time it will disconnect.
Not sure what type of router mine is as it is from AT&T UVERSE.
Here is my video 3 rooms away from my router I drop a little but no disconnect.
-McMex
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
I don't know if anyone has discovered this but it turns out that the top of the phone seems to be where the WiFi antenna is an it is quite sensitive. Holding the top of the phone or even the top side ( near the volume rocker) messes up ur WiFi reception. Even cases that cover the phone seem to reduce WiFi strength. I discovered this wen the strength always seemed to be low an my speeds were not as fast as they should be etc.. so I started holding it differently an found that wen I have no contact with the top of the phone its always showing full strength an speeds are as expected ( through the roof) I hope this helps some of u guys having problems
Sent from my HTC One S using XDA
dreamdestiny said:
I don't know if anyone has discovered this but it turns out that the top of the phone seems to be where the WiFi antenna is an it is quite sensitive. Holding the top of the phone or even the top side ( near the volume rocker) messes up ur WiFi reception. Even cases that cover the phone seem to reduce WiFi strength. I discovered this wen the strength always seemed to be low an my speeds were not as fast as they should be etc.. so I started holding it differently an found that wen I have no contact with the top of the phone its always showing full strength an speeds are as expected ( through the roof) I hope this helps some of u guys having problems
Sent from my HTC One S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes!!!!! I'm having some issues. When I'm at home, the signal from my Wifi drops terribly when I'm in my room. I'll have fair signal, then I hold the phone it the signal goes.. I can't find a spot in my room so far where I can reliably get good signal. N in the mean time my laptop is fluctuating between 90% and 100% signal strength! This is utterly ridiculous!
i dont have problems with this issue. The removable plastic on the back contains antennas.
Gesendet von meinem HTC One S mit Tapatalk 2
I can't stress how frustrating this problem is... I'm using TrickDroid v3 now and it still hasn't fixed my problem!!!! I really hope this is NOT a h/w issue. My signal falls off drastically within a couple meters of the router.... which is DUMB
I have a HTC one s and it is experiencing wifi problems. I know the one x has had some of the same issues, but the problem with my one s is that whenever i hold the device from the top, the wifi drops suddenly and it than cuts off. When i remove my hand about, 5 seconds later the wifi shoots up to 4-5 bars.
return it and get a new one
That's where the antenna is!! Your SIM cover has the antenna built in to it.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Thanks ✟
Moving to Q&A
Try to remove and reseat SIM card cover, if its still too bad have the phone replaced. A friend of mine had his One S replaced after we compared Wifi signal with Wifi analyzer and his was ~20 dBm worse than mine at same locations. New one is fine. Didn't know about the wifi antenna on sim card cover back then though, might have helped since it seems it has for some users here.
I have almost the same problems with WiFi antenna although it's not as worse as others are saying. I can confirm though that when you put your hand next to the SIM cover the WiFi signal drops 1-2 even 4 lines at some times. However I don't think it's a manufacturing defect for some phones but I think it's a general problem with all the models. I am saying this because I had the exact same problem with all my HTC devices (Diamond, Desire and One S). So I think it's a poor WiFi project and maybe cheap raw materials rather than a poor WiFi in some phones. In a way it's normal that this happens because your hand will screen the antenna. Try to do this with all antennas out there and you will see that your hand (your body) will influence the signal in all devices). So if they couldn't overcome this problem they had to put the antenna in the place where you will cover it most rare, and this place is on top of the phone. I don't like it either but that's the way it is.
amoiz said:
I have a HTC one s and it is experiencing wifi problems. I know the one x has had some of the same issues, but the problem with my one s is that whenever i hold the device from the top, the wifi drops suddenly and it than cuts off. When i remove my hand about, 5 seconds later the wifi shoots up to 4-5 bars.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just noticed the same this morning, though only happens when i try to wrap the upper part of the device with my hand. i never hold the phone in that position so it does not happen.....
Actually when you are browsing the internet, view pics one-by-one, view movies - usually you are holding the phone in the landscape mode so most people will rotate the phone counter-clockwise until it reaches landscape mode and will hold it with the left hand exactly from the upper part (if the phone is rotated clockwise then the supporting hand will accidentaly touch the lower 3 buttons so not too many people will rotate it clockwise) and with the right hand they will browse. So in these situations, which come very often, we will loose (almost all) signal. If these will not bother you/me/all of us, for sure it will bother all of us when browsing internet. I really don't know if a fix can be made for this issue. Even if I would change the SIM cover (so change the WiFi antenna), the replacement will be built exactly the same so the problems will persist. I am curios to see if SGS3 has the same problem or not. I really think it's a question of antenna position so it's a crappy board design of the phone. It shouldn't happen at a 500+ euro device.
I have the same wifi issues on the One S. There is a firmware upgrade available OTA, it may fix it. I will see.
Any chance this is fixable or not device-wide? It's somewhat of an annoying problem when holding in landscape. I'm assuming this is no more than a design "flaw"
I'm having the same issue. When holding the phone in landscape mode, the wifi signal drops to one bar.
I noticed that when I'm closer to the router, like within a 3 meters range there is no signal dropping.
It's very annoying...
Could it be fixed by improving the contact between the antenna and the back-cover?
Sent an email to htc support about it, this is their response:
The location that you describe, on the side with the Power button near the camera lens, is where the HTC One's antenna is located. Covering this location will provide less-than-optimal results with regard to cellular and WiFi signal. You may want to try holding the device slightly to the side of this location, more towards the center of the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I seem to recall a certain fruit phone with a similar problem and it was kinda a big deal lol. I'll get over it, but fokkkkkk
ThudButt said:
Sent an email to htc support about it, this is their response:
I seem to recall a certain fruit phone with a similar problem and it was kinda a big deal lol. I'll get over it, but fokkkkkk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you guys try remove and reseat SIM cover? Might help a bit even though its natural with some signal loss when holding it that way. If your phone has significantly worse signal when laying on a table or whatever compared to another phone then try to get it exchanged. Compare with https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer
Edit: Love how your quote from HTC disappeared when I quoted you
traffic stops after few minutes
Hey,
my signal is ok, but after few minutes of working the internet connection just will not go through anymore. I have tried installing 4.04 but no change. AP is still connected, full signal, but not even google comes on. Restarting wifi helps for another few minutes. Doesn´t have to do anything with sleepmode, that I am sure of - it happens even during download from Play Store i.e.. Wifi best performance ON, Keep Wifi on during sleep Always.
Any idea on what that might be? - the old HD2 (android 2.3.) works like a charm on my home network
Getting desperate , otherwise such a nice phone.
WIFI problems
Ive been trying hard to figure out the flash 1.85 thing and have had no luck. any way someone can help me with exact directions on doing it. i have downloaded 1.85 2.85 files but having issues flashing it.
please help
Hi,
Some users on a Dutch forum reported a loss of signal strength (both Wifi and phone) when the back of the Moto G is covered by your hand. I checked and I can repeat the problem. If I cover the lower half of the back, my carrier signal goes down by two bars. When you cover the upper half, the Wifi signal drops substantially.
To test if this was a real loss of signal instead of an issue with extremely sensitive bar display, I have installed Wifi Analyzer. It shows a drop of 5 - 10 dB on the Wifi signal so its a real issue.
Do others have the same problem or are there some faulty units around?
I cannot reproduce this. XT1032 8GB retail GB version.
16GB UK - I can get WiFi to drop by covering the back.
Mobile signal does not drop though.
Doesn't worry me as I don't press my hand on the back when holding the phone.
I can also get the signal to drop wrap my hand around my routers antenna.
I would think it's quite normal for a signal to drop if you cover the antenna or receiver. The phone has to have the receiver somewhere and wherever they put it you will be able to cover it if you try hard enough.
scott_doyland said:
16GB UK - I can get WiFi to drop by covering the back.
Mobile signal does not drop though.
Doesn't worry me as I don't press my hand on the back when holding the phone.
I can also get the signal to drop wrap my hand around my routers antenna.
I would think it's quite normal for a signal to drop if you cover the antenna or receiver. The phone has to have the receiver somewhere and wherever they put it you will be able to cover it if you try hard enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember the 'you're holding it wrong' defense of Steve Jobs when the iPhone dropped its signal?
I don't need to press, just by holding the phone in a natural way to take a call the signal will drop. And like I said covering only half of the back is sufficient.
That Debaj can't reproduce it, suggest it's not in all Moto G's
Moto G 8GB German, left-handed (in case it makes a difference) and it occurs most often when the signal is at 4 instead of 5 bars to begin with.
DroidLov said:
Hi,
Some users on a Dutch forum reported a loss of signal strength (both Wifi and phone) when the back of the Moto G is covered by your hand. I checked and I can repeat the problem. If I cover the lower half of the back, my carrier signal goes down by two bars. When you cover the upper half, the Wifi signal drops substantially.
To test if this was a real loss of signal instead of an issue with extremely sensitive bar display, I have installed Wifi Analyzer. It shows a drop of 5 - 10 dB on the Wifi signal so its a real issue.
Do others have the same problem or are there some faulty units around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine does the same to an extent but not nearly as bad as my old phone. Two bars missing sounds quite serious, though. Have you tried taking the rear cover off and checking to see what it does?
Wifi signal drops 1 bar (from 4 to 3) when covering top of the back. Not a big deal to me
Mobile signal doesn't drop when covering the bottom of the back.
Moto G 8GB, British retail version running US global 4.4.2
EDIT: Holding the phone in the left hand drops the signal by about 5dBm. Holding the phone in the right hand leads to no loss in signal. The only way I can get my Moto G to lose some signal (from 4 bars to 3) is to hold the phone in my left hand AND cover the bottom bezel with the right hand. It drops about 15dBm.
Thanks chowy993, scott_doyland, WabbitKiLR and Debaj for your feedback.
I guess there is something wrong with my Moto as I have an 8-15 dBm drop on the carrier signal just by holding my hand it in the normal 'telephone position' (but not next to my head). I measured it with an app called Network Signal. It drops into the red zone at over a -100 dBm so its a serious problem which will cost me battery life and loss of connectivity in some places .
I tried this with my wifes Moto G and the wifi drops one bar if I put my hand over the back. The mobile signal remains the same. Then I tried it with my Galaxy S3 and got exactly the same result.
I posted a thread about this a short while ago on the 31st December: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2592673
I can confirm I have this issue too! I cannot do any video or voice calls over WiFi if I hold my phone in my hand. The connection repeatedly drops until I put the phone down.
As soon as I hold it, I completely lose all WiFi signal (I have full bars at the time), and can also lose all 2G signal too (from full bars to Emergency Calls Only). My only solution was to simply leave the phone on a surface.
Mine is being sent in for a repair tomorrow for this reason. But sadly it appears even if the phone is replaced/repaired, that this is simply a issue with the Moto G in general?!
Never experienced such poor problems like this on a phone before.
I have the exact same problem on my 8 retail UK version I posted about this here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2588286
And people were saying its the way I was holding my device. It isn't I can completely make my device lose signal just by being in a call. And cover the the bottom of device. It seems like there is a bad batch and Motorola needs to sort it. I'm on my 3rd device now and its still doing it. Gutted really because its a brilliant device. It seems to be the 8gig version having these problems I got told.
Sent from Motorola G.
XT1033 Dual Sim.
Cannot reproduce the issue at all, neither mobile nor wi-fi drops even with the back fully covered by both my hands. Held it like that for five minutes and no sign of it.
AluKed said:
XT1033 Dual Sim.
Cannot reproduce the issue at all, neither mobile nor wi-fi drops even with the back fully covered by both my hands. Held it like that for five minutes and no sign of it.
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Click to collapse
Count yourself as a lucky then I think I'm going to replace my 8gig for the 16gig.
Sent from Motorola G.
UK 16 gig model and I can get my WiFi to drop by one bar but mobile signal is unchanged no matter how I hold the handset. Bad news for u mate, sorry.
I looked into this problem.
Believe it or not, it seems to be down to the use of spray deoderant.
Most spray on deoderant using aluminium oxide. When it get's on your hands, and you hold the phone, the light metal coating causes a charge differential with the phone's antenna (basically your hand and the phone act as a single film capacitor).
This is different from the issue with the iphone, this was because the metal bezel of the phone actually changed resistivity when held directly with the hand, effectively changing the length, and therefore effectiveness of the iphones antenna.
I suggest washing your hands thoroughly. You can also use a multimeter on your hand, set to milli Ohms to see if you have an unusual resistivity (probably due to aluminium oxide).
Roll on deoderant is another good option.. Or just be smelly of course. I never wash, shower or using any cleaning products and my phone has perfect signal all the time.
mranonymous1 and maccboy2010 can you check if it's identical to my problem: holding the lower end is a drop in carrier signal, upper half of the phone: wifi drop ?
DroidLov said:
mranonymous1 and maccboy2010 can you check if it's identical to my problem: holding the lower end is a drop in carrier signal, upper half of the phone: wifi drop ?
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Click to collapse
I no longer have my phone as it's in for repair. I can tell you though that for the week or so of use that it was awful. Mine was extremely sensitive that a video/voice call over WiFi would instantly end the second I even went near the phone/picked it up.
It was the WiFi dropping that was more of the issue for me than mobile network signal (I struggle to get 2G signal anyway where I live). But I could easily lose all mobile network signal from holding normally too.
Ok, I checked again and the problem only occurs if the signal level is not that good to begin with. It then drops enormously making calls impossible. Handsfree calling in the same circumstances is no problem.
When I am at a place with a strong carrier signal my hand hardly influences the level. So it's sort of a worst case scenario but it explains why others don't notice the drop.
DroidLov said:
mranonymous1 and maccboy2010 can you check if it's identical to my problem: holding the lower end is a drop in carrier signal, upper half of the phone: wifi drop ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes mine is the same as yours if I hold a the bottom signal drastically drops.
Sent from Motorola G.
I can confirm covering the bottom drops my signal.
Sent from my XT1032 using xda app-developers app
Also happens with my moto g. Covering the top indeed affects wifi and the bottom affects signal.