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Poor Signal Strength with Cyanogen 10 & 10.1

I live and work in an area that has poor signal for Verizon. I almost immediately flashed to CM 10 after I got the Verizon Galaxy S3 because I was running CM 10 on my previous Sprint Galaxy S3 without issue. I have been updating the radio and RPM with each leak (currently running K3) and things got a little better but I constantly dropped calls. I had to flash back to stock because I flashed to CM 10.1 and my radio got messed up. I ran the newest stock rom for the last week and noticed a huge difference. I still had low signal but my data dropped less frequently and I could actually make phone calls in areas I couldn't before.
I rooted, and flashed to CM 10.1 and noticed right away the signal is not where it should be. I can't make phone calls inside of buildings with low signal at all, where with stock I could without issue. I love CyanogenMod but I don't think I can deal with the poor signal.
Any ideas on what could be causing this problem and maybe a possible resolution?

fowen said:
I live and work in an area that has poor signal for Verizon. I almost immediately flashed to CM 10 after I got the Verizon Galaxy S3 because I was running CM 10 on my previous Sprint Galaxy S3 without issue. I have been updating the radio and RPM with each leak (currently running K3) and things got a little better but I constantly dropped calls. I had to flash back to stock because I flashed to CM 10.1 and my radio got messed up. I ran the newest stock rom for the last week and noticed a huge difference. I still had low signal but my data dropped less frequently and I could actually make phone calls in areas I couldn't before.
I rooted, and flashed to CM 10.1 and noticed right away the signal is not where it should be. I can't make phone calls inside of buildings with low signal at all, where with stock I could without issue. I love CyanogenMod but I don't think I can deal with the poor signal.
Any ideas on what could be causing this problem and maybe a possible resolution?
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Depends on where ya live, your mileage may vary. I get within 1-2 -dBm between the two.
Technically since we don't have the source code the reason CM10 has data is by a work around.
There really is nothing you can do. It is what it is. I've run devices with CM that have provided better signal, and usually were on sprint lol and then run them where they provide the same or slightly worse quality.
Happens.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

This does not ha e anything to do with cm 10. This this to do with the the phone radio. This is the reason why I switched to the DNA now I have Full bars everywhere I go. On my s3 I used to drop calls all the time.
Sent from my HTC DROID DNA.

Itzvik said:
This does not ha e anything to do with cm 10. This this to do with the the phone radio. This is the reason why I switched to the DNA now I have Full bars everywhere I go. On my s3 I used to drop calls all the time.
Sent from my HTC DROID DNA.
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Click to collapse
Your wrong...read OP post and you realize your wrong.
You have your DNA now leave and stop trolling.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Ok I really hope I'm not beating the dead horse here but I have a similar problem on my verizon Galaxy s3 and I was hoping there might be a fix

My understanding is that the CM developers dont have the GS3 source for something (the RIL?) so they have to use a different RIL? I'm probably totally butchering that, because I dont understand the words I'm using, but from what I've gathered the signal is what it is on CM, and will not improve beyond where it is.
It is certainly usable for me, but there are many times my wife has 4g and I have 3g, or she has a 3g signal and I have nothing at all (she has a stock vzw gs3).

Restola said:
My understanding is that the CM developers dont have the GS3 source for something (the RIL?) so they have to use a different RIL? I'm probably totally butchering that, because I dont understand the words I'm using, but from what I've gathered the signal is what it is on CM, and will not improve beyond where it is.
It is certainly usable for me, but there are many times my wife has 4g and I have 3g, or she has a 3g signal and I have nothing at all (she has a stock vzw gs3).
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I think you're correct on the RIL part.
I had the same issue on 10.1. I switched to an older radio, and though it is not perfect, it did give me better reception and the switch from 3g to 4g is faster. My radio is VRLHE

Why not try a rom like beans. It is a touch wiz rom that looks like aosp and had a lot of aosp features. That way the radios will work fine you will still have aosp stuff and all the goodness of being rooted.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

Let's not get confused here. Tw rom's like beans are themed to look slightly aosp, but are far from it. Aosp has so many customization options that tw cannot come close to. (I'm an aosp guy, if you can't tell). That being said, signal strength will always be an issue on aosp based roms due to the Samsung ril only being licensed to samsung, hence only working on tw rom's. The official ril code will almost never be released as its how qualcom makes its money. Currently aosp rom's use a work around home brewed ril that is very effective, but not quite what stock rom will offer. So if your signal is poor where you are, aosp may not be the best choice for you, but for most the signal is just as good as tw, and imo the only way to run android.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

I'm not confused, that's why I said looks like (aka themed like). Also I said some aosp features like MMS, camera/gallery, lock screen to name a few. Its no where near the same but if they are having issues which I read a few people do have with signal and losing data its a nice alternative and has SOME similar features.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

Q Radio and SMS

Currently on cyanogenmod 10 Nov 13 stable
I haven't done anything else to it. My question is that my data pretty much completely drops in malls. Which normally doesn't happen with Verizon in my areas. Is this due to the rom? If so, does changing to a jb tw rom change that? Or stock rom only.
Second if I do move to a custom jb tw rom will I be able to install the cm sms? I don't like the stock one. Ex cleanrom
Does changing the kernel on cm10 affect anything. A Grey area for me
Thank you for any input in advance.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

That was/is a known issue with CM, data drops. Im not sure if its been fixed or not so not 100% sure if its still a issue. TW roms dont have that issue at so you should see better data with running those. Yes AOSP mms has been ported to work on TW, I use this one and it works flawlessly. As for the kernel you will see better performance and depending on the kernel you can underclock/overclock and undervolt. You can just make a nandroid of your current setup and flash a TW rom and try it out, if you dont like it just restore your backup.

I really doubt that it is the rom at this point in it's development. The SG3 has about the worst radio I have ever had in a phone. My SG3 can only make calls and send/receive SMS in two places in my house-- my old DX and friends and families other phones work in any room in my house including the basement. I restored back to the stock rom and took all the OTA's yesterday and my phones performance has not changed one bit. I had VZW replace the device once when about a month old due to this issue, the replacement they sent had absolutely no WiFi reception, they replaced that and a few months later that phone destroyed itself when I plugged in a OTG cable, I'm on my fourth now and the camera doesn’t focus, its got a giant black screen inkblot, and the reception issue is still the same. I am going to duke it out w/ Verizon again in a bit to try to get it replaced again. Supposedly some of these devices have working radios...
Later,
Jason

[Q] Signal Strength MD3 Updated - Possible Fix

Possible fix. jmxc23 got me thinking. Why does Moar 4 have a good signal and Moar 5 does not? So I compared the two roms, Moar 5 is MD3 and 4 is MB1. Actually all of the MD3 roms gave me a Bad Signal. I did some comparison and found the following files in the rom that were not part of MB1. I deleted them and zipped up and reinstalled and got my signal back, but only better than before. Anyone willing to give it shot to confirm or debunk. There are also two different files in Framework, but won't boot without them, so they are not included in this zip. I also deleted two lines in the build property that says required by Verizon. If they say it is required, I question it, probably a control thing. Unzip the attached and remove the files found in this zip from Moar 5, except build.prop, you can replace it with the one in the zip or edit it yourself. I now have 3-4 bars instead of 1-2. Now Moar 5 works for me.
http://www.mediafire.com/download/a...iles_from_MOAR_v5.0_and_change_built.prop.zip
I wish somebody could figure out what verizon changed with the md3 update that killed the signal strength for me. I have pretty much tried all the different roms that use md3 as the base, different kernels, modems and nothing seems to help. I lose approximately 10 - 15 deb on md3 meaning it goes from the high 80's sometimes higher but up to 111 or more dbm on md3. Something in the rom has got to be blocking the signal, maybe the build properties? I live in an extended network coverage area, so those of you that live in a strong signal area, may not see the difference.
On md3, lose signal, garbled voice, so it's not just the signal strength meter.

We don't know as Verizon pulled the update so that they can fix the problem.

jmxc23 said:
We don't know as Verizon pulled the update so that they can fix the problem.
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That is why I asked the question, I knew that, but all the developers seem to want to jump to it anyway, runs fast, but signal not so good in weak signal areas.

golfslicer said:
That is why I asked the question, I knew that, but all the developers seem to want to jump to it anyway, runs fast, but signal not so good in weak signal areas.
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Click to collapse
If that was the case then why only 3-4 ROMS are based on MD3? If developers were that eager like you said then more MD3 based ROMS would released by now. It seems to me that the developers are looking for a temporary solution or waiting for Verizon to fix the problem. Also those that already have a MD3 based ROM basically using the previous modem. They might also be working on a temporary fix.

I've tried previous modems, kernels,still bad. It is almost like verizon added something in to gain more control and by doing so crippled the signal. I have noticed additional contols in the build property like wait times. The same code could be hidden elsewhere in the rom too. I don't have this problem on the ported md4 version from sprint. That rom has moved on to md3 and same signal problem. I feel that the develipers here are likely to find the problem before verizon does.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

I am using MOAR ROM so I haven't gotten those problems.

I am also running moar 4.02 not version 5. Version 5, I tried and same issue. I think it is more noticed in weak signal areas only. Where I normally get 2-3 bars, I get 1 and dbm is a lot higher. I am also on a new phone.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

golfslicer said:
I am also running moar 4.02 not version 5. Version 5, I tried and same issue. I think it is more noticed in weak signal areas only. Where I normally get 2-3 bars, I get 1 and dbm is a lot higher. I am also on a new phone.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
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It is always like that with weak signal areas regardless of ROM. Switching modems will either work or it won't. A network extender helps so does improving cell coverage in weak areas those are your only two options at this point.

Good hear you found a possible solution. To remind others try this only in weak signal areas.

No worries moar is going back to mb1 for better signal and thank you op for helping to make moar all it can be
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

[Q] Signal issues with AOSP roms

i really want to stay with a AOSP rom (CM 10.2 or Illusion 4.3) but when i go to a AOSP rom i get reall bad signal (1 bar or nothing) living in chicago on verizon. When i go with a TW rom using 4.1.2 the signal is great. currently i'm using Hyperdrive RLS15 and the signal is great get 4 or 5 bars. has any one else had similar issues?

khader2 said:
i really want to stay with a AOSP rom (CM 10.2 or Illusion 4.3) but when i go to a AOSP rom i get reall bad signal (1 bar or nothing) living in chicago on verizon. When i go with a TW rom using 4.1.2 the signal is great. currently i'm using Hyperdrive RLS15 and the signal is great get 4 or 5 bars. has any one else had similar issues?
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I never had that drastic of signal issues. At my house I get poor reception. (2bars max). On TW I get 2bars. On AOSP I was only getting 1. I recently flashed Latest cm10.1.3 RC2 and my signal issues have greatly increased over prior builds.
Just my 2¢
Also. I know the new AOSP ROMs require the new baseband MF1. Are you updated?

I get very bag signal at my work. I just switched to an aosp rom and I can actually send texts better than before. Instead of failing 8x, it only fails 2x. I'll take it though.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

On the 4.3 based roms there still may be some legitimate signal /data issues.
On 4.2.2 aosp ROMs the issue is mostly cosmetic, you have the same signal, but the ROM show you less bars.
Check out signal in phone status before assuming you are getting worse signal.
There are still some issues with data handoffs in aosp, but it isn't as bad as it once had been.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Yes I'm using the latest MF1 firmware. I even reflashed the firmware and all getting bad signal with and AOSP roms. Is the something I need to do with the radio or kernel. I tried a few kernels and still same issue.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

So far every new version of AOSP has had signal problems at the very beginning. Due to that fact I usually wait until the problem fixed.

I'm on Masta's unofficial CM 10.2, and my signal is all around better than my old TW ROM (Hyperdrive RLS 14/15)
If you're responding to me, make sure to quote me so I get an immediate email.

OK so I just had access to my gf's phone. I'm running PA, she's on stock tw rooted. I had both phone side by side. Both phones read the same dmb and asu. Her phone had 3 bars mine had 1. I think its safe to say that Aosp Roms just display signal different.

status
Just an update i went to Illusion's 4.2.2 and the signal is OK, i don't get drop call like i was getting when trying a 4.3 rom. so i'm going to stay with this until they get the 4.3 bugs ironed out. It just freaks me out to see only 1 bar for signal.
do any of you guys of which rom is the closest to making the GS3 to look like a GS4?

[Q] How is it possible that I get better signal on one custom ROM vs. another?

I thought that custom ROMs left the radio of the phone alone, but I get way better signal on Mahdi ROM than I do on Cataclysm.
Oh Mahdi, the signal bar is green nearly all day, and on Cataclysm the signal jumps around between different bands all the time so the graph looks like DNA sequencing. I used the same kernel (Franco 48 test img) for both, so it can't be that.
Mahdi is based on AOSP, and Cataclysm is based on stock - could that have anything to do with it? If so, would there be any way to get similar signal on Cataclysm as I do with Mahdi? I like the ROM better as it's more stable
Anyway, just thought it was weird. Thanks for reading

Well you can always flash the latest radio no matter what ROM. It could have anything to do with where you are holding your hand, the position of the phone and you inside a building, the weather, anything can contribute to signal strength. I highly doubt that a specific ROM based on ASOP or CM has anything to do with the signal but the radio that you flash to the phone does.

It's not just random locations - my use cases were nearly exactly the same for the two days I compared, both ROMs had been recently flashed, and I spent half the day at home and half the day in the same building at work. I honestly wouldn't have noticed it if my days hadn't been so similar

zukа said:
It's not just random locations - my use cases were nearly exactly the same for the two days I compared, both ROMs had been recently flashed, and I spent half the day at home and half the day in the same building at work. I honestly wouldn't have noticed it if my days hadn't been so similar
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Click to collapse
Maybe it flashed a different modem?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Hmm that's possible. Is there any way for me to check between the two?

roms do not include modems, none of tbe nexus 5 roms on xda. but one rom can include build.prop edits, and the other not. that could possibly make a difference.

Could also use a different RIL
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

rootSU said:
Could also use a different RIL
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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If that is the case, is there any way to flash or change the RIL? I'm pretty sure I've done it before but I wouldn't know how to check which onie Mahdi uses, and how to get it over to Cataclysm

zukа said:
If that is the case, is there any way to flash or change the RIL? I'm pretty sure I've done it before but I wouldn't know how to check which onie Mahdi uses, and how to get it over to Cataclysm
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Click to collapse
I've never touched anything RIL related on the N5, nor do I have any knowledge of those ROMs.
I would take a nandroid before touching anything although reflashing the ROM should do the trick too...
With that in mind, its your own risk....
/system/lib/libreference-ril.so
/system/lib/libril-qc-qmi-1.so
/system/lib/libril.so
/system/lib/librilutils.so
...I Imagine...

Thanks very much for that, I'll have a look into it!

zukа said:
Thanks very much for that, I'll have a look into it!
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Click to collapse
Just rip em out of one and drop em into another with root explorer etc