Database Info

Antenna Issue : No Network Access

Ok so this has happened every night I have had the Captivate (3 nights), I go to bed at night and in the morning where my signal bar should be I have a circle with a slash through it (no network). When I go to bed I will have like 2-4 bars of service but something must happen and I lose all network functionality. I have to restart the phone which solves the problem but is a serious pain. This also happens sometimes randomly throughout the day.
Any ideas if this is a common problem with all Captivates or if it is a hardware or software issue?
I like this phone and if I can get it to work properly I love it more than my iphone but not getting service is a buzz kill and I will return it. (Bought it unsubsidized for $500 because I couldn't deal with my iphone anymore)
Note: I live in Tampa which generally has good AT&T service and have had no other problems with other phones

Did you turn off the phone and remove the sim card for a few minutes?? According to an at&t rep doing that solves network issues.
The problem I had today was that the phone showed full bars, but I couldn't send a text or make calls. I took the reps advice and it's fine for now.

Well I will give that a try tonight and see how it goes and post back tomorrow with my results. I really love everything. Else about this phone and would be a shame of I had to get rid of it because of silly antenna issues. Thanks for the advice!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Are you sure you don't have any power saving apps on that are turning off the radio after a few hours? Did it happen when it was stock with no programs installed? Might try and flash it back to stock and see if that solves the problem.
Otherwise you could always walk into an AT&T store and ask for another one and see if it still happens.

Well last night it did the same thing after removing the sim for about 10 minutes before bed.
And as far as knowing if it did this before I rooted it.....well...I owned the phone for maybe 10 minutes after unboxing it before I rooted it. So I have no idea if it is because it is rooted. I don't have any apps on it for power saving purposes and nothing should be killing the radio. Problem is that it isn't like airport mode is on...its completely out of service and the only way to get service back is to reboot. Turning the radios on and then off again while the phone is on won't work...it must be a reboot.
I will probably end up returning it and trying one more Captivate before I look else where for a new phone. But after seeing this screen it would be hard to look at any other phone twice.

iphone4 would be a good screen alternative
ur antenna issue is unique and a new phone will probably fix it. id get that sim replaced too.

The new iPhone would be ok...but I can't go back to an iPhone. I have had 4 of them (2 first gens) and I am so bored of them. And I know people rave about the iPhones new screen but side by side with this phone I would take the extra screen real estate anyway.
And I did consider getting a new sim card too. I think I will wait until towards the end of my 30 day return policy and trade in for a new one.
Thanks for all the help guys

koppelmanwj said:
Ok so this has happened every night I have had the Captivate (3 nights), I go to bed at night and in the morning where my signal bar should be I have a circle with a slash through it (no network). When I go to bed I will have like 2-4 bars of service but something must happen and I lose all network functionality. I have to restart the phone which solves the problem but is a serious pain. This also happens sometimes randomly throughout the day.
Any ideas if this is a common problem with all Captivates or if it is a hardware or software issue?
I like this phone and if I can get it to work properly I love it more than my iphone but not getting service is a buzz kill and I will return it. (Bought it unsubsidized for $500 because I couldn't deal with my iphone anymore)
Note: I live in Tampa which generally has good AT&T service and have had no other problems with other phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had mine since July 18th and had never have this happen...till this morning. When I pulled it off charger I noticed the signal meter what a circle with a slash. Well, I dont get great reception in my apartment so it didnt phase me until I was on my way to work and still didnt have a signal. So, I turned it off and back on and then it had a signal. So I dont know what was up with that. I'll keep an eye on it tomorrow to see if its something thats going to happen regularly.

Hmmm...so I'm not the only one having this problem. Yeah I don't get superb service in my apartment but I have also never really had any other network problems with other phones.
Wonder if there is something that kills the network if you don't have a decent signal for a certain period of time. I just wish it wasn't everyday. On the brightside nobody will wake me up with emails or texts or calls.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

[Q] HTC Sensation rubbish reception

Is anyone else having reception issues with the HTC sensation I had previous HTC and have all suffered from this problem I thought by now they would have sorted this issue out.
Also I have used the camera a few times and the phone just turns off.

My signal is full. Someone mentioned in another threat he replaced sim card and problem solved.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App

Sounds like a faulty unit to me.

I have same problem - in my room it tends to go from 1 bar to full all the time - downstairs its goes from on to off all the time, rather annoying !
Got a brand new sim card so cant being that, but so many people
have complained about it cant be one fault handset - its just
faulty design maybe??

This is my second unit and I have tried 3 different sim cards no change. This is what made me take back the original HTC Desire. Looks like this is going back all previous phones I would get 3G in my home and work now I am getting gprs or Edge in the same locations.
I have missed a few calls tonight because of the handset reception goes to none.

just popped my t-mobile sim in it and it seems fine -
it bounces up and down but by 1 bar maximum!
Got my brothers sony play on vodafone - hes getting 4 bars when im getting 0-3 bars.
So maybe it some kind of interaction between vodafone signal and this phone???

said it before will add again i get poor reception (gprs) with vodafone sim but great/better with t-mobile sim. Gonna request new sim. put sim in my desire and get the same response. must be the sim. i also think a new radio update would fix the reception problems. if HTC unlocked the bootloader we'd know for sure.

Mines been playing up signal wise, ive just taken the sim out and put it back in and its working alot better. Weird.

Interesting. I'm a new Voda customer and I have appauling reception now where I had a good one with O2. However signal goes on and off all the time.
My phone also reboots if I take more than a couple of photos.
All sounds like software to me but I'm going to try a new handset and if that fails maybe change to Samsung, not happy with HTC pushing out such poor software on a cutting edge phone, who tested it???

Yeap, rubbish reception. Keeps coming and going even in the same location!
Awful!!!!!

Just to throw in my experience with it;
I'm getting identical performance to what I got on my Nexus One (also on Vodafone obviously, you can't compare signal on one carrier against another and blame it on the phone...)
1-2 bars of HSPA in my home in Bristol
3-4 bars of HSPA in my home in Cardiff
3-4 bars of Edge in my friend's house in Cardiff
Signal on the train journey Bristol-Cardiff also the same. HSPA through Newport, Edge/GPRS through a lot of the fields and nothingness. I do the journey a lot so I know the sections where I can load up a new article or webpage
So far it is identical to what I've been getting for the last year and a half with the N1. I know there were signal issues with the N1 when it was released but those were solved with updates from Google and more stuff in custom roms. I honestly don't have any experience of any issue affecting the Sensation's signal.

I was with T-Mobile when I had my Desire, and now I've moved to Vodafone for my Sensation. Reception with Vodafone is better everwhere that I've been so far, and I see the "H" connection symbol more frequently. However, I do get the "rising and falling signal bars for no particular reason" problem that others are seeing, but it's no worse than I experienced for the 14 months that I had my Desire.

I called Vodafone earlier about the numerous issues with the Sensation, this being one of them. Apparently there have been some reception issues in and around London in the last few days (they tracked my calling location when I called them, stalkers) but should now be resolved. I seriously doubt this is the issue as I had no reception while the phone was sat next to an unmentionable other device on Vodafone which had full signal.
They told me to take it into a store to discuss the issues before returning it within the 7 day period, which I will do at lunch time, but I have zero expectations for this!

mine has been fine tbh, more or less always 3 or 4 bar. does drop for no reason sometimes... but not often at all. only problem i have had so far is the wifi not working properly sometimes

Yet another phone that can do everything except phone calls?
Average/mediocre signal would be a huge drawback. I will wait for some more feedback, otherwise I will opt for another device, even though I have never had any doubts until this issue arose.

ok - been testing at work as we are a vodafone buisness company and have about
200 htc trophy sitting in our cupboard.
got one out with my sim card, a old vodafone one and brand new vodafone one.
Walked round the whole building phone to phone and the
htc sensation was actually stable reception, better then the htc trophy. (though only a bar difference)
There i have conclude my issue are where i live the reception.
(Though im going to do more testing at home tonight with my pro sony play)
I was curious, vodafone do a signal boost, but its £50 for those under £40 month contract.
Has anyone had any success with getting the price down on these?
I would happily pay £20 for one if i knew it would give me full signal around my house.
Im so happy with the phone i dont want to return it !
I'll post later about my tests

I politely said to the nice lady in the Vodafone shop I didn't want to buy a sure signal as a new customer and that I was on a high contract. I paid £20 but its taken off my 1st payment so got it for free. If it supposed to get perfect signal in your home and they check before you sign up then its only fair.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

Ps I get perfect signal with the thing. Using it now to post. Pity it I can't use it at work.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

Phone is now in the process of being returned to Vodafone. Great phone let down by poor reception :-( The lady on the phone said they have had a few returns of late for the same reason so I know im not the only one. Looks like it will be back to my old phone till I find something that takes me fancy.

From other reports (lots) the phone signal is unreliable and I dont think its just a network issue. I can watch mine go from full to nothing and back up again without moving or touching it. I have the camera->reboot issue on mine too that others are reporting so I think there's a bad batch. I'm replacing my handset today with little hope of it being different. I also know someone with a Sure Signal (£20 in store) who has had no problems at all. I'm on a 40/pcm deal so going to push for one for free for the hassle of going back to the shop but I get the same signal issue pretty much everywhere, including central London earlier this week.
Very disappointing start with Vodafone and with my 7th or 8th HTC phone. I really wish I'd kept my Desire now until this model had been out for a few months, lesson learned.

Weak Wifi Signal Hardware Fault

Hi all,
Over on the international One X forum, we have a lot of people confirming a serious hardware fault where the wifi contact pins fail to connect to the antenna.
I am curious if this fault affects your s4 at&t version of the phone too.
There is a simple squeeze test you can do to check for the fault.
See the link here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1688538
Fingers crossed your not affected by it.
Oliver
*EDIT* HTC have confirmed the issue only affects the international HOX and the feedback this thread received seems to prove them correct. Great news. *EDIT-END*
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium

This applies to the AT&T and Rogers One X. If your phone has signal gain when you press on the wifi antenna area of the case, it's defective and will eventually lose connection completely over time, so get it replaced on warranty.

That's not what he was saying, he was just wondering if we had the issue. I can't get mine to drop below full signal with.WiFi, unless I go for a walk outside. So it isn't effexting my phone.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

Hunt3r.j2 said:
This applies to the AT&T and Rogers One X. If your phone has signal gain when you press on the wifi antenna area of the case, it's defective and will eventually lose connection completely over time, so get it replaced on warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So this fault does applie to the at & t Rogers version? Yes if anyone does suffer this fault, get it replaced or repaired.
Have you been affected by the issue?
Cheers for your feedback
Sent from my HTC Desire

Thus far I cannot replicate this on my phone. Will test further later.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

my question is, how do we know when our phones will start acting up? Even if we exchange the phone, then there's still the likelihood that the new phone'd also have problems. Unless, HTC already has made some design changes to the newly imported batch (doubt it)
p/s: I have also not seen wifi issues with my phone. But I'll give it some more observations. Then again, I exchanged a HOX before because it couldn't keep a constant signal. So who knows..

ws2112 said:
my question is, how do we know when our phones will start acting up? Even if we exchange the phone, then there's still the likelihood that the new phone'd also have problems. Unless, HTC already has made some design changes to the newly imported batch (doubt it)
p/s: I have also not seen wifi issues with my phone. But I'll give it some more observations. Then again, I exchanged a HOX before because it couldn't keep a constant signal. So who knows..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may not affect s4 versions at all, it is currently confirmed to affect the international version of the One X, I want to see if other phones are affected too.
The mostly likely causes of the problem are 1. Overheating and 2. The wifi connection pins getting squashed flat whilst your phone is in your pocket.
Sent from my HTC Desire

ws2112 said:
my question is, how do we know when our phones will start acting up? Even if we exchange the phone, then there's still the likelihood that the new phone'd also have problems. Unless, HTC already has made some design changes to the newly imported batch (doubt it)
p/s: I have also not seen wifi issues with my phone. But I'll give it some more observations. Then again, I exchanged a HOX before because it couldn't keep a constant signal. So who knows..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If reception is poor and improves when you push the case where wifi antennas are placed, you have a defective unit and you should get a replacement immediately.

damn i just sent my phone in for repairs because of a camera issue. i was experiencing the wifi signal drop prior to sending it in, but thinking it was a software problem. now, when i get my phone back ill most likely have to send it in again for repairs.

I believe our phones have the sam issue, when I press down I believe I do have an increased signal. Thanks for the heads up :/
-duf

It did increase my signal as well. It was struggling to connect where gnex used to have no problems and this corrected it.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

I was having the same problem with my ATT HTC One X.
I couldn't connect in places where my iPhone had 2 (out of 3) bars of wifi.
Unfortunately, it was a big enough deal to send the phone back. I thought they all did this.

If I don't have best wifi performance enabled my wifi is very flaky. It'll lose connection when it has full bars. But with best wifi on it can get about what I can get with my gsii (slightly worse)

Ugh... This isn't a thread about whether the phone has flakey WiFi, it's about whether you can make your WiFi signal change if you squeeze the phone.
For what its worth, mine doesn't seem to change if I lightly squeeze it. I dont really feel like pressing it hard enough to f up the screen though, so maybe you'll have different results...
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

ECEXCURSION said:
Ugh... This isn't a thread about whether the phone has flakey WiFi, it's about whether you can make your WiFi signal change if you squeeze the phone.
For what its worth, mine doesn't seem to change if I lightly squeeze it. I dont really feel like pressing it hard enough to f up the screen though, so maybe you'll have different results...
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have the fault then, if you had it you'd get 0-1 bars only around 8 meters away from your router with no walls between, whilst other phones enjoy full bars at that distance. Light squeeze the antenna part of the phone and the reception indicates full bars.
This fault affects bluetooth and battery performance too. It is really bad for anyone who has it. I'm glad you don't have it, but please, Don't make out that this is normal behaviour when squeezed.
My other thread has had 15000 views 200 comments. 7 different YouTube videos from 6 different members of xda forums, 7 self repair guides by 7 of our members taking their phones apart (all confirming it fixed their wifi) and countless people returning their phones for repair.
I only started the thread on 4 days ago. The popularity of the thread indicates what a serious issue it is on the international One X. If your s4 One X's don't suffer the issue or not as bad, it might give us a clue to what is wrong with ours.
Send from my old trusty Desire, untill I get my poorly One X back.

My phone was shipped to HTC for repair a week ago before I knew of this issue. When I saw this thread it made complete sense. My glass in one corner was separated from the actual device enough that light from the screen escaped out of it. I had absolutely no wifi. Still waiting to hear what HTC says. They received the phone a couple days ago. I'll report back on what they say about this.

Does anyone know if the new batch is any better?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA

I just bought mine yesterday and it seems to have pretty good wifi reception. It can detect almost every network in range that my laptop detects but shows a weaker signal for them. Connects to my own wifi with full bars when close and loses a connection in the same area of the house that my galaxy note did. So I'd have to say the new batch have no wifi issues that I'm aware of.

jordant2 said:
I just bought mine yesterday and it seems to have pretty good wifi reception. It can detect almost every network in range that my laptop detects but shows a weaker signal for them. Connects to my own wifi with full bars when close and loses a connection in the same area of the house that my galaxy note did. So I'd have to say the new batch have no wifi issues that I'm aware of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this with best wifi performance enabled or disable?

Cryosx said:
Is this with best wifi performance enabled or disable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had to give you a thanks, I didn't even know there was a best wifi option! I just checked the wifi setings and it's off. So this is my normal signal strength. I just checked best wifi and one of the signals it picked up was stronger. Mine is a full signal so I can't tell the difference. My daughter's room is the worst reception but it's 1:30AM so I won't test it on best right now.

Signal Issues with Stock S3 (No 4G, bad handoff, etc.)

Forgive my ignorance, but I seem to be having the problems of not having consistent 4G. And slow 4G/3G transitions, as well as poor battery as a result.
I have also gotten the No mobile network, no sim, and roaming network notifications.
It seems like many are having these problems, yet people who report them seem to say it occured after flashing some ROM/Kernel (idk).
My phone is stock. Im wondering if its happening to other users who have not done any funny business.
Ironically I was holding off on rooting and rom'ing to avoid these little initial bugs

verizontb said:
Forgive my ignorance, but I seem to be having the problems of not having consistent 4G. And slow 4G/3G transitions, as well as poor battery as a result.
I have also gotten the No mobile network, no sim, and roaming network notifications.
It seems like many are having these problems, yet people who report them seem to say it occured after flashing some ROM/Kernel (idk).
My phone is stock. Im wondering if its happening to other users who have not done any funny business.
Ironically I was holding off on rooting and rom'ing to avoid these little initial bugs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was in same boat as you. I was holding off rooting and flashing roms to make sure my device was functioning correctly in stock form. Unfortunately it was not, and I was experiencing all of the issues you are facing on my SECOND gs3. I had replaced the first one for a loose home button, and ended up receiving a new device with more issues than the previous one.
I called up tech support last night, and listed all of the issues you just listed and the tech said those are all hardware issues so I'll have to send you another. I obviously haven't received the third phone yet, but I can tell you I was not experiencing these issues on my first one.

Kreeker said:
I was in same boat as you. I was holding off rooting and flashing roms to make sure my device was functioning correctly in stock form. Unfortunately it was not, and I was experiencing all of the issues you are facing on my SECOND gs3. I had replaced the first one for a loose home button, and ended up receiving a new device with more issues than the previous one.
I called up tech support last night, and listed all of the issues you just listed and the tech said those are all hardware issues so I'll have to send you another. I obviously haven't received the third phone yet, but I can tell you I was not experiencing these issues on my first one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should probably further elaborate and say that I was in Florida for the first week I had my device and the reception there was very good, and I never lost 4G, and was getting almost 35hours of battery when I am lucky to get 10 here. No major app battery draw, just signal...
So that leads me to believe that it is the network, which is a little weaker where I am now, is causing the phone to jump unecessarily in and out of 4G and drawing too much battery.
It's either that, or my phone stopped working properly after a week, which seems less likely.

I don't think it's less likely as a few have reported after a couple of weeks of fantastic service, the phone's data connection has plummeted.
I'm on my second device. Both devices had the same problem. 3g dropped to 1x dropped to no signal. Finding the signal when in a known good signal area took foreverrrr. I haven't seen 4g yet with this phone so I cannot comment there.
I've struggled with VZW to replace my phone. They're now looking at the network for errors, or something. I've taken matters into my own hands- rooted and rom'd the phone with Synergy and it has helped immensely.
Waiting for VZW or Samsung to fix it, I don't think, is a great idea. If you wanted a device that worked correctly out of the box, your chances may be higher with a phone from a different manufacturer. I don't recommend Motorola because of their stance on locked bootloaders but the radio in those things is fantastic.

So you think my phone is defective?
I have my doubts... I see lots of people complaining about so many things and there first reaction is to exchange the phone... they then end up with other problems because they meticulously scrutinize every little detail.
I also don't want to return my phone because I got a bodyguardz carbon fiber kit and screen protector and its applied perfectly! =) No bubbles or haze!

I understand... Gotta weigh it out for yourself.
I personally don't think there's anything wrong with scrutinizing a device you paid any amount of money for. It's yours. If its flawed, get another.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

My phone is in stock and right now I'm not trying to root the phone because I know lte is not perfect right now so I don't wanna do anything that will mess up the phone.
Sent from my sprint galaxy s 3, finally have lte

Wut?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Charging port corrosion.

I just got a nice little email from verizon about corrosion on the charging port on a device I returned. Other than the fact since they put up a 4g tower and now my signal has gone from horrible to almost non-existent and poor GPS lock the phone worked fine. No charging issues. I wasn't going to send the phone back but the GPS lock on the replacement was much better and I thought switching would rule out a hardware issue.
The phone had no damage, the inner stickers were fine because it was never in water. The only thing that might have happened is that since I have to go outside in order to make a call I have been out in the rain in order to use my phone as a phone. I have never had an issue with past phones so I didn't expect to have any issues. I have a complaint in about the corrosion and the port is not affected in any way. Charging and data isn't a problem at all. I have been seeing massive battery drain but I also see it with the GF's droid charge because the phone is constantly searching for signal. The battery drain is also present on the new S3 as well to the point I ordered 2 new OEM batteries in case that was the issue.
Now I'm possibly out $300 and no device to show for that $300 just because I thought replacing the phone I preordered might help my case with the piss poor service I have been getting lately. Has anyone been hit with this before and what was the result? Honestly they just need to send me a range extender. I refuse to pay for one seeing as their change to the network is what caused the signal drop. The droid charge is experiencing worse signal as well.
Not pleased.

Farabomb said:
I just got a nice little email from verizon about corrosion on the charging port on a device I returned. Other than the fact since they put up a 4g tower and now my signal has gone from horrible to almost non-existent and poor GPS lock the phone worked fine. No charging issues. I wasn't going to send the phone back but the GPS lock on the replacement was much better and I thought switching would rule out a hardware issue.
The phone had no damage, the inner stickers were fine because it was never in water. The only thing that might have happened is that since I have to go outside in order to make a call I have been out in the rain in order to use my phone as a phone. I have never had an issue with past phones so I didn't expect to have any issues. I have a complaint in about the corrosion and the port is not affected in any way. Charging and data isn't a problem at all. I have been seeing massive battery drain but I also see it with the GF's droid charge because the phone is constantly searching for signal. The battery drain is also present on the new S3 as well to the point I ordered 2 new OEM batteries in case that was the issue.
Now I'm possibly out $300 and no device to show for that $300 just because I thought replacing the phone I preordered might help my case with the piss poor service I have been getting lately. Has anyone been hit with this before and what was the result? Honestly they just need to send me a range extender. I refuse to pay for one seeing as their change to the network is what caused the signal drop. The droid charge is experiencing worse signal as well.
Not pleased.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you talk to a Verizon rep directly? I think your story sounds very reasonable and should be considered normal phone use.
Maybe explaining to them that corrosion is a natural process and out of general control of human manipulation might sway them a bit?? It just seems so nit-picking at that point.
If you explain to them there was no inclination that the phone was damaged and that was not the reason you sent it back, they should take that into consideration.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Well I ended up having to pay $99 for an insurance claim instead of $300 for the "defective" device. I'm still not 100% happy seeing as it was normal use and the low res, crappy photo didn't prove to me that there was any issue with the phone.
I have never had an issue returning a phone before.
I still don't get a decent signal in my house and after this I won't even consider paying for a range extender.