Help Cell Signal Strength

[bradmatic]

So.. I recently left my large metro area.. and traveled to another just as large metro area 2 hours away. Let me tell you how disappointed I was with my signal strength.

I never got above -86dbm.. and that was standing right next to the tower. My phone just peaked at four bars a few times.

I had to *228 once I got to my destination because I had zero service inside.

On the drive home.. it was the same. Signal strength just sucked.

Is this the phone compensating in some way.. or does the reception on this phone suck that much?

In my metro.. I average 1-2 bars.. -106 - -96 dbm

 

[xliderider]

I believe it is a bug in the software, the Fascinate is under reporting the signal strength. See this thread:

http://androidforums.com/samsung-fascinate/176185-possible-signal-strength-bug.html

You aren't dropping any calls though are you?

 

[bradmatic]

Sorry for the double post. I should have done a better search.

Thanks for the link. Hopefully the signal strength in dbm will be fixed in a later update.

 

[xliderider]

Sorry for the double post. I should have done a better search.

Thanks for the link. Hopefully the signal strength in dbm will be fixed in a later update.

It's all good. I wasn't implying that you should've searched better.

I hope Samsung/Verizon get on the ball and get an update out soon, or more than a few Fascinates might be going back. I was one of those people that don't like to be left hanging with a device that should be great, but have to wait for updates that may never come in a timely fashion.

Verizon says the issues should be fixed with 2.2, but they also say that 2.2 is coming out by the end of the year. That's 3 months of living with the buggy software. They better push an update/maintenance release out sooner , rather than later.

 

[bradmatic]

I always feel dumb when someone pulls out a thread.. out of the same fourm area that I was just looking! <duh>

I'm just glad I live in a somewhat VZW rich area. I have tmo and att friends that will argue with me.. but when it comes outside the metro.. I win.. hands down!

 

[xliderider]

I returned my Fascinate thinking that it got lousy reception, but now I realize that it was under reporting the signal strength.

Too late now, I'm stuck with the Droid X when it comes in due to Verizon's policy of one exchange during the WFG 30 day period (I'm not complaining).

 

[saps]

I returned my Fascinate thinking that it got lousy reception, but now I realize that it was under reporting the signal strength.

Too late now, I'm stuck with the Droid X when it comes in due to Verizon's policy of one exchange during the WFG 30 day period (I'm not complaining).

Yeah that -86dBm max thing was telling. Definitely something amiss there. "Settling" for a DX is not a bad thing at all