I wonder if this is the reason why CDMA networks have fewer dropped calls than GSM networks? People are out and about, they get a voice call, and their phone dumps the data radios.
Maybe, but my money is on a simpler answer - tower technology and corporate resolve.
One of the professional societies I've been a member had a primary mission to detail various signal effects when setting various types of antennas up. The top guys had some incredible solutions to the age-old problem - you want coverage, you don't have unlimited power, you need more than one broadcast point - that works, but right within the strong spots, the signals cancel and you got nothing. The other thing they all noted was the satisfactory victory when an employer actually listened and did things the right way.
Many people on AT&T - contrary to my experience - claim to have never suffered a dropped GSM call. My intuition tells me that in their areas, the guys got lucky setting up the towers or they simply did a better job. Either way, there are stories out there suggesting it can be done.
If there were corporate resolve, the problem wouldn't exist anyway - they'd repeat the success.
I think - but don't know for certain, just I think I understand - that part of the CDMA magic is that call quality isn't related to signal strength (if you used both gsm and cdma you've probably experienced that's true). So maybe some part of that radio magic is helpful at fewer dropped calls.
I'll let someone with real knowledge like RiverOfIce comment further.
LOL, I failed in my theory. Sprint said they haven't seen these audio problems. Is it possible the reviewers get a different phone than us? Phones Sprint tweaked before going to reviewers.
You maybe failed in your theory, but you passed with flying colors why we have theories or engineering info - to solve problems. Honestly, it wouldn't have occurred to me to try to turn off the other radios to see if it helped call quality. You did - you win!
It is possible reviewers might have a different phone. Depending on how long they have had them. Seems like the NDA might have been lifted yesterday as this is when every site got thier reviews out.
But we are probably just talking on a software side, that maybe the call quality needs a quick OTA for fixing. Sprint was pretty quick last year with fixing initial EVO issues.
Wasnt there OTA update available launch day I believe?
Yep, we had an OTA on launch day.
I think Sprint/HTC's problem is they deliver the same phone to reviewers that they do to consumers: Every stupid Sense and radio feature turned on out of the box. That's not use-it mode, that's demo mode. It gives the eye candy a bad name and kills batteries.
Here's an idea - how about a setup wizard like with other computers? HTC Setup is a little of that - do you want location services, what's your Gmail address - but only enough to go use it fast. Complete the wizard. End with a phone more closely configured for consumer use. Ask - do you use Bluetooth? Do you even live in a 4G area? Do you have wifi - and would you like to set it up right now? Do you have more email accounts besides Gmail? Do you use Facebook? Do you use Twitter? Would you like to keep a record of your Footsteps? That's just off the top of my head.
At the end of that, reviewers could try what consumers might and give good answers. Otherwise, don't blame the reviewers if someone hands them a phone with all the bloat on maximum and tells them: this is how people will use this phone. Because that's what they'll review.
As for call quality - I've not absorbed all the reviews, been elsewhere. I read where one of you cats pointed out one reviewer is in a Sprint-challenged zone and never gives them a pass - dunno if that's part of the discussion or not.
But after stellar call quality on my Evo, the 3vo had better have it - 'nuff said. No denial on that pup.
