Help Signal Strength

OLDDAWG · Dec 23, 2011

First let me say that I live in an area of no 4G at all. I love the GNEX and the way it operates but I do have signal issues. Let me add here that my prior phones were an original Droid and a Droid X both got 3g signal"always" with no loss of data connection and usually ran a -93db which is not great but held connections.
My GNEX has lost data connection on a regular basis. My signal in my drive way is -93db but in my home it falls to -120db. I have called technical support and was told to replace the SIM card which I did and it did not help. Then they told me to pick up another GNEX which I did and it did not help.
I still love the phone so I am planing on holding on to the phone until the last day that I can return in hopes of getting and OTA upgrade that at least will help some. From what I have read there are a lot of people in my position. BTW I get real good speeds using WIFI in my home but a persons phone should get better 3G service without having to rely on WIFI.

Gdwheel · Dec 23, 2011

john30308 said:
Atlanta (IP) and no signal or 4G issues here.

Same for me (same place).

red66charger · Dec 23, 2011

Just now in Clearwater, FL using Speedtest.net server in Tampa...it's pretty ugly

PNG = 229
Down = 1.52 mbps
Up = 0.78 mbps

4G 0 bars
-119 dbm

I want to cry, then throw up.

ska.t73 · Dec 23, 2011

In my office in Phoenix, AZ... Speed test is showing 10.51Mbps down, 9.06Mbps up; 4 bars of 4G and signal showing -94 dBm 46 asu. Never have dropped a call or data.

kk4df · Dec 23, 2011

I had a chance to test both 3g and 4g connectivity during several hours of rural country driving in the Carolina's. Streaming music, with occasional navigational apps thrown in, and no loss of connectivity. I'm very pleased with the signal reception from today's journey.

Edit: BTW I'm running the leaked radios.

Karuk · Dec 23, 2011

San Diego, CA
At my desk inside 12 story building
8 down
1.75 up

Seems that my data connection issue has solved itself

Sandroidfan · Dec 23, 2011

red66charger said:
Just now in Clearwater, FL using Speedtest.net server in Tampa...it's pretty ugly

PNG = 229
Down = 1.52 mbps
Up = 0.78 mbps

4G 0 bars
-119 dbm

I want to cry, then throw up.

That is like 3G speed. Are you sure it was on 4G when testing it? If so and other 4G phones are getting normal LTE speed there, yours is probably lemon.

red66charger · Dec 23, 2011

Sandroidfan said:
That is like 3G speed. Are you sure it was on 4G when testing it? If so and other 4G phones are getting normal LTE speed there, yours is probably lemon.

I have to assume it was in 4g since the 4g symbol was displaying. However, there was no blue in the bar GUI.

red66charger · Dec 23, 2011

Sandroidfan said:
That is like 3G speed. Are you sure it was on 4G when testing it? If so and other 4G phones are getting normal LTE speed there, yours is probably lemon.

Just went and stood next to a window about 40 ft from my office and ran another test:

Ping 223
Down 6.63
Up 3.31

-100 dBm
40 asu

Two bars displaying. Walked back to my office and have -110 dBm and 30 asu

ska.t73 · Dec 23, 2011

red66charger said:
Just went and stood next to a window about 40 ft from my office and ran another test:

Ping 223
Down 6.63
Up 3.31

-100 dBm
40 asu

Two bars displaying. Walked back to my office and have -110 dBm and 30 asu

This is the part I don't get, the dBm readings that we have should not be getting these speeds at all... In fact, as far as I know, anything over a -100 should be no service at all.

As you saw above I got some better speeds with a little better dBm, however my speeds should have been no where near what they were with that kind of dBm...

This is making me think that this is an issue with reporting like VZW is saying. It would make sense if the programming is switching based on the dBm signal number, it sees the number and switches to look for a better signal or 3G...

Sandroidfan · Dec 23, 2011

ska.t73 said:
This is the part I don't get, the dBm readings that we have should not be getting these speeds at all... In fact, as far as I know, anything over a -100 should be no service at all.

As you saw above I got some better speeds with a little better dBm, however my speeds should have been no where near what they were with that kind of dBm...

This is making me think that this is an issue with reporting like VZW is saying. It would make sense if the programming is switching based on the dBm signal number, it sees the number and switches to look for a better signal or 3G...

Apparently correlation between data speed and dBm is different on Gnex from other phones because it's reading LTE signal strength which is usually lower than EvDO. I guess the problem is they didn't properly adjust signal threshold for dropping to 3G to prevent too frequent drop to 3G.

yawdapaah · Dec 23, 2011

Sandroidfan said:
Apparently correlation between data speed and dBm is different on Gnex from other phones because it's reading LTE signal strength which is usually lower than EvDO. I guess the problem is they didn't properly adjust signal threshold for dropping to 3G to prevent too frequent drop to 3G.

That's my opinion on the matter as well. I believe this will be corrected when VZW adjusts the signal thresholds (bars) in their upcoming update.

Blue218 · Dec 23, 2011

yawdapaah said:
That's my opinion on the matter as well. I believe this will be corrected when VZW adjusts the signal thresholds (bars) in their upcoming update.

I sure hope so. Any idea when this update is supposed to occur?

jeff0r3 · Dec 23, 2011

my reception is actually quite terrible.. I don't have all the facts and data to support this assumption.. I'm merely stating that, with My Droid X, we considered dropping the home phone line... With the Galaxy Nexus.. this is not a option.. Going to bite the bullet and return it tomorrow.... I know I should wait til the 15th like everyone else, but I'm convinced that its a Radio problem and not a VZW problem... I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about it (OTHER than the weak speaker phone)... So here's to hoping that the rezound gets ICS soon.. who needs rooted when you have an OS like that

mistermojorizi · Dec 24, 2011

red66charger said:
I have to assume it was in 4g since the 4g symbol was displaying. However, there was no blue in the bar GUI.

i've noticed this behavior. i think it means that it's connecting. it does the same thing with my wireless until it connects and turns blue and when switching from 3g to 4g or from no data.

daddyd302 · Dec 24, 2011

Here's mine just taken recently. I usually only get between 2-3 bars where I live and usually 1-2 bars at my house, and the test I did was in my basement, I got 6M down and 3M up. I stepped outside and got 18M down and 16M up. That's with 2 bars, I went a little further out into the street and got 3 bars. I got 19M down and 17 up, so not much better. This is in West Allis, WI, right next to Milwaukee.

kklier · Dec 25, 2011

SO far I have only experienced phone call problems when I was inside a building. Today while driving with a full 4G signal I experienced call problems. These call problems come are when I can hear the caller fine, but all of a sudden the caller can no longer hear me. This is the second Nexus I have experienced this problem on.

Has anyone seen this problem?

Mr. Orange 645 · Dec 26, 2011

kklier said:
SO far I have only experienced phone call problems when I was inside a building. Today while driving with a full 4G signal I experienced call problems. These call problems come are when I can hear the caller fine, but all of a sudden the caller can no longer hear me. This is the second Nexus I have experienced this problem on.

Has anyone seen this problem?

Yes I have on two different devices.

budmonster · Dec 26, 2011

The 4G SIM card that came with my phone, could that possibly be effecting my 4G signal in a negative way? Maybe I ruined it? I remember the directions saying not to touch the gold area or whatever, is it possible I ruined it or just have a bad one? I guess I'm trying to find any reason other than admitting that maybe my 4G "area" is really horrible and the 4G map is wrong, lol or that the GNEX is just really a bad 4G device. I dont know anything about SIM cards so maybe?

http://forums.androidcentral.com/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=1513615

jkc120 · Dec 26, 2011

budmonster said:
The 4G SIM card that came with my phone, could that possibly be effecting my 4G signal in a negative way? Maybe I ruined it? I remember the directions saying not to touch the gold area or whatever, is it possible I ruined it or just have a bad one? I guess I'm trying to find any reason other than admitting that maybe my 4G "area" is really horrible and the 4G map is wrong, lol or that the GNEX is just really a bad 4G device. I dont know anything about SIM cards so maybe?

"http://forums.androidcentral.com/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=1513615"

Have you tried swapping your device? There seem to be plenty of folks who don't have signal issues, so perhaps you got a dud? It could just be the strength of 4g isn't great in your area, too. I think my nexus was one of those, because it would drop from 2-3 4g bars outside my in-laws' house to 1-2 bars of 3g, while my rezound is able to keep a 4g signal and give me good speeds (14 mbps). I was considering swapping my nexus ans seeing if the signal would improve but for other reasons got the rezound. Man I miss ics and the look/feel of the nexus in the hand. Ah well. :/

Premium1 · Dec 26, 2011

I have no signal issues either. Actually has much better 3g coverage than my fascinate did at school( 3g only no lte coverage). Coverage at my house which does have lte is about the same as my thunderbolt was.

jkc120 · Dec 26, 2011

Premium1 said:
I have no signal issues either. Actually has much better 3g coverage than my fascinate did at school( 3g only no lte coverage). Coverage at my house which does have lte is about the same as my thunderbolt was.

Do you have any issues when entering buildings? Both of my nexuses seemed to drop from 4g to 3g or even on 3g it'd drop from like -78 dBm to -93 dBm when I would go inside buildings. I'm wondering if this is a symptom of nexuses with radio problems or which also have "weak signals" (in quotes as I think some are still reporting based on bars and not dBm).

Premium1 · Dec 26, 2011

jkc120 said:
Do you have any issues when entering buildings? Both of my nexuses seemed to drop from 4g to 3g or even on 3g it'd drop from like -78 dBm to -93 dBm when I would go inside buildings. I'm wondering if this is a symptom of nexuses with radio problems or which also have "weak signals" (in quotes as I think some are still reporting based on bars and not dBm).

I have had issues in certain buildings with 4g in general not just with the nexus. When I had the thunderbolt it lost 4g in certain buildings and is the same way with the nexus so I think it has more to do with lte than a particular phone per say at least in my case that is.

jkc120 · Dec 26, 2011

Premium1 said:
I have had issues in certain buildings with 4g in general not just with the nexus. When I had the thunderbolt it lost 4g in certain buildings and is the same way with the nexus so I think it has more to do with lte than a particular phone per say at least in my case that is.

The nexus and my current phone the rezound are the only two 4g phones I have any experience with, but at least compared to the two nexuses I had, the rezound's ability to hold a signal (be it 4g or 3g) is much better. Even in my in-laws' Faraday cage house hahaha (thanks again BlueBiker, that still makes me snicker).

Premium1 · Dec 26, 2011

jkc120 said:
The nexus and my current phone the rezound are the only two 4g phones I have any experience with, but at least compared to the two nexuses I had, the rezound's ability to hold a signal (be it 4g or 3g) is much better. Even in my in-laws' Faraday cage house hahaha (thanks again BlueBiker, that still makes me snicker).

Yeah the only other 4g phone I had was the thunderbolt and the nexus has better signal than the thunderbolt and also my fascinate did.

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