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Verizon GS3 signal reception thread

data issues related to dbm #'s?

  • high dbm, data works fine

    Votes: 53 68.8%
  • high dbm, data does not work

    Votes: 17 22.1%
  • other: explain in comments

    Votes: 7 9.1%

  • Total voters
    77
I can go days on only wifi, it uses far less power than LTE>
If wifi is available, it uses less battery than 3G/4G. If wifi is not available and you leave it turned on, it will use more battery searching for a signal, so for best battery life, use wifi when available and turn it off when it isn't.

By the way, not having the wifi toggle can't possibly be a hardware issue, since all it does is turn wifi on and off, which you can still do in the wifi menu option.
 
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Tonight I had the opportunity to compare the Resound to my GS3, in an LTE 4G signal area. The signal on my phone was on the average 20db poorer than his. (for example 102db on my SG3 vs 83db on his Resound). :(


.. My bad - looks like I will have to wait for the Resound to get its ICS update.

Okay WITH the recent ICS upgrade my signal was 90db and his was 68.
 
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I pulled the battery and SIM card, and it didn't help.

I also tried *22899, and it didn't work.

What next?

I'm sorry to hear that but just out of curiosity I wished you did *22899 and not *228 at least first. Again from what I've read it has to be *22899 but on that note did the *22899 seem to work (like no errors, ect..)?

I will see what my signal is and in a couple of days try my findings myself maybe Wednesday or Thursday to see if it works safely if not I will go back on my posts and tell people not to do it at all at least we know now *228 is a definite do not try!

Let us know if they give you a new sim or?? To get it fixed.
Again sorry for the inconvenience

!!!DO NOT TRY THIS IT DOES NOT WORK!!!!
 
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I'm sorry to hear that but just out of curiosity I wished you did *22899 and not *228 at least first. Again from what I've read it has to be *22899 but on that note did the *22899 seem to work (like no errors, ect..)?

I will see what my signal is and in a couple of days try my findings myself maybe Wednesday or Thursday to see if it works safely if not I will go back on my posts and tell people not to do it at all at least we know now *228 is a definite do not try!

Let us know if they give you a new sim or?? To get it fixed.
Again sorry for the inconvenience

I'm sorry I wasn't clear before. I actually tried *22899 first, and it didn't work. Then I tried *228, and it updated the roaming and lost 4G. I'll go to Verizon this afternoon and replace the SIM. I'll report back after that.
 
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I'm sorry I wasn't clear before. I actually tried *22899 first, and it didn't work. Then I tried *228, and it updated the roaming and lost 4G. I'll go to Verizon this afternoon and replace the SIM. I'll report back after that.

I went back and edited my post and I apologize to anyone I have or may have offended, the 3 + threads that I saw that info in were wrong and you all that corrected me were correct, that it does mess up sim cards so as dhj tried all this he now has to go to Verizon for a new sim card.

Thank you dhj for testing this out for us now we all know for sure it does not work with this specific phone and will mess up your sim card.

(if it is not your sim they replace then I will correct again), and THANK YOU FOR TRYING"
 
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I've been using a RAZR Maxx and and SGS3 in a remote part of WA state this weekend. Unfortunately, the news is not good..

Cabin: Razr Maxx -96dBm, SGS3 -102dBm
Beach: Razr Maxx -85dBm, SGS3 -94dBm

Yes, the Razr Maxx is running 4.0.4 :(

Verizon and most companies make their cell tower plots at -84 and -72. that 6 dbm difference while 2x greater doesnt really mean much to me. The 85 vs 94 is another issue. Did you try making any calls?
 
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I went back and edited my post and I apologize to anyone I have or may have offended, the 3 + threads that I saw that info in were wrong and you all that corrected me were correct, that it does mess up sim cards so as dhj tried all this he now has to go to Verizon for a new sim card.

Thank you dhj for testing this out for us now we all know for sure it does not work with this specific phone and will mess up your sim card.

(if it is not your sim they replace then I will correct again), and THANK YOU FOR TRYING"

Ouch! This is why I don't give out critical instructional information unless I'm 100% sure I'm correct first. "Uh, sorry I didn't listen to other people and I talked you into screwing up your brand new phone."

However, kudos to you for stepping up and apologizing for your blunder. A lot of people would've just shrugged their shoulders and walked away. :vroam:

Benny
 
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Wow, this shit is lengthy. I had a GNex and received my S3 yesterday. My stepdaughter has the Nexus, will run some tests when she gets home tonight. However, I spent a whole day with the S3 and the signal seems better. I have never had an issue making or dropping calls with my Nexus. Sitting here now, my S3 -103 dms, speed test 10.0 down, 11.3 up, wife's TB on 2.3, -83 dbm, speed test 10.7 down, 10.3 up. Pretty comparable.

Although not comparable, your wife's TB is 20db better than the S3. If we subtracted 10db from the difference because of measurement inconsistencies without ICS, there still is a 10db difference.

What I'd like to see if how your S3 does in weaker areas relative to the TB.
 
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I've been using a RAZR Maxx and and SGS3 in a remote part of WA state this weekend. Unfortunately, the news is not good..

Cabin: Razr Maxx -96dBm, SGS3 -102dBm
Beach: Razr Maxx -85dBm, SGS3 -94dBm

Yes, the Razr Maxx is running 4.0.4 :(

I can't say I'm surprised. The more I'm reading on this and other forums, the more I'm thinking I'll wait for the Razr HD. Samsung just never seems to get it. :(
 
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20 dB greater is good...unless you don't understand the concept of negative numbers where -100 is less than -80.


Except in this case, the closer to zero the better, so -80 is better than -100. Comparing GB to ICS can have a big difference, so hard to say if bad or not here.

I am at the mercy of Best Buy and not liking it, so will not test for a while. I sure wish the overall trend of results was better than what I am seeing. The biggest red flag to me is from folks that say "I never had a problem with the Gnex and this is just as good or better". The Gnex has a POOR radio system design, so people that get great Gnex signal apparently live in great coverage areas.

Saying the Gnex and GS3 are similar, or the GS3 is a little better is like comparing the movies Batman Forever with Batman and Robin, and saying Batman Forever is similar or a little better. Bleh. Both are BAD!
 
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I'm also having a previously mentioned issue where calls work fine, but when the signal is marginal the internet doesn't seem to work quite right. My Gnex never had this problem.

Interestingly, having used both the international GS3 and the GSM Gnex from the Google Play Store extensively, I can tell you that the reception is much stronger and more reliable for the GSM versions. Its almost like some issue with Samsung and Verizon specifically (maybe Sprint as well if its a Samsung/CDMA issue?)

I'll continue testing today and report back any interesting findings.

EDIT: And yes, i realize the GSM versions don't support LTE, but even holding onto 3G on inferior networks (T-Mobile, AT&T) seems much stronger. Not really sure what to make of that.
 
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Jeepers, I was hoping this would all turn into a Batman Begins - Batman and the Joker comparison, but perhaps leaning more to Batman Forever - Batman and Robin comparison trend....

trebster! We need more cowbell!! How about more Razr comparisons? :)

Beginning to despise my Best Buy preorder decision.....
 
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Yea the Gnex through Verizon was terrible where I live. I am starting to seriously consider just going to Best Buy and buying an AT&T S3 since GSM seems to work better with Samsung phones. I don't have unlimited so I guess I'm not missing out on that aspect.

My wife has the Rezound on contract and my area (not at my home) just got Verizon LTE so I hate to give that up for AT&T HSPA+... decisions, decisions.:hmmmm:
 
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