radio SUCKS

After a few users decided they were going to ignore Kelmar's warning to not make things personal, I've decided to delete all posts revolving around UIs from this thread. UI discussion is off topic and was starting to get to the point where infractions need to be handed out. Please do not continue it.

Out of all the phones I've used I have to concur that my Motorola had a phenomenal radio. I was quite surprised to finally have reception in areas other phones failed. Maybe other manufacturers need to talk to the folks at Motorola and work up a deal to use whatever radios they use.

Metfanant said:

my DX and a friend that owns a RAZR always show a stronger signal than what my SGS3 is able to show...

i don't have any problems with calls/sms/mms/emails etc....but that doesnt change the fact that Moto's have a STRONGER signal sitting right next to me...

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Galaxy S III vs Galaxy Nexus vs Razr Maxx radios

This reviewer actually did some detailed signal comparison like you are asking for. Seems he looked at 3G signal strength. S3 doesn't beat Razr but came quite close. I bet 4G signal strength would be nearly tie between two. Also you can't directly compare 3G strength of DX to S3 due to OS reading dbm differently. ICS will easily reduce dbm reading in GB by about 15~20dbm. DX might be still better but difference is not as the dbm numbers would suggest.

I think GS3 is vastly improved from previous samsung CDMA phones using Via modem chips and on par with HTC on reception at least.

Metfanant said:

my DX and a friend that owns a RAZR always show a stronger signal than what my SGS3 is able to show...

i don't have any problems with calls/sms/mms/emails etc....but that doesnt change the fact that Moto's have a STRONGER signal sitting right next to me...

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Are you splitting hairs or what? If you didn't have the ability to see the dBm reading (signal strength), wouldn't you base your conclusion from the ability of the S3 to make and receive calls and or data?

I swear, too many people are hung up on that instead of what really matters.

I chimed in earlier because I can't hold a phone conversation from the basement of my home and a lot of my texting fail. Even as I go in and out of all kinds of buildings in my work day I did not have this issue with my DX. Just my 2 cents on topic.

Walking through Walgreen as I type this and it won't send.

sean76 said:

Its a Samsung thing, the radios they use are complete garbage. As for Moto, yes they make the absolute best hardware, and from a radio standpoint, I've never seen a stronger signal on a phone then my dads Razr maxx ...insane! With that being said, I'm just not a fan of they're designs, or UI.

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The Razr Maxx was great until Verizon pushed the ICS update to them and a lot of us took a hit in battery life and reception. Motorola is working on a fix.

jhawkkw said:

My personal experience is that Samsung gsm radios aren't the problem, it's their CDMA radios that are absolutely pathetic. Anyone who owned a fascinate, charge, or galaxy nexus can attest to that.

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Are not the LTE Radios not true cdma ?

TheXFactor said:

Are you splitting hairs or what? If you didn't have the ability to see the dBm reading (signal strength), wouldn't you base your conclusion from the ability of the S3 to make and receive calls and or data?

I swear, too many people are hung up on that instead of what really matters.

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To the average user we know nothing about what you're talking about. dBm? We look at signal bars and base determination from there. It's the geeks who'd know what you're talking about.

We dont have to know dBm to know one phone works where another didnt while standing in the same spot. Thats how us non geeks determine better radios.

In my experience the radios on the s3 are middling. When i first got the phone i compared with a friend's galaxy nexus and his signal was significantly worse than mine. Another friend's razr was roughly on par but seemed slightly faster. My girlfriend had a droid 4 and it seemed about 1 bar ahead of me.

A couple of examples though of how much better her droid 4 has turned out to be: we went bowling at an underground alley a while back and neither of us got 4g there. But, she consistently got full bars on 3g for an hour, and i consistently had 1. Best example i have for 4g is that the other day we lost home internet. We got Foxfi to tether with a ps3 from her phone. We watched stuff on both Netflix and instant video in hd for most of the night without issue. When i did the same with my phone today, half the bandwidth and blocky video. Foxfi reported her speed at 6mbit, me at 3. She had 3 bars of 4g most of the time and i continually bounce between 3g and 2 bars 4g with the verizon s3. She has the ics upgrade btw, so versions are similar.

I must say it's been disappointing. Data is what i pay for after all. It's definitely better than the nexus though. Will be looking for razr hd when it shows up. Hopefully the Motorola unlock tool will show some support for verizon by then.

rimjay said:

maybe i shouldve just gotten the maxx. does vzw offer a refund or phone change? if so, what is the time frame?

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fourteen days.

ScandaLeX said:

To the average user we know nothing about what you're talking about. dBm? We look at signal bars and base determination from there. It's the geeks who'd know what you're talking about.

We dont have to know dBm to know one phone works where another didnt while standing in the same spot. Thats how us non geeks determine better radios.

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that is true but isn't dbm the true reading of the signal.

I agree re reception. I constantly get dropped calls in areas where previously things would have been fine. So in areas where the signal is not great, the S3 just bails out where other handsets, BlackBerry or iPhone 4/S would hang on. A colleague who has just swapped from an HTC Desire to and S3 has the same issues.

Motorola are the best in this area if you are prepared to put up with being about 10 years behind the curve.

jerry 12 said:

that is true but isn't dbm the true reading of the signal.

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YES...signals bars mean very little...actually nothing...

1. There is no real standard for what a phone reports as a bar...what equals 1 bar on phone A, does not necessarily mean the same on phone B

2. Some firmwares just have a different number of bars...if phone A has 4 signal bars...and phone B has 5...if they are both showing 4 are they receiving the same quality signal? impossible to tell

3. I can look at my signal bars...and then go check the dbm reading and have seen better signal strength numbers, with a lower number of "bars" explain that one?...there are also VERY different results between 3G and 4G service...

the reception on my S3 is not BAD by any means...but its certainly not as GOOD as other phones...particularly Motorola devices that i have experience with...

As little as sinal bars mean, I used to have uniterrapted service in my room on my Razr and I get disconnected from 3G all the time with GS3. In strong signal areas everything is great, in weak spots it gets difficult.

I think part of the GS3 issue is a WELL DESERVED perception that the signal is bad, since when buying a new device there is more focus of use for a short period and previous Samsung devices were average to awful. Not to mention people assume their phone sucks when it could be the network doing the sucking.

My previous history for Moto's was the D1, D2, D3 and Razr. Call and text range is the same as the GS3. 3G was better on all four, but the GS3 has better 4G reception and runs a LOT cooler when using 4G than the Razr. Not to mention much, much better battery life when using 4G.

Still, most of the areas I live are mainly 3G and will be for a few years. The net result is I would prefer the Razr radio (for 3G), since I would rather have great 3G and decent 4G. Since call and text range are the same in areas used so far, I prefer the overall device features of the GS3.

Plus, it is nice to be able to use 4G and get great battery life and not run like a portable oven. The Razr radio and 4G are absolute evil. To be fair though, the GS3 and weak 3G signal is almost as evil. The GS3 sucks with weak 3G signal, but the Razr sucks with 4G, regardless of weak or strong signal.

Added:

It still looks like Samsung has not mastered the all important data radio component. Perhaps the demonic power draw of weak 3G signal can be fixed with a kernel update. No kidding, the good thing about all four Moto devices I had, the power draw for weak 3G was nothing like the GS3. None of those device got hot with weak 3G- the GS3 does. I have had the blue and white version and both official stock roms (neither is/was rooted). Same result with weak 3G. It is bad and contrary to other people's assertions, it is not normal compared to other devices. All radios do consume more power with weak 3G, but none have drained or got HOT like the GS3 can. This is compared to the D1, D2, D3, Razr, iPhone 4s, Inc and Rezound. Tested them all and only the GS3 appears to have excessive issues with weak 3G.

If any radio would cause heat and excessive power drain with weak signal, it would seem the 4G radio function would, but does not compare to weak 3G. Weak 3G signal management is the GS3's profound weakness, IMO.

I find the 4g on the GS can be suspect. In a 2 bar area for 4g i may get pages to load quickly or it will be very slow. The 3g in my opinion is strong. It's onpar with a droid 3 in all area's i tested.

Hopefully, someone can fix the radio issue through software or hopefully samsung brings out radio firmware...they did it with the TB no? I had excellent reception/internet with that thing.

I get crap reception everywhere with my GS3. I am not sure if it is all the phones fault though. I am currently with Sprint so I blame them . I am smack in the middle of 3 of Sprints towers(all 3 within a mile) and yet when inside my house I get 0 reception. I can't receive or place a call, read an email nothing. I had to call them and complain and they sent me a Free Air-Rave to hook to my high speed modem and now I can use my phone while in my house Thank God!!!

My DX on Verizon had no such problems. NEVER dropped a call in 2 years.

Can someone explain how to read the dBm signal strength on the phone? I want to know if mine is reading a weak signal or what. Thanks.

Everyone's experience will be different - I think the people who are experiencing reception issues (myself included) are in an area where reception is weak, at best.

For me personally, there is definitely a significant difference between the Motorola radios and the one in this phone.
I came from a Droid X. Never had reception/call/data issues. Sitting exactly where I am sitting now, my signal strength with the X averaged between -90dBm and -80dBM.
My S3, right now, is -120dBm (searching for signal). If I put it near a window or door, I sometimes get as good as -90dBm.

My son had a Droid Incredible. Signal strength was the same as the X. He currently has a Droid 4. We can sit side by side and my S3 will be around -120 dBm to -100dBm, and his phone will be -90dBm to -85dBm.

I called Verizon. They told me that they were "aware of" reception issues with the phone, but were not sure when an OTA might be released. They offered to replace the phone, and sent me an new one overnight. Brand new phone, but had "updated" stickers on the box and screen. Different build number. Same reception...no improvement.

But I love the S3. For me, there are too many good things about it, to make me exchange it for a "lesser" phone. Sure, I have an issue with the reception - but for me, it's only really bad at my house. Even though I'm here quite a bit (work from home), thankfully, I don't need to make/take calls from my cell phone here.

It's one little tiny thing that makes me wish for winter...no leaves on the trees = much better cell reception.

Based on what I have read I guess my signal strength is good. I am at -70 dBm now. Last night I was at -53. And sometimes I am at -89. I am trying to figure out if my signal is causing my battery drain. It seems that is not the issue with my phone. And like everyone has said above Motorola makes the best radios. Motorola made the first cell phones so it makes sense that they would make the best radios. They know what they are doing.

sean76 said:

Its a Samsung thing, the radios they use are complete garbage. As for Moto, yes they make the absolute best hardware, and from a radio standpoint, I've never seen a stronger signal on a phone then my dads Razr maxx ...insane! With that being said, I'm just not a fan of they're designs, or UI.

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Samsung Radio problems are a function of your location. In a good reception area they work ok. Any sort of marginal reception area and they are terrible.
I eagerly bought a Galaxy Nexus last December, no reception at my home. My old droid x got great reception at home as does my Razr.
Surely Samsung is aware of the problem. Why did they bring out the S3 with the same Radio?
I want to buy Note 2 in the worst Way... Worried about the Radio.

I live in the topographically challenged state of Kentucky and find the GS3 to not be bad at all. 3g is marginally weaker, but 4g is better than the RAZR and call/text reception are equal.

Places the GS3 sucks for signal are the same places the D1, D2, D3, Incredible and Razr sucked too. The objective rather than subjective results (they either all work or do not) suggest at least for Kentucky and Verizon network, the radios are similar.

Added: As mentioned already, the key issue for the GS3 is it draws more power than the noted devices in low signal 3g areas. This needs fixing.

Jon Davis said:

Samsung Radio problems are a function of your location. In a good reception area they work ok. Any sort of marginal reception area and they are terrible.
I eagerly bought a Galaxy Nexus last December, no reception at my home. My old droid x got great reception at home as does my Razr.
Surely Samsung is aware of the problem. Why did they bring out the S3 with the same Radio?
I want to buy Note 2 in the worst Way... Worried about the Radio.

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S3 doesn't have the same radio from Gnex. The radio modem chip is very different. It's qualcomm S4 also used in One X and several new phones coming soon.