Radio / Antenna

LoyalServant · Nov 5, 2013

Surprised to see this isn't a discussion yet..

So I just got mine today and I was somewhat shocked to see just how poorly it performs compared to an HTC One.

I have not looked at the teardowns yet to see where and what the antennas are but man... my device has radio/antenna issues.

I usually got a 3-4 bat LTE signal at home and the N5 gets 0-1 bars, parking on HSPA where it fluctuates from 1-3 bars on HSPA.

The wifes HTC One reports an LTE signal of -93dBm and the N5 is -110dBm
On HSPA she reports -89dBm and the N5 reports -101dBm

Ouch... just ouch...

Rukbat · Nov 5, 2013

IIRC, the antenna is near the bottom third of the case, so try holding the case near the top and see what kind of signal you get.

If not, maybe it's time to see if they'll replace it.

drbugsmn · Nov 5, 2013

LoyalServant said:
Surprised to see this isn't a discussion yet..

So I just got mine today and I was somewhat shocked to see just how poorly it performs compared to an HTC One.

I have not looked at the teardowns yet to see where and what the antennas are but man... my device has radio/antenna issues.

I usually got a 3-4 bat LTE signal at home and the N5 gets 0-1 bars, parking on HSPA where it fluctuates from 1-3 bars on HSPA.

The wifes HTC One reports an LTE signal of -93dBm and the N5 is -110dBm
On HSPA she reports -89dBm and the N5 reports -101dBm

Ouch... just ouch...

boogerloo! Son of Gnex!

Curious to how good the performance is with those numbers, ie any troubles with calls, data, etc?

Rxpert83 · Nov 5, 2013

I'd head to your carrier sometime within the next few days and have them do a radio test.

Could just be a bad radio

ritchea · Nov 10, 2013

LoyalServant said:
Surprised to see this isn't a discussion yet..

Ouch... just ouch...

Yes, I was surprised as I am experiencing something similar. I don't even have LTE to compare, just HSPA. When I turned off the wifi to test the data signal, the signal dropped mid-test. I do have the correct APN (and have tried a few others). I am in the process of checking with Straight Talk regarding a possible need to provision my new sim for the N5. I purchased it several weeks ago in anticipation of the N5, but activated it on my N4. I get a much better signal power display (-101dBm to -103dBm) on the N4 as compared to -109 to -111dBm on the N5. Strangely, (IMO), when I looked at the signal as the N5 lay on my desk, it was actually a little better than when I pick it up---no matter where I held it.
These signals are for inside my metal-roofed house but remind me of the poor signals I got on my Galaxy Nexus. I will take the phone out to an LTE area today to see what happens.
Hope it's just the sim.

gordonwd · Nov 10, 2013

Similar here. I am dropping to H in places I used to get LTE on my Galaxy S2.

LoyalServant · Nov 10, 2013

The radio / antennas are not as good as my HTC One but it so far is acceptable.
I can live with it because I have used worse.
Hopefully this will be addressed or can be addressed in software.

Of note.. The galaxy nexus on Verizon had to be the worst device I ever owned because of its really bad radios/antennas.
The gsm version was way better...

jmar · Nov 18, 2013

I'm having some radio issues as well. I've been averaging 25% time without a signal. Really killing my battery.

chukka63 · Nov 18, 2013

I had bad connectivity with my N4 and its not much better with the N5.I replaced the N4 and the new one was no different.I'm waiting to pick my N5 replacement but i'm not holding my breath it will be any better.
As i've mentioned elsewhere my wifes S3 is far superior when it comes to connectivity.

_sC · Nov 19, 2013

i absolutely agree. the signal is atrocious.
my modem is in the freakin room right next to me, and somehow this phone can only muster up 2 bars... i walk into that room and bam 4 bars...

this also happens on lte... my note 3 would be at 3 bars while the nexus keeps dancing around 1 and 2 bars..

even my "old" Galaxy S2 had no problem picking up a decent signal...
how this is on a 2013/14 device is beyond me... and please don't tell me "they had to cut corners somewhere"... the antenna is pretty vital to a phone..

i just hope something can be fixed via software.. if its the physcial antenna thats crap, then this phone is heading out the door real soon.

jhawkkw · Nov 19, 2013

The radios are built into the chips, so this has the exact same radio as every other Snapdragon 800 device (Note 3, G2, Xperia Z1).

jj14x · Nov 19, 2013

Ditto - I noticed the same issue on Sprint. N5 has horrible voice/data connectivity compared to my earlier S4, and on my EVO LTE (currently active) - I can place the EVO and the N5 side by side and see a difference in signal strength (LTE about 10dBm degradation on N5)

From s4gru (specific to sprint though), folks are suggesting that it may have to do with the tri-band LTE being used instead of the separate LTE/CDMA radios.

_sC · Nov 19, 2013

jhawkkw said:
The radios are built into the chips, so this has the exact same radio as every other Snapdragon 800 device (Note 3, G2, Xperia Z1).

oh really? is that so? then... is it safe to assume the device itself is the only thing preventing the connectivity issue?

jhawkkw · Nov 19, 2013

_sC said:
oh really? is that so? then... is it safe to assume the device itself is the only thing preventing the connectivity issue?

It could be software related, bad radio firmware, interference from other parts of the device like the shell, etc.

_sC · Nov 19, 2013

jhawkkw said:
It could be software related, bad radio firmware, interference from other parts of the device like the shell, etc.

i certainly hope its software, because 2 bars and the modem is in the room right next to me is absolutely ridiculous. I was shocked.

Sandroidfan · Nov 19, 2013

jhawkkw said:
The radios are built into the chips, so this has the exact same radio as every other Snapdragon 800 device (Note 3, G2, Xperia Z1).

It's only modem part of radio that's built into S800 chip. I think antenna/transceiver is separate part. But I read somewhere LG is using Qualcomm's reference radio design for snapdragon chip, so their radio hardware shouldn't be issue.

mush10 · Nov 20, 2013

I am having noticeable issues with signal as well. It seems weaker than my other phones. One problem I have noticed is it seems slow to switch to HSPA when necessary. It will hang on no LTE when my other devices will have switched to a decent HSPA signal. Then when it does switch, it remains less than the other devices.

4ubest · Nov 20, 2013

mush10 said:
I am having noticeable issues with signal as well. It seems weaker than my other phones. One problem I have noticed is it seems slow to switch to HSPA when necessary. It will hang on no LTE when my other devices will have switched to a decent HSPA signal. Then when it does switch, it remains less than the other devices.

Boy am I getting bummed out. it seems that the only two features of the phone that google did not cheap out on are the cpu and screen. It makes zero sense to me why they would put a poc antenna in ANY phone.

chukka63 · Nov 20, 2013

I had a Z1 and i have to agree the signal on that was no better than the N5.
Signal/reception has to be the number 1 priority of all mobile phones.Without signal its useless.

jhawkkw · Nov 20, 2013

chukka63 said:
I had a Z1 and i have to agree the signal on that was no better than the N5.
Signal/reception has to be the number 1 priority of all mobile phones.Without signal its useless.

I would actually classify it as number 2 with battery life being number 1. It doesn't matter how great yours signal is if the device can't stay on

. With features like WiFi calling/texting via Google Voice, signal means a lot less to me than battery life.

Rxpert83 · Nov 20, 2013

If your device is constantly searching for a better signal battery life will suffer though

With that said, I haven't had issues with either

jhawkkw · Nov 20, 2013

Rxpert83 said:
If your device is constantly searching for a better signal battery life will suffer though

With that said, I haven't had issues with either

This is true, but can be stopped through usage of airplane mode. Overall though I'd say my Nexus 5 is no different than the Nexus 4 in radio strength. Though wifi strength seems to be not quite as good.

mush10 · Nov 20, 2013

4ubest said:
Boy am I getting bummed out. it seems that the only two features of the phone that google did not cheap out on are the cpu and screen. It makes zero sense to me why they would put a poc antenna in ANY phone.

That and the volume issue are my two biggest complaints. I haven't decided if I can put up with it or not. I want to give it a good run to see if the signal causes drops. I can take the occasional data drop, but I cannot have dropped calls or find myself in places where my phone cannot get a signal and other devices still can.

I wish Google would just give the Nexus line to Motorola and be done with it. A slightly larger Moto X with better screen and a little more power would be a pretty sweet device.

chukka63 · Jan 27, 2014

Is there any up to date news on this issue.

Rxpert83 · Jan 27, 2014

chukka63 said:
Is there any up to date news on this issue.

If you are having radio issues, my number 1 suggestion is to get it checked out by your carrier. Sprint has an RF test they run that will diagnose any issues with the radios. I assume other carriers have the same tools available to them.

If it fails, they give you a new phone, if it passes, you know its not the phone, and a replacement won't help.

I know I'm experiencing about the same signal strength as I was with my S3, so the issue isn't appearing with my device or in my area's network.

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