Help Call quality very sub-par (not signal strength)

axel_2078 · May 4, 2010

Well, you can add me to this list. After reading this thread, I got a bit paranoid because I haven't actually used the phone to call anyone since I got it on the 29th. I went out to my car and called my wife to test it and I only got to talk for a couple minutes, but there was noticeable static when she spoke. It wasn't enough to keep me from understanding her, but a bit distracting nonetheless. I may just have to deal with a stat-icky reception if I want to keep this phone (don't really want to go back to my blackberry).

Lissara · May 4, 2010

So my first Incredible had fantastic call quality, but the phone died within 2 days and I had to have it replaced. My replacement phone has had horrible call quality regardless of the signal strength I have. I have to turn the volume all the way up and even then people sound muffled and cut in and out. If this continues, I'll see if I can get another replacement...

trpt · May 4, 2010

My signal varies around -100 in my house (and I have a Network Extender). I drop calls all the time and get a "signal fade" message on the INC.

There were no reception issues with my prior phone (RAZR) and my wife's DARE and son's ENVY also never drop calls.

It's a fantastic device but I have no choice other than to return it.

dc006 · May 4, 2010

ShiftLft said:
It's so bad for me that many times even the ringing of the phone I'm calling will be distorted and break up. If the phone I'm calling rings 6 times (land line or mobile), at least 3 rings will be disrupted by a "blip" or distortion. At first I thought it may be just because I was calling others on cell phones but it does the same for land lines.

This is the same for me. Even the ringing breaks up. This is my second Incredible and I am waiting for the store to get more stock to switch again.

I called HTC and they never heard about the issue. They suggested sending it in for repairs rather than exchanging to ensure I got my problem resolved.

Does VZW even know that this is an issue affecting us?

For some reason I think the speaker is just bad quality.

ctxx24 · May 4, 2010

Man so many people having probs with this phone lol mine is great in every way....call quality has always been good even with low bars..

dc006 · May 4, 2010

After reading through several other threads it seems like no one at HTC or Verizon has heard about this issue. Have we all just posted here in the forum about it without actually calling and complaining? lol.

Anyways, I will be calling Verizon again and swapping out my phone again. Perhaps if enough of us do that they will notice there is indeed an issue that needs addressed.

curtisdr · May 4, 2010

It seems to me that the quality is much better on the speaker phone, than through the ear piece. But I've only noticed that between two separate calls, which could have been the difference. Next time I'm having trouble with the ear piece quality, I need to switch right away to speaker phone and see if it's better.

talk · May 4, 2010

My problem isn't garbled speech; it's VOLUME. I have it set to highest levels, yet still get a very soft level from whomever I'm speaking with. With no one else so far complaining about this, I wonder if I should ask for a new phone. (Music levels are perfect.) Or is this common?

Bornindc · May 4, 2010

I agree 100% i got my incredible the 29th and I hear exact same thing as you. Had mine exchenged once, and I think verizon knows there is a proble, but not admitting it. I hear everything you hear. Well, today I returned mine and went back to my Eris until they fix the issue. The call quality on the eris was awesome. Also te signal strength on the incredible was sooo super poor. Get it togther Verizon!!!

I've had my Incredible since the 29th (yes, I had to wait) and it is been fantastic except for one important thing - call quality.

I know everyone in here has been discussing signal strength and bars, but I've been experiencing very poor quality in calls. It only seems to be the audio I'm hearing (people on the other end say I sound fine) that is bad - with everything from little 1 second "scuffs" (sounds like someone blowing on the phone mic), to 1 second moments of silence while someone is talking, to what sounds like auto-tune on the person's voice. When there isn't distortion the person sounds kind of muffled. Many times even the audio of the ringing cuts out a couple times or sounds distorted when calling someone.

Anyone on here experiencing a similar issue? I stopped by my local VZW store to which the technician didn't feel there was a problem and refused to replace my phone (although they had no new phones anyways). I've done a hard reset to remove any apps that may be interfering with the calls and it's still the same. Also have tested at least 50 calls in several areas of Rochester, NY (30ish mile radius) over the past 4 days.[/QUOTE]

Bornindc · May 4, 2010

I agree 100% i got my incredible the 29th and I hear exact same thing as you. Had mine exchenged once, and I think verizon knows there is a proble, but not admitting it. I hear everything you hear. Well, today I returned mine and went back to my Eris until they fix the issue. The call quality on the eris was awesome. Also te signal strength on the incredible was sooo super poor. Get it togther Verizon!!!

Eric1392 · May 4, 2010

Honestly, the call quality on my env2 (which i was switching from) was a HECK of a lot better than my Incredible is, so I'm thinking obviously there has to be a problem. I am considering exchanging it for a replacement in hopes that the replacement will be better. It is good to see that there are people out there who are reporting that they are getting great quality because now we know it is not all phones and only a certain percentage.

Deleted User · May 4, 2010

dc006 said:
After reading through several other threads it seems like no one at HTC or Verizon has heard about this issue. Have we all just posted here in the forum about it without actually calling and complaining? lol.

Well I know at least one Verizon store has heard about the issues from me but I doubt Debbie Low Tech is going to send this one up the corporate chain.

kwilsonw · May 4, 2010

mochapenguin said:
Can anyone confirm if getting a replacement phone fixed the issue?

I'm coming from AT&T (iPhone 3G) and although I had dropped calls all the time, the quality was fine. I was really shocked when I made a call the first time on the Incredible and from the first ring it sounded garbled, kind of cutting in and out. Same as most others, people say I sound fine, it's just on my end it sounds bad.

I've spent all weekend customizing my phone to my liking and I REALLY don't want to exchange it....but this is one of the reasons I switched from AT&T, so what's the point if the quality sucks? I'm in Omaha, NE and signal seems fine, just the quality is never clear.

The replacement was the same, maybe worse. I was on mine from Thursday night to Sunday night customizing too with about 4-5 hours sleep each night. I didn't talk on it much until late Sunday which is when I realized there was a problem with the sound & signal. I talked with the same people that I always talk with. I never had sound or signal problems with my Razr v9m

The Rep told me that they sold all of the Incredibles received last Thursday and that I'm the only one that's had problems with the phone. Imagine that! There were only "2" defective phones in that shipment and "Incredibly" I got both of them!

I'm replacing it Thursday for my 3rd Incredible as soon as the shipment arrives. The sales rep stated that she will refund my money if it's bad.

What a huge let down after waiting since November for an Incredible phone!

blueretro96 · May 4, 2010

I've have waited since Nov 2009 for the Incredible. Everything is perfect,except, call quality on my end "only". Add me to the poor quality list, too. Most unfortunate. What else will there be to wait for........."again"?! This really is such a wonderful handset, but, if I can't hear, and, always ask "what did you say?", I will wait again.

conn · May 4, 2010

Well, same here. I set up a family plan with 2 Inc's & 2 Samsung Intensity's. The only problem I'm experiencing so far is the call quality. It's "choppy" when ringing & the person i'm listening to sounds "digital" kind of distorted. The signal bars are all over the place, but I don't really care about that. I'm going to take one of the samsungs tomorrow to see if this is an issue with the phone or the network. I'm coming from tmobile & have never had call quality issues with my last phone. I really want to keep this phone but it need's to perform as a phone before all the other stuff.

quest4JC · May 4, 2010

Just to confirm if it matters any I work very very close to verizon antennas that I might as will be inside

and have full bars all day long but my call quality is still muffled and horrible sounding. I dont think it has anything to do with reception but probably the quality of the speaker on the phone. just thought i'd throw that out there since everyones blaming the reception on the device and the speaker has not been mentioned.

anthonykash · May 4, 2010

Does anyone have a damn Incredible with good sound. I've received one from online and a swap from the store. They both blow with call quality. I see some people say they have great call quality. I can't imagine receiving two lemon phones, unless they are all bad. Anyone have any ideas what's going on. is it the hardware or a baseband issue.

radworm · May 5, 2010

I am sorry to hear that some many people are having problems, but I think the call quality on this phone has been great. Maybe the quality on my Treo sucked so bad, LOL. I could not even use my Treo when in the basement (no signal). The signal and reception in my basement with the DI has been great.

rmlavin315 · May 5, 2010

I have one with good sound quality. Not braging, I'm only posting this because you asked. I am coming from an LG Voyager and I always had to ask people to repeat what they said. Absolutely, all the time I had to ask my son what he just said. I blamed it on "teen speak" He always sounded like he had marbles in his mouth and he mumbled. I bought two Incredibles, one for me and one for him. All of the sudden I can hear every word he says. I've never asked him to repeat anything. I sound good to him and he sounds great to me.

anthonykash · May 5, 2010

Maybe all the lemons are from a single batch?

zemerick · May 5, 2010

I'm starting to wonder if there is a factor other than the phone. Perhaps something on the accounts that the Incredible chokes on.

Me, and plenty of other people ( including it seems like all the people that have reviewed it ) have good call quality...and yet those that have bad call quality, replace the phone and it's still bad time and again.

veccster · May 5, 2010

I DEFINITELY noticed the poor call quality on this phone. Noticed on the very first call in the first 5 seconds. I thought I had the settings wrong somewhere. After reading this thread, I guess I'm not alone.

HOWEVER, I recently picked up a Plantronics Voyager 510 and the call quality sounds great through it. I assume then that the problem is with the ear speaker on this phone. Hell, even speaker phone sounds better.
I bet that is not a software fix.

JCasper · May 5, 2010

I had serious issues when I first got the phone. The volume was very low, and turning the in-call volume up or down made no change. Restored to factory default, and it was fine. Installed all my apps, and it still seems fine. Landlines are great, and wireless are decent.

sirius · May 5, 2010

Mine seems to be both ways. The first time I used the phone my girlfriend said "your voice echos".

I also find that I am having ask people to repeat themselves and my calls are shorter as the sound quality is tinny and causes fatigue.

I am am not ready to give up on this phone.

quest4JC · May 5, 2010

veccster said:
I DEFINITELY noticed the poor call quality on this phone. Noticed on the very first call in the first 5 seconds. I thought I had the settings wrong somewhere. After reading this thread, I guess I'm not alone.

HOWEVER, I recently picked up a Plantronics Voyager 510 and the call quality sounds great through it. I assume then that the problem is with the ear speaker on this phone. Hell, even speaker phone sounds better.
I bet that is not a software fix.

Yup, Ive experienced the same thing with bluetooth. I have the jabra stone and it sounds great but i dont always like using bluetooth for everything and speaker sound is very important to me since i use it all the time.

Help Call quality very sub-par (not signal strength)

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