Help Lower Signal on Screen Lock

[Gadgetblurb]

I am not sure if anyone else has noticed this, I have searched around a bit so sorry if this has been covered before but this is my second Droid X to do this. When I lock the screen, my signal strength goes from 3-4 bars down to 1 bar after a few minutes. When I quickly tap the home button, but do NOT unlock the screen I can see that there is only 1 bar, and even sometimes the 3G icon is gone, (i.e. no data is transmitting, but I am getting a cell signal). Once I unlock the screen, I immediately will see the bars jump to either 3-4, depending on my location, and/or the 3G will pop back up (if it was missing in the first place).

My conclusions about this are that this is a reason why some devices crush the battery life and others don't. And, there is an issue with the phone hardware/software radio communications. If when the screen is locked it is losing signal and constantly going back and forth between 1x/3g/no data, that would explain why some people are having their battery dead within 5-6 hours. This phenomena is occurring on my second Droid X. I have yet to notify Motorola formally, other than through Verizon, but I wanted to see if anyone else out there is experiencing the same issues. Mind you, it is sometimes sporadic and others very consistent! There are times when the phone will be very hot in my pocket, and I suspect this is the reason. I know how to back out of applications and i can confirm that I do not have any running in the background that are sucking data.

Please keep in mind, I experience this with and without task killers and I live 5 minutes from Downtown Minneapolis where coverage is excellent. I also do not use Juice Defender or any other battery management program which may cut data when the screen is locked.

 

[Paycer]

YouTube - ‪Motorola Droid X‬‎

 

[Gadgetblurb]

Interesting video...doesn't really address the issue in my post.

 

[Gadgetblurb]

I made this vid to show what I am experiencing. It is just sitting on my desk at home.

YouTube - ‪Signal loss on screen lock droid x‬‎

 

[Paycer]

Are you sure you watched the video? In the video he addresses an issue with signal loss. Yes, in most of the video he mentions WiFi signal loss when covering the back with his hand, but if you simply pay attention you'll see that when it's idling or when he has the screen off and locked, he loses data connection almost completely and it comes back when he picks the device up again. Re-watch around 1:07.

What you said in regards to manufacturers trying to make the device save battery makes sense though. I don't have my X yet, but when I get it I'll make sure to check this sort of thing out and report back. Thanks for posting about what you're experiencing. Gives me a little more insight on the phone.

EDIT: Try to not touch the phone when attempting to recreate this experience. I've noticed on numerous occasions when holding or simply touching a device with my hands can cause signal fluctuations, regardless of the signal type.

 

[Gadgetblurb]

If you noticed, it was sitting on the desk untouched.

 

[Paycer]

I mean touching it at all except when you need to turn it on or unlock it. I can tell you touched it a little bit, but I can't tell one way or the other as far as the rest of the video is concerned, so no, I didn't notice, because no one can. I'm not trying to sound like an ass here I'm just trying to help. Just retry what's going on without contact.

Have you noticed it do this while it's plugged in as well?

 

[Gadgetblurb]

When i took the video, it was doing this while sitting on the desk, untouched, except when I was unlocking. I was very careful to NOT touch the sides of the phone. It does it while being untouched, except for unlocking. It does it when unplugged or plugged in, makes no difference and has done this with 2 phones. I believe this to either be a hardware or firmware issue.

May I ask Paycer, do you own a Droid X? Can you reproduce these results? I would like to see if I am just really unlucky. Anyone else out there seeing the same things?

 

[Paycer]

If I were to guess, I would have to say that your initial suspicions about the firmware trying to save battery are correct. It sounds logical and makes sense to me. I definitely see downsides to it, though. If someone is streaming online radio, or anything similar, and they lock their device and encounter this problem, they can easily lose connection in the middle of listening to music.

I do not own a Droid X yet, no. I would attempt to reproduce your findings if I could. Although, if I were experiencing something like this, I imagine I probably would notice it of my own accord. I imagine it would be hard to miss something like this.

I may not own my Droid X just yet, but I'm also trying to collect as much information as possible before taking the plunge and ordering one. I figure it's best to know as much as is possible about the device beforehand, so that I can know what to expect. I also just figured I would try to help to the best of my ability while using whatever experience I have with tech. For example, I mentioned how I've noticed some wireless capable devices have issues when they were physically touched by myself or other objects.

If someone who knows more about Gadget's issue, (preferably someone who owns another Droid X) please respond with anything you know. A test of your own could very well prove or even fix OP's issues. Thanks.

EDIT: It seems that someone else may be having a similar issue.

http://androidforums.com/support-troubleshooting-droid-x/145047-there-anyway-force-3g-stay.html

 

[Gadgetblurb]

Thanks Paycer for the honesty and the help, it is appreciated. Here is the rub in all of this. If I am indeed in an area with even semi-marginal coverage...where when the screen is unlocked, say, with 2-3 bars, I will get sometimes no bars. THat is when it will go into no service or will drop to 1x or no data and that is when I will start to feel the phone heat up in my pocket.

This is when I see the battery life on the phone get crushed. Nothing on the phone, especially according to Battery Left is running like the GPS issue or anythings else. I can confirm there are no leaking apps. It is just the radio in the phone searching for a signal in my pocket when the screen is locked. As soon as I unlock the screen, it jumps right up and the phone starts to cool down. This doesnt happen all the time mind you. Just sometimes and it is quite sporadic, which is very frustrating. I can go a full day with the battery and others, no more than 5 hours, depending on my location/usage. Sometimes I wont even use it and it will drain, if I am in a more remote location.

Hopefully Foyo will address this?

 

[Paycer]

Hopefully Froyo will help your problem, yeah.

One suggestion though. If you feel up to it, try putting your phone into Airplane Mode before locking the device for an extended period of time. You won't be able to receive phonecalls when you do this obviously, but does it really matter if you can't get a signal, and the device will practically fry your hand if you do anyway? I don't know, just a thought I guess. It will probably keep your phone from boiling itself while trying to grab a whiff of 3G.

 

[Zog Bog]

I live in a good reception area (-64 avg -57 lowest) and have experienced this with two Xs thus far. Theres been no effect to incoming calls or radio streaming as far as I can tell. In fact when I first noticed this it just seemed normal since 3g stayed on and nothing appeared to change other then the number of bars.