I am beginning to lose my cool when it comes to reception and my Captivate.
At work I used to watch a lot of youtube on my Tilt2 and altough it some times went on a wont connect spree....most of the times youtube was a no problem.
Unfortunately the Captivate is like almost never connects or just a little bit and once again loses it.
Is this about the whole hspa thing?
Even at home when reception is better for both, South Park is a lagfest with the Captivate if I use 3G unlike the Tilt2 but then again that could also be Skyfire....in any case...is this normal?
I guess you have never used and iPhone???
I had an iPhone 3GS and it was a POS when it came to reception.
I'm sooooooo happy I'm finally able to have an android phone on AT&T.
It takes some getting use to compared to the iPhone. Just basic navigating through the phone is very different.
I don't mind dealing with some minor flaws of the Galaxy S because I know for sure this phone will be improved because it was released on all four major carriers, not to mention it was already out as the GT i9000.
anyway - just my thoughts
sorry - I know this didn't answer your questions but wanted to share
Never had an iphone and never will! lol
Its just that I love this phone so much that I just cant stand it that reception is hurting me this badly...I just need to be patient I guess.
Like on the weekend... instead of streaming a soccer game to my Android I had to ask my wife for the Tilt2 again to watch the game with some friends at the park...
No. My tilt2 got sligltly better reception too. It OK I love my captivate.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Man, you guys are killing me. I have a Tilt 2 with Energy ROM and for the most part I'm happy with it, but I'm just dying to upgrade to a Captivate, but I keep hearing about reception problems. On the other hand, if you Google any phone these days you hear about reception problems. If you guys are saying the reception is worse than my Tilt 2 I'm just not sure I can live with that though. I frequently work on drilling rigs where reception is pretty bad to non existent. I'm thinking about just swapping out my Tilt 2 for a new one since the keyboard is wearing out, but for $125 deductible, an upgrade sounds pretty good.
Reception is the same or better from my original Tilt.
Phytrax said:
Man, you guys are killing me. I have a Tilt 2 with Energy ROM and for the most part I'm happy with it, but I'm just dying to upgrade to a Captivate, but I keep hearing about reception problems. On the other hand, if you Google any phone these days you hear about reception problems. If you guys are saying the reception is worse than my Tilt 2 I'm just not sure I can live with that though. I frequently work on drilling rigs where reception is pretty bad to non existent. I'm thinking about just swapping out my Tilt 2 for a new one since the keyboard is wearing out, but for $125 deductible, an upgrade sounds pretty good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would upgrade if I were you.
As much as I liked my Tilt2 there is no way I would go back to it after being using the Captivate. The speed difference is just too much.
So much that I have gone from fancy Energy Roms on my wife's now tilt 2 to the simplest and fastest 2.1 ROMS I can get so it does not feel too slow.
Tilt2 has had numerous radio upgrades you can install since it came out
I would imagine when samsung releases some radio revisions we will have better luck with reception.
I really have not noticed the Captivate having significantly less reception than the tilt2. Now for battery low on the other hand.....
For me the difference is obvious even on stock tilt 2 radio.
For example watching you tube at work with my tilt 2 it was almost always a non issue but with my Captivate I get several disconnections and most of the times I have to go to low quality mode to get a decent experience.
Still, no way I am going back to the Tilt2 ...wish I they could finally get android running on it...that would make it a much nicer phone I think
I dunno, I've had noticeably worse reception on my captivate than my old blackberrt 8310
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
shaolin95 said:
I would upgrade if I were you.
As much as I liked my Tilt2 there is no way I would go back to it after being using the Captivate. The speed difference is just too much.
So much that I have gone from fancy Energy Roms on my wife's now tilt 2 to the simplest and fastest 2.1 ROMS I can get so it does not feel too slow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, this doesnt make sense to me. After all it is a PHONE first, everything else second. So you're willing to sacrifice reception ability for speed of user interface, etc? Why? In your post you were just complaining about how poor the captivate's reception is vs. the tilt 2, yet you'd recommend the captivate because it has a faster CPU or slicker UI than the tilt2? Why not just carry two phones, one to actually use as a phone and one as a toy? That makes about as much sense to me. JMO.
derek4484 said:
See, this doesnt make sense to me. After all it is a PHONE first, everything else second. So you're willing to sacrifice reception ability for speed of user interface, etc? Why? In your post you were just complaining about how poor the captivate's reception is vs. the tilt 2, yet you'd recommend the captivate because it has a faster CPU or slicker UI than the tilt2? Why not just carry two phones, one to actually use as a phone and one as a toy? That makes about as much sense to me. JMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok first I think someone forgot his pills this morning
First reception not extremely poor compared to the tilt2 just youtube freezes more often at work which is a hard place for every phone for some reason. The Tilt2 was better but I did had to switch radios from time to time like something will change then a new radio will do better for this month or so.
Second, this is only for video watching...phone calls I have zero issues in quality or connectivity so far...yes it is a phone so that IS the main reason to have it.
The main issue has been Skyfire but I got confirmation from the developer that this is indeed a matter of Skyfire on the Android not being quite up to par yet to the Windows version but they are of course working on it.
So, today for example, I have been connecting to the market and downloading stuff and even watching youtube quite smoothly.
So in my first post I gave the impression it was a huge difference it was based on SouthPark and Skyfire.
So if you are able to calm down a bit feel free to rejoin the conversation but if you are going to go off like that then by all means, there are more threads around.
Regards
Well I'm glad I found this thread. When first hearing about the Captivate I was not very interested due to concerns about the Samsung interface, reception issues and GPS issues. I was also really hoping for a 4.3" screen and possibly front facing camera and a flash.
Now after reading that the GPU is top notch, GPS issue is fixed, or will be soon, and reception is generally fine I'm very much leaning toward the Captivate. Samsung interface seems to be not as bad as I initially though, and the speed is plenty fast enough even without froyo. Also NewEgg has them for $79 with a contract renewal.
I have to say I really love the new MaxSense ROM's from Energy though. I hope I can make Android look that good once I take the plunge. I'm still worried about the lack of hardware keyboard too, mostly the fact that it covers half the screen when using it.
For what it's worth:
I've owned a Tilt2 for 3 months, tried out pretty much all the available radios, and have a pretty good judgement of it's reception. I've also owned a Tilt (Kaiser) for almost 2 years.
My Captivate gets much better reception than either phone: I get solid HSDPA reception in places where neither my Tilt/Tilt2 could. The trick is to just ignore the signal bar. I live in an area with poor reception, even after the 850 MHz upgrade, and at times my phone shows no bars, but gets good quality voice/data reception. So don't rate your impressions of signal quality based on the on-screen display, only how the device actually performs.
And as far as GPS goes, I've head-to-head compared it against my Tilt2 (which has a pretty decent GPS) and the hardware itself is more sensitive, and sees 3-4 satellites indoors in places my Tilt2 can't. There are definitely weird and inconsistent problems getting/holding a lock, but to me it feels like a kernel or other software issue. So hopefully a solution can be found (by Samsung or Devs).
Shammyh said:
For what it's worth:
I've owned a Tilt2 for 3 months....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the input. That's good to hear considering I'm fairly happy with the reception on my Tilt2. I have to say the GPS is inconsistent though. Sometimes it won't even pick up outside. I'm thinking about heading to Best Buy this weekend to pick up the Captivate and give it a try. I'm really looking forward to the improved video performance, bigger screen, and a standard headphone jack.
Shammyh said:
For what it's worth:
I've owned a Tilt2 for 3 months, tried out pretty much all the available radios, and have a pretty good judgement of it's reception. I've also owned a Tilt (Kaiser) for almost 2 years.
My Captivate gets much better reception than either phone: I get solid HSDPA reception in places where neither my Tilt/Tilt2 could. The trick is to just ignore the signal bar. I live in an area with poor reception, even after the 850 MHz upgrade, and at times my phone shows no bars, but gets good quality voice/data reception. So don't rate your impressions of signal quality based on the on-screen display, only how the device actually performs.
And as far as GPS goes, I've head-to-head compared it against my Tilt2 (which has a pretty decent GPS) and the hardware itself is more sensitive, and sees 3-4 satellites indoors in places my Tilt2 can't. There are definitely weird and inconsistent problems getting/holding a lock, but to me it feels like a kernel or other software issue. So hopefully a solution can be found (by Samsung or Devs).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no, my impressions were not based on bars...in fact, you will see not a single comment about those I think. That is irrelevant to me.
Although as I mentioned on my previous post, without considering the differences between the Skyfire performance, the difference is not that big.
How are you getting HSDPA on that phone, I thought the hack was not working for ATT?
Phytrax said:
Thanks for the input. That's good to hear considering I'm fairly happy with the reception on my Tilt2. I have to say the GPS is inconsistent though. Sometimes it won't even pick up outside. I'm thinking about heading to Best Buy this weekend to pick up the Captivate and give it a try. I'm really looking forward to the improved video performance, bigger screen, and a standard headphone jack.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure you are going to love it.
I was afraid of going away from the keyboard but Swype is sweet too.
derek4484 said:
See, this doesnt make sense to me. After all it is a PHONE first, everything else second.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If reception is primary concern I hear the Jitterbug gets good reception?
Seriously there has been a slightly weaker signal for me but we are talking less than 10%.
P.S. map your coverage if AT&T gets bad enough coverage maps from real use they will have to fix their coverage.
My reception has been great with my Captivate, it drops less calls than my iPones and Nexus One did....my Blackberry Bold is still the king though (always had great reception with it, and battery life was insane). I do however have issues with AT&T's network in the DC/Baltimore area...theres just so many people using data that everything I do lags and takes twice as long, and I've almost never been able to watch Youtube videos in Hi-Def while on 3G...on ANY of my phones while in a populated area, but it works fine at my parents house and when connected to our 3G microcell at home. I think the Captivate works great as a phone and the 4" screen seems like it sits right in the middle of being too large and too small, meaning its perfect for me. I owned a Tilt2 and couldn't stand it after owning iPhones and the Sprint Hero...I loved the keyboard but signal strength and the browser killed it for me, it only lasted 2 weeks before it went back. Give me the Tilt2 form factor with the Captivates screen and guts on AT&T and it'll be my next phone lol.
shaolin95 said:
Oh no, my impressions were not based on bars...in fact, you will see not a single comment about those I think. That is irrelevant to me.
Although as I mentioned on my previous post, without considering the differences between the Skyfire performance, the difference is not that big.
How are you getting HSDPA on that phone, I thought the hack was not working for ATT?
I am sure you are going to love it.
I was afraid of going away from the keyboard but Swype is sweet too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I understand, it's HSUPA (uplink) not HSDPA (downlink) that's the problem. Without HSDPA, we'd all be getting download speeds of less than 1 Mbit/s. And since the hardware supports it, it's only a matter of time before someone releases a working HSUPA radio.
It really is a great phone though. And for me, the biggest deal-breaker over the iPhone4 (and most other phones) is that I can simply drag-and-drop video files from my computer to my phone. From simple Xvid/Divx/OtherAVI files, to 720p HD MKV files. No transcoding, or other work required.
Don't buy it expecting it to be flawless though, the underlying hardware may be, but without XDA and the community to fix the software flaws, it wouldn't be nearly as appealing a phone.
Well I found a guy selling a Captivate on eBay for $400. My contract isn't due for an upgrade yet so I figured what the hell, if they come out with something amazing next year I could use my upgrade then. I'm definitely looking forward to the h264 decoding and "5.1" sound. I just hope I can find some widgets to make the interface look as awesome as my Energy MaxSense ROM on my Tilt2.
Related
I am currently using an Hermes. I got a Titan (PPC 6800) a few months ago. It has the same Qualcomm chip (the 7200) found in the Kaiser.
I gave the TiTan to my son and kept the Hermes because it had better sound and better battery life. (I realize that the Titan is a CDMA device and may not have as much batter life).
Have any of you compared the Kaiser and the Titan?
Is the Kaiser really that much better than the Hermes? If so, why.
I'm trying to decide to get the Kaiser or wait for the Omni.
rambo6 said:
I am currently using an Hermes. I got a Titan (PPC 6800) a few months ago. It has the same Qualcomm chip (the 7200) found in the Kaiser.
I gave the TiTan to my son and kept the Hermes because it had better sound and better battery life. (I realize that the Titan is a CDMA device and may not have as much batter life).
Have any of you compared the Kaiser and the Titan?
Is the Kaiser really that much better than the Hermes? If so, why.
I'm trying to decide to get the Kaiser or wait for the Omni.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well despite a slowness problem someone else has reported recently, mine is superbly fast compared with the Hermes. Instant power on from standby, quick opening of power hungry applications like tomtom etc etc. Brightness is better, feels better, better build quality. AND NO lockups and freezing so far - and that's a MAJOR plus in my book. No issues with freezing when on charge etc , in fact it's been so smooth for me that I have not been doing my regular backups (bad practice I know!).
I really am impressed by this device - not just the GPS, but mainly because of the reliability, speed and feel of it. So far as added potential for this device over the TyTn (GPS aside) I'm not so sure that there is a huge benefit, BUT it is a huge benefit to have similar functionality to the TyTn that actually works reliably and smoothly - I feel I can rely on this device where I would not give TyTn 100% trust. (I enjoyed finding work arounds and fixes for the TyTn and got it to a fairly workable state, but the Kaiser is much more of an out of the box working device I think). The one poor thing (so far) that I've found is the slow scrolling in PIE - but only PIE; this feels glitchier/slower refresh rate than the TyTn.
Whther you wait for the Omni is for you to check out
Mike
Mike:
Thanks for the reply. I would like a larger screen so I'm tempted to see if HTC comes out with the Omni Next month as planned. I'll probably end up with both devices.
Have you messed with the GPS yet? Can it work using Google maps without any other hardware or software? Just curious.
Thanks!!!
Just my 2 cents, I have the same raves about the Kaiser/TyTN II. Out of the box it is really hassle-free.
I share your complaint about pocket IE but I find this behavior only in PIE. If you install Opera mini, for example, web browsing is similar to an Iphone experience but much faster. No refresh just smooth/fast scrolling.
I hope MS gives us a major update to PIE soon, It really is starting to show it's age.
GenesysLV said:
Just my 2 cents, I have the same raves about the Kaiser/TyTN II. Out of the box it is really hassle-free.
I share your complaint about pocket IE but I find this behavior only in PIE. If you install Opera mini, for example, web browsing is similar to an Iphone experience but much faster. No refresh just smooth/fast scrolling.
I hope MS gives us a major update to PIE soon, It really is starting to show it's age.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, looks like Opera mini then. I tried it on my TyTn but generally preferred PIE layoutwise. It's just strange that PIE should be about the only thing I find slower on the Kaiser. In single column view it scrolls fine until you start to get further down a page and eventually it all but seizes up. Still, as you say Opera Mini is smooth scrolling, I'll be very happy with that.
Mike
It seems to be the best out of the ones I've tested, including deepfish which I'm not really impressed with.
There is also another browser that is rumored to be better than Opera mini. I believe it's called thunderhawk.
GenesysLV said:
It seems to be the best out of the ones I've tested, including deepfish which I'm not really impressed with.
There is also another browser that is rumored to be better than Opera mini. I believe it's called thunderhawk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
or picsel ... its the best one ive used
i've had a 6800 for a couple months, great device, horrible rom, horrendous memory issues. looking forward to getting this kaiser, and hoping the decrease in data rates from ev-do aren't too bad...
eric b
AT&T Network v. Sprint
e-dub said:
i've had a 6800 for a couple months, great device, horrible rom, horrendous memory issues. looking forward to getting this kaiser, and hoping the decrease in data rates from ev-do aren't too bad...
eric b
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running a Hermes on AT&T's network and a 6800 on Sprints EVDO rev. 0. Overall and in most places AT&T's HSDPA network is faster than the Sprint. I carried both phones for two weeks in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas.
The Sprint network had EVDO in more towns than AT&T had UMTS or HSDPA. However, I could get the AT&T signal and get on the web in more places than I could with the Sprint. Sometimes it's only Edge speeds but I could get on.
I ended up giving the Sprint Phone to my Son and keeping the Hermes and trying to decide whether to buy the Kaiser or not.
yeah, i've been damn near shocked at the speeds i've been getting on hsdpa in nashville vs. ev-do since i've gotten my kaiser on wednesday. but i know surfing in edge will drive me insane if i ever have to do it
eric b
e-dub said:
yeah, i've been damn near shocked at the speeds i've been getting on hsdpa in nashville vs. ev-do since i've gotten my kaiser on wednesday. but i know surfing in edge will drive me insane if i ever have to do it
eric b
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really close to ordering a Kaiser unlocked. Most of the Kaiser posts have been from people in Europe. Please give me a full rundown. I'm especially interested in how the gps works with google maps. Have you set it up and given it a whirl?
Also, surfing on Edge with the Hermes is not all that bad. It's funny because I go to some remote locations camping in Utah. Sometimes I can get an "E" or even a "G" signal and surfing isn't that bad while I lie in my tent at night. The fact that I can surf at all in such locations is amazing in and of itself. It down loads articles well but the pics take a few seconds more.
With the 6800, I can get a 1XRTT signal and can make a phone call, but I cannot get web access. With the AT&T service, it's hard to place a call in these remote locations but sending email and browsing the web works better. Go figure.
rambo6 said:
I'm really close to ordering a Kaiser unlocked. Most of the Kaiser posts have been from people in Europe. Please give me a full rundown. I'm especially interested in how the gps works with google maps. Have you set it up and given it a whirl?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just on the google maps part. It works well - but it tends (for some folk) to not wait long enough to acquire the signal before it times out. However there is an easy workaround:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=330634&page=3
BTW
I lie in my tent at night
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
poor girl just tell the truth
Mike
I loved my Hermes after taking it to Black WM6, the Kaiser is just that much better, as stated already, it's solid, fast and the GPS rocks. I use Google Maps and iGuidance v4 and they both work flawlessly, even at the same time with active GPS. You won't be dissapointed, except for lower "in-call" volume in the BT headset (many have complained about this, others say it's OK)
mikechannon said:
Just on the google maps part. It works well - but it tends (for some folk) to not wait long enough to acquire the signal before it times out. However there is an easy workaround:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=330634&page=3
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seems to be an initial, 1st time occurance. Once I had acquired a fix with another GPS app, Google maps worked fine. Now Google Maps works fine, even when I launch it by itself.
RemE said:
This seems to be an initial, 1st time occurance. Once I had acquired a fix with another GPS app, Google maps worked fine. Now Google Maps works fine, even when I launch it by itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks guys. I may have to order one. I have to buy my wife a new sewing machine first.
Well I've been playing with my Kaiser for a day now and on the whole I love the build quality and the extra memory and storage is a blessing.
However, I have major issues with the radio version.
It is dreadfully slow when the 3G signal is a just one or two bars - it often wont find an internet connection (things like the weather on the Home plug will not update) and I couldnt even make any calls for a while when the signal was low. I was tempted to switch to straight GSM.
Does anybody know of a good radio upgrade?
Yesterday was the first day that the Diamond was sold to the public. I bought one right away cause the movie on the HTC site brainwashed me
Ofcourse i played with it, but omg, what a difference with the Cruise. This device shouldn't be on the market right now!!
First big problem is the range. This is unacceptable!! I have full range with my cruise in my house. With the Diamond just one line and most of the time the connection fails. This is really unacceptable.
Second problem, the backplate doesn't fit like it should be. i tried it many times, but it doesn't fit right. Ofcourse with the Cruise no problem at all.
Home button feels very fragile. If i push it in, it looks like i gonna snap it
The Diamond isnt made for thumb usage!! maybe the home plugin can be used with thumb, but all others are way to small for using it with your thumb.
The speed of the device is also unacceptable. To be honest, my tuned cruise is way faster. Ofcourse i played with reg settings like the Tweaks known from this forum, but still the Diamond is way too slow. I hope new roms get out very soon.
To be honest, i am not happy with the Diamond. This has nothing to do with learning from the misstakes they made before. this has all to do with making a new device and throw it right away on the market for the cash.
For now my Diamond gets a 6- instead of a 8+ for the Cruise right now. Maybe some cookers can make this device to come alive, but untill then i expect a lot of frustration with this device for me.
Well, I've found this to be the best device "out-of-the-box" that I've had from HTC so far.
Of course, I'm looking forward to the inevitable improvements that will come along, but for now it's about as fast and stable as my heavily tweaked/flashed Kaiser. Which is something of a surprise.
What about your range? And which radio version do you have?
I assume you mean Network reception rather than WiFi?
As I live in London and there are cell towers absolutely everywhere, I have never had any problems. Flashing different radios on previous devices has always been pointless, as it has never done anything to improve or worsen the signal as far as I've ever noticed.
I honestly haven't got good enough ears to notice difference in call quality, but if you pinned me down, I'd probably say the call quality is again very marginally better than my previous HTC devices. That could easily be because the Diamond is shiny and new, and in my opinion the speakers do tend to get slightly worse over time...
WiFi I think is slightly weaker than my Kaiser. Probably only a couple of metres difference when using my crappy old Belkin router, but the bottom of the garden is just about out of range...
Radio is: 0.93.25.NS16
Just collected mine. Fully charged, I used Tomtom for 5 minutes, played a video for around 3 minutes, setup my email accounts, and made around 20 minutes of calls.....Around 20% battery life remains. Touchflo isn't as good as its cracked up to be. Prefer the port on my TYTN 2 tbh. Don't get me wrong the build quality and virtually everyhting is ideal..It's less than half the weight of the TYTN2 (or at least it feels like it). HTC needs to release the updated battery QUICK, the software update that is coming will hopefully sort power consumption, and with a bit of luck it will come with a radio update too. TYTN2 never dropped a call in my house, ever. The Diamond has dropped 3 out of 5....
Still a cracking piece of kit though, and very happy with it..Just hope it isn't rose tinted glasses.
Yzord said:
Yesterday was the first day that the Diamond was sold to the public. I bought one right away cause the movie on the HTC site brainwashed me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that you have the supposedly 'fixed' European version? If you are, that's really, really worrying. But there seem to be a lot of different opinions on and experiences with this device. Maybe some are just dodgy...
I can not lie, I love this device, I had alot of problems with my samsung i780 that I had for 3 months, but after many complaints, they offered me a new phone of my choice. So I opted for the Diamond. Good choice. Only my games or not playable anymore with the higher res.
oddball1 said:
I can not lie, I love this device, I had alot of problems with my samsung i780 that I had for 3 months, but after many complaints, they offered me a new phone of my choice. So I opted for the Diamond. Good choice. Only my games or not playable anymore with the higher res.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which games are those? I got pretty much 90% of the games i own for win mobile working!
I do agree with the initial poster that the reception is rather poor, although i dont get any dropped calls, i cant get hsdpa in my house like i could with the cruise.with the diamond my signal is mostly roaming in my house, i not complaining as im lucky to get any living in the middle of nowhere!
Games like Atomic Cannon 3, hexic and so on...
oddball1 said:
Games like Atomic Cannon 3, hexic and so on...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hexic vga works fine on my diamond...
games that did not work on my O2 exec do work on D-nd !!!
Cool phone!
Abt HTC Touch Diamond
Is the Touch Diamond quad or tri band?
In the HTC website its described to be a tri band, however Carphone Warehouse in London is saying its a quad band.
Any idea reg this?
Many Thanks
ayankm said:
Is the Touch Diamond quad or tri band?
In the HTC website its described to be a tri band, however Carphone Warehouse in London is saying its a quad band.
Any idea reg this?
Many Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well you obviously browsed to the HTC site and they are ALWAYS correct, i cant understand why you would believe a 3rd party store and not HTC's website
Straight from the Horses Mouth
HSDPA/WCDMA:
Europe/Asia: 900/2100 MHz
Up to 384 kbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds
Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:
Europe/Asia: 900/1800/1900 MHz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for the info...
Title says it. Contemplating purchasing this phone because I want a sick Android device but its plagued with bad 3g reception stories. Is it that big of a deal? Does anyone regret buying the device over it? Is it a design flaw as i have read or software?
mrbox23 said:
... Is it that big of a deal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No
mrbox23 said:
Does anyone regret buying the device over it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't
mrbox23 said:
Is it a design flaw as i have read or software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is neither. It is the wireless networks you guys have here in the US that sucks... (At least in El Paso, TX)
I'm tired of people blaming the wireless network, because that's just plain wrong in most cases.
I am a big N1 fan but I will be the first to admit that there's a 3G problem. But here is what I've observed:
- The problem is less evident on the AT&T model, as 3G runs on the same frequencies as 2G, and in general AT&T uses 850/1900, which are lower frequencies (better penetration) than T-Mobile.
- If you're in a very strong 3G area (like on the streets of NYC), you aren't likely to have any problems no matter how you hold the device.
- If you're in somewhat of a sketchy 3G area, and use the T-Mobile version of the phone, it's very possible you're going to drop to edge, if you cover the bottom portion of the phone with your hand. If you have the AT&T version in a sketchy area (low signal overall), it's possible you'll kill your signal entirely if you hold the phone a certain way...but I would say this is very rare.
There's probably a combination of a software and hardware issue causing the 3G issue. With future updates to the radio firmware, I'm sure there will be some improvements, but I don't know if it's going to be as good as some of the other phones available (especially in the case of T-Mobile, where the G1 tends to be fair a lot better 3G wise).
Having said all this - do I regret purchasing an N1? Definitely not - everything else about the phone makes up for the 3G issues, and I still have hope for future improvements.
Reception isn't "deal breaker" bad, and you'll notice there are much less complaints from AT&T users about it. If you are normally in areas with good coverage everything will will be great, but fringe areas might be frustrating. Weak signals are the phones kryptonite.
My question to anyone on the fence is usually, "name a better GSM phone" and then when they say "iPhone" I call them a fanboi. There's nothing worse than being an Apple fanboi.
its not a deal breaker at all. I still hold by my theory that the signal bars are just calibrated less conservatively than other phones, cause I've made and held calls for 15 min with zero bars of 3g showing. even my nokias had trouble doing that.
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
PrawnPoBoy said:
Reception isn't "deal breaker" bad, and you'll notice there are much less complaints from AT&T users about it. If you are normally in areas with good coverage everything will will be great, but fringe areas might be frustrating. Weak signals are the phones kryptonite.
My question to anyone on the fence is usually, "name a better GSM phone" and then when they say "iPhone" I call them a fanboi. There's nothing worse than being an Apple fanboi.
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Click to collapse
Just cause they say the iPhone, doesn't make them an Apple fanboy.. people can have legitimate reason why they like the iPhone more than the Nexus...
There could be something to the theory that the phone just reports reception more conservatively. But then again I can easily drop a call in a low signal area by moving my hand around. This is the first phone I've had that does that.
Just cause they say the iPhone, doesn't make them an Apple fanboy.. people can have legitimate reason why they like the iPhone more than the Nexus...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spoken like a true fanboi.
PS: I was actually joking. I have a jailbroken iPhone as well and its also awesome.
PrawnPoBoy said:
There could be something to the theory that the phone just reports reception more conservatively. But then again I can easily drop a call in a low signal area by moving my hand around. This is the first phone I've had that does that.
Spoken like a true fanboi.
PS: I was actually joking. I have a jailbroken iPhone as well and its also awesome.
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Click to collapse
see i have always had the same problem with my other phones in low signal areas, they would ALWAYS drop the call if i moved my hand over it. but they all had antenna in the bottom, like the nexus. i think if your previous phone had the antenna in the top, then you never would have experienced this before.
my nokia n95 was the last phone i had with a top antenna, it was internal at the top near the camera, and that thing was superb with RF.
but then i got the e71 and the bottom antenna dropped calls when i covered it. no service, all the time. i trained myself to hold at the top ever since.
so the nexus doesnt seem abnormal to me. i just thought it was common knowledge though...
PrawnPoBoy said:
There could be something to the theory that the phone just reports reception more conservatively. But then again I can easily drop a call in a low signal area by moving my hand around. This is the first phone I've had that does that.
Spoken like a true fanboi.
PS: I was actually joking. I have a jailbroken iPhone as well and its also awesome.
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Click to collapse
I also hope you were joking about the fanboi thing, as the nearest I've come to owning and iPhone was using family members ones for a few hours. My previous phone was a G1, and your misconceptions of me (if your words were not taken out if context) for stating something that is quite true is quite sad.
As stated before, people can have legitimate reasons as to why they favor the iPhone more than the Nexus. If I was sucked in to the iPhone when it was released, I would probably also be an iSheep - luckily I was only 12 at the iPhone's release. Phone technology wasn't really all that interesting yet.. I didn't care about touch screens etc. Now though, I still don't care about the phone much - but it was definitely brought unneeded hate in the internet towards those who adore it.
I love my Nexus One. No 3G issues on ATT, this actually has much better reception than my HTC Tilt2 with the best custom radio rom for my area. Flashing the radio of your Nexus will help a ton if you experience any of these issues so if you plan on flashing your phone don't worry about it. I love my Nexus and I spend much less time screwing with how the phone works and a lot more time using it.
about nexous one
I have never had any 3g problems ever and i bought this phone right when it came out
i love it get it you will to
This is really simple.
1. Buy the phone. If you have bad reception,
2. Flash to the newest radio. If you still have bad reception,
3. Return the phone.
You most likely won't get to step 3.
The phone legitimately does not get great reception.
I lined up, side by side, my BB Bold 9000, my Motorola Milestone, and me Nexus One, all just sitting on the desk, all with Orange (France) 3G SIMs.
The Bold and the Milestone get about the same signal. The Nexus gets consistently -4 to -10 dBm worse signal in any given placement. Wrapping your hand loosely around the phone will cut the signal by from -6 to -10 dBm on the Nexus, and by around -2 to -6 on the other two.
HOWEVER, the statistics don't really matter - I still get good enough signal at my desk on all three of them to download applications, use GTalk/SMS/telephone/browser all day, etc. Yes, a speed test shows generally better speeds on the Milestone, but it is more than good enough on both Android phones.
AND the Nexus is much faster in day-to-day operation. It scrolls faster, loads faster, runs faster, etc. It is almost sure to get updates from Google faster, and the dev community really does rock.
If I was in the US, I would have to consider some of the other phones out there, simply because the other networks are better than GSM networks, but here in France, the Nexus is fine and dandy.
If I were you, I would consider the network as well as the product, because it makes such a huge difference in the US. But once past that point, if you decide Nexus: buy it, test it, if you don't like it, sell it or return it. Easy.
I carried around my iPhone 3G with me the last few days and any time I had bad or no reception with my N1 I would swap the sim card and try the iPhone and without fail the iPhone would alway have more than enough signal strength.
The phone's reception is simply not as good as other phones, but it not enough for me to want to return it. I just hope that HTC learns from this like they did with the recent change to the atmel touchscreen instead of the clearpad component. I'm sure they will.
I've never had a problem with dropping 3G signal exactly, just the occasional instance where it'll get stuck on "uploading." Not sure if that's a T-Mobile issue or a phone issue. Either way, it happens only rarely and lasts no more than 10 seconds or so each time, so not a dealbreaker.
Other than that, the phone is fantastic. Incredibly fast and customizable. People complain that Android isn't user-friendly, but I honestly find everything quite intuitive (with the exception of a few badly designed 3rd-party apps).
I get the same (even better in a few places) 3G reception on my Nexus then I did with my iPhone 3GS
The OP needs to take note of all the people complaining about reception issues have also NOT mentioned whether or not they have updated the radio.
Everybody sitting with the stock radio from the models released in January/early-February are going to have a lot more complaints than someone who has either updated their radio or bought a newer model that has the updated radio preinstalled.
i still say its just a conservatively calibrated signal meter! seems to match my other phones just fine even if the actual bars are showing zero bars, its still making the call and receiving the data. me thinks its just a software calibration difference...
gsvnet said:
I'm tired of people blaming the wireless network, because that's just plain wrong in most cases.
I am a big N1 fan but I will be the first to admit that there's a 3G problem. But here is what I've observed:
- The problem is less evident on the AT&T model, as 3G runs on the same frequencies as 2G, and in general AT&T uses 850/1900, which are lower frequencies (better penetration) than T-Mobile.
- If you're in a very strong 3G area (like on the streets of NYC), you aren't likely to have any problems no matter how you hold the device.
- If you're in somewhat of a sketchy 3G area, and use the T-Mobile version of the phone, it's very possible you're going to drop to edge, if you cover the bottom portion of the phone with your hand. If you have the AT&T version in a sketchy area (low signal overall), it's possible you'll kill your signal entirely if you hold the phone a certain way...but I would say this is very rare.
There's probably a combination of a software and hardware issue causing the 3G issue. With future updates to the radio firmware, I'm sure there will be some improvements, but I don't know if it's going to be as good as some of the other phones available (especially in the case of T-Mobile, where the G1 tends to be fair a lot better 3G wise).
Having said all this - do I regret purchasing an N1? Definitely not - everything else about the phone makes up for the 3G issues, and I still have hope for future improvements.
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Click to collapse
Bro, you're entire post actually supports the claim that the carriers need to build out their networks more in this country! Obviously if the phone works great in an area like NYC or Chicago, but not so great in "sketchy" places like where I live (Toledo, OH), then IT'S THE NETWORK!
PrawnPoBoy said:
I carried around my iPhone 3G with me the last few days and any time I had bad or no reception with my N1 I would swap the sim card and try the iPhone and without fail the iPhone would alway have more than enough signal strength.
The phone's reception is simply not as good as other phones, but it not enough for me to want to return it. I just hope that HTC learns from this like they did with the recent change to the atmel touchscreen instead of the clearpad component. I'm sure they will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I have had the exact opposite experience. I always have a better signal with my N1 than my wife does with her iphone in the same places.
My wife and I used to have identical Nokia handsets, and her signal was always significantly better than mine. Minute manufacturing variations in low power RF devices can make huge differences, and such manufacturing variations are a normal part of any manufacturing process, including cell phones.
Comparing one phone to another and declaring a problem exists with an entire line of phones is just silly.
Basically, there is no real evidence of a unilateral "Nexus One" 3G problem, even if some handsets have less than expected performance.
So if you want a Nexus One, get it, and chances are that if you are happy with your network, you will be happy with your Nexus One.
Hey guys, I currently own a myTouch 4g which I love, but I'm thinking about giving it to my wife and picking up an HD7. I love Microsoft's new OS and the phone itself, but have a couple reservations. First, I'm worried about the reception issues (death grip) that people are talking about. Anyone on here experiencing this? I'm also worried about the quality of the camera and the fact pictures come out looking pink. Does anyone know if it is going to be updated in the future? How are all of you liking your phone's otherwise?
PrisonerOfDoom said:
Hey guys, I currently own a myTouch 4g which I love, but I'm thinking about giving it to my wife and picking up an HD7. I love Microsoft's new OS and the phone itself, but have a couple reservations. First, I'm worried about the reception issues (death grip) that people are talking about. Anyone on here experiencing this? I'm also worried about the quality of the camera and the fact pictures come out looking pink. Does anyone know if it is going to be updated in the future? How are all of you liking your phone's otherwise?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there's an issue with reception? News to me...having had my HD7 for almost a month now and experiencing no problems at all with reception I reckon its an invention of the media (or Steve blow Jobs himself) to try to weaken the public perception of WP7s. Just because iPhone 4 is crap doesn't mean they have to trash others as well. But I digress... As far as camera quality...its a phone. Its not going to plop out perfect pics but they look pretty nice if under the right conditions. The 720p video recording is the same, under optimal conditions it looks great. The pink thing should be fixed, I'm pretty sure I heard it was a problem on the HD2 and HTC fixed; don't quote me on that though. As far as everything else about the phone...its amazing (excluding the missing features coming in Januarys update, already dubbed "WP8" by Chris Walsh), quick, smooth, never laggy or glitchy (cough Android cough) and is honestly just a joy. I've always been a phone hopper (mostly WM6 & BB) but I could definitely see myself staying the course with my HD7.
There are no antenna issues simply because the antena is on the lower back case and trust me the phone being massive it's pretty hard to squeeze that case even if you do it intentionally. However, if issues do appear it really might be an overall faulty device or some weak coverage.
yly3 said:
There are no antenna issues simply because the antena is on the lower back case and trust me the phone being massive it's pretty hard to squeeze that case even if you do it intentionally. However, if issues do appear it really might be an overall faulty device or some weak coverage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, a Romanian. My wife is from there and still is a Romanian.
Hi I have an HD7 and no problems with reception at all .. its on o2 UK.
camera is average, takes better pictures in daylight like all other 5mp camera phones..
But you will like a lot of the features of WM7 and guess some of them you will downright Hate
But still its fun and the screen is the best for browsing .. you definetely wont need to be on your comp all day
Hopefully by next year with the updates and more apps we will be rocking...
I think you will like it
i dont have the deathgrip issue although i do have a problem sometimes in my home but that is because it is very rural where i live but all in all, its a great phone
and i havent noticed the pink hue yet
Thank you so much for all of your replies! I think I'm going to pick one up today. I'll let you guys know.
I just upgraded to the captivate about a week and a half ago so I could return it and get the Inspire when it's released if I wanted. I've been looking everywhere trying to compare the two and just can't make up my mind. So, what are some pros and cons of both?
Captivate-
Pros:
AMOLED Screen (4" screen is a pro for me)
Battery Life
Great Dev support already
Thin
Good Camera
Cons:
GPS not as accurate as I'd like
Samsung & AT&T aren't supporting it very well.
Inspire-
Pros:
HTC build quality
HTC Sense
Better Camera
4G Speeds (although my captivate has some amazing speeds with different modems)
Most likely better support
GPS
Cons-
Large non AMOLED screen
Thick
Poor battery life
Kind of a last generation phone (HTC desire HD) with added 4g speeds
I think it will come down to being able to see the two phones side by side once the Inspire 4G actually comes out next Sunday. I also am looking at it, because I've always liked HTC in terms of build quality and HTC Sense, but at the same time my Captivate is a more than capable phone. Sure HSPA+ would be nice, but it's not in my area yet, so I don't really have that to worry about at the moment. I plan on seeing how it performs against the captivate once it's actually out, and then deciding whether I want to buy it or not. I suppose I could lobby for it for a late birthday present, it is 3 days after my bday I'm not going to use an upgrade until AT&T has LTE phones available though, that would be purchased retail.
Because I don't even use data, it doesn't even matter whether it's 4G or not; I just use my Wi-fi.
I think what it's really boiling down for me is just the great quality HTC builds their phones with, plus the fact that Cyanogenmod is already being developed for it.
While my Captivate has been nice for the past month and a half, I'm going to have to ring ATT Warranty ASAP and get the Inspire from them, tell them about my shutdown issues [I had a refurb Captivate to begin with], so they'll have to exchange it for me.
I'm not even going to wait for Atrix or Infuse, not worth it.
How will you get an inspire?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
skippyg said:
How will you get an inspire?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering this myself. I know that with Verizon if you have a phone replaced 3 times they will give you a different phone of equal or lesser value, but won't they just replace it for a captivate that doesnt have the shut down issues? I don't see how they would just upgrade you for free....
At&T has already stated that they will not be offering me phone models to those who have had the shutdown issue. This is not to say that some nobody will convince them othwise bit the policy of offering a new model after three replacements has already met resistence from at&T even before people have had the opportunity to try.
shiftylock said:
I'm wondering this myself. I know that with Verizon if you have a phone replaced 3 times they will give you a different phone of equal or lesser value, but won't they just replace it for a captivate that doesnt have the shut down issues? I don't see how they would just upgrade you for free....
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Click to collapse
newter55 said:
At&T has already stated that they will not be offering me phone models to those who have had the shutdown issue. This is not to say that some nobody will convince them othwise bit the policy of offering a new model after three replacements has already met resistence from at&T even before people have had the opportunity to try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not an 'upgrade' technically... ATT warranty will make you switch out the phone twice. The third time you call in, they'll probably be reluctant to give you a different make and model, but you have to insist. If that doesn't work, have them transfer you to either a floor manager [they walk around and have administrative rights], a supervisor [not always as effective], or the Resolutions team, which is just a group of administrators that are sometimes really helpful when you're trying to do this.
Obviously you'll have to wait until they actually have refurb Inspires, you're not going to walk in there on launch day and ask them for a refurb... You have to make it as if you aren't obviously looking to get a better phone. What I usually tell them is that the phone has [insert problem here], and once they send me the second phone, I'll check the IMEI, make sure it's in the affected range of IMEIs, and then report it again. By then, you can say something like you went to an ATT RETAIL store, and they told you to call in about this phone that is very similar called the Inspire. When they ask you why you didn't just replace it there, tell them that RETAIL STORES DO NOT OFFER RECONDITIONED PHONES.
By now, they've run out of luck and will process the order for you.
Cheers!
The AMOLED screen sucks. Big time. Text is grainy. Solid colors and gradients look oily/rainbowy. Everything is oversaturated.
im thinking about switching to the Inspire or Atrix (Inspire just got more interesting as I dont like the pricing policiy on the Atrix).
I have had the Captivate for a couple of months now. Nothing wrong with it per se, it des everything its meant to, but I spend my time trying to make it have the look and feel of Sense!
Captivate has a great camera (better pictures than any HTC device I have ever used, and I have had many) and a bigger battery. Screen is very good, but I like bigger screens.
so Im going back and forth. Is there really anything that much better on the Inspire?
I sent back an aria 3 times and they sent me a captivated. So they will upgrade you
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
ekerbuddyeker said:
im thinking about switching to the Inspire or Atrix (Inspire just got more interesting as I dont like the pricing policiy on the Atrix).
I have had the Captivate for a couple of months now. Nothing wrong with it per se, it des everything its meant to, but I spend my time trying to make it have the look and feel of Sense!
Captivate has a great camera (better pictures than any HTC device I have ever used, and I have had many) and a bigger battery. Screen is very good, but I like bigger screens.
so Im going back and forth. Is there really anything that much better on the Inspire?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Camera flash, Droid x screen size, 8 mgp camera, HTC support, community devs, build quality, OS upgrades.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
I was offered a free upgrade to a new inspire after my third captivate failed. I had to really fight for it, but after an ATT rep suggested I find a new phone on EBay, I was mad enough to ask for his supervisor. That did it. Problem solved. I really did want to stay with ATT because our whole extended family is with them, so I asked them to please help keep us from switching. I love the inspire - except for the lack of swype. I miss that feature
-Kevlar- said:
Camera flash, Droid x screen size, 8 mgp camera, HTC support, community devs, build quality, OS upgrades.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
build quality? really have you ever looked inside one of those things? what makes you think it is built better?
The pros a cons from comparing both side by side.
Inspire :
Pros :
Big screen
Great ui
Decent GPS
Great feel
Cons :
Considerably slower than captivate
Horrid battery life(carry your charger)
Confusing settings and menus
Even with sense eventually you're going to flash another ui (on to other things)
Terrible build quality
Captivate:
Pros:
Awesome bright and clear screen(better than the atrix by far)
Good battery life(up to three days)
Thin
Swype
Great community support
Great build quality
Cons:
Terrible GPS unless the sky is clear on all roms
Can drain a battery fast(its powerful)
Kind of small
Now notice how I didn't list support as a pro for either. THE SUPPORT FOR BOTH PHONES IS THROUGH ATT AND SUCKS ASS. Contacting HTC only got me sent to att and it sucked. Just getting a battery rma was a pain.
Now if you want to go for android get the inspire. Its built for android. If you don't mind waiting for gingerbread and spruce then get the captivate. We love our terrible GPS for a reason. Its better all around.
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my gps is fantastic on the captivate, even inside. you are all nuts!
to be honest i have seen gps complaints from friends on just about all smart phones. even the inspire.
captivate pros
thin
light
high contrast screen
fast graphics processor
good battery life
hsupa with ported roms
easy flashing
odin for when you do something dumb
wolfson audiochip + supercurio voodoo sound(enough said)
cons
incosistant gps
rfs on stock roms
inspire pros
fast
sense
hsdpa+ upgradable to hspa+ in the future
big screen
extra ram 768mb vs 512mb
8mp camera
cons
sense
no hsupa or hsupa+
graphics not as fast as galaxy s
lcd screen is not as vivid or high in contrast
heavy
thick
bad battery life
ugly
Dani897 said:
my gps is fantastic on the captivate, even inside. you are all nuts!
to be honest i have seen gps complaints from friends on just about all smart phones. even the inspire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I ask where you live? Ussually some places have better GPS than others(Texas and new York being the best due to building mounted GPS towers).
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skatcat31 said:
Can I ask where you live? Ussually some places have better GPS than others(Texas and new York being the best due to building mounted GPS towers).
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
orange county new york. not anywhere near nyc, actually nyc can cause issues with the tall buildings but i can navigate there decently now. i have driven down to philly and dc without issues and up to buffalo. i really dont think it is a regonal thing
it wasn't always that way. jf6 and jh2-3 roms needed a clear sky.
ji6 would crash the gps if i changed settings causing it to fail to start gps untill i preformed a factory reset, simply reverting settings i changed and clearing gps data did not help. (the samsung app also corrected this situation without reverting any settings)
jj4 was the first rom i was able to use the gps without looking at the weather or being carefull about what i did with the gps settings.
with da_g's fix it did not crash like i described above on ji6 based roms.
but now after trying several modems and gps settings i find that there are several good modems. kc1 is my new favorite. kp1 seems to work good on some roms and act erratically on others. jl3 works good for gps as does jk3-4 but jl3 is better than the jk3-4 modems by a small amount. none of those modems are as good in call quality as kp1 and kc1. there may be others that are good.
also ms based modes can cause random blue circles and incoming calls cause loss of gps signal. i think it is an interference problem. but running gps in standalone mode with a kc1 modem and da_g gps fix for good measure gives me the best gps i have ever had on a phone(provided i dont get incoming calls)
The incoming call problem you describe is because the phone a GPS share a chip causing interference. Anyways thank you for the information. Always interesting to see how people fix it. And KB and kc modems have the audience chop so it sounds awesome. Buy it only works with KB and kc kernels as well otherwise you don't get that awesome chip. Anyways thread Jack over.
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I had the captivate and switched to inspire and have liked the inspire so much more since day 1. Sense is a great user interface and runs smoother than touchwiz. there are ways that you can make the battery last longer as well ie juice defender and such. It has a flash for the camera which for whatever reason was lacking from the captivate. The captivate had terrible support from ATT and samsung and i broke two of them in a matter of months. First one the speaker broke second one the power button broke i am not buying a samsung phone ever again because of the captivate