[Q] Signal strength / reception quality? - One (M7) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all,
The HTC One S is well known for bad reception issues outside urban areas.
We constantly miss calls on 4 HTC Ones which were upgraded to all major ROM versions since 5.2012.
Other / older phones (HTC, Nokia, Motorola...) are always reliable in this area.
I wonder if the great aluminium design of the new One has similar issue?
Have you lucky people with pre-series phones noticed any strengths/weaknesses in reception?
Thanks
v

v said:
Hi all,
The HTC One S is well known for bad reception issues outside urban areas.
We constantly miss calls on 4 HTC Ones which were upgraded to all major ROM versions since 5.2012.
Other / older phones (HTC, Nokia, Motorola...) are always reliable in this area.
I wonder if the great aluminium design of the new One has similar issue?
Have you lucky people with pre-series phones noticed any strengths/weaknesses in reception?
Thanks
v
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried out GPS and call qaulity yesterday, outdoors in noisy street and indoors in three store no issues what so ever phone is loud and clear and no issues with reception.

Have you tried holding the whole body on the upper part and lower part? Because that's the grip of death the iphone encounters. It is ok if you hold it normally but if you grip it fully on the upper part then that's when the problems comes in.

R89SONY said:
Tried out GPS and call qaulity yesterday, outdoors in noisy street and indoors in three store no issues what so ever phone is loud and clear and no issues with reception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your reply.
Was your experience in the city or outside, where the next GSM Base Transceiver Station is many miles away?
(This is where the HTC One S fails comparing to other phones.)

v said:
Thank you very much for your reply.
Was your experience in the city or outside, where the next GSM Base Transceiver Station is many miles away?
(This is where the HTC One S fails comparing to other phones.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the city, in busy oxford street in london
---------- Post added at 05:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 PM ----------
Riyal said:
Have you tried holding the whole body on the upper part and lower part? Because that's the grip of death the iphone encounters. It is ok if you hold it normally but if you grip it fully on the upper part then that's when the problems comes in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have big hands as I didnt want to drop the phone aswell I was holding it tightly whilst covering all the back of the phone.

Ok then thanks! And great!

Riyal said:
Have you tried holding the whole body on the upper part and lower part?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am holding it in a way the GSM antenna in the lower part of the body is not covered.
Otherwise calls are not even possible where I live.
It's locked to GSM as G3/HSDPA is not strong enough.
Placing the phones on the table is enough to miss calls quite often.
No other phone we've ever owned has such a bad GSM/G3 reception in the 800 MHz band.

R89SONY said:
In the city, in busy oxford street in london
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure the One S works just fine in that area as well.

v said:
I am sure the One S works just fine in that area as well.
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Click to collapse
Me and My GF both had the one S aswell and never had any reception problems, infact had more reception problems with the GS3/Note 2

open the phone cover, there you can see 6 connector, pull them out a little, less than 1 mm. it might help. there is video on that on YouTube.

Related

Is the Nexus One 3g issue a dealbreaker?

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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
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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.

Test Proves I-Phone 4 Reception Issue Is No "Illusion"

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/...why-consumer-reports-cant-recommend-iphone-4/
I hate to defend the iphone but....
Most phones have similiar issues. Even on the nexus we all love. I lose 3G/cell signal all the time when I cover the lower half of my phone. This is something common on all nexus unless you have 100% awesome signal.
I think this is why this has not been discussed on this part of the forum
1) This is supposed to be about the Nexus One, not the iphone
2) All of us N1 owners know the N1 also has radio problems.
That being said, I'll still say the nexus is the overall best phone there is.
jz9833 said:
I hate to defend the iphone but....
Most phones have similiar issues. Even on the nexus we all love. I lose 3G/cell signal all the time when I cover the lower half of my phone. This is something common on all nexus unless you have 100% awesome signal.
I think this is why this has not been discussed on this part of the forum
1) This is supposed to be about the Nexus One, not the iphone
2) All of us N1 owners know the N1 also has radio problems.
That being said, I'll still say the nexus is the overall best phone there is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with everything you said, including the last part about the overall superiority of the N1.
table: -75dBm
hand in front of me: -85dBm
next to my ear: -79dBm
That's my N1
But the news is for iPhone not for Nexus so not relevant dor this part of the forum (or any else i guess)
I dont know why people keep saying "this is common among all phones"
No its NOT.
1. You are never in direct contact with the actual antenna on other phones.
2. It usually takes a full grip to replicate this on other phones. Even then loss is not as significant as you are still merely muffling a signal not physically shorting the antenna process.
The iphone merely needs the gap bridged for it to dramatically lose signal to the point of dropping calls almost instantaneously.
The issues the N1 had were getting and maintaining a fix on 3G signals. A far cry from dropping endless calls because you were holding it wrong.
xManMythLegend said:
The issues the N1 had were getting and maintaining a fix on 3G signals. A far cry from dropping endless calls because you were holding it wrong.
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No, there are plenty of reports of a dramatic drop in signal strength when you cover the back of the N1 with your hand. Not exactly the same thing as iPhone 4, but still a signal issue caused by antenna placement, so definitely in the same ballpark.
bigmout said:
No, there are plenty of reports of a dramatic drop in signal strength when you cover the back of the N1 with your hand. Not exactly the same thing as iPhone 4, but still a signal issue caused by antenna placement, so definitely in the same ballpark.
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Click to collapse
Again, it's not even close to the same issue. On the N1, you can muffle the antenna a bit; on the iphone 4, you can actually electrically short it out.
MaximReapage said:
Again, it's not even close to the same issue. On the N1, you can muffle the antenna a bit; on the iphone 4, you can actually electrically short it out.
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This smacks of rationalization to me. People report dropped calls as a result of how they hold the phone. Whether it's because the antenna is "muffled" on the N1 or "shorts" on the iPhone, the result is the same from the user's perspective. In fact, the iPhone issue is arguably less of a problem because you can solve it with a case. I love my Nexus One, but I don't think we do ourselves any favors as consumers by rationalizing the phone's shortcomings.
Ummm...how is this related to Nexus One general?
jz9833 said:
I hate to defend the iphone but....
Most phones have similiar issues. Even on the nexus we all love. I lose 3G/cell signal all the time when I cover the lower half of my phone. This is something common on all nexus unless you have 100% awesome signal.
I think this is why this has not been discussed on this part of the forum
1) This is supposed to be about the Nexus One, not the iphone
2) All of us N1 owners know the N1 also has radio problems.
That being said, I'll still say the nexus is the overall best phone there is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue with the iPhone isn't that it has signal attenuation when held normally. All phones do indeed have that problem. The issue is the amount of attenuation. The iPhone 4 loses about 20 decibels of signal when held normally, the N1 loses 5-10 decibels, which doesn't mean that the iPhone loses 4 times as much signal. Decibels are an exponential metric, 10db loss is a tenfold increase/decrease, 20db is a hundredfold increase/decrease. If you use the "death grip" on the iPhone, you might see a 30db loss, yeah that's 1000x. That's why a lot of people didn't even realize that phones did this until now, the iPhone is particularly bad at this phenomenon.
There's a workaround to avoid losing signal when talking, and it's applicable with ALL phone with antenna at the bottom:
Just hold the phone top part when talking and keep hand off the bottom, but it's not possible when doing internet or messaging, or email.
When holding the phone for messaging, try to spread out fingers.
Sounds like Apple is trying to start a new FAD LoL...hope it doesn't catch on!
mingkee said:
There's a workaround to avoid losing signal when talking, and it's applicable with ALL phone with antenna at the bottom:
Just hold the phone top part when talking and keep hand off the bottom, but it's not possible when doing internet or messaging, or email.
When holding the phone for messaging, try to spread out fingers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which is ridiculous and something a consumer shouldnt have to do. Its very annoying to not be able to hold my phone how it naturally feels to while watching/listening to anything streaming.
its really not that hard to fix this, just make a vertical antenna that way you address the heath hazard of an antenna next to your ear, and still not sacrifice much signal.
Wow, another feature that Apple will try to pass off as being first. HTC was the first to have dropped signal, dammit!!
(Tongue in cheek, guys. I realize the seriousness of the iP4's reception woes is much worse than the N1's.)
ATnTdude said:
The issue with the iPhone isn't that it has signal attenuation when held normally. All phones do indeed have that problem. The issue is the amount of attenuation. The iPhone 4 loses about 20 decibels of signal when held normally, the N1 loses 5-10 decibels, which doesn't mean that the iPhone loses 4 times as much signal. Decibels are an exponential metric, 10db loss is a tenfold increase/decrease, 20db is a hundredfold increase/decrease. If you use the "death grip" on the iPhone, you might see a 30db loss, yeah that's 1000x. That's why a lot of people didn't even realize that phones did this until now, the iPhone is particularly bad at this phenomenon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are reports of a 20dBm loss in signal strength from the way you hold the Nexus One:
If you go to Settings -> About Phone -> Status you will see a display for "Signal strength". When my phone is sitting on the desk, the signal stays consistent. However, the second I touch my phone, the signal drops up to as much as -20 dBm. I am able to replicate this test every single time, whether the signal is incredibly strong or weak.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google's "solution" was basically the same as Apple's -- i.e., hold the phone differently.
Weird, my Nexus One is just fine...........................
WRONG FORUM. Who cares.
Thread moved to OT.
what i specifically want to know is WHY is the nexus' antenna so sensitive compared to other phones. all my nokia phones would lose signal too when covering the antenna, but it seems like nokia and other phones use a moving average to calculate signal strength, over a period of the last 10 secconds or so. so that when the signal is blocked, it takes a few seconds to even start to drop. but the nexus almost seems to give dBm in real time, with no moving average at all. cause the dBm can drop intantly when blocking the antenna.
this is why i try to say that HTC just uses different bars, but the signal reception is no worse than other phones. it just shows in real time.
anyway i was at ATT store yesterday, and all 4 iphone 4's drop from 5 bars to 1 bar just by touching the lower left side. not even squeezing, just lightly pressing it. all 4 units. so what are these new phones doing with antenna that causes them to be so sensitive?
also, about the nexus, we have to think that because the nexus is only 9mm thick, the internal antenna is only seperated from our hand by barely 1 mm or so. so we too are detuning the antenna. its not a short like iphone, but close to it.
Consumer Reports confirms iPhone 4 antenna problems
By Nilay Patel posted Jul 12th 2010 1:30PM
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http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/12/consumer-reports-confirms-iphone-4-antenna-problems-and-so-do/
Enough about the iPhone in the Nexus forum. Please!

Is reception dismal, or what?

I've seen lots of complaints about the HD7's reception. With my DEFY I've gotten the best 3G reception ever on T-Mobile. HTC seems to have longstanding complaints about 3G reception and hearing about it with the HD2 and HD7 isn't encouraging.
So, Is the HD7 the best or worst you've had on T-Mobile?
Mine is not good, the signal is very weak. My other phone which is the Nokia N8 gets better signal on the same spot.
Overall I get pretty good reception as I did on any of my other phones, except in my living room. It is a total dead zone. Only that part of my house, out of anywhere I go, has a problem. Otherwise I get on average 4/5 bars. I am in Northern California if location is anything important to you.
As more Radio's become available to flash we should be able to get optimal signals hopefully. I personally haven't found it any different to my previous phone (TyTN II)
I've owned a mytouch 4g, g2 and hd7 all of which are htc made
It seems that these phones tend to have a bad reception in low signal area
however the hd7 tends to have the worse
wi-fi calling really works in handy for the mytouch 4g and g2 and i wish they would release this for Wp7
I also have a Defy as well as a HD7. The Defy was the forth phone I had with T-Mobile the others being a Moto Razr V3, T-Mobile Tab and Nokia Nuron. The Defy gets the best reception I've ever had and still does. Sitting in the same spot in my home the Defy gets full bars 3G while the HD7 only gets 2 bars 3G. Even the Nuron gets better reception.
Remember that the "bars" don't mean that much. A better test would be seeing which phone keeps a working signal (can make phone calls) the longest, as you drive away from a tower and into a dead zone. Then you can see which phone actually has the best and the truest reception.
ace10134 said:
Remember that the "bars" don't mean that much. A better test would be seeing which phone keeps a working signal (can make phone calls) the longest, as you drive away from a tower and into a dead zone. Then you can see which phone actually has the best and the truest reception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
I had one or two disconnections during my conversations but the reception has been OK.
Reception in North Texas is good. Went out to lunch with a friend on Saturday who couldn't connect to the internet on his fruit phone but we could on my hd7. Every place will be different.
Well it's kind of disappointing to hear the varying but mostly bad reports on the HD7's reception. I guess I'll have to wait for something from Samsung or Nokia, if I can't get my hands on one for cheap.
The reception is not that bad its only if you live in the middle of nowhere where I see even a remote issue
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
My reception has been just fine in places where T-Mobile has reception. That being said, after updating my phone's radios, reception and even data speeds have improved greatly.
Now that I have the No-Do update I'm sorry to say that reception on this phone is still really bad. I was hoping that T-Mobile or HTC would include some sort of radio update. Well, since they didn't is a way I can update my radio firmware without flashing a whole new rom?
I only know of two TMOUS (531) Radios...
1. RUU_Schubert_TMOUS_1.20.531.01_Radio_5.51.09.11a_22.31.50.09U
2. RUU_Schubert_TMOUS_1.54.531.02_Radio_5.51.09.29a_22.32.50.10U
I'm currently on the 2nd one... but I've also tried the newer European and Telestra ROM/Radios as well...
All of them have worse receptions than the HTC TP2 that I had... and it really sucks at my house where I loose data connections all the time.
My reception sucks! I came from Verizon where my reception at home was not the best but with this HD7 its awful. I did have TMO before with an MDA and the reception wasnt nearly this bad. I drop calls daily. However, in some of my clients homes where my old verizon sucked, this phone shines, go figure.
Reception is going to depend on where you use your device. Try it out for 30 and if it doesnt work for you take it back. This phone is amazing and worth the trial! Good luck!
TechJunkiesCA said:
My reception sucks! I came from Verizon where my reception at home was not the best but with this HD7 its awful. I did have TMO before with an MDA and the reception wasnt nearly this bad. I drop calls daily. However, in some of my clients homes where my old verizon sucked, this phone shines, go figure.
Reception is going to depend on where you use your device. Try it out for 30 and if it doesnt work for you take it back. This phone is amazing and worth the trial! Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure but making a call in a weak signal area with the right phone can be the difference between holding it or constantly dropping it.
dzotx said:
I only know of two TMOUS (531) Radios...
1. RUU_Schubert_TMOUS_1.20.531.01_Radio_5.51.09.11a_22.31.50.09U
2. RUU_Schubert_TMOUS_1.54.531.02_Radio_5.51.09.29a_22.32.50.10U
I'm currently on the 2nd one... but I've also tried the newer European and Telestra ROM/Radios as well...
All of them have worse receptions than the HTC TP2 that I had... and it really sucks at my house where I loose data connections all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm currently using the 2nd radio listed above. I really like this phone but the dropped calls are making me crazy. Damn if only T-Mobile would just go ahead and release WiFi calling on this phone.
JamesDax said:
I'm currently using the 2nd radio listed above. I really like this phone but the dropped calls are making me crazy. Damn if only T-Mobile would just go ahead and release WiFi calling on this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But your DEFY performs better under the same conditions? Right?
I have found the opposite.
I had the Desire HD, Galaxy S, and my HD7.
The HD7 works in my gym while the Desire HD did not. I found the reception the same for the Galaxy and the HD7.
I'm using mine on Telus.

Death grip - signal loss

Hello.
I just watched 2 videos on youtube, both showing signal loss when the palm of your hand touches the lower left corner of the phone.
Can anyone confirm if this is true??
No signal loss on my phone.
what do you think this is, iphone?
Just tried, no signal loss.
Just tried it - holding it in that corner as well as covering both the top and bottom parts of the back (which are the antennas). No signal changes.
ksarius said:
Hello.
I just watched 2 videos on youtube, both showing signal loss when the palm of your hand touches the lower left corner of the phone.
Can anyone confirm if this is true??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're holding it wrong!
There is slight signal loss on my One (Sprint) when my palm covers the bottom left corner of the phone, but I wouldn't call it a "death grip." For me, it's the difference between 5 bars vs. 1-2 bars.
Anyway, anyone who holds their phone in a "death grip" during normal use is a bit off. Here, I need to make a phone call; let me hold the phone just as tight as humanly possible. Please...
Try holding with your left hand for 5 seconds.
That's what I noticed. From 5 bar to 1
shiningarmor said:
what do you think this is, iphone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Watch it for yourself. This is the third video with this problem. Seems like all sprint devices have this problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlAt7CKHsNY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uDtbhGk2Js&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Was holding it now for like 20 seconds in my left hand and no, no signal lost. Still 5 bars
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Might send mine back. My signal rose from 3 to 4 bars when i just covered the bottom of my phone. Also, i l placed it on a table and looked at it for 5 minutes and it fluctuated from 3 to 4 to 5 and back without me touching it. I am so disappointed with HTC right now...
In other words, no death grip here. If you have a problem with your phone, send it back. It does not seem to be a widespread issue.
Currently interchangeably using HTC One, BBZ10 and Note 2
Try4Ce said:
Was holding it now for like 20 seconds in my left hand and no, no signal lost. Still 5 bars
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good to know. I think its only sprint devices then.
Anyone from developer edition can test it out?
Tried again, still no change. Perhaps it is specific to the Sprint model.
ksarius said:
Watch it for yourself. This is the third video with this problem. Seems like all sprint devices have this problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlAt7CKHsNY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uDtbhGk2Js&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine singapore's singtel set, no problem
I can confirm this happens on the T-Mobile version too, but it doesn't actually appear to have any effect on phone calls, at least in my experience. I haven't dropped any calls, nor have I noticed a change in sound quality. On a somewhat related note, I can also interfere with Bluetooth audio streams simply by putting my entire hand over the top right corner near the FFC, though it obviously looks wrong and feels awkward to do so.
It's a known fact that many phones have signal attenuation when you put your hands on them in certain places. If it's that big of a deal, you can always invest in a good Bluetooth headset to keep your hands off it.
Oh great just what we need more OCD driven videos.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
Tried it with mine - was -83dBm on the table and fluctuated between -83dBm and -79dBm in my hand.
Just tried it, mine is completely fine. . .
This will happen on most, if not all phones. If you cover an area it needs to be usually exposed to maintain signal, what do you expect?
When it happened with iPhones however it was funny to see everyone who hates iPhone's making a big deal out of it...

One vs. GS4: Anyone do a direct radio comparison?

I've had my One since August, and while I love the speakers and build quality, the LTE reception has been marginal and the CDMA call quality sucks. Long story short, I have someone offering to trade me their Galaxy S4 straight up for my One. Both are in mint condition. I was considering eventually swapping for a Nexus 5 with the tri-band radios, but this offer has me considering otherwise. Has anyone had the opportunity to do side-by-side comparisons of the S4 and One in LTE active areas? I don't want this to turn into a fan-boy rant-fest, especially since I'll probably stick with the One. Just looking for honest opinions of the test results.
Thanks in advance!
I have a one and my wife has an s4. Her s4 definitely will grab an LTE signal faster and hold it longer than my one. She almost always will have a stronger signal when connected side by side as well. Her s4 will usually pump out a faster speed test side by side as well.
I'm not bashing the one by any means. As far as signal goes, I think her s4 has my one beat.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
If I had the opportunity to trade straight up, I would if signal strength/durability is a big deal to you. My the radio on my wife's Note2 runs circles around my One's radio. I can barely hold a 3G signal in my house, while she's cruising on LTE. Not a big deal to me because I use Wifi anyway.
There's multiple reasons why I would, and multiple reasons why I wouldn't. It all depends on what is important to you. But to answer your question, the Samsung seems to do better picking up signal and holding on to it.
OP before switching to a tri-band device i would do some research and verify the sprint LTE towers your surrounded by support Circuit Switched Fallback technology. If the towers do not support it you wont be getting any better LTE than the ONE, it will actually be worse.
great link that explains what this is in case you were unaware
http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-357-nexus-5-and-lg-g2-experience-temporary-sprint-lte-connectivity-issues-due-to-circuit-switched-fallback-technology/
trcurren said:
I have a one and my wife has an s4. Her s4 definitely will grab an LTE signal faster and hold it longer than my one. She almost always will have a stronger signal when connected side by side as well. Her s4 will usually pump out a faster speed test side by side as well.
I'm not bashing the one by any means. As far as signal goes, I think her s4 has my one beat.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I'm in the same situation and exact same results.
---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 PM ----------
Robisgnarly said:
OP before switching to a tri-band device i would do some research and verify the sprint LTE towers your surrounded by support Circuit Switched Fallback technology. If the towers do not support it you wont be getting any better LTE than the ONE, it will actually be worse.
great link that explains what this is in case you were unaware
http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-357-nexus-5-and-lg-g2-experience-temporary-sprint-lte-connectivity-issues-due-to-circuit-switched-fallback-technology/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great read. I was excited for Sprint to finally get simultaneous voice + data. I don't really talk while browsing web on phone, but I do like apps that while you're getting a call, it searches the # for business / white pages info and displays it in real time, or downloads not being interrupted.
Losing this feature is bogus.
My HTC One, at the area where Sprint's coverage map shows best for LTE, gets almost nothing, at best, and will drop even when I stand still. Even the 3G signal can wave from 4 bars to no bar, dropped data when I stand there not moving, I think it got worse after the 4.3 upgrade. Are you guys having the same? Now that my WiFi are also waving in and out.
ctiger said:
My HTC One, at the area where Sprint's coverage map shows best for LTE, gets almost nothing, at best, and will drop even when I stand still. Even the 3G signal can wave from 4 bars to no bar, dropped data when I stand there not moving, I think it got worse after the 4.3 upgrade. Are you guys having the same? Now that my WiFi are also waving in and out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Completely identical. Doesn't matter where I am at or what I am doing, the signal is bouncing back and forth, switching between 3G/LTE, wifi constantly dropping and picking back up, etc.
\m/ said:
Completely identical. Doesn't matter where I am at or what I am doing, the signal is bouncing back and forth, switching between 3G/LTE, wifi constantly dropping and picking back up, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the same problem on my One for as long as I can remember. I switched to the Nexus 5 a couple of weeks ago and I get MUCH better signal as well as constant connection. My One would always drop signal, have weak/no signal, etc... I think it's just an HTC thing. Even my EVO LTE would have terrible radios/signal.
\m/ said:
Completely identical. Doesn't matter where I am at or what I am doing, the signal is bouncing back and forth, switching between 3G/LTE, wifi constantly dropping and picking back up, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tyler.durden said:
I've had the same problem on my One for as long as I can remember. I switched to the Nexus 5 a couple of weeks ago and I get MUCH better signal as well as constant connection. My One would always drop signal, have weak/no signal, etc... I think it's just an HTC thing. Even my EVO LTE would have terrible radios/signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thought it was just my phone. But when I contacted them on Wed afternoon, their CS told me to do this and do that and blah blah blah... at the time I knew it was not my phone, but a wide spread problem they can't simply tell me to send it back for repair or exchange. It is a very sad thing.
For myself, in my area where we have no LTE and weak 3G signal is a concern, the HTC One has done noticeably better than the SG4. The local repair center will actively tell people to switch their devices away from Samsung to HTC.
I cannot speak to LTE signal and I cannot speak of the difference between a Note 3 and the HTC One, but in my corner of Virginia, the HTC One has had the better signal strength.
jskup said:
For myself, in my area where we have no LTE and weak 3G signal is a concern, the HTC One has done noticeably better than the SG4. The local repair center will actively tell people to switch their devices away from Samsung to HTC.
I cannot speak to LTE signal and I cannot speak of the difference between a Note 3 and the HTC One, but in my corner of Virginia, the HTC One has had the better signal strength.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that only applies to 3G, except in my area both Galaxy's and HTC's do well on 3G. Wait till you guys get 4G in your area and see if you get any of the LTE action lol. It's an HTC thing, the EVO LTE and One suffer the same issue.
I assure you I am more than ready for LTE here. It's been a long time coming.
Still, wasn't sure what the OP's specific scenario was so I wanted to alert them to the possibility that their HTC One could be the better device in this situation, rare in larger cities but more out in the fringes.
jskup said:
I assure you I am more than ready for LTE here. It's been a long time coming.
Still, wasn't sure what the OP's specific scenario was so I wanted to alert them to the possibility that their HTC One could be the better device in this situation, rare in larger cities but more out in the fringes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well keep your eye out on a galaxy phone so you can see it pick up LTE while your HTC is on 3G. You'll see what we all experience soon lol.
And to OP, Galaxy phones do better at LTE so the S4 would be ideal if you want to swap your One. Personally I would just future proof my phone and get a tri band device if I were you..
My uncles gs4 gets a weak lte signal in certain areas of my house where i get absolutely none until i step outside
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 09:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 PM ----------
Wouldnt trade for it at all though. Not much of a signal difference and dat touchwiz is so.... no. I upgraded from the OG Epic 4g and am happy i went for the One.
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 09:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------
Also it feels so cheap lol my epic looks better than the gs4 ugh bro i advise you dont do it, ESPDCIALLY if signal is your only concern. Not enough of a difference to justify that. The only thing id say do it for, is if you need the sd slot (and even then, theres a little thing for $10 that lets you use sd cards on the One)
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
After reading several posts regarding the superior reception of the GS4, I made the trade. Immediately, I picked up solid 4G signals were I never had them before. I'll miss the forward facing speakers and the awesome design, but the LTE reception and higher resolution camera are a higher priority for me. One thing I didn't think I would miss is Blinkfeed, but it really grew on me and there's nothing quite as slick on the Android Market. The One is a sweet phone, but I bought it primarily because of an unreal deal from Dell Mobile, and based on my type of usage it's shortcomings were too apparent.
Let the hating begin!
Hahah to each his own, so happy you made an informed decision, even if i disagree much better than saying "well everyone else has it so why not"
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
I always say to each their own. Not every device is suited for everyone's needs. I'm glad you found a device that works for you!
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
I read somewhere that the aluminium build of the HTC ONE interferes with the signal??? I have no idea if this is true but it wouldn't make sense cause if you put aluminium foil on an antenna you get better reception
---------- Post added at 08:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 AM ----------
I read somewhere that the aluminium build of the HTC ONE interferes with the signal??? I have no idea if this is true but it wouldn't make sense cause if you put aluminium foil on an antenna you get better reception!!
trcurren said:
I have a one and my wife has an s4. Her s4 definitely will grab an LTE signal faster and hold it longer than my one. She almost always will have a stronger signal when connected side by side as well. Her s4 will usually pump out a faster speed test side by side as well.
I'm not bashing the one by any means. As far as signal goes, I think her s4 has my one beat.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming from s3 to s4 to one... S4 seems to have had better radios in my area. I still get LTE, but it isn't as strong as when I had s4
Sent from my One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Sprint is pushing an update today.
Not sure if it has new radios or not yet.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

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