Help New baseband for the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III may improve signal strength

[seana608]

I read this on PhoneArena today. Has anyone tried this yet? Or have plans to try it? I'm a Verizon S3 owner that has been having terrible signal issues and dropped calls. I've already switched the phone out once and the SIM card twice.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/New-baseband-for-the-Verizon-Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-may-improve-signal-strength_id35000[/URL]

 

[nytmare]

My reception sucks, so thought I'd give this a try. Followed the instructions to the "T", did it twice, failed each time.

On the positive side... my phone doesn't seem to have been effected either way. I'm still on the Baseband version I was before which is I535VRLG7.

Oh well, took a shot.

 

[dfran1]

Hi all! VERIZON ONLY Siii

I'm NOT rooted either.

I was having horrible reception with the latest update (official from verizon), my reception went into the toilet. I was ready to call verizon and complain big time thats how bad it was.

Now I came across the same article and did it (I'll explain in details below), and all I can say it is night and day, not only did it fix it..... for me at least it made the reception on my siii as good as any phone I have ever had that had great reception!!

I was in a weak area today, one that usually gives me bad data also and no phone reception and I received a call and had 3G to top it off...

Now I need to test further, and I will all weak, but so far great results for me at the very least.

I take no responsibility if something bad happens to yours (it should not but...)
use at your own risk... (don't mean to scare anyone as nothing should happen but no one ever knows that one looses power during or ?)

I followed these instructions from here
New baseband for the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III may improve signal strength

You will need to go to the link and download what you need from there please.

PAY ATTENTION TO STEP 6, other choices may brick your phone!!!!

Now a newer leaked Baseband has it the web, version I535VRLHD. At this early stage, little is know about it, except that it came from Samsung, and is again supposed to help with signal reception on the Galaxy S III and may provide better voice quality as well.

Even though the installation is pretty straight forward, only people who are comfortable with the process should proceed.

1. The first step is to make sure you are not running a Custom ROM, and have the official F2, G1, or G7 Verizon ROM installed.

2. Next you want to have the Samsung USB drivers installed on your PC (download), and then the ODIN program installed (download).

3. You'll also need the new I535VRLHD file (download), but the older ones can be download from here if you want to revert back.

4. After that, connect your phone to the PC and wait for the PC to install any device drivers.

5. Then unplug the phone, open the ODIN program, and reconnect the phone. ODIN should show the phone connected to a COM Port.

6. Place a check mark next to PDA and select the file that you saved "VRLHD.modem.tar.md5".

7. After it reads the file, select Start and it will flash the Modem.

8. Once it is completed , the phone will restart, and you can remove the USB cable.

To verify the new file installed, go to Settings, About Device, and the Baseband Version should say I535VRLHD.
If at any time you want to revert back to the F2, G1, or G7 baseband, download them from here and use the same process in ODIN to flash the modem file.

Let us know if you try the new I535VRLHD radio and if it helps (or hurts) your signal reception and download speed.

Now what this does not tell you is .....

you need to put your phone into ...

download mode after step 4.

How to enter download mode on Samsung Galaxy S3
First shut down your device, then power on by simultaneously pressing the power button, home button and volume down key. Now you will see download mode and you will be asked if you want to cancel or continue. Press volume up to continue or volume down to cancel and reboot.

now I found this info here and if you need pictures go there

[OFFICIAL][MODEMS] Verizon SGS3 (SCH-I535) [ODIN or RECOVERY-flashable] - xda-developers

Best Of luck!!!

 

[nytmare]

I must be all thumbs. I have tried multiple times to get my phone into download mode but can't seem to do it. I'm pressing the home, volume down, and power buttons simultaneously and I get nuthin'. I also read that the S3 can be a bit finicky and pressing the home button, the volume down button and power button in that order quickly will also work.

Nope... nada. What the heck am I doing wrong?! I wanna try this out, but can't get into download mode to save my butt.

 

[dfran1]

I must be all thumbs. I have tried multiple times to get my phone into download mode but can't seem to do it. I'm pressing the home, volume down, and power buttons simultaneously and I get nuthin'. I also read that the S3 can be a bit finicky and pressing the home button, the volume down button and power button in that order quickly will also work.

Nope... nada. What the heck am I doing wrong?! I wanna try this out, but can't get into download mode to save my butt.

Try this with the phone powered off
Hold the home and volume down now also press and hold the power

Keep holding All 3 (don't let any slip) until you get a symbol with the continue question
Let me know if this helps

 

[nytmare]

Try this with the phone powered off
Hold the home and volume down now also press and hold the power

Keep holding All 3 (don't let any slip) until you get a symbol with the continue question
Let me know if this helps

Many thanks for the help, but still nothin' I've visited other forums and read how to do it and even resorted to watching a couple youtube vids on how to do it (they're all basically the same).

I'm not doing it any different than what I've read or seen, but it's not working. Could Verizon have somehow locked this down? This sucks!

 

[dfran1]

Many thanks for the help, but still nothin' I've visited other forums and read how to do it and even resorted to watching a couple youtube vids on how to do it (they're all basically the same).

I'm not doing it any different than what I've read or seen, but it's not working. Could Verizon have somehow locked this down? This sucks!

How about this

Instead of shutdown choose restart (in the menu that pops up while holding power, when the phone is on)

Now as soon as the screen goes black try holding the volume down, home, and power buttons and keep holding. You can't let any go even for a split second.

Do your hands shake? (I'm not making fun of you, I've meet people that have shaky hands and could see that as a problem)
Good luck

 

[nytmare]

How about this

Instead of shutdown choose restart (in the menu that pops up while holding power, when the phone is on)

Now as soon as the screen goes black try holding the volume down, home, and power buttons and keep holding. You can't let any go even for a split second.

Do your hands shake? (I'm not making fun of you, I've meet people that have shaky hands and could see that as a problem)
Good luck

HEY!!! that worked! I don't know why it wouldn't work starting from a complete shutdown, but it worked by just doing a restart. Thanks much for the suggestion. I wouldn't have thought of that on my own.

BTW... I don't have shakey hands. I use to be a sniper and still frequently compete in rifle competitions.

Thanks again (left you a thanks too).

 

[dfran1]

HEY!!! that worked! I don't know why it wouldn't work starting from a complete shutdown, but it worked by just doing a restart. Thanks much for the suggestion. I wouldn't have thought of that on my own.

BTW... I don't have shakey hands. I use to be a sniper and still frequently compete in rifle competitions.

Thanks again (left you a thanks too).

I'm glad it worked, I was out of ideas after that.

Let me know what you think of it, if it helps you or not, the new Baseband that is.

It seems improved in some areas, but in some areas it still has problems, more testing for me Needed, but that other day was great.
3g seems a lot better now.

 

[aximtreo]

I had tried multiple times to do the flash and it would never work. following the instructions for download, it worked the first time. Haven't noticed a difference yet but will report in a coupld of days. I really had bad signal strenght before; hope this is better.

I assume (bad decision) that thisis the same baseband that JB will have when we get the update later this month?????????????????

 

[Hightech]

according to Phonearena....this will wipe all user data off the phone.

Will this update come as an OTA update I wonder?

 

[_Aardvark]

This should not be done casually. If you're following those directions and it's all new to you just stop and read up on what you're doing. XDA is a place to start. This entire thread should be moved to "All things root" I think (yeah, i know you don't technically have to be rooted to to this, but it's still part of the whole rooting/roming scene)

Doing something wrong with these tools can easily brick your phone. I'd also be concerned that a phone in this state would not be able to accept/install future OTA updates.

 

[aximtreo]

according to Phonearena....this will wipe all user data off the phone.

Will this update come as an OTA update I wonder?

I did the flash and it did not wipe my data. I don't see much signal improvement if any but it's only been and couple of hours and I haven't left home yet.

 

[dfran1]

I am by no means any android master.

No this should not be in the root section (one does not need to root for this and it is suposed to be official), if you don't want to read it then DONT READ this thread (there are lots of threads I skip over everyday).

I had put warnings in my message for this already.

This will not erase anything, unless you cant follow directions (as my warning states in my message).

The unknown question is.... will the next update go fine now that we choose to do this..... I don't know...... But we can just revert back to the verizon updated one anyway, then update, so.............. I'll take my chances

I guess it goes like this

If you hate your reception now, or before you trash the phone because of your reception, or you just like to try new (supposedly) official basebands out......

Then by all means, try it!

This baseband is certainly better than the last one verizon shoved on my phone, in my tests so far.

I think this covers all the unknowns and warnings.

Thanks

 

[Parker Kincaid]

according to Phonearena....this will wipe all user data off the phone.

Will this update come as an OTA update I wonder?

Flashing the 30 MB modem/baseband update wiped no data on my S3. Are you sure that warning wasn't related to installing the full VRLHD ROM (COMBINATION_I535VRALHD_I535VZWALHD_1092717_REV09_user_low_ship.tar) that has been leaked? That's ~1.19 GB in size. That most definitely will wipe your phone in the process.

As for the update, itself, I do believe I see noticeable connectivity improvements over the previous VRLG7 version after simply updating the baseband.

 

[nytmare]

Ok... just installed I535VRLHD and it was successful. I'll watch things over the next few days and get back with results.

Thanks again to dfran1 for the help with getting my phone into download mode. I haven't read anywhere in any of the forums having to get there by doing a restart instead of a complete power off. Odd...

 

[Dpopps]

After a little more time do you think the reception is any better.

 

[dfran1]

After a little more time do you think the reception is any better.

I think it is a lot better than the one Verizon shoved on us in the last update by far.

I still have a hard time in very very weak areas,but my data is best it's ever been with any data phone.

They do need to get a little more out of the phone portion, but I think it's better than it's ever been.

 

[nytmare]

I think it is a lot better than the one Verizon shoved on us in the last update by far.

I still have a hard time in very very weak areas,but my data is best it's ever been with any data phone.

They do need to get a little more out of the phone portion, but I think it's better than it's ever been.

I agree with dfran1. I've been paying close attention to my signal strengths since the update and have noticed increase speed and strength in areas that have/had marginal to good strength to begin with. However, areas that have/had poor to little strength have had little effect. Which is disappointing since I live in and drive through just such an areas. I'm beginning to think that the S3 is simply going to continue to have poor reception. That's too bad as I'm going to have to jump ship and go with a different brand in the not too distant future.

 

[dfran1]

A New Baseband again. Hopefully this is perfect or near perfect now.

I535VRLHE

If you loaded the I535VRLHD like I did, you need to follow my instructions above and downgrade to I535VRLG7 (odin version) first.

Then go to
-menu
-system settings
-about device
-software update

I will post in a day or two on findings