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Help signal strength?

B

Bjallen1

Lurker
I recently up graded my razar Maxx to ics. I was irritated that the cycle function for 3g and 4g was removed. I have also noticed that my signal strength has decreased slightly. I used to be able to get a strong 3g signal (full bars) at my house and now since upgrading it has decreased (2 bars). Has any one else experienced this?
 
Welcome to Android Forums, BJAllen1!
We are glad you have joined us here.

I have moved this thread into the Razr Maxx forum so that the people who use that phone can read it, and post their tips here to help you.:)
 
I have noticed the same thing. Prior to update my signal strength at home was consistently around -95 dBm. Now it is always near -105 dBm.
 
My signal also decreased about two bars after the update. I couldn't say what the actual signal strength was before and after because I didn't check "before," but it hasn't been to the point where I'm dropping calls or seeing reduced data speeds. I'm assuming it's a "cosmetic" thing.
 
X2. I used to get full strength with 3 g, and 4 bars with 4 g before the update. Now I get 3 to 4 bars with 3g and 2 bars with 4g.
 
To explain the signal disparities:

On Gingerbread, 4G devices always showed the 3G signal strength (even though it would say "4G" next to the bars, it was actually reporting the 3G signal strength).

ICS changed this, and now the bars, and the dBm reading, accurately report the 4G signal strength when on a 4G signal and report the 3G signal strength when on a 3G signal.

In my experience, 3G typically is a stronger signal, so if I switch to a 3G only mode, the signal will typically read 10-20 dBm's higher, i.e. if I have a 4G signal -85dBm strong, then my 3G signal is usually aroun -75 to -65dBm strong.

So what you are most likely experiencing is not a decreased signal strength, but rather a more accurate reading of that strength. The main factor is real world usage: Are you actually experiencing signal problems?
 
chris4x4 said:
Doesn't the signal strength indicator represent how many decibels the phone is receiving?
Click to expand...

Yes but it doesn't portray an accurate visualization. Dbm are right on. Mine are usually any where from - 53 to - 77 which is very good and equals to about 3-5 bars
 
And also what the user said above me is correct. Basically you probably have the same signal as before ics just displays it different. That's why everyone says to look at dbm values when comparing signal
 
Under Network type and strength, I found...1x =84dBm and 3g =75dBm
Is that good? And what does the "1x) refer to?
 
monicakm said:
Under Network type and strength, I found...1x =84dBm and 3g =75dBm
Is that good? And what does the "1x) refer to?
Click to expand...

It's a actually all negatives. The lower the number the better. - 75 is pretty good. 1x is the band that voice goes over. Basically 2g
 
I'm not seeing any difference under ICS.

The other day I was at a friend's house and they told me that Verizon didn't work there, that it was a dead zone. I checked my Razr and was getting 4 bars!! They were shocked.
 
Hey thanks everyone for the assistance!

So whats with the factory reset? I've noticed it pop up on a few forums what exactly is it improving if anything with the ICS update?
 
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