Skeeter125
Android Enthusiast
I like chrome better anyway so for me I just stick with chrome.
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Verizon GS3 signal reception thread
- Thread starter rushmore
- Start date
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- Tags
- samsung galaxy s3
I like chrome better anyway so for me I just stick with chrome.
Anyone have Dramamine? I'm getting motion sickness from the Rushmore roller coaster.
Skeeter125
Android Enthusiast
for the millionth time, phones on gb read signal differently than ICS. ICS is about 20 dbm higher than what gb would read. Quit worrying about numbers and worry about if the phone works as a phone.
laptopquestion
Android Enthusiast
LoL
Not Qualcomm, but I have been the r&d director for one of the leading test providers in the semiconductor industry for some time. Hereabouts you'll also find my posts clarifying matters on TI and Samsung processors among other things. I have no vested interest of any sort in which product decisions that anyone here can make.
I believe that an informed consumer is an empowered one - that's my deal.
bcautosound
Lurker
Totally off subject but since this is about reception I want to share a amazing thing I bought today. I am upgrading to the S3 tomorrow but currently have a Razr. I live in a severe 4g fringe area and on ICS usually stand about -107db in my house. I bought the new Wilson Sleek 4G V signal booster make for verizon's LTE network and it is amazing. Ran the antennae out my window and stuck it in my rain gutter. Signal went to full bars, -75db. At the same time, my speediest.net results went from 3-4mb down and .5-1mb up all the way to 10-12 down and 3-5 up. Please don't flame me for putting off topic information I was just blown away with how much of a difference this thing can make.
SamMax
Android Expert
How dare you go off topic!!
Cool I have heard good things about that booster...gonna look for one on amazon.Renegade360
Newbie
Just Tested my Galaxy Nexus vs S3 signal. When on the same tower according to OpenSignal, my S3 had a -85db signal on 4g and my Nexus had a -93db signal. On the network status signal strength in the settings menu at the same time my S3 had a -108db and Nexus had a -116db. So the S3 def had a better signal. The funny thing is that the S3 will go to a 3g signal alot faster when 4g is weak, while the nexus will stay on the 4g. So I have more 4G signal time on the Nexus vs the S3 even though the s3 gets a stronger signal. This has got to be software related with the Nexus on AOKP 40 and the S3 Stock.
Source please?
Are you referring to this?
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/25921-this-is-why-your-verizon-nexus-signal-sucks/
I am presently holding two HTC phones - one is a Shift running Gingerbread, the other a One X variant running ICS.
Through Open Signal Maps, both are holding steady at -75 dBm / 19 ASU, 3G signal only, Sprint.
It's important to understand background articles and how the information applies to each case. Perhaps that story about how ICS reports power didn't say what many people believe it said.
Also precisely why I endorse Open Signal Maps.
Hope this helps.
PS - the Settings, About readout on both models I'm using agree with the OSM readout. Some numbers are quite trustworthy.
Seems really to be designed for vehicle use.
Okay, browsing over this thread lets me know that there are obviously a lot more of you that know more tech stuff about the signal/android than I do at this point...
I am coming for help, so if you do not mind I have a question or two.
First, I am coming to Android SGS3 from the iPhone (which I loved...but was tired of no widgets and so forth)...
I am very new to android and..
1. Do not have a clue how to figure out the specifics of my signal in which some of you are posting. DPC Strength? How do I figure that out.
2. I can tell that there is a great drop in signal from my iPhone to this phone. I am at work and have not had time to read over a lot of the thread, but...was hoping someone could shed some light on this for me.
I literally got 4 bars while at home and work from my iPhone, now, I am lucky to have 1...
Yes, I am talking about bars because I do not yet understand how else to calculate it.
Any advice or help is appreciated.
I am coming for help, so if you do not mind I have a question or two.
First, I am coming to Android SGS3 from the iPhone (which I loved...but was tired of no widgets and so forth)...
I am very new to android and..
1. Do not have a clue how to figure out the specifics of my signal in which some of you are posting. DPC Strength? How do I figure that out.
2. I can tell that there is a great drop in signal from my iPhone to this phone. I am at work and have not had time to read over a lot of the thread, but...was hoping someone could shed some light on this for me.
I literally got 4 bars while at home and work from my iPhone, now, I am lucky to have 1...
Yes, I am talking about bars because I do not yet understand how else to calculate it.
Any advice or help is appreciated.
rushmore
Extreme Android User
Np, you are on the right track since all you can really do (or anyone else) is test based on the phone you were using. A good check is any place you know you had issues with your previous phone, or was hit and miss for signal. Test the G3 in that area. If not working or even worse, you have the answer that matters most- your own results.
Without doubt, the Razr Maxx has very good signal. The Razr is probably the best, but for people that want a device similar in size to iPhone, but bigger display, the Incredible 4G is a good option and apparently very good signal as well. Also has the same S4 chip as the G3.
I get my G3 today and will bring it back to my office where on my Razr, 3G is weak and 4G is "fringy". If the G3 has weaker radios, I expect one or both to either not work or go "in and out". To me, this one test will be absolute, since if it does not work in my office, I have no point in having it.
My Razr is going either way (battery life), so would get the Maxx and wait to see what comes out later. Then again, the HD might be coming sooner than expected....
Added: In fact, to heck with bothering any further with the G3 if weak in my office. I will not bother installing my apps and will first test in my office. Will test streaming content, calls, speed test, open signal etc. If passes- COOL, if not, quickest return- ever for me.
Really, streaming video from a few sites that work fine on the Razr should be the most practical test and carry the most weight, so the other tests are not really needed now. Plenty of folks have done examples here and other forums and results are ALL OVER the place. All I would be doing is adding to the scatter chart
Without doubt, the Razr Maxx has very good signal. The Razr is probably the best, but for people that want a device similar in size to iPhone, but bigger display, the Incredible 4G is a good option and apparently very good signal as well. Also has the same S4 chip as the G3.
I get my G3 today and will bring it back to my office where on my Razr, 3G is weak and 4G is "fringy". If the G3 has weaker radios, I expect one or both to either not work or go "in and out". To me, this one test will be absolute, since if it does not work in my office, I have no point in having it.
My Razr is going either way (battery life), so would get the Maxx and wait to see what comes out later. Then again, the HD might be coming sooner than expected....
Added: In fact, to heck with bothering any further with the G3 if weak in my office. I will not bother installing my apps and will first test in my office. Will test streaming content, calls, speed test, open signal etc. If passes- COOL, if not, quickest return- ever for me.
Really, streaming video from a few sites that work fine on the Razr should be the most practical test and carry the most weight, so the other tests are not really needed now. Plenty of folks have done examples here and other forums and results are ALL OVER the place. All I would be doing is adding to the scatter chart
Hmm, who was it that said this? Oh yeah, that Rushmore guy. Hey, they liked the phone but look at the 'cons'.
What I like is that they referenced the GNex and said they saw none of the connectivity issues they saw with that phone.
Samsung Galaxy S III (Verizon Wireless) Review & Rating | PCMag.com
What I like is that they referenced the GNex and said they saw none of the connectivity issues they saw with that phone.
Samsung Galaxy S III (Verizon Wireless) Review & Rating | PCMag.com
rushmore
Extreme Android User
Ken7, that is because it IS dim! I think either everbody else had dim phones before, or are blinded by new device pixie dust. The display is dim, even at 100%. My concern is battery life, since below 100% is of course even dimmer.
Very surprised my fellow Razr users did not mention this. Also, the Razr can be used outside fairly well, not so with much sun and the G3.
My Incredible is brighter, so the amoled tech here has even less white, to the point of all shades of gray (hence it is dim).
Added:
Back on topic: Good to see the Gnex does not have a signal buddy in their review.
Very surprised my fellow Razr users did not mention this. Also, the Razr can be used outside fairly well, not so with much sun and the G3.
My Incredible is brighter, so the amoled tech here has even less white, to the point of all shades of gray (hence it is dim).
Added:
Back on topic: Good to see the Gnex does not have a signal buddy in their review.
Rushmore did you test the phone outdoors with both 100% brightness and auto brightness ? Might seem like a weird question but one phone I tested a while back (I think the photon) would actually be dim on 100% brightness but fairly bright (outdoors) on auto (one could consider this a bug but that was how it behaved).
Np, you are on the right track since all you can really do (or anyone else) is test based on the phone you were using. A good check is any place you know you had issues with your previous phone, or was hit and miss for signal. Test the G3 in that area. If not working or even worse, you have the answer that matters most- your own results.
Without doubt, the Razr Maxx has very good signal. The Razr is probably the best, but for people that want a device similar in size to iPhone, but bigger display, the Incredible 4G is a good option and apparently very good signal as well. Also has the same S4 chip as the G3.
I get my G3 today and will bring it back to my office where on my Razr, 3G is weak and 4G is "fringy". If the G3 has weaker radios, I expect one or both to either not work or go "in and out". To me, this one test will be absolute, since if it does not work in my office, I have no point in having it.
My Razr is going either way (battery life), so would get the Maxx and wait to see what comes out later. Then again, the HD might be coming sooner than expected....
Added: In fact, to heck with bothering any further with the G3 if weak in my office. I will not bother installing my apps and will first test in my office. Will test streaming content, calls, speed test, open signal etc. If passes- COOL, if not, quickest return- ever for me.
Really, streaming video from a few sites that work fine on the Razr should be the most practical test and carry the most weight, so the other tests are not really needed now. Plenty of folks have done examples here and other forums and results are ALL OVER the place. All I would be doing is adding to the scatter chart
I appreciate you taking time to respond. I am really disappointed in the signal strength. I am actually a bit shocked at how large or a drop it is from the iPhone 4S... ugh...
rushmore
Extreme Android User
np, that is weird, since most reports are the iPhone has weaker signal, but what matters is what you experience.
you2, I did turn off autobright and auto image contrast and set to 100%, but still dim even at 100%, compared to the Razr, Rezound, Gnex and even the Incredible. I think the answer is the display does not appear to have any whites. If you compare next to a device with whites, you see that the G3 is all shades of gray instead of white.
Your eyes adjust after a few minutes if just looking at the G3, but stands out when comparing to the other devices mentioned. I compared to all of them over the past few days and VZW store folks agree, or wanted to humor me.....
you2, I did turn off autobright and auto image contrast and set to 100%, but still dim even at 100%, compared to the Razr, Rezound, Gnex and even the Incredible. I think the answer is the display does not appear to have any whites. If you compare next to a device with whites, you see that the G3 is all shades of gray instead of white.
Your eyes adjust after a few minutes if just looking at the G3, but stands out when comparing to the other devices mentioned. I compared to all of them over the past few days and VZW store folks agree, or wanted to humor me.....
Thanks. I actually don't care so much about whites as long as it is visible outdoors. I have the razr (as you know); i felt the rezound was not that great. To be honest the one-x has the best display I've seen on a phone in a long time (very bright; low reflection very crisp). Not seen the GS3 yet - will do so this weekend. Very unhappy with the wifi crap verizon added to the GS3. Oh well looking forward to your review on reception