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Verizon GS3 signal reception thread

data issues related to dbm #'s?

  • high dbm, data works fine

    Votes: 53 68.8%
  • high dbm, data does not work

    Votes: 17 22.1%
  • other: explain in comments

    Votes: 7 9.1%

  • Total voters
    77
After two days with the phone I'm getting better 3g reception than my droid x. So far I've traved through 2 fringe areas that I never got reception on my x with and the S3 didn't drop even once. Plus the 3g speeds are twice as fast as the x was. 4g speeds have ranged anywhere from 6 to 30 MBs.

My concern about signal data and call quality are completely aleviated. I haven't had a single dropped call and voice quality is outstanding.

I'm seeing the same type of results when comparing mine and my wife's S3 to our previous phones...the DX.
 
This sounds more likely; i doubt prl data is actually on the sim; typically the sim just contains a code that can be used to identify the user for authentication. If it containted prl data (I know i raised this as a possibility) then you would have to frequently update your sim as the network changes. Then again not too many people have 'old' smart phones :)


As I'm thinking more about this what if the prl was updated when they activated the new sim? When they activated the new sim maybe something got updated on their end. Speed increase may not be directly related to the new sim itself but maybe to the sim switch in Verizon's system.
 
Didn't have a great day coming back from Boston (reception wise). We stopped at a rest stop on the Connecticut Tpk and I noticed I only had 1X. Of course I grabbed my wife's IPhone and she had 3G. DAMN!

Not satisfied, I tried pulling up the same website and hers got it, though not particularly fast, and I got the dreaded "no connectivity" message. This was the first time the differences were that significant.

We sat down at a table closer to a window and she maintained her 3G while I was switching between 1X and 3G. At times my connection speed matched hers, but generally at this location the IPhone was faster with no data drops.

OTOH, while we were driving prior to arriving at the rest stop, my wife was streaming a local radio station on TuneIn Radio. She was dropping the stream fairly regularly and I kidded her that she had a bad phone. We tried the S3 and it didn't drop the stream as long as I was on the App. She thought it was just coincidence in that we may have hit a bad signal area while she was connected. To see if that was the case, we had both phones running the App and hers still dropped the stream while mine maintained it.

So what does all this prove? Again, it seem inescapable, comparing two phones is so location dependent even when it appears they're getting the same signal. It seems at one location phone A may do better than phone B and at another location the results might do a 180. Go figure. Multipath rejection? Possibly.
 
You were in boston and didn't say hi?


Didn't have a great day coming back from Boston (reception wise). We stopped at a rest stop on the Connecticut Tpk and I noticed I only had 1X. Of course I grabbed my wife's IPhone and she had 3G. DAMN!

Not satisfied, I tried pulling up the same website and hers got it, though not particularly fast, and I got the dreaded "no connectivity" message. This was the first time the differences were that significant.

We sat down at a table closer to a window and she maintained her 3G while I was switching between 1X and 3G. At times my connection speed matched hers, but generally at this location the IPhone was faster with no data drops.

OTOH, while we were driving prior to arriving at the rest stop, my wife was streaming a local radio station on TuneIn Radio. She was dropping the stream fairly regularly and I kidded her that she had a bad phone. We tried the S3 and it didn't drop the stream as long as I was on the App. She thought it was just coincidence in that we may have hit a bad signal area while she was connected. To see if that was the case, we had both phones running the App and hers still dropped the stream while mine maintained it.

So what does all this prove? Again, it seem inescapable, comparing two phones is so location dependent even when it appears they're getting the same signal. It seems at one location phone A may do better than phone B and at another location the results might do a 180. Go figure. Multipath rejection? Possibly.
 
I have been comparing the Maxx and S3 for almost 5 days now, primarily in 4G areas, and I have yet to see a notable difference. I will be traveling in some 3G areas tomorrow, and maybe that will make a difference.

I even tried the phones in the basement of a 10 story office building. Both lost total signal in the same spot; the S3 recovered voice as fast as the Maxx. Both phones were able to pull a 4G signal in certain areas, and the speed tests were similar.

I am leaning towards keeping the S3, but these posts of dropped calls, and bad data speeds, are making me cautious.


Same here, since see no practical difference in signal comparing the GS3 with Droid 3 and Razr.
 
Same here, since see no practical difference in signal comparing the GS3 with Droid 3 and Razr.

I actually have 4G in places I never even had 3G with the Razr Maxx. Couldn't believe my eyes when I same the 4G symbol on the notification bar. Granted it was like -107dbm but hey it was still moving data!!
 
I went out of town yesterday to a 3G area and when I drove back home today kept watching to see when 4G would kick in, but it never did. I had to reboot the phone to get the 4G to come back. This is supposed to happen automatically, right?
 
Soo.... I think I either have the only Gnex with good radios, a poor GS3, or sim card issues.

My Gnex is consistently showing better dBm than my GS3 at home. My GS3 at work today was struggling to hold 3g in places that I previously had no issues with my Gnex:(

I am using the sim card from my Gnex in the GS3. When I swap sim cards (use my fiancees that came with GS3 and was originally activated in GS3) I get faster ping's and faster speedtest results. Guess I'll make a stop at VZW tomorrow.
 
Soo.... I think I either have the only Gnex with good radios, a poor GS3, or sim card issues.

My Gnex is consistently showing better dBm than my GS3 at home. My GS3 at work today was struggling to hold 3g in places that I previously had no issues with my Gnex:(

I am using the sim card from my Gnex in the GS3. When I swap sim cards (use my fiancees that came with GS3 and was originally activated in GS3) I get faster ping's and faster speedtest results. Guess I'll make a stop at VZW tomorrow.

If it was just today don't get to concerned b/c folks were reporting issues w/ 4G today throughout the country.
http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...-sudden-loss-4g-service-entirely-verizon.html
 
If it was just today don't get to concerned b/c folks were reporting issues w/ 4G today throughout the country.

Just now.... still doesn't explain why Gnex is performing better and I always only get 3g at work. Other than the one way audio issue my Gnex performs better.
 
After following this thread and worrying about having signal issues like I had with the 2 GN I tried, I stopped by Verizon to buy a Razr Maxx before a 5000 mile Road Trip to NY and back .While there the Verizon Gal who is a friend set a G3 in front of Me ...... After drooling I decided to take it and try it for a few days before We leave. Our Steel Shop is a Signal dead zone,I've had many more Phone fail the Signal test than pass it there . Surprisingly the G3 was flawless,better than My iPhone4 ,maybe better than my current 4s which would put it in Razr/Razr Maxx territory . BTW,my 2 GN's I tried would not even hold a call in our shop.
I've had a iphone4/4s since the hit Verizon with a few stints with Razr/Razr Maxx, Rezound,& 2 Galaxy Nexus' The Maxx was my Favorite because of reception and Battery but the screen was average and camera sucked.The nexus was sweet but reception was awful . I love My iPhones ,We have 9 lines......2 feature phones, 6 iPhones and now a G3.I'm in love with the G3 ,at least til the iphone5 ,maybe longer! Try the G3 for sure before you get scared off by signal issues like I almost did!
 
It seems weird some are having issues with the GS3, but even the Razr had some report dings too. Like some other positive reception reports, the GS3 picks up strong 4G signal in our stairwell at work that goes to the basesment. GS3 works better there than the Razr did. Same for other weak areas where the Razr would lose signal. The GS3 might bounce from 4G to 3G, but has a signal. The Razr would be 3G and then 1X.

Not saying the GS3 is really better, since still too early. Must stay aware of the new device pixie dust.

Seems to be settling on the Razr is a little better than the GS3 for 3G performance and the GS3 is better for 4G performance. Net is a wash for me, since call coverage appear the same.

As far as the other features besides phone radios, the GS3 is far better than the Razr. No comparison, IMO.

For me, the GS3 is the first device I can really say is an all-in-one system.
 
Well so far a day after getting a replacement sim my data connection has been greatly improved. I haven't got any drops in my data even with the phone reading 1 bar of signal in locations where before I couldn't get a data connection. Whether it be the actual sim or the act of having a new sim activated it has seemed to help in my situation.

Very happy with the performance of this phone now so up on eBay goes my Razr Maxx!
 
I went from the Droid X to the S3 and my reception is a hundred times worse. My nearest tower is just across my neighborhood. I should have constant 3g reception. But i connect to it on my S3 every once in awhile (2 or 3 bars max) and it disconects and goes back to 1x. I have in 2 days only been able to load 2 web pages over 3g. i have to use wifi in order to do anything data wise. and mms takes forever with my reception.
 
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Also i just noticed. when i hold the phone from the top upside down i get and stay on 3g with 2 bars. -84 to -89dbm. when i flip it and hold it from the bottom where the antenna is i lose my data connection and drop to 1x around -100dbm
 
So far I am still very happy with my S3 but I have had a couple instances where I have been muted according to the other party I have been talking with. I hung up and and redialed and that seemed to fix the issue...I am going to have to see if that was a fluke or if there's something to it.
 
The first two or 3 days I had my S3 I was getting 4G everywhere. Then I did a *228 to "Update my roaming capabilities" and my reception went to crap. Now I am getting 1x in places I used to get 4G.
 
The first two or 3 days I had my S3 I was getting 4G everywhere. Then I did a *228 to "Update my roaming capabilities" and my reception went to crap. Now I am getting 1x in places I used to get 4G.

You shouldn't dial *228 from a Verizon 4G phone with a SIM card. You'll have to go and have your SIM replaced to get your 4G back.
 
I went from the Droid X to the S3 and my reception is a hundred times worse. My nearest tower is just across my neighborhood. I should have constant 3g reception. But i connect to it on my S3 every once in awhile (2 or 3 bars max) and it disconects and goes back to 1x. I have in 2 days only been able to load 2 web pages over 3g. i have to use wifi in order to do anything data wise. and mms takes forever with my reception.

Same here. I call support and I am getting a replacement. Seems to be a known issue based on the techs comments....and it's killing my battery!

http://androidforums.com/showpost.php?p=4690365
 
I went from the Droid X to the S3 and my reception is a hundred times worse. My nearest tower is just across my neighborhood. I should have constant 3g reception. But i connect to it on my S3 every once in awhile (2 or 3 bars max) and it disconects and goes back to 1x. I have in 2 days only been able to load 2 web pages over 3g. i have to use wifi in order to do anything data wise. and mms takes forever with my reception.

Same with me initially. Right near a tower but wasn't getting 3g at all. Had to go to settings and switch on data roaming and unchecked and recheck Use Packet Data. 3g instantly showed up strong and has been working ever since. Several days later I was able to switch it back to Deny Data Roaming access and continued to get 3g. Clearly my new S3 wasn't authorized to use towers it should have been. However, don't do a *228. If you do, you'll brick your sim and you won't get 3g at all.
 
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