well I know have mine for a while and I can say the antenna is worse compared to my wifes iPhone 4, In my house my signal is constantly changing between 4g (1 bar) 3g (2-3 bars) and 1x (2-3 bars) and MANY times it doesnt display any of those 3, just 3 bars and a network error when trying to browse like the pick below. Meanwhile the other phones in my house (all verizon) hold a solid 2-3 3G bars and can constantly be browsing with no data errors, Im kinda bumbed by it. I have 14 days and will see how bad it is in day to day us but the fact that the phone is dropping to no signal a lot sucks
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Verizon GS3 signal reception thread
- Thread starter rushmore
- Start date
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- Tags
- samsung galaxy s3
universem2
Well-Known Member
snilloconator
Well-Known Member
I just wanted to update my reception experience. If your having issues with a weak signal please try and try again to get a new sim card. My phone has been rock solid after the fourth sim card. I'm not sure why but if you're having issues it's worth the try plus you'll be on the books for having the problem. So the next only option would be a replacement.
universem2
Well-Known Member
KEN7 how is your reception in LI?
universem2
Well-Known Member
Ken7 have you tried changing your sim card? Is your signal just low, or you get no connection at all?
It's all over the place. In some areas it's booming and in others it's very marginal. Some weak areas are along Jericho Tpk in Huntington. But in most of these areas my wife's IPhone has the same issues.
Out in Suffolk County, they're beginning to light up 4G in spots. So I think things will be improving there over the coming months.
After comparing my phone in many places with my wife's IPhone, I've decided not to swap the sim. I think it's working as well as can be expected given the variability of signal on L.I. It's very rare I get no signal at all. Even with 1X I get a usable signal. I know for sure I get far less data issues on the S3 than I did on my GNex.
I still think the Rezound was my all time favorite for 4G. It just seems to me the reception on the Rezound beat any other 4G device I've had, including my Razr Max (which I no longer have). But for all around enjoyment, there's nothing like the S3 IMO.
universem2
Well-Known Member
Ken7 How did your wife's iphone fare in the places where you had a 1x signal ? Did you have dropped calls in either location? Can you access data at all?
rushmore
Extreme Android User
I have noticed that unlike my previous devices, the actual results does not always correlate with signal. It is really standing out since comparing more with other devices. The GS3 has a bad issue of showing strong signal in some areas, but the results are slow. I have located three specific large areas that have the problem.
Strong dBm signal
Slow speed
Device runs a lot warmer to hot
Battery drains quicker (of course)
Ignorance was bliss for the first two weeks I guess, but I did most of my speed testing where I work and fringe areas. I did not expect results to suck in an area that shows strong signal for 3G. The issue does not happen in any 4G areas tested, or all 3G areas, but does happen in the exact same areas.
I created a thread called "Ghost Signal". Makes no sense to me and the first device I have had the issue and it is not random.
Strong dBm signal
Slow speed
Device runs a lot warmer to hot
Battery drains quicker (of course)
Ignorance was bliss for the first two weeks I guess, but I did most of my speed testing where I work and fringe areas. I did not expect results to suck in an area that shows strong signal for 3G. The issue does not happen in any 4G areas tested, or all 3G areas, but does happen in the exact same areas.
I created a thread called "Ghost Signal". Makes no sense to me and the first device I have had the issue and it is not random.
Interestingly, when my phone registered 1X, hers generally showed 3G. But even with 1X I am still able to access data at about the same rate (or faster) than hers on 3G. But both devices were very slow under these conditions.
I also had no dropped calls, but my wife's IPhone had several instances of being unable to make calls where I could.
So the bottom line is that my 1X=IPhone slow 3G. A lot better than I had with my GNex.
BTW, just back from a business trip in Pittsburgh where reception was great (4G almost all the time) and speeds were very fast.
alexander323bc
Android Enthusiast
I just got a new phone and with the new phone they gave me a new sim card. With the new sim card I am seeing the phone hit 1x in places where I had steady 3g before. I am now a believer the sim card is a huge part of the issue.
rushmore
Extreme Android User
Compared to the Razr, the 3G is weaker and 4G is stronger. Also, the GS3 drains battery MUCH quicker in weak 3G areas and on average, 4G battery life is better than 3G. Seems we have a phone with weaker 3G and stronger 4G. Catch is, most of the areas I live are 3G, so I really notice the weaker battery life when not in 4G areas.
The good grace though is calls and texting range are as good as any Moto device I have used. I stick with my view that I would take weaker 4G for stronger 3G, since another two years before 4G is common enough to side with 4G. The GS3 radios may be a little "ahead" of their time (as far as the overall network is concerned).
I can not understate how bad battery life is in weak 3G coverage areas. You can tell when it happens, since the device gets very warm to hot and the battery starts going down quickly. NEVER happens in 4G areas. Only 3G and this includes areas that have 3G and 4G. Switch the 4G off and watch the 3G radio's quest to suck the battery dry (if weak signal). Ironic, considering I would turn 4g off on the Razr to save battery life. Opposite with the GS3. 4G is better (weak or strong), unless a really good signal area for 3G. Only then is 3G battery life better. Added: This assumes you actually USE the 3G for downloading or streaming. I get GREAT battery life if lightly using the device- regardless of signal quality.
Upside down compared to previous 3G/4G devices.
The good grace though is calls and texting range are as good as any Moto device I have used. I stick with my view that I would take weaker 4G for stronger 3G, since another two years before 4G is common enough to side with 4G. The GS3 radios may be a little "ahead" of their time (as far as the overall network is concerned).
I can not understate how bad battery life is in weak 3G coverage areas. You can tell when it happens, since the device gets very warm to hot and the battery starts going down quickly. NEVER happens in 4G areas. Only 3G and this includes areas that have 3G and 4G. Switch the 4G off and watch the 3G radio's quest to suck the battery dry (if weak signal). Ironic, considering I would turn 4g off on the Razr to save battery life. Opposite with the GS3. 4G is better (weak or strong), unless a really good signal area for 3G. Only then is 3G battery life better. Added: This assumes you actually USE the 3G for downloading or streaming. I get GREAT battery life if lightly using the device- regardless of signal quality.
Upside down compared to previous 3G/4G devices.
I disagree, as I've had this happen in 4G areas while still connected to 4G. A reboot fixes the problem every time. I suspect it is a firmware issue, as the Thunderbolt had this exact issue when it came out. It was fixed via firmware update, and I don't doubt it will be fixed on the GS3 as well.
rushmore
Extreme Android User
For me, it has so far never happened with 4G, so a relative-to-user thing 
For 3G, I notice it on a normal basis unless strong and REAL signal area. I have reported "ghost" signal, where the dBm is very strong, but the results are slow and the device gets hot. My guess is this is a chip or firmware issue, but a big issue, none the less.
For 3G, I notice it on a normal basis unless strong and REAL signal area. I have reported "ghost" signal, where the dBm is very strong, but the results are slow and the device gets hot. My guess is this is a chip or firmware issue, but a big issue, none the less.
alexander323bc
Android Enthusiast
The newer phones sold in the last week are running firmware of g1 as opposed to the f2 that we all have. I wonder if this is the first step of fix for it.
heyeaglefn
Android Enthusiast
They sent me a replacement phone for an echo problem and it has G1 and is working great. On the box it said updated
alexander323bc
Android Enthusiast
Do you see any difference in signal strength or the heat? I got a new phone friday but it has f2. If you got to your settings > about device and what is the date? Mine is 6/15.
heyeaglefn
Android Enthusiast
Do you mean Kernel version date? It says July 4.
My phone hasn't really been getting hot and signal strength does seem better although I haven't been actively monitoring.
alexander323bc
Android Enthusiast
Ya I am pretty sure that's the only date inside of there that I can see. Just wondering if the date gives in indication for when they started using the new firmware.
I don't have 4G in my area yet. Just 3G. As I've stated in the past in this thread my SGS3 gets pretty poor reception in my neighborhood. In my house I'll sometimes get weak 3G and sometimes 1x. But my battery life is excellent, always. I'm comparing this to my Droid X, and various other brands and models of smart phones that have been or are in our house. I just got a couple of the "QCell" batteries and the wall charger and I've been testing battery life. I'm getting 36 hours from full charge to about 10% with "Moderate" (For me) usage with no problem. I didn't usually let the stock battery drop that far without recharging it so I don't know for sure how long it would last. But I would say it was fairly close to that at the rate that it was dropping.
When I'm out of my neighborhood for the day the 3G signal is much stronger and I haven't really noticed an increase in battery life. But I'm not gone for 36 hours at a time either.
When I first got my SGS3 and the reception was practically non-existent at my house (Before the unexplained magical increase) the battery life was unbelievably bad. 10% to 20% per hour of moderate use, bad.
Benny
I know this is for Verizon but did AT&T GS3 also receive his update?
alexander323bc
Android Enthusiast
I do not know
I just received my S3 yesterday, and I have been terrible reception issues. I transitioned from a Droid X. The coverage at my house is not great, with the X I typically had 1-2 bars, sometimes 3g, usually not. Never really had issues with data or texting; calls could be spotty.
With my S3, if I'm lucky, I have 1 bar, but usually no service. When I look at "about device", the "baseband version" ends in F2. Is that where I should be looking? Should I anticipate an update that will improve service (I am on Verizon Wireless).
Edit - the signal strength in my house ranges from -120 dBm to -94 dBm
I love everything about this phone - except the reception. However, reception is critical - of course. I'd love to wait for some sort of magical update to fix this issue, but realize I only have a 14-day window (now 13) to work with.