(Verizon) Why the Verizon Nexus signal "sucks"

[Nashdroid]

Absolutely, love this kind of discussion! :thumb:

So in your case, the t-bolt and nexus both struggle but the razr doesn't? What kind of speeds do you get with the razr where the nexus gets no signal, out of curiosity? Does going outside help you at all? Or going upstairs? I noticed in my house for example if I'm in the downstairs kitchen/tv area, the signal is much weaker than if I'm upstairs in my son's or daughter's rooms, possibly because the tower is in that direction and it's less walls to go through, not sure.

Yes, the T-bolt and the Nexus both really could virtually never connect to 3g or 1x. The signal would show on the bars, but no 1x or 3G next to the bars. Just gray bars. Both on my mother's T-bolt and my GNex. The Razr Maxx, however, connects to full 3G and can place calls. This happened with both of my GNex's.

I live behind a row of very tall trees out in the middle of nowhere. So, the signal isn't very good at all outside or in my home. It may be that the signal is chopped up, if you will, by all of the obstructions. So, that may make it hard for the other phones to connect to signal where I am. It's not that the radio on the GNex is bad or unuseable, it's just that it won't connect at my house in a weak signal area but the Razr Maxx will and my Incredible would. So, that tells me that if I were to be out on an oilfield job in South Texas and there was just a trickle of 1x out there, the GNex wouldn't even be able to make a call, but the Razr would be.

It really all is determined by where we live and where we use our phones. I live out in the middle of nowhere where the signal is weak, the areas that I work in have minimal or actually no signal at all. No coverage on a map, anyways. However, even in areas on a map that show no coverage, I can connect to at least enough 1x to make a phone call on both my Incredible and my Razr Maxx. To someone who doesn't work or live in these weak coverage areas, the GNex would be the perfect phone. It just doesn't work where other phones work, in my experience, and I need my phone to have the best radio available so that I can pull in even the weakest of signals so that I can at least make a phone call, even if data is only 1x. I've used 1x data, in the past, to surf the web while out on a job flowing oil wells. It's extremely slow and takes forever and really tries your patience, but it's better than no signal at all. Everyone has different needs, that's why there are different devices to choose from.

Edit: Forgot to answer your speeds question. I actually haven't done a speed test with the Razr Maxx I have yet. It always has signal, so I haven't really cared about the actual speeds. I need to do a test though, just so I know. Haven't done one yet though.

 

[Demache]

I've used 1x data, in the past, to surf the web while out on a job flowing oil wells. It's extremely slow and takes forever and really tries your patience, but it's better than no signal at all.

On an unrelated side note, I really wish that when you were on 1X data, your phone would play this back.

 

[kool kat2]

I am in a weak extended 4G area and was able to stream HD youtube videos last night. I am always on wifi, but decided to try it when I read your post. I wasn't hopeful, but I was able to stream HD youtube just fine, as well as netflix. I ran a speed test and get 4.5 Mbps down / 1 Mbps up. Not too shabby for a definite fringe 4G area. Wish others in fringe areas had that kind of performance

Well, here's the thing, it acts like an AT&T phone to me. When I'm outside, near a window, etc. i get good signal. I mean sitting in my living room or the break room at work well not work for data intensive tasks so pretty much most places where i would use my phone. I can stream music when I'm driving just fine but I'm lucky to get a Web page to load on the couch. Also, I'm wondering if people who came from a3g phone are having better experiences than those who came from other 4g phones because it really is a better experience than a3g only phone in general. Those of us who have experienced a RAZR for example have higher expectations.

 

[Demache]

Well, here's the thing, it acts like an AT&T phone to me. When I'm outside, near a window, etc. i get good signal. I mean sitting in my living room or the break room at work well not work for data intensive tasks so pretty much most places where i would use my phone. I can stream music when I'm driving just fine but I'm lucky to get a Web page to load on the couch. Also, I'm wondering if people who came from a3g phone are having better experiences than those who came from other 4g phones because it really is a better experience than a3g only phone in general. Those of us who have experienced a RAZR for example have higher expectations.

To be honest, crap 4G reception is still leagues better than extremely good 3G signal, except in battery usage. At least on 4G I'm guaranteed to get at least 2 Mb/s, compared to 3G I'm lucky to get...0.5 Mb/s and that's considered fast. But fortunately, South Dakota has amazing 4G coverage (for a mostly rural state).

In a cornfield? No problem, 10-20 Mb/s should be good enough.

 

[LoyalServant]

I understand all what he is getting at in the article.

I can still shoot that down.... real example:

Galaxy nexus LTE RSRP: -111
HTC Rezound in the same spot (ICS leak): RSRP: -93

Yes, the GNex radio sucks.

Speedtest to the same server....
Rezound: 13 down 3 up
GNex: 4 down .8 up

I liked the article anyhow... but I still am coming up with VERY different results.
My busted GNex goes back to Verizon next week but it's been in-line with the other 5 of them I have had.
The Rezound performs -much- better.

Also, I would like to note that the issues that I had with the Verizon GNex all vanished on my GSM variant.
Call quality is night and day better and the device just seems improved overall.
I have been told already that this device sounds a whole lot better than all of the previous ones and even better than the Rezound.

I am glad I can finally enjoy the device without dropped/muted/distorted calls.

 

[jbdan]

I understand all what he is getting at in the article.

Spoiler

I can still shoot that down.... real example:

Galaxy nexus LTE RSRP: -111
HTC Rezound in the same spot (ICS leak): RSRP: -93

Yes, the GNex radio sucks.

Speedtest to the same server....
Rezound: 13 down 3 up
GNex: 4 down .8 up

I liked the article anyhow... but I still am coming up with VERY different results.
My busted GNex goes back to Verizon next week but it's been in-line with the other 5 of them I have had.
The Rezound performs -much- better.

Also, I would like to note that the issues that I had with the Verizon GNex all vanished on my GSM variant.
Call quality is night and day better and the device just seems improved overall.
I have been told already that this device sounds a whole lot better than all of the previous ones and even better than the Rezound.

I am glad I can finally enjoy the device without dropped/muted/distorted calls.

It only sucks for some. Glad you found something that you like and can move forward.

 

[DPiddy]

I work in a building with poor verizon coverage. Two coworkers recently got moto phones bionic and Razr Min. Both are able to stream video from locations my phone won't. However I used to have a DX. My Gnex works in my house while the DX didn't.

 

[Sandroidfan]

I understand all what he is getting at in the article.

I can still shoot that down.... real example:

Galaxy nexus LTE RSRP: -111
HTC Rezound in the same spot (ICS leak): RSRP: -93

Yes, the GNex radio sucks.

Speedtest to the same server....
Rezound: 13 down 3 up
GNex: 4 down .8 up

Well, the speed test result varies with location and time and possibly from device to device. Others can have different results. I think anything can happen to any phone depending on location and time.

For example, yesterday I had chance to go into a big local VZW store in shopping mall and tested Gnex against Razr, Rezound, Spectrum. Razr and Rezound were better than Gnex in dbm level by about 20~30dbm though we now know that's apple to orange. But Gnex constantly won speed test to Razr , Rezound in download like 7~8mbps vs 2~3mbps. And the rezound I tested went down to 1X, got stuck there for a while and bounced between 3G, 4G, 1X. I made sure it's on performance mode with LTE and had to toggle airplane couple of times to get it back to 4G auto mode. I heard about it on Rezound forum, but it was first time I saw it myself. At least Gnex doesn't do that.

Of course, I can't say that Gnex beats Razr, Rezound in 4G speed in general just based on that particular testing. But the point is it varies a lot with location, time.

 

[LoyalServant]

Well, we are actually trying to get to the bottom of it.
It's either bad radios, bad devices, bad environment... or a mix of all of the above.

I just put up some images to compare devices in the same location.
This is what *I* see, it may be interesting if we had more people that could compare devices.

This is why your Verizon Nexus signal "sucks" - Galaxy Nexus - RootzWiki - Page 6

 

[Demache]

I understand all what he is getting at in the article.

I can still shoot that down.... real example:

Galaxy nexus LTE RSRP: -111
HTC Rezound in the same spot (ICS leak): RSRP: -93

Yes, the GNex radio sucks.

Speedtest to the same server....
Rezound: 13 down 3 up
GNex: 4 down .8 up

I liked the article anyhow... but I still am coming up with VERY different results.
My busted GNex goes back to Verizon next week but it's been in-line with the other 5 of them I have had.
The Rezound performs -much- better.

Also, I would like to note that the issues that I had with the Verizon GNex all vanished on my GSM variant.
Call quality is night and day better and the device just seems improved overall.
I have been told already that this device sounds a whole lot better than all of the previous ones and even better than the Rezound.

I am glad I can finally enjoy the device without dropped/muted/distorted calls.

I think the better voice quality is just because its a GSM phone. In my opinion, GSM phones have a much more natural sounding voice codec (in the case of my Nokia E63, you could tell if you were calling a Verizon phone, or a landline). And on top of that, it uses 3G for voice (allowing for better voice quality) whereas the Verizon Nexus is still using 2G.

 

[jkc120]

I posted this over in the rootz thread, but figured I would share here as well.

As many know, my main issue with the Nexus' radio is that it really suffers when you enter buildings. Here's signal and speed test proof of the effect.

Here's the signal and speed test from 10 feet outside the main lobby of my building:

http://dl.dropbox.co...29-13-06-28.png
http://dl.dropbox.co...29-13-07-09.png

And here's the signal and speed test from 10 feet inside the main lobby:

http://dl.dropbox.co...29-13-07-30.png
http://dl.dropbox.co...29-13-08-13.png

 

[GalaxyNexus]

This phones radios are horendous . I had a friend at lunch on VZW with a Razr that had four bars of 4g while my phone was stuck on the border between 3g and 4g. My phone took ten minutes to choose between the two. It eventually went to EDGE. Its so annoying when you get stuck between 3g and 4g.

 

[Demache]

This phones radios are horendous . I had a friend at lunch on VZW with a Razr that had four bars of 4g while my phone was stuck on the border between 3g and 4g. My phone took ten minutes to choose between the two. It eventually went to EDGE. Its so annoying when you get stuck between 3g and 4g.

You mean EVDO. The VZW Nexus doesn't use EDGE, since that's a GSM technology.

But I won't disagree with the building thing. Fortunately, the time I notice it most is at home in the basement where I have wifi. Even then, I'm still getting 2 bars of 3G. Actually think the metal bunk bed in my room causes loads of wireless attenuation issues in my room in general. It even screws with regular wifi on my laptop. Especially because if I get on top of my bed, I get 2+ bars of 4G.

 

[Sandroidfan]

This phones radios are horendous . I had a friend at lunch on VZW with a Razr that had four bars of 4g while my phone was stuck on the border between 3g and 4g. My phone took ten minutes to choose between the two. It eventually went to EDGE. Its so annoying when you get stuck between 3g and 4g.

That's 3G/4G hand-off issue the update coming this week is supposed to solve. So let's see how it goes. I think most of data drop issues are caused by this.

 

[jroc]

One thing I see that I really like from that thread over there....is the OP is putting together an app that can be used on any Android phone. I would really like that. Not for just the G Nex....but ANY Android I have or plan on getting. I plan on testing this with my RAZR and Rezound soon.

I know for me...I know its not scientific...I test phone and data reception in my apt, at my job on my floor, (3rd fl with a big skylight opening in the hallway. That floor is the top floor on that side of the building), around my building outside. If it can handle phone and data there....I know it will do fine in better areas. My apt is an extreme situation. I barely get 4G near my windows. Probably 2Mbps down max. My floor at work is a lil better.

My PS Vita gets 1Mbps down in the middle of my living room, AT&T data. Thats better than ANY Android phone I had on Verizon. But thats a topic for another thread...lol.

I was able to let someone use my RAZR as a hotspot while it was sitting on top of metal lock boxes in the hallway. They had a Kindle in their office on the other side of the wall where my RAZR was.

One time...I put it on a plastic trashcan on the other side of a lil hallway by the office.

All I know is....if other phones cant duplicate how I used other phones in the exact same scenarios...somethings up with that phone. Whether its quality control, hardware or software. 2 Rezounds....2 sim cards....both got stuck in 1x at my job. 2nd one got stuck with no data. First one was bootlooping before it got stolen. First one got stuck in 1x outside far from my job. Rezound dropped calls at a spot outside on the way home where my RAZR or Droid X1 never did...

This is with me carrying both the Rezound and another phone at the same time...testing purposes.

Thats enough to tell me somethings up. Real world use. And.....I wish I could get my G Nex back now... The Rezound turned out to be a let down.