Low signal issue and weak volume--WTF?

**ztmike** · 01-21-2012, 02:04 PM

Has anybody else experienced the weak signal issue using Verizon? Its downright inexcuseable for such a highend phone to have such a major problem--isn't that what having a cellphone is for anyway, to use the mobile network?

The first night I had it I was only getting 2 bars of service while my friend on Verizon had a iPhone 4S and was getting FULL bars of service, it was embarrassing to say the least.

Also the very low volume output is ridiculous I honestly could barely hear the text alert with the volume up all the way..thankfully I found a app on the Android store called "Volume+" that has seemed to helped out a lot in that regard.

THEN I was taking a picture and the camera stopped working--said "Could not connect to camera" My Galaxy Nexus is completely stock, not rooted/no roms on it just stock.

So far I'm starting to wonder if I should wait or return the phone before my 14-day return window expires as I just signed a 2-year contract with Verizon to get this damn phone.

The HTC Rezound seems to be better spec than the Nexus, doesn't have ICS but I'm sure there's a Rom for it.

Help?

**davidsnoodles** · 01-21-2012, 02:09 PM

You're not the only one. I have really slow data speeds at my house, about 200-300kbps. On my old Thunderbolt I used to get 4G at my house and speeds from about 1.5-2mbps, this is because we're just on the borderline of where 4G service is. My parent's iP4Ses get better data rates than my GNex, and better service. I compared the two using Coverage Map from Root Wireless, and they get signals in the -75 dBm range while my GNex is in the -90 dBm range. I hate the slow data speeds on my GNex, but after having a phone that doesn't have Sense (like the Rezound) I really like it. I'm not sure how HTC plans on putting Sense onto ICS, but I like stock ICS.

Oh by the way I'm still running the stock radio that was on my phone, but I had bad signal/data speeds when I was not rooted and now that I am rooted.

**Blitzdroid** · 01-21-2012, 04:35 PM

2 bar on nexus = 4 bar on iphone.

Verizon will probably update with a patch to show the verizon's data.

Try both of you loading a website. Lets see who wins.

**LBTRS** · 01-21-2012, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Blitzdroid

2 bar on nexus = 4 bar on iphone.

Verizon will probably update with a patch to show the verizon's data.

Try both of you loading a website. Lets see who wins.

My son will have a strong 4G signal on his Thunderbolt when I have no signal (4G or 3G) on my Nexus so there is something to the signal issue. I've replaced the phone and have the same results. I used to get a constant 4G signal at my house with my Bionic and my Nexus can only manage a 3G signal and drops that on occasion.

Signal and Volume are my two main issues with this phone which I hope will/can be fixed with an update soon.

**TabGuy** · 01-21-2012, 04:48 PM

The sound issue has been solved. The solution is in this forum.

**LBTRS** · 01-21-2012, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by TabGuy

The sound issue has been solved. The solution is in this forum.

Installing a third part app as a work around isn't a "solved" problem with the OS.

**blunt420** · 01-21-2012, 05:06 PM

there is def a radio issues my dx had data everwhere and my gn is very very spotty still like the phone but sucks when im driving and wanna surf the web

**TBolt** · 01-21-2012, 05:19 PM

I'm sorry that Samsung screwed the Nexus up, and I really hope you guys get a patch soon. 4G on my Rezound is faster than my home cable and very stable. I picked this phone over the GNex because it seemed to be the overall better package as a whole.

Sure, HTC may butcher the hell out of ICS, but there's always the option to root.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

**davidnc** · 01-21-2012, 06:27 PM

i dont have any signal issues ,at work is my weakest signal which had been the case in all my phones Ex: incredible,dx (well the dx did drop a few til i rooted it )and nexus but never a dropped call or data loss.
I dont have any volume issues i have good hearing.ha
Some of the ringtones/notification sounds are louder then others again thats been the same with all my android phones past and present.

sent from my Htc Incredible

**ztmike** · 01-21-2012, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by davidnc

i dont have any signal issues ,at work is my weakest signal which had been the case in all my phones Ex: incredible,dx (well the dx did drop a few til i rooted it )and nexus but never a dropped call or data loss.
I dont have any volume issues i have good hearing.ha
Some of the ringtones/notification sounds are louder then others again thats been the same with all my android phones past and present.

sent from my Htc Incredible

No signal issues and no volume issues..lol whatever you say. There is countless and countless reports of signal issues on the GN.

And as far as no volume issues..your downright crazy if you think the volume is loud enough. Last time I checked I could hear just fine to.

Says the guy posting from a different phone..lol

**ztmike** · 01-21-2012, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by TabGuy

The sound issue has been solved. The solution is in this forum.

Link? if not then I call bull, and using a third party app is NOT a solution.

**TBolt** · 01-21-2012, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by ztmike

Says the guy posting from a different phone..lol

I thought that was odd, too. lol.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

**youngzayiles** · 01-21-2012, 07:55 PM

Mine is fine. Only issue I had was volume. Installed volume+ and now its great for me. Maybe I'm just lucky. My only question is if you knew there were countless threads about signal issues why did u start another thread.

From the best android phone PERIOD. Galaxy Nexus.

**davidnc** · 01-21-2012, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by ztmike

No signal issues and no volume issues..lol whatever you say. There is countless and countless reports of signal issues on the GN.

And as far as no volume issues..your downright crazy if you think the volume is loud enough. Last time I checked I could hear just fine to.

Says the guy posting from a different phone..lol

look again in my profile i have the nexus and i stated how my nexus is i can hear my ring tones and notifications sounds just fine if you cant thats not my fault lol .Also i have no signal issues that are affecting my phone not to function as it is suppose to.

No need for personal attacks just cuz your opinion is different actually thats against the rules of this forum

sent from my Htc Incredible

**davidnc** · 01-21-2012, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by TBolt

I thought that was odd, too. lol.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

Do you have a nexus ? From your own comments you have a rezound ,lol

**moosc** · 01-21-2012, 08:35 PM

Holy crap another thread. Geez doesn't any read any more. I mean this has been hashed out since phone released. I mean if u read the forums then y buy the phone if u seen there was a problem

**Snake_915** · 01-21-2012, 08:50 PM

My girlfriend and I both have a Galaxy Nexus and we both lose signal every now and then. My Droid X and even her old Vibrant on T Mobile had better signal.

**ztmike** · 01-21-2012, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by moosc

Holy crap another thread. Geez doesn't any read any more. I mean this has been hashed out since phone released. I mean if u read the forums then y buy the phone if u seen there was a problem

I haven't been on this forum in ages, which you can tell by my post count/join date.

And since when does someone have to look at forums before buying a product? I didn't think I would have this major of problems buying Verizon's flagship phone let alone buying a Nexus phone which is suppose to be the best Android experience.

Edit: And I did look at the last 3 pages and saw NOTHING mentioning signal issues, the volume issue is not that important because I was able to "fix" it by a third party app, although it still seems to not make every sound come out the same in loudness.

And from doing some searching on Google, it seems the 4.0.3 update that got leaked there's an update in it for radio issues which have helped, but since its a unfinished build its still buggy when people flash it. I'm hoping when the 4.0.3 update goes mainstream that my signal issues go away, because as of now its downright horrible for Verizon's famous coverage everywhere. I had better service with AT&T on my iPhone 4S. Not to mention like I said in my OP that my buddy on Verizon using the 4S was getting full bars while I was getting 2. 2 freaking bars in the same spot as my friend, that is uncalled for, and quite frankly I'm a bit pissed. I'm stuck with the phone now, bought a 2 year warranty for it today.

**TabGuy** · 01-21-2012, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Installing a third part app as a work around isn't a "solved" problem with the OS.

That would be YOUR opinion. In my opinion the problem is solved. Time to move on.

As an aside, I don't believe it is an OS problem. I believe it was either Samsung or Verizon that chose the conservative path.

**Laramie** · 01-21-2012, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by TabGuy

That would be YOUR opinion. In my opinion the problem is solved. Time to move on.

As an aside, I don't believe it is an OS problem. I believe it was either Samsung or Verizon that chose the conservative path.

IN MY OPINION...it's a hardware problem. I have a few other smartphones laying around and when I had my Nexus, I put the same mp3 on all phones and the Nexus was clearly the quietest and also the poorest sounding. I installed Volume+ and it increased volume AND distortion. That's not a problem solver. It's a band-aid...a 3 day old second hand one at that.

**experiment 626** · 01-21-2012, 10:25 PM

Sounds like you have a defective Nexus. I would try a replacement first.

**TabGuy** · 01-21-2012, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Laramie8x8

IN MY OPINION...it's a hardware problem. I have a few other smartphones laying around and when I had my Nexus, I put the same mp3 on all phones and the Nexus was clearly the quietest and also the poorest sounding. I installed Volume+ and it increased volume AND distortion. That's not a problem solver. It's a band-aid...a 3 day old second hand one at that.

It does sound like a defective unit. I get very loud sound without distortion. Just to be clear you need the full version of Volume+ not the free one.

I'd exchange the unit.

**Laramie** · 01-21-2012, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by TabGuy

It does sound like a defective unit. I get very loud sound without distortion. Just to be clear you need the full version of Volume+ not the free one.

I'd exchange the unit.

I guess I could have held out a little longer, but when I went to the Verizon store, I did a test with the display Nexus and it showed the same signal (db) and the speaker also sounded about as low as my unit. So in my mind, I chalked it up to hardware across the board.

I really do miss ICS, But "number of bars" and "db" rating aside, in real world use with the Nexus, I experienced what I felt were signal issues related to callers sounding choppy and dropped calls. I had never experienced it with a Verizon phone before.

I'm not trying to bash the Nexus. I feel that ICS is an amazing step from gingerbread, but for me, the battery, speaker, signal and a couple other issues ultimately made me decide to switch.

If I did have a defective unit and you guys are getting quality loud sound from the speaker on the Nexus, that's awesome. It really boils down to what you're happy with.

I was simply commenting on my experience with the Nexus. I might have tried another unit if I was having issues that nobody else was having, but in the first few days after the launch, there had to be at least 100 or more replies in different threads with people commenting on the signal and speaker issue. I just decided to try a different phone.

**Terrigno** · 01-21-2012, 11:09 PM

Verizon already said other pushing out a patch to let the signal strength resemble the other phones on Verizon. Sources have said that the Galaxy Nexus is "on point" with signal when the measured it with the network. Even said its more accurate then other Verizon Phones. No issues here.

Volume is an issue. I think there pushing an update for that to eventually.

That speed don't look bad with 1 bar right? That's the 4G LTE network. Not your friends eyephone.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

**Terrigno** · 01-21-2012, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Laramie8x8

IN MY OPINION...it's a hardware problem. I have a few other smartphones laying around and when I had my Nexus, I put the same mp3 on all phones and the Nexus was clearly the quietest and also the poorest sounding. I installed Volume+ and it increased volume AND distortion. That's not a problem solver. It's a band-aid...a 3 day old second hand one at that.

Not hardware. If Volume+ boosts the volume, then its purely a software issue . I have it installed. And I have no distortion. Don't bump it up so high.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk