People receiving your phone--how is the signal strength?

**tekhna** · 07-05-2012, 10:12 AM

I want to try to get to the bottom of this, given Samsung's crappy track-record with CDMA/LTE radios.
If you go to System Settings-->About Phone-->Network it should tell you your signal strength in dBm. Mine for example on my Rezound at the moment is -82 dBm.

If you're coming from another LTE phone, how does it compare?

**rion_j** · 07-05-2012, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by tekhna

I want to try to get to the bottom of this, given Samsung's crappy track-record with CDMA/LTE radios.
If you go to System Settings-->About Phone-->Network it should tell you your signal strength in dBm. Mine for example on my Rezound at the moment is -82 dBm.

If you're coming from another LTE phone, how does it compare?

is 82 good? what number is considered a good signal? just curious, it's been awhile.

**tekhna** · 07-05-2012, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by rion_j

is 82 good? what number is considered a good signal? just curious, it's been awhile.

In the -80s is totally fine. Some people sit in the -70s, which is pretty good. The problem with the Nexus is people were in the -100s and -110s.

**rion_j** · 07-05-2012, 10:21 AM

wow, 100's? dam, that is bad. i've been eyeing that device as well but keep hearing about bad signal. thanks for the heads up.

**rushmore** · 07-05-2012, 10:21 AM

Razr and Rezound both have great reception, but the devices need to be compared in the same place by the same person.

Example: Rezound -82 dBm is fine if the G3 also gets the same signal reception and compared at the same place. Then there is the issue of the OS, since ICS and GB interpret 4G differently.

Best case would be both devices using ICS and in the same place. Anything else would have no real value.

Added:

Another practical point is places you notice one device works and another does not (pretty absolute then).

**TallyHo** · 07-05-2012, 10:22 AM

Got this from Phandroid and a mod named ofTheDamned had posted it

Technically -1 is a higher number than -100, so a "lower" negative number will always be better.

-105 to -100 = Really bad
-99 to -90 = Not great
-89 to -80 = Pretty good
-79 to -65 = Good
Over -65 = Excellent

It's useless to just see a number as you need to compare it another phone in the same spot.

**tekhna** · 07-05-2012, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by rushmore

Razr and Rezound both have great reception, but the devices need to be compared in the same place by the same person.

Example: Rezound -82 dBm is fine if the G3 also gets the same signal reception. Then there is the issue of the OS, since ICS and GB interpret differently.

Best case would be both devices using ICS and in the same place. Anything else would have no real value.

Yeah, that's what I'm asking for. If I had my GS3 I'd plunk it next to my Rezound (running ICS) and compare. Apples to apples.

**jtbndy** · 07-05-2012, 10:25 AM

I'm really interested in this thread in comparison to the Nexus. If the radio/signal is much better on the SGIII I might be jumping ship as I'm still having data dropping/weak signal issues.

**rushmore** · 07-05-2012, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by tekhna

Yeah, that's what I'm asking for. If I had my GS3 I'd plunk it next to my Rezound (running ICS) and compare. Apples to apples.

And is why this is a sweet thread

Assuming the results are what we want to see, it could be sour......

.....

**TallyHo** · 07-05-2012, 10:32 AM

Well, in another thread someone said their new GS3 is -89 dbm, so we know it is at least capable of that. Seems like a fairly normal signal strength. Of course, he could be sitting under a tower and then it would be bad lol.

**scorpiodsu** · 07-05-2012, 10:34 AM

Users will need to take note of their current device before activating the gs3 in they don't have another Verizon phone where they are. Just saying the signal strength independently is really no benefit. Need to know how it compares to another phone in the same spot. I hope users know this instead of just giving out a number with actual comparison.

For instance my wife's iPhone is at 89 and my nexus is at 92 in the same spot.

**rushmore** · 07-05-2012, 10:37 AM

The battery life for my Razr thin sucks (worse after ICS update), so I will be leaving the Razr regardless. Still, the reception is great and I have listed certain key areas I dwell and the current dBm. Case in point, my 4G signal in a big building my office is at = -105. Anything higher would not be a good thing. 3G is also good with the Razr and works in places the Incredible did not.

**soccerdude2014** · 07-05-2012, 10:37 AM

Wow, no votes yet!?

**scorpiodsu** · 07-05-2012, 10:41 AM

I would love a comparison to the nexus the best lol.

**rushmore** · 07-05-2012, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by soccerdude2014

Wow, no votes yet!?

That is probably a good thing, since this soon could be trolls

**tekhna** · 07-05-2012, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by rushmore

That is probably a good thing, since this soon could be trolls

Heh, yeah, I'm guessing it'll take a few days to shake out. I just wanted to get out ahead of it, because it's been such a serious problem in the past.

**TallyHo** · 07-05-2012, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by TallyHo

Well, in another thread someone said their new GS3 is -89 dbm, so we know it is at least capable of that. Seems like a fairly normal signal strength. Of course, he could be sitting under a tower and then it would be bad lol.

He came out of the basement (literally) and updated....-78 dbm......nice!

**biff6789** · 07-05-2012, 11:11 AM

I've got a tower right outside my office window and my Thunderbolt is currently at -38 dBm

When I get my S3 I'll do an "apples to apples" comparison with my Bolt which will show how good/bad the S3 radio is since my proximity to a tower is a non factor

**TemporalBeef** · 07-05-2012, 11:15 AM

Right this minute, i have -117 on my GNex at work where the signal always sucks. At home I'm in the 80's and that's even with a vzw tower three streets over.

**scuba561** · 07-05-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by TemporalBeef

Right this minute, i have -117 on my GNex at work where the signal always sucks. At home I'm in the 80's and that's even with a vzw tower three streets over.

Can you make calls (without them dropping) at -117 db? Just wondering. My phone is -94 db at home (far from tower) and, while I never drop calls, I get the missed words every now and then.

**rushmore** · 07-05-2012, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by tekhna

Heh, yeah, I'm guessing it'll take a few days to shake out. I just wanted to get out ahead of it, because it's been such a serious problem in the past.

Nah, I was kind of joking, since simple to get a quick impression of the reception

More concerned with people not having the device, but posting fake results. I am bad for being cynical.

Good news is a lot of folks getting the G3 have the low bar (Gnex) and the high bars (Razr and Rezound), so we should be able to get an idea of where the G3 fits with those bars.

**VetteDude** · 07-05-2012, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by TallyHo

Well, in another thread someone said their new GS3 is -89 dbm, so we know it is at least capable of that. Seems like a fairly normal signal strength. Of course, he could be sitting under a tower and then it would be bad lol.

Sitting under a tower would get you bad signal. Tower's don't point their panels downward, that would be a waste of energy and would lower the far away coverage.

**TallyHo** · 07-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by VetteDude

Sitting under a tower would get you bad signal. Tower's don't point their panels downward, that would be a waste of energy and would lower the far away coverage.

Don't be so literal.

**rushmore** · 07-05-2012, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by VetteDude

Sitting under a tower would get you bad signal. Tower's don't point their panels downward, that would be a waste of energy and would lower the far away coverage.

Nope, the right hand rule (or left hand in physics) suggest current will result in wrap around in an energy flux from the source, so.... oops that is for in regards to induction and electrical motors. Sorry!

You should still get a good signal, but the point is the signal will be even better up to some point, the further you move away from the tower.