After much debate (with myself), and much reading (here), and much discussion (with Sprint, Samsung, and fellow GSII users), I ended up returning the phone.
Very sad to do it, as it was a marvelous phone, but the reception was just unacceptable. (No thanks to Samsung's crappy antenna)
I had spoken with Samsung top tier techs directly, tweeted Samsung, and spoken with Sprint tech (level 3) numerous times...and yes, reception is a known issue (Sprint admits this; Samsung denies it). When it'll get fixed (if at all) is anyone's guess. But, I decided not to waste my upgrade on a phone that won't work...as a phone (I kept missing calls, for starters...).
I do believe that the issue is only partially a Sprint reception issue, but 90% a Samsung antenna issue. Even in the very hour that I switched my service back to my BBerry, my GSII was getting NO reception (even while I was standing practically on top of my AIRAVE), and switching back to my BBerry brought back the reception, no problemo.
I can finally get my phone calls, texts, and browse the web - albeit not in as fast/pretty a setting as with the GSII - but at least I can use the phone as...a phone!
I have also decided not to get another GSII, as the issue with reception is widespread enough that it wasn't likely a "bad batch" issue.
I was even considering the iPhone 4S (really, a 2nd choice next to GSII), but have been reading tons of issues with reception with that phone as well. Seems the iPhone 4S works great on the AT&T network (as they've had that phone exclusively and have worked out the reception kinks, so people claim), but apparently Sprint wasn't prepared to handle the data issue...so, that leaves me where, exactly?
With my trusty old BBerry...until I can figure something else out.
The HTC Evo? C'mon, I can't justify spending my hard-earned upgrade on a year-old phone.
And oh, the Motorola Photon idea? The "sleep of death" issue is well-known to Sprint techs, so..no, thanks.
So what's a phone-upgrade-seeking girl to do now? :-\
Very sad to do it, as it was a marvelous phone, but the reception was just unacceptable. (No thanks to Samsung's crappy antenna)
I had spoken with Samsung top tier techs directly, tweeted Samsung, and spoken with Sprint tech (level 3) numerous times...and yes, reception is a known issue (Sprint admits this; Samsung denies it). When it'll get fixed (if at all) is anyone's guess. But, I decided not to waste my upgrade on a phone that won't work...as a phone (I kept missing calls, for starters...).
I do believe that the issue is only partially a Sprint reception issue, but 90% a Samsung antenna issue. Even in the very hour that I switched my service back to my BBerry, my GSII was getting NO reception (even while I was standing practically on top of my AIRAVE), and switching back to my BBerry brought back the reception, no problemo.
I can finally get my phone calls, texts, and browse the web - albeit not in as fast/pretty a setting as with the GSII - but at least I can use the phone as...a phone!
I have also decided not to get another GSII, as the issue with reception is widespread enough that it wasn't likely a "bad batch" issue.
I was even considering the iPhone 4S (really, a 2nd choice next to GSII), but have been reading tons of issues with reception with that phone as well. Seems the iPhone 4S works great on the AT&T network (as they've had that phone exclusively and have worked out the reception kinks, so people claim), but apparently Sprint wasn't prepared to handle the data issue...so, that leaves me where, exactly?
With my trusty old BBerry...until I can figure something else out.
The HTC Evo? C'mon, I can't justify spending my hard-earned upgrade on a year-old phone.
And oh, the Motorola Photon idea? The "sleep of death" issue is well-known to Sprint techs, so..no, thanks.
So what's a phone-upgrade-seeking girl to do now? :-\
Last edited: