Anandtech - "Investigating the Galaxy Nexus LTE Signal Issue"

[majiklantrn]

Everyone is complaining about the signal level indicator... Let's talk about the raw LTE performance out of our Galaxy Nexus.
Has anyone ever able to get 50mbps, constantly on any other cell phone, all day long? I thought so. Well ever since I got my GN i'm pulling in these speeds:

Click to view quoted image


Click to view quoted image


So please stop complaining about the wrong probem. In my opinion, the problem, if there is one, is the cutoff threshold that seems to be to low on GN and the phone drops to 3G quicker than other LTE phones on the market. Radio itself is incredible, don't hate on it, or just look for something to complain about. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the hardware aspect of CMC221.
65mbps SpeedTest Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE - YouTube

Gots to love the CAT-3 LTE Chip in that bad boy.

 

[milan03]

Gots to love the CAT-3 LTE Chip in that bad boy.

Every LTE UE on the market except Motorola has been using cat 3. But what's bugging me is the amount of freaking complaints about the number of bars, lower signal levels, etc... Everyone is caught up with some absolutely irrelevant non-issue, and obsessing about it...
Does your GN LTE performance suffer? No? I thought so...

 

[FishPharm]

I'm new to Android and smartphones in general and I enjoy coming in to these forums and learning from you guys so I appreciate the debates and your posts. Anyway, I live in Tampa, Fl and I checked Verizon's coverage map and I found that I live within a huge 4G (non-extended) coverage area. I may be thinking completely incorrect here but wouldn't you think that I would be getting consistently high 4G coverage?...indicated by full bars? The problem is that I'm not. My GN seems to stay at 1 bar...sometimes two and very often goes to full 3G. I've ran several of the speedtest.net tests and I'm getting numbers like: Ping: 221ms, Download:2.93Mbps and Upload: 0.57Mbps.

I had a Razr before the GN and although I never ran these tests on it I did notice that it kinda did the same thing as far as sometimes having a strong 4G signal and then dropping it and getting a strong 3G signal etc. I'm just not sure what to make of it at this point. It just concerns me that I'm getting 1 bar and low numbers in a high 4G area.

 

[CarryMe]

Does your GN LTE performance suffer?

Well actually, according to what has been posted, the problem is failing to hang onto the 4G signal in the same areas that other phones can. So yeah, the GN LTE performance is suffering in that you don't get the 4G LTE speeds you get 3G speeds in the same areas that other phones can deliver the 4G LTE speeds.

 

[milan03]

Well actually, according to what has been posted, the problem is failing to hang onto the 4G signal in the same areas that other phones can. So yeah, the GN LTE performance is suffering in that you don't get the 4G LTE speeds you get 3G speeds in the same areas that other phones can deliver the 4G LTE speeds.

That's the cutoff threshold that I mentioned earlier and its purely software algorithm which is a valid but simple to fix issue. In terms of performance throughput, latency and stability there are absolutely no issues and its safe to say that CMC221 is well above average performer, and in my opinion one of the best LTE basebands around.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Droid800]

Was there ever a solid explanation of what the changes are for the different radio firmwares?

Initially, I've been playing with the 4.02 & 4.03 radios and haven't found much difference in performance (actually with the 4.03 radios, the indicated signal strength was a bit lower, by 1-2 dBm).

This morning I decided to do some testing with the 4.01 radios and found that the indicated signal strength in dBm is actually, on average, about 4-5 dBm higher than the other radios. This was seen in both LTE and eHRPD/Rev 0 modes.

Has anyone else tried out the 4.01 radios and observed a similar signal strength change?

Currently in my office space, with the phone sitting on the table, with the 4.02/4.03 radios, it would show -94 to -100 dBm. With the 4.01 radios, I'm seeing -89 dBm right now.

The 4.0.1 radios are completely unstable. Do not install them unless you want to sit without data for long periods.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Droid800]

I'm new to Android and smartphones in general and I enjoy coming in to these forums and learning from you guys so I appreciate the debates and your posts. Anyway, I live in Tampa, Fl and I checked Verizon's coverage map and I found that I live within a huge 4G (non-extended) coverage area. I may be thinking completely incorrect here but wouldn't you think that I would be getting consistently high 4G coverage?...indicated by full bars? The problem is that I'm not. My GN seems to stay at 1 bar...sometimes two and very often goes to full 3G. I've ran several of the speedtest.net tests and I'm getting numbers like: Ping: 221ms, Download:2.93Mbps and Upload: 0.57Mbps.

I had a Razr before the GN and although I never ran these tests on it I did notice that it kinda did the same thing as far as sometimes having a strong 4G signal and then dropping it and getting a strong 3G signal etc. I'm just not sure what to make of it at this point. It just concerns me that I'm getting 1 bar and low numbers in a high 4G area.

Location and geography matter. I'm in one of the strongest 4g markets and never see more than two bars.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Ken7]

Everyone is complaining about the signal level indicator... Let's talk about the raw LTE performance out of our Galaxy Nexus.
Has anyone ever able to get 50mbps, constantly on any other cell phone, all day long? I thought so. Well ever since I got my GN i'm pulling in these speeds:

Click to view quoted image


Click to view quoted image


So please stop complaining about the wrong probem. In my opinion, the problem, if there is one, is the cutoff threshold that seems to be to low on GN and the phone drops to 3G quicker than other LTE phones on the market. Radio itself is incredible, don't hate on it, or just look for something to complain about. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the hardware aspect of CMC221.
65mbps SpeedTest Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE - YouTube

Interesting. I'm on L.I. here in NY and tap into the NY server for the speed tests. My typical results are 12-13 down & about 1-3 up. I'm not even close to your #s, but I'm not really complaining with my speeds.

We're headed into the city tonight, so I may try it in the city.

 

[CarryMe]

That's the cutoff threshold that I mentioned earlier and its purely software algorithm which is a valid but simple to fix issue. In terms of performance throughput, latency and stability there are absolutely no issues and its safe to say that CMC221 is well above average performer, and in my opinion one of the best LTE basebands around.

I will have to search for your earlier post about the cutoff threshold.

Since you sound like you know your stuff, what about the possibility of an authentication issue like this article addresses:

This Is Why Your Verizon Galaxy Nexus (Or Other 4G LTE VZW Phone) Is Losing Its Data Connection

I have decided to buy the GN after Christmas so I am very interested in this. Thanks.

 

[bplewis24]

Well actually, according to what has been posted, the problem is failing to hang onto the 4G signal in the same areas that other phones can. So yeah, the GN LTE performance is suffering in that you don't get the 4G LTE speeds you get 3G speeds in the same areas that other phones can deliver the 4G LTE speeds.

I've actually spent 2 days testing LTE only connections. My GNex has held onto a 4G connection more consistently than my Bionic ever did everywhere except my apartment. What does that prove? I don't know. It also pulls down higher LTE speeds on a consistent basis.

However, according to Anandtech's research, this SHOULD be the case, as the Bionic and the GNex they reviewed had the same signal strength in both strong and weak locations, and the Nex consistently had better speeds.

For those who have experiences that completely contradict this, there is a chance they have a bad phone or that there are other unique circumstances that Anandtech hasn't addressed or we aren't completely aware of the nuanced specifications of it.

Brandon

 

[Ken7]

Radios come from Samsung and Verizon, pushed to Google, and then pushed out with an OS update by Google.

With that being the case, it will probably be a relatively long time for a fix to this issue. We can now see that updates 'direct from Google' don't always mean that much. It is what it is.

 

[Ken7]

Haven't had them installed long enough to say.

However, I just did a test in one of the worst signal locations in my area. Walmart.

As as test, I walked around the entire store. With the 4.02/4.03 radios, I would loose 4G alot and have a hard time getting 3G data signaling back, unless I stood completely still. With the 4.01 radios, I could walk around the entire store and lost 4G signal only once. And that was in an area where the signal gets lost anyways; this is seen both inside and outside the store, as the LTE signal drops in that corner of the store. Walk out of that area of the store and it picks up 4G signal again without issue and holds it. Granted, the dBm reading is -100 to -118, but it still held it and I could access data without issue. I was able to properly make phone calls and send text/mms messages without issue as well.

Not saying this is a cure all for the radio issues, but I figured I may as well try it and see what happens.

Now THAT sounds encouraging! That's precisely the issue I have and it sounds like 'back to the future' may be part of the answer. I wonder if they'll roll the radio back to 4.01.

But the thing that concerns me is the fact that after the Anandtech article, VZW no longer seems to be taking this issue seriously. Lots of damage done with that article IMO.

EDIT: Oh well, in reading another post it seems that 4.01 was very unstable. Back to the drawing boards.

 

[CynicX]

Have any of you guys used an app like wifi analyzer to compare wifi dbm signal strength of the gnex to another phone in the same space? I'd be curious of the results....

 

[Ken7]

Every LTE UE on the market except Motorola has been using cat 3. But what's bugging me is the amount of freaking complaints about the number of bars, lower signal levels, etc... Everyone is caught up with some absolutely irrelevant non-issue, and obsessing about it...
Does your GN LTE performance suffer? No? I thought so...

No performance issues in good signal areas, those come in marginal areas. More people are talking about performance (holding on to a 4G signal) in marginal areas than complaining about the # of bars they're getting. I think most people understand that the bars are meaningless.

Can you hold on to 4G where other phones can? That's the question and whatever parameters impact that ability are the important issues to improve.

 

[Ken7]

That's the cutoff threshold that I mentioned earlier and its purely software algorithm which is a valid but simple to fix issue. In terms of performance throughput, latency and stability there are absolutely no issues and its safe to say that CMC221 is well above average performer, and in my opinion one of the best LTE basebands around.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

What would you foresee as a reasonable time period for a fix given that you feel it's simple?

 

[Holsum]

I've actually spent 2 days testing LTE only connections. My GNex has held onto a 4G connection more consistently than my Bionic ever did everywhere except my apartment. What does that prove? I don't know. It also pulls down higher LTE speeds on a consistent basis.

However, according to Anandtech's research, this SHOULD be the case, as the Bionic and the GNex they reviewed had the same signal strength in both strong and weak locations, and the Nex consistently had better speeds.

For those who have experiences that completely contradict this, there is a chance they have a bad phone or that there are other unique circumstances that Anandtech hasn't addressed or we aren't completely aware of the nuanced specifications of it.

Brandon

Very nice to know. Real world testing with side by side comparisons go a long way

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Holsum]

I'm new to Android and smartphones in general and I enjoy coming in to these forums and learning from you guys so I appreciate the debates and your posts. Anyway, I live in Tampa, Fl and I checked Verizon's coverage map and I found that I live within a huge 4G (non-extended) coverage area. I may be thinking completely incorrect here but wouldn't you think that I would be getting consistently high 4G coverage?...indicated by full bars? The problem is that I'm not. My GN seems to stay at 1 bar...sometimes two and very often goes to full 3G. I've ran several of the speedtest.net tests and I'm getting numbers like: Ping: 221ms, Download:2.93Mbps and Upload: 0.57Mbps.

I had a Razr before the GN and although I never ran these tests on it I did notice that it kinda did the same thing as far as sometimes having a strong 4G signal and then dropping it and getting a strong 3G signal etc. I'm just not sure what to make of it at this point. It just concerns me that I'm getting 1 bar and low numbers in a high 4G area.

Its a map that doesn't show 100% accurate representation of coverage, that's all. For the speeds, well multiple factors could be affecting it. You have to just test around and see

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Ken7]

I've actually spent 2 days testing LTE only connections. My GNex has held onto a 4G connection more consistently than my Bionic ever did everywhere except my apartment. What does that prove? I don't know. It also pulls down higher LTE speeds on a consistent basis.

However, according to Anandtech's research, this SHOULD be the case, as the Bionic and the GNex they reviewed had the same signal strength in both strong and weak locations, and the Nex consistently had better speeds.

For those who have experiences that completely contradict this, there is a chance they have a bad phone or that there are other unique circumstances that Anandtech hasn't addressed or we aren't completely aware of the nuanced specifications of it.

Brandon

It is weird Brandon. As you know my tests were probably more indicative of the results you got in your apartment (another marginal 4G signal area?). Both my Bionic and, particularly my Rezound did a better job holding on to 4G in these marginal areas.

I really don't think mine is defective as each and every VZW store I went into showed very similar performance between their display Nexus and mine. It seems that given locations are very critical in your experiences...not overly surprising.

 

[Lodingi]

Interesting. I'm on L.I. here in NY and tap into the NY server for the speed tests. My typical results are 12-13 down & about 1-3 up. I'm not even close to your #s, but I'm not really complaining with my speeds.

We're headed into the city tonight, so I may try it in the city.

Depends where you are. When I'm in East Meadow, I typically get 27 down & 14 up. When I'm at home in Seaford, I get 10-13 down & 5-7 up. Go into Suffolk & it's 3G only.

 

[Ken7]

Depends where you are. When I'm in East Meadow, I typically get 27 down & 14 up. When I'm at home in Seaford, I get 10-13 down & 5-7 up. Go into Suffolk & it's 3G only.

Yup, I believe it. East Meadow is west of me and the signal really picks up as you head west. VZW 4G is still weak in parts of eastern Nassau and western Suffolk. I wouldn't expect any issues at all in your area. I wonder when they'll really begin to push out to more of Suffolk County.