Bad reception

[speeder69]

I got the s3 a week ago through verizon. The phone seems to have horrible reception. I am wanting to go trade it in to get a better phone as I have heard of a lot of people have this same issue. My question is what would be a good choice of phone to go with. Was wondering about the htc one or the s4 would either of these get better service. BTW I drive through Wyoming twice a week.

 

[Golfdriver97]

I got the s3 a week ago through verizon. The phone seems to have horrible reception. I am wanting to go trade it in to get a better phone as I have heard of a lot of people have this same issue. My question is what would be a good choice of phone to go with. Was wondering about the htc one or the s4 would either of these get better service. BTW I drive through Wyoming twice a week.

It's possible you got a device with bad radios. Samsung cell radios aren't the greatest. I don't know about HTC. I would check Sensorly.com to see true cell coverage ratings in Wyoming.

 

[GSDer]

Motorola seems to have some of the most solid radios, so you may want to try one of their current line - Moto X, or the DROID Maxx. If you can't swing one of their newer phones something like a DROID RAZR Maxx would be a good choice.

Edit: BTW, it would be pointless to get the S4 - it's just another Samsung phone, so you'd experience similar reception.

Sent from my rooted, debloated, deodexed Sinclair ZX-80 running CM 10.2 using Tapatalk 4

 

[drmaf894c]

I agree with what is mentioned above. I would think that cell service is spotty at best in some parts of Wyoming. (I live in the Northwest as well, Idaho) and often drive that way. I find that I'm lucky to have cell service in many places they say we should. Some if it too comes from having an all digital device these days. Back in the days of analog (dual or tri band phones) you could get signal in areas that now you can't with an all digital device. It may not be the phone or radio that is bad but the way that we use our devices, in that they are more entertainment devices first and phones second. Often we forget to look at how they will operate as a phone when we truly need them to... Like driving through the middle of Wyoming.

I wish you luck! But my guess is it may not be the phone but the network coverage.

Edit: for what it's worth I have not had any issues with my cell signal except where there is no service but it is as reliable as I need it to be. Also I disagree with above that trying the S4 would be pointless as often there are different radios in newer phones, just because it is a Samsung doesn't necessarily mean you will have the same issues as before, also could be the S3 you have if it's not the network, maybe just a bad radio in that phone itself. I often find that I have the same signal as my relatives who all have Motos or iPhones, doesn't seem to make a difference we all get the same coverage on the same network (all on VZW).

 

[jthead]

I had signal issues out of the box with my first S4. First let me say I LOVE the phone. The menu structure and camera are the best.

90% of my use of my phone use is in a rural area, so good signal strength is the most import thing.

Verizon has replaced my Galaxy S4 three times in the last 4 months in an attempt to get a phone with good reception. I have sat side by side with other Verizon customers who were using their phones(motorolas) for calls and for data, yet I had NO signal. I could not make a phone call, send a text or use any data. This has become a constant problem with the S4. It has been the exact same on all three S4 phones. Can anything be done to increase reception?

I am trying very hard not to knock the phone. I absolutely love the menu structure. The menu structure and the camera is why I chose the S4. They are the best out there! Unfortunately, I will not be able to use them and I will have to settle for less.

The last straw. I also have a Verizon MiFi hotspot. I was sitting with Verizon friends who were making calls, texting and surfing the internet (they each had 2 bars of signal strength showing). I had ZERO bars of anything. I turned on the MiFi and it had 4 bars of signal. I connected my S4 to the MiFi via wireless and made my calls using Skype & Magic Jack!! Since then I have noticed that my MiFi will have 4-5 bars when the S4 has 1 or none??

I tried real hard to stay with the S4, but its lack of reception forced me to a different manufacturer's device. I am now on my 4th phone in 5 months. I regretfully traded in my S4 for the Motorola Maxx. Now, I have signal in areas that I had none on the S4. I am able to use my phone now, but I do miss the S4 for its features. The menu, camera and just plain basic functionality on the Maxx is no where as nice as on the S4, but I can make calls where I could not with the S4. Besides being able to use the phone, the battery is the only thing the Maxx has the S4 beat at.

If there is nothing that can be done for an S4, it there a different model Samsung with great rural reception that has a similar menu structure and camera?

 

[GSDer]

If there is nothing that can be done for an S4, is there a different model Samsung with great rural reception that has a similar menu structure and camera?

No.

Motorola was your best bet, and that's what you ended up with, so good choice! I never got around to doing enough research to see if the Maxx was identical to the Moto X, except with a bigger battery, or if there were other differences - but the bigger battery makes sense out and about.

Sent from my rooted, debloated, deodexed Sinclair ZX-80 running CM 10.2 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Golfdriver97]

No.

Motorola was your best bet, and that's what you ended up with, so good choice! I never got around to doing enough research to see if the Maxx was identical to the Moto X, except with a bigger battery, or if there were other differences - but the bigger battery makes sense out and about.

Sent from my rooted, debloated, deodexed Sinclair ZX-80 running CM 10.2 using Tapatalk 4

I think for the most part they are identical.

From a Sprint Moto X using the AC forums app.