Bolt Outperforms Galaxy Nexus

[mightyfacundo]

At least in one way, and in a very real life situation. Last night, as a tornado rolled through town and knocked out our power, my Bolt was still able to get 4G, enabling me to stream the live news/weather tv broadcast. My wife's Galaxy Nexus was only able to pull a weak 3G signal, and as a result, she couldn't stream the broadcast which told us when to grab the kids and make a run for our safe room. Luckily for us, the tornado headed in another direction, but it was extremely reassuring to know that I could rely on my phone to deliver in a time of crisis.

(This in no way is meant to make light of this situation which destroyed around 200 houses and took two lives at last count. I have two friends who lost their homes last night, and I have spent the day digging out their possesions from the piles of rubble that used to be their homes.)

With that said, be proud of your Thunderbolt and know that it came through for me when I needed it to be much more than a phone.

 

[dpham00]

the galaxy nexus signal issues are well documented.

 

[recDNA]

I'm glad the post is here. I knew nothing about nexus data issue.

 

[broadwayblues]

I am glad that you were safe!

 

[scannerman]

If neither of you would have had signal you could have used the FM radio of the bolt to listen to broadcasts from stations in your area.

 

[mightyfacundo]

Thanks broadwayblues!

If neither of you would have had signal you could have used the FM radio of the bolt to listen to broadcasts from stations in your area.

You know what's funny? I never even thought about using the FM radio. I know it's there and have used it before, but I was so intent on watching the news coverage, that that was my only focus. I promise I won't forget next time though.

 

[dms76]

If neither of you would have had signal you could have used the FM radio of the bolt to listen to broadcasts from stations in your area.

Funny I never would have thought about the fm radio. I've never used it and forgot all about it.

Sent from my rooted Acer Icona A100 using Tapatalk.

 

[recDNA]

If neither of you would have had signal you could have used the FM radio of the bolt to listen to broadcasts from stations in your area.

Assuming you have headphones...I use wireless earbud so never have headphones around

 

[anon(394005)]

You could always pick up a cheap pair of ear buds and put them in your disaster plan kit (everyone has one right? Right? ) We have a few extra pair laying around from old mp3 players. (For those not in the know; the Thunderbolt needs ear buds as an antenna for the FM radio).

Something else to consider; extra batteries and an external charger (ex. Seidio Multi-function battery charger). That way you have an easy way to keep batteries charged before the storm and can keep the phone going if the power goes out.

 

[Unobtanium]

I use the FM radio all the time, especially morning walks. In addition to a "regular" charger, and car charger, one of the New Trent 8900 mah batteries is on my Amazon wish list.

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

At least in one way, and in a very real life situation. Last night, as a tornado rolled through town and knocked out our power, my Bolt was still able to get 4G, enabling me to stream the live news/weather tv broadcast. My wife's Galaxy Nexus was only able to pull a weak 3G signal, and as a result, she couldn't stream the broadcast which told us when to grab the kids and make a run for our safe room. Luckily for us, the tornado headed in another direction, but it was extremely reassuring to know that I could rely on my phone to deliver in a time of crisis.

(This in no way is meant to make light of this situation which destroyed around 200 houses and took two lives at last count. I have two friends who lost their homes last night, and I have spent the day digging out their possesions from the piles of rubble that used to be their homes.)

With that said, be proud of your Thunderbolt and know that it came through for me when I needed it to be much more than a phone.

That's interesting. Personally I wouldn't rely on any cell phone for something like that. I would stick to an am radio or shortwave.

Sent from one of the following: Galaxy Nexus, Bionic or Xoom using Tapatalk.

 

[FrankXS]

That's interesting. Personally I wouldn't rely on any cell phone for something like that. I would stick to an am radio or shortwave.

Sent from one of the following: Galaxy Nexus, Bionic or Xoom using Tapatalk.

Yeah, anything but a Nexus...

-Frank

 

[fdisker]

I'm not surprised by this at all. I picked up a Bionic on launch day and my bolt went to the wife. The radio code on the bolt is very mature at this point and my experience with both phones side by side is if there's a 4G signal to be had the bolt will grab it and hold on to it.

As another poster mentioned the radio issues with the Nexus are well documented just as they are with the Bionic and Razr. It will take a while for the radio code to mature on these newer phones but once they do performance should be relatively equal as it relates to holding on to a 4G signal.

Having said that I will note that the leaked .901 update for the Bionic has solved all my signal problems. Whenever the bolt has a 4G signal so does the Bionic. During a recent trip both phones lost their 4G signal within a minute of each other and both locked back on within seconds of each other when I returned to the city. The real problem is that it took both phones 4 to 5 months before they achieved a state of reliability after they went on sale. The moral of the story is that I'm done buying new phones on launch day. The Nexus is probably in my future (or maybe the Razr Maxx with that freakishly large battery) but ONLY after a few more radio updates.

 

[recDNA]

Does the bionic still shut itself off or reboot randomly?

 

[Jude526]

I am glad you and your family are safe. I am sorry for your neighbors/friends. In hardship it is nice to know people still care about one another. There God Bless. is still an undeniable trait that deep down people still care......God Bless.