Calls drop often - can I force voice to 1x?

[apostrophe27]

Last week I signed up with Verizon and got the Droid Maxx. It drops calls constantly, and in populated places where there should be good coverage. I went back the the Verizon store, and they replaced the SIM card. No change, still drops calls.

What I think is happening is that the calls are going out over 4G. The 4G coverage seems to be very weak and spotty around here. The signal strength is often less than -100dbm. The calls drop when the signal strength gets to around -112dbm. Meanwhile, the 1x reception is very strong. Right now, at my house, 4G is at -116dbm, but 1x is at -84dbm.

Is there a way to force my calls to always go out on 1x? If I can't make this phone work reliably as a phone, I'm going to have to return it

Thanks

 

[Einsteindks]

There's probably an app on the store that you can download for free to checkout signal strength in your area. Could very well also be some EM interference from something you can't see. The phone will automatically search for 3G if 4G is not available, and 1x if it can't connect to 3G.

 

[copywrite]

Turn off the Advanced calling feature. Settings- More... (under mobile networks)- Mobile Networks- VoLTE Off. If it was not on in the first place your calls are going over 1x now.

 

[apostrophe27]

After my original post, I search some more and came up with what you said. When I looked for the setting, I didn't have it. I read up some more, and saw that I had to request Advanced Calling from Verizon. I did through their website, rebooted after 10 minutes or so, and the VoLTE setting showed up. I turned it off.

Is there a chance VoLTE was enabled by default when I got it, even though I didn't have the toggle in the settings? Is it on by default in some markets?

 

[doogald]

The only way calls go over 4g is if you use advanced calling. Otherwise they use the cdma radio, which is the same one that gives you 1x and 3g for data.

 

[copywrite]

Anything is possible with software, but it's unlikely. Do you notice any difference now that you turned it off. You should be able to notice lower bit rate (not as clear) ringing during call outs in 4g areas. For example, when I turned on advanced calling I immediately noticed the ringing sound when I was calling someone was much clearer as in it wasn't garbled like you often hear on cell phones.

 

[DeerSteak]

In my area, the 1x network is starting to suffer as XLTE rolls out and more phones support VoLTE. You were probably getting calls over 1x all along and that's the network that was dropping. If you're still dropping calls, turn VoLTE back on.