Galaxy S5: Signal Strength

[Netherscourge]

I get better signal strength on my S5 than my wife does on her S4 mini.

In the same spot with the same carrier (Sprint), I can get a ~6.0Mbps LTE connection, while her phone only get's a ~4.5Mbps LTE connection. That's with 3 different Speedtest runs.

Our WIFI strength is exactly the same on both phones/ (~25Mbps)

 

[HOLLYWOODANT215]

My lte is not showing up in places my s4 f did, I rarely ever saw 3 on my sprint s4

Posted via Android Central App

 

[lou61166]

Sprint with any doubt is horrible they far an away the worst 4G service of any carrier so you really cannot fault a device when you are using sprints service

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk

 

[Joe113]

Sprint with any doubt is horrible they far an away the worst 4G service of any carrier so you really cannot fault a device when you are using sprints service

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk

Amen to that! (Sprint user)

 

[MBM7881]

Sprint with any doubt is horrible they far an away the worst 4G service of any carrier so you really cannot fault a device when you are using sprints service

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk

I agree! Left sprint for Verizon and haven't looked back

Sent from my SM-P600 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[sel1965]

Then how would one explain getting good to great reception on one phone and hardly any on another using the same service?

 

[feivel]

Is there a comparison of handset signal performance somewhere? I'm amazed that, with all of the comparisons of gimmicks out there, I haven't been able to find a "how-is-this-device-as-a-PHONE" comparison.

 

[philosopherisdog]

Coming from a GNEX, this thing has great signal!

But that doesn't necessarily say much! Haha.

I'm happy so far. Right now sitting in an area where I used to not get LTE, now I do.

 

[jordo487]

My lte is not showing up in places my s4 f did, I rarely ever saw 3 on my sprint s4

Posted via Android Central App

There are a few of us in discussion with Sprint on the Sprint Forums about this right now. We all had S3's before and had great LTE connection and now switching to the S5 we have pretty much lost all of our LTE reception.

 

[italianotampa]

There are a few of us in discussion with Sprint on the Sprint Forums about this right now. We all had S3's before and had great LTE connection and now switching to the S5 we have pretty much lost all of our LTE reception.

I had a S4 and had great reception. The S5 dropped to 3G in places I had LTE before. So now I'm back to my S4 and returned the S5.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[italianotampa]

Also I think it has worst reception because of the waterproof seal and dust resistant seal. Someone else mentioned that they had to move the antennas in order for it to be water resistant. The S3 and S4 had awesome LTE connectivity.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[SanDeggo]

Too be honest, I don't care about the numbers. I get service inside my home, which I never got with my iPhone 5. That is enough for me!

 

[jordo487]

I had a S4 and had great reception. The S5 dropped to 3G in places I had LTE before. So now I'm back to my S4 and returned the S5.

Posted via Android Central App

I love this phone, but I may have to switch back too and wait for the G3 or something. Which would suck because I love this phone, but can't go on without reception and/or data a lot of the time.

 

[Eclipse2K]

When I first got the phone it was switching between 3G and 4G. I never saw this on the Note 3. After a couple of hours my signal is a solid 4G and just a bit better according to dBm readings compared to my Note 3. This is extremely odd considering tests a few days earlier on the display unit showed my Note 3 as a better performer.

Samsung Galaxy S5 (Verizon)

 

[exp1598]

I finally upgraded from the HTC EVO 3D, and I love the S5, but reception is weaker then my old phone. It is nice to have LTE from time to time, but I have to keep the phone in CDMA only mode for me to access mobile data. Putting it in LTE/CDMA mode, it continues to switch back and forth from 4g to 3g. I guess I'll have to live with 4g only. On the phone reception side, in CDMA I get -85db, in LTE/CDMA I get -112db. So another reason to leave in CDMA only mode. Guess I wont get to use LTE for faster speeds after all. I thought even in CDMA only mode you should be able to get LTE, but I only get 3G no matter where I am at. Is this normal?

 

[Gdwheel]

I like the S5, but the biggest issue for me is that the reception and call quality are not good. I do not recall the last time I had a phone the showed an Edge connection and I have had to see that E on the S5 several times. I have had apps not being able to connect even though it shows an LTE connection. The reception is just not good. Call quality is not terrible, but it is not good either. it is too bad. I can take some of the other smaller issues with the S5 (slight lag, etc.), but it needs to work as a phone and get a signal.

 

[zipro]

Well, this blows: I got a FEMTO cell from my provider yesterday because the signal in our house has generally been bad. Not even with that one do I get more than 2 bars of 3G with the S5, even when I stand right next to the cell. I get 5 bars with the N5, with my wife's M8 and even the iPhone 5S, and that's all over the house not only standing next to it.
I guess I'll send it in for a check :-/

 

[Eclipse2K]

Well, this blows: I got a FEMTO cell from my provider yesterday because the signal in our house has generally been bad. Not even with that one do I get more than 2 bars of 3G with the S5, even when I stand right next to the cell. I get 5 bars with the N5, with my wife's M8 and even the iPhone 5S, and that's all over the house not only standing next to it.
I guess I'll send it in for a check :-/

That doesn't even make sense. Sounds like the phone is faulty to be honest.

Samsung Galaxy S5 (Verizon)

 

[tomothy94]

I feel like people are clutching at straws to find faults

I have had the phone a week and not experienced any signal issues, I have a stock phone from Europe (G900F) Unbranded and on Vodaphone

I get 4G as soon as I turn the Wifi off, It switches really fast. Out and About i was in a rural area a few days ago at night, and I could only Get EDGE or GPRS internet for a bit

I am hoping this does not happen often because I am not paying 42 a month to have to resort to using damn GPRS!

 

[maximusthegreat]

I'm coming from a 5s on verizon.

So far my carrier reception is about the same, when I look at the number of bars etc. In my house it's not very strong, 1-2 bars at most and it was the same on my iphone 5s.

The big difference so far is Wifi range, The S5 has a drastically increased range over WIFI than my iphone. I can use it upstairs and outside without much of an issue, with my Iphone, I had to use a repeater.