New OTA impact thread - please report in

[mobiletiger]

Nonetheless, the hypothesis is that the GPS radio firmware haa been tweaked to limit interference with 4G.

Thanks, Robrecht

The GPS receiver in the phone does not transmit a signal and therefore cannot interfere with 4G communications. The reverse where 4G transmissions from the phone interfere with the reception of GPS satellite signals is possible, but selecting the CDMA only network option does not correct the GPS problem.

 

[robrecht]

The GPS receiver in the phone does not transmit a signal and therefore cannot interfere with 4G communications. The reverse where 4G transmissions from the phone interfere with the reception of GPS satellite signals is possible, but selecting the CDMA only network option does not correct the GPS problem.

I'm hypothesizing about how the power to the GPS receiving mode on the phone may have been pulse tweaked so as to be less likely to interfere with the 4G radio when the 4G radio is in operation. But that same tweak might still function to limit GPS reception even when the 4G radio is not in operation. But it's just an hypothesis.

 

[mobiletiger]

I'm hypothesizing about how the power to the GPS receiving mode on the phone may have been pulse tweaked so as to be less likely to interfere with the 4G radio when the 4G radio is in operation. But that same tweak might still function to limit GPS reception even when the 4G radio is not in operation. But it's just an hypothesis.

GPS reception cannot interfere with the 4G radio, but a change in the software update may cause the GPS receiver to repeatedly switch off and on to reduce its average power consumption and extend battery life. That would cause the GPS receiver to malfunction exactly the way it now malfunctions.

 

[robrecht]

GPS reception cannot interfere with the 4G radio, but a change in the software update may cause the GPS receiver to repeatedly switch off and on to reduce its average power consumption and extend battery life. That would cause the GPS receiver to malfunction exactly the way it now malfunctions.

That's almost exactly what I'm saying. But not that GPS reception is interfering with the 4G radio, just being attenuated to help the 4G radio better hold onto the 4G signal while operating at minimal power because of the ultra-weenie 1400 mAh battery. If it had a bigger batter, they could afford to power up the 4G radio properly.

 

[yodatom10]

Prior to this update, my TB was mediocre. A few small apps to get it the way i wanted it, and life was, as they say, O-K. Then, this AM VZ pushed this update... and all hell has broken loose. I can no longer enable my security pattern to be drawn to unlock the device, my better keyboard app doesnt work, Handcent is glitching like crazy, and my GPS sucks worse than it did before... WTF.

Ninja Edit: not to mention the my mobile hotspot was zapped, and now i have the standard droid 3G symbol... siiiiiigh

It sounds like you night need to do a factory reset. If that's doesent resolve it you might need a new phone


Sent from my ThunderBolt using Tapatalk

 

[sloan31]

Okay, so now I've gone from good phone to complete crap since this new update. Sure the phone doesn't reboot but now I can't keep a solid 4G signal where it was always great before. Sometimes I get no data at all unless I force it to 3G mode. Also, the default mail and news apps are both having trouble syncing...they randomly just stop working. I'm at the point where I will try a reset and if it doesn't work, I'll be on the phone to verizon one pissed off customer. I would rather have the occasional reboot I had before then this crap.

 

[Devils Advocate]

So far noticing lots of lag when I type after the update, other than this little pecadillo my battery seems to last forever and I am giving my stock battery a try for the next few days to see how long it lasts. The extended lasted me from 3pm to 7am with only 25% usage of battery so I figured I would try stock and see what transpired

 

[Mortiel]

Nonetheless, the hypothesis is that the GPS radio firmware haa been tweaked to limit interference with 4G.

Thanks, Robrecht

I can most assuredly tell you that this is not the case. Any previous or future tweaks that "improve" GPS on the Thunderbolt are done so via changing the way other factors operate around it. Most people do not realize that the GPS firmware in a device is rarely changed.

 

[robrecht]

I can most assuredly tell you that this is not the case. Any previous or future tweaks that "improve" GPS on the Thunderbolt are done so via changing the way other factors operate around it. Most people do not realize that the GPS firmware in a device is rarely changed.

OK. How would you explain the observed phenomena? Do you have an alternative hypothesis or even an actual explanation?

Thanks, Robrecht

 

[amotter]

OK...so date 2 of my OTA.....

Yesterday my phone just sucked...3g, 1g, 3g, 0g...

today it is staying in the 4g so far, which makes me happy. I also did my MAPS and it did snap right to my location...which it never use to do that before...so..I am not nearly as upset as I was yesterday. My wife got her update as well so we need to go through that mess with her now.

So we shall see....If the phone is not operating correctly today, I am going in tomorrow morning!

 

[Spiderbiter]

So much negativity over the update has me feeling pretty luck. Had stocker phone prior to updating last Sat- 7 days now and no problems at all that I have been able to see. Battery life seems to actually be a little better than before, GPS locks faster. Other than that I didnt have a lot of apps or gizmos and gadgets that I had added to the phone, and everything works fine. No complaints here.

 

[recDNA]

My LTE signal at home is weaker now.

 

[Mortiel]

OK. How would you explain the observed phenomena? Do you have an alternative hypothesis or even an actual explanation?

Thanks, Robrecht

LTE interference is the most likely culprit, but there are several factors that could cause it including power loss due to poor hardware design, which I do not know how to spot.

 

[robrecht]

LTE interference is the most likely culprit, but there are several factors that could cause it including power loss due to poor hardware design, which I do not know how to spot.

No, LTE interference cannot explain the phenomena outside of a 4G area as is being described here.

 

[Unobtanium]

Well, I traveled to Washington DC again last week, after doing the latest update here at home (NE Atlanta) last weekend. I was in the same place as a meeting last month, same hotel, same buildings, etc., except I did get to go down to the Mall and a couple of the Smithsonian Museums one afternoon.

I would say the radio was slightly improved, GPS position lock is faster, battery life is the same. I went straight from 1.12.605 to the new update, and never have had an involuntary reboot, either before or since.

My stock battery gets warm with a lot of surfing or playing Angry Birds, whether I am hooked to a charger or not, but it has done that since day one.

Around DC, 3G in the Metro Stations, 1X or no signal in the tunnels (no surprise), and 4G everywhere above ground. Same thing was true in the museums - bottom floor of the Sackler - I got nothing, but I was three stories below ground.

 

[fadepoint89]

Got the new update and phone is working flawless. No reboots. Battery life is a hell of a lot better than before. Always maintains signal and feels a lot snappier. I'm happy with it.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[miller7796]

Idiots abound! That's my new moto, by the way, based on a recent conversation with managed care employees.

Ask for a manager at tech support; insist upon escalation until you find an intelligent person. If you haven't already reset your phone, they will require you to do that, but as soon as it is obvisous that that has not fixed the problem, they will send you a certified like new replacement phone (CLNR). This is not a difficult negotiation. Sounds like you only need to escalate to the right person.

I finally managed to get through to somebody this evening! I'll be getting my second CLNR in the next couple days, the first one was a couple months ago and, big surprise, had the same reboot problem. Honestly, my hopes are not very high for a good outcome on this, mostly based on the CLNR device complaints I have read from many other people...obviously there was a reason it was returned in the first place.

 

[robrecht]

I finally managed to get through to somebody this evening! I'll be getting my second CLNR in the next couple days, the first one was a couple months ago and, big surprise, had the same reboot problem. Honestly, my hopes are not very high for a good outcome on this, mostly based on the CLNR device complaints I have read from many other people...obviously there was a reason it was returned in the first place.

There are some horror stories about CLNRs but I woulodn't worry 'bout it too much. You can always send it back if you see a problem. If your original phone is unusable in the meantime, use the CLNR and send back the first one. Again, you may have to find a reasonable person to discuss this but that is not usually a problem. Just don't waste your time with the ignorant ones. I got a CLNR a couple of weeks ago and it was perfect in every way I could see. It didn't fix the firmware/network issues, of course, but the phone is fine.

 

[drstrange462]

My GPS is MUCH worse now than it was with the original leaked MR2 from June. I wonder how many people who are saying their GPS is better even realize what it is doing. My phone drops all satellites every 20-30 seconds and quickly reaquires them. I get fast lock and I think that is all people are looking for. Everyone should install GPS Status and just watch how the phone acquires and drops satellites. My GPS was AWESOME with the original MR2 (really my GPS has been fine since the day I got it until now), took a 4,200 mile roadtrip with it without a single issue.

I'm leaving mine alone. I have the leaked MR2 installed. I'll just wait for Gingerbread.

 

[bjboucher]

I'm leaving mine alone. I have the leaked MR2 installed. I'll just wait for Gingerbread.

Probably a good idea, my phone seemed much better on the leaked MR2. I guess everything still works fine but the GPS flaking in and out does bug me a little.