Phone radio battery drain

[vividrich]

Nexus 5, 5.0.1. I very rarely use it as an actual phone, but the phone radio seems to go nuts with battery usage at times. Anyone know why and can it be sorted out?

Posted from my Nexus 5 via Android Central App

 

[Rukbat]

If your phone signal is weak, the phone increases its transmitter power (because its signal will be weak at the tower). That eats a lot of battery.

Your only real option is to use airplane mode when you're in a weak signal area and answer your voicemails and missed calls when you're in a stronger signal area. (Or use a phone with a removable battery and carry a couple of fully charged spares.)

 

[vividrich]

This is post-lollipop behavior though....

Posted from my Nexus 5 via Android Central App

 

[tonyr6]

If your phone signal is weak, the phone increases its transmitter power (because its signal will be weak at the tower). That eats a lot of battery.

Your only real option is to use airplane mode when you're in a weak signal area and answer your voicemails and missed calls when you're in a stronger signal area. (Or use a phone with a removable battery and carry a couple of fully charged spares.)

That's a bunch of bull. I was in areas with full signal strength and still had rapid battery drain. I was also in places with weak signal and normal battery drain. Really a reboot is the only fix to sudden battery drain.