Why is my 1x signal strength always -120dBm?

[Davidoo]

I've noticed for the last couple of months anytime I check my "Network type and strength" in the About phone/status menu the 4G varies depending on where I am, but no matter what, the 1x always shows -120dBm. Is that normal? I don't know what 1x would even be needed for on this device, but just wondering if that is what is showing on everyone else's Turbo.

 

[Rukbat]

Ask at your local Verizon store whether Verizon is even using 1X in your area. I'm guessing that -120dBm is the lowest the phone can indicate (there's no minimum amount of signal - your phone's signal, measured on Mars, would be millions [or billions or more] of dB below 0 - but there's a minimum number any phone can display), and there's no 1X signal so it's showing you the lowest number it can show.

 

[vzwuser76]

It depends on where you are if you'll see 1x. The term 1x refers to a digital 2G signal on a CDMA network, the same as EDGE on a GSM carrier. It was replaced by 3G EvDo which is now being replaced by LTE.

Each new network has a shorter effective from the tower than the previous one has. Analog IIRC had a range of around anywhere from 40-70 miles in rural areas line of sight, 1x went for around 25-35 miles, 3G EvDo had a range around 20 miles, and per Verizon tech support LTE is less than that. Again that's in a rural area and line of sight, in a city or more highly densely populated area, they will limit the range of each tower. They do so each tower can handle the traffic as there are limits to the number of simultaneous calls a tower can handle. On 9/11 I remember getting an "all circuits are busy" message due to everyone panicking due to the days events. There is an assumption that not every subscriber will be on the phone at the same time, but I'm starting to get away from the situation at hand.

If you're seeing that low of a 1x signal in places where other Verizon handsets are seeing better signal strength, then you may have an issue with your handset. Otherwise, are most Verizon customers in your area getting better signal than what you are? I'd imagine it has to be one of those two scenarios.

But 1x is still around as is 3G, and according to Verizon tech, it'll be here for quite awhile, like around 10 years, because they need time to shore up their LTE network. And by that I mean they want to ensure they have at least the same footprint with LTE that they have with their CDMA network, and since LTE doesn't carry as far, that means they need to put up more towers. When they said they'd finished rolling out their LTE network, they meant they'd added LTE functionality to their existing towers. Now they need to see what their signal footprint actually is and add towers to compensate for the holes.

It was the same with the transition from analog to digital.

 

[88horizon5speed]

-120 is the lowest, that essentially means no service. I believe 60 is the highest and best signal you can have

 

[Murph5150]

-120 is the lowest, that essentially means no service. I believe 60 is the highest and best signal you can have

-60 dBm.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[tdizzel]

I've noticed for the last couple of months anytime I check my "Network type and strength" in the About phone/status menu the 4G varies depending on where I am, but no matter what, the 1x always shows -120dBm. Is that normal? I don't know what 1x would even be needed for on this device, but just wondering if that is what is showing on everyone else's Turbo.

Do you have advanced calling enabled? If so that's the reason. Basically 1x is the network used for making calls but it's disabled once advanced calling is enabled, that way you're making calls over LTE instead of the 1x network. -120 means no signal which of course would be accurate if it's disabled.

Posted from my Droid Turbo, Kelly and Ozone

 

[Davidoo]

Do you have advanced calling enabled? If so that's the reason. Basically 1x is the network used for making calls but it's disabled once advanced calling is enabled, that way you're making calls over LTE instead of the 1x network. -120 means no signal which of course would be accurate if it's disabled.

Posted from my Droid Turbo, Kelly and Ozone

Thanks tdizzel, I do have Advanced Calling enabled, and come to think of it, that is about the same time I noticed the 1x always at -120. Thanks!

 

[Davidoo]

-120 is the lowest, that essentially means no service. I believe 60 is the highest and best signal you can have

There is a tower in my area and you can walk right up to it. I have had 4G signal as high as -48. I'm assuming, in theory, the highest signal you could get would be zero, but I know in direct wire applications such as your cable TV signal the number can be positive if overdriven.

 

[vzwuser76]

My LTE signal has seen as low as -129dBm, so -120 isn't the lowest. The best signal I've seen personally was -58dBm on 3G close to a tower.

 

[doogald]

My LTE signal has seen as low as -129dBm, so -120 isn't the lowest. The best signal I've seen personally was -58dBm on 3G close to a tower.

LTE signals are different from CDMA (they measure different things). I believe it's about -20 lower, so a -120 dBm CDMA signal would be about a -140 LTE signal. Or, -129 on LTE would be about -109 CDMA. (Still pretty bad, in other words.)

 

[Eclipse2K]

Thanks tdizzel, I do have Advanced Calling enabled, and come to think of it, that is about the same time I noticed the 1x always at -120. Thanks!

If you disable LTE Calling it will change. I was confused at first too, lol.