Wife's S6 bad reception compared to Note 4 (Verizon)

[Kage87Z]

We both picked up our new phones in late September when we switched from TMOBILE back to Big Red.

Her S6 typically shows half the number of bars as my Note 4, even if we're together in, say, a restaurant.

We both have cases on. Any ideas or suggestions?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[lucianus_luciferus]

the question is not about the number of bars. it is about the type of network connection. 2 bars of 4g is different from 4 bars of 3g. enable data on both to see the type of connection.
its also that the note 4 is bigger so we can assume it has bigger antennas.
its apples and oranges really

 

[AlphaTango414]

Don't even use "bars" regardless of comparing type of network your currently running on. "Signal Bars" are extremely misleading. I think they just keep them around since everyone is use to seeing them back before mobile data.

Check out Network Signal Info by KAIBITS Software via Play Store. This will give you detailed break down of signal type, status, and strength.

As mentioned above, a larger device may include a bigger antenna. Also it's been noted across the forum that the S6 has a lack of a great antenna.

 

[Bosbouer]

In about device tap "status" > then tap sim card status. Compare signal strength. The lower dBm value wins the comparison.

 

[drone3]

Yeh, you can't judge reception from the number of bars, but from my personal testing it seems the S6 has a weaker antenna than all my previous phones.

dreaming of electric sheep

 

[Kage87Z]

Checking the signal strength shows the NOTE 4 at -89 dBm and 50 asu on one end of the house... on the other in my office, it's -95 dBm and 45 asu. On the S6, it varies as I watch it over a few minutes (Side by side with the NOTE 4) between -87 dBm and 47 asu up to -93 dBm and 46 asu.

The change is slow; nothing rapid and its with the phone on a coffee table, side by side, if any of that helps.

 

[Bosbouer]

Based on your provided figures, the s6 is better by a small bit. Nothing to it really. Once the dBm goes above 100dBm voice telephony goes out the door, texting may still work
From my own experience with mtn in south Africa, the service provider may approve an external antenna installation at home where the dBm is constantly in the higher 90s.

 

[RobotHeaven]

I think there's an error on the S6. I get great signal with no problems whatsoever, but mine only ever shows 0 or 1 bar when selecting "2G/3G/4G (auto connect)" in the settings. If I select "2G/3G (auto connect)" then the number of bars is usually about 3 or 4, so I think that the number of bars is very deceptive on the S6 (the number of bars is deceptive in most cases, but is especially true on the S6)

 

[LSXGMC]

On my phone I never really found the bars or dBm readings to give any reliable indication of actual reception. I'd do a speed test as the best indicator, and at time's I'd have no network connectivity or very poor (.3Mbps or less) speeds despite having good dBm numbers.