I have a Samsung Galaxy S2, and live in an area that shows strong reception levels on their coverage map. However, either my phone is defective (tried it on 2 different phones, same issue) or their map is WRONG! My question is ---- Would changing from the stock ROM to a different ROM here on XDA help improve my coverage, and if so, any suggestions?? Would I need a ROM, or just a radio change?
More Details if interested/needed.... My S2 randomly goes from having several bars of coverage, to absolutely no bars of coverage, and the dreaded 0 notification in the notification space. If I try to make a call, it goes to a screen that says emergency calls only... If I keep redialing (10 or more times) the number consecutively,it will usually show me a few bars and I can make the call. However, at work, I usually cant even do that, and it just wont work till I move to a different place (usually just a foot or two, at most!) I have missed many calls because the phone looses service. I used to have a sprint phone, and it worked fine without any issue, but the same cant be said for at&t.. Any help appreciated!!!!!!
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I have had 2 different vibrants now and they both have done the same thing. I haven't been able to isolate the problem to any one thing so I ask if there is anyone else experiencing the same problem. My network connection just freezes. I can't call or text and I have no data. If I try to make a call, it freezes on dialing and the only way to get it back is reboot. This is happening about twice a day and is really a pain. The only way I know it has happened is by trying to make a call and it freezes. I don't know how long it has been that way and when people try to call me, it goes straight to vmail. I put a new SIM card in thinking that was the problem, but it didn't help. I have searched everywhere trying to find a fix. TMO CSR was absolutely no help at all. Shocking.
BTW I am in an area with no 3G coverage. I am on EDGE all the time.
splayer7 said:
I have had 2 different vibrants now and they both have done the same thing. I haven't been able to isolate the problem to any one thing so I ask if there is anyone else experiencing the same problem. My network connection just freezes. I can't call or text and I have no data. If I try to make a call, it freezes on dialing and the only way to get it back is reboot. This is happening about twice a day and is really a pain. The only way I know it has happened is by trying to make a call and it freezes. I don't know how long it has been that way and when people try to call me, it goes straight to vmail. I put a new SIM card in thinking that was the problem, but it didn't help. I have searched everywhere trying to find a fix. TMO CSR was absolutely no help at all. Shocking.
BTW I am in an area with no 3G coverage. I am on EDGE all the time.
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Click to collapse
Since you have had the problem now with two different phones it could be a result of some app(s) you have installed, or related to your coverage. Did thr problem start after having each phone for some time?
I am working on ruling out an app. Weird thing is, I have had winmo for over 3 years in the same area with no probs. This is my first android. I am uninstalling an app at a time to figure out if it is one.
****Update****
So I uninstalled the ESPN Scorecenter app. I haven't had a freeze in over 24 hrs. Guess I am going to have to find another app to follow the games while I am at church.
are you sure u r in area that has only Edge? have u try to Lagfix the fone?
goodluck.
This just happened to my wife's Vibrant. This reminds me of when I had the T-mobile Shadow, where suddenly, it would not be able to send or receive data or calls BUT the phone itself shows no indications of any signal problems. It's as if the cellular software component has frozen and so the signal bars are frozen to whatever state they were and thus tricking you into thinking everything is fine until you try to make a call or someone calls you on a landline wondering if your cell phone is dead.
I suspect it's due moving into a poor or zero signal area and the phone tries to make a data connection. I really have no idea how to fix this other than to hope there is a firmware update to resolve this. The only fix is to reboot the phone (flipping the phone to flight mode gets one to a state where you can't turn flight mode off... which indicates a lost of control to the cellular component).
I am consider finding a way to reboot the phone nightly, which will help if this happens overnight, but I wish there was a way to detect this more immediately so it can reboot when needed. Perhaps an app that monitors the carrier signal strength and if the signal level is perfectly the same for a long duration, then a lock up of the cellular component is suspected.
Hi, I have strange problem with my SGS2. While I'm in my apartment I simply can't use it to make phone calls.
Someone calls me, I answer, either by dragging or by pressing home button (I set that option in the call setting menu). But nothing happens, ringing stops, but screen stays the same, showing that someone is calling me, and of course, it isn't connected, no voice is coming through. I can drag answer icon all day long but it won't make it connect. If caller is patient enough it will connect after 30-60 seconds after I tried to answer the call.
Second problem is that if I call someone, or it connects us after those 30-60 seconds, call will simply be dropped after 5-10 seconds.
Signal is fine, 3 or 4 bars, when I'm somewhere else I don't have these issues. Few days ago I got called while I was in underground garage in same building I live in, there were no bars on signal indicator, but phone answered immediately and it didn't drop for those 2-3 minutes I talked. But When I'm in my apartment (I live on the 4th floor, there are no large buildings blocking the signal, and anyway, phone says signal is 3-4 bars...) I'm unable to make or answer calls.
This is from the first day I bought it, at first I thought it's something with network, that they were doing something, since my old HTC Legend had no problems here, but after a month it's the same.
Do android phones have radio "part" in their software? Like older WinMo phones did? I remember my yet older HTC Artemis had so I could flash other radio versions to get better reception and battery life.
Or does someone have better idea? Because I'm all out, warranty is useless since this isn't something that happens everywhere so I can't show "them" it doesn't work...
Firmware is stock, I debranded it from t-mobile to XWKE7, kies recognizes it so I think I did that part OK. But anyway, this problem is from day one, before I reflashed it for the first time.
Solo761 said:
Hi, I have strange problem with my SGS2. While I'm in my apartment I simply can't use it to make phone calls.
Do android phones have radio "part" in their software?
Yes it baseband/Modem interchangeable and flashed as phone via Odin .
Question = Q&A section .
jje
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Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll look if there are alternative software for baseband/modem. Hopefully that will help.
Hi All,
I am having a strange problem with my S2 since last few months. I am from Mumbai, India and using Airtel network. There is a spot in my apartment which has very poor network reception of Airtel and I face issues whenever my cell is in that spot for a while. It happens that whenever I take my cell in that area, it starts losing signal bars till no bars are highlighted on the status bar at the top. It keeps showing zero bars but does not show "no signal" icon. Then, after keeping my cell in that spot for a while when I bring it in a better connectivity spot, signal bars start increasing and it appears that my cell has better reception again. However, if anyone tries to call me or I try to call anyone, they get "Out of coverage area" message or I get "Network registration failed" message respectively. I am having this problem since the day I started using Airtel and have tried a lot of remedies but only thing that works is rebooting my cell. I have tried using OpenSignal app to reset my connection whenever my cell comes back from the spot but even that fails to revive it and ultimately I have to reboot.
Has anyone faced such an issue and any ideas about a fix? Does it look like an issue with my cell or could it be an issue with my network provider? I would prefer not to root my S2 since I have 3 years warranty on it but if you think that it's the only way out of this, please let me know your opinion.
Thanks.
Sounds like a carrier issue to me. You pretty much said exactly that yourself when you said 'There is a spot in my apartment which has very poor network reception of Airtel and I face issues whenever my cell is in that spot for a while'.
That's normal in many buildings. Particularly if the network coverage in your area is borderline or poor. I have a similar issue in my house, in a few rooms I get no bars & sometimes coverage drops out completely, whereas in my loungeroom/dining/kitchen at the back of the house I get good coverage (for me, anyways).
You could try different modems, which might improve things. You don't have to be rooted to flash these, you can flash them using Odin. Tho it is easier to flash them with CWM if you're rooted.
I use to had the same issue with my 3 carrier at my desk in the office, and still on 2g services. I but since last month they already improved to hsdpa network added more bts and now my blank spot became H.
Yes you may try to change other service providers
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Thanks for your suggestions guys. Yes, it might be only related to the carrier. But, I think that if signal goes down to zero and then when my cell is back in better coverage zone, shouldn't the modem take care of network registration by itself? My problem is that it doesn't. I have to reboot my cell every time after I come to know that my cell is showing signal bars but is not actually registered on the network. If I reboot my cell, everything becomes normal and so if it was just an issue with the carrier, shouldn't it continue like that even after reboot? If I think about it logically, I think following should help me out:
1. Try out a different cell for a few days and see if I face this issue or not.
2. If answer to 1 is no, then try out different modems on my S2 and see if that helps.
Actually, I just wanted to check if anyone else has faced this issue and figured out that something is not right with S2 drivers or something? That would help me with quick resolution of my problem.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Yep, your logic is sound ;-)
One thing tho. With regard to trying your sim out in another phone, you have to keep in mind the radio hardware is obviously different in different phones. And what that means is (and this is something I've observed on XDA), chances are you'll find the sim works perfectly in the other phone & you have no issues at all. This might be due to the actual equipment your carrier is using in the cell tower(s) you're close to, also the frequencies that gear is using might also be playing a part in your problems.
So definitely try it out in another phone & see what happens, but you could do worse than try out a bunch of modems in the S2 & see if that improves things.
crypticlight said:
1. Try out a different cell for a few days and see if I face this issue or not.
2. If answer to 1 is no, then try out different modems on my S2 and see if that helps.
Actually, I just wanted to check if anyone else has faced this issue and figured out that something is not right with S2 drivers or something? That would help me with quick resolution of my problem.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are carrier issues, and maybe even the material of the constructions, in my house there are rooms where there's almost no signal at all, and in the living room it's ok, you should try to see in which tower you are connected maybe thats the problem
I have also had these problems on various networks here in Australia. If you don't need the data network, you could try using 2G only option. But that's not really a fix, is it? I suggest you try a pre-paid SIM from another network provider, to test them out first, before re-contracting.
Good luck. :fingers-crossed:
MistahBungle said:
One thing tho. With regard to trying your sim out in another phone, you have to keep in mind the radio hardware is obviously different in different phones. And what that means is (and this is something I've observed on XDA), chances are you'll find the sim works perfectly in the other phone & you have no issues at all. This might be due to the actual equipment your carrier is using in the cell tower(s) you're close to, also the frequencies that gear is using might also be playing a part in your problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I was also thinking about it. It could be the combo of cell tower and S2 that are not liking each other that well.. And, if that's the case, I really hope that the issue can be resolved by switching modem drivers. I will have to do some what-ifings to nail this down now.
I like the other suggestion by HotrodHarry on trying out 2G only option - not the best way out but will help me in zeroing down on the cause.
I have an I9300 which I use on Vodafone UK. The phone was a sim-free handset, CSC=BTU
I'm currently running firmware XXEMC2, rooted
I sometimes get an issue where my HSPA data connection will stall. All I'll see is the "up" arrow flashing for around 2 minutes, but no data will be downloaded.
After around this period of time, or if I switch phone off/on line the connection will start working again
A few times I've noticed when this occurs the data connection symbols will disappear completely - so perhaps the phone or network is totally timing out.
This has occurred with a variety of firmware levels back to XELLA and before. My suspicion is that it's a network issue, but was wondering if anyone sees this on any other network.
I am considering trying one of the vodafone branded firmware's MODEMs in case there's anything they tweak that might work better.
planetf1 said:
I sometimes get an issue where my HSPA data connection will stall. All I'll see is the "up" arrow flashing for around 2 minutes, but no data will be downloaded.
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Click to collapse
I've now tried a variety of modems (including vodafone fw / modem) & full firmware but continue to see this issue from time to time.
If left alone after something like up to 5 minutes the connection will drop and recycle. No idea if that's phone or network initiated.
It is however VERY frustrating. My strong suspicion is that this is a VODAFONE NETWORK ISSUE not a handset issue. Of course as my phone is a sim free phone it may be tricky convincing vodafone of this fact.
Has anyone else seen these issues, especially on vodafone uk?
It *seems* to occur more on a few particular cells (well I notice the ones at gym for example) and less (possibly never) on suresignal, and just occasionally at work (small cell?) Overload on the cells is my suspicion ... classic vodafone.
I've never noticed this on 3UK, though that's been on a nexus S (currently lost ). If only 3UK had coverage at work I'd switch back easily. Vodafone has broader geographic coverage but I'm convinced the network is more flakey
When you have an UP arrow, that is upload. This signifies a connection going out from your phone to the network. If this hangs for a while and does not produce any connection back (DOWN arrow), this would definitely signify a network issue to me. Sometimes on the S3, the signal bars say there is a signal when there isn't or there is a signal but the connectivity between you and the network is non-existent
There are several things that can cause this. It can be Mast, Network, SIM, Modem, baseband... Its hard to say. All you can do is rule them out one at a time.
My gut feel is network too. It's definately happening with a good decent signal when stationary.I need to check more closely but it also seems location dependent (but not single location)
Had my x1 for a couple of days now and lots to like about it however I have noticed that it seems to have a very weak phone signal reception.
I am on three in the UK and in the normal areas I travel I have never noticed an issue on my other phones with it struggling to hold on to signal bars.
Anyone else have this?
Signal bars mean absolutely nothing. Many oem even show full bars even when there is actually no signal.
Better install cellmapper app that will exactly show and record the signal where you travel.
Also, do you have 3uk volte working?(calls over 4g network)
Well all I can say is that I live less than a mile from the nearest mast and would nearly always have full signal bars on other phones yet on this phone it drops on and off 1 bar.
I will download the app you mentioned and see what that shows
I've had this problem with numerous Sony phones over the years, always poor signal compared to Sammy's, Pixel's and iPhones that I've had. Same issue with the X1 I have now, always on WiFi calling and no signal, my Pixel 3 XL would be happily sitting on 4G.
andybg40 said:
I've had this problem with numerous Sony phones over the years, always poor signal compared to Sammy's, Pixel's and iPhones that I've had. Same issue with the X1 I have now, always on WiFi calling and no signal, my Pixel 3 XL would be happily sitting on 4G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad it's not just me then.
I do remember having this issue on a previous Sony phone also but can remember the model now. It's been a long time since I had a Sony but thought this one was going to tick every box which it almost does apart from having reliable signal reception which is really should be a must!
Is there anyway they can improve this with software of are we stuck with it due to hardware issues?
I'm in my 14 days returns periods at the moment and like everything about this phone apart from what it should do first and foremost
I am having the same problem, I'm on EE and my LTE keeps dropping from 4 bar's to 1 bar then nothing which causes me to lose data connection. It then jumps to 4 bar's again and then repeats this over and over. This is happening at home where I always have full reception. I have tested my sim in 5 different phones all have full reception and don't lose connection only my Xperia 1 does! Any help would be appreciated.
Same problem for me. I switched my SIM from Galaxy S8 to X1. S8 has 4 to 5 bars while X1 struggles with getting one bar at home.
Ffs... The bars mean nothing. Sony phones take into consideration RSRQ(signal quality) and SINR(s noise) values of the signal. Other oem don't. The actual signal power RSRP (do not confuse it with bars) is same or better on Sony.
Xperia 1 has most advanced modem and antenna setup of any 4g phone. 4x4 mimo even on low bands (first to have it).
3uk and ee are special in the sense that they need phone to support volte to get access to their low band spectrum(band 20).
So make sure you have volte aka 4g calling enabled and check with apps like Netmonster or Cellmapper the band and RSRP of the signal. Then compare it with other phones at the same place.
VeixES said:
Ffs... The bars mean nothing. Sony phones take into consideration RSRQ(signal quality) and SINR(s noise) values of the signal. Other oem don't. The actual signal power RSRP (do not confuse it with bars) is same or better on Sony.
Xperia 1 has most advanced modem and antenna setup of any 4g phone. 4x4 mimo even on low bands (first to have it).
3uk and ee are special in the sense that they need phone to support volte to get access to their low band spectrum(band 20).
So make sure you have volte aka 4g calling enabled and check with apps like Netmonster or Cellmapper the band and RSRP of the signal. Then compare it with other phones at the same place.
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Click to collapse
If it's as simple as that why is it not enabled on this phone already?
I think what you seem to be over looking is the fact that I and others here have said that yes the bars are lower than other phones and flutter slot but also to the point where they drop completely and give no reception at all. A situation not faced on other phones.
Can you explain how we enable this missing band so that the phone can provide a more reliable/stable reception
Does your phone have 3uk volte(4g calling) enabled? Phone should stay in 4g during call. If not then you are out of luck.
ee users can install EE firmware to get Volte working if it's not already . newflasher on xda helps to change firmware.
And please compare signals with abovementioned apps.
hpsauce37 said:
Glad it's not just me then.
I do remember having this issue on a previous Sony phone also but can remember the model now. It's been a long time since I had a Sony but thought this one was going to tick every box which it almost does apart from having reliable signal reception which is really should be a must!
Is there anyway they can improve this with software of are we stuck with it due to hardware issues?
I'm in my 14 days returns periods at the moment and like everything about this phone apart from what it should do first and foremost
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're having signal drops / dropped phone calls etc... I get it. But Sony is historically notorious for showing lower signals than others on those bars. However, as stated, the bars are pretty meaningless. I've owned many Sony's, and while the bars are lower (sometimes all empty), I still have signal in all the places I should. YMMV.
VeixES said:
Does your phone have 3uk volte(4g calling) enabled? Phone should stay in 4g during call. If not then you are out of luck.
ee users can install EE firmware to get Volte working if it's not already . newflasher on xda helps to change firmware.
And please compare signals with abovementioned apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't honestly know. My phone was purchased sim free from carphone warehouse and I use it on 3 network. The phone just set itself up. How would I check this? Is it something listed under network settings?
It's so frustrating as I'm really loving a lot about this phone but just want it to be comparable at least with my other phones I've used with call reception
those who are having signal problem, are you using EE network?
I saw lots of people with EE reporting this issue on official sony forum.
Got mine yesterday from Vodafone and signal is perfect !
XSIIS said:
those who are having signal problem, are you using EE network?
I saw lots of people with EE reporting this issue on official sony forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes
I also have only 1 bar... Orange.
If you are EE UK user, then you need EE firmware on your Xperia 1 to get best network compatibility(Volte and low band support because of it).
3UK users probably need also 3UK firmware but that does not seem to exist yet.
This weirdness of low band access is specific to two UK operators. Everywhere else the device is fully capable of best 4g experience.
Wait Next update
Enviado desde mi G8141 mediante Tapatalk
So for those of us on three network but purchased the phone sim free are stuck with the problem as three do not sell this handset themselves so unlikely to release any firmware for it.
That does not look good for me so I think I will need to return within my 14 days.
Shame.
There's definitely a network connectivity issue with the XP1 right now though. This seems to affect only XP1's on the EE network, which were *not* bought from EE direct, i.e. ones with stock firmware. (e.g. mine!)
The symptoms are that periodically, first the 4G symbol disappears, then the signal goes to zero and you've lost the internet. Then it reconnects back onto 4G again. Sometimes this repeats 3 or 4 times in succession. The whole thing takes from 5 seconds to maybe 30 seconds depending on how many re-tries.
You can go for maybe an our or so without a problem, or sometimes it happens like every 10 minutes.
And here's the key part: this happens wherever you are, even on a full strength signal. As far as I can make out, this affects ALL XP1s with stock firmware on EE. EE say it's a Sony problem. Sony say it's a network issue. So we are all stuck.
Does anyone know of a suitable network logging app, which will log 4G disconnects and signal loss, so we can provide evidence to EE and Sony?
More info here:
https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-1/Issue-with-network-dropping/td-p/1376332/highlight/false
(My phone is fine with a Vodafone sim. There's something specific to the phone firmware/config - timers, buffer sizes, packet sizes - whatever - and the EE network. But right now, on EE, it's unusable.)