Only getting -105 to -111 dBms -- PROBLEM?

[themogul]

I live in "moderate coverage" area(confirmed by 3 separate ATT reps). I got myself the Captivate the wife got the iphone4. In my house, the iphone gets 1 bar and in our home no bars. Obviously no way measure iphone signal in dBm's(good job apple. It is really a walled garden isn't it).

On captivate, i keep oscillating between -105 to -115dBm and from 4 asu to 1 asu. I really really love the captivate and I was looking forward to a decent Android GSM phone since I travel to Europe/Asia a lot. But the signal is really bugging me. A few times, I couldn't hear the other side properly(the iphone was much worse in such cases). I have till Thursday to decide whether I was to keep the phones or return it. I am very weary about committing another 2 years to death-star is this is going to be an issue.

Can people please advise if this is really a problem OR just ignore this and live with this. I really love android but need a GSM/World phone due to my travels.

Please put me out of my misery. I can't make up my mind

 

[emuneee]

Buy an AT&T Microcell if they are offered in your area. That is probably the only thing you are going to he.able to do about the coverage situation.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

 

[phlunkie]

Complain enough about you're area coverage .it will either get you out of your contact, or a free microcell.

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[themogul]

i complained a lot to 3 different supervisors and they wouldn't offer a free microcell. Would give $70 credit, but did not realize that if I buy the microcell, it add $20 monthly fee. I am not sure if the last supervisor was bullsh****** me, cause the store rep didn't mention the $20 monthly fee.

I was out of contract when I upgrades, so if I return I will go back to no-contract.

 

[larryccf]

i suspect it's reading falsely low or weak - i've got a vibrant and it generally reads the same, where my earlier MT3G would show -63 to -87

but mine doesn't drop calls and pulls 3G and sometimes even pulls down HSDPA

depending on traffic on the web, while showing -111 dBm, mine will test at speedtest.net showing as high as 5.4 Mbps download,

it generally shows 1.6 to 2.6 Mbps but again, all those test results were while showing -105 to -111, same as yours

the Mt3G, while it showed higher signal strength in same spot, never got above 1 Mbps download speed, which is why i'm thinking the signal strength is reading falsely low

if you're not dropping calls and pulling down at least 1 Mbps download speed, i wouldn't worry about it

but in case it helps

 

[kimocal]

I bought 2 at the same time (one for me and then one for the wife). Her's was having the same issue. We have a MicroCell and I get 5 bars and like -85 dBm while her's was showing one bar and -100. Bad antenna. Return it for a functioning one.

 

[davidusr]

i complained a lot to 3 different supervisors and they wouldn't offer a free microcell. Would give $70 credit, but did not realize that if I buy the microcell, it add $20 monthly fee. I am not sure if the last supervisor was bullsh****** me, cause the store rep didn't mention the $20 monthly fee.

I was out of contract when I upgrades, so if I return I will go back to no-contract.

I could be wrong, but, I was under the impression the $20 monthly fee is only if you use the microcell in conjunction with your home internet to get unlimited (doesn't go against your rollover minutes) calling from your cell number. Thats how you get the MC free, otherwise it's $150.

 

[themogul]

After trying another 2 reps, I actually found someone who actually figured that my 3g reception is really really weak and shipped me a microcell give me the credit of the full amount. Finally got lucky. Anxiously waiting for it to try out the signals. I will post my findings here. Need to buy a homeplug adapter so I can keep this by the window. I really hope those works out as I really like phone

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

 

[themogul]

I got the microcell working after some intial hickups. Its been about a week that i have been using the microcell and its working good for me. I get four bars in most of my house which is so much better than no bars. The call quality is much better and all calls are very clear. The iphone and captivate both hold the calls much better now. I am glad this resolved my basic calls issue and i get to enjoy this excellent phone.

Thank you all fpr ur help.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

 

[Dxtra]

What does the service has to do with the phone? I'm confuse. I'm getting the same signal strength I was getting with the iDon't in my home. I don't think it's the phone just the service.

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[MikalCarbine]

I noticed this problem the moment after buying mine. At the store once they powered mine up i walked to the floor model and my signal was 20dbm less than the other. Now in my apartment i get no signal what so ever when my BB would get some. Debating on exchanging mine for another after reading that broken antenna comment

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[baddress]

My first captivate had a bad antenna and got no signal at all, anywhere, even in front of a microcell at their store it got 0 bars. So return or exchange it. Some of them have bad antennas.

 

[MikalCarbine]

Very good to know, I'll be exchanging mine on Monday

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[alphadog00]

Does anyone have data on what good signal numbers i should see? Should I see positive DBm? If so, what? Positive 90? Or is Negative 50 OK?

I can't seem to find good reference material, but I don know when i leave my basement my signal goes from Negative 107 to Negative 95.

Thanks for any references or education.

 

[MikalCarbine]

A higher but negative signal is stronger, with -50dbm being extremely strong, -90dbm usually supporting weak data, voice being acceptable to -95dbm and anything lower than that is considered an unusable signal for most mobiles

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[sl8125]

What is the best signal strength you gotten.? I think mine is -91 it doesn't seem that good. How about you guys? Oh i am in Houston.

Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

 

[MikalCarbine]

I've personally have seen my phone hit -50dbm which I believe is the highest this receiver will read. However this is very sporadic and rare. On average it is in the 90s which is unacceptable. Even beside my girlfriends BB my signal is always 30dbm lower than hers. Keep in mind dbm is a logarithmically scaled unit so 30dbm means my signal is roughly 10 TIMES lower than hers. 3dbm is twice the power

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[xan]

When do you measure your signal levels?

I got same weak signal during cell standby (no phone call, no data traffic).

However!
After initiating data transfer/call signal increases significantly. I'm getting -60-80dbm.

This means radio is saving battery juice when not extensively used, which should be considered positive.

 

[MikalCarbine]

When do you measure your signal levels?

I got same weak signal during cell standby (no phone call, no data traffic).

However!
After initiating data transfer/call signal increases significantly. I'm getting -60-80dbm.

This means radio is saving battery juice when not extensively used, which should be considered positive.

I've noticed this too, at idle if I have one "bar" and I initiate a phone call the bars will increase to 2-3. However, there are times where I am on the fringe of no signal whatsoever to even initiate a call or to use data because the signal received is so low. Also, when my captivate reports 2-4 bars its usually still at -90dbm. I just did a test by calling someone and watching my bars, although the bars went up, while the conversation was still engaged I was only getting below -90dbm. I'm about to head to the store to check out a replacement

 

[MikalCarbine]

Just traded phones, this one seems to have the same issues... I'm curious if the build date has anything to do with this. My first Captivate was on 7/27/10, this was printed on the battery at least. The AT&T rep gave me just a new phone while using my same battery, how can I check the build date of the phone with the serial number? I've seen mention of this somewhere on these forums about a link at Samsung that will tell me

Edit: Figured it out, it's under the Samsung product registration, when you enter your IMEI it tells you the manufacturer date. This one is also 7/27/10... I wonder if it's a common problem with older phones. Can you guys having this problem verify your manufacturing date?