Hello friends,
I have a i9500 which is exactly 2 years old and - with this age - ran out of warranty here in Thailand already.
A while ago, from one day to another, my Bluetooth reception dropped dramatically. It was not a slow process of decreasing reception. It was one day ok and the next day very bad.
Usually, you have a range of let's say 5 to 6 meters when you connect to a (in my case) Bluetooth headset. Suddenly, the range dropped to 30 centimeter! Then I realized that the WiFi range also decreased.
So, what to do? First, I changed ROMs, but nothing helped. I did factory reset, wiping, and so on. Nothing helped. I checked the internet and didn't really find answers. One blog talked about faulty Bluetooth chips. So, I went to the Samsung service center. But they only wanted to replace the motherboard which should have cost me around 5300Thai baht, which is around 150Euro or 175USD. Regarding the age of the phone, that was a no go.
So I started to check for a new phone. But somehow, I didn't want to accept that I don't have a choice. Besides that I am on a tight budget, I wanted to find out what is really the reason for this.
Suddenly I ran into a blog which showed some components of the S4 and that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antenna(s) are packed under a flap after you remove the back cover. It says something about cleaning the antenna under the flap as a last resort. So....I thought... Bluetooth, Wi-Fi. Sounds like my problem. As I don't have the according tools and skills, I took the phone to a small phone shop. First, the guy didn't want to believe that I ask him to clean the antennas, but he agreed though.
I came back 40 minutes later and we checked everything together.
Result: PROBLEM SOLVED
Back at home I made more tests with my Wi-Fi reception and the range of Bluetooth and I have to say: as good as new!
All this cost me only 300Thai Baht = 8Euro = 10USD
So... Before you throw your S4 away or sell it because you have similar problems, try this small surgery.
I hope this helps some of you guys.
Kind regards
Dirk
I have a i9500 which is exactly 2 years old and - with this age - ran out of warranty here in Thailand already.
A while ago, from one day to another, my Bluetooth reception dropped dramatically. It was not a slow process of decreasing reception. It was one day ok and the next day very bad.
Usually, you have a range of let's say 5 to 6 meters when you connect to a (in my case) Bluetooth headset. Suddenly, the range dropped to 30 centimeter! Then I realized that the WiFi range also decreased.
So, what to do? First, I changed ROMs, but nothing helped. I did factory reset, wiping, and so on. Nothing helped. I checked the internet and didn't really find answers. One blog talked about faulty Bluetooth chips. So, I went to the Samsung service center. But they only wanted to replace the motherboard which should have cost me around 5300Thai baht, which is around 150Euro or 175USD. Regarding the age of the phone, that was a no go.
So I started to check for a new phone. But somehow, I didn't want to accept that I don't have a choice. Besides that I am on a tight budget, I wanted to find out what is really the reason for this.
Suddenly I ran into a blog which showed some components of the S4 and that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antenna(s) are packed under a flap after you remove the back cover. It says something about cleaning the antenna under the flap as a last resort. So....I thought... Bluetooth, Wi-Fi. Sounds like my problem. As I don't have the according tools and skills, I took the phone to a small phone shop. First, the guy didn't want to believe that I ask him to clean the antennas, but he agreed though.
I came back 40 minutes later and we checked everything together.
Result: PROBLEM SOLVED
Back at home I made more tests with my Wi-Fi reception and the range of Bluetooth and I have to say: as good as new!
All this cost me only 300Thai Baht = 8Euro = 10USD
So... Before you throw your S4 away or sell it because you have similar problems, try this small surgery.
I hope this helps some of you guys.
Kind regards
Dirk
