HTC One series

[Pimbo]

Has anyone else noticed the One S has a particularly low signal strength?  

I need to do some more comparisons with my previous HTC Desire later, but I'm barely getting more than 2 bars (-101 dBm 6 asu) and sometimes the signial is dropping out completely and needs a reset (switching to Airplane mode and back) to get any signal back.

I've had a new SIM, but no change.  Is it a dodgy phone, or just a "characteristic" or the One S?

[Andy]

Hi Pimbo,

To rule out any network issues, can you please try the steps in our Network Troubleshooting thread.

If you are still experiencing the issue having completed these steps, post the template with your answers here and I'll have a member of the team get back to you ASAP.

Thanks

Andy
Moderator

[azzledazzle]

dude your not alone, I have the same problem

im hoping a software update will fix this, I had this issue with my last phone (Sensation) it was soo bad they sent me a new one (One S) i was given a week to test it.. it was fine after the one week, when i agreed to keep it... BOOM ###### signal all the time.. 

i just cant get my head around it... Maybe its HTC ? Ive never had problems like this untill i moved to HTC 

Let me know if you get a fix please.

Thanks 

[Pimbo]

1). Does the issue happen in just one location?
No, poor signal at all times, even when other phones show 5 bars, HTC One S shows one or two bars.

2). Does the issue occur if you try your SIM card in a different phone?
No.

3). Can you check your coverage here? Please bear in mind that this is only a guideline and can never be 100% accurate, particularly for indoor coverage.
Home and work show "Good indoors"

4). Can you check our Faults Board, which contains all the mast issues we’re aware of.
No related entries on the Faults Board

5). Does this issue happen on 2G/3G or both. To check this, you can amend your phone's network settings, our Help Centre contains all the instructions, just select your model of phone and then select "network".
Switching to 2G (GSM) and get 5 bars (-87 dBm 13 asu)
changing to 3G (GSM/WCDMA auto) gets 2 bars (-101 dBm 6 asu)

6). What is the full postcode of where the issue occurs (if you’re uncomfortable with this appearing on the forum, then please add it to your profile by clicking “My eForum Settings” on the front page and then selecting “Personal Information”
Everywhere

7). How far you have to travel to get signal
Always have signal, but very low and often no signal at all.

8). Do you get any error messages/tones if you’re having problems with calling/texting
No Service, Emergency calls only.

[azzledazzle]

1). Does the issue happen in just one location?
Mostly at my home address - occasionally elsewhere

2). Does the issue occur if you try your SIM card in a different phone?
No.

3). Can you check your coverage here? Please bear in mind that this is only a guideline and can never be 100% accurate, particularly for indoor coverage.
Home shows excellent 2G coverage (yes, i have 3G disabled) 

4). Can you check our Faults Board, which contains all the mast issues we’re aware of.
No related entries on the Faults Board

5). Does this issue happen on 2G/3G or both. To check this, you can amend your phone's network settings, our Help Centre contains all the instructions, just select your model of phone and then select "network".
Switching to 2G (GSM) and get 1-2 bars 
3G is non existent where i live - 0 Bars !!

6). What is the full postcode of where the issue occurs (if you’re uncomfortable with this appearing on the forum, then please add it to your profile by clicking “My eForum Settings” on the front page and then selecting “Personal Information”
BL6 6DP 

7). How far you have to travel to get signal
Always have signal, but very low and often no signal at all.

8). Do you get any error messages/tones if you’re having problems with calling/texting
No Service, Emergency calls only - becoming more and more frequent 

[skullduggan]

Me and the Mrs both have HTC One S handsets and find we are having poor signal problems.

Sometimes mine will just freeze up and the only way to get a signal at all is to completely power off. I've tried a restart but that doesn't seem to do anything.

It's a few years ago now, but I think we had similar problems with our HTC Legends until there was an update.

[Xan245]

I too have noticed an overall lower signal strength than I had with my Desire HD, and in some places where I used to have low signal (2G only, but I could still call / text) I now have none, where I used to have full bars at work I not have 3 or 4 of 5 bars

[Simon]

Hi All

Thanks for posting, I've answered all of your individual queries below:

@Pimbo - Having checked your postcode I can see that you're located in RG area. We're currently investigating a number of cell sites and their performance in Reading and the surrounding areas in relation to 3G usage. Your posted results are symptomatic of this and show that your 2G is fine but you're suffering with 3G connection. If you check our Faults Board this will show all of the faults in the area. Therefore in this particular instance this would lead me to believe that this is network and not handset related.

@azzledazzle - I'm disappointed to see that this has happened again after only having the HTC One S for a short period. I've checked your postcode area and there are no faults listed. Unfortunately we're not in a position to arrange another exchange at this stage and the handset would need to be sent away for repair under warranty. This can be done in store or we can arrange this for you.

@skullduggan and Xan245 - If you're still inside the 7 day returns period we can look to arrange an exchange for the faulty devices. If you're outside of 7 days we would need to look at a repair under warranty and you can find more information here - Repair a faulty handset or device.

Thanks

Simon

[asylumSKP]

I've always had 3G signal problems where I am in central London. I have the 2G/3G widget installed on my One S home screen so I can easily switch between GSM and 3G networks. GSM is always rock solid unlike 3G which comes and goes and will drop calls too.

[Steadzy]

I too noticed the signal strength was much lower on this handset after upgrading from a HTC Desire. I first realised when I had much reduced or no signal in the house, despite the phone being in exactly the same place as the Desire usually was. The Desire usually had 4-5 bars, but the One S struggles to get a signal at all.

This is not confined to just my house either, I have exactly the same issue at work (30 miles away) where the signal on the Desire was 3 bars, most of the time the One S has none. Occasionally at work 2 bars do pop up, and sometimes the signal indicator is showing nothing but emails get through whereas SMS messages cannot be sent! Exactly the same issue 10 miles away from my home too. It is definitely not a cell issue, it's is a handset or software issue. 

[studders69]

Same here, just upgraded from HTC Desire, to the One S, and virtually no signal in a position in the house where I'd expect at least 3 bars minimum on the Desire.

FGS I love the phone but the signal is shocking.

Anybody got any ideas on how to improve signal on the handset? Should I complain to Vodafone about this, as it appears I'm not alone with this problem?

Cheers

Si

[tracyma]

Hi there

Experiencing the same issue, definitely not the vodafone signal as other phones in the household have signals and I lose it.

I've changed by network settings to GSM only, but this hasn't improved the problem.

Tracy

[studders69]

OMG What a dilema!

Do I go to Vadofone shop and complain that I'm having issues with poor signal and swap the handset, or do I wait to see if things improve?

Any thoughts on how i should try and progress this?

Si

[Simon]

Hi All

Thanks for your posts.  If you're still inside the 7 day returns period we can look to arrange an exchange for the faulty devices. This can be arranged by our returns team by calling 191 free from your Vodafone phone or 08700 700 191 from a landline and selecting option 3 option 1.

If you're outside of 7 days we would need to look at a repair under warranty and you can find more information here - Repair a faulty handset or device.

Thanks

Simon

[studders69]

I've travelled out of the SA13 area, and signal is better in SA1 and SA3 areas of South Wales.

I've rung Vodafone and it turns out its a transmitter fault, but still nothing is recorded on the Network Faults Forum.

Hope it's back on soon, no signal, no network, not happy customer.

Will consider haqndset swap as last resort because of all the hassle involved doing so.

Si

[tracyma]

After reading these posts,  I have also returned to the shop I bought it from and they confirmed that the phone was the problem. (Not signal, not micro sim).

The signal in the shop was as strong as they expected. As I returned home I still experienced the same problem! I live in a rural area and there is possibly a poor signal but  never had a problem with my htc wildfire.

The phone must have a poor antenna. To try and resolve this I have re-registered our sure signal box- (we switched it off as we think that may be faulty too!)

I'll keep you all posted to see if the problem is resolved.

Tracy

[studders69]

What did the shop staff do to check the signal etc?

Cheers

[tracyma]

As soon as I entered the shop, the signal disappeared- so they knew it was a fault, they expect a 2-3 bar vodafone signal in their shop.

The shop staff know what strength to expect in their shop, I guess they deal with problems everyday so they know what to expect. (p.s I got mine through carphone warehouse)

They swapped my sim card into another phone, the sim was find in this phone, so they knew it was the phone no the micro sim.

When I left with my replacement the signal hadn't disappeared and it was showing a 2-3 bar. I was happy. I haven't gone anywhere this afternoon and my signal still keeps dropping at home, I will see what it's like at work tomorrow.

Does anyone know where the antenna is on the phone?

Tracy

[tracyma]

Though If you've got a fault reported in your area, your problem is not the phone. It might be both. In my household, I'm the only one with signal issues and we are all on vodaphone.

[studders69]

Trie3d Micro Sim swap no improvement.

Replacement handset to be delivered to tomorrow, if that fails, then I'm not sure what other option I'm left with but to consider new network provider perhaps.

Vodafone still not listing any transmitter fault in SA13 area of South Wales, so has to be a handset issue, especially as quite a few on here have similar problems.

Oh yeah, had offer of £10 compensation for lack of signal nice of them to offer.

Good luck all resolving your issues.