S7 Edge - garbled/alien voice - Nougat

[slaphead]

Hi there,

I've been with Vodafone (via Carphone Warehouse) for about 6 weeks. I have an issue when I make voice calls in that, more often than not, in under a minute the call becomes garbled - the other person can't hear me, and I can't hear them. Alien-like is how I've seen it described elsewhere.

Now, I've rang Vodafone. Tried removing the SIM and puttiing it back in. Doesn't change a single thing. This problem is driving me insane!

Googling around and come across two others experiencing the same problem:

1: http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Pay-monthly/Problems-with-a-new-S7-Edge/td-p/2555741

2: https://forums.androidcentral.com/ask-question/787746-scrambled-alien-noises-during-voice-call-call-...

Both have exactly the same symptoms. However, both also state 3 other common factors:

1. All using an S7/Edge

2. All updated to Nougat

3. All Nottingham based (as I am)

This can't be a coincidence, surely??? No reports of network issues around Nottingham (it's been happening over 3-4 weeks, maybe ever since I started my contract 6 weeks ago).

I feel like I'm going to be passed back and forth between Vodafone and Carphone Warehouse - has anybody else experienced this type of problem and, if so, was there a fix?

I've done a factory reset to see if that makes any difference (still running Nougat).

Many thanks,

Paul.

[slaphead]

Okay, so. I went into CPW last night. I walked up to the counter and told the guy that I've had my S7 Edge less than 7 weeks and was experiencing call problems. His reply? "Underwater/alien sounds? Yeah, we've had over 50 S7 Edges returned in the last few weeks, all reporting the same issue."

The initial few were sent away for repair - no faults found. All running Nougat. They've had no S7's returned though, but I thought they were the same hardware underneath? He reckons it's a fault with Samsung's update to Nougat, but Samsung won't acknowledge there's a problem. When they do it'll be 4-6 weeks before they release an update to fix it. His colleague in the shop came from out the back and she's got an S7 Edge - upgraded to Nougat and gets the same problem.

Clearly, CPW aren't will to (and can't actually do) anything about it. But, you buy a flagship phone on one of the major networks and you expect it to work! The whole thing is a disgrace. If this is an issue with Samsung's update to Nougat then the networks should be getting right behind the consumers on this and escalating it to Samsung.

[slaphead]

Okay, contacted Vodafone again. Best they could do is trade-in. £250. Brilliant. CPW don't want to know. Also, contacted Samsung via their chat - they recommend sending the phone away for repair. No service centre nearby so I'll be without my phone for 2 weeks. Refuse to acknowledge any issues with S7 Edge and Nougat.

Brilliant.

[baxtersaurus]

Just saw you reply about CPW... you must have gone to a different branch than me, where I went twice (Victoria Centre).

The first time they happily took the phone of me to send off... no mention of it being a common problem... then the second time this week (4 weeks later) when - as I described earlier - the guy was totally not interesting in helping me at all, and would only stick to his guns about being able to replicate the problem. I told him that it took at least 30 seconds sometimes for the noise to change... but even though I called his phone twice, he hung up at 29 and 30 seconds, exactly... He just wasn't interested and the store manager didn't show any signs of acknowledging the issue either.

OK, they cannot fix it - but they were not interested in helping at all...

It's impossible to know how to get this resolved right now - and I find it strange it's not a more universal problem - I still struggle to find anyone else reporting this issue...

I am away in London this weekend so will try the phone and see if it happens there!

[ChazzD]

Hi all,

Sorry to hear of the trouble you've been experiencing since the latest software update. 

Any Vodafone or Carphone Warehouse store should be able to send the handsets for repair, however our repair centre may not be able to resolve the issue if it's due to the software. 

It's likely that a fix for the bug will be put in place by Samsung when the next software update is released. 

[baxtersaurus]

It's becoming clear that this is a Samsung issue, although I don't really understand why it's not a universal problem, but seems to be specific to Vodafone in the Nottingham area (or maybe it's not...)

Also, both the OP and I bought our phones from CPW... 

I was just about to post on Samsung - it's almost impossible to get through to anyone there (both their voice support and online support were outsourced abroad) so they only read through scripts and offer zero help... and I came across this post: https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Smartphones-Tablets-Wearables/S7-call-screeching-sound/m-p/17339...

Can I suggest that all those that have posted here, post there as well. I don't understand why it's such a unique problem but the solution does seem to with Samsung, so the more people post about the problem the better!

Thanks

[slaphead]

Done. Good work, baxtersaurus!

[Alex]

@Hashtag Please see @ChazzD's last post on this thread:

---

@ChazzD wrote:

Hi all,

Sorry to hear of the trouble you've been experiencing since the latest software update. 

Any Vodafone or Carphone Warehouse store should be able to send the handsets for repair, however our repair centre may not be able to resolve the issue if it's due to the software. 

It's likely that a fix for the bug will be put in place by Samsung when the next software update is released. 

[Goodsta69]

Son just stick with your broken devices till Samsung pull there finger out what a joke hope compensation is going to be put into place I'm loosing work everyday phone not working

[Alex]

@Goodsta69 I do apologise for the issue still not being resolved. 

However if the issue is related to the manufactures software in the device, there isn't much we're able to help with. 

[Goodsta69]

Sort the problem then and stop telling me to swap to same phone if it's a know hardware fault 

I brought phone from you so it's your duty to sort the problem I didn't buy from Samsung you happy to take money but give people the run around and pass the blame not with me