OMG Signal woes!

[GoingCrazy1010]

So, I have a Samsung Note 20 Ultra 5G. Since the November security update my wifi has been a disaster (all other devices fine including a Note 9 that hasn't been updated), this lead me to realise that my Three uk signal was fairly poor, worse than in the past. They happily let me out of my contract due to the poor signal, so off I went to Vodafone. The network checker looked good so I signed up. Following a heck of a battle to actually get a sim activated, honestly a nightmare, I finally went live! The signal is worse! 

Now this is where I need a geek. Band of Brothers? I recognize you from the Samsung forums....

My note seems to bounce around 3 Voadafone masts, one is 637 meters away and I can get a bit of 4g in my downstairs study but the living room which oddly is nearer no 4g at all. I can get a H+ signal from a mast a bit nearer, and sometimes while I am sat doing nothing it bouces off to a further mast and next to no signal. 

I have reset everything I can reset, been on to live chat twice and am trying again right now. It seems the Samsung is poor for any kind of network but should it be this bad? What on earth can I do? I have 3 masts nearby, one nearer than my three uk one was and yet the signal is worse. I have yet to try it at work which will be the decider as to whether I sat with Vodafone. 

Forgive me if this makes little sense, I am very tired and quite poorly so not at my best!

[BandOfBrothers]

Geek... me.... no ,never @GoingCrazy1010 

I've been speaking to some users on the Samsung eu forum who also say they have had some Wi-Fi issues after updating their phone's to the November update.

Although that said others say theirs is fine.

I can't check yet as I'm on the October update.

My updates are a little slower as my N20 is the Snapdragon version imported into the UK.

You could send a bug report to Samsung via your Samsung Members App which will get directly picked up by the Samsung Development Team. If enough people do this then hopefully Samsung will include a fix in their next update.

The Vodafone Network Service Checker is only to provide an indication of suggested signal and should only really be used as a guideline and actual signal checked out via using a Vodafone Payg sim card where aversion lives, works and commutes to get an actual real world indication of Network connection,  signal and data speeds before signing up to a monthly contract.

From @PedroC1999 "Phones do not latch onto the strongest signal.They follow the network assigned procedure, hence why it's not uncommon to be connected to a weaker signal than is strictly available”

This maybe why your connection is bouncing around.

When I have updated my N20 Ultra to the November update I'll be closely looking at WiFi and network connection myself.

I may even forgo the November update and wait for the next one unless Samsung acknowledge an issue and send out a fix in the meantime.

[GoingCrazy1010]

Thanks Band of Brothers! I have submitted 3 error reports - no response but I guess they are swamped. VF technical people ( I got though yeay!) are blaming a couple of masts with faults that are further afield but impacting the 3 I connect to. I don't know if this is valid or if I was being fobbed off as he didn't seem very technical for technical support,  but I am holding now to get my PAC, they seemed to think all would be well in a few days but I don't want to miss my cooling off period to get out of this contract.

I'd love to know what was changed in that November update

[BandOfBrothers]

No worries @GoingCrazy1010 

Samsung don't always reply but the error reports  / bug reports are collated and I do hope acted upon by the relevant team.

When the update showed up it should have had an explanation as to what's in the update but it's not a comprehensive list unfortunately.

Also a person can't reverse the update unless they use a Custom Rom to replace the current one but that can have implications if not performed right.

You do have 14 days as a Cooling Off Period to cancel a contract and return any included phone as your aware going from your reply.

If a mast is at issue then it's my thought that Vodafone can move traffic from one mast to another which can cause mast congestion while they repair the affected mast(s)

Top tip … Take time and date stamped pictures of the phone with one of it turned On to prove it works and it's aesthetics condition. Factory reset it and remove any relevant sd card and sim card.

I'm sorry to see you go if you do decide to proceed with cancelling vja giving your Pac to another network within 30 days of issue but please also leave your direct debit in place to allow for any debits and credits from Vodafone UK to stop any potential recovery action which can include 6 year defaults. I'm mentioning this as we do see a fair few posts from people then having to try and remove a default even because of relatively low amounts of money.

If a phone was supplied as part of the contract then Vodafone will send a Returns Bag as a person at the moment can't return a phone to a Vodafone Highstreet Store.

Take care. 

[GoingCrazy1010]

Thanks Band of Brothers. I bought my phone from direct from Samsung, sadly as part of the annual upgrade plan, so I am rather stuck with it until next September (and I see a number of people having issues with that!). As I don't have a landline reliable wifi and/or data is crucial for calls and messaging apps. The test for Vodafone will be at work, if I don't get much of a signal there......Three managed an amazing signal there. Work is actually close to home so if technical support were being truthful about a temporary fault my signal there will be rubbish - I tried to find out if this fault would be fixed before the end of my cooling off period, I really don't want to have change providers again. I know that O2 have a terrible signal at work, and I never have managed to get much of a signal at home or work with EE...not many options there, Three or Vodafone! Surely in 2020 things should be better than this? It is not as if I live or work in a rural area! I can only hope for Samsung to provide a fix, but I see from various forums that wifi and data signal issues have plagued Samsung models for sometime, I was lucky until now. Indeed my friend gets a better signal and no wifi issues with her Oneplus 6 compared to the S20 Plus I regrettably suggested she buy.

[GoingCrazy1010]

And the faults have been fixed with absolutely no improvement to my signal. I knew the tech support chap was fobbing me off, such a shame to see a poor display of knowledge and integrity. 

[BandOfBrothers]

If you purchased directly from Samsung UK online then they give 28 days cooling off to return the phone for a full refund @GoingCrazy1010 

[GoingCrazy1010]

Oh I bought it at launch, hence why I know it is the November update that is the issue, from launch till that update the wifi was fine (and no other updates were done to the router or anything else, and I hadn't updated any phone apps at that point either). So, I am rather stuck with it I am afraid.