Mobile phone signal query
 

My wife and I both use the same type of phone, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, on the same network in France, Orange.

At any time, in any location, my wifes phone shows a much stronger signal on the screen when compared to mine. I have put my sim card into another phone and it still shows a weaker reception signal.

Could my sim card be faulty?

Have you swapped sims with your wife. That might provide more conclusive results.

Are you using different cases?

It might be worth checking network mode. You might be set up on different parts of the same providers network. In my Galaxy, I go to Settings/Network connections/more networks/mobile networks/network mode. Are you both on the same mode? If I use GSM only, I tend to get more bars on the signal indicator.

Signal bars lie.

Can you make and receive calls? If so, don't worry about it.

Even exactly the same model phone with sequential serial numbers will have differences in electrical performance. Fact is, some phones may have a slightly more sensitive receive module, others slightly more powerful transmitter sections. So long as the phones fall within the range of specifications set by the manufacturer when tested, they are released for sale.

It is no different to two identical cars having slightly different performance because of mechanical tolerances and state of tune of the engines.

Can you tune up your phone to get better performance? No.

Minor differences in component and antenna positioning within the phone case during the assembly stage account for most of the differences in performance. Sometimes you get lucky and get a phone with everything perfectly aligned, other times one of the antennas is twisted a bit out of shape because something snagged as the case was put together. The phone works fine, just not quite as well as it could if everything was perfect.

The signal bar display is only an approximation of signal strength and generally isn't accurately calibrated. There are hacks available on the Internet for various smart phones that allow you to display a number instead of the signal bars. The number is representative of the signal being received by that particular phone.

Just spent two weeks in Cornwall. I've got an iPhone 4S, Mrs has a 5.

When we could get a signal (phones set to automatic) we rarely got the same network provider. She'd get vodephone with three bars and I'd get E with 1.

Network settings identical.

I'm also really surprised that a 1st world country like the UK can have such crappy connectivity, even in rural areas.

1st world country? You jest, especially when it concerns mobiles or Broadband.

My mobile got a better reception at Machu Picchu than I get in my house.

In telco land final testing is now an end-user responsibility. If you're really dissatisfied with the performance of the phone take it back and demand another one. Costs 'em nothin, your provider would rather see you happy paying them your bills than risk you going elsewhere.

Unfortunately every mobile phone I've ever owned keeps playing the find me by triangulation game by constantly binding to every nearby base station in a round-robin way. Also noticed that it always splurges data every time I pull into my driveway. These are the perils I guess from having worked for a Swedish multinational and been unwilling caught up in 2 murders involving a bunch of of their retarded employees.

I use an iPhone 6 on EE in the UK and in the last year (And more so since EE introduced wifi calling) the signal and call dropouts has been shocking. I have complained to EE on numerous occasions, you get the usual "we are upgrading our masts, the mast near to you is under investigation" etc bla bla. I was eventually put onto a techie chap who had sympathy with me and he explained that there is no international standard with phone signals. If phone A shows 3 bars signal strength, then phone B might show only one bar. He said not to get hung up on it, as long as it makes calls, forget what it shows. Well I explained that is my problem, dropped calls and the phone going straight to voicemail, I don't even get the opportunity to answer it!! After many an hour on the phone EE have refunded one months phone bill and given me £10 a month off my bill for the next 6 months, I think the guy knew I was not going away with the problem. I have been an Orange/EE customer since Adam was a lad and I seriously suggested I would be leaving the network, hence a bit of credit for me, I certainly think they are pushing 4G data to the detriment of what mobile companies core business is, to allow you to make mobile phone calls!!