Samsung Galaxy Note 3, poor signal reception

[Anonymous]

I have just bought a Sumsung Galaxy Note 3 and I am having problems receiving a 3g signal, before this I had a Blackberry Torch on Orange and their signal has been all over the place, from 5 bars on 3g to SOS.

The reason I bought the Note 3 on O2 was the number of good reviews for the Note 3 and I had bought an LG GT540 on PAYG some time ago and at home I can usually get 2 or 3 bars on 3g but on the Note 3 I can usually only get a 2g signal, if I lock the Note 3 on WCDMA I might scrape 1 bar but most of the time there is no signal strength.

Has anyone else had the same problem or if they know a work round other than changing the phone I would be glad to hear.

[Anonymous]

And it appears @MI5 that you and I were both correct.

I emailed them and didn't get a response so tonight did a bit of further digging and it appears that the company who were hosting the website have suspended the account of the company selling cheap mobile phones.

Glad I checked it out now as it looked like a scam when I saw it and now I am convinced. For everyone's financial safety I won't name the website here but if anyone is keen to know (esp if you are thinking of buying a handset) then send me a PM and I will let you know there.

[MI5]

£455 is the best sim free price I've seen recently from a reputable dealer... Anything significantly less has to be suspicious and you were right to question it.

[Anonymous]

Amazon currently £400 with free "super saver delivery" for region locked sim free.

Other than that £450 upwards seems to be the norm although prices likely to fall later in the year when the Note 4 comes out.

[Anonymous]

I have just switched to 02 I have Note 3 and my partner has a s4. Neither can use the phone inside. No 4g in my area, so switched it to 3G still no good and have switched to 2g still no good. Any ideas. Can I get a booster of some kind?

[adamtemp64]

@Anonymous no booster unless on a business contract if you have home broadband look at this app http://www.o2.co.uk/apps/tu-go

what is the coverage checker / status page saying ? http://www.o2.co.uk/connectivity

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous

Before entering your contracts did you try the network using a free sim out are there others in your location on o2 getting good signal? The online coverage checkers for all networks are computerised simulators and are not very reliable. I appreciate this is being said after the horse has bolted so to speak.

It is work checking the network status at
status.o2.co.uk to see if any masts near you are being worked on, are down or are suffering capacity issues. If they are then hopefully a solution is round the corner.

If not and you are on consumer contracts and have decent wifi at home then try tugo (free from the Android and Apple stores).

[Anonymous]

I am on my 2nd note 3 and still have a poor signal, I can be with other O2 users and they have a signal and can make and receive calls when I can't .......very frustrating. Looking at other forums the problem seems to be with the note 3. My old S2 was fine. Sending the note 3 back tomorrow grrrr

[Anonymous]

I have been with o2 since 2006, and never had too much trouble so stuck with them again for this years upgrade.  Never had 3G at home, but always has goos call signal, linked to wireless at home, so G is never an issue.  This time i have upgraded to the Samsung Note3, and i have since had not signal for calls in my house, and actaully need to walk to the end of the driveway to get it to work.  Don't really like to Tu-Go app, as it sometimes has delays and echos.

Anyway, was thinking in my tiny brain that o2 had gone downhill, and i needed to switch networks.  Then i found that 3G in other areas was rubbish too.

Now swapped the sim to an unlocked iPhone, and get good 3G coverage in many areas, and back to being able to take calls in the comfort of my own sofa.

REALLY like the note 3 for work and social stuff, but my opinion is, it is rubbish for doing what it is actually there for... being a phone! Have friends with the same trouble. Sort it out samsung!  ... Running KIT KAT 4.4.2 on the phone, and have read on some forums it could be the OS?  any thougts on that?

[jonsie]

I've never had issues with the Note 2 or 3 to be honest. Have you tried a factory reset?

[MI5]

The OS doesn't have any effect on signal at all as the modem is independent. It could be the modem that is bundled with that release that is weak but as there are 100's of factors involved it would be impossible to summarise an answer.....