yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] Itzvik:
After reading a few posts on here I finally gave them a call and after mentioning bad reception the rep skipped the replacement part and said that I could pick any phone from the website other than the iPhone 5 or note 2. I picked the DNA because that is the only phone that can compete with the gs3. Overall everything went smooth it took about 30 minutes to complete the whole process.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] NickTheMajin:
I just got my Note 2 in the mail from Verizon, a few days ahead of when my battery, back door and S pen are supposed to arrive from Amazon (Verizon will only ship you the phone itself completely empty and may credit you for the items it comes with). I actually rigged up some paper to hold my s3 battery in the note 2 just to play with it. I hope I get used to the size. I was so sad to switch to the Note 2 but I use my phone for work and dropping calls all the time is literally unacceptable. I wasn't able to get the iPhone 5 unfortunately. That was the second choice when I got the S3 but I think I'll get used to the Note 2's size.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] 1ManWolfePack:
Whoa....forget to take your anti-sensitive pill today?

Was a joke, Chief ;)

---------- Post added at 10:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 AM ----------

How long you been in android, pal? This happens every year when a new device drops.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 AM ----------

As soon as this thread was started, we see an 820% increase in S3's with signal issues. Especially once the cat is out of the bag that you can get a Note 2..

Hurl any insults, obscenities, etc my way. I've been in sales for 13 years and XDA for over 2. I can handle it. Sorry you got called out.

Peace.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] srzero88:
I've never had any reception issues whatsoever on my S3. And I don't have the "ink" spots on then screen either. So S3s aren't ****ty phones. Just depends on the user and how anal they are, technology will never be perfect and neither will you.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] rlatjs17:
I seriously think tjis thread shoukd be closed. A **** load of people are supposedly getting reception issues now because of this thread. This just helps people con verizon into getting a new phone. Hell, even I was tempted to call and attempt to get a note 2 even though my phone is fine. I'm still sticking with my s3. I can just sell this and get a note if i really want it. If you really had problems you wouldn't need to read this thread.

Edit: I aslo forgot to addthis, if you need a phone with a god radio GET A MOTO. You had 14 days to return yoyr phone for a full refund. If you suddenly got reception issues after the 14 days your full of **** and just trying yo con verizon because you don't want to pay to try out a different phone
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] 1ManWolfePack:
I'm awaiting your rebuttal "You don't live in my house and see the reception in the basement!!!" but I already have a rebuttal for you. So, your signal is so god-awful that you need a replacement? Correct? So you replace it with an upgraded version of basically the same phone? Same manufactor? If the phone was so horrible, why would you even take that risk? Because someone on here said so? Wouldn't you pick Motorola or HTC? Because Sammy's radios are so "crap"?? Nahhh....you just want the latest and greatest toy(s) and you want to get it the cheap way. Don't even try to say otherwise.....

If you want the latest and greatest, use legitimate ways other than insurance fraud. Like the majority of us do....

Flame-suit on.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] shangrila500:
Sorry about that,

I had been on the phone with VZW and listening to them tell me the reason the S3 has terrible service in my area is because I'm in a marginal area, when told them my experiences with almost every phone they currently offer and the only phones that have this type of reception problems are the Nexus and S3. Then they decided to change why the S3 didn't work great here to, Its a pure 4g device and that's what the problem was. When I asked the lady I was talking to what she meant by this she told me it didn't have any other radios in it aside from 4g. When I asked here how it picked up 3g since it didn't have a 3g radio she said that the 4g radio could pick up all the bands but they're extremely weak compared to phones with 4g and 3g radios.

I just absolutely love how the tier 2 techs will tell you almost anything to shut you up no matter how ignorant it is.

Also one of the things I noticed about this phone is after I rooted the service seemed to get worse. It would hold to the VZW network but after root it would pull the constantly switching Verizon Wireless/No Service.

Now I thought maybe I hadn't noticed it flashing service off and on before but when I grabbed my GF's s3 and laid it beside my she had no problems keeping service, but as soon as her phone was rooted it started doing the same thing.

Sent from one of the many Anthropomorphic Personalities on the Disc

---------- Post added at 12:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

I don't know if you're talking to me or not.....

Actually when I spoke with VZW the first time I asked them for my droid RAZR back. They wouldn't do that, they said that I could ask for one of the newer phones so I asked for the RAZR HD and that was a no go. So I asked for the Note2 and yet again a no go...... Its pretty much a no go for everything cause they aren't wanting to come out and admit publicly that there is a serious issue with reception on this phone.

(Directed at the other poster asking for a thread close)

And may I remind you that just because you don't experience any service problems it doesn't mean that there aren't people like me who experience severe service problems. Its kind of like the SIM card issue that the S3 have (did anyone ever figure out what the problem was and did any update ever fix the issue?) That didn't mean people didn't have that problem though. Also, I don't mind paying for a new phone. How do you think I got this one and my gf's, I paid full price for them. That's the only reason I get so pissed about not having service seeing I spent about 1500 for 2 phones that have pretty severe service problems in my area.

BTW, I freaking love the flame suit on part. I am going to have to use that in the near future!

Edit:

Also, just so you know, I went and let VZW bend me over yet again because I am sick and tired of missing important calls. I yet again paid full price for a phone.

Sent from one of the many Anthropomorphic Personalities on the Disc
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] broprah:
On the subject of the bull**** in this thread, I'm not going to deny that there are people trying to take advantage of verizon here. However, there is a legitimate issue that people are actually experiencing, myself one of them. In low service area this phone's antenna just sucks, flat out. The HTC, Blackberry, and Motorola devices I've had have never had an issue here but as soon as I got the s3 that changed. It was something I lived with because I didn't even know the possibility of an alternate replacement existed, but once I heard from here that people were having success with it I decided to give it a go. If it hadn't been for this thread I'd be stuck with a phone that I can't use 99% of the time I need to use it for two years. Instead, Verizon is sending me a Note 2 on wednesday and that will hopefully resolve all my issues. To the user above who was talking about different makes and models, you have a good point. Normally there would be no way I would stick with samsung if I was having an issue with samsung antennae. However, my girlfriend has the note 2 and she has never had an issue with reception in my house, with our phones side by side. The s3's antenna is just a bummer.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] NickTheMajin:
My GSIII was a gift on my birthday while I was in school with no way to return it during the 14 day return period. The second I got home I went into Verizon personally and they looked at the device and said "This isn't right". Signal strength of -120. They swapped sims for me and nothing. Sent me a replacement which did nothing. Sent me another replacement with the same issue. Never seeing 4G, always seeing 3G. Finally I was directed to a manager who straight up said, "There is a severe issue with the antenna in the GSIII and that is why replacements have done nothing. Samsung have fixed it with their Note 2. Please let me choose a comparable device for you". He then listed the DNA and Note 2 and I said Note 2 would be great.

I did not want to get rid of my GSIII. Believe me, I liked it more than the Note 2. It was the perfect size and in my opinion looks nicer. But radio issues are something I cannot live with when my job requires I be on the phone for long periods of time. Drops every twenty minutes when I move farther from a window are unacceptable.

This is an issue that has been addressed specifically by several reps from both Verizon and Samsung and therefore should be out there so others can know that there is indeed an issue whether you notice it or not. Some people use their phones AS phones and will notice it while others may not.

My two cents.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] 1ManWolfePack:
"Severe problem with the s3 antenna..."

If that was the case, millions of units would have been recalled. I've had every top tier device in the last two years (pretty much) and test them all at the same house and same job. So exact same locations.

This antenna is not crap. Are you running AOSP? Please say yes...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] rlatjs17:
Ill say this again. YOU HAVE 14 DAYS FOR A FULL REFUND OR EXCHANGE. I'm 100% sure 2 weeks is enough time to know if you need a different phone. So no I'm calling every single one of you out for abusing the alternate replacements.

Edit: Another reason why I think every one of you trying to get a note 2 as a AR is abusing the system. Your really trying to get another samsung even though people are saying samsung makes weak antennas? Like really? I hope you all get the note 2 leave the S3 forums so we can finally get rid of these "lets abuse the system" threads and ruin it for people with real problems.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] Rams99:
My signal is okay on mine. My wife's Rezound is - 85 and mine is -105. My issue with my phone is the wifi. For some odd reason it takes my phone 30sec-1min to get a Internet connection. And if my s3 is connected to my wifi it will cause wifi problems throughout my router. I know for sure it isn't my router cause my wife's Rezound doesn't have any problems with her wifi. Went through 4 devices already and still the same problem. At home I rely on my wifi for my phone. Don't get me wrong, I love this phone. But if it wasn't for the wifi I would keep it in a heartbeat. But I do agree that people take advantage of the system and ruin it for others.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] NickTheMajin:
Right from his mouth. The man at Verizon said exactly that. And no. Right now I am 100% stock. I would not have taken my phone into Verizon and let them look at it running Cyanogenmod.

And to the person saying why get another Samsung? Because he had a Note 2 and was comparing it to my GS3 and other GS3s in the store. The difference was -120db vs -80db. Samsung claims to have fixed the problem and seeing that huge disparity shows me that that is the case.

---------- Post added at 10:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 PM ----------

Yes. Those 14 days really helped when I was out of state in University.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] 1ManWolfePack:
Dude, Verizon reps don't know ish!!!! Lol. My god. They are not "in-the-know". A kid I've been friends with since I was 3 (I'm almost 31) has been a manager at a corporate store for 5 years. They don't know squat. They find out from forums like we do. He asks ME what's up with stuff.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] NickTheMajin:
Then its their own fault if people ask for replacement devices if the managers are saying there are serious issues with the antenna. I saw for myself, in a VZW store. My GSIII and all the ones the workers looked at had a signal strength of around -115-120. The Note 2s had signal strengths of around -80-85. That is a vast disparity and certainly looks to confirm that the antenna in the SIII is significantly worse. I shouldn't spend the majority of my time in 3G on a 4G device when my entire state is 4G.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] Itzvik:
Well technically Verizon is not loosing much because every phone that they send you is a refurb. You have to send in your broken device and the manufacture will fix it and send it back to Verizon.

Some people are abusing the system but who cares its there to be used.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] ihavenewnike:
Soon it might end. Didnt mean ro cauae in discrepancies, but just lwtting people know my problems and got the Note 2. It is really better than the s3 for my living enviroment.

Sent from my rooted Verizon Galaxy Note 2. FU Verizon and all tour BS you throw around.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] shangrila500:
Funny thing about AOSP. That's the only way I can keep a steady signal. On TW it constantly drops. Even with AOSP I only get service if I set it on the back of the couch and leave it. If my hand even hovers anywhere near it service just disappears. And as for you saying that they would have millions of units messed up, not necessarily.

From what I have gathered is if you live out in the country where towers are a little more spaced apart that is where the GS3 starts showing its problem. I can drive down corridor x and drop service on my phone 3 or 4 different times, where the other VZW phones I have tested on corridor x keep a strong 4g signal up until the point where the GS3 drops and then switches to full 3g. There are some serious issues with the antennae in this phone and just because everyone who owns it hasn't experienced it doesn't mean anything. Like I said, come to my neck of the woods and you'll drop service left and right as soon as you pull in my driveway. Hell, in the middle of town where everyone has full 4g and 3g the GS3 can't get full service off of either. At most it gets 2 bars, and yes I know that's not the correct way to measure it but I forgot to write down the signal strength under status.

And if you really think Samsung is going to admit to any problem with the GS3 that would cause a recall then you're insane. It is too big of a seller and they have way way too much invested in it.

And I agree with everyone about people using the info in this thread to scam VZW, but that happens with all threads similar to this. At least this isn't a thread where everyone has been careless and hard bricked their phone and talking about how to scam VZW.

Sent from one of the many Anthropomorphic Personalities on the Disc
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] Coderedpl:
Let's not act like this is the only time the system gets abused, and by abused I mean people contacting verizon even though they do not have any issues. I mean if you're getting replacements, there must be something to it, or maybe not if you're just bored and want to get replacement devices. I remember having manufacturer defects on feature phones in the past. I had MANY replacements, more than 3, of the same phone and issue kept coming back, that is until I found out i was eligible for a different device. Did i take that offer? Sure as hell did. So what, i abused the system? :rolleyes:

To the guy about the 14 day thing. I've had my S3 since it was available, I pre-ordered it to lock myself into unlimited and I had it since the first day. I noticed data drops and such on and off, I contacted Verizon and samsung and both re-assured me a coming "soon" update will fix the issue. Assuming that this might actually be true as different radios sometimes do help, I just kept along with it and i believe its safe to say the update didn't come within the first 14 days of ownership. Phone is great overall!

Comparing the note 2 to the GS3, I can honestly say, the Note 2 is better in terms of "connections". Whether it be better positioning/location of the radio or whatever else. For all i know it could be the same radio hardware but it's definitely used better. The areas where there were drops in voice, aswell as crappy data connection, are now much more stable. For example, at my local starbucks, I never got higher than 3G, and even that wasn't always the case as there were times it would drop down even lower. With the note 2, i had full stable 4G and I was able to browse the web. GPS is also much better, on my trip to work, i kept my phone in the cup holder, started navigation from there without having to move it anywhere else in the car and I drove through NYC and it hasn't lost signal at all. The GS3, did drop GPS.

Give the S3 the radios of the Note 2, or whatever they did, and I'm sure the ones who have the actual issues (such as myself) will be completely fine with the GS3 and the ones who just want the note 2, offcourse won't be. If i knew for a fact they did such a thing, i would be fine with it.

Every area is also different but then again, some people who are VERY close to the towers have issues, so it varies.

Samsung and Verizon did WAYYY too much advertising on this to admit to it. Let's face it, the phone is ****ing awesome not looking at the connections.

Samsung, my suggestion, replace the GS3 radios with the Note 2 radios if possible.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] 1ManWolfePack:
There are far too many variables at play to say the s3 has a radio issue. What baseband are you on? Where do you live? Someone mentioned they live in a rural area...how is that a fault of the s3? Etc, etc, etc.

Again, I mention again I've had many different devices, because it's relevant. I would be the first to admit a crap signal. The Bionic was pretty bad. Nexus had a few issues as well. This phone is solid. Flash some new radios and test results there. Don't just get mad at the phone because you don't average under -100dbm and hit 20mbs on a speed test.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] shangrila500:
I have been on every single basebandand, and then when I saw that invisiblek had started posting the rpm's, I may have just overlooked them to start with cause I didnt notice they'dd been released until the first JB leak.

Anyway, I went through after the rpms were released and tested all the radios out with their corresponding rpm's to see if any of that would make a difference. Of course it didnt, but I was desperate. As for where I live, I am about 7 miles out side of the city in a highly populated area. There are plenty of towers around and everyone out here is on VZW because they offer such good service. Something you are overlooking is that just because you live in a city, just guessing cause of the rural comment, and you dont have a problem doesnt mean no one else does. Maybe the reason you dont have service issues is because you are in such a highly populated area, therefore VZW has more towers where you live so you have I better signal. I may be completely wrong on that and maybe Sammy just let a group of their phones slip out that werent up to par when used in certain areas.

All I know is that my GS3, and apparently many other peoples, sucks at picking up service even if I am in the middle of the extremely strong service areas. Now that I have activated my Note 2 it is even more obvious that the GS3 radio isnt up to par. I am going to take some pics in a bit of my gf's GS3, which has the same issue as mine, and my note 2 side by side showing the difference in signal strength. Its very very noticeable even on 3g. Right now the Note 2 is on 3g and shows 100 dBM 1 asu while the GS3 shows 120 dBm 1 asu.

As for the variables part, well you may be right but I dont see how you can say that due to the variables we cant say it is the radio when you have said the GS3 doesnt have radio issues. It goes both ways.....
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] NickTheMajin:
Because the phones were right next to each other and I live in Massachusetts, a state that is almost entirely 4G dropping to 3G more often than 4G. I have tried many radios and am done with it. All the SIIIs in that store had the same signal strength and the note 2s beat them by an incredible margin. And I did not get 20mbps. I got on average 2 or 3 in the middle of Boston on 4 SIIIs.

But obviously you are going to believe I am just abusing the system. Fine. Enjoy the SIII I'm done debating.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] shangrila500:
You sir are a jackass when say that everyone is gaming the system by getting AR, undoubtedly there are many people who have read this thread that have abused the system but to say everyone here is abusing the systen is ignorant. Do you also deny that the GS3 had a big issue with Sim cards?

If there is a problem with the customers phone and it isnt their fault then it is VERIZONS problem to fix to the CUSTOMERS satisfaction.

As for the comment about Samsungs weak antennae.... Samsungs are weaker than Moto's and HTC's, at least on VZW. Now that could be because Verizon refuses to let them do something or wont give them all the info they need to make a good baseband for the phone. I dont think thats what it is but thats just my opinion. I have never had such a problem, even with the Nexus, with a Samsung phone keeping a signal. It has always been a bit weaker but not so much that it was very notceable except for in extremely poor service areas.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] 1ManWolfePack:
Ok, so you just admitted your state has issues. How is that a fault of the s3? Again - location. Location = variable.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] Div033:
I feel very fortunate to have decent signal after reading this thread. It's about the same as my old Droid Incredible.

I wonder what the culprit is for those having these issues. I was always under the impression Qualcomm chipsets had better radios than Exynos, but it seems not to be the case. Interestingly, people are saying the DNA corrects the issue which also has a Qualcomm chipset (2 more cores and a better GPU) so I'm curious as to what the actual issue is. Is it the antenna? Anyone have an idea?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] rlatjs17:
Don't get a samsung phone and complain about samsung. End of story.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] shangrila500:
How did you gather that from what he posted? I admit I am a little confused by the way he worded it but I didnt gather that his state has issues.

---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 PM ----------

Ya might wanna go back and read what I added to that post. I am in no way a newbie with Samsung devices. I have had quite a few over the years. And im currently typing on the Note 2 which has way better service.

And before someone asks, yes I have lived at the same location when I used the previous Sammy phones and had them both on AT&T and VZW. It really seems that the GS3 only has issues with service on the VZW network, I havent scoured the other threads but the majority of signal complaints come from VZW customers.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] NickTheMajin:
I know I was done debating but dammit I meant my state is full 4G and was fine on my other phones. This did not happen on my Rezound. I meant I personally am always on 3G. And all of those notes were 4G. I was 3G. And I got my note2. Guess what? same location and full4G. But the GSIII has no signal issue despite the Samsung AND Verizon reps telling me it did. Now I'm done peace out. I hope you continue enjoy the S3. I will miss the devs and this community.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] Chuckleb0ne:
I don't understand the people with these problems receiving new phones from Verizon when their new policy is that they don't do replacements anymore. For the people calling so many times you kind of ruined the system.......
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III] kintwofan:
This same thing happened with droid charge. Then the people who actually have problems cant get them fixed because people abusing the system