Phone Advice: signal strenght 3G vs 4G

[Blaze]

I figure there must be at least someone that is better at technology than me on this board (and by someone, I mean likely most of you 😛).

So I purchased a new phone yesterday. I got an HTC One M8, so far I absolutely love it! The only issue I have is very poor signal strength, only 1 bar. Apparently this is due to the 4G connection. I was told that one bar of 4G is still just as good as if I would have full bars in 3G, so I shouldn't have any issues getting calls, texting etc.

Does anyone know how true that is? I'm not familiar with how signal now displays the strength of the data signal instead of the call signal, since all my previous phones were 3G.

So far no issues sending/receiving calls or texts. But the 1 bar signal has be a bit worried because I work in a remote place with dangerous chemicals. So I don't want to be stuck without a phone in case of emergency. I really like this phone, so I don't want to return it. Also, this is a problem common to all HTC M8 apparently, so likely it's not a lemon or anything like that.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Are you on an HSPA+ vs LTE? LTE usually hits the bars right and HSPA (at least from what I know of Verizon and AT&T) usually kick back to one bar by default. But the service is 'the same' it's just a pain in the knickers.

 

[Blaze]

I honestly have no idea what I use. Is there a way I can check? My phone provider is Koodo in Ontario.

Edit: It seems when I'm inside a building I have 1 bar (even on the second floor), while if I'm outside in the street I have 3-5 bars. So I'm not sure what that means.

 

[GwenRaiden]

What type of building are you in? When I used to work as a lab assistant I would have a terrible signal on my mobile too. Was usually fine when I left the building.

 

[Blaze]

It's any building, lab, office, school, home. I get the same signal (1, 2 bar max). With my old phone, which was 3G, I got full bars inside all of those places. So the issue isn't with Koodo or the location.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Make sure your LTE is turned on. Have you checked coverage map? It's not prepaid is it? (prepaid does not support LTE... if you are in an area that does not have LTE coverage you will get lower bars)

 

[Blaze]

Make sure your LTE is turned on

Is that my data? I keep it turned off since I don't want huge bills coming in because I forgot to close that one app that constantly used data. As for the specs I checked and I do have LTE, no way to turn anything on or off.

Have you checked coverage map?

This should be fine. I'm suppose to get good coverage in my area.

And nope, not prepaid either.

If I look at my signal strenght it says: RSRP (dBM) -116 RSRQ (dB) -8

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Does it show LTE on the screen next to the bars?
like so

 

[Blaze]

It doesn't show but it is turned on in my settings. If I switch to WCDMA (what I assume is 3G), my bars jump up to full or near full. So seems as though the issue is simply LTE coverage.

Thanks lots for your answers!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I think it's a coverage issue... you might check out:
maps
to be sure... there is the possibility it may be your phone.

 

[Blaze]

I think it's a coverage issue... you might check out:
maps
to be sure... there is the possibility it may be your phone.

Thanks, according to the map I should have LTE coverage. The girl working at the store told me it was normal, but I might go back and see them to double check. It's possible it's just the phone brand, being metal might affect the signal. As long as I can get reliable 3G I don't care much for the LTE.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

I take it you all realise that there is no actual meaning for any of the bars on a mobile phone, save to say you have reception or not.
Try comparing phones from different manufacturers in the same place. One may have 3 bars where another might have 5 bars but the signal strength to both is the same.

 

[Blaze]

I take it you all realise that there is no actual meaning for any of the bars on a mobile phone, save to say you have reception or not.
Try comparing phones from different manufacturers in the same place. One may have 3 bars where another might have 5 bars but the signal strength to both is the same.

Koodo told me that's how 4G works. But with my 3G when I only had 1 bar the phone wouldn't work for calls/sending texts. So the signal strength must have had something to do with that.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

@Blaze "I can still make calls" You mean you use your phone as a phone? scandalous!

 

[Blaze]

@Blaze "I can still make calls" You mean you use your phone as a phone? scandalous!

I know right! 😱 I haven't even opened the camera yet, I'm putting my generation to shame.