Do some phones receive mobile signals better than others?

[Deleted User]

Ok, it's an obvious question really I guess... but I have a HTC Desire HD with Giffgaff and my wife is on O2 with an Iphone4

My reception in the house is lousy, her's seems quite reasonable.

I'm not in contract, so would be happy to get a new phone/contract if it meant i actually got signal in my house.

I've tried researching online but have drawn a blank, on to which phones have the best signal reception quality

Any ideas?

Getoffmycloud

My husband had a HTC Desire HD and I have an Iphone 4s. We are both on Orange. My signal has always been fine; he's is crap! Orange told him "some phones have better signals than others", but I think it was rubbish. He had endless problems with his HTC and was sent four replacement handsets which he was charged £25 for every time until Orange finally cancelled his contract. I think its just your phone I'm afraid

Fifer

Different phones use different antenna designs and different RF stage circuitry. I'd be surprised if there weren't differences in reception sensitivity between handsets (and even between individual phones of the same design).

Also, the antenna and RF stage design on multiband phones will always be a compromise between the different frequencies they are required to operate on. Some phones might be optimised for the US market and others for Europe, some for data frequencies and others for voice. That can be anything from 850MHz to 1900MHz.

I'm not sure where you'd find test results though.

Buzby

Yes, there is a range where sensitivity must fall within, so really carp ones can still pass - even within the same brand AND model. A more sensitive handset will be better for you if borderline, the trouble is finding it!

JethroUK

ringo_24601 wrote: »

... I have a HTC Desire HD with Giffgaff and my wife is on O2 with an Iphone4...My reception in the house is lousy, her's seems quite reasonable.....

Are you judging by actually making a call/quality?

99% of people judge signal strength by looking at the meter - for obvious reasons - but fact is there is no definition of meter values or accuracy so you cant compare like with like

e.g. Iphone 4 meter could be set to read 4 bars when if fact its receiving poorer signal than yours that is set to display 1 bar on same signal reception

thats all aside from the fact that all meters are totally un-reliable

only way is to call your land line from your mobile and do a walk around the house - and now let your wife do the same

if you haven't done this there is no other reliable way to tell who is getting best signal

[Deleted User]

JethroUK wrote: »

Are you judging by actually making a call/quality?

99% of people judge signal strength by looking at the meter - for obvious reasons - but fact is there is no definition of meter values or accuracy so you cant compare like with like

e.g. Iphone 4 meter could be set to read 4 bars when if fact its receiving poorer signal than yours that is set to display 1 bar on same signal reception

thats all aside from the fact that all meters are totally un-reliable

only way is to call your land line from your mobile and do a walk around the house - and now let your wife do the same

if you haven't done this there is no other reliable way to tell who is getting best signal

I work on the basis that my wife can make a call practically anywhere downstairs without them cutting out - any my phone often has 'no signal' displayed, but when I do, it will cut out shortly after I receive a call. I do have some signal monitor tools installed, which show me I get a better signal if I hold the phone next to the window.

No, i'm more judging on an ability to use it as a phone than on the number of bars

Im_just_careful

The simple answer to your question is ...

Yes.

Determining which is rather more of a process of trial and error.

I've found that an old Nokia performed much better than a smartphone with the same SIM in the same place when I had reception difficulties. This would be 2G on Vodafone

I guess that with a different network, for example "3", in the same marginal location the smartphone might have been better.

No simple answer I'm afraid.