bad reception? anyone? anyone? anyone?

**skim801** · 02-27-2009, 12:46 AM

just like the title says, bad reception anyone? I really wanna keep my first blackberry phone ever, but I've already dropped a few calls in a day. However, on the other hand, my wife's BB 8120 seems to be just fine from exact location where I was dropping calls. I'm going back to the store tomorrow and get a different BB or who knows what.

**skim801** · 02-27-2009, 02:17 PM

just got back from the store and the store rep recommended that I get the same new device with a new sim card. It seems to be working fine now.

If anyone has issues with the reception, ask for a new sim card or a new device, it helped me and it might help you, too.

**lalifeguards** · 03-01-2009, 02:04 AM

Thanks for the update.

**elreedo31** · 03-02-2009, 10:42 PM

terrible reception on mine
im on tmobile, and my tmobile friend will have 3 or 4 bars when i have 0 service however the wifi calling helps some of the time

**evilp8ntballer7** · 03-03-2009, 10:38 AM

you can always do the alt NMLL or NNMLL and see the dBm for a more precise display

1 bar ~ -102 to -120 dBM
2 Bars ~ -93 to -101 dBM
3 Bars ~ -87 to -92 dBM
4 Bars ~ -78 to -86 dBM
5 Bars ~ -40 to -77 dBM

**klmount** · 05-22-2009, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by elreedo31

terrible reception on mine
im on tmobile, and my tmobile friend will have 3 or 4 bars when i have 0 service however the wifi calling helps some of the time

I have t-mobile, also. I was with Nextel for many years and always complained about their coverage. When I saw the Blackberry flip phone, I flipped for it. I have regretted it every since. Not sure if it is the phone, sim card, or carrier. T-Mobile says I should have coverage in the area I am in. I have replaced the sim card, and the whole phone. I can sit next to someone else with T-Mobile using something other than a Blackberry and they have 4 bars... I have none. Extremely disappointing. I would encourage no one to waste their money on this piece of junk. I never thought I would miss Nextel. With Nextel I sometimes didn't have service. Now with the Blackberry flip and T-Mobile I sometimes have service; not worth the $140 a month it's costing me for the plan.

**DemonKnight** · 05-22-2009, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by klmount

I have t-mobile, also. I was with Nextel for many years and always complained about their coverage. When I saw the Blackberry flip phone, I flipped for it. I have regretted it every since. Not sure if it is the phone, sim card, or carrier. T-Mobile says I should have coverage in the area I am in. I have replaced the sim card, and the whole phone. I can sit next to someone else with T-Mobile using something other than a Blackberry and they have 4 bars... I have none. Extremely disappointing. I would encourage no one to waste their money on this piece of junk. I never thought I would miss Nextel. With Nextel I sometimes didn't have service. Now with the Blackberry flip and T-Mobile I sometimes have service; not worth the $140 a month it's costing me for the plan.

IM sorry your experience hasnt been what you expected but calling the phone a pice of junk doesnt help much and as im sure of there are plenty of us happy with the phone atm so I would suggest not wasting your time trying to pour out your frustration as it will not help you much when you come to a Forum for Black berry lovers and those of us who like to help others with probems and not to put up with rants.... take your complaints to Tmobile...any other questions or help you may need you can ask for here

**DemonKnight** · 05-22-2009, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by skim801

just got back from the store and the store rep recommended that I get the same new device with a new sim card. It seems to be working fine now.

If anyone has issues with the reception, ask for a new sim card or a new device, it helped me and it might help you, too.

take for example this comment.... not a rant but a helpful advise... thats what we aim for here not worthless ranting that help or add nothing to the topic in hand .

**maddmaxx308** · 05-23-2009, 11:27 AM

I notice since my OS update I have actually gotten better signal

**david9962000** · 05-23-2009, 11:46 AM

Where are you guys located? I have great coverage in SoCal.

**hubermania** · 06-18-2009, 09:49 AM

I don't have bad reception per se. But it seems my 8220 has problems handing off between cell towers out here on the prairie.

This morning I had occasion to be on a conference call during my entire hour-long train commute. My phone dropped the call twice. Both times the call went silent, I looked at the phone to see 1 bar of signal, then moments later it dropped the call. In the 5 seconds it took me to call back in, the phone once again had 5 bars of signal.

Anybody have, or not have, calls dropped during transitions between cell towers? Anybody know a way to change the threshold [I assume it's -110dB] at which the phone starts sniffing for a stronger tower?

Edit: removed blurb about using 4.6.0.180 radio code with later releases. It bricked my phone and I had to restore it.

**grumpyaeroguy** · 06-18-2009, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by hubermania

I don't have bad reception per se. But it seems my 8220 has problems handing off between cell towers out here on the prairie.

This morning I had occasion to be on a conference call during my entire hour-long train commute. My phone dropped the call twice. Both times the call went silent, I looked at the phone to see 1 bar of signal, then moments later it dropped the call. In the 5 seconds it took me to call back in, the phone once again had 5 bars of signal.

Anybody have, or not have, calls dropped during transitions between cell towers? Anybody know a way to change the threshold [I assume it's -110dB] at which the phone starts sniffing for a stronger tower?

Edit: removed blurb about using 4.6.0.180 radio code with later releases. It bricked my phone and I had to restore it.

I have experienced this as well. I will be sitting at home, look at the phone, 1 bar. Pick it up a few minutes later, 5 bars.

Prior to the latest OS update, WiFi didn't help me, as I was dropping calls left and right during WiFi connections. As indicated, the newer OS seems to have improved this aspect of it.

My last non-rim motorola had 5 bars almost all of the time, no matter where I was. Maybe the internal antenna has something to do with it. My moto had a little stubbie on it (external). Maybe that makes a significant difference.

**Significant** · 09-02-2009, 04:15 PM

My T-Mobile 8220 Flip has terrible reception in buildings. I used to have 4 bars at home with my Moto and now have only 1 bar.....or none.

I've spent hours with T-Mobile updating the system to .......180 and still NO GOOD?

Thought this was a great hi-tech phone? I can't even get a decent signal!

**8220** · 09-04-2009, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by hubermania

I don't have bad reception per se. But it seems my 8220 has problems handing off between cell towers out here on the prairie.

This morning I had occasion to be on a conference call during my entire hour-long train commute. My phone dropped the call twice. Both times the call went silent, I looked at the phone to see 1 bar of signal, then moments later it dropped the call. In the 5 seconds it took me to call back in, the phone once again had 5 bars of signal.

Anybody have, or not have, calls dropped during transitions between cell towers? Anybody know a way to change the threshold [I assume it's -110dB] at which the phone starts sniffing for a stronger tower?

Edit: removed blurb about using 4.6.0.180 radio code with later releases. It bricked my phone and I had to restore it.

This may or may not apply but it couldn't hurt to try...
In wifi saved profiles there is a setting to Allow inter-access point handover. I know this is for WiFi to GSM switching to keep from dropping calls but it may apply to the tower hand off also, just a shot in the dark.