[mrhobbsworth]

For a "phone" that's a pretty important "Issue".... not sure you can put it aside and still say "rock solid".

Did you miss my statement of "This issue aside"?

Either way, I certainly can still say that it is a "rock solid" device. This device is much more than just a "phone" to me.

[mrhobbsworth]

Update

Changing my 'preferred network type' to HSPA+/UMTS/GSM has made a huge difference in my reception. When set to LTE/HSPA+/UMTS/GSM, my device was reporting -118 dBm. It is now reporting -81 dBm.

Would removing LTE from consideration identify whether this is a firmware or hardware issue?

[papped]

Would removing LTE from consideration identify whether this is a firmware or hardware issue?

No not really, they use totally different bands and have totally different coverage and penetrations. It's a whole different beast.

[luvsql]

I'm on Telus and have the same issue. My Blackberry Passport ALWAYS had at least 3-4 bars everywhere. I'm at work and it's usualy 4-5 bars but with the Keyone it's 1-2. I don't have the options of switching to HSPA+. My default is LTE/WCDMA/GSM. I only have LTE/WCDMA, WCDMA/GSA, WCDMA only or GSM only.

When I switch to WCDMA/GSM only it jumps to 4 bars.

LTE/WCDMA ranges between 2-3 bars. Shows connected to LTE+. Speedtest - 3.68mbps (that's crap)
LTE/WCDMA/GSM is 1-2 bars. Shows LTE. Speedtest - 7.09 mbps
WCDMA/GSM - 4-5 bars. Shows 4G. Speedtest - 7.11mbps.

I remember on my BB Passport I never used LTE and only 4G and got better signals. I'm sticking with WCDMA/GSM.

[anon(4297019)]

Perhaps you guys should install an app like OpenSignal that would quantify the signal being received in decibels. I have it installed on my KEYone and I'm now going to install it on my Passport and I'll check it out and report back.

[mrhobbsworth]

Perhaps you guys should install an app like OpenSignal that would quantify the signal being received in decibels. I have it installed on my KEYone and I'm now going to install it on my Passport and I'll check it out and report back.

I do have OpenSignal installed... but the device's SIM Status seem to be just as accurate.

[anon(4297019)]

Do you have another phone that you can compare signal levels?

[mrhobbsworth]

Do you have another phone that you can compare signal levels?

Yes, sir. I have already tested this out over four different devices (KEYone, Q10, Sammy S7, and Moto X). Call quality and dBm comparisons favored the other devices considerably.

[Mtro]

Signal is noticeably weaker than my S7. I'll lose signal in spots where the S7 would just drop bars. At my house I get full bars and never dropped a call. With the keyone I'm at 3 bars and calls will break up now and then. The metal sides or the antennas are weak.

[tdovey]

Same issues here. I have people complaining that I am unclear. I have been unable to connect to LTE with the keyone for 2 weeks. My passport always had LTE and full bars in my area.

[kbz1960]

These threads are troubling. Ugh

[tdovey]

Talked to BlackBerry Mobile and they gave me a few tips. Turn airplane mode on for 10 seconds, pull Sim and reinsert, hard reset (hold power button for 30 seconds). Not sure what did it, but my signal seems to better. Going to test in a few locations.

They also asked if I happened to activate the new Sim within the past 1 or 2 days. It seems to me it is a known issue and they are working to resolve it.

T

[kbz1960]

Hope there is a fix for all it effects.

[mrhobbsworth]

Turn airplane mode on for 10 seconds, pull Sim and reinsert, hard reset (hold power button for 30 seconds).

Assuming that I followed your instructions properly, I am not experiencing a change.

1. Turn on Airplane Mode
2. After 10 seconds, eject SIM tray/card
3. Insert SIM tray/card
4. Hold power button for ~30 seconds
5. Wait for device to reboot
6. Turn off Airplane Mode

[anon(4297019)]

I was just mucking around in the mobile network settings and changed my network preference as shown in the attachment. Got an extra 10db's and my download speed more than doubled in a speed test. I don't know at this point how not having GSM is going to affect me...

[vpblaze]

I contacted Rogers on Monday, and they reset my network over the phone to see if that would make any difference. It hasn't as of yet. If anything, I have just noticed a single bar more often.
The rep also said that if it was still giving me trouble that I would be able to bring it into the store and swap the device for a new one.
I am going to do that Friday evening and will see if there is any improvement with a new device...

[mrhobbsworth]

Well... being excited about a better dBm when LTE is excluded is for not. Because of the way LTE is measured, it is normal for LTE to be ~20 dBm lower (farther from 0) than HSPA+.

I've pretty much exhausted what I can think of trying. I am hopeful that a firmware update will resolve this.

[bobshine]

When you compare the signal between two devices, you need to make sure they are on the same bands. Most LTE bands are high frequencies and would have difficulty going through walls... so newer devices compatible with those bands might have worse signals than older devices.

The old 2G signal can easily penetrate underground whereas 3G signals couldn't

[tdovey]

Assuming that I followed your instructions properly, I am not experiencing a change.

1. Turn on Airplane Mode
2. After 10 seconds, eject SIM tray/card
3. Insert SIM tray/card
4. Hold power button for ~30 seconds
5. Wait for device to reboot
6. Turn off Airplane Mode

No particular process. Just 3 individual suggestions.

[luvsql]

On my Keyone on Telus in same area of my house: WCDMA/GSM I get -104 dBm, LTE/WCDMA/GSM -108 and LTE/WCDMA -118. All 3 are rated horrible signal. I put my SIM card into my Blackberry Passport and on the HSPA+/UMTS/GSM -98 dBm, LTE/HSPA+/UMTS -97, LTE/HSPA+/UMTS/GSM -100. So I'm gaining only at most 10 dBm on my Passport. It's not a huge jump so I'm not going to worry JUST yet.

And for a Carrier comparison, on the same Blackberry Passport 2 years ago, I had ZERO signal from any connection in my house from Rogers (SOS/Emergency only) so this is why I switched to Telus so I at least could make phone calls and receive texts.

[luvsql]

At work I can get full bars, but checking the signal it's never better than -85. That's not good.

[javan123]

My keyone reception is very bad. Terrible compared to the passport. Hope there is a fix soon...

[SunDevilBB]

Has anyone thought that maybe it's just the indicator shows a lower reception, that it's just a calibration issue? I too notice my KeyOne indicates less bars, but I haven't seen a slower speed on data or dropped calls yet.

[kbz1960]

At work I can get full bars, but checking the signal it's never better than -85. That's not good.

That's about the best I get with a different phone, same internals, but I live in a small town far away from any major metropolitan area.

[anon(4297019)]

At work I can get full bars, but checking the signal it's never better than -85. That's not good.

Actually -85 is quite good. -70 is awesome. -120 poor.