Back to the MAXX--Sorry SG3

[huskur]

Well.... after several posts of how great the SG3 was I have gone back to the Maxx. The SG3 is indeed a great device with unique perks with its Touchwiz and awesome camera but it cannot hold a 4G signal in my home area which is in a extended 4G network. The Maxx on the other hand does a better job when it comes to that (still not as good as my wifes Bionic though) I like the 4G better than the "cool" functions of the SG3. If I lived in a 4G strong area I would have stuck with the SG3. I think I will keep it a little while and see what transpires.

I can say that after putting the SIM in the Maxx and setting it back up again (wouldn't have had to do that but I did a FDR on it when I went with the SG3) that it was like a natural feel again! Maybe it was my "Moto" calling telling me why I have always had Motorola phones.

No hard feelings with the SG3. I can also add that what some are saying is true about the data drops. I started taking note of it and it does happen more often than the Maxx.

I like both phones for different reasons but the 4G retainment is the biggie for me.

 

[justin82]

wondered about that .my nexus is horrible. hope they would fix it. i will stick with the bionic ..

 

[Sydman]

Welcome back!

 

[tc1]

Ugh.... I go back and forth about whether or not to get a sg3 or go back to a razr.

As cool as the sg3 is, I have a feeling that I will hate the reception.

 

[bsweetness]

Yeah, I've noticed something similar with my S3 versus the MAXX as well. It seems that the S3 is opting to stay on 3G in weak 4G areas far more often than any recent LTE phones that I've had, including the Nexus. I live on the edge of a 4G area, so 4G comes and goes from time to time. With the MAXX and the Rezound, I'd maintain a 4G connection about 70% of the time while in the house. With the Nexus, when it could hold a signal, I'd be on 4G around 50% percent of the time while in the house. With the S3, I've never been on 4G in the house, and I've only managed to get a 4G signal twice out on the far edge of the property away. Out of curiosity, I forced the S3 into LTE only mode while in the house. It grabbed a hold of a LTE signal with the reception clocking in at -109dbm. The MAXX would pull LTE around -95dbm while in the house, and the Rezound would be a little weaker than that. The S3 connects to LTE just fine in areas with moderate to strong signal, but it seems like it's sticking with 3G in areas of weak 4G. At least it's holding a steady signal though, unlike the Galaxy Nexus which couldn't hold 4G, 3G, or 1X.

 

[FoxKat]

There's a reason why Motorola is known for its radios. They have a FAR longer history of radio frequency communications than any of their competitors, and put a much greater emphasis on the componentry that is devoted to communications than other cellular manufacturers do. All you have to do is compare motherboards from the RAZR & RAZR MAXX (and Bionic), to the competition to see what I mean. Click on images for the large view.

View attachment 53423
Motorola Droid RAZR/RAZR MAXX Motherboard
View attachment 53427
Motorola Droid RAZR/RAZR MAXX Motherboard (also ^^ with RF Shields in place)


View attachment 53424

Motorola Bionic Motherboard


View attachment 53425

Samsung SGIII Motherboard

(frankly looks like not even half a phone - no insult intended, just an observation!)

 

[huskur]

Yeah, I've noticed something similar with my S3 versus the MAXX as well. It seems that the S3 is opting to stay on 3G in weak 4G areas far more often than any recent LTE phones that I've had, including the Nexus. I live on the edge of a 4G area, so 4G comes and goes from time to time. With the MAXX and the Rezound, I'd maintain a 4G connection about 70% of the time while in the house. With the Nexus, when it could hold a signal, I'd be on 4G around 50% percent of the time while in the house. With the S3, I've never been on 4G in the house, and I've only managed to get a 4G signal twice out on the far edge of the property away. Out of curiosity, I forced the S3 into LTE only mode while in the house. It grabbed a hold of a LTE signal with the reception clocking in at -109dbm. The MAXX would pull LTE around -95dbm while in the house, and the Rezound would be a little weaker than that. The S3 connects to LTE just fine in areas with moderate to strong signal, but it seems like it's sticking with 3G in areas of weak 4G. At least it's holding a steady signal though, unlike the Galaxy Nexus which couldn't hold 4G, 3G, or 1X.

OK...question. So when you put the SG3 in LTE only mode does it retain the 4G in your house even though the signal is weak? I did not know it could be put in "LTE only" mode. I also live in a 4G extended network area at the fringe and I have very similar variances that you do. If the SG3 can be put in LTE only mode and its forced to stay on it and it does I may switch back to it.

 

[bsweetness]

OK...question. So when you put the SG3 in LTE only mode does it retain the 4G in your house even though the signal is weak? I did not know it could be put in "LTE only" mode. I also live in a 4G extended network area at the fringe and I have very similar variances that you do. If the SG3 can be put in LTE only mode and its forced to stay on it and it does I may switch back to it.

It comes and goes, but even when it says its holding a LTE signal, it's completely unusable about 85% of the time. So, based on my experience, I'd say don't count on being able to put it in LTE only mode and have it maintain a usable signal.

I had originally put it in LTE only mode because I was curious if the LTE was even working. I had always been able to get a LTE signal at home, even with the Galaxy Nexus, for at least part of the time (and consistently in certain parts of the house), so this was the first LTE device I've had that was staying on 3G all the time at the house. To me, it seems like Samsung opted for it to go to 3G in weak 4G areas in an attempt to curtail some of the reception issues the Galaxy Nexus had. And, even though I can't get a LTE signal in the house, the 3G has been solid. I haven't noticed it dropping data or voice once yet, unlike the Galaxy Nexus that dropped both constantly.

 

[huskur]

It comes and goes, but even when it says its holding a LTE signal, it's completely unusable about 85% of the time. So, based on my experience, I'd say don't count on being able to put it in LTE only mode and have it maintain a usable signal.

I had originally put it in LTE only mode because I was curious if the LTE was even working. I had always been able to get a LTE signal at home, even with the Galaxy Nexus, for at least part of the time (and consistently in certain parts of the house), so this was the first LTE device I've had that was staying on 3G all the time at the house. To me, it seems like Samsung opted for it to go to 3G in weak 4G areas in an attempt to curtail some of the reception issues the Galaxy Nexus had. And, even though I can't get a LTE signal in the house, the 3G has been solid. I haven't noticed it dropping data or voice once yet, unlike the Galaxy Nexus that dropped both constantly.

Thanks for the information. At my home to I am unable to get 4G with the SG3 unless I am on the second story or close to a window. With the Maxx I get it pretty much everywhere in my house except the basement. My wifes Bionic on the other hand NEVER goes 3G. It's always 4G even in our basement. I speedtested it to confirm it and it was indeed true. The 4G is nice. To me its worth going back to the Maxx.

Both phones have great characteristics, though different. It's give and take for me. Just wish I could take the SG3 camera and put it in the Maxx.

 

[bsweetness]

Thanks for the information. At my home to I am unable to get 4G with the SG3 unless I am on the second story or close to a window. With the Maxx I get it pretty much everywhere in my house except the basement. My wifes Bionic on the other hand NEVER goes 3G. It's always 4G even in our basement. I speedtested it to confirm it and it was indeed true. The 4G is nice. To me its worth going back to the Maxx.

Both phones have great characteristics, though different. It's give and take for me. Just wish I could take the SG3 camera and put it in the Maxx.

Yeah, if the MAXX had a camera that was comparable to the S3, I doubt I would have even jumped on the deal that I got for the S3. The camera and increased screen size coaxed me into trying out the S3, and those two things (which completely deliver), along with the overall performance of the phone, convinced me to stay. I'm always on WiFi in the house anyway, so not getting LTE here isn't a deal-breaker for me. What would have been a deal-breaker was poor reception for voice/SMS, like I experienced with the Galaxy Nexus. But the S3 has been solid on those for me, and I grab LTE when I'm out and about pretty much everywhere the MAXX had LTE, so I think I'll stick with it until the RAZR HD makes an appearance. That said, I still think the MAXX is the better device for the majority of people right now. It does pretty much everything right with very few shortcomings. I'm already missing that battery. :frown: