topic Re: Pixel XL dropping signal in Get Support

Pixel XL dropping signal

CleverUsername — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:07:05 GMT

Hi, I joined PM at the same time I got a new pixel XL phone from Fido (just over three days ago).

Ever since I've been experiencing frequent signal drops (six to seven times per hour, according to the Network Signal Info app).

I first noticed it at home (I live in Etobicoke, on a high rise building); the phone would disconnect from PM's network and quickly attempt to reconnect. Then it became really annoying because it would disconnect while I was playing Pokemon go.
Since then I've experienced this everywhere: right now I'm in downtown and while writing this post, the signal has dropped five times.

My wife's phone is locked to bell so I can't switch SIMs to test whether it's a SIM problem, and on the internet there are not many reports about the Pixel XL dropping mobile network signal.

PM's APN settings are correct.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

hummuschips — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:22:14 GMT

Could you try your wife's SIM in your phone to see if you are still getting signal drops? Just to rule out that it isn't a phone issue.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

imm1304 — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:36:31 GMT

Hey @CleverUsername,

First, very clever username indeed

A quick google search reveals that you are not alone. Several people are comparing signal strength of the pixel phones and complaining that its lower than other phones. I really hope its a software issue that can be fixed with an update.

It would really be a shame if Google couldn't get this right on a thousand dollar phone.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

Rockdaddy22 — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:38:08 GMT

If I was google I'd blame HTC 🙂

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

WearySky — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:28:35 GMT

Were you having signal drops with Fido? I'd say it could just be an issue of Telus/Bell towers being farther away than Rogers for you at home, but you say it's happening everywhere now. It would be strange if it wasn't happening for you with Fido.

At any rate, you can see tower locations here if you're curious.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

CleverUsername — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:32:00 GMT

I'll get back to you on this!

PS: Sorry; I pressed the "solved" button by mistake.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

CleverUsername — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:34:56 GMT

@WearySky wrote:
Were you having signal drops with Fido? I'd say it could just be an issue of Telus/Bell towers being farther away than Rogers for you at home, but you say it's happening everywhere now. It would be strange if it wasn't happening for you with Fido.

At any rate, you can see tower locations here if you're curious.

Interesting! According to the map, Telus' towers (on which I assume PM piggybacks) are almost exclusively in downtown! I have been unable to try switching SIMs, but this map suggests the problem may be with the phone (because of the number of dropped calls I got while walking in downtown.)

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

WearySky — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:42:15 GMT

@CleverUsername wrote:

Interesting! According to the map, Telus' towers (on which I assume PM piggybacks) are almost exclusively in downtown! I have been unable to try switching SIMs, but this map suggests the problem may be with the phone (because of the number of dropped calls I got while walking in downtown.)

Yeah, PM is on the Telus network. Note that Telus and Bell have a tower sharing agreement - so anywhere you don't see Telus towers, you'd be connecting to Bell towers. But that's why I asked if you ever had drops on Fido, since you seem to be having the issue everywhere. It's strange that you're having the issue everywhere with PM but weren't with Fido, unless something recently happened to your phone (or possibly your PM sim isn't seated properly? Have you tried taking it out and putting it back in? Or it could be an issue with your sim in general). You should try putting in your wife's Bell SIM when you're at home, to see if you have the same disconnection issues (they should be connecting to the same towers).

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

imm1304 — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:42:27 GMT

@CleverUsername, also keep in mind that Telus has tower sharing agreement with Bell in Ontario and the eastern provinces. So, our phones would get excellent coverage where Bell towers are in the GTA as well.

Which basically further reinforces the point that this seems more and more like device specific issue.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

CleverUsername — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:47:29 GMT

@imm1304 wrote:
@CleverUsername, also keep in mind that Telus has tower sharing agreement with Bell in Ontario and the eastern provinces. So, our phones would get excellent coverage where Bell towers are in the GTA as well.

Which basically further reinforces the point that this seems more and more like device specific issue.

I'll check it out when I get home tonight. Thanks for the suggestions, folks. If it turns out to be the phone... well, at least I can return it.

Also, prior to being on PM I was with Virgin--I just bought the phone from Fido.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

WearySky — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 19:01:54 GMT

In that case, it's even weirder that you're seeing this issue with PM. It's either an issue with your phone that just cropped up coincidentally around the same time that you switched to PM, or it's an issue with your PM sim. Hopefully it's just the sim!

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

mikeneri81 — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 03:43:40 GMT

It's funny that you're also having this problem. Since Friday my signal in Toronto on Telus has been s**t. Constant drops. If I set it to 3G it's fine. Anything on LTE is a joke. I'm not sure if it's the phone or the network. Telus is telling me the network is fine. I've escalated it. Can you try 3G and see if the problem persists? It's very weird and started all of a sudden on Friday. The biggest problem is when I'm on LTE+.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

mikeneri81 — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 03:46:22 GMT

Also to add: When I leave Toronto, the signal is fine. LTE+ all day long in Burlington/Hamilton. As soon as I hit Etobicoke, all the way through to the east end, constant drops.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

imm1304 — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 04:11:18 GMT

So now we have 2 Pixel XL users with connectivity issues in and around Toronto.

I see some people talking about absent band 4 (1700/2100) on these devices.. which is the primary LTE band in use for PM/Telus network. https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/phone-by-google/OxkJ1Sn6i5c;context-place=topicsearchin/phone-by-google/category$3Ahelp-troubleshooting%7Csort:relevance%7Cspell:false

My impression: The phone has the capability to use band4 for lte, but is not using it due to a software mess.. very unprofessional and careless if this is true. But, it should be fixed urgently with a baseband update.

I would call Google customer support and complain.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

WearySky — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 04:23:49 GMT

If it's only an issue in the Toronto area, and the phone has 1700/2100 issues, that would definitely explain it since that's the only place with actual Telus towers.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

LeSong — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 15:18:04 GMT

most likely it's the Phone as it seems to be a common issue in particular for this Phone ..

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

Rockdaddy22 — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 15:20:35 GMT

Hopefully you find a resolution to this problem.

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

LeSong — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 15:21:30 GMT

Dear @Rockdaddy22,
I highly appreciate your concerns and advice but i wasn't trying to play any fanboy games at all ..
It's just an honest personal opinion from a personal experience that i've been through with any of the Android phones that i have came across. however, since i understand where are you coming from i'll edit my reply so it doesn't offend any one in any way ..

Thanks ..

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

Rockdaddy22 — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 15:28:46 GMT

Greatly appreciated 🙂

Re: Pixel XL dropping signal

Sammymk6 — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 21:37:46 GMT

Make that three, I have a pixel xl using Telus in Toronto as well. Fingers crossed it's just the software