Samsung S 9 + No Signal Bar Strength

[Moefun]

Howdy 

I do not have the same network signal connectivity strength.

Had a S9 no issues. For over 2 years at the cottage I had a solid 2 to 3 bars on LTE which is fine. 

Bought a Samsung S 9 Plus, switched SIM. Everything works but signal strength is gone.

Most time no bars sometimes 1.

Switched SIMs with GF who uses Bell and  I had 2 bars again.

Hard factory reset on phone = no change.

Checked for heavy usage apps = no change

Manually put in the Access point data = no change

Android software is up to date.

Question: Has the Telus network changed? Is there something that I can do on my end to update my phone. 

Anyone experiencing similar issues? Is there a fix?

Appreciate everyone's help.

M

[sheytoon]

@gpixel no, that's incorrect.

[Korth]

@gpixel 

The SIM card either works properly or it doesn't. And when it doesn't, it disallows the device from accessing the network - failure will interrupt and disconnect the subscriber from the network.

It has no effect on signal strength. Regardless whether it's working perfectly or it's malfunctioning.

[gpixel]

shhh

*I'm on fire in this topic 🤣 

[computergeek541]

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@sheytoon wrote:

Dial *#0011# and compare PM SIM with Bell SIM when the phone is in the exact same location. You should see RSRP (signal bars) will be similar if you are comparing the same bands.

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@sheytoon 

That's an excellent point about comparing which band is being used.

@Moefun 

Are you actually having any problems with the service or are you just noticing a lower number of bars in the signal meter? Believe it or not, it's quite possible for a device to show a lower signal reading but actually have better antenna propeties than a different device.

For example, one device might not connect to LTE band 7 in a specific location, but might show a relative good reading for LTE band 2. Another device might show a rather low signal reading but instead connect to LTE band 7 - because it can.  That means that the reading on the second device on LTE band 2 could be better. 

[sheytoon]

Dial *#0011# and compare PM SIM with Bell SIM when the phone is in the exact same location. You should see RSRP (signal bars) will be similar if you are comparing the same bands.

[will13am]

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@gpixel wrote:

@Moefun make sure your os(operating system) and carrier services are up to date

search for "carrier services by Google LLC" 

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Not sure how the carrier services app matters to this problem.  

[will13am]

@Moefun , I suggest installing network cell info lite.  This app will provide some geeky stats on what tower you are connecting to and the band in use.  Check whether the connection is being made to the nearest tower.  It is conceivable that a local tower may be down for maintenance and connection to a very distant tower is the cause of the poor signal strength.  If you still have your other phone handy or any other phone, compare the stats.  

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wilysis.cellinfolite&hl=en_CA&gl=US

[Korth]

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@gpixel wrote:

search for "carrier services by Google LLC" 

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The Google Carrier Services app seems to promise much more than it delivers, lol.

Overwhelming negative user reviews. Negative commentary from knowledgeable sources.

Google has been vague with details so there's much speculation. But those who've decompiled the source seem to agree that Carrier Services is more of a framework component than an actual service. It seems like it's basically intended to allow bundled carrier configurations without requiring core OS updates. It seems like it's structured to integrate heavily within RCS.

Nobody outside Google really knows why it's being offered as a consumer app when everything else about it suggests that it's basically just a fancy carrier deployment tool. The tinfoil hats suggest that by deploying it this way there's a forced reliance on Google Play Store - meaning that rooting/modding your OS will limit the functional lifetime of your device, it just won't work as a communications device anymore after your carrier issues an update you can't install because of broken Play Store.

Short version is that Google Carrier Services app looks very much like an anti-consumer technology. Something you wouldn't want to install.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-carrier-services-news/

[gpixel]

*@will13am lol I thought it was something like apples carrier settings. I didn't know it was Google's bloatware for RCS. 👍

[Korth]

It's possible there's always been "low" signal in the locality. Measured differently on the old phone and the newer Samsung phone.

"Signal bars" are everywhere but it turns out there's no technical standard for them, no defined measures, no quantity correlations. Each manufacturer, each brand, each model, each software version just measures and assigns these signal bars arbitrarily. And who knows exactly what they're measuring - which frequency? which band? which digital format? - it might be entirely irrelevant to what you and your phone will actually be doing.

If the thing reports low signal bars but seems to be working perfectly - calls aren't dropping, calls have good quality, texting is reliable, data overheads aren't being multiplied by packet re-sends - then the signal bars obviously don't mean anything useful. Think of the signal bar as a glitchy indicator light in your dashboard - worth taking note and staying aware, but not necessarily as meaningful or important as it claims to be.

[Moefun]

Right on.

Let me try.

Thks

M

[Moefun]

Great idea.

Should have tried that while I was testing.

Thks

M

[popping]

@Moefun 

Basically, your PM SIM and your GF Bell SIM are using the same cellphone tower.

After your factory reset, your phone did the reboot already if you have the PM SIM card inserted to your S9 Plus.  Just to be sure, reboot your S9 Plus again.

There may me provision issue on your account.  Adding $1 to your account will trigger PM server to provision your account.  10 minutes after adding $1, reboot you phone again.

[NDesai]

@Moefun Is your S9 plus new? It should have the same band/network compatibility as the previous S9 so signal strength should be the same. I suggest you to try another phone if you have and see if how strong signal you get.