Are some phones better at picking up a signal than others?

funnyname

My phone is a smasung galaxy and my girlfriend's is a htc desire. We are both on contract with 3 and the signal is crappy enough where we are. However on a weekend away the other weekend I was roaming while she was able to connect to 3, does that mean phone with a more powerful antenna would help with the poor signal where we are?

Daverk

Are you using 3g?

ED E

Short answer, yes.

Different phones have different size and shaped aerials. These affect how good a connection they can make to the cell tower.

A classic example is the iPhone 4 disconnecting if you held it in your left hand as you'd block the signal(the frame was the aerial). Similarly, I find my XS has better signal if held upside down, as the signal bar is on the bottom.


Might be worth calling three to tell them you're in a blindspot, o2 were always good at readjusting when we needed them to, three may do the same.

Hogzy

IMO the Desire HD has terrible signal strength most of the time.

Its the one thing i miss about older generation phones is that the signal was always great.

kenyard

i have the htc desire also and am not too impressed about its ability to pick up a signal either.
and yes thers massive variation between them.

Kenno90

The HTC Desire was never a good phone for picking up a signal , my Galaxy Nexus is much better.

Simi

If you have an SGS changing modem can help. The latest official European firmware JW4, has a decent modem in my opinion, great signal & data speeds. Calls are also clearer than before.

I tried loads of others before this, some had great battery life, but poor signal & terrible call clarity, others sounded great but ate battery life.

Three are also notoriously bad for signal, switching to roaming at the drop of a hat & not switching back when the signal returns.

I could only put up with them for a few weeks before i had to switch back to meteor