Anyone else having Call Quality issues?

[Alieneila]

This past Sunday my wife and I both upgraded from Droid 3's to the Note 3's. Prior to the upgrade our call quality was great, no issues at all. Since we upgraded to the Note 3's, just like the Sprint customers are complaining about, the calls received are garbled, cut out, chirp... quite annoying and hard to have a conversation. It is the same on both phones, not just one or the other. Anyone we call seems to hear us just fine, but the quality coming in hearing other people talk is terrible. I called Verizon and the first lady I spoke with text'd me an 800 number and told me to call back because at the time I was actually on my phone with no alternate phone to use so that they could troubleshoot the phones. When I called that number, the new lady I spoke with told me that it's not the network so has to be the phones themselves and that I could go get different phones since I'm within my 14 days... not different Note 3's, but different model all together... no troubleshooting or anything, just said it was the phone and to get a different one...

Is anyone else having call quality issues, and if so, is Verizon aware of it? It seems to be the same issue that Sprint customers are complaining about, so I am thinking it is a software issue on Samsung's side of things? Anyone have any suggestions, or just wait it out until there's a software or firmware update?

[DomenicT]

I have the same issue after getting the latest update call quality is terrible where I am asking the person to repeat themselves which gets rather annoying and also putting them on speaker phone is worse you can barley here them because the volume is too low even though it is at the max level!  Also wifi keeps dropping out on me when the phone is locked and I went through the steps in regards to sleep mode but no difference. I have hard reset the phone back to factory and did not make a difference with any person I spoke to over the phone.  Can we get a update quick before i switch back to a IPhone please!

Thank you

[pkp2014]

I am also facing same issues. The signal reception in general has been poor with this phone but after the update last week, it  has been very frustrating experience. Almost every call is dropping. I am taking the calls outside my home and it does not help. Even I am noticing that some of the text messages are not getting received. Had contacted Verizon today and had received a lukewarm response and very much disappointed on the customer service response to handle this issue. Verizon has been giving impression that they have not even heard of this problem. I had been with Verizon for many years and now clearly seeing poor  service quality  and lack of help and guidance.

Still hoping that Verizon at least acknowledges the issue and indicate a time line for resolution so that we can hold on to the phone. If this continues for few more days, then will have no option but to look for alternative,

[technicholas]

I bought the HTC One Max, I love it. Where my S3, Note 2, Note 3 did not get service my HTC One Max does they use the metal back as a antenna and that is how they can pull in better signal. No more radio issues. Issue resolved for me trying to get Samsung to do something for me they like to point their fingers back at Verizon Wireless about the "no service" issue I used went down the road with my new phone no more "Searching" Extended "Searching" Just solid 4G LTE signal 3 bars or more! Thanks HTC I don't think I will be a Samsung customer anymore.

[wayne8821212]

Sorry that you had to leave Samsung due to this issue! Back in September, I chose the Note 3 over the One Max due to the fact that HTC foolishly decided to put the dated Snapdragon 600 processor (instead of the 800) into the One Max and also gave it only 2 gigs of Ram instead of 3. I kind of lucked out in getting my Note 3 from ATT because I left Verizon because they pulled the plug on our early upgrades (would have been September 14 for my HTC Rezound). I early terminated and now have the ATT variant of the Note 3. It has great call quality and blazing LTE speeds (up to 55 mbps  down and 18 mbps up). This is by far the greatest phone I have had (compared to Storm 1&2,Evo 4G, Thunderbolt & Rezound)!

[technicholas]

I love my HTC One Max, it is much better software wize then the Note 3 no dropped calls in server rooms anymore and also my office at work, (no service) before it uses the metal back to pull in the signals.

[wayne8821212]

I absolutely don't blame you given the slow response by Verizon to these (call sound quality, and signal-related issues) problems. You had to do something if Verizon/Samsung was acting as if each incident was the first that they had heard of and can't seem to get out of their own ways in fixing the issue. The One Max is a great phablet (I have huge hands and lift weights LOL......it weighs 49 grams more than the Note 3)......if they had put the processor on the same plain (Snapdragon 800) as the Note 3 or the LGG2 or the Sony Phablet, my hands would probably be wrapped around a One Max (given that I have used 6 HTC devices--2 windows mobile and 4 Androids). I was just saying that TMobile and ATT Note 3 owners are by and large having a great time with the device (not sure about the Sprint owners who were having problems initially too). The only major complaint is the locked bootloader but Safestrap has made the hurdle obselete.

[technicholas]

I think the CDMA models have the issues I heard no complaints from the GSM models, AT&T and TMobile have crappy coverage here, the leading carriers are U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless in this market, (Iowa)

I enjoy my 1-2 bars in my office compared to no signal on the Note 3. Everyone else here has Verizon and Samsung and I brag that I have service ha ha ha!

Nicholas

[wayne8821212]

Good point it is important to know your coverage area. When I was arguing with how Verizon pulled a bait and switch with the early upgrade feature and threatening to leave, their smug reply was 'you will miss our excellent coverage'. Fortunately in the Baltimore/Washington area and over a lot of the east coast, ATT is neck and neck with Verizon for coverage. So their smugness lost them two customers on a 4 Gig share everything plan (LOL...... as if they care.....we are but 2 specks of dust ).

[ExpensiveToys]

I honestly think that Samsung had a large bad run of phones for the Verizon Note 3.   The first one I got would barely get a 3G signal and never go on 4G, except when in Verizon store.   The replacement I got now gets better signal than my old Motorola Bionic, and gets better signal than my son's Razor Maxx.   Signal strength is also on par with my daughters S3.

So I know its possible to get one that works.   Its just harder than it should be to get it done.  As every time you talk to someone they treat it as a new problem, not an ongoing problem.  Which is why I have been telling folks to go to their local Verizon store and get a sales person or sales manager involved.  (ask for their business card so you have their name)   As it was much easier to get problem resolved when you can go back and talk to the same person after each attempt at a fix.  Helped coach my coworker through getting his replaced as he had the same problem with his Note3 not getting 4G signals and having dropped calls.  The Note3's that they usually have on the floor in the store generally work fine, if not they would have replaced it already.  So go into the store and used something liked "advanced signal" from play store to compare the signal of your phone (while in store) against the signal on the demo unit.   If you are getting less signal, then its a hardware problem and phone needs to be replaced.

By looking at the different android forums, and the people having problems, it "almost" appears that every phone is bad.  But its not the case, it is possible to get a Note 3 that works.   Its just unfortunate that Verizon hasn't recognized that its not just a one off problem, and that its an indication of a bad production run of phones.

[Bruce523]

I have the same issue. I investigated it thoroughly both with Best Buy and the Samsung rep at BB. The Samsung rep suggested that the GN3 comes with an unlocked Mobile Network setting set to Global by default. He suggested that this should be set for the network that you are on rather than global but this only seems to help some. The real issue is the upgrade to Bluetooth 4 in the Android operating system. The problem is happening with multiple carriers and multiple phone vendors so it it not limited to Samsung nor to Verizon. Any Android phone of 4.3 or higher will have this problem sporadically when using Bluetooth. The fix needs to come from Google. There is an app called Bluetooth Bug Fix that requires that your phone be rooted and I am not sure it fixes the problem and I am not going to root my phone.

We need to be pressing Google for a fix! Spread the word and keep people posted on what you find out.

Take care...

Bruce P.

[Nick124]

Thanks for your response. Keep plugging away. Hopefully a resolution soon.

[goldenarts]

I am having major problems with both my phones. They drop calls or you have to try to stand by a window but that still does not help very much. My husbands phone just calls people when the phone is in his pocket and my phone is so bad I can't call him, if he is at home because half the time the phones do not ring and it goes right to the message. I will be leaving Verizon as soon as possible and get some decent customer service with someone else. We are both disabled and really need our phones but if they don't work they are of no use to us.

[th1nkm4p]

I just switch to verizon and got a note 3. I start to experiencing garble and break up during call. Get rather annoy. Hopefully they patch up the software soon.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello th1nkm4p,

We welcome you over to the Verizon Wireless family.  I want to make sure we get your matters handled and addressed. Are all your calls garbled? Also has any troubleshooting been completed on the device to make sure it is working properly?

WarrenM_VZW

Please follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[th1nkm4p]

Thanks for asking. I reset the cache and factory reset the phone and that seems to have done the trick. Though I am getting particularly weak to no signal when I visit my sibling in newcastle and in some area in seattle.

[vzw_customer_support]

th1nkm4p,

That was perfect trouble shooting, and I'm really happy to hear your phone is now working. As for Newcastle and Seattle, I was wondering if your sibling has Verizon and if they are experiencing the same issues?

SarahO_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[th1nkm4p]

My sister has att, she get very strong signal and almost full bar. My brother in law has tmobile, his signal is pretty decent three bar. I get around one to two bar for signal, -112 dbm 28 asu.

[TPTSR]

I have been having the same problem the past couple of months.  We have three different phones in our home and all are experiencing the problem.  It would be impossible that all 3 phones from different makers would be the problem.  It has to be Verizon itself.  Our phones were working fine until a few months ago.  Verizon said they would check into the tower to see if it were the problem.  Waiting to hear back.

[vzw_customer_support]

Let's look further into this TPTSR! What zip code are you located in? Is this only happening indoors inside your home or outdoors as well? Try powering off/on all 3G phones and dial *228 send option 2. Power off all 4G devices and remove/insert the sim, power on and test. Please share. Thank you.

TominqueBo_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[Mlt0303]

Both my and my wife note3 having a same problems with receive phone calls.  I think note 3 having a problem, but you guys do not think so.  Getting same model replacement next week.  Will try and keep everyone post.  I already try to restart the phone and new sim card.

[Bruce523]

I have a Galaxy Note 3 and I have the same problem too but it is only when using Bluetooth (like in my car). All indicators suggest that this is an Android 4.3+ problem with the upgrade to Bluetooth 4. This same problem is being reported across multiple network carriers (Verizon, Sprint, etc.), and happens with numerous manufacturers (Samsung, HTC, etc.) any phone with Android 4.3 or higher.

Does your problem occur only on Bluetooth or does it occur even if you make a call using speaker and/or talking directly into the phone?

I have heard a lot of suggestions like disabling Wi-Fi when using the phone, and going into Settings>More Settings>Mobile Networks>Network Mode and then select LTE/CDMA (this is for Verizon) - this seems to help a little but doesn't solve the problem.

Take care...

Bruce P.