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Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems

By | July 7, 2011, 7:14am PDT

Summary: An update coming to the Nexus S 4G by Sprint should address a lack of signal in areas where other phones have decent coverage, and also problems dealing with Wi-Fi networks.

I am happy with my Nexus S 4G on Sprint but others have been dealing with poor signal strength problems. Owners have reported a lack of signal in areas where other Sprint phones have decent coverage, and even problems dealing with Wi-Fi networks. These problems are to be addressed with an update Sprint will be pushing to the Nexus S 4G on July 11.

The signal problems make the update worth the price of the update (free), and the other changes are also good:

  • Enables the NFC Secure Element
  • 4G Settings Widget
  • TTY Support
  • NI Push Support
  • Improved WiFi Connectivity, Speakerphone audio quality, 4G throughput and signal acquisition
  • Tuned signal strength indicators

The 4G Settings Widget is good to see as the Nexus S has no easy way to toggle 4G on the home screen. Nexus S 4G owners don’t have to do anything to get the update, it will be pushed to phones over a 4-day period beginning July 11 according to Sprint documents.

Related coverage:

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Topics

4G, Sprint Communications, Google Nexus S, Cellular Phones, Wireless And Mobility, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, James Kendrick

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long.

Disclosure

James Kendrick

James Kendrick has no affiliations or relationships that need to be disclosed.

Biography

James Kendrick

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long. Prior to joining ZDNet, James was the Founding Editor of jkOnTheRun, a CNET Top 100 Tech Blog that was acquired by GigaOM in 2008 and is now part of that prestigious tech network. James' writing has appeared in many print publications: Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine, Information Week and Laptop Magazine to name a few. James' coverage of the mobile technology sector has regularly appeared in the New York Times, Salon.com and CNN/ Fortune online. Not just a writer, James has filmed numerous video reviews and how-tos that have garnered well over a million viewers. He has appeared on local news segments and been interviewed by the Associated Press on mobile technology topics. Additionally, James has been podcasting about mobile technology for years.

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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
FAULKNE 13th Oct
Good day to confirm this comment I would appreciate T h e b e s t o f Z D N e t d e l i v e r e d your website very nice to everyone Yes, Oracle is the only one with shared-disk architecture, but that is there advantage. It means you can add or remove nodes and the database lives on. In a shared nothing architecture, if you lose a node, you lose the system. I'm sure Oracle appreciates EMC highlighting their advantage.I also desire to signal in your RSS feeds. Thank you as soon as once again and maintain up the great operate Awesome post! Thank you very much || thanks for nice content this is really benefit to me.
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
OJMc 7th Jul
I too have had pretty good luck with regular 3g reception, but wifi and 4g are a step below the Evo (which, by the way, had the same problems at launch before an update). I am looking forward to the update, especially the 4g widget capability and increased speaker volume...it is way too low on video chats unless you are in a quiet room. One question James, what is NI push?
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Contributr
RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
JamesKendrick 7th Jul
@OJMc I always thought NI stood for Network Interface. Not sure in this context from Sprint.
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Sprint Coverage
nw trout 7th Jul
Is awful in too many places where competitors excel and in some cases seems to have gotten worse as if Sprint has sold towers to others.
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
Pete "athynz" Athens 7th Jul
@nw trout That was one of the reasons I left Sprint and went with AT&T - in my area Sprint went downhill and I was dropping calls left and right while my wife who was on a plan with AT&T had none of the issues I was having... However if AT&T and VZW keep on with the rampant greed (double charging data for those who tether and killing the unlimited data plans for overpriced tiered plans) and AT&T keeps sitting on their hands when I'm getting no service at my house (and wanting to charge me for a microcell) I might just have to look into Sprint again.
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
Pete "athynz" Athens 7th Jul
Interesting - this is the first I've heard of this issue. How many users does this actually affect? I'm asking because if this was oh say Apple's iPhone there would be several articles from the tech media and all sorts of anti Apple/iOS comments from the ABAer's and pro Apple/iOS comments from the mactards (all of which require reading beyond the FUD from both sides) and some tech media wag with less wit than most would have put a big ol' "wifigate" label on the issue.

I don't want to start any sort of Android vs iOS vs WP7 flame war here but I'd like to see an honest unbiased percentage of Nexus S 4G users affected vs iPhone 4 users affected by "antennagate".

In any event I'm glad to see that someone is releasing a fix that will help out the affected Nexus S users.
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
Rama.NET 7th Jul
@athynz
It seems some fandroid flagged your post. Probably (S)he/It didn't read your post or have some reading comprehension issues.
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
Pete "athynz" Athens Updated - 8th Jul
@Rama.NET Imagine that - let's flag it instead of actually providing an answer... I said I didn't want a flame war just a straight answer but like the song says "you can't always get what you want..."

Ah well, I guess an honest question must have hurt someone's feelings.

Wait, someone flagged my other post here - maybe it was someone who doesn't like me for some reason... somehow I think I can live with that... LOL
  • Flagged
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
msalzberg 12th Jul
@Rama.NET

Hmmm. Someone's flagging any post remotely favorable to Apple, and any post from certain people. Who could that be?
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
non-biased 12th Jul
@athynz As I was reading the article I was thinking the same thing, where are the 30 other "Signalgate" articles just from the past day or so. Glad to see there is a fix coming to those that were affected though.
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
MACKENZI 11th Sep
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
SATURNINA 14th Sep
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
TOCCAR 25th Sep
Well welcome, hopefully you can become a vital member of the community and really help to push far ahead of google. Which Im sure the development team would love. This will of course earn you alot points too and get you on the leaders board. z d n e t t h a n k Im not sure i come to an agreement with you on every level, howevor it absolutely was a good posting, many thanks for taking the time to put up your ideas.
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
RICHMONFT 30th Sep
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RE: Sprint to update Nexus S 4G to address signal problems
FAULKNE 13th Oct
Good day to confirm this comment I would appreciate T h e b e s t o f Z D N e t d e l i v e r e d your website very nice to everyone Yes, Oracle is the only one with shared-disk architecture, but that is there advantage. It means you can add or remove nodes and the database lives on. In a shared nothing architecture, if you lose a node, you lose the system. I'm sure Oracle appreciates EMC highlighting their advantage.I also desire to signal in your RSS feeds. Thank you as soon as once again and maintain up the great operate Awesome post! Thank you very much || thanks for nice content this is really benefit to me.

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