Mobile HotSpot and Data Drop - Thunderbolt General

Just curious if there are any other Thunderbolt users who are experiencing the same data issues that I am with the hotspot feature.
When using the hotspot, my data connection will repeatedly drop in and out, to the point of making the hotspot unusable.
This is the second device, first one returned and exchanged for the same reason.
I live in an area with great 4G and have never dropped from 4G to 3G because the 4G coverage is so widespread.
I'll turn on the hotspot and then at some point as I'm streaming Grooveshark or surfing and browsing, my data connection drops, and then begins to cycle on and off.
I have changed channels, trying every one and have taken a video of this behaviour, showing it to the store managers at my local Verizon store.
I have also sent the video to a level 2 tech support guy hoping he has some clue as to what is going on, have not heard back yet.
You can literally watch the 4G icon cycle on and off of the signal indicator, not switching to 3G, simply losing a connection all together.
I Googled and found a link to an Engadget article which documented the same issue.
I'd appreciate any help for those who may have experienced and / or have fixed this issue.

You can try to force the phone to use LTE only instead of LTE/EvDO hybrid connection. Go to Market and download the LTE On/Off app, then follow the instructions to make it LTE only and try again.
I have experienced similar problem yesterday but it has been great today so far. Could be a software problem, could be a network problem, or both.

I've been experiencing the same issue since I picked up the phone at launch. It occurs on my PC, my Xoom, and my iPad 2. I can count on the data connection eventually dropping during normal surfing, though I can usually accelerate the process by opening up a video on Youtube and jumping back and forth to random parts.
So far VZW tech support has not been of assistance, not acknowledging that there may be a larger problem despite issues documented at engadget as well as threads at androidcentral.com and VZW's own community forum.

I have experienced the same problem. I found a remedy but it is a pain. If you switch your preferred network to LTE Mode only, turn off mobile network, switch to airplane mode, switch off airplane mode, then turn mobile network back on, it should be stable. If its not, try a reboot. Usually I will not drop connection after this. The only problem with LTE Mode as your preferred network is that it will not drop to 3g if you lose 4g coverage, it goes straight to 1x for the most part. I hope they get these bugs worked out soon because it is rather annoying to deal with for power users.

So after sending the vid to the level two tech support at Verizon, he replied via email that this is a known issue with no known resolution date. I guess now we know why the hotspot is free, it's a known issue that it doesn't work 100% for 100% of Thunderbolt users.
They have until 5/15 to fix it, or extend the free period I guess. How can they charge for a service that has a known issue?

I've spoken to four level two techs regarding the matter, one said it was a "known issue," the other three stated they were not aware of any issues.

Kinda sucks - this is almost like antennagate

next time your data goes out dial ##778 and go into edit mode. Password is 000000. Under modem settings change "Rev. A" to enable if it isn't already AND MAKE SURE YOU COMMIT CHANGES.

KDKobes said:
next time your data goes out dial ##778 and go into edit mode. Password is 000000. Under modem settings change "Rev. A" to enable if it isn't already AND MAKE SURE YOU COMMIT CHANGES.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue here is 4g data dropping when using the mobile hotspot. EVDO revisions aren't involved.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

I have experience a similar issue with 3G albeit not often, but when I'm trying to download large files, or even small ones at that, my 3G will just drop. Then it flips back. Then drops. It lasts for 15 minutes and then it's fine.

My hotspot keeps dropping connection enough that it makes it difficult to do anything other than surf. Its happened on multiple ROMs for me. I even went back to stockROM and still had this issue pop up. My fix has been to just disconect from hotspot and then start surfing from my thunderbolt. Once im recieving data again to my device I can reconnect hotspot and Im up and running again.
Sometimes tho, my 3g will just drop all together and I have to toggle Lte or evdo and then back to cdma auto. Toggling between network types seems to get me back and running......sometimes. And sometimes I just have to wait cause nothing works. I have noticed if I do a complete wipe and install ROM again things start working again for awhile.
Sidenote: Dont live in 4g area.

Sorry to be re-opening this topic, but has anyone heard anything new about this problem? I use the hotspot intermittently and it would actually be worth the price to me so I was wondering if anyone knows if there will be a fix.
Also, do any of the other applications that allow tethering after rooting have this problem?

Yea its got to be the radio because I flashed both leak and stock and used mobile hotspot and root tether and both would drop data several times but what was funny is when it would drop signal most of the times I could just awake my phone not even unlock but just awake it the data connection would start back up again
Maybe you could try this until a fix or better 4g coverage comes out
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Are you guys seeing this only in the stock hotspot app or in apps like wireless tether also?
HTC Thunderbolt --- das BAMF 1.5 Remix

I have the same problem, it sucks
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

I haven't actually used any other application other than the preinstalled hotspot application.
I'm new to this and was under the impression that you need to root your phone in order to use other ones. Being new, I'm not prepared to make a mistake doing that.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

The problem is due to the buggy mobile hotspot app. Same problem on my thunderbolt. It is not a hardware issue but software. Trust me, been there and done that. Fix is to root and installed "wireless tether" for rooted user. You won't look back especially after May 15th.

I have the data drop issue with the mobile hotspot, but no problem at all with wifi tether.

Alright I guess rooting is on my agenda today. Thanks.

I'm having the same issues on 3g, using the mobile hotspot app and Barnacle Wifi. I will try the Wireless Tether app and see if it works any better.

Related

Lose Data Connection

I Lose my data connection several times a day even when having 3 or 4 signal bars for hours at a time.
I had an iphone for 2 years and never had this problem even though the att signal is spotty at best where i live. Once i lose the data connection it refuses to come back even when i have a solid 3 or 4 signal bars for hours plus.
ive tried every combination of using task killers to not using them to toggling airplane mode, toggling apn settings and gps settings and even rebooting the phone, even the reboot doesnt always fix it........
the most successful i have gotten has been to toggle airplane mode on
run a task killer 2 or 3 times and then turn off airplane mode and then toggle the apn switch off and then back on
anybody have any insight ?
this really interferes with my plan to drop the $20 unlimited text package and use google voice. when my edge connection just disappears on me
Nobody?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
looks like you're alone on this one. go get your phone replaced
Get a new sim card it worked for me
I'm having this issue as well. I'm only noticing it about once a day, but its really irritating.
New SIM is fixing this for people?
Happens to me occasionally but not often enough to be a real issue.
From my Samsung Captivate
So those of you who lost data connection.
How are getting it to come back on? Mine seems to get worse each time. Could there be some ill effects of iphone data package being on my account still?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I didn't have this problem until the past few days. I've been traveling in Colorado for those two days, and I've actually had a data connection less time than it's been disconnected. When. I go into the menu and choose About -> Status, it shows "Mobile network type": EDGE, "Mobile connection status": Disconnected. I haven't been able to figure out what's causing it. Sometimes restarting it or turning flight mode on/off gets the data connection going.
Back at home in Austin (a 3g city) I've not experienced it once. Now, in edge data areas of rural Colorado and Durango, I've experienced it most of the time.
You're definitely not alone in this, but unfortunately I don't know how to fix it yet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
guys, get your phone or sim card replaced and see if that helps. This is not typical behavior for this phone.
I had my 2 year old sim card replaced and my apparently my account still listed Iphone data plan and not android data plan .. they assured me that was the problem and this would fix it .
....however tonight it still happened.. it was very brief.. but still..
seems to be something with spotty service and only edge. wish there was an option to disable 3g on the phone.
maybe its a bug and getting stuck searching for 3g
there is an option to disable it. check the secret menus thread here on xda. The sim card replacement is for faulty sim card not faulty data on their system. Your new sim could be acting up or it may be your phone. Doesnt hurt to get them both replaced, give it a shot.
lecmmada said:
I didn't have this problem until the past few days. I've been traveling in Colorado for those two days, and I've actually had a data connection less time than it's been disconnected. When. I go into the menu and choose About -> Status, it shows "Mobile network type": EDGE, "Mobile connection status": Disconnected. I haven't been able to figure out what's causing it. Sometimes restarting it or turning flight mode on/off gets the data connection going.
Back at home in Austin (a 3g city) I've not experienced it once. Now, in edge data areas of rural Colorado and Durango, I've experienced it most of the time.
You're definitely not alone in this, but unfortunately I don't know how to fix it yet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem here almost exactly. Ever since taking a trip to Colorado from Austin, when on edge network the data connection craps out despite the fact I can still make calls and text. At first I thought I was just roaming but then after looking in connection settings it said I was connected to att.
Its a really weird and annoying problem. The way I beat it when the data connection drops is I turn on flight mode, then turn radio back on and then turn wifi on and then off. A really weird procedure but it almost always works.
Anyone found a way to prevent this yet?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
matthewpapa said:
Same problem here almost exactly. Ever since taking a trip to Colorado from Austin, when on edge network the data connection craps out despite the fact I can still make calls and text. At first I thought I was just roaming but then after looking in connection settings it said I was connected to att.
Its a really weird and annoying problem. The way I beat it when the data connection drops is I turn on flight mode, then turn radio back on and then turn wifi on and then off. A really weird procedure but it almost always works.
Anyone found a way to prevent this yet?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try getting a new SIM card. My Nexus One and Motorola Milestone do this (lose data) a few times a day. Same SIM, different devices, and across different ROMS. My Captivate even did it. A new SIM could very well fix this issue for you.

Data Connection issues?

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced issues with their phone taking way to long to establish a connection when surfing the internet. Some times when I click a link it will take for ever and sometimes not connect at all, of course when it does establish the link it is blazing fast. Typically when it cannot establish a connection I will just put my phone into Airplane mode and then turn Airplane mode off and typically after that it is able to establish a connection.
Thanks.
my phone often goes from good 4g reception to just showing two or three bars with no connection type (never auto switches to 3g, occasionally switches to 1x). just now it went from 4g to no connection type, so i dialed *#*#4636#*#* and tried turning the radio off and on, tried changing the radio mode to LTE only, cdma prl auto, and a couple of the other choices and it never seems to make a difference (always poor connectivity, sometimes total data drops, sometimes while tethering and sometimes when just using the phone normally). could just be LTE tower work in many areas, but im looking forward to an upcoming software/firmware update from htc or verizon.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Sometimes when I lose connection, I just restart my phone and everything works again. Try that and see if it helps!
Smok3d said:
Sometimes when I lose connection, I just restart my phone and everything works again. Try that and see if it helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that did work
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
I run into that quite often... sometimes it clears up after 20 seconds, others I have to disable and re-enable the data connection. I'm strictly in a 3G area, and it's done it with LTE on and off, as well as stock ROM and my custom ROM.
wrb123 said:
that did work
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? A $500 phone and you're ok with having to turn it off and on to maintain a data connection?
I've had several HTC phones, going all the way back to my WinMo phone, and this Thunderbolt has to be the worst HTC phone I've used to date.
On my second device, if I keep it, it'll only be to grandfather the unlimited 4G data plan.
Inconsistent data connections and force closes up the wazoo... Wow!
hecatomb said:
I run into that quite often... sometimes it clears up after 20 seconds, others I have to disable and re-enable the data connection. I'm strictly in a 3G area, and it's done it with LTE on and off, as well as stock ROM and my custom ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quickest way so far is use the free app called "Restart Connection" works for me like a charm....
aedillor said:
Quickest way so far is use the free app called "Restart Connection" works for me like a charm....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I've got the quick buttons in the dropdown tray in my ROM, so it's just as fast... still, its something that shouldn't be happening in the first place.
jackoutside said:
Really? A $500 phone and you're ok with having to turn it off and on to maintain a data connection?
I've had several HTC phones, going all the way back to my WinMo phone, and this Thunderbolt has to be the worst HTC phone I've used to date.
On my second device, if I keep it, it'll only be to grandfather the unlimited 4G data plan.
Inconsistent data connections and force closes up the wazoo... Wow!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never said I was okay with that, I just said it worked because I failed to mention doing that with success in my post
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
My dig wasn't at you, no offense meant buddy. I'm pretty much fed up with this device and will most likely return and cancel contract.
I've had issues with data since day one and I've never had so many force closes on one device.
This is Verizons flagship 4G device and it's a POS.
I've been on Android since G1, iterated thru the OS with each release thru to Gingerbread on my N1.
Verizon has a rocking 4G network, HTC released a crap phone that was delayed for several weeks. I would have thought that by the time they RTM'd it would have been fixed, or at least better than it is.
jackoutside said:
My dig wasn't at you, no offense meant buddy. I'm pretty much fed up with this device and will most likely return and cancel contract.
I've had issues with data since day one and I've never had so many force closes on one device.
This is Verizons flagship 4G device and it's a POS.
I've been on Android since G1, iterated thru the OS with each release thru to Gingerbread on my N1.
Verizon has a rocking 4G network, HTC released a crap phone that was delayed for several weeks. I would have thought that by the time they RTM'd it would have been fixed, or at least better than it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's cool, I know what you mean but I'm liking the phone... Occasional reboots don't really bother me that much - this is probably because sprint wimax is nonexistent pretty much anywhere indoors and is the most unreliable network connection ever. the evo was a solid reliable device, but it was worthless because of the network and i canceled sprint to come to verizon for the thunderbolt. im happy with it despite a few annoyances. once i root and cm is released this phone/network combination will be untouchable.
i felt more comfortable using dialup and praying the phone wouldn't ring and disconnect me than i did using sprint wimax. their 3g is slower than dialup in a lot of areas at the moment, too.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
This is driving me crazy also. My phone will constantly drop whatever connection it had (wifi, 3G or 4G) and just sit there with no data connection for a couple of minutes whereby I finally have to reset the radios and then wait while it cycles through 1X and then maybe 3G or 4G if I'm lucky. Or it just goes back to full cdma bars and no data connection. I don't have 5 minutes every time I want to check the internet or email to wait for the phone to reboot or reset radios or do whatever it's doing.
I had the EVO, and while the 4G wimax connection wasn't always stout, if you lost it you immediately grabbed a 3G connection that was solid. This delay/no data connection thing is making me think twice about switching to this phone. Love the 4G when it works, but it holds a connection way too infrequently for me to be useful, and I'm in LA where the service is supposed to be blanketed all the places I'm trying.

So my tbolt says 4G, but it's not working

It keeps intermittently going to 4G and lighting up only the UP arrow, but it's not actually transferring any data -- FB doesn't work, browser, speedtest won't find a server, etc. And then it will toggle to 3G on its own and get the standard .5-ish MB up/down.
I never made the fix yesterday to switch to 3G, figured I'd wait. Wondering if anybody else is seeing this kind of issue. I'm in Detroit. When 4G was up I was getting 30+ MB down as the norm.
trau said:
It keeps intermittently going to 4G and lighting up only the UP arrow, but it's not actually transferring any data -- FB doesn't work, browser, speedtest won't find a server, etc. And then it will toggle to 3G on its own and get the standard .5-ish MB up/down.
I never made the fix yesterday to switch to 3G, figured I'd wait. Wondering if anybody else is seeing this kind of issue. I'm in Detroit. When 4G was up I was getting 30+ MB down as the norm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happens a lot... turn data off, then turn it back on...
yeah my thunderbolt also says 4g but only the up arrow lights up and it sits there for like 3 mins until it switches to 3g and starts working again. i only just started noticing it after the outage. is this normal then? how do you fix it when it happens?
This was happening to me all day long as well. It's still really flaky even right now. Also in Detroit.
4G is now working up & down. It was only doing 4G up earlier, so I was forcing it to CDMA auto (PRL) to keep it on 3G.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Anybody in Detroit seeing any improvement on this? I tried turning off/on mobile data, restarting, battery pull. Still same issue as I mentioned in the original post. The frustrating thing is it won't just automatically go to 3G when 4G isn't working. I just notice it's switched to 3G randomly at times.
Note: I tried a *228 when the network dropped before I heard the news and before I read that it was a bad idea to do that. Of course now I'm wondering in the back of my mind if that's the reason I'm getting this issue now.
I am on BAMF remix 1.5 with the new radio.
Since the new radio came out, 4g was working pretty good. BUUUUUUUT, since the 4g outage, it's working like pre new radio.
What a CS rep told me was to check the Data roaming feature to fix the problem.
Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks (under Mobile network with the check mark)
Then check the data roaming.
I had the same problem. Where I would lose connectivity to data. However, checking it seems to fix it for me. I just turn on the option "data roaming sound" just in case.

Wifi speeds decreasing after 5-10 mins?

I've noticed this since I got the phone the other day. I'm connected to wifi and for the first couple of minutes my wifi speeds are what they should be which are around 15-18mbps. Then after about 5 or 6 minutes maybe a little more the download speeds decrease to around .80mbps. Upload speeds remain the same.
Can others test this out.
Connect to wifi
Then run a speedtest via the speedtest app which is available in the market
Then put your phone down for several minutes
Then run another test and see what you get
Doesn't always happen right away but more frequently when the wifi connection is being used. HTC definitely has some bugs with the Sensation. Hopefully they'll be addressed sooner rather than later.
Using T-Mobile USA by the way.
Did you already try this fix? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1118017
I haven't had the problem you speak of.
jrwingate6 said:
Did you already try this fix? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1118017
I haven't had the problem you speak of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, problem still there. I called T-Mobile and they said they are working on an update to address the latency/radio issues. Hopefully that will resolve it.
Have the problem. I think either an.app we have installed is doing it or we have to wait on a fix.
MattMJB0188 said:
Yup, problem still there. I called T-Mobile and they said they are working on an update to address the latency/radio issues. Hopefully that will resolve it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Mine can't even hang on to wifi for that long, lol
Thank god I don't use wifi much.
I'm in this boat as well. After a while my wifi slows down greatly, restarting the wifi connection being the only method of restoring it to it's proper bandwidth.
On the note of the Slow data latency fix, I'm pretty sure that that menu in its entirety, as well as the ciphering option, only apply to the network data connection, and not wifi.
Edit: Addendum:
It seems to me to be correlated loosely with wifi-calling use.
It certainly isn't instant, but I've been testing it off and on and it seems that if I turn wifi calling off and then restart my wifi the gradual slowdown doesn't occur, but if I turn wifi calling on, then it does.
I heard unchecking the using mobile data speeds up wifi as well. And are you guys using the best wifi performance option as well?
Maybe its a certain app you guys are using. Mine stays at a constant 30mb/s down and 10mb/s up whether I'm on WIFI for 10 minutes or 10 hours.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
I disabled WiFi calling and the problem seems to have been stopped. So far so good. It was dropping to 2Mbs and after disabling WiFi calling my speeds jumped back up to 17Mbs.
I talked with T-Mobile tech support about it, and since my phone was recently purchased they gave me another Sensation. The issue is no longer present, all the same apps, all the same settings, same network.

Verizon GS3 4g Connection Issues

Have any Verizon Wireless Galaxy S 3 users (besides myself) noticed the following symptoms:
1) Phone doesn't connect to 4g LTE until approximately 15 minutes later (even in an excellant 4g coverage area)
2) Phone connects to 4g LTE then disconnects approximately 15 minutes later and drops to 3g (even in excellent 4g coverage area).
3) Phone shows 4g LTE connection, but no data can be transmitted/received (tested with speedtest and a google search in the browser). This one is particularly bad, as there is currently no way I am aware of to turn off the 4g radio)
I've spoken with VZW technical support and they want me to replace the phone to see if things get better. I'm not quite sure it's a hardware problem.
mybook4 said:
Have any Verizon Wireless Galaxy S 3 users (besides myself) noticed the following symptoms:
1) Phone doesn't connect to 4g LTE until approximately 15 minutes later (even in an excellant 4g coverage area)
2) Phone connects to 4g LTE then disconnects approximately 15 minutes later and drops to 3g (even in excellent 4g coverage area).
3) Phone shows 4g LTE connection, but no data can be transmitted/received (tested with speedtest and a google search in the browser). This one is particularly bad, as there is currently no way I am aware of to turn off the 4g radio)
I've spoken with VZW technical support and they want me to replace the phone to see if things get better. I'm not quite sure it's a hardware problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this sounds ridiculous to do with brand new phone but here is the truth. They factory flash those bad boys using octopuss strand array cables with one machine and sometimes they receive a bad flash from the factory. Try the following steps
1. Go to options>settings>mobile and wireless networks>mobile networks>toggle mobile network on and off. (is it acting better?) No? then..
2. Factory data reset the phone. (is it acting better now?) No? then..
3. Using odin reflash the stock ROM (is it acting bettery now?) No? then take it back.... your phone is officially broken.
mybook4 said:
Have any Verizon Wireless Galaxy S 3 users (besides myself) noticed the following symptoms:
1) Phone doesn't connect to 4g LTE until approximately 15 minutes later (even in an excellant 4g coverage area)
2) Phone connects to 4g LTE then disconnects approximately 15 minutes later and drops to 3g (even in excellent 4g coverage area).
3) Phone shows 4g LTE connection, but no data can be transmitted/received (tested with speedtest and a google search in the browser). This one is particularly bad, as there is currently no way I am aware of to turn off the 4g radio)
I've spoken with VZW technical support and they want me to replace the phone to see if things get better. I'm not quite sure it's a hardware problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should search before posting, maybe someone else is having problems. maybe theres info that could help you.....
das7982 said:
I know this sounds ridiculous to do with brand new phone but here is the truth. They factory flash those bad boys using octopuss strand array cables with one machine and sometimes they receive a bad flash from the factory. Try the following steps
1. Go to options>settings>mobile and wireless networks>mobile networks>toggle mobile network on and off. (is it acting better?) No? then..
2. Factory data reset the phone. (is it acting better now?) No? then..
3. Using odin reflash the stock ROM (is it acting bettery now?) No? then take it back.... your phone is officially broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for the tips. I searched prior to posting.There has been another post after mine with someone talking about similar issues.
Tried number 1 and 2. No dice.
I'm hesitant with 3 (although I've flashed/odined many times in the fascinate). Will refreshing stock up the flash counter? I may just swap out the phone in store. This would at least give me an account history showing issues.
When I have new info, I'll reply.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
i posted well before your thread, but in short......theres an update being pushed that addresses 4g issues
Very cool. Thanks.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
tillithz said:
i posted well before your thread, but in short......theres an update being pushed that addresses 4g issues
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really hope this update doesn't effect the kexec work that is already underway
Verizon LTE is fast but...
It sucks at connecting and at staying connected. My HTC Thunderbolt did this, my Droid Bionic does this, and my co-workers Razr does this. LTE is fast when it actually works properly.
I'm not able conenct to 3g or 4g. Without Wifi I'm getting no data services.
As promised, I have an update. I went to the VZW store and they swapped out my SIM card. No change. The same issues I described in the OP were encountered.
I've performed the following testing to help determine if my specific phone had an issue or whether it was just the LTE service in the area. This isn't the most extensive or scientific test, just a quick and dirty test.
The procedure was as follows:
-Compare phone signal strength in Settings -> About Device -> Status (within phones approximately 5 feet of each other)
-Compare speed test results using the SpeedTest.net app
My office:
1 person in my office also has a vzw galaxy s III. We are running the same stock system.img (I535VRALF2).
- On average, his signal strength was -88dbm, mine was -84dbm. Definitely within normal range for a decent LTE signal.
- His speed test results were similar to mine (within 10% for each direction)
1 person in my office has a Droid Razr (non MAXX) running ICS (important as ICS measures signal strength differently than GB).
- On average, his signal strenth was -95dbm, mine was -91dbm.
- His speed test results were very different than mine:
GSIII - 66ms ping, 8.5MBit down, 12.2MBit up
Razr - 61ms ping, 18.9MBit down, 9.1MBit up
A friend's house:
My friend also has a vzw galaxy s III. We are running the same stock system.img (I535VRALF2).
- On average, his signal strength was -104dbm, mine was also -104dbm. A fairly poor LTE signal.
- Our speed test results were similar (approx 4MBit down, upload was intermittent (would sometimes stall out) approx 0.5Mbit up)
VZW lists 4g coverage as "Verizon LTE (non-extended)" in both areas.
Conclusion:
The difference I encountered between my GSIII and the Razr was alarming, but again, this wasn't the most scientific test (and anyone familiar with the speed test app will tell you that it's usually best to run it several times (unfortunately, I was pressed for time). Just wanted to get an idea of encountered differences.
I can second what tillithz heard about an update being released to address the 4g connection issues. I heard the info from a VZW store employee (so take that with a grain of salt).
I'll be keeping my eyes open for details on the rumored update (and wether or not it breaks our current root/CWM/custom boot.img flashing abilities).
das7982 said:
I know this sounds ridiculous to do with brand new phone but here is the truth. They factory flash those bad boys using octopuss strand array cables with one machine and sometimes they receive a bad flash from the factory. Try the following steps
1. Go to options>settings>mobile and wireless networks>mobile networks>toggle mobile network on and off. (is it acting better?) No? then..
2. Factory data reset the phone. (is it acting better now?) No? then..
3. Using odin reflash the stock ROM (is it acting bettery now?) No? then take it back.... your phone is officially broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel like a tard aadmitting this but I can't figure out how to do/find step one
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Sounds like the issues I had with 5 (not exaggerating) GNexs before I gave up on the phone. It was a hardware issue. Hopefully Samsung didn't let this issue slip to the GSIII
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
Guys I seriously think it's a Verizon issue. I don't know one person with an VZW LTE device that doesn't have problems connecting.
I had a Korean GNex that never dropped 4G. I had 5 Chinese models that never held a signal at all (non-data included) for over ten minutes. For once I don't think it was Verizon.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
Same issues
I have not done anything to my phone. It is still stock. While using Google Maps, it has managed to reboot 3 times on me. It has also managed to lose service two times while using Google Maps before rebooting with the "Searching for GPS" message. The night before I could NOT send SMS/MMS messages. Had to resort to Google Voice. Any thoughts would be great. I don't believe I have been holding it incorrectly as I have a BT headset. I'm randomly getting searching for services also. I don't think it's VZW with my Rezound, I would never lose WIFI, 4G, or calling service. Just wondering if anyone else is having this problem?
I am coming from the Incredible so I have never tried 4G at my house before but 3G has always been strong. I picked up my S3 last night and only 3G will connect. According to Verizon coverage maps I am solidly in a 4G area. Not sure what's going on.
Piss-off Verizon!
So I am having the same issue on mine and my wife's phone. Both pre-ordered in June and received on the 9th.
I stream music in my car while I drive to and from work an hour away. This is extremely annoying as I have to constantly fiddle with my phone to get the data connection back while I'm driving to get my music back.
I called Verizon twice and had the SIM swapped out on mine to test if it fixed it. It fixed one issue of signal strength, but not the dropping of connections. Here's my problems:
- Going from a 3G to a 4G area, signal drops out to unknown in the About Phone > Status page for about 30 seconds or more
- Sometimes it just stays at 3G and never switches
- Going from a 4G to a 3G area, signal drops out to unknown in the About Phone > Status page for about 30 seconds or more
- While it claims I have 4G, there are many times where I cannot get any data connection at all where Facebook says network connection error or speed test doesn't work at all and web pages won't load
- One issue fixed after the SIM swap was that under Settings > More Settings > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names it is now switching from EHRPD and LTE more often. Still not perfect, but I'm assuming that it stays in EHRPD mode when in an extended 4G coverage area (not sure about this) but before it wouldn't use the LTE option no matter what
Before the SIM swap my data connection dropped out completely in the middle of a city known to have great 4G coverage and would not come back no matter what I did (airplane mode on/off, mobile data off/on, phone reboot)
Software reset didn't fix any of these issues either.
Here is what I've decided about some of the issues they are having based on my experiences driving around so much. It seems as if the phone cannot negotiate with the towers correctly. It's as if it needs to drop the 3G connection before it can negotiate a 4G connection, hence the 30 seconds of no data at all, and same for going from 4G to 3G, it seems it can't negotiate without first dropping your current connection. 3G to 1X and back has no issues.
I know this is long, but I want it detailed as much as possible. I had gotten the Bionic when it first came out and it did the same thing, where I could never get a 4G connection when it was supposed to or go back once acquired. The main difference is that my Galaxy S III has WAY better battery life than the Bionic had. So they seemed to have cured the battery drain when searching for a 4G tower. I'm still pissed at Verizon stating I'm in a 4G area and then never getting that connection at home, let alone barely getting a 1x connection. My dBm levels are usually in the -95 to -104 area when at home...I'm in a 4G area now and it's at -112 with an asu of 28 while at home it's usually 1 asu. Hope this helps someone else out. I don't know if a phone swap is going to fix these issues.
Verizon has told me that they are looking at a software update sometime in September...I'll believe it when I see it. In the mean time I have 7 more days to decide to keep the phone with no Verizon tech knowing what they are doing or able to troubleshoot their way out of a brown paper bag.
I am getting a new phone shipped out to me tomorrow. I will let you know if the same thing happens or it is Verizon.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
mybook4 said:
Have any Verizon Wireless Galaxy S 3 users (besides myself) noticed the following symptoms:
1) Phone doesn't connect to 4g LTE until approximately 15 minutes later (even in an excellant 4g coverage area)
2) Phone connects to 4g LTE then disconnects approximately 15 minutes later and drops to 3g (even in excellent 4g coverage area).
3) Phone shows 4g LTE connection, but no data can be transmitted/received (tested with speedtest and a google search in the browser). This one is particularly bad, as there is currently no way I am aware of to turn off the 4g radio)
I've spoken with VZW technical support and they want me to replace the phone to see if things get better. I'm not quite sure it's a hardware problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had symptoms comparable to these, 4G stopped working in areas where it should. It would occasionally go back to 4g, only to not actually transfer any data. My phone was fine before this, and has been fine ever since. In my case I believe flashing CM9 for a bit could have triggered my problems. I have no explanation for why my phone randomly started working properly again.
I'm doubtful that this is a hardware issue, and I am hoping future updates may address radio issues.
Just an fyi, I have talked to multiple Verizon reps and changed sim cards to get nowhere. I'm at the point where I'm about ready to return it for another phone to see if that helps.
Verizon claims this is not a well known issue or widespread. I beg to differ. If it isn't widespread, then it must be a defective unit imo. I also think I got a retarded rep, he tried to tell me updates come straight from the manufacturers and we should see an update soon after a phones release haha. I asked for examples of phone release dates and the date of the first update...He couldn't provide me with any. I then asked why the nexus got the 4.0.4 update 2 months after every other carrier and he stated, well sir we don't release the updates until they're tested. Ah, so you do control the updates!
Needless to say, I'm getting tired of this crap. I'll let you know how the replacement goes.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

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