Hi everyone. Just to start out, I am completely new to the Android world – I’ve tried to read up on these forums and whatnot but I am definitely a noob. I am coming from Apple, and long story short, I’m tired of iPhones and got myself a Galaxy S3 via Swappa in order to keep my unlimited data plan. It was previously rooted, but I requested that it be restored to stock.
I have been unable to get to a Verizon corporate store to get a sim card and activate the phone, so I’ve been using it on wifi around the house. I am having signal issues with the wif – it works everywhere except in my room. The signal shows as weak and keeps dropping every few minutes. My other devices have a strong signal. I have downloaded various wifi analyzer apps from the Play store, and they all show the wifi signal as really weak.
I searched and found numerous threads that this is an issue with some of the phones. I tried messing with settings (factory reset the phone, the router, did the *#0011# and turned wifi power saving off, changed the "keep wifi on during sleep" from always to never, etc) and nothing fixes it.
I would like to know what you guys recommend. Should I go ahead get a sim, activate the phone, update to Jelly Bean and see if that fixes the issue? I am unable to get the update since I do not have service. I tried to update via Kies, but it says current firmware pda:lg1 phone: lg1 csc: lg1 (vzw) not supported.
Or should I tell Verizon about the problem and see if they will go ahead and replace the phone? I’m not sure how that works since I am not the original owner. I’ve read that they honor the warranty based on the purchase date which is tied to the IMEI number, and not the owner’s name. Not sure how true that is… Also on the box, it says Verizon 4G LTE Certified. Not sure if that means my phone is already a certified replacement or if all the boxes say that. I haven’t been able to find that out.
I’ve read the thread about resetting the phone to return to Verizon. The flash counter screen reads Odin mode, product name: SCH-I535, Custom Binary Download: No, Current Binary: Samsung Official, System Status: Official, Qualcomm Secureboot: Enable. The android version is 4.0.4 and the baseband is I535VRLG1. Does it matter what the kernel, build number and hardware version are? I’m not sure what they should be.
I just want to be prepared when I walk into the Verizon store (which is unfortunately over an hour away), so I’m hoping I can get some opinions and maybe save myself multiple trips. I’m not sure if Verizon will work with me or not, but I figured you guys are the experts and can help me out. Thank you!
It looks like the guy who sold you the phone did in fact fully return you to stock. But it is fully stock based on the oldest stock firmware (I535VRLG1). My advice to you would be to activate the phone, and grab the OTA updates all the way up until the current version (I535VRBLK3).
I used to have all kinds of WiFi connectivity issues with this phone, until I replaced my router. Now it works perfectly. There was no real explanation as to why that was, but this phone does seem to have WiFi connectivity issues, especially with older Routers.
Try updating your software first, and see if the problem resolves with the new firmware. I believe Verizon does base the warranty off of the phone activation date, at least they did years ago in the past, but that may have changed.
Thank you, I appreciate the reply. I read that there was an OTA update issued around October to fix some of the wifi issues, but I wasn't sure if I had it. Once I activate the phone with the sim, do you think there will be any issues receiving the updates? I know nothing about rooting and have been trying to read more about it, but I'm concerned I'll end up causing more problems with the phone before I even get to use it.
The router I have is a free one Verizon gives to use with their dsl service - a Westell Model 327w. It is pretty old, although I think the firmware is up to date. The phone works fine when it is closer to the router and everywhere else in my house, except my room which is upstairs and at the other end of the house. I just figured since my other devices work fine, the S3 should too.
Thanks again.
If you are fully stock, with the stock recovery (which it sounds like you probably are), you should have no problem downloading and installing the OTAs. I believe you will have to take a few them before you get up to the current version.
I can confirm that the stock Verizon GSIII has a few upgrades before you get to 4.1.1 (the latest version)
Thanks guys.
I just remembered that I have a newer router that Verizon sent me, but I never bothered with it because the current one was working. I'll try and set that up and see if the signal improves.
I am hoping to get to the Verizon store soon, but unfortunately things keep happening that prevent me from making the trip. Can't wait to get this phone working though. Just the little bit I've played with it makes it difficult for me to go back to my iPhone.
This is how a noob post should read. Nice job, OP -- very informative and you did some homework.
Other noobs take notice -- this is how you do it. Notice how much help he got?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
If its any consolation, I had wi-fi issues even with a newer Verizon router all the way up to the latest version of the the modem and rpm file (vblk3). With the last and latest (vblk3) update, those problems disappeared. So as stated, I would update the software to the latest and hopefully you should be good. Just to add, my wife had the same problems (same phone) as well so this validates for me that it was a software issue.
Hey everyone,
I've never really been into the whole flashing deal and I'm also pretty new to the xda-forums so pls don't hurt! :angel:
Anyway, so live in Germany and imported myself an S6 Dual Sim Version via Amazon, so that I could have Internet both there and at home in Ausria at all times. It had a Russian Baseband and CSC but it worked and filthy casual that I am I really didn't mind until now. It's a really weird issue, so sorry that the post turned out pretty long. I haven't found any similar common 6.0.1 Bugs, however I'm not even completely sure if it really is a problem of the updated OS anymore...
So here's the deal.
In Germany I got the prompt to update to Marshmellow 6.0.1 via OTA. Having heard mostly good things about it I downloaded it without really bothering too much about informing myself about any known issues with 6.0.x . After downloading it in Germany my Signal and Mobile Internet worked fine, however I did experience some battery drain in the following days and decided to initialise my phone via Samsung Smart Switch, as I had done with 5.1.1 when I first got the phone because it's cpu never went into sleep mode. Worked out fine then.
Well ever since I did the same thing with my S6 with 6.0.1 the whole dilemma started. Regularly, my phone will show 4G Signal Reception and even full bars, but I am not able to load a webpage or even be called by phone. Wifi works fine, when I have these outages. When I activate flymode and deactivate it again, my reception works again for a couple of minutes, however, the issue will return after 5-10 minutes. Usually even faster when I'm in a moving car or train.
When I switch SIM Cards I can be called on both, but I can't seem to connect to my mobile internet on the Austrian card (can't check on the mobile connection from the german card as roaming is locked by the provider). I went to my austrian network provider and had my sim card replaced, no change. I flashed DBT G920FXXU3DPCA Android 6.0.1 via Samsung Updates hoping that the right baseband would fix it - Nope.
Any of you guys have any other ideas? My last resort is flashing back to 5.1.1 stock. Trying to replace it through Amazon will probably be hard, because the KNOX Counter is tripped. It already was before I flashed 6.0.1, but that doesn't really matter to Amazon I guess. Also the bug is way to specific to replicate anyway, so I'd probably receive the same device back and I don't really know how I could prove via screenshot, etc...
If there's anything I can upload that would help, pls tell. Hoping somebody here might have an idea!
Having similar problems but also with wifi. Any advise appreciated
Skickat från min SM-G920F via Tapatalk
I have the same problem with cellular reception with my S6 duos G920F. My problem is only with sim slot 2 though. It seems to show full bars but when people call me they are getting me as unreachable.
Any way of flashing the T-Mobile Gears S2 3G to the generic 3G Samsung firmware?
T-Mobile has not pushed updates since April and I am frustrated with the lack of sleep-tracking capabilities of the T-Mobile S2.
I have the same question as well.
same question here
T-Mobile already pushed the update few days ago.
I wouldn't flash an update not for your specific watch. You might lose data, calls, and SMS. And, as Charkatak said, the update came through for the TMobile 3G. It works great. Lots of new stuff. I have the TMobile S2.
I recently picked my note pro 12.2 back up after some time sitting unused. I finally got around to getting the flickering screen fixed and want to get back into using the tablet more often. The issue I'm having now is updating to a more recent firmware. I'm unable to even check if I have the most recent firmware because I don't have a Verizon data plan or SIM anymore (long time coming) and it doesn't seem to want to update without that connection. Does anyone have a way to go about updating the tablet manually?
Also, is there anyway that I can flash the Wifi firmware on to the tablet so it ignores the fact that I have the data connectivity and acts like a wifi model? I've rooted multiple phones in the past, and as long as I have a good set of instructions I can do quite a bit but I'm still looking for an answer to this question.
Thank you.
you can use samsung smartswitch for PC: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/app/smart-switch
to get the latest firmware.
just note if you need root, the new versions of 5.1.1 are not yet rootable.
unfortunately this device has a locked bootloader so flashing a non Verizon firmware to get wifi only is not possible currently.
I have noticed if you have a sim card installed with no service (I have a Tmobile sim with no service currently) it drains the battery pretty bad as it keeps looking for service, connecting and then disconnecting.
I turned off mobile data in the settings which fixed that for me.
Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at updating it to the latest firmware. I don't need root, was going to do it if we could flash the wifi firmware.
Hi all,
I have a strange problem with a brand new Samsung J3 2017. It runs on Android 7.0 and everything seems work just fine, except the Wi-Fi. Problem is basically that i suddenly get the message " internet may not be available" but it seems to just work even tho i get this error.
I get this error about 4 x a day and i really do have to switch WiFi OFF and ON again to get internet. I have tested 2 Samsung J330F phones behind severial routers. My other Samsung phone (s7) doesnt have this problem behind the same routers
Does someone maybe has a tip for me ?
I could maybe flash the phone with a stock android version but then i would lose warranty.
I did tested a factory reset twice