3G/4G radio goes inactive

You sure you "knowurproduct"? The TB hasn't been out for 10 months.

KnowUrProduct

Really?? Thats what you focus on??

Go away or provide some real help.

This is why most people don't bother posting.

http://community.vzw.com/t5/forums/searchpage/tab/message?q=3g+icon

Here are 70 discussions I found using the search function. If your connection is not lost, it is probably not an issue. It could be a tower issue (call *228) and update your signal. Otherwise, if your connection is lost, requiring a reboot, I have no ideas, but others will.

techman001

There is a (now) known problem with the bionic that some people are experiencing no data or no 3g or no 4g data issues with their phone. For now, the work around they are telling people is to turn their phone into airplane mode, then back to normal mode and it will work. Software update to fix the issue is expected in November.

gerio

Geez... It... Just... Never... Ends...

I'm noticing this issue. 3 times today (3G only).

Is it time for some red letters yet!??

(as tired as I am, they would have to wait... :smileyhappy:

)

Geri (long sigh) O

It never ends is the perfect statement. I decided to go check out the Bionic today, knowing I would be paying full price. No major issues in the first 48 hours. The coast was clear?

But, I balked at buying it and decided to keep reading the forums.

Had not read about this issue here, or in the Moto forum. My X(s) have dropped the 3G signal from the day of purchase. This and the "solution" of you Bionic owners waiting for an update just after three days is disheartening.

OP, I offer apologies for my prickish reply.

Man, I wanted this phone to be good.

Wildman

2.3.4. added a new option under Settings / Wireless and Network / Wiring Settings / Menu / Settings / Never Auto Turn On Wifi and I have been able to stop the disconnecting issue by checking this box.

One day I noticed that when my data disconnected the wifi would jump up breifly and then close again and sometime it would just turn on when I never enabled it.... Give this a try and see if it helps you..

*228 doesent work well or anything on 4g phones. If ur data fine can u do voice and data like the thunderbolt can?

Wildman

gina7289 wrote:
*228 doesent work well or anything on 4g phones. If ur data fine can u do voice and data like the thunderbolt can?

*228 samages some devices sim cards, if its 4g then this woulfnt be wise.. Also they reported that under 4G it will do data and voice but it cant under 3g like the TB,,,

Elitist_Jerk

sounds like you live in the middle of nowhere and have a weak signal

Wildman wrote:
gina7289 wrote:
*228 doesent work well or anything on 4g phones. If ur data fine can u do voice and data like the thunderbolt can?
*228 samages some devices sim cards, if its 4g then this woulfnt be wise.. Also they reported that under 4G it will do data and voice but it cant under 3g like the TB,,,

I know (*228) is the first thing I would have tried. Good to know that, wildman. Glad I didn't pull the trigger and buy it yesterday. No more "advice" from me on this phone. Too soon. Too much to learn. Too many other potential problems yet to rear their ugly heads?

vidguy7

KnowUrProduct wrote:
I just purchased the Bionic and already see an old problem. Some time ago (edited) I had the HTC Thunderbolt and first noticed the icon for the 3g/4g radio was gone when I unlocked the phone. Seeing as it was new I waited for a fix - never came. I went back to my Droid at the time.

Fast forward to 10 months later and the same problem different phone. When I leave my phone locked for more than 10-15 minutes and sitting on my desk, the phone disables/makes dormant the 3g/4/g radio. My radio is set to always sync in the battery settings and I have factory reset the phone.

Still happens and Verizon tech support seems unaware of the issue.

J

I haven't seen that with my Bionic so far. Every time I tap the power button while the phone is idling, I see either the 3G or 4G icon. Unlocking the phone still displays the icon.

vidguy7

So in other words this is EXACTLY the same issue as we had with the Charge!!!!! I haven't seen it yet on my Bionic, but where's there smoke there's fire. If it turns out that the Bionic is having the same issue, it's then obviously a VZW issue. The Bionic is a later gen phone with a different radio.

Yes, it never ends at VZW.

I can do data and voice with tb I think. I not in a 4g area but I can surf plus talk I think. I can download apps in the market while talking. Is that data?

RonHarrisSr

I purchased the Bionic today and I am in a 4G area (Cincinnati). Right now I am not getting a 3G or 4G signal, I previously had the Thunderbolt and experience many problems with 4G. I am beginning to wonder if a 4G phone is for me. Right now I would prefer a fix or it will go back before the 14 days is up.

KnowUrProduct

Adding to my own post = just drove about 10 miles from my home and had additional problem but still centered on original post. Stopped at location and looked at my wife’s Verizon iPhone = she has three bars on 3G and I have 2 bars but NO 3G or 4G. Mine does an occasional switch to 1X but then nothing.

Turning off the phone does not fix the problem. Turning on/off airplane mode does not fix the problem.

Simply put Verizon is just not ready for 3G/4G phones. I think I have it narrowed down to fringe reception. Anything less than 1-2 bars and then you transition to 3G from 4G or vice versa = phone CANNOT handle it.

Mine goes back to the store today. Verizon can say all they want about the fastest and largest 4G. But its only true if the phone they sell works!

Very disappointing!

Jon

p.s. I am not just a complainer on the forums – I did call twice to report this problem and was told the same thing as others, which was to wait until November software update.

gerio

I'm just askin' cause I haven't heard or seen this...

Who have you or where did you get this information? I haven't seen it.

Geri O

bbisbee

Same thing happens when reception gets really bad but usually comes back on its down... It's an awesome phone and Its a minor annoyance for me... but I am not gonna ditch the phone because of that. Its been out for less than a week... Just wish I didn't have to wait until november for a permanent fix, but I understand that it needs to be tested to make sure it works properly.

vlbrown

> 2.3.4. added a new option under Settings / Wireless and Network / Wiring Settings / Menu / Settings / Never Auto Turn On Wifi a

I can't find a setting that looks anything like that

bbisbee

When you click wifi settings click menu and then advanced and its in there....

Here is a write-up:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/09/14/is-your-motorola-droid-bionic-suffering-from-radio-issues/

TominqueBo_VZW

Hello Gerio,

I do understand the need and desire for a stable connection. Motorola is aware of this opportunity and are aggressively working towards a resolution asap. As Techman001 mentioned early in the post improvements to the software are being looked into to further develop the 3G to LTE transition and vice versa in some cases. Thank you.

gerio

Thanx for the note on that...
I've been on the fence about whether to exchange mine or return it together. It's like it has good days and bad days. And I wish I were sure that it's not the tower out here in the woods where our operation is located. Monday (after a restore), Tuesday, and Wednesday, the phone did good, no data signal drops. Today (Thursday), I had to restart it twice after a complete loss of data signal.

So, as they say at the optometrists office...
"we shall see "...

Geri O

FAUguy

I have been using the Bionic for a week now and have also noticed that every so often it will drop for 4G to 3G, even though it may last a few minutes and eventually returning back to 4G. You may recall that the Thunderbolt would cycle between 4G/3G/1x until it was fixed months later in a software update. Meanwhile, the Droid Charge likes to get stuck in 3G all the times and requires turning the Airplane Mode on and off to get it back to 4G. I agree that the 4G signal needs to be stronger from the towers, and that the phones need better antennas and software. That combination would probably solve the issues. As it is now, 4G has good data speeds, but there are too many people in a lot of markets that are all having connection issues of some sort. I hope this gets fixed before VoLTE comes out in a year or so. Can't image people using it for calls and having the phone drop the 4G signal all the time.

jpw2

I have been dacing the very same problems the past week with my Bionic. I spent 2 days with tech support and they were clueless of they issue and simply suggested replacing the phone. So I did. I went in and exchanged my bionic for another and still having the same signal issues.

I too am very discouraged and will likely return my device as i am unwilling to wait and see if they can fix this, amongst other issues.

I did, however discover within settings > wireless & network > mobile networks > network mode , you can select only 3g (CDMA only) which resolves the current signal problems i am have and the phone browses without issue and about 18 times faster then when set to CDMA/LTE.

I am eondering if having the phone set at CDMA/LTE is causing the phone bog down as it is constantly having to select between 4G, 3G and nothing...

I. Will give tech support another call and if i do not get a reassuring response thatp this issue is being focused on I will return my phone and wait on the sidelines.

You eould thing thatthis phone would be near flawless after months and months of pushing back its release. I certainly see the potential for this phone to be a great phone but this issue alone is big enough for me to feel riped off or scammed... and want to return it.

Also very discouraged.

Hi there!

Many Verizon Wireless customers often assume that Verizon Wireless Technical Support representatives are members of an elite force of technobots that can diagnose, treat, and cure 100% of all technical issues via a neverending base of knowledge, training, magical powers, telepathy and other forces both seen and unseen. However, the fact is that when a new device comes out, most technical support reps are simply waiting for the phones to start ringing because they don't know what the problems will be yet.

Once the problems start coming in, the real work begins as they try to solve the problems and work toward resolutions. Since there are many different manufacturers with many different models that are running many different versions of many different operating systems, these solutions may not be the same for every handset. Thus, solutions may not come as fast as customers may like.

I am a 14 year Wireless Industry veteran and Verizon Wireless device expert. Like you, I have recently upgraded to the Droid Bionic and experienced some issues while using the default VZW carrier settings in a non-4G area. Specifically, I experienced a "Data Connection Dropped" message, followed by absolutely no ability to do anything at all that requires an internet connection.

At first, my initial response was to take the battery out and reboot the phone. When that didn't work, I thought to do a "hard reset" thinking that something might have gone wrong in the activation process. That didn't work either. Then came the real troubleshooting...

I was able to tinker with my settings to find a solution that worked for me:

Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks > Network Mode > CDMA Only

Since I'm not in a 4G area, I don't need to enable LTE, as it's not going to work anyway. It would seem that the device, like many other 4G devices, likes to "get stuck" looking for 4G. If the 4G signal is weak and drops in and out, it's probably best just to disable it entirely.

4G LTE technology has a much higher network capacity, much higher bandwidths, and is much more cost effective for Verizon Wireless or any other carrier to implement. While customers might not like the switching issues that take place as a result of 4G devices being set to "default" to 4G, it helps to alleviate network congestion and stress that is inherent when 95%+ of all Verizon Wireless customers are using 3G technology.

Ultimately, as a customer, I am in the same boat waiting for Motorola and Google to resolve some technical issues. However, I must confess that I take a different approach to waiting for these resolutions. Rather than watching my icons and waiting for problems to happen, I choose to spend the 99% of the time my connection is up enjoying every aspect of my phone. From ZumoCast to Gaming, from Web Browsing to Email, from Facebook to Yahoo, etc. And during the 1% of the time my phone "acts up," I shrug it off, reboot, and go back to whatever I'm doing.

I know it's not really the answer most people want, but hey...at least we could have got the "other guys" product and not been able to do half the stuff we can. And, most importantly, rather than wondering why our connection dropped, we could be wondering how far we have to drive before we get a signal again. :smileyhappy:

VZWExpert wrote:
Hi there!

Many Verizon Wireless customers often assume that Verizon Wireless Technical Support representatives are members of an elite force of technobots that can diagnose, treat, and cure 100% of all technical issues via a neverending base of knowledge, training, magical powers, telepathy and other forces both seen and unseen. However, the fact is that when a new device comes out, most technical support reps are simply waiting for the phones to start ringing because they don't know what the problems will be yet.

Wow, imagine that commercial. The impressive high tech graphics and sound effects introducing the Bionic and the voice over person saying something like, "The Bionic, Dual Core with 4G LTE from Verizon. Just don't call us expecting any technical support because our reps haven't even seen the phone, yet and have no idea how to troubleshoot it".

Once the problems start coming in, the real work begins as they try to solve the problems and work toward resolutions. Since there are many different manufacturers with many different models that are running many different versions of many different operating systems, these solutions may not be the same for every handset. Thus, solutions may not come as fast as customers may like.

I am a 14 year Wireless Industry veteran and Verizon Wireless device expert. Like you, I have recently upgraded to the Droid Bionic and experienced some issues while using the default VZW carrier settings in a non-4G area. Specifically, I experienced a "Data Connection Dropped" message, followed by absolutely no ability to do anything at all that requires an internet connection.

At first, my initial response was to take the battery out and reboot the phone. When that didn't work, I thought to do a "hard reset" thinking that something might have gone wrong in the activation process. That didn't work either. Then came the real troubleshooting...

I was able to tinker with my settings to find a solution that worked for me:

Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks > Network Mode > CDMA Only

Since I'm not in a 4G area, I don't need to enable LTE, as it's not going to work anyway. It would seem that the device, like many other 4G devices, likes to "get stuck" looking for 4G.

So, this is an Android and Verizon problem? Are you including the pseudo 4G phones on other carriers? AT&T's 4G network goes on line this weekend. Still no final word if the iphone 5 will be 4G. Just asking, because I am upgrading, soon and want to know what phones/carriers have issues getting 4G right.

If the 4G signal is weak and drops in and out, it's probably best just to disable it entirely.

4G LTE technology has a much higher network capacity, much higher bandwidths, and is much more cost effective for Verizon Wireless or any other carrier to implement. While customers might not like the switching issues that take place as a result of 4G devices being set to "default" to 4G, it helps to alleviate network congestion and stress that is inherent when 95%+ of all Verizon Wireless customers are using 3G technology.

Ultimately, as a customer, I am in the same boat waiting for Motorola and Google to resolve some technical issues. However, I must confess that I take a different approach to waiting for these resolutions. Rather than watching my icons and waiting for problems to happen,

Man, that seems like you are taking a shot at people and acusing them of being whiners, LOOKING for problems to post.

I don't have this phone, but I read. I did stick my foot in my mouth early in this thread because I hadn't read about this issue before on this phone and the OP claimed to have had a Thunderbolt, but didn't know how long they had been out.

You make it sound like folks have nothing better to do than dig and dig until they find an issue to complain about.

They just bought this phone. They want and expect it to work.

I choose to spend the 99% of the time my connection is up enjoying every aspect of my phone. From ZumoCast to Gaming, from Web Browsing to Email, from Facebook to Yahoo, etc. And during the 1% of the time my phone "acts up," I shrug it off, reboot, and go back to whatever I'm doing.

So others should "chose" to ignore a glaring issue and keep their mouths shut?

I know it's not really the answer most people want, but hey...at least we could have got the "other guys" product and not been able to do half the stuff we can. And, most importantly, rather than wondering why our connection dropped, we could be wondering how far we have to drive before we get a signal again.

At least you could have the "other guys" product that doesn't have issues? Good logic.

droidsw wrote:

Wow, imagine that commercial. The impressive high tech graphics and sound effects introducing the Bionic and the voice over person saying something like, "The Bionic, Dual Core with 4G LTE from Verizon. Just don't call us expecting any technical support because our reps haven't even seen the phone, yet and have no idea how to troubleshoot it".

Like I said, customers want solutions now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not in a few months. Now. As much as every tech support rep wishes that could happen, it's just not the case. Many people are working very, very hard to resolve any issues these devices are having. Tech support's knowledge base only extends to solving problems that have already been identified and solved. If it's a new problem, the solution still needs to be found. New devices have new problems that require new solutions.

So, this is an Android and Verizon problem? Are you including the pseudo 4G phones on other carriers? AT&T's 4G network goes on line this weekend. Still no final word if the iphone 5 will be 4G. Just asking, because I am upgrading, soon and want to know what phones/carriers have issues getting 4G right.

It's not necessarily a Verizon or Android problem. 4G LTE technology is still in its infancy and the thousands of Verizon Wireless technicians out there are still learning its quirks. Imagine if you had Windows XP for 5 years on your work computer. Then, one day, you go in to work and your company has converted your computer to Windows 7. You still know how to use a computer and certain applications, but you're going to need to adjust to where everything is and figure out new features. Many things may be completely different than they used to be.

As for the iPhone, there has been no official mention of an iPhone 5. It's pointless to speculate as to what technology will be inside a device that doesn't exist yet. Until it is announced, it's all rumors and speculation.

Man, that seems like you are taking a shot at people and acusing them of being whiners, LOOKING for problems to post.

I don't have this phone, but I read. I did stick my foot in my mouth early in this thread because I hadn't read about this issue before on this phone and the OP claimed to have had a Thunderbolt, but didn't know how long they had been out.

You make it sound like folks have nothing better to do than dig and dig until they find an issue to complain about.

They just bought this phone. They want and expect it to work.

There are settings you can chage to get it to work. The default settings are set up for 4G areas. If you're not in a solid 4G area, you will need to change those settings to get it to work. This is something that the customer needs to be informed of. Sadly, some customers who purchase online or buy from "big box" chains that have reps that aren't trained properly are not properly informed. If the settings are configured right, the issues will drastically reduce and you will spend most of your time enjoying your phone.

So others should "chose" to ignore a glaring issue and keep their mouths shut?

It's not necessarily a glaring issue. The phone not working is a glaring issue. In this case, you just need to tinker with the settings and it works just fine. That's like complaining that a Porsche 911 Turbo does not have a cup holder. You can always put in a cup holder, but don't complain when your coffee spills when you hit a bump at 150 MPH.

At least you could have the "other guys" product that doesn't have issues? Good logic.

Which products don't have issues? Every phone on every carrier has *some* issues. If they didn't, Verizon Wireless wouldn't need a technical support team. My point was that Verizon has a 4G option and has coverage that is vastly superior to other providers out there, and most phones that are set up correctly work with very minimal issues.

VZWExpert, your points are valid, but one. NO 3G/4G signal is a glaring issue and your band-aid doesn't resolve it.

Why buy a 4G phone if you are just going to change the settings and use it in 3G only?

I would also ask why buy a 4G phone if you don't reside in an area with 4G coverage, but that's your prerogative.

I find all the 3G issues in the VZW iphone section interesting. Very similar to issues Android phones have. I haven't read the Apple forums lately. Just curious how the same issues cross manufacturer lines.

And based on the 3G issues and the advent of 4G already having issues, it's not encouraging. It may seem like I was baiting you for an argument, but I was asking your "expert" opinion.

I'm clearly taking the pessimistic viewpoint. You the opposite.

droidsw wrote:
VZWExpert, your points are valid, but one. NO 3G/4G signal is a glaring issue and your band-aid doesn't resolve it.
I have the phone. The "no data connection" issue is caused by the 4G and/or Wi-Fi being turned on and not being available. Disabling them effecitvely removes the problem. Yes, it's a band-aid, and I'll concede that it's a bit annoying to have to manually switch modes, but it's a solution. A glaring issue is one that would hinder people from using their phones all together.

Why buy a 4G phone if you are just going to change the settings and use it in 3G only?
Think of it like a toggle switch. You can toggle 4G on and off at will in the same manner you can Wi-Fi. Toggling off 4G will save a significant amount of battery life in 3G areas, so I welcome the ability to manually switch it off. When I go into a 4G area, I turn it back on and have data speed 10x faster than 3G. The best analogy I can offer is it's like having Nitrous Oxide boosters in a car. When you flip the switch, you can blast off. Try driving all day with the switch on all the time. I promise you that you won't get very far.

I would also ask why buy a 4G phone if you don't reside in an area with 4G coverage, but that's your prerogative.
For the same reason people buy Ferraris. People rarely get the opportunity to drive it 200MPH, but it's definitely a whole lot of fun when you do. Performance aside, ZumoCast alone is worth $200. I could get it on the $200 Droid 3 or the $300 Droid Bionic. The Droid 3 comes with 16GB of internal memory, 512 MB of RAM, and is only 3G. The 16GB memory card, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, and 4G capabilities of the Bionic are worth $100 to me.

I find all the 3G issues in the VZW iphone section interesting. Very similar to issues Android phones have. I haven't read the Apple forums lately. Just curious how the same issues cross manufacturer lines.
I vaguely remember massive influx of iPhones crashing AT&T's entire data network in New York City a while back. Now THAT is a "glaring issue." That phone also had "death grip" issues in which you could completely kill your signal just by holding the phone a certain way. There's also the small matter of 70% of Droid apps being free and only 30% of Apple apps being free. That's 40% of all apps -- nearly half -- free in one hand, but not in the other. Apple also has a policy that prohibits Verizon Wireless employees from troubleshooting iPhones. All technical support for Apple products must be done by a certified Apple technician in an Apple store or through Apple Care.

And based on the 3G issues and the advent of 4G already having issues, it's not encouraging. It may seem like I was baiting you for an argument, but I was asking your "expert" opinion.
500 years ago, the earth was flat. 100 years ago, a fun Saturday night was reading a book made of parchment by candlelight. 20 years ago, cell phones were the size of a suitcase and weighed like 20 lbs. 5 years ago, the iPhone completely revolutionized everything. 2 years ago, Google vowed to make a better iPhone. Now, here we are. Google's Android OS dominates the global smartphone market and is improving every day. Simply put, I traded in my iPhone 4 for a Droid Bionic and couldn't be happier, and I'm excited for what the future will bring.

I'm clearly taking the pessimistic viewpoint. You the opposite.
Forever optimistic

Don't even go there with the app topic. "70% free" means nothing when 100% are suspect to be potential sources of conflict. The number one issue Android must address.

Have you ever heard "reset your phone and don't re-install ANY apps?" That is a common troubleshooting "tip".

But, that's a monotonous topic in itself.

I like that policy of Apple insisting on being the only ones that troubleshoot their phones. Moto doesn't even contribute in the Moto forums, other than to say "we're working on it".

Thanks for the interesting comments.

No problem. Just so you know, I wasn't trying to make it an iPhone vs. Bionic debate, you just asked for a comparison. I had an iPhone 4 for 4 months and liked it just fine, but the Bionic is just much more my speed. Being the super geek I am, I like having the customization and expanded features that Android offers. As for the apps, most widely used cell phone apps are available for both operating systems. Sure, there are security risks and potential sources of conflict whenever you download anything. I just prefer to download whatever I choose, not just what my handset manufacturer tells me I can. And considering I spent $300 on iPhone apps in 4 months, it's a big deal for me.

When it comes to ease of use, there's no question the iPhone is a simpler interface. It's easier to use. I compare it to a McDonalds cash register. If you want a large drink, you hit the button with the picture of the large cup. If you want small fries, hit the small fries button. It's not exactly rocket science. But there's only one iPhone, and the options are limited to memory and color. There are currently like 15 different Android models on Verizon Wireless alone. Hundreds more around the world. While the iPhone is a great solution for some folks, it's too much technology for some folks and not enough for others. Finding the right solution for you is what matters.

Apple approves the apps that are allowed on their phones. Instead of letting whoever place apps willy nilly in an "open" Market; the apps in the iStore are less likely to cause O.S. conflicts.

Kind of like mom and dad only letting Jr. have a few pieces of candy, because otherwise, Jr. would eat the whole bag and get sick.

"Customization" is nice, but irrelevant if I lose my customization due to frequent hard resets in the name of troubleshooting.

"Simple" is nice and not an insulting word. I prefer "works", or "bug-free".

I know, I seem down on Android. It IS new, in the greater scheme of smartphones. Maybe, my expectations were set too high.

Maybe, my next move is to go sit in the camp with the brainwashed cult members and try their phone?

schmough

Although I feel as though I have been subjected to a "Good Cop/Bad Cop" routine by the previous posts, I do admit it was informative. I walk away with a cure for someone that lives in a 3g area and gets to visit a 4g area occasionally.

Personally I'm very happy with my newly aquired Bionic. I bought it the 2nd day it came out on the first day of a 5 day trip. Two days of which were spent driving across country . After getting it setup we activated the hotspot feature and ran 2 laptops off of it while driving through various reception areas and it performed great. We were able to use the 2 laptops and explore features on the phone through various reception quality areas along the way with no noticeable issues.

After arriving at our destination (a 3g area within a few miles of a cell tower) I did loose service ( from 3g to 1x to no g) a couple of times which I was able to restore by turning off the hotspot feature and restarting the phone.An easy enough fix but still concerning. So I was happy to find that a 3g cure was a matter of adjusting the phones settings and a 4g cure is apparently in the works.

I recognize that there were high hopes for a flawless 4g right out of the gate and I have to admit that the 4g feature played a big part in my decision to purchase the Bionic (I visit 4g country on a weekly basis),I think its unreasonable to assume that there wouldn't be some issues for a product featuring new technology that has spent less than a couple of weeks in the hands of the public at large. I still think its a great phone and I'm willing to give Verizon/Motorola the chance to address these issues as they arise.

http://www.androidcentral.com/how-turn-lte-motorola-droid-bionic

There is a way to shut off the 4G radio if you live in a primary 3G area like i do give this a try. an see if it helps any.

Here's the link: pointing out how to shut off the 4G feature.

dankbionic

I appreciate the different perspectives on this issue. One that hasn't been mentioned is my situation. I live in a 4G area and upgraded from my Droid X to the Bionic to take advantage of the 4G. Unfortunately it can't seem to hold onto a 4G signal and continues to revert to 3G. (which I had with my X) It would have been nice if they had an LTE only option instead of just the CDMA only option so I could force it to stay on 4G. For now a reboot of the phone is the only way to get 4G back... and then it only stays for a bit of time then suddenly switches back to 3G. (with 4 and 5 bars of signal... signal strength is not the issue) It does this at my house as well as work and is very dissapointing to say the least. I may just return it before my 15 days are up and wait until they actually fix the issue before I get stuck with and expensive Droid X that really only gives me the benefit of the dual core processor. ( I have no need for the web Doc or the Zumo App as the functionaly of the X was fine for my needs) Seriously Verizon, are you going to make us wait until November to fix this?

Doc832

I can be in the middle of a hot 4g area or even 3g and then there is NO NETWORK showing on the bionic. Never had this with the original DROID in the same areas. The problem comes and goes and there is not rhyme or reason for the changes as far as signal. Not sure that is something that will get a fix other than to take it back and get a phone that is reliable. Very sad since the phone has many good features and speed galore.

jimrieth

I had a bad issue this weekend, leaving 1 county to another the cell towers usually change on my blackberry, after the new tower picks up, never had an issue with 3g on the bb, now the droid bionic does not get any data service at all throughout the entire county until I return, my friends droid x worked fine, other friends bb worked fine, the entire county is in "red" on the verizon map, should be no issues, perfect phone covereage, just no data, tried complete reset, the airplane mode thing, nothing worked...

chrispythor

Are they going to fix it on my Revolution and all the others on the Charge and Thunderbolt?????????????? I have had 2 replacement Revolutions sent to me and they all either lock up or shut down erratically while switching from 3g to 4g...If the same problem is on multiple manufacturers phones it is safe to assume it is a network problem.

chrispythor

Yes, many of us know how to change it to cdma to stop the phones from crashing, but we pay for 4g and have to settle for the 3g...that is not a fix.

lownignitus

Ive noticed my 4G & 3G drop once in awhile. And in many older buildings I drop to 3G alot due to signal being blocked by old wiring ect.

nitro28_us

same here, i'm on my 3rd bionic and same **bleep** issues with dropped calls, telling me to turn of airplane mode, when airplane mode was never on, visual voicemai keeps freezing and rebooting. love the phone if they can get it fixed

I tried to put up a link to an article on Android Police, but the link included the word for urination that rhymes with hisses and even links are edited here. Interesting article about 4G issues. http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/09/22/dear-verizon-your-4g-phones-all-have-data-connectivity-problems-and-its-really-**bleep**-everyone-off/

Someone started a thread (not I) in the Moto forum about the article. The responses on Androidpolice after it are entertaining.

https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/58443

MissLaura

chrispythor wrote:
Yes, many of us know how to change it to cdma to stop the phones from crashing, but we pay for 4g and have to settle for the 3g...that is not a fix.

I live in an area that is NOT 4G. Yet I have this problem. My data connection will just drop for no reason. Sometimes switching to Airplane mode and back will correct it, and sometimes I have to re-boot the phone. I seriously doubt this is just a 4G issue. I think it is an issue of the phone "losing" it's connection to the sim card; even though it is still there.

jimrieth

I had similar problem, I was in an "extended area" and would get no data service at all, had to chnage phone setting to CDMA only and make sure data roaming was clicked on under battery/data delivery, solved the problem, get 3 G only but that is better than nothing. Crazy thing is I had to figure this out myself, tech support could not figure it out, even had to swap out phones

ajnevares1

was it ever fixed on the Thunderbolt? The reason I ask is...

1) Prefer HTC Droids phones (although this phone is pretty kick a**)

2) If it was fixed on the TB, then there is reason to believe it will be fixed on the Bionic as well...eventually

71monte

be careful about useing *228 on your 4g phone it could erase all you stored data. this info was from two tech support from verizon. just thought i would share that info hope this helps

*228 option 1 could fry ur Sim card I was told but then others say u can only do option 2 I don't do any of it. I have the problem today 3g then drops like heck. Tech said the Sim controls signal. are they right ? When I reboot phone it goes normal signal but if I leave it doesent change.

It is a known iasue hopefully will be fixed by november

dsquare86

The phone shouldn't let that call complete. Mine will popup a message saying you dont need to dial *228 because of the sim.

codysnanna

I am having this issue also on my Bionic. i know where the wi-fi settings are, but I don't see this never turn on wi-fi automatically. Can you help? i had to take the battery out and re-boot the phone to get my 3g/4g back on.

thanks

codys-nanna

ajnevares1

codysnanna,

put the 'power control' widget on one of your home screens...this widget consist of 5 toggles (wifi, bluetooth, gps, sync and brightness) which you can leave on or off...if you leave the wifi highlighted/on then wifi will be on automatically and connect automatically to saved/remembered connections. this is also a good way to show you whats on and off without going into settings for each...good battery saver as well

Joey301

Thanks, I hope you are right. I just wanted to add that my Bionic is doing the same thing. It looses 4g frequently, but it does not go to 3g...it just stops connecting period. This does not happen when I am at home on wi fi.

Joey

BC123

Try the Update 5.9.901 manually. It worked for me.

JD1977

Thanks man! I too have recently purchased the bionic and I am having the same issues. I am in a 4G area but the service sucks. I switched the LTE off as you mentioned and I too am enjoying my phone with no issues.

I was in a full Fledged 4G area in Wichita Ks Yesterday an my Maxx switched to 3G for a Short Time i think allot has to do were you At. an if there are enough Towers in the Area to kick it on Actually mine Kicked off when i was at the New Toyota Dealership an in the Building. I had 3G an my power strength bars were Full but it wasn't till i stepped out side that the 4G kicked back on. I think one's need to remember there are Holes out there even when the Map shows it to Solid 4G an if the system takes a poop your back to 3G any way. On your Bionic Make sure Radio is on CDMA/LTE an do not change it to CDMA only as it can cause issues with the Radio. If it's still Acting up PUll the Sim for 5 Min. then Re-Install it an see what happens if it has the same Affect get a new Sim Card an make sure when you Pull it an Re-Install it to Void the Gold Area of it as it is Sensitive to Static Electricity an The Oils on your Fingers..

DeviantWolf

i just recently been having issues with my data connection always randomly disconnecting. Is this a network thing or is it my phone?

D.W. have you Checked to Make sure the Data Manager is Kicked in: Go to settings--> Data Manager--> Check the Data Enable an make sure Back Ground Data is Checked as Well..b33

DeviantWolf

yea i got that checked to be enabled.