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Reception issues with 5S - Anyone else?

I was lucky, or so I thought and got an early iPhone 5S Gold 64GB iPhone Oct 1. However, upon activation over the phone with a Verizon customer service rep, I noticed that I had immediate lower signal quality and reception issues. So, I went over a check list before calling tech support, such as making sure it was setup as a "new" iPhone in iTunes, NOT backup, turning OFF LTE, etc. but nothing helped. Bottom line is I spent nearly 30 minutes with Verizon tech and we tried everything they knew to do but NOTHING worked. My iPhone 4S had a solid 3 bars and would lock on to 3G most of the time. But the iPhone 5S ranged from 2-1 and would flux in signal even dropping to 1X with LTE still turned OFF. The iPhone 4S never went to 1 bar or 1X service and was almost always 3 bars with 3G. My phone was so bad others could not hear me on the other end and I lost calls twice. Since nothing could be done, Verizon Tech assumed it was defective and asked me to send back for replacement.

Just wondering if anyone else has issues like mentioned above with their iPhone 5S regardless of LTE or not. I'm not sure why my iPhone 4S has no issues since they had to put me back to my old phone in the mean time and it still works great. Same area, just different phone model that the problem here. I know Apple had some issues with reception on the 5, but most was corrected or so I thought. I am on the outer edge for signal some, but the iPhone 4S picks it up fine where I am, but not the 5S. Do models vary so much that one may work and another not?

Does anyone think my 5S was just defective or if a replacement will work OK? Just wanting to get some feedback from 4S and 5S owners and general information on things like this. If anyone else is having signal loss or issues with the reception please let me know.

Thanks for any replies.

Comments

jazz290

Where are you located?

I am in NYC and had the 5S for 24 hours and had to return it. I could not get any reception on LTE at work (but full strenght on 3G) and it was slower than my 4S on 3G in my apt.

Verizon's LTE network is very badly overburdened in high population density areas.

HiTekJeff

I live in Illinois and it's a very small town of only about 6,000. Had the iPhone 4S not worked well I would think it was just the fact we have only one local tower, but I get a solid 3 bars and almost always 3G on my iPhone 4S at home and 4-5 when going in direction of tower. The coverage is very solid on my 4S, but the 5S is all over the place. Like I said, I turned 4G LTE OFF when advised to try that, but nothing helped at all. When my service was transferred back to my 4S everything was fine once again.

I am going to be really upset if the 5S has worse radios for reception than the 4S for some people. Phone models vary so much now days I hate upgrading because of this, even though I REALLY want a new phone. Verizon told me I was stuck and could not get a different phone if they replaced the 5S and it was past the 14 day return period. But if I can't get service or poor service, I'm not paying for that for sure. I'm hoping the replacement works fine, otherwise I am going to have to do something.

whootang12

I went from a 4 to a 5s. I live in San Francisco - tech capital of the world. LTE coverage is really spotty, my biggest complaint is the phone will try to hold into LTE that doesn't work at all (overcrowded?), instead of moving to 3G. Replacement 5s was no better for me, I wonder if it could just be design of phone

jazz290

In NYC, it's a known network issue that affects all makes and models.

Sent from my iPhone 4S

jazz290

In NYC, I know the LTE issue affects all makes.

Sent from my iPhone 4S

HiTekJeff

I think that's the biggest issue is the fact the iPhone 5 and 5S does not want to lock on and stay on 3G service. Even when I turned off my LTE on the 5S, the signal was nearly as bad because it would briefly drop to 3G, but then want to stay on 1X service.

The iPhone 4S I have gone back to until replacement still works just fine and stays almost always on 3G with much better reception. I have to have a working phone FIRST, everything else is nice but not a MUST have. I don't know if Android phones have this issue or not, but I do know Apple phones tend to want LTE or nothing it seems.

Verizon is going to have to do something if the replacement 5S does not work, which by reports not hopeful on now. I'm not paying a monthly fee for worse service that's for sure regardless of what phones I have to try or go back to. I would go with another service but Verizon is the best for our area and my 4S works just fine. It's just these new LTE models that seem to have LOTS of signal issues.

walkingrock

I have had this same issue with my SG3, much worse than my previous Motorola Droid X that I had; same location. I was just researching to see if the iPhone 5s might be better...

Pnhtricey

I have been having problems with both the iPhone 5 and 5s LTE. When I had my 4S it was perfect with service. I even switched off the LTE and just stick with 3G on the 5s. When I had the 5 they gave me a replacement and a new SIM card and that didn't work, I ended up just returning the phone. I always get 1x or says no internet connection when I try to use data. I think it's something with the new iPhone... Not sure how it works on other companies though.

Verizon_Support

We want you to fully enjoy 4G LTE on your iPhone 5s Pnhtricey! What is your zip code? What type of location is this? Inside your home or workplace? Are these difficulties happening in more than one area?

JonathanK_VZW

VZW Support

Follow Us on Twitter@VZWSupport

Bekkylee

Just got the Iphone 5s. I am in a rural area. The phone has dropped 5 calls . I left a message on my local Verizon office phone to hold on to my 4s. I cant have this if it works this poorly.

Pnhtricey

Thankfully I have not had that issue...yet i guess. I've been hearing noises while i'm on the phone sometimes but because it doesn't happen often, i think it's the phone of the person on the other line. I actually miss having my 4s...

Bbhill

I'm having the same issues. Tonight I dropped a call 6 times the last time I could not get the phone to dial out period. I gave up and used my other Verizon phone and it dialed out and never dropped a call. I'm also having LTE issues half the time I look at the phone and it's showing 3G. The really funny thing is I also own a verizon Note 3 and Ipad mini which never has a issue with LTE. I can have all three in the same area and the 5s will be in 3G while the others are LTE. If I reboot the 5s the LTE will normally return. The 5s has an issue and no one wants to admit it. I've owned every modle iPhone and never dropped calls as I do now.

Verizon_Support

Bekkylee,

Let's look further into this, I want you to enjoy your iPhone 5s! What zip code are you located in? Does the phone respond differently if LTE disabled? Are you aware if other 4G devices near you are having the same issue? Please power the phone off, remove/insert the sim and test. Please share so I may further assist. Thank you.

Verizon_Support

We want you to gain reliable performance from all your devices Bbhill! What is your zip code? Is this mostly inside your home or workplace? Are you power cycling the device at least once a day? Each device is designed equally in terms of signal strength and reception; however, each may respond differently in a specific location.

JonathanK_VZW

VZW Support

Follow Us on Twitter@VZWSupport

NadineR

I just got the 5s. Many calls are being dropped in locations where I had great service on my previous phone, the droid razr. I called Verizon and they did a thorough check. They ended up telling me everything is fine with the phone -- the problem is that the iphone's antenna was placed on the bottom of the phone which affects the reception. Therefore all iphone's will have the same problem. I am considering switching back to a droid. It would have been nice knowing, before I purchased the iphone, that I am paying all this money for an apple logo -- that's all.

tdperry

Yeah... you can't compare the reception of the iPhone to the Droid RAZR series. The RAZR's remind me of the reception of the old Motorola E815's... solid as a rock. The iPhone is better than the Samsung products with a marginal signal - but they still aren't as good as any of the RAZR line. It's just something that I (and now my wife) has learned to live with - we realize we are going to be dropping calls in some marginal areas that the RAZR worked fine in.

Autom8er

Just received my new 5S from the company I work for. It has been years since I have experienced such poor reception on a cellular phone. Used the phone on one trip and coverage was acceptable but upon arriving to my home base 53089 zip the phone might as well be a paperweight. A week earlier I switched our family plan from US Cellular to Verizon and the Samsung S4's purchased for family members seem to perform much better than my company supplied 5S.

We spend a considerable amount of money each month to have connectivity and it can be disappointing to transition to a new service with premium equipment and questionable service. Does anyone have suggestions to improve the performance of the 5S?

Verizon_Support

Autom8er, we want all your phones to work well for you. I do have some suggestions for you. Do you have any case on the phone? If so, does the problem disappear with the case removed? If it's unrelated to the case you can try re-seating the SIM card http://vz.to/1bS6x80 . Then reset the network settings http://vz.to/1bQlgvY . Test it out and let us know how it's working for you.

BrianP_VZW

Follow Us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Autom8er

Brian,

There is no case being used on my iPhone 5s. I removed and reinstalled the Sim card.

I did the network reset and it appeared that maybe I might have more signal strength but the very first call failed.

Additional thoughts?

Thank you,

Bob

Sent from my iPhone

Verizon_Support

Autom8er,

Thanks for trying those steps out. Are you having issues in just one location? Is this happening both indoors and outdoors? Are you having any issues with the data at this zip code you provided? Can you check the singal strength for me? http://vz.to/1dPjFGv Please keep us updated.

KevinR_VZW

Please follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

tomijohn

I have had my IPhone 5 since Ocober, 2012 and it has consistently dropped all calls where I live, both inside the house and outside the house. I have a MIFI to and it will not work here either, but yet I can drive through the desert in the middle of nothing and they both work. I live in a populated Southern California area and there are a couple of towers close to my neighborhood and two verizon stores. I am fed up with this problem and really do not like paying $133 a month for equipment I cannot use, so even though I don't want to, I am going to change to another service. I have contacted verizon about this but they just tell me I can buy an extender, which is ridiculous, if I lived in the boonies I would understand it, I guess verizon would rather lose a good paying customer over the price of this extender. I have two friends who had the same problem and AT$T and Sprint gave each of them an extender rather then lose good customers, so I guess I know where I will be going. I have recently become temporarily disabled and If I were to fall I would not be able to call for help, I live alone and my cell phone is my only phone.

Jemcca07

I have had the iPhone with Verizon for a year now and I am so disappointed with the service. I never get reception at home or at work. It's so frustrating. I've called Verizon several times about this issue and they told me to contact apple as the issue was with my phone and not my carrier. Then apple told me the exact opposite when I called them, that the issue was with Verizon. It's just impossible and I can't wait until my contract is over so I can switch carriers. I used to like verizon the best because they had the best reception when I had an android. But with the iPhone it's so much different. I like the iPhone much better than the android for several reasons. This is the only issue that I've had since switching from android devices. I intend on switching carriers when my contract is up. I talk to people at my work who have AT&T and an iPhone 5 and they have no problem with reception there like I do.

FinancialTraveller

I have 5s with VZN with bad reception getting 1x only. After resetting the network it worked at home. Now I need to test at office.

Verizon_Support

FinancialTraveller,

I'm glad it's working at home! Please keep me posted on your success at the office. Thank you.

TominqueBo_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

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