Blackberry Bold 9650 Dropping Calls When Driving

[jcioban1]

Have a new BB Bold 9650 (6/10/2010) and have HUGE problem with dropped calls in zones where my 8830 never had issue. Lost calls 12 times between Brookfield, CT and White Plains, NY yesterday. Phone is useless if you are a mobile user. Software update seems to be at my current level, but may try that. Went into store yesterday and spoke to the flextronics Contract Service Tech who said, "Gee that's the first I heard of that. Or, wait, there was a women here about 1/2 hour ago with a similar complaint. But there is still nothing I can do. Maybe you can call RIM."

Phone seems to have problem on tower-to-tower handoffs. Right now, STRONGLY recommend that users be cautious about 9650 until someone at VZW acknowledges what is happening here. Look at signal strength indicator in car and it is bouncing all over. Yesterday got "SOS" indicator in downtown Danbury which is a normal strong (5 bar) signal area.

Unless someone at Verizon helps, this junk is headed back to the store....

I love Verizon (customer since the company became Verizon in 1999), but this is maddening and makes me think about getting an iPhone. Heck, can't work any worse than this device. 

[bosslady85]

Try dialing *228 send and option 2 to update your phone to the nearest towers. This normally helps with the drop calls.  Hope this helps!

[jcioban1]

Last week, I had an AM in NYC and  PM appointment in Boston, which was traveled by car. Are you suggesting this as a routine???  And why suddenly do I need to do this on the NEW device when I did not do this with an older, "less cool" 8830. Does the radio in the Blackberry Bold 9650 suck?

As you can tell, I am not happy that I am getting no info or band-aid fixes. I will try this later today when driving, but I am questioning the *228 thing since it seems geographically-focused and this is a movement/migration/handoff issue (or just a really bad radio issue) IMHO.

[jcioban1]

BTW...I am a reasonable person and will do whatever is recommended. In the end, I just need a phone that works.

[bosslady85]

Anytime you are traveling to a different state other than the place the phone was activated, it is good to update your PRL, so that you can hit the latest towers in the area you are traveling.  The PRL update should be done at least every 30 days, even if you are in the same location, because PRL's are updated quite often.

[pettis63]

I have been having the same problems!!!  I've tried everything from *228, resetting the unit taking the battery out and nothing!!  I am really disappointed with this phone!!  I had never had a problem with the blackberry curve 1, except for going through 6 of them because the buttons wouldn't work after 2-4 weeks of having it and then I couldn't access anything!!  Why can't Verizon fix this problem....if the older bb aren't having the problem why should the newer ones do??

[jcioban1]

I did all the *228 stuff as well. No impact. The Bold 9650 phone either has a serious wireless radio or antenna issue, or a serious bug in tower-to-tower handoffs.

For me it is time to ratchet up the noise on some other bulletin boards. Obviously Verizon does not want too much noise about this, but there is clearly an issue. I have had 3 different Blackberry phones, as well as numerous other cell phones through the years and never had a phone perform this poorly while traveling. I use my phone over 2000 minutes a month, so I am not a casual home user...

Again, it is fine as long as you are standing still in a coverage zone. It just cannot travel more than about 20 miles without dropping. It is the perfect "Immobile Phone." Between Danbury and Hartford, CT yesterday, I dropped out 5 times while on Interstate roads (on back roads it was unusable...).

I am within my 30 day return period, but the options are pretty lousy if you want to have a phone that works internationally. Sprint and AT&T have better phones, but weaker networks. No good options IMHO.

[Hard]

So im not crazy i noticed the same problem on my phone since i have changed to this blackberry i think i have got more dropped calls in 1 day then i have in my 6 years of being on verizon network.. i even switched the phone and same problems as im driving it keeps killing calls i must have dropped over 50 calls in the past 2 weeks, some important calls for vendors. i notice that the bars keep resetting themselves then i get the SOS at times.... VERIZON what is the issue here..........

we need a fix ASAP

[jed1894]

I have the Tour (same basic phone) that does the same thing.  

[bosslady85]

Try dialing *228 send and option 1 to re-program the phone.  I checked for outages or signal issues.  I was unable to find any.   If the re-programming does not work, I would recommend you contact our Tech Support department for further trouble shooting.   HTH!

[Hard]

i did the *228 it doesnt work happeneds to be everyone in my agency who has this blackberry bold has the same issue.. i think its the phone software. you guys should work with blackberry to fix it.....

[LouiseT]

Natavia -- if i had a nickel for every time I hit *228 we could both retire.  That doesn't fix the problem.

[zonebreaker]

I bought the BlackBerry Bold 3 weeks ago and have dropped 42 phone calls to date. I received a new BlackBerry via Fed Ex today. Went to the local Verizon store got everything transferred, set up my 5 business email accts and left. On my way back to the office my new phone dropped 3 calls in 15 minutes. The folks at Verizon informed me that they do not have a 30 day return policy anymore. I have been a 2000 plus minute man for several years now. I need to exchange this phone or I will be forced to switch to an alternate carrier. I think it is interesting that every poster on this thread is not mad about this situation we just want a solution to the problem. My fingers are worn out from pressing *228. A solution of hitting ##* to record the dropped calls is not a solution that works for me either as my phone is my lively hood and needed for my business. Please help as I cannot continue like this.

[StreetDocRN]

Hi, Zonebreaker,

One of the things as a Community Leader (CL) that I have is quicker access to some of the Verizon higher-ups.  I have sent a message to them requesting that someone from tech look into this problem.  As soon as I hear something that might help you and the others, I will let you know.  I am sorry for your problems. 

I have a 9650 but I have been fortunate enough to not experience the dropped calls.  I did have a problem with the OS 6 software causing my device to randomly reboot, sometimes as much as 4 times an hour.  I downgraded the OS to the 5.0.0.975 and it has worked well for me.  I don't know if that is the answer for you and the others, but it worked for me.  I know that you expect your device to work like it is advertised, and it is affecting your ability to perform your job.  I promise I will get an answer for you as quick as possible.  Thanks for being patient.

Doc

[StreetDocRN · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Just to update, I received an answer from someone at Verizon Wireless.  It was the usual "try a reboot, battery pull" response.  They also replied that there is no "known" issue with the OS 6 software.  I half-expected a response like this, but will keep trying to get a response that will give some sort of satisfaction to the affected users. 

Doc

[ChaunceyM_VZW]

I'm sorry to learn about the problems you have encountered. This issue would appear to be a problem in your area and not an issue with your phone. I will send you a PM, please reply with your wireless number and the best time to contact you. I will call you and get some detailed information about the area where the problems occur. 

ChaunceyM_VZWSupport

Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[jkotsonas]

Why would you just assume it's a problem with someone's "area".

Sadly, we've recently ugraded our CEO to a Bold and now he's having this issue, which is causing much

angst.  He (our CEO) has used a Verizon device for about 8 years now, first at 7250, then an 8330 Curve,

and now the Bold. He's lived in the same location, driven the same route etc... the only thing that's changed

is now he has a Bold. Oh, the other thing that's changed is now he's getting dropped calls all of the time.

We've pulled the battery, dialed "*228, reloaded the OS etc... all worked on a short-term basis, but none

have resolved the issue permanently. Did I mention this is our CEO (who's wife also has an older Verizon

device which, of course, does not drop calls)?

Last thing we're going to try is to change the network setting from Global to 1XEV and see if that

makes a difference. If not, I'm afraid it's on to AT&T.

This isn't the first person we've upgraded to a Bold that's experienced this problem. Fortunately, out of

about 200 Verizon devices, the number of folk experiencing the issue is small, but every person currently

experiencing the issue did not have this problem until they were upgraded to the Bold, so it seems more a

device issue rather than an "area" issue, unless the cell towers are better equipped to handle 1XEV as

opposed to 3G.

[Spiral]

---

jkotsonas wrote:

Why would you just assume it's a problem with someone's "area".

Sadly, we've recently ugraded our CEO to a Bold and now he's having this issue, which is causing much

angst.  He (our CEO) has used a Verizon device for about 8 years now, first at 7250, then an 8330 Curve,

and now the Bold. He's lived in the same location, driven the same route etc... the only thing that's changed

is now he has a Bold. Oh, the other thing that's changed is now he's getting dropped calls all of the time.

We've pulled the battery, dialed "*228, reloaded the OS etc... all worked on a short-term basis, but none

have resolved the issue permanently. Did I mention this is our CEO (who's wife also has an older Verizon

device which, of course, does not drop calls)?

Last thing we're going to try is to change the network setting from Global to 1XEV and see if that

makes a difference. If not, I'm afraid it's on to AT&T.

This isn't the first person we've upgraded to a Bold that's experienced this problem. Fortunately, out of

about 200 Verizon devices, the number of folk experiencing the issue is small, but every person currently

experiencing the issue did not have this problem until they were upgraded to the Bold, so it seems more a

device issue rather than an "area" issue, unless the cell towers are better equipped to handle 1XEV as

opposed to 3G.

---

You should definitely change the setting to 1XEV from Global and while the user is operating in the USA i also recommend that the SIM card be either removed or simply flipped backward (with contacts facing outward).  Others have reported this to help with reception as the SIM card is not needed while on the Verizon network in the USA.

Of course the towers are better equipped to handle 1XEV, because That is 3G in the Verizon CDMA network.

[mdram4x4]

its a conspiracy

cell phones are no longer allowed to work when you drive

ther eis special software in them goverment mandated

[jkotsonas]

---

Spiral wrote:

---

jkotsonas wrote:

Why would you just assume it's a problem with someone's "area".

Sadly, we've recently ugraded our CEO to a Bold and now he's having this issue, which is causing much

angst.  He (our CEO) has used a Verizon device for about 8 years now, first at 7250, then an 8330 Curve,

and now the Bold. He's lived in the same location, driven the same route etc... the only thing that's changed

is now he has a Bold. Oh, the other thing that's changed is now he's getting dropped calls all of the time.

We've pulled the battery, dialed "*228, reloaded the OS etc... all worked on a short-term basis, but none

have resolved the issue permanently. Did I mention this is our CEO (who's wife also has an older Verizon

device which, of course, does not drop calls)?

Last thing we're going to try is to change the network setting from Global to 1XEV and see if that

makes a difference. If not, I'm afraid it's on to AT&T.

This isn't the first person we've upgraded to a Bold that's experienced this problem. Fortunately, out of

about 200 Verizon devices, the number of folk experiencing the issue is small, but every person currently

experiencing the issue did not have this problem until they were upgraded to the Bold, so it seems more a

device issue rather than an "area" issue, unless the cell towers are better equipped to handle 1XEV as

opposed to 3G.

---

You should definitely change the setting to 1XEV from Global and while the user is operating in the USA i also recommend that the SIM card be either removed or simply flipped backward (with contacts facing outward).  Others have reported this to help with reception as the SIM card is not needed while on the Verizon network in the USA.

Of course the towers are better equipped to handle 1XEV, because That is 3G in the Verizon CDMA network.

---

@ Spiral - thanks very much for the reply/info.  We'll give that a shot and see what happens. Light a candle for us.

[jkotsonas]

---

Spiral wrote:

---

jkotsonas wrote:

Why would you just assume it's a problem with someone's "area".

Sadly, we've recently ugraded our CEO to a Bold and now he's having this issue, which is causing much

angst.  He (our CEO) has used a Verizon device for about 8 years now, first at 7250, then an 8330 Curve,

and now the Bold. He's lived in the same location, driven the same route etc... the only thing that's changed

is now he has a Bold. Oh, the other thing that's changed is now he's getting dropped calls all of the time.

We've pulled the battery, dialed "*228, reloaded the OS etc... all worked on a short-term basis, but none

have resolved the issue permanently. Did I mention this is our CEO (who's wife also has an older Verizon

device which, of course, does not drop calls)?

Last thing we're going to try is to change the network setting from Global to 1XEV and see if that

makes a difference. If not, I'm afraid it's on to AT&T.

This isn't the first person we've upgraded to a Bold that's experienced this problem. Fortunately, out of

about 200 Verizon devices, the number of folk experiencing the issue is small, but every person currently

experiencing the issue did not have this problem until they were upgraded to the Bold, so it seems more a

device issue rather than an "area" issue, unless the cell towers are better equipped to handle 1XEV as

opposed to 3G.

---

You should definitely change the setting to 1XEV from Global and while the user is operating in the USA i also recommend that the SIM card be either removed or simply flipped backward (with contacts facing outward).  Others have reported this to help with reception as the SIM card is not needed while on the Verizon network in the USA.

Of course the towers are better equipped to handle 1XEV, because That is 3G in the Verizon CDMA network.

---

Thanks again. We didn't touch the SIM card, but switching over to 1XEV resolved the dropped call issue, which has left everyone very happy