4G dropping to 3G

[nathang]

I just picked up the Charge on Saturday and I'm having issues with the phone dropping from 4G to 3G.  I have to go into Settings > Wireless Networks and toggle from LTE to CDMA and then back to LTE for it to go back to 4G.  My phone usually has 3 bars and as long as I keep the phone "active" it doesn't switch.  However, if I put the phone down and let it go into standby for more than 5 minutes, when I go to use it, it has switched to 3G and I have to do the toggle setting game to go back to 4G.

[vidguy7]

There are tons of posts just like yours. Read through the threads.  There are no answers that exist either from VZW or any user.  Their system and/or the 4G phones (not just the Charge) do not function properly. You may want to consider a 3G only phone. For many of us it's too late for that.'

BTW, consider yourself VERY lucky if that's all that happens.  For most of us not only do we lose 4G, but we lose data entirely.  I'd be very very happy if I only lost 4G but maintained 3G. 

[nathang]

So I would be better off just exchanging it for an Incredible 2?

[vidguy7]

I would exchange for anything other than a 4G phone.  I think all these 4G phones on the VZW 4G network are lousy.  If VZW can't get their act together, what's the point of having 4G (and it is fast when it's there) if you can't get data at all many times during a day.

Don't let anyone tell you 'your' phone is defective, they're all like this.  I've had two and they're identical in terms of this behavior.

[barefoot_baby]

I can be in the exact same spot and watch my Charge go from 4G to 3G or just plain nothing at all. Come on. The weather is nice outside; there is no reason the phone should drop like that.

[#6]

There is a known issue with the phone fluctuating between 3g and 4g.  Samsung is working diligently to resolve the issue.  If you are with in your 14 day worry free guarantee you do have the option to return the device.  Thank you.

[Booch]

I think unfortunately, however, there are several of us that are now outside the 14 window.  So basically we are stuck with a phone and service that does not perform as advertised.  Is that correct?

[#8]

No, you certainly are not stuck. We are working with Samsung to resolve this issue so that the phone will work as advertised. I understand this is a frustrating issue and we have escalated this issue to get it resolved as soon as possible. 

[vidguy7]

Does this escalation include the MUCH more significant issue of 'no data connectivity' when, despite showing a strong 3G signal, and despite a 3G only phone right next to you having no data issues, the Charge gets no data? If you read the threads on many of the forums, there are TONS of Charge owners having these issues!

[HoustonHeart]

Stating the issue is soley with thei r 4G network and all the 4G phones is not correct. IF you have ever used ATT and an Iphoen 4, then you know what constint network issues and reception issues really are, which were far worse then any of the LTE/4g phone issues with droid.

SOme of us have constint 4g access, and it is stable (post 4ee update especially).

Not all areas have 4g access or you may be between towers. In this case you can often force a 4g ickup of a signal confirmation, however, the signal strength may not be sufficient and this will cause it to switch back to 3g, or have poort signal transfers. In my area I get complete verizon 4g LTE but had very poor ATT 4g (as well as it is slower in general).. In some areas that coudl be reversed.

[vidguy7]

We actually had very few data issues with ATT. The data issues with the 4G VZW phones are much worse. Dropped calls on ATT were much worse. Those that are lucky enough to be in an area that isn't experiencing the VZW data issue are just that, lucky.

[HoustonHeart]

If you were a former ATT user, then you have to recall the massive data loss issues, not jsut the Antenae issue with Iphone 4. It was a plaqued issue requirigng constint refreshign of web pages, and more so with HTTPS secured sites timign out.

It was fixed but that was downgrading download speed to compensate during those requests.

Post EE4 (mnual download not OTA) I haven't seen the 4g/3g switch issue. Unfortuantly OTA updates can be an issue when there were data loss issues in EE2.

[Ray999]

I took a few readings when I was out for lunch today.  The 1st screenshot is 1xRTT near my office Lewis Center, OH. Usually a strong 4G area.  I could actually see the tower

2nd image is after toggling Airplane mode a couple of times. OK got 3G this time.

Toggled Airplane mode again got 4G finally in 3rd shot. Got 4G finally. It really shouldn't be this hard

[timnyc]

Thank you Verizon for posting here on 7/5/11 that this known issue is being addrressed by Samsung

As a novice I ask is it possible that the "radio" for data built into this is just incapable of being corrected to receive proper/stable 3g or 1x? The very very lowspeed 3g issue is huge issue forthose with no 4G yet and for all of us with 4g dropping to 3g that often goes to 1x when one most needs it during the daytime/evening .. on the Samsung Droid Charge

[WCMack]

Dear timnyc,

Have you tried toggling the settings for the radios to see if this help stabilize the 3G signal? To do this, on any home screen press the Menu button (left physical button) then select Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks > System selection.

This is a pure guess but the problem people seem to be having getting and keeping a stable signal in 4G or 3G may relate to the software that switches on and off the radios in the phone based on signal strength and type. If you select the CDMA mode setting, this may disable the software, since only the 3G radio will be operable.

This is again a real guess...

[vidguy7]

---

WCMack wrote:
Dear timnyc,

Have you tried toggling the settings for the radios to see if this help stabilize the 3G signal? To do this, on any home screen press the Menu button (left physical button) then select Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks > System selection.

This is a pure guess but the problem people seem to be having getting and keeping a stable signal in 4G or 3G may relate to the software that switches on and off the radios in the phone based on signal strength and type. If you select the CDMA mode setting, this may disable the software, since only the 3G radio will be operable.

This is again a real guess...

---

It's a guess as you say, but not a good guess.  I and many others have tried the "CDMA-only" mode and it doesn't work.  Or if it works, it works for a very short term and you're back to no data.

[timnyc]

i think what the gentleman way saying was do not work in CDMA mode whether it be "home cdma" or "auto cdma" option as

the radio to do the 3g sux

AND therefor the phone must be in LTE auto mode.

AM i correct?

If so then I will not have access to the internet. That seems like I should get a Thunderbolt or a Droid X2 or a something else, but 4G should ensure the best relationship with Verizon and the future of smartphone browsing as well as my contract when it's up ... i will keep trying on this cause i like the phone

lots of time on the phone with samsung and verizon but FIRST

i shall bring it into an offical tech support location where they are very nice and helpful here

oh wait they told me the battery extended caases were messed up with the thunderbolt oh my i forgot that tidbit from an hour ago (AND no case for extended battery probably oh the struggle to get this together versus just getting a iphone with a 4.3" screen there i said it!).

whew !

-tim

[WCMack]

Dear tim,

Sorry that my thoughts did not help.  I don't have the problem you describe, and I thought perhaps it was because I am in a 3G only area (4G is a long way off out here in the NJ boonies).  Hope you find a solution or get a phone that makes you happy.  BTW, I traded out of the Droid X2 to the Charge because I found the X2's music player very glitchy.  Perhaps this in not important to you though.

And vidguy, thanks for the astute observation.  I'm glad to hear your guesses are all good ones...at least someone on this forum is helping 100% of the time they post.

[UMFootball1989]

I'm not trying ti jynx myself but I'm not hjaving any problems whatsoever with my droid charge

[vidguy7]

Sorry WCMack, it's just been frustrating dealing with this. Didn't mean to offend you.

[timnyc]

I have had great luck too with this great droid charge

however, can you share with me your general download/upload speedtest.net results for your charge

as mine are (when 1x very low) when "3G with a D below it" or 3G is on the max i get it .48 - .68 download and .68-.88 upload

at night after midnight again last night higher -- 1.1MBps/1.4MBps download upload

maybe it is too much concentration of signals in midtown manhattan but I am concerned that it is a hradware / "radio" flaw that cannot be fixed.

I will go to verizon store for tech support to look at the 4g speeds of 21MBps+ versus the slooooooow 3g.

this will all happen within 2 avenues and 2 blocks off Times Square, NY NY (home, office and verizon store)