Charge dropping 3G service: "Network not available"

[Booch]

First off, some of the other posts were a little similar but not entirely.  I live about 200 miles from any 4G service, so it is not an issue dropping off between 4G and 3G.  I also do not have Wi-Fi enabled, so it is not an issue between the switch between Wi-Fi and 3G.

Between 2-3 times per day, my Charge loses its 3G coverage and I cannot get any data transmission.  I have figured out that if I restart my phone, I will have my 3G data back again.  However, this is not a long-term solution and is very annoying.

I have had my Charge for a week with the constant dropping of my 3G.  Today, I finally got tired of it and thought there was maybe an error with my phone.  I went to my local Verizon store and they replaced my phone.  To my surprise, after having my new replaced phone for only about 2 hours, it has dropped the 3G data again.  My phone is showing 4 out of 5 on the bars, so I know I am not in a low coverage area.  I am getting very frustrated as I've tried talking to the local reps at the Verizon store and they are clueless.  I called the national Verizon help line and they were not aware of any problems, so it didn't help me out.

I would appreciate any help from Verizon (or any other posters) that might have ideas.

I have seen some of the poor responses from Verizon "tech support" on some of the other questions.  Telling me that I can return the phone plus pay a restocking fee is not an appropriate or reasonable answer.  If someone can actually help, it is appreciated.  Otherwise, I guess I will continue trying to catch someone's attention.

[HoustonHeart]

Some users having issues out of severla thousand is not a large majority. All new networks have spot issues as they increase coverage over time. I have seen the same issues on my old phone before dropping in similiar regions. I noticed better switching after the EE4 update and after changing the ping frequency manually.

Yes it needs to be looked at and fixed, but it clearly is not a incident affecting all Charge users, nd all hardware. Keep in mind tweaking will take time. Just like the Iphone 4 was an utter pain for soem time after launch.

I most of the main coverage areas i get constint speed, even on bandwith tests put at long intervals to look for packet loss. If it was a oure hardware issue, 4 phones we have of the same model would be affected.

Even 500 complaints is not even 2% of users.

 On the 3g note. I often have to spend time in cow country no mans land Jones Creek Texas. Compared to my prior Droid 2 global, the CHarge gets better reception. My droid 2 and 2 global got no reception at all (common issue out there for carriers). The charge was able to get 2 bars, and depending on where I stood, 3G access. If there are over lapping tower issues, interference, or you are to far, it may cause and issue.

 Some units may be defective, my first Charge could not hold a charge, and while chargign would actually decrease., the replacement isn't having any issues.

  Do you have a link to the tons of forums and complaints of different people so I can read up on locations where they are having issues? I mean we have 4 units in our family and they are all fine (minus the one defective unit).

[isosunrise2]

I have issues in a high converage 4G area (San Francisco).  Both the Verizon tech via phone and CSR at a local store claim that they have been receiving a lot of complaints and issuing tickets, so I highly doubt it is a small number that you are pulling out of your head.  Maybe it is a regional issue, only areas with 4G coverage is having problems?

[vidguy7]

---

isosunrise2 wrote:

I have issues in a high converage 4G area (San Francisco).  Both the Verizon tech via phone and CSR at a local store claim that they have been receiving a lot of complaints and issuing tickets, so I highly doubt it is a small number that you are pulling out of your head.  Maybe it is a regional issue, only areas with 4G coverage is having problems?

---

Yup. I'll never understand why some guys come to threads designed to report problems, only to state they have no issues and it must be a small number of people and must only involve some 'tweaking' of the 4G system.

HoustonHeart doesn't bother to research the issue, but instead bases his assumptions on only his experience, not the many many others in many areas of the country where people are having these data issues.  A simply Google of Android forums will educate HoustonHeart if he so wishes. I won't do the research for him.

Even VZW has acknowledged there IS an issue and they are researching it with Samsung.  That doesn't sound like a system 'tweaking'  issue to me.  Additionally, these data issues can occur not only in mixed 4G/3G areas, but also in 3G only areas where there is no 4G signal for many miles. When these data issues are occurring, a 3G only phone right next to you can receive the data with no problem whatsoever.  This is a scenario that's been repeated across the country and reported in many forums. It leads many to believe that the radio in the Charge is just not as sensitive as it is in 3G only phones.  I've had this experience many times myself as my wife's 3G only Iphone on VZW has no problems with data at the same time & place where my Charge stalls.

[HoustonHeart]

CAn you kindly provide a link to Verizons awknowledgement of the issue you are claiming.

Once again it is NOT all units. Clearly.

I read posts and count on this forum and we are not even reaching 15 people across the whole board. Repeat posts like yours do not count.

Now if in certain areas it could be an issue on how the unit recieves the data to synch to the network. Yet post EE4 I haven't had any issues (manual install not OTA which many are reporting their issues began).

WHich update are you running?

What areas do you ahve the issue in?

Have you done a ping mode test and bandwith test to see if you have a pattern in data packet loss?

It's not an issue here. It seems people are complaining after OTA updates, which can be issues with the phones. That is why I download and move them to the card then update. I had a old phone toasted by a OTA. Clearly there were issues that need to address on some models, and yes it seems their are quarky units out there.

Pray they get off Froyo and onto 2.3.4.

Issues are to varied. Liek I said I can state other wise on reception becuase I go out to Jones Creek Texas, where people have issues all around, except for the nextel tower.

THe charge gets at least 1-2 bars where my other devices had no service at all. SO it better i nthat aspect for me.

Outside the ara a little bit I pick 3g back up and at times it will drop to 1x. Clearly its a location to tower issue, rather then interference out in farm land.

Not all devices are perfect, each can have bugs. Not all. WIth the number of units sold, you would need several hundred thousand to be a large amount of users.

[gemro311]

Well..I am now waiting for my 3rd Charge ..This is getting a little ridiculous . But as long as Verizon is willing to work with me and send me a new phone ....hopefully one of these phones will work with 3g on a constant basis. Must say Verizon has been very understanding. I truly appreciate that .   My wife and several friends  Charge do not  (knock on wood) exhibit this issue.

[vidguy7]

---

HoustonHeart wrote:

CAn you kindly provide a link to Verizons awknowledgement of the issue you are claiming.

Once again it is NOT all units. Clearly.

I read posts and count on this forum and we are not even reaching 15 people across the whole board. Repeat posts like yours do not count.

Now if in certain areas it could be an issue on how the unit recieves the data to synch to the network. Yet post EE4 I haven't had any issues (manual install not OTA which many are reporting their issues began).

WHich update are you running?

What areas do you ahve the issue in?

Have you done a ping mode test and bandwith test to see if you have a pattern in data packet loss?

It's not an issue here. It seems people are complaining after OTA updates, which can be issues with the phones. That is why I download and move them to the card then update. I had a old phone toasted by a OTA. Clearly there were issues that need to address on some models, and yes it seems their are quarky units out there.

Pray they get off Froyo and onto 2.3.4.

Issues are to varied. Liek I said I can state other wise on reception becuase I go out to Jones Creek Texas, where people have issues all around, except for the nextel tower.

THe charge gets at least 1-2 bars where my other devices had no service at all. SO it better i nthat aspect for me.

Outside the ara a little bit I pick 3g back up and at times it will drop to 1x. Clearly its a location to tower issue, rather then interference out in farm land.

Not all devices are perfect, each can have bugs. Not all. WIth the number of units sold, you would need several hundred thousand to be a large amount of users.

---

As I and other posters have asked, what exactly is your intent venturing into threads that address problems you have no issues with?  I would never venture into threads for problems my phone doesn't have, but you seem to enjoy it as well as minimizing what tons of us are experiencing.

Upgrading the OS will have zero effect on this issue.  How do you KNOW that your phone doesn't have the same issue under the same circumstances & conditions that those that are experiencing it do?  I'd bet almost anything that your phone would behave EXACTLY like all of ours. I can go into areas and have no problems, but I can venture into other areas where I WILL have a problem and that same area will have ZERO effect on a 3G only phone.  What part of that don't you understand? I believe you are 100% wrong, I DO believe that EVERY SINGLE CHARGE has this issue, it's just a question of whether or not you venture into the areas where this will manifest itself.  And again, before you say "oh, the system just needs tweaking", this can occur in 3G ONLY areas where a 3G ONLY phone has ZERO issues.

Clearly the Charge is NOT reacting properly to the EXACT SAME CONDITIONS that a 3G only phone does without any issues.  I can't make it any clearer to you and nobody else seems to have the difficulty grasping this that you do. I live in the N.Y. area and others reporting this issue live in California, Texas and areas all over the country.

You're not having a problem in YOUR area, wonderful, we get it!  WE ARE AND IT IS THE PHONE! Just about everyone has the latest EE4 update that did NOT resolve the issue that VZW claimed it would.  If you read the update, you would see that even back then VZW knew there was a problem...IT WAS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE UPDATE. No, I'm not going to pull out the update verbiage for you too.

You might ask yourself how is it possible for a 3G only phone in the SAME AREA AT THE SAME TIME AT THE SAME LOCATION to have no issues at all? Gee, could it be the Charge?

Again, I'm not doing the research for you, I already did because I am motivated. You only seem to be motivated to come here and tell us how you have no problems and it's not the phone.

[curtisdr]

---

HoustonHeart wrote:

Some users having issues out of severla thousand is not a large majority. All new networks have spot issues as they increase coverage over time. I have seen the same issues on my old phone before dropping in similiar regions. I noticed better switching after the EE4 update and after changing the ping frequency manually.

Yes it needs to be looked at and fixed, but it clearly is not a incident affecting all Charge users, nd all hardware. Keep in mind tweaking will take time. Just like the Iphone 4 was an utter pain for soem time after launch.

 --

Even 500 complaints is not even 2% of users.

 --

Some units may be defective, my first Charge could not hold a charge, and while chargign would actually decrease., the replacement isn't having any issues.

Do you have a link to the tons of forums and complaints of different people so I can read up on locations where they are having issues? I mean we have 4 units in our family and they are all fine (minus the one defective unit).

---

I guess I don't understand the motivation of people who come into forum threads like this and for the most part dismiss the issues we are having. Nothing better to do?

[DL1234]

So here is the story:  I am on my 5th Charge.

Completely Stock, only accepted the EE4 update.  This happens.  It has happened 5 times.  I am in a 3G coverage area only, my area is slated to get 4G July 21st.

My wife's iPhone (I swapped her Charge for an iPhone so that she wouldn't have this problem) seems to work flawlessly, although it does seem to eat more battery than her AT&T iPhone.  Hopefully she will be grandfathered into unlimited still when she finally gets to switch to a 4G phone.

2 of the Charges did this Horribly( I restarted one about 20 times and could only get 1x, if I had network at all, until it finally locked back on to 3G) , the one that I am keeping seems to do it much less frequently.

Is it a hardware problem?  Is it a software problem?  Only Samsung and Verizon can possibly figure that out.  It could just be that the baseband for the modem is a bit buggy, it could be the antenna causing problems, or it could be a bad piece of solder.. who knows...

Now what I expect from Verizon though is more of a, " We will make it right, we are working with Samsung to discover what the issue may be, and we will work on a fix for it."  At least that gives assurances that if it's hardware, they will swap it out, if it is software, we will get a patch.

CMC220 LTE baseband and the VIA Telecom 7.1 are in the phone, so it is different than most other EVDO phones.  Most use Qualcomm, so there is probably some more tweaking that can be done to get a software fix out.

[vidguy7]

---

DL1234 wrote:

So here is the story:  I am on my 5th Charge.

Completely Stock, only accepted the EE4 update.  This happens.  It has happened 5 times.  I am in a 3G coverage area only, my area is slated to get 4G July 21st.

My wife's iPhone (I swapped her Charge for an iPhone so that she wouldn't have this problem) seems to work flawlessly, although it does seem to eat more battery than her AT&T iPhone.  Hopefully she will be grandfathered into unlimited still when she finally gets to switch to a 4G phone.

2 of the Charges did this Horribly( I restarted one about 20 times and could only get 1x, if I had network at all, until it finally locked back on to 3G) , the one that I am keeping seems to do it much less frequently.

Is it a hardware problem?  Is it a software problem?  Only Samsung and Verizon can possibly figure that out.  It could just be that the baseband for the modem is a bit buggy, it could be the antenna causing problems, or it could be a bad piece of solder.. who knows...

Now what I expect from Verizon though is more of a, " We will make it right, we are working with Samsung to discover what the issue may be, and we will work on a fix for it."  At least that gives assurances that if it's hardware, they will swap it out, if it is software, we will get a patch.

CMC220 LTE baseband and the VIA Telecom 7.1 are in the phone, so it is different than most other EVDO phones.  Most use Qualcomm, so there is probably some more tweaking that can be done to get a software fix out.

---

Don't tell this to HoustonHeart because he'll tell you it's NOT your phone.  Unreal.  We get new posters with this problem every single day on every single of the many forums that discuss this issue.  But this guy will tell you it's only a 'handful'.  He ignores the fact that VZW has said it is working with Samsung to find a solution.  Does that indicate to any rational person that this is a 'tweaking' of the 4G network?  Gimme a break!

[Mysti]

I changed yesterday from the Droid X to the Charge.  The Verizon rep at the store updated the phone on-site for me. 

I've experienced the network dropping out as I travel and am already very familiar with the airplane mode on/off trick to get service back.  Once that did not work and it took a reboot to get it back.

It does seem to be tied to signal changes.  It seems to be stable if I stay in one place, but goes out sometimes while I'm mobile.

[isosunrise2]

Mysti, I also notice this problem the most when I am mobile, usually in the car or walking around.  My trick to get 3G/4G back is to switch between 4G/CDMA... and if that doesn't work, reboot always fixes it temporarily.

[mpbclutch33]

I contacted VZW with the problems and a link to our thread. This is what they came back with!!!!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless through our website.  My name is Tim and I understand that you've been affected by a known issue with the Charge.  We regret that you've had this experience and I've provided steps in this email that will assist you with a resolutions. I imagine that it's been frustrating for you.

Some of our customers with the Samsung Droid Charge (I510) and a few other Samsung Android devices have reported issues connecting to the following:

Cannot connect to the VZW Data Network

3G Indicator on the device not showing

Cannot access the web

Send text, picture messages, or e-mail.

Two work arounds provided to us from Samsung are listed below.

1.  From the home screen, select Applications.

2.  Select Settings.

3.  Select Wireless & network.

4.  Select Mobile networks.

5.  Select Use packet data.

Enabled when a orange check mark is present.

The next is..,

1.  From the home screen, select and hold the status bar (located at the top of the display).

2.  Drag the window shade to the bottom of the display.

3.  Select Mobile data.

Enabled when a orange indicator is present.

Upon an update to resolve this permanently is created, customers such as yourself will receive the patch over the air to your device.  At this time we do not have a time line to provide as to when this will happen.

Mr. Beam, if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call in.  Our Technical Support Department is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  The toll free number is 1-800-922-0204 and you'll select Option 3. You can also reach out to me directly at 803-231-1767.  I'm in the office until 4 PM EST, Monday through Friday.  Your call may go to my voicemail, so please leave a message, advising the best time and number to contact you.

Thank you for being a loyal Verizon Wireless customer. We look forward to providing you excellent service for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Timothy

Verizon Wireless

Data Technical Support

[BobMano]

Thanks for the update.    I just switched to verizon & charge less than a week ago and 4G was the reason why i did the switch.   Unfortunately, my phone switches to 3G and stays on 3G for the most part of the day.   I'm a 4G area and my friend who uses a different phone has 4G all day.   Even while the phone indicates i'm on 3G, the data network doesn't seem to work sometimes.

I called VZ support and spent a couple of hours on the phone while they asked me to try different things including a factory reset that wiped out all my customizations, downloads, etc, all for nothing.

I've still got about a week before i could return the phone and I'm contemplating if I should return it or keep it and wait for a software fix.   I think its unacceptable for a top of the line phone to have such serious issues particularly when VZ is using 4G as the main selling point.   Makes me wonder if I should've stayed with AT&T.

[mpbclutch33]

Also.... I am using 'Battery Dr. to Save Battery' and if you go to settings when you are not in 3G it shows "Mobile Data= Disconnected". Really getting tired of restarting my phone everytime!!! Ugh..

[isosunrise2]

Hmm... I am beginning to think it is more a regional issue with the towers.  I purchased the phone a little over a week ago, and have been having a lot of 3G/4G droppping (worst with 3G actually).  Uninstalled most all my apps, switched out sim card, etc... nothing worked...  I am not a newbie either, this is not my first Android phone.  I called in and was issued a ticket a few days ago so still wating for a callback.  Starting yesterday 7/7, the problem seem to have disappeared.  My signals stopped dropping from my home and in the car (used to about 20-30 times a day)... I wonder if they updated something in the towers in the bay area fixing it.  Maybe that is why some people (in certain regions) claim they have no problems, but many others do.  Just my theory... this is day two,

[vidguy7]

---

mpbclutch33 wrote:

Also.... I am using 'Battery Dr. to Save Battery' and if you go to settings when you are not in 3G it shows "Mobile Data= Disconnected". Really getting tired of restarting my phone everytime!!! Ugh..

---

What that app is telling you is exactly what we already know, 'no data connectivity'.

[ukrkoz]

well, call me stupid. we have Droid Charge and Samsung Continuum in the same house. Continuum is rock solid on 3G. Charge will pop 4G for about 2 seconds and then it goes away. Also, after 3 weeks of having phone, it had it all fine originally, and now network connection is gone.

like i said - call me stupid, looks like phone issue, not network issue.

[vidguy7]

---

ukrkoz wrote:

well, call me stupid. we have Droid Charge and Samsung Continuum in the same house. Continuum is rock solid on 3G. Charge will pop 4G for about 2 seconds and then it goes away. Also, after 3 weeks of having phone, it had it all fine originally, and now network connection is gone.

like i said - call me stupid, looks like phone issue, not network issue.

---

I'd agree, it's the design of the Charge that manifests itself under certain conditions & locations that other phones will have no problems.

[ukrkoz]

well, i must take said back.

called verizon. hit some nice guy.

basically, we turned wi-fi off and 4g returned back right away. i fooled with it thereafter, every time wi-fi is on - network connections disconnects.

[vidguy7]

---

mpbclutch33 wrote:

I contacted VZW with the problems and a link to our thread. This is what they came back with!!!!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless through our website.  My name is Tim and I understand that you've been affected by a known issue with the Charge.  We regret that you've had this experience and I've provided steps in this email that will assist you with a resolutions. I imagine that it's been frustrating for you.

Some of our customers with the Samsung Droid Charge (I510) and a few other Samsung Android devices have reported issues connecting to the following:

Cannot connect to the VZW Data Network

3G Indicator on the device not showing

Cannot access the web

Send text, picture messages, or e-mail.

Two work arounds provided to us from Samsung are listed below.

1.  From the home screen, select Applications.

2.  Select Settings.

3.  Select Wireless & network.

4.  Select Mobile networks.

5.  Select Use packet data.

Enabled when a orange check mark is present.

The next is..,

1.  From the home screen, select and hold the status bar (located at the top of the display).

2.  Drag the window shade to the bottom of the display.

3.  Select Mobile data.

Enabled when a orange indicator is present.

Upon an update to resolve this permanently is created, customers such as yourself will receive the patch over the air to your device.  At this time we do not have a time line to provide as to when this will happen.

Mr. Beam, if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call in.  Our Technical Support Department is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  The toll free number is 1-800-922-0204 and you'll select Option 3. You can also reach out to me directly at 803-231-1767.  I'm in the office until 4 PM EST, Monday through Friday.  Your call may go to my voicemail, so please leave a message, advising the best time and number to contact you.

Thank you for being a loyal Verizon Wireless customer. We look forward to providing you excellent service for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Timothy

Verizon Wireless

Data Technical Support

---

Well unfortunately most of us have tried those exact 'fixes' and to no avail.  I'm just hoping that the 'official fix' is simply not an automated version of these 'fixes' that don't work.  The above makes me think that they (VZW & Samsung) still don't know what the issue is. I certainly hope I'm wrong.  I wonder if they've checked on the actual sensitivity of the radios in the Charges relative to other phones.  That's what concerns me. If that's the real issue, there's nothing that can be done short of a redesigned phone.

[yurishd]

Just purchased "Charge" and, well, sure thing, have the same problem. I'm really experienced developer (SW<->HW integration). First if you remove your "battery saving" app (whatever it is.... "Green Power", Dr Battery... I used "JuiceDefender") then it will be much more stable with connection. But the problem is NOT in such apps - the problem that they turning connection ON and OFF, and it seems once switching... It loosing... . Sure thing if it is configurable then you can turn off controlling "mobile connection", but then you actually loose all the point (or almost all) of "battery saving". Second, if it would be "Software" issue I'm pretty sure we would see already "fix". So, most likely it is HW problem. Well, I guess it is bad... I'd rather change phone.. either downgrade to some 3G android... or even iphone (which I don't like...) ... otherwise we have NEW phone that have BAD chipset with some SW fix which, who knows, how good is.