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.

[ChristinaB_VZW]

Hi Hpyjoy,

Yes, we do monitor our Customer Forums and thank you for posting. The data connection issues outlined on these forum/posts may need a software update in order to be resolved. Additionally, a phone replacement will not guarantee a resolution.

However, please note that some troubleshooting options may improve the phone's performance in the mean time. Be assured that any software update developed to resolve this issue will be pushed out to all devices as soon as developed and released by the manufacturer.

Please review the troubleshooting options below:

1- Turn Wi-Fi off when not within reach of a Wi-Fi connection as this may interfere with the mobile data connection.

                Select Menu.

                Select Settings.

                Select Wireless & network.

                Select Wi-Fi settings.

                Uncheck Wi-Fi.

2- Test for any third party application conflicts by running your phone in safe mode. If issue is not replicated while in safe mode then a third party application is causing the issue.

                Press and hold the Power button

                Select Restart.

                Once the Samsung logo appears, press and hold the Menu button.

                Continue to hold the Menu button until Safe mode appears in the lower-left of the unlock screen.

                To disable safe mode, simply power off and back on.

3- Enable mobile data.

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

                Drag the window shade to the bottom of the display.

                Select Mobile data.

4- Select 3G only when not in a 4G coverage area.

                Select Menu.

                Select Settings.

                Select Wireless & network.

                Select Mobile networks.

                Select System selection.

                Select CDMA mode (when not in 4G coverage).

[medina]

Step 4 sounds helpful when switching out 3G and 4G thanks! will try when not in a 4G coverage area!

[Booch]

---

ChristinaB_VZW wrote:

Hi Hpyjoy,

Yes, we do monitor our Customer Forums and thank you for posting. The data connection issues outlined on these forum/posts may need a software update in order to be resolved. Additionally, a phone replacement will not guarantee a resolution.

However, please note that some troubleshooting options may improve the phone's performance in the mean time. Be assured that any software update developed to resolve this issue will be pushed out to all devices as soon as developed and released by the manufacturer.

Please review the troubleshooting options below:

1- Turn Wi-Fi off when not within reach of a Wi-Fi connection as this may interfere with the mobile data connection.

                Select Menu.

                Select Settings.

                Select Wireless & network.

                Select Wi-Fi settings.

                Uncheck Wi-Fi.

2- Test for any third party application conflicts by running your phone in safe mode. If issue is not replicated while in safe mode then a third party application is causing the issue.

                Press and hold the Power button

                Select Restart.

                Once the Samsung logo appears, press and hold the Menu button.

                Continue to hold the Menu button until Safe mode appears in the lower-left of the unlock screen.

                To disable safe mode, simply power off and back on.

3- Enable mobile data.

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

                Drag the window shade to the bottom of the display.

                Select Mobile data.

4- Select 3G only when not in a 4G coverage area.

                Select Menu.

                Select Settings.

                Select Wireless & network.

                Select Mobile networks.

                Select System selection.

                Select CDMA mode (when not in 4G coverage).

---

None of these troubleshooting options have done any good for me.  Unfortunately I have to come to the realization that I got a faulty device from Samsung and Verizon.  I am also not optimistic there will even be a fix for this issue.

Shame on you, Verizon.  I hope that you are a reputable company and provide alternatives so that we are not stuck with this faulty phone on your faulty 4G network.

[stonleet]

I've tried all you suggested and I still loose 3g connection everytime my phone goes to sleep.  i have to do Step #4 to get it to work again, each and everytime i wake the phone up. I'm in safe mode and having this issue.

[mpbclutch33]

Today has been especially crappy for some reason. I can't get 3g even buy restarting the phone now. That used to be the only Go-To. Now What? Ugh...... Beyond Annoyed!

[HoustonHeart]

THe new Iphones are havign issues switchign as well, verizon is updatign towers and it started here when they began work. Now My droid, my fathers, my moms brand new Iphone, and friends are all loosing it randomly.

It's also affecting ATT, sprint and Tmobile users as well. The carriers ar beggign to use merged towers for better coverage but as the changes are made, towers upgraded, service drops are happening. My friend never had issues with his carriers 4g (non lte) until now, but they annoucned LTE as the new standard.

Hopign all these upgrades are completed soon but was told March for completion for southern houston.

As for the Iphone, and my moms brand new model, they do have this issue as well. THe only thing is the Iphones screen update is slow, and untill you hit the brower and change apges its not noticed.

THen again Iphones are not 4g either. So it is not constinatly looking for 4g to change to once on 3g. I have the gingerbrad 2.3.6 update already. Had no issues for awhile, then I see monekeys on the towers on issues start..

I would stay away from the Bionic. I gave that hoen a try and was not happy at all. THe screen loosk washed out (maybe used to the charges better screen) and the battery life on Bionics are worse, and 4 hours of common use draisn them fast.

I am concidering a Razor since it has a newer dual core design (phase 2 nvidia gpu as well) and is so slim. Just wondering if that slim design will mean a hot phoen overheating and shutting down alot.

But My charge has been flawless with none of the repeated issues until recently with "upgrading local servies" with tower work.

[jlstifel]

I was really frustrated with my  Charge from the beginning because the quality of the phone calls was so bad that the phone seemed useless to me...   It seems to have improved now for reasons that I don't know... But, at the same time, I was also getting error messages that the "network was unavailable" both from phone and also from using my hotspot on my laptop. I was very distressed on both issues.

Recently I've learned that the problem seems to be related to the fact that they are changing the cables on the towers in my area of South Florida from the 3G to the 4G and expect to have it completed by Februrary.

This is a real relief to me as I see the justification for the problems and the solution at the same time. Apparently the company does not tell it's employees who deal with the public until the work is being done and the complaints are coming in.. or unless the employees have some friends working on the towers who leak the information to them. Had they told their employees so they could give me what is really good news, it would have made me a happy camper when I was in a state of major regret for having made my purchases.

Outside of these issues, which appear to have a solution on the near horizon, I like the Samsung Droid Charge very much.

I think that the company has communication problems with their employees which translate to communication problems with their customers. They could work on improving this.

Judi

Port St. Lucie, Florida

[trisho1959]

This too is what gripes my B..t!  We paid top dollar for these phones to function but they seem to think that isn't an issue.  yes, they have us with their contracts but we will remember this when the time comes to renew.  These phones are supposed to be the best on the market or at least they were when I bought mine.

[ericq1977]

I am on my 3rd Charge all with the same issue with one variation. Once mine drops it will not come back. All of them have had the same issue. And all customer service will do is fill out a trouble ticket and  then send out a replacement. And tell me how they never hear of them having this issue. I HATE the charge now and look forward to the day I can throw it at the pavement and run it over. Too bad this issue will end up costing Verizon a customer I will not renew my contract and wish they would let me out of it now!

[arharris]

I am in the Indianapois area and having tremendous trouble with my Charge. It has continued for 3 months with no help from Verizon. I talked with one of the so called experts online and he said that until this phone gets Gingerbread update there is no hope and he doesn't think Verizon will do it.

[timnyc]

OK thank you all.

But I would like to pick from the 4g phones unless there's something I don't know about some very fast 3G phone besides iPhone

this Charge is so beautiful and otterboxed and all

and it sure is fast on 4G wow

and I want to really work it again tomorrow outside from Hudson riverfront to Central Park and air conditioned places as needed

and see if 3G is consistent or a mess

but I will have to choose LG Revolution or stick with this phone -- today it was a steady .7/.8 ish download/upload and in 3G no 1x

so that's progress!

I am taking off at noon to go to Verizon store and WORK that LG Revolution and see what's up AND TEST DROID CHARGE side by side with their Samsung Droid Charge (demo model of course) and compare the 2 Charges' 3G speedtests with the other 4g and 3g phones

IF VERIZON CAN SEE 3G units side-by-side and see that the charge is slow 3g, 1x or dropping versus the other -- 4G AND 3G ones -- couldn't they be working with Samsung on a fix as a VZW rep. posted in these forums on 7/5?

SO hard to decise when all but this one major 3G/1x  DATA issue (that's what we pay a lot for) is terribly pressing

[vidguy7]

---

arharris wrote:

I am in the Indianapois area and having tremendous trouble with my Charge. It has continued for 3 months with no help from Verizon. I talked with one of the so called experts online and he said that until this phone gets Gingerbread update there is no hope and he doesn't think Verizon will do it.

---

To be honest, I don't see how Gingerbread will improve an issue that appears to be hardware related. I haven't read anywhere how Gingerbread could solve this issue.

[mpbclutch33]

well....... ended up sending another email to VZW and a very nice guy got back to me just now. Even though I sent a link to this thread in the email, he still said there is no documented problem with this phone. I am out of the 14 day return so the only thing he could do was send me a "Certified new" replacement but it still would be the same phone. I said based on what I have read on here, there is not point in me going through all that if its not going to help the problem. Back to Square one I guess.....

[vidguy7]

---

mpbclutch33 wrote:

well....... ended up sending another email to VZW and a very nice guy got back to me just now. Even though I sent a link to this thread in the email, he still said there is no documented problem with this phone. I am out of the 14 day return so the only thing he could do was send me a "Certified new" replacement but it still would be the same phone. I said based on what I have read on here, there is not point in me going through all that if its not going to help the problem. Back to Square one I guess.....

---

Talk about a lack of decency to tell you there's 'no documented problem'. We get one Verizon story that they're working with Samsung to correct this problem and then someone else at Verizon says no documented problem.  Nothing short of unreal.

[gemro311]

Agreed. I am on my 3rd replacement phone due to the "3G drop" issue. Everybody I have spoken with @ Verizon is very well aware of the issue .  To me that's not caring about their  job or giving you a snow job..I would just keep calling until you talk to someone who is informed . Never give up !

[#17]

Hi Booch,

Please PM me your name, mobile number, MEID (Settings>About Phone>Status) and I will escalate this.  

Thank you!

[trisho1959]

Does this go for the remainder of us as well?  We too have issues and need escalated service requests??

[trisho1959]

I just uninstalled the battery application on my phone.  I pray that helps!  Thanks for the pointers.

[DL1234]

The Gingerbread 2.3.6 is rolling out to phones with new modems.   Check so see if your phone has an update, and see if that helps your data connectivity.

If you had flashed or rooted something, then you need to revert back to factory to get it from what I hear.

[cganoe]

---

trisho1959 wrote:

I just uninstalled the battery application on my phone.  I pray that helps!  Thanks for the pointers.

---

I have never had a "battery application" installed on my Charge. While it is certainly possible battery apps might cause issues with your phone, they have nothing to do with this "Network not available" problem most charge users are experiencing.

Hopefully this Gingerbread update fixes it, or this phone is getting returned for something else.

[JstOneMoreDroid]

I am updated with the GB OTA and this problem, which I never had before, I now have.   There is no "battery saver" application installed- in fact it's barely has anything installed- I can't do it- it keeps losing connection to the data service and I can't install anything

I am not going to call because all I will be told is to do a factory reset and/or they will trade phones.  Thanks, I don't need a refurb to replace my new phone that clearly has a problem with the radios- not hardware.