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.

[steelman2002]

Same problem here...Verizon has knowingly sold me a defective phone at a premium price. I know a lawyer that I went to school with that would file a class action suit for us. Maybe a little negative news on television would persuade verizon to acknowledge this problem and make it good. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW???

I am strongly thinking of a small claims suit anyway. Media attention, cost of phone, cost of lawyer fees, court costs, its all on the way Verizon....

[DL1234]

My 3rd charge seems to be better than the first 2.

Just wish the battery didn't suck.

[vidguy7]

---

trparky wrote:

I agree, this needs to be fixed quickly.  I know that the Gingerbread release is supposed to fix it, at least that's what other people around the Internet are saying but honestly if you ask me, the Gingerbread release can't come soon enough.

We need this to be fixed and fixed quickly.  All of us have bought an expensive phone that's had issues from day one and we deserve a fix for the money we spent.

---

Don't bet on Gingerbread fixing this...especially if it's a hardware issue like a radio that isn't as sensitive as it should be. I haven't seen anyone explaining how Gingerbread can fix this.

[Tinamarie4442]

I have the same exact issues as you. The difference is my bf had the same phone but his picked up 3g constantly - in the same house! Iv been to verizon and to geek squad with no help, they just keep changing settings back n forth- I plan on going back and switching phones completely.
Wish me luck! And good luck to u as well

[cstrait001]

Yes, it could. Not likely in the U.S. with Nationwide Plans from VZW, but you would see global roaming charges when travelling abroad if your phone used data.

[HRivC]

Update:

The phone got the data connection back the following morning and has been working well for about a week now. However, there were two instances where the data connection dropped to 1G or even no connection at all. In both situations, it got the connection back rather quickly, but it really doesn't feel comfortable.

I didn't do anything new with my phone, so I'm guessing it might have involved something on VRZW's end.

I'm going to see how this goes, but I'm not completely satisfied until I am reasonably assured that things like this won't happen again.

[trparky]

If I'm in a strong 4G area, it seems that I can stay connected as long as I want and the connection will be stable as rock.  But as soon as you hit an area in which 4G coverage is spotty, the connectivity issues appear.  This seems to tell me that the phone is trying to connect to a 4G network in which the signal is too weak to connect to and keeps trying to connect even though it can't and fails back to 3G (worse, 1X).

Those people who have been using the leaked copies of the Gingerbread release have stated that the Baseband version has changed from what it was in release EE4.  Baseband is the software or should I say, firmware, that's contained in the cellular radio.

Those users who have been using those releases seem to be reporting that the connectivity issues have dissappeared on the phone.  Whether or not that's because they are just masking the issue by making it stay connected to 3G when 4G is too weak or because there was a bug in the Baseband's handoff functionality, I have no idea.

Either way Verizon, we need this fix and QUICKLY!  The fact that this thread is as long as it is is proof that people are not happy and are being very vocal about it.  Or we will go to the media and let it be known that Verizon is refusing to fix this obvious flaw.

[ChristinaB_VZW]

Hi Trparky, 

I have checked my references and I am showing that this issue has already been lifted to the product support team for Samsung. We are waiting on a response from the manufacturer. I assure you that we will post any updates as soon as possible. 

Thank you!

[vidguy7]

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ChristinaB_VZW wrote:

Hi Trparky, 

I have checked my references and I am showing that this issue has already been lifted to the product support team for Samsung. We are waiting on a response from the manufacturer. I assure you that we will post any updates as soon as possible. 

Thank you!

---

Where have I heard that before and when?  Oh yeah, from many VZW employees on many dates over many months.  Anyone actually believing there is a workable solution for this, I've got a bridge I can sell them.

To think I left AT&T for this nonsense.  Unreal.

[DL1234]

Think I am just going to swap out my Charge for an iPhone 5 when they finally come out.. from AT&T.

[Elitist_Jerk]

---

HRivC wrote:

Update:

The phone got the data connection back the following morning and has been working well for about a week now. However, there were two instances where the data connection dropped to 1G or even no connection at all. In both situations, it got the connection back rather quickly, but it really doesn't feel comfortable.

I didn't do anything new with my phone, so I'm guessing it might have involved something on VRZW's end.

I'm going to see how this goes, but I'm not completely satisfied until I am reasonably assured that things like this won't happen again.

---

It is a Cell Phone.

[dave44052]

I.agre there should be a lawsuit over this.piece.of crap phone. I have called about dropped internet signal.from day one. They claim there doing something but nothing changes. They act like its a suprise. The update ee4 does nothing. They tell me they may have.to replace.my 300 piece of crap with.a.USED phone bull crap....
Dropped connection while posting this. Also they need to move the **bleep** period button it is.the.most agravating thing. Oh.ya cant copy and.paste.in emails. The phone.just sucks

[nexusonya]

it was a thursday morning....my data disappeared. i called verizon that evening. we went through every setting known to man to fix it. even did a factory reset. heck, they even did a reset on their end. I even talked to the "specialists". they determined it was a bad sim card. they sent me one out and i was to get it the following monday. Saturday afternoon the data came back on. this is a common prob. with this phone. the guy i work with has a droid charge also and he has the same problem. The sim card didn't fix anything. its just a **** phone.

[dave44052]

Sorry i am so.aggravated with this phone. It cant capilize i or add ' when needed. During phone.calls you get loud screeching sounds. But when you call them its new to them thay have me tagging my calls with *** but i have.to.tag them aswell because.i.cant complete the call without the noise. Please tell me what is so great about this.phone and one thing it does Right. ..
I would just like my 300 bucks back and a.phone that works. They got us. We buy them and there is.nothing we can do about the crap they cell us. No one cares about the.end user or the customer thats why this country is going down the tubes.

[dave44052]

I believe it's the phone also because everyone seems to have the problem. Unless samsung or verizon want to fix the issue we are stuck with phones that have many flaus. Thats probably why the price has dropped. I have always been very please with verizon but it seems like they are growing so fast that they have forgotten about giving their customer and giving a quality device.

Its hard to do buisness on a device that only works when it feels like it. Lost internet, noisy phone calls, cant answer call at times, very slow internet even when on the 3g nothing like my iphone or my BB. Terrible feachers for email no copy and past, no calling number in an email ect. This device must have been designed for kids and not a buisness man. no spell check in text or email the list goes on and on.

Bottom line is we were all sold a lemon and we cant do anything about it. Well so far we cant do anything, I've seen a lot of talk about a class action lawsuit maybe that will come true

They went through all the steeps that have been mentioned trying to get my phone to work but so far same problems

I wish someone would just admit theres a problem and offer us a new device or tell us that samsung and verizon are trying to come up with a repair. No matter what they should at least cover the device for a replacement for another manufactures phone if they cant fix it. That would be better than ignoring the problem and acting like your the only one with an issue. Do they think were dumb!!!

Am I the only one that,is really frustated with this? Some of you guys act like its ok to have a device with many issues.

[WCMack]

Dear dave,

I can't say what Verizon thinks of your mental capacity, but I can tell you that you and others will have a hard time getting a class action suit certified.  Why do I say this?  Here is an excerpt from the Verizon Wireless Customer Agreement, with which you agreed to abide by signing the receipt for your phone:

How Do I Resolve Disputes with Verizon Wireless?

WE HOPE TO MAKE YOU A HAPPY CUSTOMER, BUT IF THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED, THIS SECTION OUTLINES WHAT'S EXPECTED OF BOTH OF US.

YOU AND VERIZON WIRELESS BOTH AGREE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES ONLY BY ARBITRATION OR IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. THERE'S NO JUDGE OR JURY IN ARBITRATION, AND THE PROCEDURES MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT AN ARBITRATOR CAN AWARD THE SAME DAMAGES AND RELIEF, AND MUST HONOR THE SAME TERMS IN THIS AGREEMENT, AS A COURT WOULD. IF THE LAW ALLOWS FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS' FEES, AN ARBITRATOR CAN AWARD THEM TOO. WE ALSO BOTH AGREE THAT:

(1) THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT APPLIES TO THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT FOR SMALL CLAIMS COURT CASES THAT QUALIFY, ANY DISPUTE THAT RESULTS FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR FROM THE SERVICES YOU RECEIVE FROM US (OR FROM ANY ADVERTISING FOR ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES) WILL BE RESOLVED BY ONE OR MORE NEUTRAL ARBITRATORS BEFORE THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION ("AAA") OR BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ("BBB"). YOU CAN ALSO BRING ANY ISSUES YOU MAY HAVE TO THE ATTENTION OF FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND IF THE LAW ALLOWS, THEY CAN SEEK RELIEF AGAINST US FOR YOU.

(2) UNLESS YOU AND VERIZON WIRELESS AGREE OTHERWISE, THE ARBITRATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE COUNTY OF YOUR BILLING ADDRESS. FOR CLAIMS OVER $10,000, THE AAA'S WIRELESS INDUSTRY ARBITRATION ("WIA") RULES WILL APPLY. WE AGREE THAT IN LARGE/COMPLEX CASES, THE LOSER CAN ASK FOR A PANEL OF THREE NEW ARBITRATORS TO REVIEW THE AWARD. FOR CLAIMS OF $10,000 OR LESS, THE PARTY BRINGING THE CLAIM CAN CHOOSE EITHER THE AAA'S WIA RULES OR THE BBB'S RULES FOR BINDING ARBITRATION OR, ALTERNATIVELY, CAN BRING AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. YOU CAN GET PROCEDURES, RULES AND FEE INFORMATION FROM THE AAA (WWW.ADR.ORG), THE BBB (WWW.BBB.ORG) OR FROM US. FOR CLAIMS OF $10,000 OR LESS, YOU CAN CHOOSE WHETHER YOU'D LIKE THE ARBITRATION CARRIED OUT BASED ONLY ON DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE ARBITRATOR, OR BY A HEARING IN–PERSON OR BY PHONE.

(3) THIS AGREEMENT DOESN'T ALLOW CLASS ARBITRATIONS EVEN IF THE AAA OR BBB PROCEDURES OR RULES WOULD. THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD MONEY OR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ONLY IN FAVOR OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTY SEEKING RELIEF AND ONLY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE RELIEF WARRANTED BY THAT PARTY'S INDIVIDUAL CLAIM.

(4) AS PART OF YOUR AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, WE PROVIDE YOU WITH A FREE INTERNAL MEDIATION PROGRAM. IN OUR MEDIATION PROGRAM, WE ASSIGN SOMEONE WHO'S NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE DISPUTE (THOUGH POSSIBLY FROM OUR COMPANY) TO HELP BOTH SIDES REACH AN AGREEMENT. THAT PERSON HAS ALL THE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS OF A MEDIATOR. NOTHING SAID IN THE MEDIATION CAN BE USED LATER IN AN ARBITRATION OR LAWSUIT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US AT VERIZONWIRELESS.COM OR THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO START THE MEDIATION PROCESS, PLEASE GO TO VERIZONWIRELESS.COM OR CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR A MEDIATION REQUEST FORM TO FILL OUT, AND MAIL IT TO US AT THE ADDRESS SHOWN ON THE FORM. OR IF YOU'D PREFER TO START THE ARBITRATION PROCESS, PLEASE CONTACT THE AAA OR BBB FOR THE FORMS YOU'LL NEED TO SUBMIT.

(5) IF YOU OPT FOR THE MEDIATION PROGRAM AND TAKE PART IN AT LEAST ONE MEDIATION SESSION BY PHONE, BUT WE AREN'T ABLE TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE BETWEEN US, WE'LL PAY ANY FILING FEE THAT THE AAA OR BBB CHARGES YOU FOR ARBITRATION OF THE DISPUTE. IF THAT ARBITRATION PROCEEDS, WE'LL ALSO PAY ANY ADMINISTRATIVE AND ARBITRATOR FEES CHARGED LATER, AS WELL AS FOR ANY APPEAL TO A PANEL OF THREE NEW ARBITRATORS (IF THE ARBITRATION AWARD IS APPEALABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT).

(6) WE MAY MAKE A WRITTEN SETTLEMENT OFFER ANYTIME BEFORE ARBITRATION BEGINS. IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT THE OFFER, OR IF WE DON'T MAKE YOU AN OFFER, AND THE ARBITRATOR AWARDS YOU AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S MORE THAN OUR OFFER BUT LESS THAN $5000, THEN WE AGREE TO PAY YOU $5000 INSTEAD OF THE AMOUNT AWARDED. IN THAT CASE WE ALSO AGREE TO PAY ANY ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE LAW REQUIRES IT FOR YOUR CASE. IF THE ARBITRATOR AWARDS YOU MORE THAN $5000, THEN WE WILL PAY YOU THAT AMOUNT.

(7) AN ARBITRATION AWARD AND ANY JUDGMENT CONFIRMING IT APPLY ONLY TO THAT SPECIFIC CASE; IT CAN'T BE USED IN ANY OTHER CASE EXCEPT TO ENFORCE THE AWARD ITSELF.

(8) IF FOR SOME REASON THE PROHIBITION ON CLASS ARBITRATIONS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (3) CANNOT BE ENFORCED, THEN THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE WILL NOT APPLY.

(9) IF FOR ANY REASON A CLAIM PROCEEDS IN COURT RATHER THAN THROUGH ARBITRATION, YOU AND VERIZON WIRELESS AGREE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A JURY TRIAL. YOU AND VERIZON WIRELESS UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY WAY. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE FILED TO SHOW A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

In order to certify the class you would have to nullify the legal validity of these clauses, which provide the SOLE remedy of individual mediation or arbitration with Verizon.

Sometimes a lawyer's advice is worth taking...read the contract BEFORE you buy!

[nexusonya]

Wow dude, you are seriously annoying. 

How about some kudos for that! 

[WCMack]

Live with it...or not.

I may annoy you, but sadly I am right. A lot of people on this forum just want to be given what they want, not what they are entitled to. I am not saying that Verizon is a great company, or that these people are whining (although some do sometimes, but that's to be expected). Just that this is the deal. It may be crappy, but whining or wishing isn't going to change that. I have posted elsewhere steps that people can take that will be in my view more effective to prompt changes in Verizon's policies than coughing up a hairball on this forum.

You can waste your time criticizing me (which has zero effect), you can follow those steps, or you can come up with something better...which I invite you to do.

[curtisdr]

Hmmmm. Apparently there's no *Plonk* availabe on this site.

[dave44052]

Not sure what to say about attorney WcMack. I was hoping that someone from verizon would respond telling us they are working on a remedy for all the issues we are having with these phones. from all the post on the internet I see this is not an Ohio issue but a USA issue.
Which really makes me think its the phone and/or software.

Has anyone had thier issues resolved? If so I would like to know the problem and how it was fixed

Dave

[jobe]

i have been told that an update is coming, but if i bought this phone a month ago and so far there are 2 updates, one when the phone got activated and the other hopefully soon, it kind of makes you wonder what a crappy job verizon did in their quality department testing this lemon before selling it for $300!