Samsung Droid Charge -- No 4g or 3g network connection

[athleet]

I've just recently gotten the Samsung Droid Charge and activated my SIM card on it, but for some reason, it will not connect to the 4g or 3g network even when mobile data is on. I know my SIM card works because I can make calls and text, but I cannot browse the internet. I've tried going to settings and enabling mobile networks, turning airplane mode on and off, and even enabling roaming, but nothing seems to be working. I can connect to a WiFi network perfectly fine. It just won't connect to the Verizon network. Is the phone defective or am I not doing something that I should be doing? Thanks for the help.

[wmayo]

(I have done everything Verizon has suggested, down to the SIM card.)

I am also often having my data drop out. Calls sometime have an intermittant audio, kicking in and out each 1/2 second. When I used Slingbox with my Droid X, it worked perfectly. Now, with the Charge, it constantly drops, and I have to restart the app many times -- USELESS. What a crippled phone! When is anyone going to fix this, this most expensive droid phone ever!!!

[#3]

Thank you everyone for your responses. 

I understand that it can be frustrating to have a unreliable data connection on your phone. The issue with the Charge losing data connection sporadically is being investigated, and is expected to be resolved in the next software version. I do not have a date for the software release at this time. If you are unable to access data for long periods of time, or several days, I would suggest having the SIM card exchanged or completing a factory reset on the device. 

[ChargedOff]

 I posted this on another area talking about the "known" outage, but thought I'd mention it here with an update. 

I have been dealing with data outages for the last week. When I do have a data connection, it is always 4g and never 3g anymore. At least when I could get 3g, I got some kind of connection. 

I've already gone through this with them (last month) and it was down like this for 4 days. Then, magically, it started working again. This is complete B.S. and I've had it! (Like everyone else). 

I've done a sim card reinstall, a network card reinsert, a factory reset (which was a huge pain in the arse), and several battery pulls. Now, my phone is freezing up and restarting randomly. **bleep**, Verizon? I would think that, for $300, I could at least make an effing phone call!

I recently had surgery, and relied on my phone to keep my family updated, and to stay connected in case I had an emergency. I had to hobble outside to find my husband yesterday, because my !@#%$ phone wouldn't work.

This is more than just annoying; it's absolutely unacceptable. And the only thing they tell you? "Do a factory reset" or "wait for the new software update". This is {word filter avoidance}, people. What can we do?

:::::tearing my hair out, and calling my phone names::::::::

UPDATE: 

I just completed yet another factory reset, and guess what? Same effing problem. [edited to comply with TOS]

[minibus]

For the past couple of weeks, my Droid Charge has been dropping the data connection intermittently as well. SUPER annoying.  I am able to go to Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > System selection > CDMA mode > Automatic B, then back into System selection > LTE automatic.  It seems that this retriggers the system to look for the data connection and it reconnects.  PITA, but it's a heck of a lot faster than rebooting the phone.  I wish they would fix this!!!

[dan_h60]

I've been having the same problem for about a week, but it started working ok (for the past hour which is a record).  Here's what I did.

I bought the phone a few months ago and had problems with 4g cutting out, and dropping to 3g.  I assumed this was normal (though very annoying, honestly).  Because my battery life was even worse than my Droid1 I forced it to 3g hoping that would help the battery (it didn't, as far as I can tell).

As long as I've owned the phone, my battery would die at about 10-12%/hr even if I wasn't actively using it (asleep).  I'm betting a fair amount of that is due to the NoLED app, but I need it.

Getting to the point now!

I came across JuiceDefender only yesterday and wow, that made a difference to the battery life (25% usage in 6 hours including an hour of using my phone as an ebook reader!), but I read this thread and removed it.  It didn't solve it immediately but I have a rooted phone and had installed SetCPU a month or more ago and that basically does the same thing (though poorly or I just didn't know what I was doing).  So I removed that as well. My phone is set to 4G and I'll leave it there today.

My battery is dying quickly again.  20% this past hour (included a 20 min phone call).  If internet remains steady for another couple hours I'll put JuiceDefender back on and see what happens.  That is an excellent battery saver as long as it doesn't kill my internet!

I'll try to remember to post my results.  I'm old...I forget sh..tuff.

[JerryF]

Dan,

I removed my Juice Defender and you should when you run the following airplane mode test.

Here is a test for you to see if the excess battery usage is because your phone keeps trying to connect to a Verizon tower and it cannot find one so it will be constantly ready for a call.  When a phone is in an area where a phone connection to a tower cannot be established it tries and tries to find a cell tower using LOTS of battery power.

TEST:  Go to Settings>Wireless & Network and touch Airplane mode so it becomes Checked.  This will turn off the phones radio.  You will NOT be able to send or receive calls or messages.  Leave it this way for an hour or so so you can see if the battery still goes down 20% per hour.  When done just go back and un-check airplane mode.  Did the battery still go down?

MORE:  Go to settings>About Phone>Battery Use to see what or which "thing" in your phone is using the most battery power.

Here's another one, go to settings>display settings>Screen timeout and set it for 1 or 2 minutes max.  Then go to brightness and UN-check Automatic brightness and touch Okay.  Go back to your HOME screen. 

From now on to change the brightness on your screen you go to your home screen and HOLD your finger on the gold colored check mark at the top of the phone's display.  HOLD IT THERE, do not lift your finger, and slide your finger right and left, while still touching the display screen, and you will see the screen's brightness go up and down.  When you lift your finger that level of brightness stays.

If all else fails re-install Juice Defender.  My problem was that sometimes it would not let me connect to the 3G/4G.

JerryF 

[dan_h60]

JerryF, thanks for the tips.  I actually didn't turn ON auto-brightness until yesterday.  Between it or JuicyDefender my battery life was extended tremendously.  My brightness was set way too high.  Thanks for the tip on the thumb thing though...very cool.

I lost 4g/3g before ever installing JD, so I know that wasn't the culprit.  After removing it, I have lost 25% battery in 2 hours during a monster nap.  That's instead of 25% in 6hours with JD installed.  Further, on the battery, I happened to look at battery useage.  When it's dying looking for a cell tower, what is showing in battery use?  Mine was showing 88% to Display and 1-2% for the rest.  I'm going to assume my phone wasn't even trying to find signal.

Right now, with the 12%/hr loss it's showing 52 Display, 23 Voice Calls, a couple 5%s and then 3% or less.

Back on topic!

Even though I was asleep, I still have 4G when I woke up, which is a huge improvement over the past few days.  I'm charging my phone a bit, then will reinstall JD and see what happens.

[dan_h60]

Wow, OK, JuiceDefender is evil. Drat.   Lost internet immediately on loading, got it back immediately on removal.

[frdracfan]

Same problem. No 3 or 4g. Restart and i get 4g for about 5 minutes and then gone. Never gets a 3g or 1x anymore and i am at the airport where 4g used to be full bars until yesterday. Thinking about going back to my X2.

[joeren]

I started having the same issue last week, intermittently at first, but now pretty consistent. No 3g or 4g. Called Verizon service last night twice. They had me force stop “Dialer”, turn on then off Airplane mode, restart the phone and turn on roaming. This got me 4g for 30 seconds. My wife’s new Razor gets reliable 3g or 4g in the same location. I spoke with Calvin the second time and did the same things. He told me that it is an issue with the software and it is a known problem. He said it’s all about “expectations” and that no phone is perfect. They are working with Samsung on a software fix. I told him my expectations. I paid for the phone and the service and I expect that it should work.  This needs to be resolved quickly or I will asked to be released from my contract  ( after 5 phones and 10 years) due to no service and find another provider.

[JerryF]

Hey folks, on Tuesday 11/29 Verizon will start the OS upgrade to the new Gingerbread software from the Froyo software you have currently.  So...just wait and upgrade because there is a very high probability that the new software will fix your problems.

Just check-out the couple of posts here on how to upgrade and preparing to upgrade.

JerryF

[WTTTT]

Yes I will be testing this tomorrow.  I could 100% make the No Network Connection error happen with the old OS.  Hopefully tomorrow this new GB install will seamlessly go from WiFi to Network and back as the phone is supposed to.  If so, the hopefully Juice Defender will now work too.

[StacyF1003]

Well I am new to this forum but I am about to lose my mind.  I did the stupid upgrade a day or 2 ago whenever it made me and my phone HAS NEVER BEEN WORSE!!!!!  I have NO INTERNET CONNECTION EVER!  No sync to gmail, no facebook, twitter, browser, NOTHING!  I just went through this nonsense with the Droid 3 and had to return it and pay a re-stocking fee to get this phone which also SUCKS!!!!!  Anyone else having this problem or a solution other than getting a factory reset which loses EVERYTHING on my phone and only works for a day?????

[jld27]

I also have had a disappointing experience with this phone and the 4G claim.  Now, with the upgrade a couple days ago, my phone has only had a data connection for 20 minutes here and there throughout the day.  My work is internet based and it almost cost me jobs and, at this point, the only reason I can do anything on my phone is because I just got home and hooked it up to the Wi-Fi from my home internet.  This is not acceptable and I think the repeated "reset" excuses from the techs is deplorable.  I shouldn't have to pay this much money for a phone and service plan when I would be more satisfied and successful with a phone from a couple years ago (my old original Motorola Droid).  If anyone finds a solution or gets anything out of Samsung or Verizon soon, please post it because my patience has worn thin and I am mere days from switching back to my old phone and/or a new carrier.

[WolfenJosh]

I am having the exact same issue - I can get connection for about 30 sec-1min and poof, it's gone.  Swapping to airplane mode and restarting the phone resets it for 1 min or so and it is gone again.  Swapping to CDMA and back does the same.  Anyone find a good solution yet?

[darinb]

No, but it seems it's not the droid charge itself but a verizon problem:

http://community.vzw.com/t5/4G-Discussion/4G-Service-Still-Out-Across-the-Nation/td-p/744628/highlig...

[ut_icedragon]

I lost total data network about an hour ago here in Ohio.

Went to check email and it just stopped. 

No error message or anything, just dropped all data connections.

[JstOneMoreDroid]

We are ahving the same here now in PA - the "Switch to CDMA" trick is now failing also.

[Crimsntyd]

Same problem in upstate NY (Binghamton area).  Haven't had a 3G connection all afternoon.

[JohnM11]

Same Problem here on Long Island, New York. no data connection at all besides very random 30-60 sec clips every couple hours.

Also complete loss of ability to locate GPS signal

[ArchbaldCortez]

Same here (Pittsburgh PA). This is ridiculous.  It must be the network because my Charge has worked great for months....but just today I've had serious issues.  the "Switch to CDMA" trick worked a bit...but for no more than 5-10minutes and now it doesn't work at all?!?!? I'm starting to get really ticked off at Verizon.