HTC Thunderbolt OTA - Signal Issues -

[xGrantedx]

I just recently joined Verizon from T-Mobile and I am happy I did the service is fantastic.

Well until I started having issues after an OTA update that was stated to fix the reboot issues and the 1+ text messaging issue.

If you are unfamiliar with either of these you've been a lucky Thunderbolt user!

With that being said I've been doing some testing with my device since I did not get a call back or follow up from Level 2 support on my account with Verizon (Not Surpised to be honest)... 

So I am running 2.2.1 prior to the 73Mb OTA update that was suppose to fix the random reboots and text messaging issues.  The text messaging issue is actually an issue with how the phone recognizes phone numbers with 1 infront of the number...  if you are local and you remove the 1 from the number the text message goes through just fine (work around ofcourse).

So I installed the 76Mb OTA update 1.70.605.0on my phone and low and behold signal went from 3bars 4G LTE to no signal or a very weak signal ranging from 1X to 4G LTE.

I've done and tested this twice on my phone and confirmed the same thing results both times.

I really don't feel like going through this process again as it seems to be pretty straight forward - Installed update signal drops.

So you fixed the rebooting but now it messes up the signal - I also verified my buddy at work has the same phone hasn't updated his OTA because of responses and forums discussing this issue.

If any one has any questions please let me know or if they need help with this issue I can assist - Thanks.

[Ann154]

The signal bars on the Tbolt only represent the voice (CDMA) strength. It has nothing to do with the strength of the 3G or 4G LTE signal. There are applications in the Android Market that can give you the 3G EDVO signal strength. As far as I am aware of, no one has been able to measure the 4G LTE signal strength yet.

[RobB772]

Ann, xGrantedx may be viewing the icon wrong but he does state it goes between 1X &4G so he is experiencing the same issue as I am . Since the mr2 update my Tbolt has been dropping 4G connection sometimes going to 3G, sometimes 1X, sometimes no data. Very frustrating! Especially since my wife's 3G iPhone4 is getting data faster than my 4G Tbolt sitting literally inches from each other. That's how I'm alerted that my Tbolts data connection is gone or seriously degraded. Done restarts,factory resets(2), battery & sim pulls, airplane mode toggles and have had no permanent resolution. Hope the next update fixes what (for me) Mr2 introduced!

[xGrantedx]

Ann154 the signal I am stating is the same issue rob is having. Ever since I updated to the new OTA update its fried my signal both voice and data suffer underneath this update. In regards to the signal bar it does impact data as I have tested it with Ookla internet speed test software in all conditions. I work in IT and the signal strength of the phone impacts the connection speed of the device. All 4G is, is 4th generation mobile data voice communications nothing more. Not sure where you got your facts but I would argue that signal has everything to do with how well the device responds on the network both voice and data.

[JoeL_VZW]

Thank you to the community for your replies.

Having signal issues is very irritating. I also have noticed this on my Thunderbolt as well. We have brought this to our Product Investigative Team and HTC and they are investigating. We appreciate your patience. As soon as we have a resolution we will post it immediately.

Thank you

[daricec]

Since last night I cant' get data or Internet unless I'm on 4G. Anyone else having the same issue?

When I restart the phone, all is well for about 30 minutes and then I lose my 4G. My wireless settings show that the Mobile Network failed.

[JohnB_VZW]

daricec, I definitely feel your pain and hate when this happens. Here are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the phone.

1. Perform a soft reset by removing the battery for a few seconds.

2. Turn the data connection off for a few seconds and then turn it back on. 

Please let us know if you continue to experience this issue after the step above. I'll be more then happy to assist you in getting this resolved. 

We appreciate your patience.

[daricec]

Hi John -

Thanks for your response. Since my post, my phone seemed to behave, although the same issue briefly popped up over the weekend. When it happens again, I'll try your suggestion & keep you posted.

Thank you!

[Wildman]

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daricec wrote:

Hi John -

Thanks for your response. Since my post, my phone seemed to behave, although the same issue briefly popped up over the weekend. When it happens again, I'll try your suggestion & keep you posted.

Thank you!

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It seem to have jumped from your device into mine lastnight , I lost all data on my device all day yesterday but when I got a data signal it was a 4g signal but the strange part is that their isnt any 4g officially in the area where I was...

Gave it the rest of the night to get resolved before I really got concerned and this morning the devices data was back to normal...  So weird

[daricec]

So I'm not crazy?

It is strange. I was able to make/receive phone calls and text msgs when this happened. I had bars but no 4G or 3G indicator. However, in terms of email and internet, Android Market, etc. no luck. I also tried powering it down and turning back on, no luck.

The area where it has happened so far seemed to just recently pick up 4G... 

Luckily this last instance lasted only 10 minutes or so, but it was still frustrating.

[Wildman]

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daricec wrote:

So I'm not crazy?

It is strange. I was able to make/receive phone calls and text msgs when this happened. I had bars but no 4G or 3G indicator. However, in terms of email and internet, Android Market, etc. no luck. I also tried powering it down and turning back on, no luck.

The area where it has happened so far seemed to just recently pick up 4G... 

Luckily this last instance lasted only 10 minutes or so, but it was still frustrating.

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No you are not crazy but I wish I was because now mine lost its data again, I am going to try a hard reset and see if that resolves my bug but if it still has this issue I guess to the store I will go because I am not going to sit on phone for hour and half and get a temporary fix again...

I usually can deal with miner issues but all the sudden I have been having one thing after another...  Heres the strange thing my data kicks in everytime I check for updates but then disconnect after a few minutes..

[Ann154]

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Wildman wrote:

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daricec wrote:

So I'm not crazy?

It is strange. I was able to make/receive phone calls and text msgs when this happened. I had bars but no 4G or 3G indicator. However, in terms of email and internet, Android Market, etc. no luck. I also tried powering it down and turning back on, no luck.

The area where it has happened so far seemed to just recently pick up 4G... 

Luckily this last instance lasted only 10 minutes or so, but it was still frustrating.

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No you are not crazy but I wish I was because now mine lost its data again, I am going to try a hard reset and see if that resolves my bug but if it still has this issue I guess to the store I will go because I am not going to sit on phone for hour and half and get a temporary fix again...

I usually can deal with miner issues but all the sudden I have been having one thing after another...  Heres the strange thing my data kicks in everytime I check for updates but then disconnect after a few minutes..

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I noticed the data drops like that in the couple months leading up to the date when 4G LTE was turned on here. It is just a guess, but maybe KC is undergoing systematic tower upgrade in preparation for metro wide 4G LTE deployment.

[RobB772]

@ Ann, It would be a nice postulation except if 4G tower updates were behind the data connection dropping why hasn't Verizon owned up to it? If updating service area coverage is the cause why do they keep stonewalling any knowledge of causation? My drops started right after the mr2 update. I've added the airplane mode and mobile connection widgets to my home screen to assist my connection attempts. I sure hope the GB update with its new radio's alleviates this issue.

[Wildman]

May want to read this information at http://community.vzw.com/t5/ThunderBolt-by-HTC/UPDATE-TB-and-OTHERS-HAVING-3G-DATA-OUTAGE-REPORTED/t...

[thedoc24]

I'm here in Chicago and I personally built the LTE network out for Verizon. I know for a fact that where I work and live we have full blown LTE and have had it for about a year now. I have 0 as in no LTE connection and have had major issues since the early July updates. I also have had a handful of other issues. I had my phone replaced only to experience the exact same issues the day I got the new phone. I am about at my wits end with this issue because it's been months not days or weeks that this has persisted. I have gone to the store and talked with a manager and i've asked the Radio Frequency Engineers that work in the Schaumburg Corporate office and no one has answers??? I'm confused and frustrated. Why am I paying for data when it doesnt work?

[RobB772]

Wildman.... I'm not sure if your post was to support Ann's but Ive got to disagree. From my information you can see I live in Rochester NY. This is one of the initial rollout 4G cities, so o o I've had 4G since day one. Unless they (Verizon) are taking down towers I should not be affected to the level and frequency I am experiencing.

[Wildman]

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RobB772 wrote:
Wildman.... I'm not sure if your post was to support Ann's but Ive got to disagree. From my information you can see I live in Rochester NY. This is one of the initial rollout 4G cities, so o o I've had 4G since day one. Unless they (Verizon) are taking down towers I should not be affected to the level and frequency I am experiencing.

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I was not directly saying it was the cause of your situation but if you are experiencing data issues and a outage has been reported down in many cities the ideal of that being part of the issue is possible..   Just giving you information to possibly explain the nature of the connection issues,,

[kzerefos]

From what I've seen and researched, the problem lies in software/radio compatibility.  The Gingerbread update, if packaged as a whole, addresses these issues with new radios, both CDMA and LTE.  So, even though this very phrase makes me want to curb stomp a thunderbolt lol, try to be patient.  I believe (holding on to my last thread of hope here) that the official update, once released will solve a lot of problems for many users.  I do feel for you as I've been through many issues myself. 

[Wildman]

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kzerefos wrote:

From what I've seen and researched, the problem lies in software/radio compatibility.  The Gingerbread update, if packaged as a whole, addresses these issues with new radios, both CDMA and LTE.  So, even though this very phrase makes me want to curb stomp a thunderbolt lol, try to be patient.  I believe (holding on to my last thread of hope here) that the official update, once released will solve a lot of problems for many users.  I do feel for you as I've been through many issues myself. 

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You are correct, this issue seems to be radio related, the users that has been using the leaked builds have reported good news on the reception quality after recieving the newer radios....   Hopefully the update is right around the corner..