iPhone (no signal) + LTE Network Extender not working / iPhone won't connect to LTE Network Extender SOLUTION

[Kontric]

I spent several days over the last few weeks researching everything I could on this issue after it started impacting me and I've successfully resolved it and have had no further issues for the last week so I'm comfortable sharing this as a solution to others. Disclaimer: I'm not the guy who figured all this out, I just put it together and am sharing it here.

Problem:

iPhone's lock onto Band 66 from your nearest cell tower. My guess is nearly everyone posting here has a network extender because they get next to no cell phone signal where they are at. Your network extender by default broadcasts on band 13. Your iPhone will not connect to the network extender on band 13 if it is receiving ANY signal, no matter how garbage (including ZERO bars), from a macro tower. This solution will ONLY work if you are positive your LTE Network Extender is functional, i.e. it shows that it is "Open" and "In-Service".

Solution:

1. Go to Verizon support. I did it through the website and just chatted with an agent over text. Hope you get someone knowledgeable and helpful, the first person I had did not have a clue to what a network extender was or how they functioned and it took me well over an hour just to get the thing added to my account. If you get someone like that, I'm not going to lie, leave and come back. It's not worth the headache.

2. Have the customer service representative create an NRB ticket to change your LTE Network Extender to broadcast on Band 66 (preferred) or Band 4 if 66 is not available in your area. Band 4 is a subset of Band 66 and will work with your iPhone based on what I've read. They will need to validate the MAC address of your network extender, require the physical address the Network Extender is located at, and any other information required to validate your account. 

3. It takes up to 24 hours for the NRB ticket to be executed. I was never contacted, and I won't lie I never called back to confirm the ticket was executed. I believe the ticket was executed about 6 hours after it was submitted, because that's when my phone went from 0-5 bars and has been working since. 

Caveats:

1. I have had to reboot my phone once after leaving the house and coming back when it wouldn't let go of the garbage tower signal. Rebooting my  phone immediately connected it back to the LTE Extender.

2. If they push an update to your LTE Extender, supposedly it will revert back to Band 13 and you will have to submit another NBR ticket. This hasn't happened to me yet, I've only read about it on other forums. 

This issue was incredibly frustrating to deal with, to the point where I switched phone companies (from Xfinity because they ride Verizon's network and therefore couldn't troubleshoot the actual problem) and was at the point I was about to buy an Android out of anger at Apple. Honestly, I'm still considering buying an Android because this is blatantly an issue with Apple and iOS 14.x, which is where my multi-week fountain of signal issues began. Hopefully this helps someone.

[raceday28]

I am on an iPhone XS and having this same problem.  My phone no longer connects to my Samsung 4G LTE Network Extender 2.  I am guessing it started happening after the iOS 14 update.  I will try the steps recommended by the original poster. Wish me luck!

[ELDRAGUN]

I have had the same issue for a while, Will Verizon Tech support change the Band Freq to 66 because when i asked them a year ago, they would not do it?

[vzw_customer_support]

Thank you for mentioning the trouble you're experiencing, ELDRAGUN. We'd certainly like to help look into this further to ensure a solution is provided. To help look into things further together, please send us a Private Message. 

ZakC_VZW

[Wvbigboy1]

My iPhone 12 will not connect to my booster at all

[randys12]

I just bought the 11 for this reason, figured it wouldnt work...

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, randys12. We're very sorry to hear about the issue that you're experiencing with ensuring that your iPhone 11 remains connected to your Network Extender. We definitely want to ensure that this is taken care of for you. So that we can see this from your eyes, can you please describe what is happening that tells you that your iPhone 11 is not staying connected to your Network Extender? What is the response that you hear on the other end of the call when you dial #48 to make a Network Extender test call? BrettA_VZW

[vzw_customer_support]

We are sorry to read that you are having trouble with your device not connecting to your extender and we want to help. Is this the only device that you are having issues with? Do you know the model of your extender? 

[Wvbigboy1]

I’m having the same trouble my iPhone 12 will not connect to the booster at all

[DBarth]

My newer iPhone 12 has this problem.  My wife’s iPhone 6s does not.  This seems like something Apple should fix!  I’m heading there next.

But since Verizon and Apple are in this together, I think Verizon ought to be working with Apple to fix this issue of incompatibility.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, DBarth. We're very sorry to hear about the trouble your iPhone 12 device is having with staying connected to your Network Extender. We certainly want to ensure that your device is working with your Network Extender correctly. So that we can see this from your eyes, can you please describe what is happening that tells you that your iPhone 12 is not correctly staying connected to your Network Extender? -Brett

[jck363]

I’ve been fighting with this for several days and was not able to find anything to solve the problem. Turns out a factory reset worked!  Use a paperclip and hold down the button on the back of the unit for about 10 seconds until the display says it is doing a factory reset. After it restarted and found the satellites and was back in service, all of our phones connected easily (one had to go into airplane mode and back out). These were iPhone 12 ProMax phones by the way. 

[justin5117]

I have this same issue except when I got my iPhone 13 (I had a iPhone 12 and didn’t want the 13 but got to this thread after I got the 13 Pro Max other family members with a iPhone 12 and iPhone 7. My lte network extender works when it wants. Right now my 13 pro max has full service as I’m next to the network extender and it’s been working great since I received it less then a week ago. I literally am thinking about switching to t-mobile pay off the iPhone 13 as you can get 1 bar of lte with t-mobile.  (how ironic, never thought that be the case) Verizon now locks there phones which is in complete violation of the law when they made the deal with the fcc when forming there LTE network, so to cut me off from even being able to dial 911 without a network extender is insane for the price of my bill. When 3G was accessible at least I always had one bar of service, now none without the extender. WiFi calling is terrible as MMS messages don’t send half the time. I’m so disgusted as a over 10 year customer, I don’t bother calling because I know Verizon could care less. It’s sad.