Consistent Data Issues Even After Replacement

[phhhabian]

I don't know whether to blame the phone or the ice cream sandwich update for all the problems I have been having with my RAZR. When I first got it six months ago it was great and I loved it now after the ice cream sandwich update I dont really like it anymore. I never had any sort of issues while using it on gingerbread. Today, I have seen my phone switch constantly between 3g and 4g more times than I can count over the course of half an hour. I couldn't even get a consistent signal to watch a 3 minute youtube clip.

First off, I updated it to ICS but first wiped the phone clean including cache, etc. So it would have basically been a clean install. Now, I have certain issues. The 4g and 3g switch is terrible. On the street and in my own house I have had the same thing happen. In my house I get anywhere from 3-5 bars of 4g but it still switches over to 4 bars of 3g. I have even seen it switch from 4g to 3g when I had full bars. I have already replaced the sim cards, but I am still having these issues. It's actually happening on all 4 of my RAZRs on my family plan. I have gone through the network resets where I pull out the sim card and for 30 seconds, insert it, power on the phone, etc. I went through all 4 of them with the Rep over the phone. I have also had several instances where I did not have data but signal bars and then I didn't have absolutely anything at all. I live in a "major" city metro area, Boston, and I can't believe I am having these problems.

At first I would have gone off and blamed Verizon, but it is definitely not Verizon, it is our phones that are terrible. I can confirm this because my brother uses an ipad (4g Verizon) on a separate account and he consistently maintains 4g even though I have seen it go as low as two bars. Yes, I understand the ipad is a different device and may have a different radio, but that is exactly how our phones used to work on gingerbread. I received a replacement device and I am still having the same issues. Also, the headset speaker, not the speaker on the back, or receiver is really tinny during phone calls even with the in call volume down half way. It is really annoying and the little tone that plays after hanging up makes the speaker sound like its about to blow out. I don't know what to do if the RAZR will keep having data issues because this is absolutely ridiculous. I know i'm not entitled to anything but for $310 a month I mean come on, I just want my phone to work properly. As I am typing this now, I have witnessed my phone switch between 4g, 3g, and no signal at least 5 times and of course my brother's iPad on Verizon has kept its 4g signal.

[B33]

You might try pulling the Sim for 5 min. then re-installing it.. or try a new One as for the Signal bars they mere purpose is for Voice if you don't have many ot any bars and you still have the 4G indicator and it's Blue your data should still Work..

[phhhabian]

Yea I've tried that. I went through all the steps with the Rep, patiently might I add. I've had the sim card replaced once already. I'm not too sure about that that I've had a blue 3g symbol no bars and trying to load a webpage and it would say I don't have a data connection. I seriously do not know what is going on with all of these 4 RAZRs after the ice cream sandwich update.

Anyone else out there have this problem???

[B33]

Well when the indicator shows Blue that indicates your Connected to the Google Servers if it goes white it can sometimes still connect but not as Good as it would if it's in the Blue.. have you tried or can you try Wi-Fi as a Alternative to using the Network.?

[durb69]

Hello, first time posting here.  I have had the same issue with mine.  Ive had it for about 4 months now.  I've had the SIM card replaced twice and Verizon has told me that they cant figure out what is wrong.  They told me i could get a refurbished phone if i was willing to give them my new phone and i could try that.  I am up in arms at this point.  I cant hang on to a data connection at all.  Nearly every time i try to use Data it disconnects and i have to wait forever for it to reconnect.  I never know what service its going to connect too either.  1X, 3G, or 4G. Sometimes it wont even connect.  I have to put the phone in airplane mode and then turn it back off all the time to get it to connect to 3G instead of 1X.  It drives me crazy!!!!!!!!!!

[Piscestg]

I don't believe in using wifi if you had a good data signal with a previous phone. While I believe Verizon has the best service, we are paying a lot for the data service. I know the sim cards have been pulled and perhaps the responses didn't go into detail. But when I got my Razr I had bad data problems at times. Here is what I did both at home and my office. I turned the phone off. I removed the sim card. I turned the phone on. It obviously told me to insert the card. I tried to open the browser and I also tried to make a phone call. I left the phone on for a few minutes. Then I turned it off, put the card back in and turned it on. Then I did a system cache clear and then I did a hard reboot. After that, the phone has worked as good as my Droid X. (I won't mentioned my Bionic because it was a problem on its own.) BTW- My basement is completely underground and I've always gotten a solid data signal with my previous Motorola phones and now with my Razr Maxx. I hope this helps. It's worth a try.

[phhhabian]

Thanks for all the suggestions, but they just don't work at all guys. I've even tried that restore connectivity app from Motorola, but of course it didn't work. I don't like that I keep having constant switches between 3g,4g, and no signal bars. It's awful thats just what it is. I feel like I got gipped with this update promising better user experience. If the darned thing can't connect to their network, then what is Verizon doing to address these issues? Every time I try to do something "data intensive" (i.e. youtube, facebook, twitter, etc) the data signal just drops and I'm either left with gray bars and no data or no signal bars whatsoever. Also one thing that annoys me to death with this phone is that I have it sitting in my pocket after I lock the screen and I go to pull it out of my otherwise empty pocket. The screen is turned on by itself (I have the clear silicon case on it so the power button shouldn't be pressed by itself and no I don't wear skinny jeans), its got 3g and no bars, and its piping hot.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PHONE VERIZON???!!!

[Patriot8573]

There's an app called PHONE INFO that lets you set the phone to 3g so that it won't try to connect via 4g.

maybe that will help.

[durb69]

this is my phone exactly! I have the identical same issues.  I am trying a cache wipe and factory reset today.  If this does not work i am going to verizon and asking for a replacement phone.  Even if it is a refurb phone.  At least the refurbs go through a bunch of testing before shipment.  I have been through 2 SIM cards and all the same stuff you have tried.  By the way that phone info app doesn't help. The only thing it does is keep you out of 4G.  The data drop outs are still just as bad or worse even.   

I also have been experiencing a strange screen flicker and black out the last few weeks.  This might not be resolved with a factory reset.  Hopefully this will make me eligable for a warranty replacement if that is the case.

[Patriot8573]

i would definitely go for the replacement. i went through 2

replacements and now my phone seems to be ok. do you have insurance?

even if not,with the problems you're having seems like they should

definitely replace the defective phone.

good luck

[durb69]

i have insurance yes!  I hope they replace the phone because its defective though.  One can hope right? ha ha.

[Patriot8573]

be persistant. if first operator says no, call back! good luck

[CrystalMarie]

Yes! I am in Arizona and have been experiencing the same issue for a week and a half. Verizon's 2nd tier tech support has nothing to offer and say they haven't heard of this issue. So... I'm frustrated and don't know what to do. I used to have the LG Revolution which in itself was a horrible phone but I could at least keep it on 3G.

**Just spoke to Verizon again, they just said that they ARE aware of this issue and it's nation wide.. also there is an update that should resolve it but there is not release date for it!**

[B33]

So Far i haven't had any issues Crystal have you heard of Motorola's Restore Connectivity App that's in the PlayStore if you can get your Razr to Work Long enough to Go to the Store try Downloading it There.. i'll Provide a Link that you can also go to the Store if you have a Computer and send the App to your Phone Via that Way...  Good Luck and i hope everything straightens out for Ya.!   b33

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.motorola.android.restoreapn.droidrazr&feature=nav_...

[phhhabian]

Also have insurance on this side, I will try to ask a rep again. I think I'm a little too nice I have to be stern and mention 310 DOLLARS A MONTH several times when speaking to them.

[Patriot8573]

yikes....$300/month???? with that fee verizon should be bowing down to you....

[phhhabian]

Yes it is ridiculous but the service you get is what you pay for. When my phone works I won't cry about it, but because my phone is having difficulties performing basic functions like maintaining a signal I will whine. I have had the other three major carriers and despite their lower prices they just didn't work out for me whatsoever. T-mobile had unreliable phones and shady bill practices, Sprint had horrible data speeds and somewhat unreliable customer service, AT&T was a complete bait and switch and just did not work in my own house, and now Verizon is having trouble with their RAZR. If I can somehow get the money to buy a new phone I would, but when there are 4 of them with the same problems it's absolutely ridiculous. Why would I shell out $2500+ just to make sure our phones work when I have already paid Verizon that much money for 8 months of good service. Verizon is making a boat load off of customers like me who love their network, but they can't do anything for those who are suffering with phones that are having problems. Can someone from Verizon help me out here???

[phhhabian]

Update: If anyone is still reading this post I reached out to tech support. I was transferred to a tier 2 technician, if that means anything, and he was quite helpful. Alas, he did not solve my issues, in fact they have gotten worse to the point where I can't make a phone call or even send a text for at least a whole minute. He had issued a ticket for my area and said a tech would have checked it out by last Thursday (that's the 12th of October if you're following my post). He called me back on Thursday to say that the tower was fine and so was the connection with my phones. He also said that he reached out to Motorola asking about the issues with the RAZR. Turns out, surprise surprise, it is related to a software issue with the ice cream sandwich update. To make me feel better he said that my phones would be one of the first in receiving the updates. So that was a nice week hoping I'd fix my issue. I, as probably many other people, have no idea when Motorola or Verizon will put out this software update and am expecting it to fix the connection issues with my phone. This is becoming ridiculous, but so long as I get decent signal sometimes I won't be up in arms about restitution and cancellation. At least the Ipad maintains a 4G LTE connection.

[B33]

Well then i would Do a Factory Reset it's not as say so Take the Plunge and it come out Better

[vzw_customer_support]

Hey phhabian!

Wow! You certainly have done a lot of work here. I apologize that your issues have still not been resolved. I have to say that there must be something with the device that is causing the issue. Especially if your iPad get 4G and you have had a ticket issued and come back, there isn't a problem in the network. That's the good news! Now, for what we need to change, I see you already tried downloading the Restore Connectivity Settings application. It did not work? It was developed by Motorola to fix any connection issues you may be having. Also, when all of this started happening, had you downloaded anything in particular (app/file/e-mail)? I know that battery saver applications can still effect a device even after uninstallation. Let's also try the phone without the memory card (or take it out and save all wanted files and format as well) and make sure there isn't a file that is transferred between devices that is causing the issue. We will get this working.

Thanks!
MichelleG_VZW

Please follow us on Twitter @vzwsupport

[phhhabian]

It's been a while since I've posted, but I can say that the same issue persists on all four of my RAZRS. It was after the ICS update in July that the signal started getting funky. Before 4.0.4 my phone would have a constant 4G LTE connection, like my iPad, but now it fluctuates. I have tried factory data resets, restore connectivity app, dalvik cache wiping and two or three replacement SIM cards. We are now on SIM card number two or three that we asked for today at our local corporate store, but it still kept happening with our phones. After installing the new sim cards we had LTE in store but it quickly switched back to 3G while still in the store. As soon we entered our neighborhood we lost 4G LTE again on our phones but the iPad still kept its LTE signal strong. I mentioned the number of replacements I personally went through and the store manager told me you have a device issue and would have been willing to replace mine but maybe not the other three. I am starting to think these phones must have bad antennas or the software is not cooperating. I have called customer service several times since the OP and have still only been offered another replacement RAZR for one line. What do I need to do to have a reliable 4G signal? Spend $3000+ on phones that might actually work properly?