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DO NOT BUY THE GALAXY S4!!!!!!!

IF I CAN STOP ANYONE FROM BUYING THIS LOUSY PHONE, I HAVE DONE MY GOOD DEED FOR THE DAY. FOR 2 MONTHS NOW, EVER SINCE I WAS FORCED TO UPGRADE THE OPERATING SYSTEM FROM A NICE STABLE JELLY BEAN 4.2.2 TO 4.3, MY PHONE, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS THAT I CAN SEE FROM READING THE POSTS ON THE DIFFERENT FORUMS OUT THERE, HAS TURNED INTO A PAPERWEIGHT. THE UPGRADE HAS ALL BUT DESTROYED ITS WIFI FUNCTION. IT NO LONGER RECOGNIZES WIFI SITES AND STAYS ON 4G, FOR A CHARGE OF COURSE, UNTIL I MANUALLY TRY AND DISABLE AND RE-ENABLE THE WIFI. AND THEN IT ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES. AS SOON AS I LEAVE THE WIFI RANGE AND RETURN, I HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING. REPS AT BOTH VERIZON HAVE BEEN USELESS. EVERY TIME I CALL THEY SAY THIS IS THE FIRST THEY HAVE HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I SPENT $200 EXTRA FOR THIS PHONE AND AM DISGUSTED. VERIZON SENT ME 2 REPLACEMENTS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS AS SOON AS THE PHONE FORCES ME TO UPGRADE TO 4.3. BEFORE THAT IT IS FINE. THIS IS BOTH VERIZON'S AND SAMSUNG'S FLAGSHIP PHONE AND IT IS AS GOOD AS A BRICK. DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF CRAP. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PHONE, IT IS TIME TO STAND UP AND YELL AND HIT VERIZON WHERE IT HURTS, THEIR RECEIVABLES!!!!

Comments

Ann154

And the S4 I have works just fine. There was one issue with the SD card after the update, but I have since fixed it.

Dave-in-Decatur

Please don't shout. A lot of us have read those posts and know the problems that were caused by the 4.3 update--not by the S4 itself, which many people have found to be great as both a tool and a toy. I'm one of the fortunate many who haven't had problems with the updates (though I hold my breath every time). I totally sympathize with your troubles, and your disgust with VZW and Samsung. But the S4 as such is not the problem.

Malithorne

I've loved the phone up until the 4.3 issues. What makes me mad is the costs for overages when I was constantly losing connections to wifi networks. Verizon should make this right or a class action suit for refunds should be started. The options of wiping cache will help, but the last thing anyone wants to do is a format and factory reset. If I wanted to format and reload my phone every six months I would own a Windows phone. The S4 also was the cause of the initial loss of an SD card and data that it fried, but I moved on to another SD card and so far so good. But again, seeing that was a wide spread problem, there should not be burden on the consumer for these sorts of damages. Instead Verizon gets bolder in charging more as a premier network and has lost their passion for customer service that got them to that level. Shame on you Verizon.

BigRedGonzo

I realize that this is an old thread, but I'll throw this out there anyway.

Go to Settings>WiFi, touch the menu button, choose Advanced and uncheck the box next to Auto Switch Network. This Auto Switch function is set by default in 4.3. It is designed to look at your internet connection and decided if the connection is "good enough." If it is not, it will automatically switch you to the Carrier Network. I don't know what kind of algorithm they have devised to determine if the WiFi connection is "good enough," but it doesn't work well (for the end user.) It works fine for VZW because, if you don't pay attention, you are using data and don't even realize it.

Anyway, change that setting and the phone should hold whatever WiFi connection that you tell it to establish.

Benny

Malithorne

I've done this as a part of trying to stay on my WiFi. The problem is that it holds that connection better but still kicks back errors that the connection is not stable, etc. forcing a manual switch to the cell network. WiFi is fine based on SpeedTest.net results and the fact that other devices can connect without issues and stream video while the S4 continues to complain.

To respond to the root of this old post though, I love this phone still. Aside from the flaws introduced in the 4.3 update, the phone remains quick and stable in all other regards. What makes me mad is that this bug cost Verizon's customers money in data overages and they do not acknowledge this with an appropriate response. An apology. An alert/notification to all these users about this problem. A refund. Anything would have been the right thing to do here. Nothing, as a response, is a slap in the face to every S4 owner on their network. If this problem caused Verizon to lose money, they would have been on it yesterday. But since they profit off of the pain introduced in this type of an issue, there is no urgency to correct this. Meanwhile, other carriers are starting to deploy 4.4 while Verizon customers on a supposed 'Premier network' are forced to wait while Verizon jams 4.4 with their branded bloat-ware and introduces the 4.4 update last among almost all carriers. Verizon has lost their dedication to superior customer service that got them to where they are today and this situation is one of many examples.

Klue

Malithorne

Did you try changing your wireless router settings? If you are using a 5 GHZ band change it to the 2 GHZ band. Also change your channel, if its on AUTO then select a specific channel number, I use channel 11 and it works fine. Also make sure your router has the latest drivers installed. Even if your other devices have no problem with your current wifi setup, the S4 seems to have some problems with the 5 GHZ band.

Malithorne

Klue, thanks. I am a network engineer by trade. So I have played with the router settings to a great extent including conducting wireless surveys using an app to select the most unused channel in range. I've updated to the latest firmware too. It will seem like things have improved for a time until I leave and come back in range to the network and then find the same issues persist. But prior to the 4.3 update, whether the WiFi configuration was optimal or not, the phone connected quickly and solidly. So I hate the required hassle to chase down a red herring issue that I did not create is all. Resetting the router, rebooting the phone, tweaking this, tweaking that. Its all pretty annoying for no good reason. I will mitigate the configuration issues for minimal impact until the next update. Just hoping that it comes sooner than later.

jrh4054

I agree with Dave-in-Decatur. Don't paint the S4 with such a broad brush. I have had the S4 since May, and have had no WiFi problems either before or after the latest system upgrade.

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