Galaxy Nexus and VZW's 4G LTE Problem

[cyberghost]

I bought a Galaxy Nexus from Amazon two weeks ago and was quite impressed by the upgrade over my Nexus S 4G from Sprint.  Except the fact I have almost no coverage at all in my apartment and practically anywhere else I go, I experience constant signal loss and dropped calls.  I called into VZW and was told my tower was south of me and if I faced south my reception would improve.  Well my front window and apt face north so even tho my entire complex is in dark red 4G honey on their map, apparently I'm SOL.  So I drive around, even right up to the tower located on O Ave NW in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Just like at home or anywhere else, I wake up my phone, show full 4G signal, do something like make a call or open a browser and within seconds BOOM, no signal at all, grey bars and x.  Within 10-20 seconds this whole process will repeat.  I might be able to hold onto 4G for at max, 15 seconds.  I went to VZW and had my sim card swapped out as one online forum suggested, no improvement at all.  Several forums full of people with this problem so I emailed VZW on June 28th 2012.  On June 29th 2012 I got this reply:

Hello Joshua,

Getting a great phone like the Nexus must certainly be frustrating when you are not getting a reliable 4G LTE signal. My name is Dan and I am sorry to hear of the problems you are having.

I can imagine how shocking it must be to see a lot of people mentioning a problem that they share with your new phone. I have checked our "Known Issue" database and even a report we receive from Samsung. While other people may be experiencing a problem, it is not a "Known Issue."

As I am sure you know, we do not build the phones or create the software. We are impartial on reporting "Known Issues" because our priority is to keep our customers happy. That being said, Samsung has confirmed a software update that will be released on May 30th. Perhaps, this update will help your phone work they way you expect.

Joshua, I certainly do not blame you for your frustration. A new phone should be easy and fun to use. I am glad to hear that Samsung does have an update scheduled for release and I hope it resolves your concerns.

Sincerely,

Dan

So it's not a known issue yet Samsung has something that will hopefull resolve my issue.  This update will be released a month ago in the past.......ummm...  I am not trying to out Dan here but come on.  I get that cell phones aren't great inside buildings but what about standing right under the dang tower or being right outside Wrigleyfield in downtown Chicago?  No where I have gone do I have 4G LTE signal that lasts more than a half minute of continuous use.  There are far too many sites dedicated to this problem and users complaining for this to be a fluke or just my bad luck with a lemon.

[outlawjjwales]

Joshua,

I feel your pain.  I've had the nexus for a month or so and I too have the same problem.  I love this phone though and my answer to your problem is not a great one but it will make it work.  There is an app that will give you a widget to turn your phone off Lte and on cdma.  You will have reliable signal and data at 3g.  On those occasions that you need 4g you can easily switch it back to Lte.  A benefit from this is your battery life will improve drastically.  I hope this help, the only alternative is to switch the phone out for something else.

[yepitssteph]

I am having this same dropping the 4G LTE on my HTC REZOUND that I got 1 week ago. If I set it for 3G only under settings I have no problems. 3G works perfectly. No dropping issues and 3+ bars always.

It's interesting that this problem seems to be happening on more than one type of phone. Sounds like an LTE problem not a Samsung or HTC problem.

I've been to Verizon and I think I'm going to return my phone now, because what good is a 4G phone that won't work on the 4G network.

[vzw_customer_support]

yepitssteph, please try these steps for me
Settings>Wireless and Networks>Mobile Networks>Access Point Names>Tap Menu Key>Choose Reset To Default
This can be done on the HTC Rezound to help with the data connection.

If you have an LG, Samsung or Motorola device, you can go to the Play Store in order to get an app that helps with the data connectivity. 


LG Devices:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lge.IMSIPversion&feature=search_result


Samsung Devices:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sec.apnrestore&feature=search_result


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


Tamara H.
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[sfd0124]

Not a known issue???!!!!!!! This is the number one hot topic on EVERY Android forum. People have gone through 5-10 new phones before getting one that holds data. Any Verizon rep that says otherwise is outright lying or is totally clueless. They cannot make the hand off from 3g to 4g reliably. It has nothing to do with where you live although a marginal 4g area will cause it to happen more frequently due to, the need to switch from 3g to 4g. Unfortunately the junk refurbs they replace with may be worse. It took the 6th replacement to get one that works.

[ajnevares1]

I'm on Nexus number 3 with number 4 on the way...all this over the course of 2 weeks! The second one is holding signal most of the time, maybe once or twice a day it will drop data and voice completely but most of the time the 4G to 3G hand off works, but the screen is just terrible! Screen is very dull and I can still see the imprint of icons from the home screen whenever I switch apps. The first and last Nexus dropped data and voice about 5-10 times an hour when on 4G (tracked thru the No Signal Alert app).

Keeping my fingers crossed number 4 will do the trick and hopefully its not from China. Based on personal experience and reading other Android forums, those devices with the constant signal drops are those assembled in China. The one device I had that worked a majority of the time was assembled in Korea. May be just a coincidence, not sure.

[ERMarshall2]

Ive had 6 none of them have good data connectivity. I live in Midtown Manhattan, I can SEE the cell network, they have antannaes on my building and the reception and 4G speeds are still terrible.  Ive had my friends with other LTE phones come over and stand right next to me while we both run speedtest.net.  They get rates twice that of the Nexus.

Dont even get me started on the atrocious battery life

This phone should have been recalled long ago

[cyberghost]

I have found by going into CDMA only mode, the only mode where I can reliably use my phone, improved battery life by up to 4.5 hours.  I now use an extended battery from Hyperion I got on Amazon for $19.95 USD.  I am at 60% battery life and over 25 hours of life.

Data speed has always been awesome using speedtest WHEN I have 4G LTE connectivity for more than 30-45 seconds.  Up to 28 Mbps download.

My problem all along is that the 4G signal keeps dropping. I miss calls, texts, and unable to even activate my phone unless I'm on CDMA only mode or I drive up to the tower and park at the fence.  Even there 4G will drop but seems to give me enough signal to activate my phone.  Making a video tonight with my Nexus S 4G from Sprint and will upload it tonight.

[Sheree1022]

I'm having the exact same problem!!  Anyone know when/if there will be a fix? A 4G phone that doesn't work with 4G turned on is not acceptable.

Sheree

Gainesville, FL

[radar320]

It has been well documented about the radio assembly issues on the Nexus.  I had the same problem with the phone not working when I was in the CDMA/LTE mode.  I took it to my local Verizon store and they replaced it there on the spot.  Even the new phone still has signal issues in areas where I should have no problem.  I am still in the 14 day window for return since I only got the Nexus on July 3rd.  I will be returning it on Friday and will be trying something else.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello cyberghost,

I want to make sure we are providing you with the reliable service you expect from us!  Is there any consistency in term of the time of day that this occurs?  Have you seen other 4G devices have a better experience in your area?  I would like to discuss your warranty options in more detail.  I have started following you, please feel free to send me a Direct Message with your information so we can work towards a solution.

Thank You,

YaleK_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWsupport

[cyberghost]

Time of day, location, how I parted my hair, boxers or briefs, I could not seem to find any common denominator except this phone would not stay connected to VZW over 4G.  BUT yesterday I received a replacement phone from Amazon and how be damn, I get 4G everywhere.  In a car, near or far, on a boat although have not tested with a goat.  I even had eggs and ham for breakfast while surfing news sites on 4G.  This model was made in Korea while my first was made in China.  One thing I did notice, besides superior Korean craftsmenship, was the sim card was much more difficult to put in.  Since the sim card was replaced previously and it autheticates 4G, I wonder if my other phone had a defective sim card port.  I am curious if by shoving another thin piece of pastic top ensure connectivity to the pins would have resolved it.

So 24 hours in with my new phone this cat is happy.  I am getting 4G everywhere and already ate up half my monthly data allowance.

[Sheree1022]

Congratulations!

Unfortunately my Nexus is outside of the 30 day return window for Amazon, and I have not been able to get a hold of Verizon Customer Service - I keep getting shunted to the automatic phone answering thing that never gets me to a live person.

[cynindesign]

I't easy to get their customer support....calling from your cell, they want you to call from another phone....just hang in there if you don't need to trouble shoot your phone....I choose option 3 for tech supp then in my own words, I ask for customer service.

[gernerttl]

If you really need to talk to somebody use this email address:

HQExec.Relations@verizonwireless.com

You'll get a response in about 24-48 hours.

[ckrenek]

My wife has the same issue with her phone.

I have an s3 and with the phones side by side my phone gets 4g and hers sits on 3g. Already did a warranty replacement and the new phone has the same exact issues.

Also, same issue with losing service. If you go into battery and click on cell standby it will give you a percentage of how often you dont have service. My wife's has been as high as 20% with out service. we both have a similar commute so dont know why she has the issue.

She also gets notified of multiple bug reports that takes a screen shot and asks her to email it in. Each time it happens it opens a gmail draft and attaches the screen shot and bug report. Happens as much as 15 times a day in a few week period. She has close to 200 drafts in her outbox all from bugreports to send.

Verizon really needs to do something about the issues with this phone,

FYI- On a phone i have had less than a month verizon sends a refurbished phone and not a new one...shame on you verizon, just give me someone elses issue

[cynindesign]

My phone is pretty well kept plugged in while at home, I was out yesterday running errands, gone maybe 4hrs, my cell standby shows 2% or 3m22s.  I've always had trouble w/ cells at my home, Sprint & Verizon

[Monalisa1717]

I just bought a samsung nexus to and I don't get a signal hardly anywere, even right in the middle of town to nothing most of the time in my yard and I can see a tower from my kitchen window. I went to return my phone with in 2 day of buying it and it would have been more to go to a reg. flip phone and there a sured me that it would be working better then I went to return it again and didn't know I had missed it by 2 days for return. I hven'r even had it a month and I spend more time trying to make a call, then I have used the phone. This is bull______!! I tryind to buy a reg. phone to and hey talked me out of it. Not once but twice. So in the long run I have a so call 4to6 hundred dollar piece of crap. I have enough of that I have Horse's if you know what I mean. Oh, and then I looked to see what my phone was worth and the site said it was worth $24.48 what is that! O.M.G. talk about a total rip off, Sorry I had to vent, Lisa

[vzw_customer_support]

Lisa, sounds like you've gone through a lot trying to resolve this!  I would love to assist!  Where exactly are you experiencing service issues (at home/work, indoors/outdoors or both, zip code)?  Let me know so I can further assist.  Thanks!

AnthonyTa_VZW
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[irishmicky]

Well this is just great news. I have been waiting all summer for Apple to do there thing on iphone5 before I made up my mind on the Galaxy III. I like the phone and wanted to buy it. I went in the VZW Store and asked about the Galaxy III and they told me not to buy it and the whole reception problems.

Great work VZW.......

I guess it will be an Apple now and maybe on a new carrier.

Samsung and Verizon you can do better than this!

Mike

[cartersims]

im not sure that samsung can do better than this.   never heard much good about their reception.  but verizon isnt helping by not telling us what is going on and if or when it will be fixed. 

regardless this will be my last samsung phone and probably my last android phone.