Network is Unknown wherever I go

[MikeOHag]

HI all!  I noticed recently that the call quality on my S3 isn't very good when I wander to the edge of coverage areas.   During troubleshooting with VZW tech support, I noticed that Settings>About phone>Status>Network=Unknown.   This setting remains set this way regardless of where I go and my signal strength.   I've tried turning airplane mode on & off to "re-register" my phone when I've got excellent signal but it makes no difference.   I've done an informal survey of about 30 Verizon customers with different devices and they're Network setting all says "Verizon Wireless", including my wife's Droid4 (and she gets much better call coverage/quality than I do).   Any ideas?  Tech support says it doesn't make a difference, but....FWIW, I am a former AllTel customer.  I had to replace my S3 to "undo" the build 3 software update and that also didn't make any difference with this setting.   Any help is greatly appreciated.

[budone]

Are you on an Alltel plan. Mine has said that forever

[MikeOHag]

I was an AllTel customer more than 5 years ago before I switched to VZW and was operating on a grand-fathered AllTel plan up until 3 weeks ago when I switched to a standard Verizon plan. 

I am almost convinced that being a former AllTel customer is the problem.   With the shutdown/elimination of the AllTel infrastructure by Verizon, there has got to be some setting in our accounts that says "Go look for All Tel infrastructure first".   That being the case, I do wonder if that's going to affect the priority given my cell service when my calls hit a Verizon tower, but that tower doesn't recognize me as a "Verizon customer" - of course, I do appear to get billed appropriately...;-)

[Ann154]

What is your PRL number?

[MikeOHag]

PRL is 14617

[Ann154]

You still have an Alltel plan if you have a 14xxx PRL number. If you now have a Verizon Wireless plan, you should call Customer Service from another phone and see if they can push a VZW Preferred Roaming List out to your device.

Would their SID need to be changed, too?

[MikeOHag]

You guys are great and thanks for the help!   I received my new Droid Razr HD today but am hesitant to activate it with the SIM card from my S3 for just the reasons you're hitting on.   A tech support rep from Verizon did try to "push" a new PRL to my S3 about a month ago, but was only able to update the PRL from 14616 to 14617.   Of course, that PRL was pushed to my old S3 that had been updated to build 3.  

You two seem to be speaking from experience wit this issue?

[Ann154]

I think I would be safe to say we both went through the Verizon/Alltel transition and learned a lot from the experience.

[B33]

Ann who was you with before Alltel if it's Ok to ask !  b  We started with Kansas Cellular in 1989 then for a 1 year were with Cell One and then went back to K Cell and remained till Alltel took over..

[Ann154]

B33 wrote:

Ann who was you with before Alltel if it's Ok to ask !  b  We started with Kansas Cellular in 1989 then for a 1 year were with Cell One and then went back to K Cell and remained till Alltel took over..

I wasn't an "Alltel to Verizon customer" in the transition.  I was in the "Verizon trust market" that was sold to that "other" company.  I still had to deal with the hybrid PRLs in the process and I had family that was Alltel and was transitioned into Verizon.

[B33]

We had to deal with the hybrids PRLs around here for a while during the transition as well) At time's it was a little crazy getting the phone to work but when i called Tech they usually got it fixed pretty Fast.. something i learned not to long ago Verizon finally shut down the Last Digital switch around here The Alltel switch at Moundridge anybody that still had retained a Alltel device had to finally give it up as it wouldn't work any Longer.

But I can remember those days using our Bag phone and when we go our First Nokia Candy bar and my first flip was a Motorola then came the Razr Flips my V3m that i had for 5 years that i eventually Gave to my Grand Niece because she wanted really bad) Look as good as the Day i purchased it.. I told her take good care of it.. yea yea Uncle that went in one ear and blew out the other one I seen 3 months Later and it looked like it had been through a Tornado alley. my thoughts i kept to my self.. but i did give it up and i just hope she enjoyed while it worked..

[budone]

I am late getting back, but like I stated earlier having an Alltel plan is why you see unknown network.

And as Ann stated you may need to change your SID. Do you know what it is?

[B33]

Bill on my Razr Maxx that has ICS it use to show when it was in 3G mode Unknown Network and when it would switch to 4G mode it would show Verizon Wireless as it Does now). On my Razr Maxx that has Jelly Bean it only shows weather in 3G or 4G Unknown Network what the difference is in the two OS i don't know but it is a little odd to say the least..

[budone]

Understand, but with a VZW he should have a 15xxx PRL.

[vzw_customer_support]

Thanks for your post MikeOHag. I know how important it is to have reliable service. As budone mentioned, this could possibly be related to the plan, but shouldn't be a deciding factor in the call quality. In your survey, did you check with other Galaxy S III users as well? If the problem is everywhere you use your phone, it may be an issue in the phone itself. Have you had the SIM card replaced? Did this issue start when you first got the phone or have you had the phone for awhile?


Marquia_VZW
Please follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[MikeOHag]

I switched from a grand-fathered AllTel plan 2 weeks ago as instructed by tech support to possibly resolve the call quality issues, had the SIM card replaced, had the device replaced (to return to S3 software Build 1)...and no change. I upgraded to the S3 in Dec 2012 but never had any call issues until the Build 3 update hit my phone on June 1 and I just happened to notice the Network setting during troubleshooting.

I have checked with 2 other Galaxy S3 users and their phones both reflect "Verizon Wireless" as the Network.  Neither user was ever an AllTel customer.  

I have checked the S3 devices in 2 stores and they both show Verizon as the recognized network.

Tech Support has approved exchanging my S3 for a Droid RAZR HD.  My wife has great cell service with her Droid 4 and I had great service with my DroidX before upgrading to 4G LTE.

I'm thinking I might want to get a new SIM card for the Droid RAZR HD instead of "poisoning" it with the SIM card from my S3.   Thoughts?

[vzw_customer_support]

MikeOHag,

We need a VZW medic, stat! After all, we don't want you feeling like your device can get "poisoned" from the SIM you're using. Now, I'm ecstatic to learn you've gotten a replacement but please know you've got nothing to worry about with your current SIM as it seems to have been a device issue only.


Evan_VZW
Please follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[MikeOHag]

Evan...I'm not convinced this is a device issue yet.   Yes, the radio signal on the S3 might not be the greatest for users who are the edge of coverage areas, but as you can see from other comments in the thread, still having ties to AllTel reflected in my account may also be causing problems.

Is there a way you, Evan, can push a "Verizon" PRL to my device?  I'm still using the S3.   I believe a Verizon user should reflect a PRL of at least '15XXX'.

[budone]

What plan is listed when you look at your account online?

[MikeOHag]

My plan says "NATIONWIDE TALK & TXT 450".  Where do I find the SID?

[budone]

That is definitely a VZW plan. As for seeing the SID on your device, I am not sure. I can see and edit mine by, 'calling' ##778 but I think that is an HTC option only