Verizon iPhone 4s dropping 3G connection

[raynas]

I live and work in Westchester, NY, a close -in suburb of NYC where I have never had problems with dropped calls on my previous Verizon service on a nonsmart phone. Since I have used the iPhone 4s I notice that I get the "circle" instead of 3G going on and off throughout the day, even if I am sitting in the same spot with the phone. I don't think the phone call are a problem even though the bars fluctuate from 2-3 or 4, but I wonder if searching for 3G is causing the battery to drain.

I find the same problem in my home, where 3G seems unstable.  My battery life is terrible, and I have used all the tips I have read to extend battery life to only some avail. I wonder why my 3G connection is so unstable.

To make matters worse, I have an iPad with 3G through ATT, and I have a consistent 3G connection all the time, even in the same places where Verizon 3G drops off.

I have called Verizon and reset the phone and the network and rebooted, but I still have unstable 3G. Has anyone else noticed that there is a problem connected to 3G with the iPhone 4s?

[gerio]

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raynas wrote:

I live and work in Westchester, NY, a close -in suburb of NYC where I have never had problems with dropped calls on my previous Verizon service on a nonsmart phone. Since I have used the iPhone 4s I notice that I get the "circle" instead of 3G going on and off throughout the day, even if I am sitting in the same spot with the phone. I don't think the phone call are a problem even though the bars fluctuate from 2-3 or 4, but I wonder if searching for 3G is causing the battery to drain.

I find the same problem in my home, where 3G seems unstable.  My battery life is terrible, and I have used all the tips I have read to extend battery life to only some avail. I wonder why my 3G connection is so unstable.

To make matters worse, I have an iPad with 3G through ATT, and I have a consistent 3G connection all the time, even in the same places where Verizon 3G drops off.

I have called Verizon and reset the phone and the network and rebooted, but I still have unstable 3G. Has anyone else noticed that there is a problem connected to 3G with the iPhone 4s?

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Are you sure you don't actually have a Droid Bionic?...

Kidding, of course. Seriously, maybe something is wrong with that iPhone. I had a Bionic after a few really good Android phones and the Bionic was continuously dropping the 3G connection. I finally sold it and paid full pop for an iPhone 3 weeks ago. In the same area that I used the Bionic, I've not powered down the iPhone at all and it has yet to drop a call or the 3G data connection. The little circle just means that the phone has dropped back to a slower connection (some phones show that as "1xx").

Since you say the iPad holds its connection, I'd be suspect of the phone.

Geri O

[raynas]

The iPad is on ATT:  the iPhone is Verizon. I'm hoping I did not choose the wrong provider. Verizon was known to be most reliable in the area for phone calls.

[flyhighyuta]

Hey,

I'm from Japan. and I read article about dropping 3g on iPhone 4s[CDMA] in Japan.
Article says many people complained dropping 3G. Apple Japan do exchanging old iPhone 4s to new iPhone 4s. They says it is only way to solve dropping 3g issue.

Go to Apple store and exchange your iPhone.
Hope you get a good reception new one.

[gerio]

If your voice signal is good, you might need to call Verizon and make them aware of the 3G signal problem in that area.

If your voice signal is weak, Verizon may not be your best choice for that area.

If it's good outdoors, but weak indoors, maybe a network extender would help...

Geri O

[raynas]

Thanks for the input. I spoke to Verizon today and they said they would exchange my phone by mail. I think I am going to go to the Apple store and see if they will do it for me, so that they can restore it from the iCloud whild I am there. I wonder if anyone else here is having the dropped 3G problem.

[#7]

Raynas, thank you for sharing your concerns with the community. Have you received your replacement device yet, and if so, are you still experiencing issues with losing 3G? If you have friends or family with VZW smartphones, I would suggest checking to see if they are having issues losing 3G in same area. That way we can determine if this is an equipment or network related issue. 

Also, Apple has reported seeing some battery degradation with iOS and has just recently released a new software update iOS 5.0.1 for this issue. If you have not already received the update, follow these instructions to update. 

[raynas]

I was told by your tech support to reset and restore my phone as new to see if that solved the problem. When I attempted to do so using iTunes, I could not because the sim card was not inserted. There was no sim card in the phone. I was told one would be overnighted to me Wed night.. I have not yet received it since it was not yet sent! I was at the Apple store from 9:40am to 7 pm on Thursday to resolve this problem, and despite multiple calls to all tiers of Verizon customer service and tech support, no way could my phone or a replacement be activated with a replacement sim card. Finally a phone was activated again without a sim card. I now don't know how I will ever be able to restore a phone since it is simless? I am totally frustrated!

[tonosman]

Yes, There is something seriously wrong with the new iPhone 4S 32gb. I have been through 3 of these bad boys and still constantly dropped calls, static mic reception, SLOW if any DATA speeds , rattles and yes the occasional electrical shock. They sent me a replacement that could not be activated with the sim card that it shipped with installed. I love Apple, but... I am seriously disappointed. I really hate the droid phones,... But they seem way more stable even though they appeared to have way more problems before switching from my Evo 3D to the iPhone. Goes to show whats going on here. Unfortunately VZW says there is nothing they can do even though my phone is brand new, they tell me this is a job for Apple. So I'm currently playing "Monkey in the middle" and I'm the Monkey who's losing out on all fronts in this situation. Still stuck with a $750 + tax Phone and a premium data plan bill for service thats equivalent to 1982 standards. Yeah! So glad I switched to the Big Red! I can only pray and hope that both VZW and Apple prove their commitment to customer care and satisfaction, but no hope is in sight so far. I am really missing Steve Jobs right now. OK Tim Lets see your magic! And For VZW I think they should be Discounting our service or compensating us in some other serious fashion. What do you all say? Are you with me? Are you all feeling a bit  Class Action too?

[dieselmcfadden]

I've been having this problem too all week in NYC too.

Drops from 3G to the 'o' symbol.  someitmes it'll come back by itself, sometimes i have to turn 

on airline mode, go back to home screen and turn airline mode off.  

This is when standing in the same spot.  It does this many many times a day.

It also eats through battery like crazy.  i have an morphie juice air extra battery pack.  that with the

internal battery, i can't make it through the afternoon.

I've reprogrammed with *228#, I don't run any background processes like Viber or Skype.

has anyone else had the same problem?  

I'm taking the device to the apple store tomorrow.  

-diesel