Dropped 4G Data EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!

[Batman8]

I am currently running the latest .905 software (which I had to side load "again" since my phone didn't prompt me). But I couldn't wait for the OTA because my data connection over the last couple of months has been ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE, going in and out from 4G to 3G to 1X to NOx/data dropping all the way out. I have tried everything that I can think of to correct it and of course have spoken to VZN tech support many times. Verizon has supposedly sent people out to check the area/cell sites and each time says that everything on their end looks fine (but that's what I would expect them to say).

So at this point, I am open for suggestions since I have now started even deleting any unwanted apps just to make sure that one of them isn't killing my signal, but I also wanted to ask all of you if you have been experiencing unusual data drops recently? I really don't want to swap out my Bionic that I paid retail for, just to get a refurbished one that may have fell in someone's urine for all I know, but I am about ready to throw my phone out a window!!!! Even though I am up for an upgrade, if the problem is really the network then a new/different phone will probably do the same, so I need to have an idea of what's going on first. Plus I really loved my Bionic until this problem got to be so bad that I can hardly keep a 4G signal for more than 15-20 minutes.

Please help if possible, and let me know if you all have had similar issues particularly in or near the Chicagoland area. When I have seen this type of problem before, it has pointed towards Verizon's network, but who knows.

Thanks.

 

[Tonik]

Actually when VZ sends someone to check a tower or area they do a pretty good job at it. I have seen several reports where this has happened and VZ calls back and said yea there was an issue at the tower and we fixed it. And the peoples problems went away. So that said...if 905 does not help you it is time for them to send you a replacement phone.

 

[LemmyCaution]

Dropped 4G - Same problem

Regarding VZW and signal survey teams - I agree with Tonik - when I have reported poor coverage, Verizon sends an engineer or a team of engineers to evaluate the report. Tech support personnel have always been forthcoming with information supplied by the engineers regarding the problem.

Bionic - was rock solid on .902 (with SafeStrap). Ran the OTA to .905 and the problems started. I eventually reformatted the phone entirely and flashed to .902. Sad to report - no difference. The problem happens at home where I have okay service and at and around my office in Beverly Hills, CA. I have verified with a co-worker's iPad that 4G is up functioning well (19.5MBPS down)

This makes no sense to me as 905 is supposed to be an enhancement. It is almost as though the 905 update trashed the radio section. How can I verify which 'radio version' my Bionic is using?

 

[Speeding Wheels]

Try a battery pull/sim pull and see if that helps.

 

[Tonik]

How can I verify which 'radio version' my Bionic is using?

Under About Phone your Baseband version is the radio version. My 905 is CDMA_N_04.07.02R LTEDC_U_07.1F.00 Google is saying CDMA_N_04.05.00R LTEDC_U_07.1E.00 for 902 Note the E vs the F near the end. They are different.

And Speeding Wheels advice is good advice. Always start there.

 

[94lt1]

Folks I don't mean to kick a dead horse, but if I may submit this for your consideration.

Its not the device really. Its the network. The data drops went away because moto was able to get the device to register and check in with the network correctly.

Now vzw has changed something AGAIN and now we're all having the issue again.
Your device isn't able to register correctly with the network when it reaches out. So you drop data. Or at least 4g.

This is why the bionic was garbage, then turned into a solid device, now we're all experiencing this to some extent.

Some may not notice it... but I'd bet that bit happens to them.
DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!

 

[mbell75]

you mean this is happened before with the maxx? I just got mine like a month ago

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dave12308]

Actually when VZ sends someone to check a tower or area they do a pretty good job at it. I have seen several reports where this has happened and VZ calls back and said yea there was an issue at the tower and we fixed it. And the peoples problems went away. So that said...if 905 does not help you it is time for them to send you a replacement phone.

I think some of these issues are a firmware issue at the tower site, though. And I honestly think that the LTE network is still new enough that their network engineers don't yet have a firm handle on it. A quick check of the tower may indicate that all is well, but sometimes these issues take awhile to show up. Do you know anyone else with a Bionic who you can compare notes with?

 

[Dave12308]

Folks I don't mean to kick a dead horse, but if I may submit this for your consideration.

Its not the device really. Its the network. The data drops went away because moto was able to get the device to register and check in with the network correctly.

Now vzw has changed something AGAIN and now we're all having the issue again.
Your device isn't able to register correctly with the network when it reaches out. So you drop data. Or at least 4g.

This is why the bionic was garbage, then turned into a solid device, now we're all experiencing this to some extent.

Some may not notice it... but I'd bet that bit happens to them.
DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!!!!!!!! dancedroiddancedroiddancedroiddancedroiddancedroiddancedroiddancedroid

I keep telling people the same thing, over and over. Maybe they'll believe it, coming from a mod.

EDIT: One thing I have noticed that is pretty consistent - everytime VZW announces a rollout of a new 4G LTE area, the network takes a nosedive for a period of time. They added 28 new LTE areas on May 17th, and expanded 11 others. That is quite a bit of work on the network. Coincidentally, it was around mid May that alot of people started experiencing issues once again. I'd expect alot of this in the next several months, they plan on adding 140 new markets over the next 7 months. I firmly believe we will be dealing with this BS until the LTE rollout is finally completed.

 

[94lt1]

I think some of these issues are a firmware issue at the tower site, though. And I honestly think that the LTE network is still new enough that their network engineers don't yet have a firm handle on it. A quick check of the tower may indicate that all is well, but sometimes these issues take awhile to show up. Do you know anyone else with a Bionic who you can compare notes with?

Exactly... the deal is that alot of the people have no idea when a tower is acting up because the nominal parameters that they have established are all in theory.. and don't work in real world situations.

DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!

 

[Dave12308]

Exactly... the deal is that alot of the people have no idea when a tower is acting up because the nominal parameters that they have established are all in theory.. and don't work in real world situations.

DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!

The other problem is that the data drops may not necessarily be caused by the actual tower your device is connecting to. When you do ANYTHING to a network as large as Verizon's, it tends to have a trickle down effect over the entire network. One error in the configuration file on one router, and it can affect the entire LTE network, depending on exactly how the network is segmented.

EDIT: Not to mention device-specific firmware incompatibilities with newer LTE equipment. A device's modem firmware can only be tweaked to support equipment that exists at the time the firmware is written. If a company releases new LTE base station equipment that does things in a slightly different way, the device firmware may need tweaking. An example of this was one of the changes introduced with the unreleased .901 firmware for the Bionic - it added compatibility for certain Alcatel/Lucent equipment. I suspect that this fix was included in .902 as well, and is the reason why .902 improved things for so many users.

 

[94lt1]

That's mostly right.

DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!

 

[Batman8]

I think all of you have very interesting and valid points, and I appreciate all the feedback. It's exactly what I needed in order to feel that I'm making a sound decision on what to do with this phone. And I have found .902, .904 and .905 to all be a bit buggy which makes me wonder if it will get any better with ICS. However, 94lt1 and Dave12308 have described the exact way that I feel about the situation as it's happening. It feels just like this technology is still just too new for it to be close to perfection. So although it makes me feel better that it's not really the phone, I'm still PISSED OFF every time I loose my data connection!

In answer to some of your comments, it actually was around the May time frame when this problem suddenly appeared. Also, "yes" I have talked with at least one other Bionic user at work who is actually not experiencing the same data issues (I'm not sure why there is no consistency). But after a ton of drops, I couldn't stand it anymore and I broke down and requested a replacement from VZN which should arrive next week. Although now after hearing from some of you, I really don't think it's the phone and I don't perfer to swap it out unless it is absolutely necessary. At least now I can save myself the time of having to FXZ my device to stock with no SU access, and I don't have to root the replacement or restore all apps & games, etc.

I surely hope that ICS fixes these issues for good and is still set for a Q3 release which is right around the corner now. In the meantime, I guess I will stick with my "restart connection" type apps, send the replacement back, and bug the hell out of VZN to fix the problem until it's resolved! If any of you come up with a good work around to fix or help the data connection, I'm all ears. Thanks again everybody for chiming in. Your info has been very enlightening and I love that it comes from real world experiences too. I'm sick of VZN tech support saying that everything checks out fine while I'm dropping data connections every 15-20 minutes EVERYDAY! Come on Verizon, get it together...and SOON!

 

[INCREMENTAL]

905 sucks for me. Yesterday was my first full day and I lost connection maybe. 20 times and that stupid white icon then back to blue, then white and so on. Why is the white even there, when its white my phone won't let me do crap so why not just have a blue icon. I use Google Talk alot and half the time I don't get the messages or I loose connection to send them. Its sad cause my OG Droid had a flawless connection but when I turn the Bionic on 3G only it still looses data time to time.

Edit: for what its worth 901 worked the best for me...

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using DroidForums

 

[huskur]

Do you live in an 4G LTE area or 4G extended area? curious