Samsung Galaxy S Series

[Simon]

Hi leastsquare

Thanks for posting regarding your handset issues. I must admit it's a rare circumstance when we see that there have been 6 replacement devices and 2 SIM changes and you're still experiencing the same issue, so we'd definitely like to take a closer look at what's been happening surrounding the reporting of your repairs and also your handset issue.

I've sent a private message with details of how to contact our team directly. You can find your PM inbox here. If you can't access this link, please ensure that the box next to "Turn on private messages" is ticked on this page, and let us know if you need any further assistance.

Thanks

Simon

[leastsquare]

I rolled back to 2.3.3, the same fault occurs. This is not a network problem as I know several colleagues & friends with S2's on competitors networks experience the same problem. Putting the sim into a Nokia I was not surprised to see it working. The issue is so easy to reproduce I cannot understand why vodafone cannot send 1 of the failed devices to Samsung. However I would assume Samsung are putting resources into ICS (delayed release) & are not interested in fixing it.

Samsung have already indicated the issue is a batch problem by requesting I call vodafone & ask for a phone from the latest batch. Given vf only provide refurbished replacements this is not going to happen. Having talked to vf on Fri their only action is to replace the phone again with another refurb device. This is a waste of my time as I'm probably receiving phones I've already had.

The reason for leaving vf is their policy to keep replacing indefinitely is ridiculous. The vf reps seem embarrassed telling me they will send another. Additionally neither Samsung or VF are able to say who is accountable for providing a device that works which is surprising. It seems one wants to blame the other. How can Samsung suggest sending a business phone away for 10d is adequate? What planet are they on? They seem surprised I don't have another phone! Are they suggesting I need to retain a backup phone becuase their phone doesn't work?

Overall my experience with VF & Samsung has been very poor and I very much doubt I will purchase from either again.

[Craig85]

I have been given a replacement SIM card and I still have the same 3G issue so its definitely the phone. I don't know if I can take it to a Samsung Service centre as I live in Barnsley and the only ones close by are carphone warehouses. If I can't get this sorted am I in my right to cancel my contract without any charges as I only had the phone 5-6 months.

[Northern-dj]

There is a dealer in wakfield

But there is also one in Bradford who do a postal servise

The name of the service centre is Angel Mobile when you look for one near you are you picking service centres and not dealers there should be one as all citys have one

Give them a ring and ask them but tell them NOT carphone warehouse

[Dave]

Hi guys,

leastsquare - If you follow the directions in the PM we sent we'll be happy to take a look and see what options may be available to resolve things.

----------------------------

Craig85 - You would not be able to cancel without penalty as we provide the warranty for the lifetime of the handset to address any faults. As mentioned, you can send the handset to a service centre or alternatively we can look to arrange a warranty repair.

Dave

[Northern-dj]

Oh Dave is on about a Vodafone store here NOT a SAMSUNG SERVICE CENTRE !!!!

This would mean sending it away to Vodafone (as started before by Soupdragon and my self Not the best way )see above posts

[leastsquare]

it seems vodafone don't repair but supply refurb replacements which in itself is not too good. However I beleive its also true to say nothing precludes a user taking the phone to a Samsung service centre??

I was in a 3g only region earlier today for ~4hrs & did not receive a single email until I moved to HS coverage & then >30 were delivered.

[Craig85]

Any idea if a samsung service centre will replace a faulty phone or is there any guarantee that vodafone will send a SGS2 from their newest batch? I dont want to get a refurbed phone that will have the exact same problem.

[jayc1980]

I now seem to have my 3g working fine.
Installed the european ice cream sandwich rom (polish)...love ics!! But 3g still not working, came across this on xda and set it to stick on 3g and it works, and its as fast as ever.

Found this on

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1714413

****************** FIXED ******************

After contacting Samsung for an insane period of time (ended up on an international call to England i think... or now that i think about it could have just been some English guy in Aus lol) I have got an official explanation and confirmation that this issue is being looked into for KE8 (but it appears that KE8 has been launched in India already so it might be KE9).

*disclaimer*

I am no expert on mobile technology this in-depth however the (probably very) dumbed down version the Samsung guy told me was this;

*end disclaimer*

The problem stems from the fact that this phone has 3 forms of data connection, 3G, HSDPA, and HSPA+.

3G is what we have all had since 3/Telstra launch 10 years ago. HSDPA is the 7.2mbps connections that we got after that. HSPA+ is the full fledged 42mbps Next G stuff that only Telstra has.

The problem is, when you are just using the phone as "a phone" it idles on a 3G connection to save battery and when you initiate a data connection it flicks on to the higher connection protocols for better speed.

What is supposed to happen when you initiate the data connection is the phone checks for H+ connection, then for H and then finally 3G. For some reason if you arent with Telstra or are in an area without HSPA+ the phone gets hung up for too long attempting to initiate the H+ connection and refuses to drop back to H!

Also, even if it does give up on H+ it then has an issue with falling back to 3G. Resulting in the problem that if it cant get H+ or the tower is too flooded for a H connection you get absolutely nothing until you restart the data mode within the phone, renegotiates with the tower and BAM, you are back in business.

So... there are 5 fixes;

1. Wait for KE9 (or what ever firmware fixes the modem timings etc) 2. Get a Telstra sim and never leave an area that has H+ 3. Turn off/on data mode whenever it happens

to which i told him they were stupid answers and completely unacceptable, but then he came out with this complete gem!

4. using service code *#301279# you can turn off HSPA+ completely forcing it to start the data connections on HSDPA 5. using *#301279# again you can just turn off HSPA+ and HSDPA meaning it instantly starts downloading the data on 3G without delay

Now yes, i thought... great... ive bought this $779 phone that has all the latest and greatest technology and I cant even use it! But, I did some testing!

First of all my normal sim is Vodafone so turning off HSPA+ is an obvious one for me, im never going to get it so why bother. So now that the phone only attempts to get a connection with HSDPA the need to turn off and on data connection was getting more and more rare but still having the problem (i have a feeling that is due to congestion?). So i bumped it down to 3G only and it works perfectly 100% of the time!

The point of these faster connection protocols is speed so i did testing.

Vodafone sim, 4 bars of signal in the middle of a shopping centre.

HPSA+ turned on = 4mbps down, 1mbps up HSDPA turned on = 4mbps down, 1mbps up 3G only = 3.5mbps down, 1mbps up

did this over and over and over again and to be perfectly honest, im willing to lose 500kbps to make sure that data always works and if you are just doing general web browsing the time it takes to initiate the HSDPA connection wastes more time than the slightly slower speeds with 3G does.

Now obviously this only works fine in my situation, if you are with Telstra and going from HSPA+ down to 3G means going from 20mbps to 3... i would be ######. But for the rest of the country you are talking about a loss of less than 1mbps so in real world situations with just small amounts of burst data its fine

TLDR; Try and go online and the 3G up arrow lights up but never actually downloads anything

Dial: *#301279# – Change HSPA revision –Release 5 HSPDA only

test, if still a problem

Dial: *#301279# – Change HSPA revision –Release R99 HSPA off

Your welcome, Peace out!

[Northern-dj]

---

Craig85 wrote:

Any idea if a Samsung service centre will replace a faulty phone or is there any guarantee that vodafone will send a SGS2 from their newest batch? I don't want to get a refurbed phone that will have the exact same problem.

---

If Samsung have to replace the phone because of this fault it will be a Brand new one sealed in the box, Now technically the service centre is supposed to put Vodafone firmware on, well if that is the problem in the first place

they will advice you Cough Cough at some stage you will have to come back to have this put on

Samsung do not Supply refurbed phones they have to comply with the sales of good act for good from a manufacture

different from Vodafone as there a retailer.

On the above reply, Yes ther are aware of the problem it is not on 2.3.4 phones

Samsung is not perfect but a flagship phone they do look into the problems if you speak to a service centre they will be aware of any problems as they get Tec bulitins and they have there own forum this will only cost the price of a phone call

If you still can not find one Give

Angel Mobile a Ring in Bradford and ask to speak to a Engineer He is very good

[Razwaz]

I'm still having this problem and after reading through this thread it doesn't seem as if it's easily fixable.

What are the chances of it being fixed with ICS?

[Northern-dj]

Possible if Vodafine don't make a pigs ear of it

I still would take it to a Samsung service centre but they you go

[jayc1980]

Razwaz, have you tried my guide above? I have reflashe gingerbread and works perfect on that. Im back on ics and works perfect on that rom too.

The speed difference between H and 3g is minimal, not noticable through web browsing or watching tv/yootube, and we dont have access to H+ yet.

The settings can be changed back if your not happ,but after months of getting no 3g and internet not being available in so many areas ive never been happier, give it a go

[Craig85]

Tried the guide above and 3g now works, although the hanging problem still persists. I'm hoping the ICS update Vodafone will release will fix the hanging issue.

[jayc1980]

On ics now (polish rom) and hanging issue s still there, hangs for a second or 2. I can handle this for the moment,better than no internet at all

[ajpd]

Mine doesnt work - exactly the same problem - SIM free unbranded SGS2 that hangs on 3G & only clears on H+ being picked up.

The handset is completely unusualble on a train journey in London as it keeps sticking.

The solution for a £450 phone should not be to switch it into & out of flight mode or to cripple it on 3G. Or change sim or keep returnng it!!

Say what you want about Nokia/Symbian - but the internet on my N8 used to work much better than this.

This is clearly a bug that is a problem with the vodafone network (around the world) and the supposed "flagship" android handset.

I am utterly bored wit this fault - when I eventually got past the rubbish Indian call centre a few months ago and spoke to a high level person in Voda's data section, they KNOW VERY WELL about this issue - she wanted or my details, when it had started etc. She took my number tp keep me informed but has never got back to me. She claimed that Voda & Samsung are working on a fix.

Well, I am fed up and will not be staying with Vodafone as I thought I had left the need to tinker around with settings when I left Symbian.

Say what you like about Apple owners, they wouldnt put up with this & if left Apple & Voda would be all over the press with this issue. As it is, we are told to check our SIMS, fiddle round with service settings etc.

Appalling & unacceptable.

[jayc1980]

On ics now (polish rom) and hanging issue s still there, hangs for a second or 2. I can handle this for the moment,better than no internet at all

[Craig85]

I can handle a few seconds hanging but at the moment when it hangs its roughly 10-20 seconds before coming to life again.

[Razwaz]

What did you do exactly jayc1980?

I'm hanging off ICS until Sky Go is supported, so that's a no-no at the moment. 

[philip_wong852]

Am I correct in thinking that if I get a refurbed phone from vodafone since my s2 has the same issue, the issue will still be present?