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07-08-2014 03:05 PM
First thing I need to say is that I am a complete novice when it comes to smart phones. Any replies need to be in basic english or I will not understand what you are talking about - sorry
I upgraded my phone back in February to a Samsung S4 and for the first 6 weeks or so thought it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I couldn't believe everything I could do with it anywhere I wanted. Both the network signal and the internet connection was really good and connecting to the internet was just as good as being at home on my laptop. I was amazed......
And then things started to change. The connection to the internet got worse and worse so that now I can only connect (if I am lucky) when I am at home on my own wifi (not exactly mobile!) and lately I don't even have a network signal a lot of the time. I couldn't make or receive phone calls for 3 days and missed some very important text messages from work as they suddenly popped up 2 days after they were sent and it was too late. The network signal is basically rubbish everywhere and comes and goes at will.
I have tried to do things on the phone but as I said I have no idea what I am doing so I don't appear to have made any difference. I have also tried to read various threads on here and am I am lost after the first couple of sentences.
I do think the problems got worse after the first time the phone told me to upgrade??? Not sure what that ment but I agreed and let it. The problems improved slightly after it ungraded for a second time but are now back to being worse than before.
Please be gentle with me, I have no idea what people mean when they talk about 4G 3G etc and I need basic step by step solutions, if there are any!
I am grateful for any help given. I'm at the point where I'm wondering why I'm bothering to pay all this money every month for a 'mobile' and I might as well go back to just using the laptop and landline!
Thanks, Jo x
Solved! Go to best answer.
07-08-2014 03:09 PM
Hi there
If you are experiencing network issues, the first thing to do is go through the steps in the Network Troubleshooting Guide.
If these steps don't sort out the problem, please could you post the template with your results back here so that the eForum Team can investigate the issue for you.
PWIAC
07-08-2014 03:09 PM
Hi there
If you are experiencing network issues, the first thing to do is go through the steps in the Network Troubleshooting Guide.
If these steps don't sort out the problem, please could you post the template with your results back here so that the eForum Team can investigate the issue for you.
PWIAC
07-08-2014 05:39 PM
Thanks
I have already tried all the steps suggested in troubleshooting. I haven't got another phone to be able to try the sim in so that is the only thing I can't rule out.
I've filled out the form and posted it the network problems thread but I'm not 100% sure what all the questions ment so I've done my best.
Starting to get a bit fed up with it all now. I did take it into one of the vodaphone shops and tried to explain what was wrong. The guy there fiddled with it a bit and then handed it back and said it should be fine now. That lasted all of 6 hours before the signal went again.
This would all be so much easier if I understood what it all meant and how it worked but if I'm honest I don't really want to know I just want it to do it's job and work.
07-08-2014 05:47 PM
Well I thought I had posted it in the network issue's thread but it doesn't appear to be there??
I'll try again later. Need to walk away from this laptop for a bit as getting frustrated!
07-08-2014 06:10 PM
1) Does the issue happen in just one location? If so, how far do you have to travel to regain service?
Happens everywhere. There doesn't appear to be any pattern to it sometimes I have signal at home sometimes I don't. It comes and goes at will where ever I am.
2) What is the full postcode (e.g. ST1 1AA) of where the issue occurs? If you don't want this showing on the eForum, add it to your profile here.
GL3 2PG is home but it happens everywhere.
3) Does the issue occur if you try your SIM card in a different phone?
This is the only thing I can't try as I don't have another phone to try it in.
4) What errors are seen or heard when the issue occurs?
Not 100% sure what you mean by this but there is a stop sign (a circle with a line through it) where the network signal bars should be. Where the internet signal strength bars are is it goes fro 'H' to 'G' to 'E' and then vanishes. (Very rarely is it H)
I also get alot of messages that says 'unable to connect to proxy server at this time'.
I have no idea what most of this means?
5) Does this happen on 2G, 3G, 4G or all?
If I knew what it ment I would let you know but I'm afriad I have no idea what 2, 3 or 4G means?
6) When did you first notice this issue?
The phone was perfect for the first month or 2 but I've been having network issues for the last 4 months on and off. The problems started just after the phone first upgrade, they got slightly better after the second upgrade but are now worse than ever over the last 3 weeks.
7) Is the issue permanent or intermittent? If intermittent, are there certain times of the day when it occurs?
I would say intermittent but lets just say I've NOT had either a network signal or the ablity to connect to the internet more than I've HAD it over the last 3 weeks. Phone calls have been missed and text messages have come through days later when the signal suddenly pops back on.
I really hope someone can help please. Many thanks.
08-08-2014 11:54 AM
This sounds signal-related but, if it's happening everywhere, it also sounds like something on the device. The Tech Team here will be able to help you, but your best bet might be to go back to the shop and ask them to have another look and maybe explain what it is they're doing. It's just possible (just) that it's something you've, maybe inadvertently, done that needs undoing. If you know what it is, you can avoid doing it.
One other thought: have you got a case on the device? What happens if you take it off? It shouldn't block the signal, but I've seen stranger things happen. Also, is the back properly fitted? If it's loose, it's also possible that the aerial isn't properly connected.
08-08-2014 03:07 PM
Hi MrsJG,
If the issue is happening everywhere, it’s likely to be phone or SIM related, rather than network.
At question 4 where you say it switches between G, E and H, does it only do this at home?
The reason I ask is because you’re on the edge of 3G coverage, meaning it’ll be variable.
Just so you know the difference, I’ve given a quick explanation on what each one means below.
Mobile phones use radio signal (MHz). The lower the number, the further the signal will travel.
2G is the original network structure. It works great for calls and texts, but using the internet will be very slow. This will show as G or E on a Galaxy S4.
3G was the next generation of signal. It works for calls, texts and internet. As it uses a higher frequency, it travels less distance. This will show as either 3G, H or H+ on your phone.
4G is the most recent addition. As its new technology, it’s not available everywhere yet. It uses a lower frequency than 2G, meaning that signal will travel even further. However, you can only use 4G for the internet and data services. It’ll show as 4G on your phone.
On your phone, please go to:
If that doesn’t work, try switching it to WCDMA/GSM instead to see if that improves things.
Thanks,
Simon
08-08-2014 04:15 PM
What's Simon's said is absolutely right but, if it's made your eyes glaze over, what he's basically suggesting is that you restrict your phone to one type of connection at a time and see if that improves things. Personally, I'm sceptical, but I've also seen the least likely things turn out to be the solution. It is possible that you've been in areas of sporadic or difficult coverage and that there may be nothing wrong at all.
Simon also raised one other possibility - a faulty SIM. If you do go back to the shop, ask them do to a swap, and to activate the new one for you. Even if it doesn't fix the problem, it's one more thing off the list.
08-08-2014 05:52 PM - edited 08-08-2014 05:53 PM
The issues you describe sound similar to those caused by a firmware upgrade that plagued the S4 when Samsung pushed the Android KitKat update to the phones.
You can check what firmware version you are using by going to Settings, then clicking the 'more' tab at the top, then choose 'About Phone' scroll down until you see 'Android Version'.
What version does it say? Also, I had a security update message the other week. Did you get one too?
And, you mentioned something about not connecting to the proxy, are you trying to access the internet via the Google Chrome browser app?