S4 Repeatedly Dropping off Network

[nnk_carol]

My S4 on a personal contract repeatedly drops off the network - sometimes several times a day, sometimes it's fine for a few days.  I don't have the same problem with my work's S4.  Rebooting it helps but that's no good when I'm driving and therefore unable to reboot it (or even notice it's dropped off).  This caused great concern recently when my partner couldn't contact me at a time I was travelling on the M6 and there was a major accident!

Has anyone else had this problem?  Does it sound like it might be a software issue?  Any help appreciated.

[hrym]

There have been several reports of this recently on a variety of handsets.  It would appear either to be an issue with the current version of Android or a network thing.  I'm inclined to suspect the latter and it could be related to maintenance and/or upgrading.

[nnk_carol]

I suppose it could be but the same happens when it's linked to my Sure Signal too and that's an independent source of signal dependent on my WiFi. My work S4 is fine and my other half's HTC One is fine on the SS too.

I'll do some more digging and perhaps back it up and reinstall the software or factory reset.

Thanks anyway

[loftysaltmarsh]

I think it's the phone.

It's happening to my partners new EE S4.......but not my Vodafone S4.

[GrahamThompson]

It's definitely an issue with the software IMO. It seems to have started with the latest version of Android (kit kat 4.4.2). Mine will suddenly just drop out of network coverage and fail to send texts etc. Used to be ok before, but now it's dropping out quite regularly.

Needs sorting with an update ASAP as the phone's usability is severely restricted at the moment as I miss calls often etc. even when I should be getting a signal. I don't really get 3G where I live with Vodafone, but should get a strong 2g connection. Usually I do with at least 3 bars, but then it just randomly drops out.

[nnk_carol]

Good point - it did seem to start with the last OS update. Loath as I am to do it, I can see a full re-install happening

Strange I don't have the same problem with my work phone though. Actually and I don't know why I didn't think of this before, I'm just going to swap SIMs for the weekend and see which one plays up. That should pin down if it's the phone (and probably software) or the SIM.

Thanks for the ideas!

[nnk_carol · Accepted solution]

Belated feedback but maybe this will help someone.  I tried my SIM in my work phone for a while and had no problems but when I put it back into mine, the same problem came back so it was the phone.  Google is your friend apparently so after looking on various sites I followed a recommendation of deleting all the configuration messages (messaging > menu button > configuration messages > menu button > delete), taking my SIM out for a short while then putting my phone back together and sending a fresh configuration message from here.  I tried it with some skepticism but amazingly it's been fine for a few weeks now and holding!

No software reinstall needed, no data lost.

Thanks for all the ideas in the thread and maybe this will help someone else with the same problem - it looks as if there's a few

[MatthewTheakston]

this is happending to me on vodafone and i also know someone on 3 who is having this issue also.

[nnk_carol]

I'm betting it's to do with the firmware update but my solution above is still holding fast and I'm not having any problems now. I'd guess it would work for your friend too - obviously getting their settings from 3. It's well worth giving it a go as it wasn't difficult to do and has fixed it. Out if interest, my work phone only has the one configuration message so maybe that is genuinely the problem - more than one configuration message sitting around somehow interferes with the firmware.