Johnny Oxford

Q: ios8 3G disable no longer available

Hi, I have a problem. I live in the UK in an area where the 3G signal is weak. Ever since I have used iphone (since iphone 3G) - I have used it with 3G switched off when at home. That way it was forced to use the GPRS (or 2G) mobile signal from o2.

 

This worked fine, and I had 4 or 5 bars of signal always. If I enabled 3G at home that would drop to between 1 bar and NO SERVICE. This made using the iphone as a telephone virtually impossible as call quality was rubbish and often dropped out.

 

I used wifi for internet so it was never an issue, and I switched on 3G when out if I needed it.

 

Since the ios8 upgrade APPLE have taken away the ability to switch between 2G and 3G. Instead the button now switches between 4G and either 2G or 3G, this either is decided by the iphone itself depending on the strength of the 2G and 3G signals.

 

I have spoken to APPLE twice about this. The first time yeaterday they flatly blamed o2 and said it was nothing to do with them. So I called o2 and guess what; yes you got it, they blamed Apple. IT reminded me of when Steve Jobs got up on that stage and denied there was ever a problem with the iPhone 4 antenna a few years back.

 

So I called Apple back, and today the guy I spoke to did seem to understand my problem and sympathise with it. He said I was not alone and that hopefully it would be fixed by an update. I have since however read various blogs with people complaining about this since the beginning of the year with BETA verions of ios8, and in the past 48 hours many more, from Ireland, Argentina, South Africa, India......

 

Luckily for me I am only 3 months away from an upgrade, so if they dont fix it by then I am going to take the leap and jump to Android.

 

The short term solution - and you need to be quick if you have already upgraded to ios8, is to downgrade to ios7.1.2

 

This is not officially supported by Apple, but it you google it, it is quite easy, you have to download an ipsw file and then do a restore in itunes, but you will lose everything on the phone, and you cannot back up from a backup made with ios8.

 

I hope they sort this out, it has driven me mad over the past 2 days.

 

We need the Toggle between 2G and 3G to be re-instated

iPhone 5, iOS 8, cannot disable 3G

Posted on Sep 19, 2014 6:56 AM

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Q: ios8 3G disable no longer available

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  • by supersparksteve,

    supersparksteve supersparksteve Oct 21, 2014 8:35 AM in response to Jenpen81
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 21, 2014 8:35 AM in response to Jenpen81

    Well it seems the iPhone 5 has now got the option to switch to 2G,3G,4G, which is good, however my iPhone 6 does not have the option it's 4G or nothing.

    I did notice on the O2 website it mentions 4G only for the iPhone 6, so perhaps their policy 3G or 4G only for 6 onwards.

    Since owning the 6, I have had dropped calls when at home almost every day, yet the 5 with 3G switched off is solid and never drops a call with 4 bars for signal strength, the 6 on the other hand has on 1 bar on 3G and 4G.

  • by GeorgeStark,

    GeorgeStark GeorgeStark Oct 21, 2014 9:59 AM in response to supersparksteve
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 21, 2014 9:59 AM in response to supersparksteve

    This is infuriating me and I've just had this response from my UK network (O2):

     

    "Apple have recently launched the iOS 8.1 update for iPhone and iPad. Amongst the changes and additions they list the ability to switch between 2G, 3G & LTE/4G. We’d like to take the opportunity to clarify this due to the queries we’ve seen on it so far. Those networks which have not completed 4G certification with Apple, or do not have a 4G network will have these switches available – Other networks which are 4G/LTE certified (full list here > http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/) will not have these network options available to them.

     

    This is a decision that Apple have taken and is unfortunately not something we’re able to change with our carrier file updates."

     

    However, this contradicts responses I know other people have had from Apple themselves.  I just want the option to turn 3G AND 4G off, to save some battery...is that too much to ask?

  • by supersparksteve,

    supersparksteve supersparksteve Nov 19, 2014 1:25 AM in response to GeorgeStark
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 19, 2014 1:25 AM in response to GeorgeStark

    Well ios 8.1.1 made no difference, and still O2 say it's an Apple issue and Apple say your Carrier needs to sort this.

     

    What I do know is the iPhone 6 with only 3G/4G in my home is not usable as a phone, I have dropped calls every time I use it, and receive voice mails when the phone is not even in use, because the 3G/4G signal is hanging onto 1 bar.

     

    My old iPhone 5 which now has a PAYG sim in it and set to 2G, is solid full signal all bars and never drops a call.

     

    It's getting to the stage where I may have to revert back to the 5 and swap sims, so seems I wasted a lot of money on the 6.

     

    I may even return the 6 under the sale of goods act as its not fit for purpose, it's a phone but cannot be used as such.

    What's my chances

  • by supersparksteve,

    supersparksteve supersparksteve Dec 14, 2014 2:42 AM in response to supersparksteve
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 14, 2014 2:42 AM in response to supersparksteve

    Sorted now - 5 bars on 2g, compared to 1 bar on 3g/4g.

    After having 3 dropped calls in the space of 15 minutes yesterday, enough was enough.

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