Level 1

5 points

iPhone does not reconnect to Cell Network after losing signal

Hey everyone!

So I seem to have a really strange issue, and it just recently started happening with my iPhone 3G

If I'm in an area where I don't have cell coverage for a while (ie: a basement, or subway) once I get above ground, the phone won't reconnect to the cell network.

The cell signal indicator will say "Searching..." for a while but will either change to "No Service" or stay on "Searching..." even though I'm in an area that I know has coverage.

The only way to get the phone to reconnect to either Reboot, Power Off/On, or Turn Airplane Mode On then Off.

This is really starting to get frustrating since I have to do one of the above or my phone just won't connect and stay that way until I do something.

I first noticed this with iPhone OS 3.0.1, but just recently did a fresh restore to 3.1.2.

Has anyone else experienced this?? Any idea what causes this, and is there a solution?

Thanks!!

Also.. if I happen to lose 3G, the phone seems to stay on Edge forever even if I'm in an area with clear 3G coverage.

iPhone 3G, iPhone OS 3.1.2

Posted on Jan 4, 2010 4:31 PM

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Level 10

229,606 points

Posted on Jan 7, 2010 3:42 PM

When you lose signal any phone will try to reconnect for a few minutes, but if it continues to fail the intervals between tries gets longer and longer. This is intentional, to preserve battery life, because searching for signal uses a lot of power. If you turn on airplane mode for about 15 seconds that forces a new search and it will reconnect.

For the EDGE problem, if it is on a strong EDGE signal and detects a weak 3G it probably won't switch; likewise, it will only check occasionally for 3G. But cycling airplane mode will force it to search for 3G first.

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29 replies

SaturnX Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 7, 2010 6:56 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I figured that there would be a delay in reconnection attempts. However in multiple instances upon getting off the subway in the evening my phone was still disconnected from the carrier the next morning.

One time the carrier name still said "Searching..." after 8+ hours being in clear coverage.

Another time I woke up to the phone saying "No Service"

So i'm not sure if something is causing the phone to completely stop searching for a signal once its lost.

mikecuba

Level 1

4 points

Feb 17, 2010 9:56 AM in response to SaturnX

Hi I am also from the Toronto area, I am having the same issue, my phone looses the connection to the carrier (Rogers) after exiting from the subway. The phone searches for the network, for hours(no sevice).
I am not sure why is so difficult for apple to resolve the issue which started way before the most recent update 3.1.2.

Toggling the airplane mode "sometime" fixes the issue and I get reconnect to the 3G network, however this is not always a guaranteed remedy. Any thoughts??

Somatik

Level 1

0 points

Feb 28, 2010 7:24 PM in response to Sukks2bu

I have Same Problem here, Toronto, On Rogers, this started happening to me after update 3.1.2, This is my second Iphone So it is not Rogers problem. It is just faulty fool of bugs soft from Apple. WHEN PROBLEM WHEEL BE SOLVED???

Danny101

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2010 2:14 PM in response to SaturnX

Same problem here in Toronto with Rogers. I get in my elevator for 30 seconds and have to turn my phone off and on to reconnect. This is very frustrating since turning the phone off takes about a minute then a couple of minutes to restart.

I have missed important emails/calls because of this problem.

ldodman

Level 1

0 points

Mar 29, 2010 2:03 PM in response to Danny101

I have this same problem and I'm with Bell in Toronto. The signal in my office is poor and is some spots there is no signal. Once it loses the signal if it is gone for more than a few minutes the only way I get a signal back (once in an area with a signal) is to turn my iPhone off and back on.

Is there help on the horizon. Seems to me this is not a carrier issue.

Jun 14, 2010 2:31 PM in response to SaturnX

I am having the same issues. I'm with telus in Kingston, ON and went over from Blackberry for this piece of crap. What a mistake. I have had the Iphone for a month and a half. I have been told to replace the phone 3 times now. I actually had 29 dropped calls on Friday with decent signal bars. I have changed the sim card and have been on the phone with Telus and Apple for hours now. Each one is blaming the other. I drove to Toronto on Friday to change this POS iPhone for the 3rd time and I'm experiencing the same problems. Who wants to reboot their phone everytime you lose a signal? Not me....What a poor excuse for a phone.....They should call it the iPOS.....

Jun 14, 2010 2:51 PM in response to goober2010

yep me too... im in australia on the optus network and I have a similar problem thats really ******** me...

example...
Edge is working fine > change to 3G > No connection to any network > continues to not connect > change back to Edge > still no network... at this stage I have to restart the phone to get only the edge network back...

3G is completely not working at all... Evertime i change to 3G i lose all network coverage.

wedgeoli

Level 1

0 points

Jul 23, 2010 7:56 PM in response to SaturnX

Hi everyone. I also have a variant of this problem.

I have a 3GS on Fido. The bar will say full connection, and the 3GS will be on, but the internet will NOT work. It will just timeout and say "not connected to internet."

- Restarting will fix it usually. Airplane on-off-on will NOT fix the problem.
- Tends to happen after the subway, or emerging from a building with no signal.
- Has occurred in Montreal and Toronto. Preceeded the iOS4 update.
- Phone signal not affected
- Had my phone replaced COMPLETELY, and problem recurred.

iBarbara

Level 1

0 points

Jan 29, 2010 3:19 AM in response to SaturnX

Hi I have the same problem, and it's not a timeout problem to reconnect, it still stay out Cell Netwarok until I turn it off or I use the Aircraft sygnal on/off.

mikecuba

Level 1

4 points

Feb 2, 2010 1:00 PM in response to SaturnX

I have the exact same issue. I either have to restart the phone, or as mentioned in your post, flip between airplane mode and back.

BarbyCar

Level 1

0 points

Feb 4, 2010 12:42 PM in response to gordiasUK

I have exactly the same problem. Service provider is Rogers in Canada

Sukks2bu

Level 1

0 points

Feb 17, 2010 5:22 PM in response to SaturnX

Same Problem here, Toronto, On Rogers, but this only started happening to me after most resent update 3.1.3

Apr 9, 2010 9:19 AM in response to LandlineMan

I am ANOTHER Rogers user who has trouble with this ****** phone. I am dumping Rogers for Wind and getting a BB!

spthomas

Level 1

0 points

May 31, 2010 3:49 PM in response to Michael Wolfe 416

Just recently developed the same issues with my phone, again Rogers. However I'm outside of TO, in Burlington.

Trying the 3G/Carriers fix, will see how it goes.

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iPhone does not reconnect to Cell Network after losing signal