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iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random

Hi,

I've been using an iPhone 4 on a Vodafone contract for the past 16 month and just bought an iPhone 4S direct from Apple. It arrived on Friday morning and I got it set up correctly as far as I can tell.

When I first turn it on, it works lovely and exactly as I would expect, able to make calls, send texts and access the internet via the cellular network. However, at what appears to be random, the network will disappear (no bars of signal) stopping me making calls and texts, but still allowing me to access the internet. Sometimes, the Internet goes, but I can still make calls and texts. Other times, everything is gone and I get "No Signal" where it normally says Vodafone UK.

So when trying to fix this problem after it's noticed, I try putting it into Airplane mode and back out. The phone scans for a network and goes back to the same state as before I tried this fix. I have tried resetting network settings, but this doesn't change anything. The only thing that actually fixes it temporarily is turning the phone right off and back on again.

At this stage I assume this is a bug with the software, but I wondered if anyone else is experiencing anything like this? If no one is, I will take it up with Apple, but I don't really want to do that as I love the new phone so much!!

Cheers, Stuart

iMac (late 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.3), 27" i7 Quad-Core, 4GB RAM, 1TB HDD

Posted on Oct 16, 2011 2:53 AM

1,022 replies

Nov 12, 2011 9:58 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

i have the same problem, and i bought my iphone 4s from paris 5 days ago!

Nov 12, 2011 10:45 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I feel that this is a problem with iOS 5, more than just the 4s. It's happening to both my 3gs and my wife's 4s, both unlocked phones, I've tested my 3gs on two networks and it's happening on both Telstra and Optus.

Neither of us had this problem before iOS5. Her 3g whilst slow, never dropped out the network completely. I would've tried a Telstra SIM in her 4s but I only have a standard sized SIM for my work phone, which means I can't try it in the 4s.

Troubleshooting the issue with Optus, they advised that we disable SIM PINs (which weren't enabled) and upgrade to 5.01 - which hasn't fixed it.

How does one get acknowledgement from Apple that yes, there is in fact a problem?

Nov 12, 2011 11:46 PM in response to playswithfire

I was afraid of this. That people start mixing up the problems that some had before iOS 5.0.1 and the new ones that appeared after the update. I am one of those who had a non functional phone since i bought the **** thing 2 weeks ago. Before the update: signal dropping totally several times a day and battery issues. After the update: Same reception problem (a lottery when you can call and when not), battery issues, and now a new one where the phone says SIM failure.

So, there seems to be two type of cases here. Those with problems before and after the update.

nesse10

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 1:54 AM in response to PetriFromStockholm

My problems has been there from the get go, same problems with 5.0 and 5.0.1

nesse10

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 1:59 AM in response to PetriFromStockholm

Just placed my sim card in to an adapter to fit my old 3gs, running with 5.0 without any kind of problems.

I really don´t think the problem is in the software but rather something with the 4s!!!

mbolo01

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 2:05 AM in response to nesse10

so far and crossing all users experiences, including my 2 weeks nightmare with the device, forcing the cellular network to your vendor makes the device usable (no more SIM card errors, less battery usage, reachable) until Apple recognize and publish a fix or a working hardware replacement. Unfortunately for people roaming, like me, this temporary solution is not the best.

Hurry up, Apple, hurry up!

Nov 13, 2011 2:05 AM in response to PetriFromStockholm

@PetriFromStockholm Same here. First very bad battery, now after 5.0.1., bad battery + no signal SIM card failure.

Now I have to figure out how to put a mini-simcard into an old nokia phone 🙂

Nov 13, 2011 2:19 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I had same problem. Solved it by getting a new micro-sim and so far it's working good.

But for some people this doesn't make any difference, so the only thing I can think of is a problem with some model of sim cards. My old card was 64k and new one is 128k, other than that, maybe the provider treats different some sim cards.

Your best bet is trying a sim replacement and, if that doesn't work, ask for a iPhone replacement with iOS 5.0 installed until a fix is released.

Nov 13, 2011 2:32 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Day 3 and still no network connection.

Apple is completely ignoring me as a customer.

I've tried every (re)setting and logged a bugreport with Apple. NO RESPONSE...

dekko

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 2:32 AM in response to Guillermo Zafra

I think people should do like me, RETURN the **** thing and get a new one.

I am still waiting for the replacement, but I cannot have a phone that cannot make phone calls.

Waiting for Apple, we could end up waiting for a whole month, it seams that they dont care!!!!

Lots of people with this problem and they dont come out with anything. I guess they dont care; 10million phones sold, that is all they care.

nesse10

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 3:20 AM in response to dekko

Oh I´m pretty sure of that they know what´s going on in Apple HQ. I just read that the chief designer responsible for ios5.0 and 5.0.1 was fired with immediate effect on friday.

Wonder if that was a smart move

Nov 13, 2011 3:24 AM in response to nesse10

Where did you read this, nesse10?

qnerd

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 3:24 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Same problem after 5.0.1 update on iPhone 4S (sim lock free).

It will drop service all the time, after a few hours I get a message that the sim card is invalid. The phone is currently not useable at all as connections don't last longer than a couple seconds.

Haven't had this issue/ worked fine before the update (5.0.0) - except for the battery problem (stand by not longer than 20 hours).

My provider is telekom.de (T-Mobile Germany).

Nov 13, 2011 3:31 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I read some news today that we are not getting the 5.0.2 before december. Thanks apple we all now have fancy ipods!

Nov 13, 2011 3:34 AM in response to qnerd

We should just encourage the community to put words to their frustrations. This is a desaster for Apple. Never mind bugs in new OS versions, I have encountered them before (OS X 10.1 and 10.4, the latter to kill my MacPro), but this iOS 5.0.1 is just eliminating the basic key function of a cellular phone, it is amazing, I simply cannot believe this. I wonder if this relates to Stuxnet

iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random