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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 13, 2011 5:59 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

BTW, I changed my sim to 128K 15 minutes ago.

Nov 13, 2011 6:06 AM in response to vZ10

writes on my sim.

if not on your sim you can ask your operator for that

Nov 13, 2011 6:09 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I'll tell you guys if it really works in 4 hours..

Nov 13, 2011 6:20 AM in response to christianfromfinspång

Í bought my iPhone 4s from The Phone House so I was there 20 minutes ago so now I don´t have the phone anymore. I got to borrow some shi**y samsung because they will be sending it away. He told me that they propably will change it to a new one, they always do.

Nov 13, 2011 6:26 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Apple gives you great service for being a handyman! I've been working on a cardboard for an hour to make an adaptor micro sim to regular size sim. ı found one of my old sim card for scale, i cut cardboard and put my micro sim into it and stick it with glue. after a few relocation i finally got worked with my siemens c 55. My 7 year old c55 now has much much more reception from my newbie iphone 4s (actually thousand dollar ipod). Thank you Apple for provide a great service for me to be a handyman!

Nov 13, 2011 6:28 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Same issues here. Tried restoring my iPhone 4S Black (Factory Unlocked) several time. did 'ERASE ALL CONTENT AND SETTINGS' from my iPhone as well but there is no network at all and even when there are signals I am not able to make any call or send a text message. Apple please help as I need my iPhone!!

Nov 13, 2011 6:34 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

And i like to share something that took my attention. I used to use 3GS , when i removed sim it immediately warned me there was no sim. But when i removed from 4s today, it act for an half hour like there was a sim in it. Also my provider name was showing. I found it interesting.

Nov 13, 2011 6:45 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Katakulli

I had the same issue. I removed the SIM and I had signal for 1/2 an hour. I even received a call with the SIM removed! Apple needs to sort this out. I don't need another iPod.

qnerd

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 6:45 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I'm just off the phone with Apple support. They will send out a new iPhone to me. But I doubt that this is a hardware problem as it worked fine with 5.0.0 on the 4S (before 5.0.1 update) and same sim card (adapter) works fine with a 3GS.

Nov 13, 2011 6:48 AM in response to istanbulappple

Tell me, istanbulappple, did you go to your operators shop, told your story and asked for a new simcard, and how did they/you figure out that it is to be a 128k sim that will solve the problem?

Nov 13, 2011 7:00 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

hi guys,

I have a same problem. after up to 5.0.1 my network dropped, cannot connect to cell network. I am living in Vietnam, just bought ip4s in a trip to france.

How to return my iphone 4s 😟

Nov 13, 2011 7:05 AM in response to huongfromhanoi

Huong oi,

Are you using Mobifone, Vinaphone or Viettel?

I'm using Mobifone and having the same problem, but someone has suggested that I should try a 'supported network' ... as in, try a network which sells the iPhone.

Nov 13, 2011 7:17 AM in response to Wibbly le Mönde

Hi,

I am using Vinaphone network. I think I cannot sell my iphone, because now it like ipod touch. Where did you buy your iphone 4s?

I want to return it. Apple have to accept!! ><! oh my 19 million dong 😢

Nov 13, 2011 7:19 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

solved

just replace your sim card to newer sim dont ask for 128k because it make confusion the new sim will work

Nov 13, 2011 7:23 AM in response to istanbulappple

üstad selam.. bende iphone 4s var..turkcell 64k sim kartı var..şebeke hatasından dolayı 2 gundur kaput durumdayım.. gerçekten 128k sim kart takarsak duzeliyormu.. acil bilgi verirsen sevinirim.

iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random