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

maung

Level 1

10 points

Dec 13, 2011 10:41 PM in response to VM818

Dear VM818,

Just install Itune latest version in ur cpu then sycronize it.

Vinothkk

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2011 10:42 PM in response to Venkat B

Venkat good catch...Lemme try with other operators........

IRock_

Level 1

8 points

Dec 13, 2011 11:09 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

@maung

I have friends who has similar issue with iPhone 4S here in Cambodia. The only solution that I have heard that works is switching carrier. A friend who has been using Mobitel been having Searching and Invalid sim issue switch from Mobitel to Mfone and it works. Other switch to Smart. I don't understant why it does, but it works in some cases. My 4S doesn't work in Cambodia but when brought back to Australia it works totally fine.

My current 32gig 4S is 5.0.1 and is on Mobitel. Its 5.0.1 out of the box. It working fine.

maung

Level 1

10 points

Dec 14, 2011 1:08 AM in response to IRock_

Thanks IRock, let me try to change sim card and phone company then! will let u know.

Dec 14, 2011 1:59 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

36 Pages, 2 Months...

Steve where are you?

Dec 14, 2011 2:15 AM in response to percival35

Percival,

I did the same, I bought an Android phone to use as my prymare phone until Apple can solve my expensive "iPod4S". No problem at all, my phone line is back to work...

No words from Apple Inc, Apple Brazil doesnt want to know about an product they do not released yet... (they said I need to go back do France to use my warranty). I´m a Apple user since 1995, had a Newton, iPods, all the iPhones,iPads, Macbook Pro, Powerbooks, G4 Cube, G3..., and for the first time ever, Apple leave me alone...

THE RESTORE OF 5.0.1, AND ALL 5.1 BETA UPDATES DOESNT WORK!!!

Dec 14, 2011 4:13 AM in response to Mandachuva

This problem is all over the place.

Yet many people are still saying it's a non-issue.

It's anything but a non-issue, and if you're lucky enough to get a replacement it still won't do anything really.

As the problem, I think stems from the Dual Antenna system and the software that auto switches between signals.

Dec 14, 2011 4:13 AM in response to Mandachuva

Hi Mandachuva. I would like to chat with you regarding iphone 4s if that's alright with you. I have facebook or yahoo messenger. Should you be interested just look for me at these sites. I am Percival Cuenco

Dec 14, 2011 5:32 AM in response to L2C2002

Same here in Brazil. Took me a while to figure this out. Any definitive solution yet? My mobile service provider seems to deny the problem exists...

Dec 14, 2011 6:16 AM in response to BRUNO.PINAUD

Bruno,

Where are you? Who is your mobile service provider?

I´m from SP

Dec 14, 2011 6:23 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I am in Rio. Had this problem with the iPhone 4. Changed the sim card and it was solved. Changing the SIM Pin is not working with the iPhone 4S.

I use TIM network. But I saw complains at Vivo as well.

No complains about Oi yet.

Dec 14, 2011 7:54 AM in response to Iphone BD

if u r facing sudden "Network searching/ No Service/ Invalid Sim/ Call Failed.." issues after iOS 5.0.1 update with any GP/ Banglalink/ Robi sim(s).. then.. 1. buy an AIRTEL 64k regular sim card.. 2. hand cut it to a micro sim & put it in ur iPhone 4s.. 3. Reset your Network settings from Settings> General> Reset> Reset Network Settings.. 4. after ur iPhone reboots, make sure your carrier setting is set to "Automatic", sim pin is "disabled", caller id is "on", call waiting is "on"..

and YAHOOO.. ur iPhone is all set to run as healthy as it is.. No more problems with the Network/ Sim/ Receive or Making Calls/ Sending text messages.. blah blah :).. I had the same 7 days problems with my GP/ ROBI sims as those were not working with the new iPhone 4s but were working absolutely fine with my iPhone 4.. then I started using AIRTEL sim and TADA! I'm not facing any sort of problem with my iPhone 4s anymore for d last 24 hours & it also solved the battery issue as well! (Cause d more time it'll search for "Networks", the more % of battery u'll lose!)

And if u want to c ur own phone number under the Phone settings, then 1st connect to wifi connection, then activate iMessage (it'll ask ur itunes id & password, so fill those up), then activate Facetime (it'll ask ur itunes id & password, so fill those up).. after doing these successfully u'll c ur own phone number for sure :)..

Knock me up if u need any further help.. (Sorry for such a long tut!)

maquer75

Level 1

0 points

Dec 14, 2011 1:06 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

someone in mexico having this problem with telcel and iphone 4s 5.01???

Dec 15, 2011 4:46 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

How many of you has the 4S official launch in your country / carrier?

Today Apple is launching it here in Brazil, since there´s no official Apple Store here the support for iPhone is only with the mobile operators, so people like me that bought it outside the country has no support...

Dec 15, 2011 6:37 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Update:

My internet 3G still works without the SIM card! The iPhone doesn´t "feel" when I remove it...

Curious is that when a try to remove the another carrier prepaid SIM, I just receive a popup message "NO SIM CARD INSTALLED".

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iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random