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

Dec 19, 2011 12:38 AM in response to jose geraldo

Can somebody in the Netherlands(Telfort) verify that the new update solves the problem with the sim errors?

i'm on 5.0 now and don't want an another brick like before i replaced it by Apple.

VF95

Level 1

0 points

Dec 19, 2011 12:56 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

The latest apple "fix" => http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4148 has absolutely no effect, don't bother trying it, you will just waste an hour on the update and will have to reinstall and resync everything aferwards only to hit the same problem again, I'm not sure yet, but since I performed the upgrade yesterday, its seems to be dropping the network even more frequently!

I bought my 4S last month, it was working perfectly until 4 days ago and than started to drop network for no reason, I haven't installed any apps or made any changes. Can't understand how this could have happened.

Dec 19, 2011 1:17 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Agree with VF95. I have the same problem in Russia and updating to the latest 5.0.1 firmware didn't help at all.

Moreover, I tried 5.1 beta 1 and 5.1 beta 2 firmware and they didn't help in our problem as well.

Zakarya

Level 1

0 points

Dec 19, 2011 1:34 AM in response to captain groz

Still have same problem "No Service".... and need to restart to get network back.

the update doesn't fix anything !!!

Dec 19, 2011 2:07 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Well guys, unfortunately for all of us, there are actually a few different issues which present very similar problems on iOS 5, which didn't occur on iOS 4.

SIM card failure is one issue - solution is replace SIM, if problems persist, replace phone.

Losing 3g/Edge/2g internet connectivity while remaining connected - this is a carrier based problem (as proven with Telstra in Australia) and the Telco needs to fix it - Telstra have reportedly fixed a large number of problems with their users in Australia.

iPhone going from full bars to SoS Only or Searching then back to full bars, including dropping calls - this is a problem which can involve changing the SIM, restoring the newest version of iOS, and replacing the handset.

For those of you still having the problem - try changing the uSIM card first, then restoring the latest version of iOS second, then getting the handset swapped for a new one thirs.

Good luck!

Dec 19, 2011 2:12 AM in response to playswithfire

I don't agree with you that it's a Telco related problem. Why does only iPhone4S fails in such a manner while all the other phones including iPhone4 work perfectly with all Telcos?

And what is your suggestion if we have already (as many others here):

- replaced the SIM card for more than 4 times and

- replaced the handset 3 times??

- and tried both updates, iOS 5.0.1 and the tweaked version

Is there anything left we can change? We should change ourselves as the phone users and move to another phone manufacturer by giving our iPhone 4S back??

Dec 19, 2011 2:21 AM in response to spielothek

Reduced the issue but still not completely resolved.

Zakarya

Level 1

0 points

Dec 19, 2011 3:51 AM in response to vishal2901

I feel like the update made the situation worse !!

Before the update, I had to restart my phone 3-4 time each morning. I've already restarted it 6 time this morning !!!!

Dec 19, 2011 4:09 AM in response to Zakarya

I've restord the iPhone many times in many different ways. Backing up to iTunes, them to iCloud, them using the firmware that iTunes had download, pointing to the one that I´ve downloaded and any kind of combination you could imagine. The result is always the same, did not worked so far.

The new firmware seems to be better, but it has created a even worse situation. Now, sometimes, if you look to the iPhone everything looks ok, no error message and a full bars, but it is not working. You cannot receive or make calls.

One thing is always consistant, if the iPhone remains on during the night in the morning it has a "Invalid SIM" message.

BTW, I'd changed the SIM card (for a 128k) and it has an equivalent behaviour.

Looks like that since Apple has been selling this device like crazy they don't want to talk about problems and really help solve than, in a way to not put their sales on risk. If this is the case they are very stupid, since unhappy customer makes much more noise than the happy ones. I had all the prior iPhone models and never had such a problem. I've been on this for up to 3 weeks and it's enough.

ShahedS

Level 1

0 points

Dec 19, 2011 4:10 AM in response to jose geraldo

Wow, I think it solved the problem.

From iphone to ipod now back to iphone.

I though it was going to bonk off again but wow it did not or the whole 2 days……hopefully apple has fixed it for good.

No thanks to apple though as they have made my life miserable for a month! But I must say I am really happy now!!!!

Dec 19, 2011 4:22 AM in response to jose geraldo

Jose I have a same experience since the latest update - see full bars but I can't call anyone and no-one can reach me. As well every morning I see Invalid SIM and No service. I did get my phone from Movistar in Spain. Where did you get yours?

I tried to reset all setting, restore several times, change SIM card - nothing helps 😟

Dec 19, 2011 4:29 AM in response to RudyKorinek

Hi RudyKorinek,

I've got my iPhone4S in Switzerland from Apple web site. It's an unlock iPhone. I've been using it in Brazil and the problem is the same for VIVO and TIM carriers.

Dec 19, 2011 4:34 AM in response to jose geraldo

Jose Geraldo,

I´ve got mine in France..., the update make the things worst...

Have tried to contact your carrier / Apple here in Brazil? (Im from Brazil too...)

Still waiting for a solution...

Dec 19, 2011 4:42 AM in response to Mandachuva

Mandachuva,

I went to the carrier and asked for a new SIM, that´s the only thing that I did with them. Since they are selling iPhone4S since last Friday and I could never get a resonable answer from than on prior issues (I had one with iPad) I did not try this time.

Dec 19, 2011 4:47 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Does the new iOS update 5.0.1 solve your problem?

http://www.acepolls.com/polls/1240666-is-your-brand-new-iphone-4s-dropping-netwo rk-and-data-at-random

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iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random