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

Reply
1,022 replies

Dec 20, 2011 11:21 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

i wonder if any apple working tracking this discusssion?

People are wrting because they got crazy about the defect, if the sim card is working properly at all celular phones including iphones having ios before 5.0.1.

I bought the phone on friday and because APPLE doesn`t have any online support at Turkey I have only chance to write on the forum, i chosed apple after blackberry in order to have good service but after 4 days past i missed the days while having the blackberry crash (at least i had chance to call or to be called)

Dec 20, 2011 9:55 PM in response to Iphone BD

This solution worked for me. I bought my iPhone 4S here in the Phlippines 4 days ago (a day after the official release) and the firmware version was 5.0.1 (9A405). The cellular network resets randomly, especially when you're not using it. You cannot send text messages or receive a call even with full bars of signal. When I upgraded to 9A406 last night, none of the problems came back. This is worth a try. It is important to note that the "fix" is in the 9A406 version. If you check for software update, iTunes will tell you that you are using the latest iOs version 5.0.1 even whenyou're firmware is actually the 9A405 version and not the 9A406.


Settings -> General -> About -> Version. If the version is 5.0.1(9A405) and you're experiencing the "No Sim" / "No Service" problem, back up and upgrade. Follow the above outlined steps. It worked for me.



Scott

Dec 21, 2011 1:17 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Just found out another friend is having issue with this (no signal/sim card error). This is a very serious problem. I susgest if Apple don't take action soon we must pass on this problem to Apple fan websites like Mactrast or something similar to make them heard us. We spend this amount of money to go thru all these hassle? My $20 Nokia never lose a signal let alone sim card error.


I urge people to make as much noise as possible!

Dec 21, 2011 3:14 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

i am using Avea from Turkey and if you use Mobile Data it always disconnects from network starts "searching" closing the mobile data solves the problem and let you use the phone as a simple phone (no smart phone)

people who may chance to call apple online support and tell that ios 5.0.1 is useless and causes this thing(52.000 people read this discussion and no official answer)

Dec 21, 2011 3:39 AM in response to unicohijo86

As I have said before I am one of the lucky one….

My iphone 4S had the same symptoms; however it worked withthe Rogers after I received it on October 16th 2011.

The iphone started dropping network and data at random symptoms after replacing the simm card. However the full restore with version5.0.1 (9A406) worked and I am using the phone at my hearts content.


Version: 5.0.1 (9A406)

Carrier: 11.0

Serial: C39GLXXXXXXX

IMEI: 01 300X00 XXXXXX X

Dec 21, 2011 4:43 AM in response to ShahedS

Hi ShadedS,


I don't know what the commonality is behind this network connectivity issue with iPhone 4Ss but so far my unit's been running smoothly after the version 5.0.1 (94A46) upgrade which I did some 15 hours ago. Maybe it's too early to tell? We have completely different specs.


Carrier: 11.1

Serial: C36G

IMEI: 01 303


I'll re-update tomorrow if the problem resurfaces.

Dec 21, 2011 5:04 AM in response to antonfromnorth brunswick

I don't understand how a software/firmware update loses effectivity. I am an electronics engineer and does programming for IC testing and statistical tool development. Once a "bug" is fixed via codes, that's it, you move on and wait for the next one to show up. The only way that the 9A406 update won't fix the network connectivity problem is when the real problem wasn't identified to begin with. You can digitally fix hardware flaws and glitches but you have to be sure that you're looking at the correct hardware flaw that's been causing the problem. The 24-hour window doesn't make sense, unless some other part of your hardware is changing? We'll see. I'm monitoring my 4S.


Scott

Dec 21, 2011 5:14 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Hi All,

I can see the frustration growing among this group and rightfully so.

I think Apple acknowledged the issue and released 5.0.1 (94A46) which seems to have worked for very few members and aggravated the situation for others.


I solved my issue with a SIM exchange as posted earlier.

I have reason to believe 4s firmware/OS incompatibility with certain SIM cards.

Not sure if it is a deadly combination of OS / SIM Card and Carrier.


To give better feedback to Apple and to the user community, i suggest members post your

1) network/carrier,

2) photo of back side of the SIM card and

3) OS version/sub version.

Maybe we can figure our a pattern there.


I hope all of you can solve your issues ASAP like i did.


Carrier: AIRTEL India

OS: 5.0.1 (94A45)

User uploaded file

Dec 21, 2011 5:19 AM in response to unicohijo86

you can use the phone after the restore for a time that god knows, only way to use the phone is turning off the mobile data .

i wonder if anyone from apple is reading these customer expreriences, do they think that we are some bad users whom like to drive people not to buy iphone 4 s. they may contact one of us in order to learn from how this problem makes us crazy.

is there anyone that heard the official solution forecast from apple?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.