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 26, 2011 9:57 AM in response to Mandachuva

Hello,

my 4s is shipping to Apple. It lost the Network Contact if the Network low-level. Other Phones have no problems,but the 4s have then "no Network". Thanks Apple, for thit good work!! 1 Euro(Dollar) Phones are better.

Dec 26, 2011 11:46 PM in response to MuGeN PoWeR

mine is 4s with MD234C

it cant keep the signal more than 1 minute, i hav to play with it to retreive the signal again...

my country Lebanon, with MTC touch carrier, zain...

i did what i hav to do: 9A406

then nothing improved, the reception same weakness...

i think apple should specify the antennas that should the 3G and the signal use respectively so they wouldnt confuse again...

we are waiting the reply

NOTE: THE OTHER CARRIER IN LEBANON "ALFA" IS WORKING BETTER...THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN EARLIER SYSTEM...OLDER ONE, SO THE SIM CAN DO ITS JOB...

Dec 27, 2011 3:13 AM in response to abdulhameed Mneimneh

Mine is:

Model: MD239F

S/N: DNTGK...

IMEI 01 2939

Dec 27, 2011 5:01 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Apple told me that it is something between iPhone and Operator´s Network.

It´s OK, but to me its a SIM card failure (it is between iPhone and operator´s Network), but not a Network problem. Because a lot of people here bought his iPhone in a Roaming situation and the phone wasn´t working on that network too. Again..., its a SIM card failure. Apple probaly knows it and is trying to get some time so release some update to fix it.

Dec 27, 2011 5:37 AM in response to Mandachuva

check this link, it worked for me ok.(until now)

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1292710

Zakarya

Level 1

0 points

Dec 27, 2011 7:08 AM in response to Zakarya

I feel like my new 4s works better, I've restarted it "only" twice today instead of 6-10 times a day.

but I don't know if I'm unlucky or "cursed", because my new 4S have another problem, I cannot activate Facetime and iMessage. Everytime I restart my phone it send the sms to activate and then "activation failure". I'v restored (again) my phone, but I still cannot activate it...

I'm really fed up with this iPhone. I think it's my last iPhone. At 630€,you expect to have more reliable stuff.

Dec 27, 2011 9:04 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Same issue here in Brazil with TIM

Apple are you there???

Dec 27, 2011 9:49 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

model:MD239B

S/N: DNPG

IMEI 01293

bialowas

Level 1

0 points

Dec 27, 2011 9:58 AM in response to andrescalzer

Same thing here!!

TIM - São Paulo!

Dec 27, 2011 2:01 PM in response to bialowas

Users in Brazilto contact methroughfacebook.The thingis far more seriousand I had toenter theProcon andstill have the problemofyellow screen

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1079883343

usuario Brasileiro entre em contato

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3497527?answerId=17114503022#17114503022

Dec 27, 2011 3:21 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

My iphone 4s model is: MD2...

Just a model starting MD2 is loosing signal?

MarcoMedeiros me add no msn andrescalzer1@hotmail.com

Dec 27, 2011 4:22 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Hi,

Mine is the MD239DN with software 9A406

issues are "no service" and "simcard failure"

i noticed something in the logs a second ago when the phone went into "no service"

Dec 28 01:19:56 unknown CommCenterMobileHelper[733] <Notice>: Checking for an OTA update

Dec 28 01:19:56 unknown CommCenterMobileHelper[733] <Notice>: Checking for update xml file at: http://itunes.com/version

Dec 28 01:19:56 unknown CommCenterMobileHelper[733] <Notice>: OTA - Failed to download list of available carrier bundles!

Dec 28 01:19:56 unknown CommCenterMobileHelper[733] <Notice>: Not updating carrier bundle as there is no update available

makes sense?

Ronald.

IRock_

Level 1

8 points

Dec 28, 2011 4:48 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I bought my 4S from Australia. Brought it to Cambodia. Activate it here and it has been giving me the same problem describe in this forum. I was fed up. Ask a friend brought it back to Aust to exchange it in Apple store. Though before that I let my friend use Aust sim card for a few days to see if it works ok. And it works fine for the entire week. No drop call no sim card failure! I don't understand! Now I'm on my 2nd 4s and it works in Cambodia perfectly. Same bloody sim card!!

Dec 28, 2011 4:56 AM in response to andrescalzer

Hi,

My name is Pedro and I'm also from Brazil.. I went to USA and bought a new iPhone 4S UNLOCKED.

I came to Brazil and I had the same problem that everyone over here. I use TIM. I called the company several times and nothing changed. I was was losing the signal and I coudn't make any calls.

Frist I thought the problem was with my iPhone, them I tried to use another company called OI and it worked fine.

Then I was looking at the internet and I found this: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4148

So I pluged my iphone at my computer and I followed all steps. FINALLY its working perfect now (even with TIM) 🙂

I'm glad I have no problems anymore with my iPhone 4s and I hope everybody can fix their phones.

if you do it and it works, please let everybody know.

PEDRO FELIPE

Dec 28, 2011 6:30 AM in response to PedroFelipeAB

hi, what is the model? MD234C or MD118LL

????

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iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random