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 29, 2011 8:24 AM in response to MuGeN PoWeR

Well... the three people are an example... the tip of the iceberg. I saw the link that MuGeN PoWeR share, and I´m extremely concern... yes, millions of activations of iOs on Christmas... so, how that will increase the number of phones with this issue????? I have been follow these forums from a few weeks to day... and I noticed and increase in the activity and reports of failures everywhere in the world! And by experience... only the one who is suffering of this annoying situation knows that write here is a kind of catharsis of the strong feeling of frustration we´re living! Still with hope in Apple and in a future solution!

JCRocky5

Level 1

14 points

Dec 30, 2011 6:43 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

iPhone 4

ios 5.0.1

Vodafone

I had this problem today, 26th December 2011 after 12pm my phone stopped responding to phone calls & SMS messages.

my problems were,

1. Calls would say calling... and just sit there on my screen, but they would still call the persion just I dint know & I couldnt hear them, nor they hear me. (I had to force close the Phone app to stop the calls, as it became unresponsive to touch)

2. SMS messages would just hang at the last quarter of the send bar, they would send but again I wouldnt see this & be told they failed, when in fact they never.

3. Removal of the SIM would result in the Carrier name still being VodafoneUK and 4 signal Bars, only a Reboot would clear this.

Work around, if you have another SIM (I used an O2) insert the new SIM & Reboot the phone, then take out the new SIM & place your old SIM in it should work untill you reboot the phone.

Only way I fixed this was to reinstall iOS 5.0.1 it has been working for 5 hours now so fingers crossed I dont need to do this again.

8Honza

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 1:44 PM in response to JCRocky5

Vodafone, iPhone 4s. I have exactely the same troubles. After calling to Apple, I went to Vodafone and asked them to change my SIM again. The Apple guy told me that if I have 128k SIM card, it may solve my problem. It didnt. Then he advise to restore my iPhone, which I did and it didnt help either.

May I ask you how did you succeed in reinstalling iOS 5.0.1? 'cos when do so, the iTunes keeps telling me that I already have the newest iOS 5.0.1 and I cant change anything 😟

Today is the day, when I start loosing my temper. The phone was given to me as a Xmas present and it s been almost a week and I still cant make calls, use 3G network and send messages properly.

Apple, you d better do somethin about it ASAP.

8Honza

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 1:49 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Does it really work? I have tried and it still keeps telling me NO SERVIS after like 3 hours.

I have tried almost everything what you guys have suggested and it s still not working properly. Dont know if it is a phone issue though... I want to use my iPhone not having it in the service! 😟

jurajpe

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 2:02 PM in response to 8Honza

hi.you back up your iphone and then do the restore.it'll restore your iphone to factory settings and puts the latest ios which will be the one ending with "6"...then restore your content from the backup you made at the beginning...

don't ask why,its very strange from apple to do update,call it the same name and the only way how to install it is to do a restore...i read that this is due to the fact that not all users are affected,so if you do not have a problem wirh the original 5.0.1 and you do not dig,you won't even realize and go without this update...good luck

Dec 30, 2011 2:15 PM in response to 8Honza

check this:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4148

is working for me for 5 days.

8Honza

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 2:43 PM in response to jurajpe

Cheers, I ll give it a try. Hope it s gonna be OK...

8Honza

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 2:48 PM in response to jjfreitas

Thanks a lot! Well, that s exactely what I did earlier today. Still loosing signal though. I ll try it againg following your manual. If this doesnt help, dont know what else to do...

jurajpe

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 3:04 PM in response to 8Honza

if the update don't work, then get the stronger 128k sim card from your provider.

saying this cause for me the update to the "6" 5.0.1 made the signal drops even worse and alone did not solve this issue for me.i had a expensive ipod.

so i had to get the new sim and the update,both things together worked for me...

if youre still not successful then take it back for a replacement...

8Honza

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 3:10 PM in response to jurajpe

So I have done the restore and my current version of iOS is 5.0.1 (9A406). It that the one you were takling about?

jurajpe

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 3:35 PM in response to 8Honza

yes...

jurajpe

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 3:52 PM in response to 8Honza

now just wait and hope your done with this...

as for me,i will be very careful with future updates of ios from now on, especially with no way to downgrade, which is very silly from apple by the way...

8Honza

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 4:00 PM in response to jurajpe

I agree with you. Seems OK now, wondering what it s gonna be like in the morning.

Many thanks for your help, I appreciate it and have very happy new year!

jurajpe

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2011 4:05 PM in response to 8Honza

likewise mate...cheers

Dec 30, 2011 6:36 PM in response to Stuart Mchattie

How i solved this problem.

In the first restory version 5.0.1 (9A406)

Not solved the problem.

Later inserted different sims single operator and only the third has earned as necessary.

Solved the problem.

Im not sure, maybe it was just a coincidence.

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iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random