I have related my troubles elsewhere in this forum. Don't know what thread it was, could probably search my user name if interested. (Am I the only one that finds this forum really really complicated to find answers to like problems that are actually grouped together??)
Anyway, thought I'd add to this discussion because it's more recent than others I've read. I have had many of the same phone network problems with my 4s. I am living in Thailand but purchased my phone in the USA. It's a 64 MB Apple-unlocked GSM for (supposedly) using on GSM networks anywhere, such as what we've got here in Thailand.
My original phone provider here was AIS, which is Thailand's #1 phone service provider. My old iPhone 3G was on that network and I never had any issues whatsoever with them before. In fact, I still have the 3G and still use it on that network without a problem.
When I bought the new 4s, I went to AIS for a new micro-sim which allowed me to keep my same phone number as my old phone since I've had it for six years now. At the AIS shop after setting up the micro-sim it was fine. Once I got it home, I had the "no signal" message on the phone. And was unable to connect to AIS at all. Next day I went back to them and they set me up with a new sim and a dual sim deal where I could use the two phones on the same number. The difference being that I could only use one at a time by activating that specific phone's sim as needed at that time. And of course, my 3G had the larger sim and the 4s the micro.
The 3G had, and to this day has, no problems, good reception, 4 - 5 bars. But the 4s had the same "no signal" message all the time. At times when I was away from my home, I would get a signal on the 4s, but at home it was a no-go. Of course I considered there was a signal issue in my area from AIS. But then why would the 3G have constant 4 - 5 bar signals??
After dealing with swapping the two phones for a week or two, I went to another phone provider with my problem. DTAC is the #2 company here, and I was willing to change if my problems were solved using their service. Well, after they set me up with their DTAC sim, I had a strong 4 - 5 bar signal, but I knew trying it at home would be the test. When I got home, I was happily surprised to see a signal there. It was weaker, 2 - (sometimes) 4 bars, but at least there was a signal!
I called a friend to test it out, and he told me that my voice was breaking up and he couldn't hear me most of the time. All the while I was showing 2 - 4 bars signal strength. And, when I'm away from my home, there seems to be no problem at all, which I find very strange. It suggested a reception problem at my home area, even though I was showing what should be an adequate signal strength. But all the while my old 3G (still using AIS) was absolutely fine.
I've tried every tip and trick related in this thread. I tried the 'turn off 3G' thing (which when I did I totally lost my signal!), I tried the 'show caller ID' thing (which for some reason will show it's ON, and sometimes show it's OFF) and it doesn't seem to matter either way. I've re-set the network, re-set the phone, updated to iOS 5.1 and all to no avail.
Beyond the obvious frustrations of buying a $850 phone that's crap, it is even more maddening that Apple has neither fixed the problem - or even acknowledged that there is (or isn't?) one! What kind of company can treat customers that way and stay successful??
Anyhow, that's my story. And I may have omitted or forgotten to relate some specifics here, but feel free to post a reply or question in response. I am NOT happy with Apple right now, and their stuff was something I always heartily recommended to friends and colleagues in the past. If this doesn't get resolved soon, I will trash both the phone and my new MacBook and buy another mfr's product just for spite! And I have a sneaking suspicion that the ultimate fix for all our 4s problems, will be that we'll have to purchase a new iPhone 5 when that's out! Grrrrr!!!!
