abj_bhat

Q: Remedy for poor signal strength on iPhone 6 plus?

I'm in Bangalore, India using an iPhone 6 plus, 64 GB on iOS 8. LTE signal strength is frankly, quite bad in Bangalore - its still new. 3G signals are more abundant but can still be spotty at times. A 2G signal is easily found. A 2G signal is enough for email, IM, SMS and most importantly - being reachable for phone calls!! These gadgets are still meant to be phones!

 

Last night I was in a restaurant and I had no service for 2 hours - just because the phone would refuse to latch on to a 2G signal. I rebooted the phone twice. Each time, it would latch onto a 3G signal, show 2 dots but couldn't enable data. After a couple of minutes of acquiring a signal, the phone would show no service. I just gave up. And yes, this is a new SIM card.

 

How can I force the phone to use only the 2G signal? I know there's only a way to turn off LTE use, I've turned off the LTE toggle. What's annoying is that the phone burns through more battery to try an acquire a 3G signal. Additionally, when you're  traveling in the country; you will still pass through towns which don't have 3G services. Locking the phone down to a 2G signal will keep the phone active - and not a useless brick!

 

Not having a "2G signal preferred" type option is frankly, very annoying and a serious oversight for countries still having 3G deployment issues. I was on Windows phone and Android before this - and they had this exact. I've been told that older iPhone models still have this option on non-4G/LTE models - so why not for the iPhone 6 series?

 

Please, pretty please add this option in a future iOS upgrade - preferably before Q2 - 2015!

 

-Extremely Peeved,

A First Time iPhone owner

 

(ps: the phone is amazing when it has a decent signal/WiFi)

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.1.2

Posted on Jan 20, 2015 6:31 PM

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Q: Remedy for poor signal strength on iPhone 6 plus?

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  • by abj_bhat,

    abj_bhat abj_bhat Jan 20, 2015 6:43 PM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2015 6:43 PM in response to abj_bhat

    I'd also like to point out that I've also seen similar issues here: Iphone 6 poor signal

    and already tried the steps mentioned here: If you see No Service in the status bar of your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

     

    So please, refrain from asking me to reboot the phone and re-insert the SIM card.

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Jan 20, 2015 6:52 PM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 20, 2015 6:52 PM in response to abj_bhat

    Bhat-Saab

     

    Can you go into Settings - Cellular and then under LTE toggle it to off?

    This will force the phone to fall back on 3G / Edge

     

    It is curious that your phone is behaving this way - who is your carrier?

     

    I was in India about 2 months ago and had 3G Airtel in Bombay and Delhi and E in Amritsar - I did not change any settings - happened on its own but nonetheless - please do what I suggested and let us know

     

    by the way - this is purely a user to user forum - we are all iUsers here - no official Apple people

     

    Thanks

  • by abj_bhat,

    abj_bhat abj_bhat Jan 20, 2015 7:14 PM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2015 7:14 PM in response to ManSinha

    For everyone responding/about to respond to this question with suggestions to:

     

    1. Toggle LTE connection

    2. Reboot the phone

    3. Remove/reinsert the SIM card

    4. Get a new SIM card

    5. Toggle flight mode

     

    Please stop, I've done all of these and it didn't help.

     

    Also, @ : I'm on Airtel - They have the best 3G coverage in Bangalore. Also, I know that there are no Apple employees on this forum.. but I'm keeping my fingers crossed in case an employee is accidentally browsing this forum.

     

    Any other suggestions would help.

     

    Thanks

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Jan 20, 2015 8:42 PM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 20, 2015 8:42 PM in response to abj_bhat

    Got it

    But what happens when you turn LTE off? Do you not fall back on 3G?

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 20, 2015 8:48 PM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 9 (58,992 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 20, 2015 8:48 PM in response to abj_bhat

    Where did you purchase the phone? Also, it is the carrier's responsibility to provide a carrier file that allows users to change between LTE and other bands. This has been discussed extensively before, and Airtel has even admitted it is their problem. You can find this in other threads with a search. It would also depend on where you purchased the phone, because if it was not made for the area, you are also going to experience issues. I suggest that you take it up with Airtel.

  • by abj_bhat,

    abj_bhat abj_bhat Jan 21, 2015 5:27 AM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2015 5:27 AM in response to ManSinha

    @ManSinha:

     

    When I turn off the LTE, it tries to find a 3G tower. I have kept it off from the day I got the phone.

     

    @ChrisJ4203:

     

    I purchased the phone in India. Its an unlocked Indian iPhone. What are carrier files? Why are they needed for iPhones? (no, seriously, I don't know). I haven't required any for the previous phones I've had. Everytime I've put a sim card into a new phone, the settings - sms, mms, internet APNs are sent the device automatically. Airtel employees *try* to help, but its like speaking greek and latin to the folks there.

     

    Anyway. Looks like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 21, 2015 10:14 AM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 9 (58,992 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 21, 2015 10:14 AM in response to abj_bhat

    Carrier files for supported carriers are included in the device. Occasionally the carriers send out updates that you will find when updating your device. The problems exist with non-supported carriers, or devices purchased from countries other than the ones they are going to be used in, and they do not have the same settings. If you are not seeing anything except the ability to turn off LTE, then you can address that with Airtel, but the phone should automatically switch you to 3G if it is available. You can also test by making a backup of the device and then restoring it as new. Before adding any additional content to the phone, test to see if it will connect and provide adequate coverage. If so, then restore your backup and see what happens. If it does not provide adequate coverage, then make an appointment with the Authorized Apple Service Provider to have the hardware checked.

  • by riturajagrawal,

    riturajagrawal riturajagrawal Jan 23, 2015 3:09 AM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 3:09 AM in response to abj_bhat

    Mr. Bhat,

     

    The problem you are facing is peculiar to iPhone 5S, 6 and 6plus users on certain networks. In India, this is only faced by Airtel users. I guess you're on Airtel too.

     

    Apple provides software builds for various service providers according to their capabilities in technologies they offer In their network. There are three different builds. Airtel, being an LTE operator, gets that build where there is no option of choosing 2G. If you simply port your no. to any other operator, you'll get option to choose between LTE/3G/2G.

     

    SInce Airtel's LTE is probably available in Bangalore, that too on a test basis only, I can understand it would be very frustrating. I had the same issue, tried all that I could, wrote emails to top brass at Airtel and they could not help. Finally I ported to Vodafone and now I have the option of staying on 2G for my voice calling.

  • by riturajagrawal,

    riturajagrawal riturajagrawal Jan 23, 2015 3:34 AM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 3:34 AM in response to abj_bhat

    To support what I've stated above, please check the link Understanding LTE options on your iPhone - Apple Support.

    While communicating with Apple, Airtel must have informed that they were LTE capable, never mentioning how widespread their LTE network was. Apple accordingly provided the OS build and no one can help it.

    The only solution will be to port as I have done. It is a big relief to have 5 dots on your 2G signal. Most times, the internet is taken care of by wifi.

  • by saifbatth,

    saifbatth saifbatth Feb 16, 2015 11:28 PM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 16, 2015 11:28 PM in response to abj_bhat

    It is not the iphone issue.It is the Carrier Issue.
    It is issue of Airtel only.You can not toggle to 2G.

     

     

    I had changed my 4 phone numbers from airtel to idea.
    Idea and Vodafone supports 2G toggle option.You can Choose 2G or 3G at any time.
    The iphone battery last longer with 2G signals as it never drops.
    Go with any another operator than Airtel,The issue will be resolved.

     

    Airtel is doing so to encourage the 4G usage so they have disabled the 2G option.

  • by saifbatth,Helpful

    saifbatth saifbatth Feb 16, 2015 11:29 PM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 16, 2015 11:29 PM in response to ManSinha

    It is not the iphone issue.It is the Carrier Issue.
    It is issue of Airtel only.You can not toggle to 2G.


     

    I had changed my 4 phone numbers from airtel to idea.
    Idea and Vodafone supports 2G toggle option.You can Choose 2G or 3G at any time.
    The iphone battery last longer with 2G signals as it never drops.
    Go with any another operator than Airtel,The issue will be resolved.


    Airtel is doing so to encourage the 4G usage so they have disabled the 2G option.


  • by abj_bhat,

    abj_bhat abj_bhat Feb 18, 2015 8:30 AM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2015 8:30 AM in response to abj_bhat

    ok, so.. I just want to understand something here.... I understand that Airtel isn't providing carrier files that it should, Vodafone/Idea are.. However, why does the iPhone need to work this way in the first place? I've owned *multiple* Symbian, Android, Windows phones over the past few years.. and in each case, no carrier settings were required. The OS/phone itself allowed this feature. So why does the iPhone work this way?

  • by Akash90,

    Akash90 Akash90 Oct 27, 2015 9:05 AM in response to abj_bhat
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2015 9:05 AM in response to abj_bhat

    Hi All,

    I just got my Iphone 6s and have faced call failed issues in greater noida with Airtel . I am facing this issue in my home , but phone has worked in Noida and Delhi . When i try to Use 3g , the network drops , there is just a single or two dots at most . I am unable to make or receive calls in 3G , maybe if i try 10 times one might get through . But i am able to make or receive calls on 2G . Any resolutions folks?

    Extremely dissapointed First time Apple owner

    Regards

    Akash