Help 3G Data Connectivity Issues

[snookies]

Your advice of going into apps and selecting "Activate" worked for me. My data connection is now restored and my internet is working again after not working for 2 days now. However, my process was a tad different than yours, in that after hitting Activate....I received an error code and a telephone number for Virgin Mobile on my screen. I called the number after hours, so I was speaking to a machine. I spoke the word troubleshooting, was asked to call back, then as soon as hanging up I received a notification of an update. I went into the notification, chose update, and selected one of the many applications that appeared. I got a connection immediately. Now I can use youtube again, surf the web...etc. Thanks again!!!

Prior to your helpful advise, I went to Best Buy where I had bought the phone. An employee tried to troubleshoot the internet problem. He gave up and offered to give me a new replacement phone. However, he said the phone was so popular (LG Optimus V) that he did not have any in stock. So he told me to go to the next nearest Best Buy that had them in stock. I went there, and they didn't have my phone either. They told me to go to a different Best Buy that is about 30 minutes from my home. I really wasn't looking forward to driving to another Best Buy, so I decided to research the issue on the internet when I got back home. Thank goodness I found your advice. Now I don't have to waste time and gas money driving to swap out my phone.

One good thing out of all of this however, is that tonight I noticed a sale on my phone I purchased about a week ago. Tomorrow I will be going in for a price adjustment at Best Buy. Something I would not have noticed, if it wasn't for my phone acting up on me.

 

[KentInPhilly]

I'm sure it's no consolation to you, but I had my number transferred from Sprint to VM within a couple of hours and it worked fine after that.

 

[FTABlogger]

Add me to the list of readers thankful for this advice. I had been round and round with VM tech support for over a week, and after reading this thread, I finally had 3G service 15 minutes later.

Pressing the Activate button is so simple, even compared to yanking the battery, then why don't the first-responder tech support folks have this solution to suggest for folks without 3G?

 

[aidan80]

Data came back again the same day, just out of nowhere it just started to work? It's been cutting off again at random then coming back. I've tried the "activate" button before it didn't do a thing for it. When I first was setting up the phone it never would activate, just told me to call support! Look where support got me. I've only ever talked to an Asian call center one night. Every other time I've called I've got an American.

Since this I've found a number for level 3 support and I've talked to people in America and all they did was reset my month. They didn't know what was wrong and couldn't answer that very question. The only thing they did say is it was an issue they'd seen on android based phones and an account reset fixes it most times.

At the minute I've no data (correction it's back) yet again. When I paid more and got less with blackberry at least i always had data all the time on the same stupid (sprint) network. At this rate I'll end up with a tracphone or something, anything that isn't sprint and isn't on a contract.

It's pathetic how terrible "support" is with these people. I've had VM for about 4 years. Never once did I have an issue and the second I have.. they never fixed it correctly. I've even complained, sent an email never got a response or fuk all from them. This to me.. has to be the reason sprint are bleeding such high numbers of customers.

 

[aidan80]

I'm sure it's no consolation to you, but I had my number transferred from Sprint to VM within a couple of hours and it worked fine after that.

Same thing happened with me when I switched my VM number to the blackberry. By the time I walked to my car all was up and working perfectly. Never had a single issue start to end. All of a sudden change again to an Android phone and the chimps can't fix it or keep it running. I don't know if it's the phone, network or if "support" just have their heads up their arse holes.

 

[Gp6778]

I found my problem is because one battery save app stop working. After I disabled the app, 3g starts to work. So start disable some apps which you think may cause problem or reinstall those apps.

 

[Leslie Ann]

Pressing the Activate button is so simple, even compared to yanking the battery, then why don't the first-responder tech support folks have this solution to suggest for folks without 3G?

It takes a while for it to become common enough and then for it to be added to their script of what to say and ask. Which is why you get the same thing every time you call.

Also, there are two issues:
One is no 3g at all, the other is it losing 3g and not reconnecting until you reset the connection.
One is fixed with the Activate button (no 3g at all), the other is fixed with resetting the connection or removing whatever app is interfering with your connection, which more often than not is tools for saving your battery.

 

[Leslie Ann]

There are two issues at work against these phones

Some Androids just lose their activation for some reason. The activate app allows you to fix this. If it fails, run it again. It shouldn't happen and it's not common, but it does happen apparently.

The second issue is just 3g dropping.
While it hasn't been nailed down exactly, there have been a few things found to cause it. Take a look here, another and myself have figured out what was causing our issues:
http://androidforums.com/lg-optimus-v/287608-3g-data-droppers-post-your-apps.html#post2358608
In both cases it was apps that were intended to save battery life.


Remember, Android is open, so anyone can make programs, trained or verified, or not and the hardware is quite diverse so expect conflicts now and then. If you want a controlled system where there is less chance of problems, go buy an Iphone. I don't mean to sound like a fan girl, but that is how it is. I'll take the occasional issue for what we get in exchange. Lots of good, cheap apps, a good phone, and cheap service. Just don't expect it to be perfect and try not to get angry when it's not.

 

[lizm]

Got mine today and sure enough, mine needed the activate thing too. I remembered reading this thread last month and went right back to it, did it, and it's working great now. Thanks!

 

[Leslie Ann]

So far I have nailed down 3 things happening...

1. Phone loses activation. This is rare and resetting your connection does not fix it, try the Activate button. I had a bad rom flash do this to me, but others have had it at random.

2. 3g drops due to loss of connection and using an app or setting to increase battery. There is speculation that the menu is labeled wrong on our phones, creating problems. personally, I wiped and got rid of all connection manager type of stuff and leave it stock, it works fine. Fix the other things robbing your battery instead unless you like fiddling constantly.

3. The browser.
Dolphin mini has been reported to have connection issues, and I confirmed last night that HD has the same problem. Everything worked on the phone, except for it. I reset data, and it came to life. Do NOT use Dolphin to check for connectivity. If it's your default browser, change the home page to a more reliable site like Google or Yahoo, it may help at least some.

 

[eviltwinsrule]

Chrissurra, hope you read this. Thanks so much for your help. My phone is working fine now. I am very grateful for your post.

 

[mongofrye]

arrgh. is there anyone who has the optimus V who doesn't have these data drop problems that are fixable by disabling and then re-enabling data? This must be some kind of bug with the phone itself.

@raphy3 - call virgin mobile tech support at 1866-553-9807. tell them you are having data connectivity problems and ask them if your phone is properly registered under the 'android 3g data' plan. i was having horrible problems and slow speeds (if any speed at all) until they properly registered me under this plan. they said they have to do it manually.

Really strange, because i made multiple calls to the regular customer service number and they failed to mention this to me. Finally called the number above (and yes they were native english speakers) and they fixed it immediately. I guess there is a 3g plan for non android phones. seems shady to me, but it worked? sounds like they are trying to keep people off the faster bandwidth unless they complain.

 

[David73]

Considering what a great bargain this phone is.... I'm willing to overlook some minor data issues

 

[aldamon]

@raphy3 - call virgin mobile tech support at 1866-553-9807. tell them you are having data connectivity problems and ask them if your phone is properly registered under the 'android 3g data' plan. i was having horrible problems and slow speeds (if any speed at all) until they properly registered me under this plan. they said they have to do it manually.

Really strange, because i made multiple calls to the regular customer service number and they failed to mention this to me. Finally called the number above (and yes they were native english speakers) and they fixed it immediately. I guess there is a 3g plan for non android phones. seems shady to me, but it worked? sounds like they are trying to keep people off the faster bandwidth unless they complain.

Yeah, I called and was already set up properly. Still getting 3G drops every day. Just got two in a row in fact with Airplane mode on/off in between within 20 minutes.

Considering what a great bargain this phone is.... I'm willing to overlook some minor data issues

Doormat mentality. Seriously.

 

[Leslie Ann]

arrgh. is there anyone who has the optimus V who doesn't have these data drop problems that are fixable by disabling and then re-enabling data? This must be some kind of bug with the phone itself.

I had just about every connection problem so far.

Got them all fixed though.
Two problems were caused by apps (Dolphin, and Network), the last was loss of provisioning, the Activate app fixed it.

I spent 2 weeks on these problems and even talked to some devs about it. Most of the people I have seen with these problems end up finding similar.
It's the rare few who find it's the phone or a Virgin problem. It's usually either user caused or they just don't look deep enough to find the solution. I have had a few tell me it's not these, then list out their apps, only to find one I know to be problematic is installed, sometimes right after I told then that that app was a problem.

 

[TVCCS]

That Android 3G Data is a new one to me...but anything is possible. It's almost always escalation that fixes things after ten calls or emails to the regular people who are reading screens in Manila fail.

 

[David73]

Yeah, I called and was already set up properly. Still getting 3G drops every day. Just got two in a row in fact with Airplane mode on/off in between within 20 minutes.



Doormat mentality. Seriously.

If you're not happy with the phone stop crying about it and switch to a major carrier

 

[aldamon]

If you're not happy with the phone stop crying about it and switch to a major carrier

If you're happy with broken $25 service, leave the thread.

Anyway, Leslie Ann, I'm going to test out your theory. I've hard reset my rooted phone and have reinstalled manually (using App List Backup) only the apps that have nothing to do with connectivity control, profiling, or shortcut creation. That means I have left off apps like Timeriffic, Any Cut, etc. Let's see how it works.

 

[lou61166]

I also have had issues with dropped data,not the phone or texts,i know it's not the signal,because of where i live all service providers work flawlessly,hell i could dig a 50 foot hole in my backyard and still get service.my problem is i have no landline phone in my house so calling VM is a pain,if their is a problem with the phone,i have deleted a few apps and seems to have solved the issue.but who knows, my wifi is outstanding,running Verizon Fios 25/25,so it is not that big a deal at home.

 

[pdog]

I bought the phone two days ago, and after activating I have had zero 3G connectivity. I called customer service and now I am rest but I have to wait 4 hours, after which I am to remove the battery, while the phone is still on. and then put it in again. This seems really wierd. Should I just return this phone and assume I have a lemon?

 

[TVCCS]

I bought the phone two days ago, and after activating I have had zero 3G connectivity. I called customer service and now I am rest but I have to wait 4 hours, after which I am to remove the battery, while the phone is still on. and then put it in again. This seems really wierd. Should I just return this phone and assume I have a lemon?

No...it's more likely a provisioning issue within the VM network. You may need to get through the the Escalation depatment to resolve it. Don't be afraid to hit the Activation button more than once, as well, and make sure the switch for 3G on the phone is turned on...it's the checkbox for Mobile Data Enabled.

 

[pdog]

Well the phone sorta worked, but then I get these issues where it says it's times out and I have no connection and I have to turn the phone off and then on to get it to work, anyone else have that issue?
BTW-last customer service rep said since the phone was bought two days ago, she would just take it back.

 

[eskimojo]

Hello All,

I keep losing data connection on my Optimus V and as Chrissura suggested, I typed the ##VIRGIN# and go through the suggested steps.
After I go through the reboot, the 3G connection works very well.

However, the problem is whenever I use the phone after a prolonged idle period (like leaving it charging overnight, or attend a 2 hour meeting), I end up losing the data connection again.

In the past 1 week, i have rebooted, on an average, about four times EVERY day.

Any permanent solution to this?

I'd appreciate any help.

Chrissura: Thank you for your solution. It works beautifully everytime.

 

[graxler]

it shows I have 3g but it will not connect when i open opera mini. dam and i thought i got a fully functioning V minus the data problem

 

[Rave]

Same problem. My boyfriend and I recently got optimuses, and data has been unreliable. Usually turning the phone off and on fixes it, but tonight I've tried everything, and it doesn't work. :-( WiFi works fine though. Is this a problem with VM's network? My boyfriend lives an hour away, so I know it's not the location.