Hello,
I purchased my phone through a VZW corporate store in January 2012. No insurance or warranty was purchased. I am supposed to have great coverage in my residential area. My signal and data connection is so bad. I have flashed the updated radios, flashed excellent Jelly Bean ROM's and all I can remember is that my connections were a bit better when I was on ICS AOKP B40.
If you purchased your phone through a VZW store, you automatically have a 1 year Mfr. warranty, even if you didn't purchase an extended warranty, or insurance coverage. So you do have time to still have the phone replaced if need be.
(1) I have read on these forums, they say that it can never be a ROM to cause bad connections, is this true?
Not exactly. If it's a buggy ROM and whatnot with radio tweaks, it COULD affect your connection. That said, most ROMS that people are using are quite stable. I'm on JBSourcery, and I've not had a single issue.
(2) Should I flash to stock and back to Jelly Bean or call VZW customer service and ask for a replacement?
I'd say you might want to try flashing a couple different ROMS / versions to test to see if it's something in the works, that is causing it to be an issue. However, is your signal issue something that has just popped up recently, or has it been like this from day 1? And have other people or other phones worked there fine, or is it just something like building material causing poor signal?
(3) Is your replacement a Brand New phone or refurbished? Will it have like the updated radios when you receive it tomorrow?
At this point, it's most likely a refurb. But, that doesn't mean "oh great it's junk". Sadly, the quality control if it IS actually a refurb'd phone (and not just one that someone returned with no issues that's been resent out to the field), can be hit or miss. Rarely you will see refurbs that still have issues, but as long as you're under warranty, they'll still replace. If that happens more than once though, I'd push for either brand new, or a different phone. (Short version: When phones are newly released, there usually isn't any 'refurb' stock to replace defective phones with, so customers usually get sent out a brand new phone. As the phone has been out longer and longer, there become some in the warehouse to send out, so then you usually get a refurb. Again though, that could mean actually refurbished, or could just be one that someone bought and returned and had nothing wrong)
(4) Since this is a 4GLTE phone, pressing *22899, is their evidence that this can damage the phone?
This was an issue with the Thunderbolt back when it launched, and it was basically screwing up the SIM card in the phone, causing problems. The 4G activates through the SIM, and doesn't need to dial a *228 number. That said, the *22899 is basically an auto-program for the 4G services, roaming, etc. The phone will actually auto-dial it when needed, or when it thinks it's needed. There really isn't a need to dial it manually unless there's an issue. That said, it wouldn't hurt your phone if you dialed it. Pretty sure they resolved the *228(xx) related issues after the Thunderbolt.
I was with TMobile for 5 years and switched to VZW for signal. I switched from Iphone 4s for 4GLTE speeds, and I am not receiving what I paid for
