Root [Boost Mobile] galaxy s3 no longer connects to 4g & 3g comes and goes

Hi ChocaHermosa,

Saw your post the other day and I can't believe no one has tried to help or even replied. Not sure i can help but it least it will bump u up.

From your explanation it does not look good for that phone. You have tried most of the standard steps to eliminate a software issue.

The only remaining step I can suggest is to try reflashing the stock firmware if you have not already done so. You can get the firmware here (you will have to create a free account) Install instructions are below.

You might also post over in XDA Forum in the General Discussion XDA Assist and see if they can help.

If the firmware does not fix it or the wizards at XDA can't help then you are probably going to have to send it to Samsung.

If you must send it in you can get one of the cheap boost phones to tide you over until Samsung gets your phone back to you.

If you start trying any of the other fixes that come to mind I think you risk tripping your Knox counter which will void your warranty with Samsung and might lead them to reject your warranty claim.

I hope that helps.

Firmware Installation Instructions

Extract (unzip) the firmware file
Download Odin (I prefer v3.07) If you want another version look here
Extract Odin zip-file
Open Odin
Reboot phone in Download Mode (press and hold Home + Power + Volume Down buttons)
Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin
Add the firmware file to AP / PDA
Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked
Click the start button, sit back and wait a few minutes

Alright. I'll jump in here and see if I can help. I need a few questions answered 1st.

Are you rooted?
Are you running a custom ROM? If so, which one?
Are you running the 4.4.2 update?
Have you tried updating the PRL and doing a profile update?
Has you tried going to a different area and accessing a different tower?
Are you sure Boost isn't experiencing any issues in your area?


Please help me out and answer these. I'll see what I can do to help you afterwards.

ChocaHermosa said:

I am not rooted.
Don't know what a custom ROM is.
Am running the 4.4.2 update, yes.
I have updated the PRL and Profile NUMEROUS times.
My phone doesn't work in Virginia, Maryland, or Delaware.
Boost *CLAIMS* that there is no 4g in my area, however, my husband and his two uncles all have Boost and in the same zip code, and none of them have any problems.

And to droidagnostic, thank you for your help, but I am not savvy at all with these things, and am afraid I will do more harm than good if I flash the phone.

I'm thinking about just buying another one, and selling this one.

Click to expand...

In settings where the PRL update is located there are also a Samsung Update and Firmware Update. Have you tried both of them?

If so, then the only other option is to use Odin and manually flash a new image. I don't know how but it sounds as though your LTE drivers are corrupt. Either that or the LTE receiver is fried.

If you are willing to try Odin and flash a new image, I am willing to help you. Having never used Odin, you will need to be very careful since you are not yet familiar with it. If the steps are not taken in the correct order you can "brick" (ruin) your phone.

Let me know what you decide to do. I am going to send you a message (PM). Please check your inbox shortly.

ChocaHermosa said:

And to droidagnostic, thank you for your help, but I am not savvy at all with these things, and am afraid I will do more harm than good if I flash the phone.

Click to expand...

Yeah it was pretty scary the first time I flashed my phone. You seem to have the major tools you need though, you can read and write English proficiently, and you're not afraid to ask for help. With those skills we can get you through a simple flash.

Just let us know we're glad to help.

So if you decide to sell here is a reputable marketplace for used phones.

Since it is XDA developers forum marketplace you will probably attract the type of buyer here who will not be too put off by the connection problems.

ChocaHermosa said:

I bought my s3 in March of this year, and everything was working just fine until May. Since May, my phone no longer connects to 4g EVER and the 3g comes and goes and never stays connected for more than 10 minutes while in use.

I contacted Boost mobile. I have tried EVERYTHING: making sure the mobile networks is checked, preferred network setting CDMA/LTE, soft reset, clear browser cache, update PRL, profile, software, firmware, ##72786#, and even did a factory reset. Nothing helped. Boost said there was nothing else they could do for me, and that I needed to contact samsung.

Samsung said the only way for them to find the problem is for me to send them my phone, and wait 2 to 4 weeks for them to revise it and send it back. That's not an option as I need my phone monday through friday for my job.

I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if there's anyway to fix it without having to send my phone in to samsung?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

wetbiker knows his stuff for sure
.

Not sure if you fixed this problem as this thread is a couple months old but i had the same problem for a while and fixed it.

I bought 3 of these, last week, did everything, right off the bat, no 4g, spotty 3g, they confirmed, that, yes, there was 4g coverage in my area.

Did and tried everything...

Read the sprint forum how it's a bad update from the phone s iccid, to call in and have them manually enter it...

Boost had no idea...

2nd phone, was factory..nothing changed...same thing.

3rd phone still in box..

Didn't want to even mess with it.

Less than 5 days old and I returned all of them.

Might just get the s5 with that nice supcase.


Do, no fix for me.
Solution: return to boost.

Maybe it's your area? I have great 4G most of the time. It's my 3G that sucks since the update. It constantly switches from 3G to 1X but as long as I get a decent 4G signal it works great.

mydian said:

Maybe it's your area? I have great 4G most of the time. It's my 3G that sucks since the update. It constantly switches from 3G to 1X but as long as I get a decent 4G signal it works great.

Click to expand...

Nope..4g is strong in my area, neighbours, friends..my old s2..all have great 4g/wimax/lte

Sad to say, but it was the phone