Phone is Useless when the Phone Goes Silent Multiple Times a Week

thenestor · Jun 22, 2010

Guys, just to clarify, if the phone just doesn't play its ringtone when a call comes in, but you're still able to place a call, check voicemail, play music, etc, then you don't have the silent bug. The bug we're talking about disables ALL audio on the phone, regardless of the output method. The ringtone-doesn't-play-fast-enough problem is usually solved by decreasing your slot cycle.

If you look on page one or two of this thread, you'll see the log output from when this bug occurs. It gets stuck in an endless loop of "warn/audiotrack obtainbuffer timed out (is the cpu pegged?)" about three times peer second until reboot.

Barren · Jun 22, 2010

hallstevenson said:
Okay everyone, I'll jinx myself by "announcing" this, but as others have seemed to notice, the HTC Camera seems to be a factor... At least one week ago, I installed Camera 360 and have NOT use the HTC Camera app since. I've also NOT had the silent call issue since. Is this definitive ? I won't say it is.

Funny, I tried to post yesterday about the camera being one of the possible causes of the silent bug... I noticed it last weekend, if I opened up "camera" to show somebody a picture, the next time I received a call, I'd get the silent bug... happened 3 times in a row.

I've found that if i avoid the camera app, and calibrate it after the reboot that it will work without incident for days and days.

I'll have to download that camera 360 app to try out.

thenestor · Jun 22, 2010

Barren said:
Funny, I tried to post yesterday about the camera being one of the possible causes of the silent bug... I noticed it last weekend, if I opened up "camera" to show somebody a picture, the next time I received a call, I'd get the silent bug... happened 3 times in a row.

I've found that if i avoid the camera app, and calibrate it after the reboot that it will work without incident for days and days.

I'll have to download that camera 360 app to try out.

If you're able to reliably replicate the bug on your phone, you should have an easy time getting a replacement at your local Verizon store (if you want one). On the G1, using Google Goggles or Google Buzz to snap pictures seemed to trigger the random reboot bug (which is related to the Eris audio bug--same "obtainBuffer" errors in the error log). See Android issue 1430. However, when I had an affected Eris, this method of trying to trigger the bug never worked for me. It seems to vary from phone to phone.

DEinMA · Jun 22, 2010

thenestor said:
Guys, just to clarify, if the phone just doesn't play its ringtone when a call comes in, but you're still able to place a call, check voicemail, play music, etc, then you don't have the silent bug. The bug we're talking about disables ALL audio on the phone, regardless of the output method. The ringtone-doesn't-play-fast-enough problem is usually solved by decreasing your slot cycle.

If you look on page one or two of this thread, you'll see the log output from when this bug occurs. It gets stuck in an endless loop of "warn/audiotrack obtainbuffer timed out (is the cpu pegged?)" about three times peer second until reboot.

Yeah, I had that too -- with my original phone. The only thing that fixed it was a factory data reset. Haven't had that in a long time since and never on the new phone.

Thanks for the clarification.

PS: How does one go about decreasing one's "slot cycle"?

xx_bishop_xx · Jun 22, 2010

DEinMA said:
Yeah, I had that too -- with my original phone. The only thing that fixed it was a factory data reset. Haven't had that in a long time since and never on the new phone.

Thanks for the clarification.

PS: How does one go about decreasing one's "slot cycle"?

This post pretty much covers it:

Frisco said:
That's not the slot cycle. That's the PRL.

phone > ##778 > call > edit mode > 000000 (that's six zeroes as password) > modem settings > slot cycle index > (make your section.. the default is 2, mine's at 0, some set it to 1) > menu > commit settings

The device will reboot.

The slot cycle setting governs how often your device poll the nearest tower for calls.. if it's set too high the caller will often experience a delay and so will you before hearing a first ring.

DEinMA · Jun 22, 2010

xx_bishop_xx said:
This post pretty much covers it:

Awesome! Thanks so much!!

xx_bishop_xx · Jun 22, 2010

DEinMA said:
Awesome! Thanks so much!!

Certainly.

rhino738 · Jun 24, 2010

I was having all the problems with my phone. They sent me a refurb...........and still had problems. I went in to a local verizon store and the Tech guy made me so mad that I thought I was going to punch him in the nose. I took a couple of days to cool off, then I called verizon tech support and explained everything I was dealing with. The person on the phone was really nice, but I could tell she had a bottled response for everything. I finally just politely explained to her that I was done with the Eris, and they could give me another similar style phone or I was walking. I also told her that I could provide pages upon pages of complaints from this website, and was not going to pay ANYTHING to verizon regarding a termination fee (or any fee for that matter). She finally got the picture and offered to send me another phone. She was very polite in spite of my obvious anger over this phone. In my opinion, Verizon is the best wireless company out there today. So, I can honestly say that I am happy with their decision to make it right.

iggypop123 · Jun 24, 2010

just an update to a post of mine earlier. I had the silent bug issue. i had the phone replaced. i have had my replacement for about a week, in which the silent bug has not appeared once, but the entire time my internet flat out sucked. It said D below the 3g logo, sometimes going to 1x. it isnt a coverage issue cause the people at Verizon said its fine. they went through the troubleshooting procedure crap. i dread hearing *228, it just means nothing will happen. after a lot of things i was transferred to a "technician". we then went through the *228 thing again. thats when my 3g bar dissapeared. As a last hope the guy tried the factory reset option but nothing changed. i had no internet. i had a phone that could only make phonecalls. After this he just said he would send a replacement again. I inquired whether i could just get another phone instead given the persistent issues. he said there is no such policy that allows that. he guaranteed me the next replacement would be problem free. he would email the people sending the phones and ask them to make sure they triple check the phone is problem free. so for now its one to phone #3. i wish the early termination wasnt so high otherwise i would just get the prepaid blackberry from sprint/virgin.

cableguynoe · Jun 25, 2010

Not sure if this has been mentioned as I have not read every post in this thread.

But I recently misplaced my bluetooth earpiece for about 3 weeks. In the same period i flashed a new rom. So bluetooth was definately off.
Did not have the silent bug once!

I thought I had found a bug free rom. But today i found my bluetooth in my work truck. Charged it, turned on bluetooth... and before i could even pair it, i received a call.
Silent bug was back!!!!

Could it be bluetooth causing this?
Of course, I'm sure someone will step in and say they dont use bluetooth and they have the silent bug... but if everyone with this problem has bluetooth enabled, i will crush my earpiece!!!!

jayochs · Jun 26, 2010

lol i never use bluetooth and i get the silent bug

laurentypo · Jun 26, 2010

I never use bluetooth either, but I have the silent bug + some other issues. Let's hope this gets resolved quickly

.

cableguynoe · Jun 26, 2010

jayochs said:
lol i never use bluetooth and i get the silent bug

laurentypo said:
I never use bluetooth either, but I have the silent bug + some other issues. Let's hope this gets resolved quickly .

Darn... thought i was on to something big :rolleyes:

thenestor · Jun 26, 2010

cableguynoe said:
Darn... thought i was on to something big

Well, some have also reported that it happens more often when they pull the phone away from their face to look at the screen, which I imagine bluetooth users do even more often (because the phone is already away from their face). So it could still be related to the phone's sensors, like proximity or g-sensor.

I remember my sensor usage being really high when I had an affected phone, and now it seems awfully low. Maybe it's related.

gadgetmom88 · Jun 26, 2010

I think we are past the point of hoping this will be resolved "quickly". On the upside, if you've been hankering for a new phone for free, Verizon will replace the Eris with any other phone if you repeatedly have the issue with multiple phones. I loved my Eris, but I have to say, the Incredible is like the Eris on steroids. Awesome.

Sent from my HTC Incredible using Tapatalk

homeeconomicalengineer · Jun 26, 2010

Has anyone else received an Incredible as a replacement??????

thenestor · Jun 26, 2010

homeeconomicalengineer said:
Has anyone else received an Incredible as a replacement??????

You'll only have that option if: a) you've gotten multiple refurbs for the same issue, b) you're in a state with a Lemon Law for electronics, and c) you're working with a tech support person who is feeling generous. If you go to Verizon and say, "I heard it's your policy to let me have a different phone if I have a lot of problems with this one," they'll tell you there's no such policy.

A few others have been offered their choice of replacement phone, including the Droid, Ally, etc. Problem with the Incredible as a replacement is that it's constantly backordered, so you're likely to have to wait a while to receive it.

iggypop123 · Jun 26, 2010

thenestor said:
You'll only have that option if: a) you've gotten multiple refurbs for the same issue, b) you're in a state with a Lemon Law for electronics, and c) you're working with a tech support person who is feeling generous. If you go to Verizon and say, "I heard it's your policy to let me have a different phone if I have a lot of problems with this one," they'll tell you there's no such policy.

A few others have been offered their choice of replacement phone, including the Droid, Ally, etc. Problem with the Incredible as a replacement is that it's constantly backordered, so you're likely to have to wait a while to receive it.

whats the lemon law and any chance it exists in California?

thenestor · Jun 26, 2010

iggypop123 said:
whats the lemon law and any chance it exists in California?

Yes. It's the same as the one for cars. It covers all "consumer goods" that have warranties:

Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act

Basically, if they try to "repair" it a reasonable number of times and fail, they have to "replace" (or refund) it. Naturally, Verizon doesn't want to refund it and break your contract, so they'll offer you a different device instead. Obviously with cell phones, they actually "replace" the device every single time, but that's Verizon's interpretation of "repair".

gadgetmom88 · Jun 26, 2010

FWIW, I live in Ohio. I did not ask for a replacement, Verizon offered it because the silent bug was so well documented - with no fix.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

iggypop123 · Jun 26, 2010

thenestor said:
Yes. It's the same as the one for cars. It covers all "consumer goods" that have warranties:

Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act

Basically, if they try to "repair" it a reasonable number of times and fail, they have to "replace" (or refund) it. Naturally, Verizon doesn't want to refund it and break your contract, so they'll offer you a different device instead. Obviously with cell phones, they actually "replace" the device every single time, but that's Verizon's interpretation of "repair".

thanks. im headed for eris #3. if this doesnt work out im going to ask for one and if they deny bring in the lemon

Zilliano · Jun 26, 2010

You think, based on the fact that my phone is up for an upgrade, that I'll have an easier time getting them to replace it with an Incredible?

Or am I going to have to get several replacements before they offer a chance at a new phone?

rosh400 · Jun 27, 2010

Have silent bug too. CSR checked with tier 2 tech support who confirmed that fix will be pushed out tomorrow. Let's keep our collective fingers crossed.

xx_bishop_xx · Jun 27, 2010

rosh400 said:
Have silent bug too. CSR checked with tier 2 tech support who confirmed that fix will be pushed out tomorrow. Let's keep our collective fingers crossed.

Let's see here; Verizon...."tomorrow"..it's an algorithm or equation or code for sometime in September! My fingers will surely be tired.

cableguynoe · Jun 27, 2010

xx_bishop_xx said:
Let's see here; Verizon...."tomorrow"..it's an algorithm or equation or code for sometime in September! My fingers will surely be tired.

September? Very optimistic of you Bishop.
I'll be happy if the problem gets fixes before i ditch the Eris in 18 months

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