• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Help Can't always (ever?) connect to Internet...

D

DWFII

Well-Known Member
I have an S2 (as my sig states).

I also have several desktops that are connected by a wifi router. When I am in the vicinity of my router or any other open wifi node I can open my bookmarks in Chrome and get my email from Gmail.

But when I get out of the wifi range I cannot seem to connect via 3G or 4G bands. I get phone calls and text messaging but the Internet won't connect. Even though I have 3, 4 and even 5 bands of signal strength showing for 3G and / or 4G.

I have mobile data access enabled but no joy.

I am thinking about upgrading to a better phone but am wondering if I am missing something?

any ideas or suggestions would be welcome.
 
I'm not sure. I'm fairly new to smartphones and more or less just becoming aware of the problem. [having a good desktop system and being at it most of the day /week / month I don't often have need for data].

I was in Portland Oregon several weeks ago and that's when I first noticed it--plenty of 3G and 4G coverage there.
 
So 3G and 4G are not connecting to the internet, but WiFi is?

Check the phone's APN details are correct for your particular carrier, or another possibility, do you actually have a data plan? Check with your carrier I think.
 
mikedt said:
So 3G and 4G are not connecting to the internet, but WiFi is?

Check the phone's APN details are correct for your particular carrier, or another possibility, do you actually have a data plan? Check with your carrier I think.
Click to expand...

yes, that appears to be the case. Wifi is definitely connecting but I can't recall an instance of being able to connect to the 'Net with 3G or 4G...although, as I mentioned I get phone calls and text messages.

So, where do I find the APN details and how do I change them?

IIRC, Virgin Mobile is gives me unlimited text, talk and data.
 
DWFII said:
yes, that appears to be the case. Wifi is definitely connecting but I can't recall an instance of being able to connect to the 'Net with 3G or 4G...although, as I mentioned I get phone calls and text messages.

So, where do I find the APN details and how do I change them?

IIRC, Virgin Mobile is gives me unlimited text, talk and data.
Click to expand...

Apparently this is the APN details for Virgin Mobile, found on an AF thread.
Generic Virgin settings:
<apn type="mms" apn="0" mnc="490" mcc="311" carrier="Virgin Mobile US" mmsport="81" mmsproxy="205.239.233.136" mmsc="http://mmsc.vmobl.com:8088/mms?" port=""/>
You should be able to find it, in Settings > Networks probably. Alternatively go into their store, they should be able to assist.
 
Called VM and they said that whenever I was away from my Wifi nexus, I needed to turn on Mobile Data...and when ever I was in range of my Wifi I needed to turn Mobile Data off.

I'm not sure that makes sense...esp. the last part. Can anyone explain it to me?

VM also gave me instruction to reset the phone because I actually had Mobile Data on and wifi off and still couldn't get on the Internet.
 
Whoever you talked to at VM is ill informed (I was going to say "an idiot" but I thought I'd be nice ;) )

Here's how it works, or at least how it's supposed to work ... with both 3G/4G and WiFi radios on, when you are in the vicinity of an open or authorized WiFi connection, WiFI will supersede and mobile connections for data. The exception would be MMS messages which in some cases require your carrier's data connection. And, the converse is true as well ... when out of range of WiFi, you should get all data use shunted to the mobile radio.

That's the simple version. The rest we can go into if you want after we fix your data connection.

Mike is correct, the symptoms point directly to the APN being set incorrectly.

On your phone, go to menu>settings>cellular networks>Access Point Names and you should have a menu option to add a new APN. (the menu options might be a little different depending on which version of Android you are running)

Then you will see a list of settings. The ones you need to change are as Mike listed.

name="Virgin Mobile"
apn type="mms"
apn="0"
mnc="490"
mcc="311"
carrier="Virgin Mobile US"
mmsport="81"
mmsproxy="205.239.233.136"
mmsc="http://mmsc.vmobl.com:8088/mms?"
port=""

Mind you I have also run across some slightly different settings so if that doesn't work, try:

Name: Virgin Mobile
APN: Sprint
Proxy: <Not Set>
Port: <Not Set>
Username: <Not Set>
Password: <Not Set>
Server: <Not Set>
MMSC: http://mmsc.vmobl.com:8080/mms?
MMS proxy: 205.239.233.136
MMS port: 81
MCC: 310
MNC: <Not Set>
Authentication type: <Not Set>
APN type: default,supl,mms
APN Protocol: iPv4
Bearer: <Not Set>

There really isn't any reason to turn off either radio when not in use except maybe to save a little battery, but that will be minimal.
 
^ Really appreciate you taking the time. Problem is I don't have, or can't find, even "menu." When I swipe down from the top I can access "setting" but no "cellular network." Closest thing I get is "more settings" > "Mobile Networks" but there's nothing there but an option to turn on or off "mobile Data" and turn on the "Connection Optimizer."

So essentially I'm lost before I even begin.

There really isn't any reason to turn off either radio when not in use except maybe to save a little battery, but that will be minimal.
Click to expand...

That was my thinking as well and I'm a newbie.
 
What version of Android is on your phone? If I recall the S2 stopped at Jelly Bean (4.1). If you're running TouchWiz (the default Samsung Launcher) open your settings and go to wireless and networks and then cellular networks and you should see access point names there.
 
lunatic59 said:
What version of Android is on your phone? If I recall the S2 stopped at Jelly Bean (4.1). If you're running TouchWiz (the default Samsung Launcher) open your settings and go to wireless and networks and then cellular networks and you should see access point names there.
Click to expand...

Slug said:
Try looking in Settings/Wireless & networks/Mobile networks. If memory serves me correctly Access Point Names is found there on the GS2.

(Apologies if I'm wrong; it's been over 3yrs since I parted with my own GS2)
Click to expand...

I'm with you both right up through Settings / Wireless & Mobile Networks but I don't have either Cellular Networks or Mobile Networks.
 
Bg260 said:
You don't have airplane mode on by any chance?
Click to expand...

I don't know where to find that. ??

Bg260 said:
I've got a Samsung on Jelly Bean in my hand. Try settings>about device>4G settings. I dont have a data plan so I cannot confirm.
Click to expand...

Don't have a 4G settings but under Status, Mobile Network State says "disconnected." No apparent way to change that to make it "connected".
 
Last edited:
Found this for the T-Mobile version

  1. From the Settings menu, look under Wireless & Networksor tap the Connections tab.
  2. Turn off Wi-Fi
  3. Touch More settings,More..., or More networks.
  4. Turn off Airplane mode.
  5. Tap Access Point Names.
Maybe the step to turn off wifi is crucial?
 
Go to menu>settings>wireless and networks ...

Screenshot_2016-10-01-01-00-15.png


Then more ...

Screenshot_2016-10-01-01-00-22.png
 
Bg260 said:
Yay, sorry I got busy earlier.
Click to expand...

I was replying to lunatic59...airplane mode has been off since the beginning.

Still don't have an answer to my problem see post #17 above. Maybe if there was some way to change the Mobile Network State...
 
Jfalls63 said:
Found this for the T-Mobile version

  1. From the Settings menu, look under Wireless & Networksor tap the Connections tab.
  2. Turn off Wi-Fi
  3. Touch More settings,More..., or More networks.
  4. Turn off Airplane mode.
  5. Tap Access Point Names.
Maybe the step to turn off wifi is crucial?
Click to expand...

No such menu item as Access Point Names exists on my phone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom