905 brings backs the horrible data drops.

[happysteve11c]

funny thing i never had a problem with data drops on .905 that update actually fixed my data drops completely from .902 i have no problem switching between wifi 3G/4G even turning airplane mode on and off i still connect completely with no problems i dont know what everyones problem is

 

[Adara]

happysteve11c has a point. Not all of us are having data drops -- if it was all Bionic users, Verizon would actually believe us. Instead, half the techs I talk to say, "I have a Bionic and mine is great!"

And it clearly isn't even the majority of us.

What strikes me as weird about it is that I had the drops on my Bionic AND on my replacement Bionic. So either (a) Verizon sent me, as a replacement, a Bionic someone else returned because of the data drops (I wouldn't put it past them); (b) the problem has to do with some of our lines in particular; or (c) I just have really bad luck.

(If ICS cures it, is there any way I can make Verizon push ICS to my Bionic?)

 

[wildkitten]

happysteve11c has a point. Not all of us are having data drops -- if it was all Bionic users, Verizon would actually believe us. Instead, half the techs I talk to say, "I have a Bionic and mine is great!"

And it clearly isn't even the majority of us.

What strikes me as weird about it is that I had the drops on my Bionic AND on my replacement Bionic. So either (a) Verizon sent me, as a replacement, a Bionic someone else returned because of the data drops (I wouldn't put it past them); (b) the problem has to do with some of our lines in particular; or (c) I just have really bad luck.

(If ICS cures it, is there any way I can make Verizon push ICS to my Bionic?)

The problem with the techs is, even if they have the data drops, if it's network related they would know it but may not tell us. Let's be honest, getting truthful information from any company is difficult.

As for your replacement, I have no doubt it was one of their Certified Like New, meaning refurb, replacements. It's why I wouldn't send mine in. And I believe it's a network thing anyway so don't believe a replacement would fix it. To many people have this happening at the same time for it to be a hardware issue.

And yes, ICS will be pushed to the Bionic, when the final release is done. What you see on the forums is people applying the leaks of the development versions. The fact there have been so many of them so quickly might be an indicator we will get it soon, Verizon did say we would get ICS Q3. The problem is if you go with a leak version, you need to be prepared to go back to the current version so you can get back on the OTA path.

 

[TexasBadger]

Wildkitten:

After negotiating with Verizon on the phone and in person for a month, they finally sent me a replacement phone last Friday. Although it was not new, it might as well have been. It looks new, it feels new, and it runs great. So far, no data drops. Speaking of drops, I dropped my Bionic twice last December ... once on concrete and once on terrazo. The metal part of the case was pretty dinged up. Now, that becomes Verizon's problem. ICS should solve everyone's drop problems sometime soon.

 

[wildkitten]

Wildkitten:

After negotiating with Verizon on the phone and in person for a month, they finally sent me a replacement phone last Friday. Although it was not new, it might as well have been. It looks new, it feels new, and it runs great. So far, no data drops. Speaking of drops, I dropped my Bionic twice last December ... once on concrete and once on terrazo. The metal part of the case was pretty dinged up. Now, that becomes Verizon's problem. ICS should solve everyone's drop problems sometime soon.

I haven't sent in my Bionic, to be honest, I haven't seen a reason to, but I have dealt with the "Certified Like New" on 2 previous phones. Both times I recieved phones that had scratches and had grunge type buildups on them. But that's neither here nor there.

The reason I don't see a need to send the phone in is whenever I have had data drops, others have had the drops at the same time. To me, that says netowrk, not hardware. I don't believe in coincidence. And I haven't noticed any drops in the same time frame either.

I'm not making excuses for it, the data drops are annoying and Verizon needs to be more forthcoming on what is going on. I merely am saying I don't believe it is the .905 update or such.

 

[dave1812]

I just ordered a replacement phone, as my wife's Bionic holds a steady 4G signal while mine goes in and out sometimes every few moments. my current bionic is a replacement I got in December, and for many months it worked well. I hope the replacement for the replacement works as well as my wife's one and only Bionic that she got in November....

 

[dave1812]

The problem with the techs is, even if they have the data drops, if it's network related they would know it but may not tell us. Let's be honest, getting truthful information from any company is difficult.

As for your replacement, I have no doubt it was one of their Certified Like New, meaning refurb, replacements. It's why I wouldn't send mine in. And I believe it's a network thing anyway so don't believe a replacement would fix it. To many people have this happening at the same time for it to be a hardware issue.

And yes, ICS will be pushed to the Bionic, when the final release is done. What you see on the forums is people applying the leaks of the development versions. The fact there have been so many of them so quickly might be an indicator we will get it soon, Verizon did say we would get ICS Q3. The problem is if you go with a leak version, you need to be prepared to go back to the current version so you can get back on the OTA path.

My experience says otherwise: i got my phone on launch day and for the next three months it almost never held on to a 4G signal. it was so bad, I used wifi only.

The replacement phone worked well for many months (got it in December) but lately it's almost as bad at holding a signal as my original phone. THroughout all this time, my wife's Bionic always has a steady 4G signal except for the RAREST of moments. So there is something to think about with respect to the hardware.

 

[dave1812]

Wildkitten:

After negotiating with Verizon on the phone and in person for a month, they finally sent me a replacement phone last Friday. Although it was not new, it might as well have been. It looks new, it feels new, and it runs great. So far, no data drops. Speaking of drops, I dropped my Bionic twice last December ... once on concrete and once on terrazo. The metal part of the case was pretty dinged up. Now, that becomes Verizon's problem. ICS should solve everyone's drop problems sometime soon.

I hope u don't get charged a fee for a damaged phone. I just got off the phone with Verizon (to order a replacement BIonic). the gal asked if it had water damage or other damage, as there would be a hefty fee if that were the case. I hope Verizon is lenient for you. My phone's condition is almost pristine, so for me, I'm not worried. Please let us know if they ding you.

 

[TexasBadger]

Dave:

They won't ding me. The phone worked just fine except for the data drops. Also, the screen was pristine when I sent it back.

Wildkitten:

I agree with you about 905. My data drop problems began a week or two before the 905 OTA. Before sending me the replacement phone, Verizon insisted on three days to do a detailed field check of their network, both where I live and where I work, in suburban Dallas. They did this despite my repeated statements that I also experienced data drops while traveling in Chicago and Washington. Maybe they actually tweaked my local network, I guess I'll never know.

As I type this on my Transformer, my Bionic is streaming my tunes from Google's cloud over 4G. I uploaded about 4,500 songs (360 +/-albums) overnight for free, and Google says I still have room for another 20,000 songs. What a great service! Everyone needs to check out Google's free Play Music app. And yes, my data plan ($25/mo.) is unlimited, which is why I expect to have my Bionic for a long time.

 

[Thom]

I just ordered a replacement phone, as my wife's Bionic holds a steady 4G signal while mine goes in and out sometimes every few moments. my current bionic is a replacement I got in December, and for many months it worked well. I hope the replacement for the replacement works as well as my wife's one and only Bionic that she got in November....

This really sounds like your wife's phone is configured different than your phone(s) ... as you would expect.

An app that you have installed and she doesn't. You occasionally drop your Bionic(s) without thinking about it and she never has? Your phones are not side-by-side when you compare them and you have tower-to-bionic problems? You have a body chemistry that is fighting the Bionic and your wife doesn't?

... Thom

 

[Thom]

Dave:

They won't ding me. The phone worked just fine except for the data drops. Also, the screen was pristine when I sent it back.

Wildkitten:

I agree with you about 905. My data drop problems began a week or two before the 905 OTA. Before sending me the replacement phone, Verizon insisted on three days to do a detailed field check of their network, both where I live and where I work, in suburban Dallas. They did this despite my repeated statements that I also experienced data drops while traveling in Chicago and Washington. Maybe they actually tweaked my local network, I guess I'll never know.

As I type this on my Transformer, my Bionic is streaming my tunes from Google's cloud over 4G. I uploaded about 4,500 songs (360 +/-albums) overnight for free, and Google says I still have room for another 20,000 songs. What a great service! Everyone needs to check out Google's free Play Music app. And yes, my data plan ($25/mo.) is unlimited, which is why I expect to have my Bionic for a long time.

It's a combination of a few bad Bionics floating around and problems in towers ... some are from planned upgrades, some are from equipment failures, and some are from software errors. In addition there are some physical locations that simply don't work. Added to all this is the problems handing off a device from 3G to 4G and 4G to 3G.

It would be great if there was a single problem and it got fixed. It isn't. There are multiple problems and they are being whittled down.

The Bionic was the first 4G device Verizon had and they "learned" the hard way a lot about what their problems were by seeing them on the Bionic and in this forum. The Bionic took the rap as a "problem child". In fact the Bionic was leading Verizon into the next era ... 4G.

I'm still in a 3G-only area. (I think there will be 4G on Mars before Verizon gets around to installing it in Keene.) I wish I had some of your problems.

... Thom

 

[happysteve11c]

actually verizon had a couple 4g phones before the bionic specifically the tb and charge along with lg revolution and they have had hit and miss with the 4g also

 

[wildkitten]

It's a combination of a few bad Bionics floating around and problems in towers ... some are from planned upgrades, some are from equipment failures, and some are from software errors. In addition there are some physical locations that simply don't work. Added to all this is the problems handing off a device from 3G to 4G and 4G to 3G.

It would be great if there was a single problem and it got fixed. It isn't. There are multiple problems and they are being whittled down.

The Bionic was the first 4G device Verizon had and they "learned" the hard way a lot about what their problems were by seeing them on the Bionic and in this forum. The Bionic took the rap as a "problem child". In fact the Bionic was leading Verizon into the next era ... 4G.

I'm still in a 3G-only area. (I think there will be 4G on Mars before Verizon gets around to installing it in Keene.) I wish I had some of your problems.

... Thom

Well here's the thing Thom, if it was a mix of problems, why does it seem to hit at the same exact time, at least this go around?

Keep in mind, things were really working well after .893 and especially after .902, only a few people here and there seemed to have issues. But it seemed to be right around .905 went to soak that data drops started happening for a lot of people.

Of course I also wonder if a lot of the data problems aren't Google related. I noticed a TON of drops around the time they made changes to the Play market, and doesn't the blue color represent connection to Googles Play servers?

But to me, if it was a hardware issue specifically related to the phone, then why would so many fail at the same time, and then start seeing things getting better, also at the same time. Of course some individuals will have bad phones, that's going to be true with any brand and model phone, but I merely am talking overall.

 

[Thom]

Well here's the thing Thom, if it was a mix of problems, why does it seem to hit at the same exact time, at least this go around?

The answer is simple ... there is no reliable repository of information. Talk to 10 people at Verizon and get 10 different opinions. Report a data problem to your local Verizon retailer and they are oblivious to it and ask you for more information.

Something happened around the time of the start of 5.9.905 soak test. There were also new towers being put into service. The 4G load was going up on existing towers. Who knows what software upgrade may have happened on the tower side nation-wide ... I have seen nothing mentioned.

And ... my GUESS is that there was a software change in 5.9.905 that made it more accurately report data non-availability. Prior to then the indicators would not change. They are now more accurately updated and you "notice" more outages then you did in the past even though the number is the same or maybe less.

... Thom

 

[wildkitten]

The answer is simple ... there is no reliable repository of information. Talk to 10 people at Verizon and get 10 different opinions. Report a data problem to your local Verizon retailer and they are oblivious to it and ask you for more information.

Something happened around the time of the start of 5.9.905 soak test. There were also new towers being put into service. The 4G load was going up on existing towers. Who knows what software upgrade may have happened on the tower side nation-wide ... I have seen nothing mentioned.

And ... my GUESS is that there was a software change in 5.9.905 that made it more accurately report data non-availability. Prior to then the indicators would not change. They are now more accurately updated and you "notice" more outages then you did in the past even though the number is the same or maybe less.

... Thom

Keep in mind, these drops happened as .905 went to soak, but many of us that talked about these problems weren't part of the soak test. I, along with others, noticed it when we were still on .902 as well. So since a lot of us were on .902, any software change in .905 wouldn't have mattered to us.

And you're right, talking to Verizon, at least in my personal experience, is next to useless. It is always just a problem with that particular handset to them.

Of course the drops have gotten noticeably better the past couple of weeks. The last worse case just so happened to coincide with Google's Play Market changes.

 

[dave1812]

This really sounds like your wife's phone is configured different than your phone(s) ... as you would expect.

An app that you have installed and she doesn't. You occasionally drop your Bionic(s) without thinking about it and she never has? Your phones are not side-by-side when you compare them and you have tower-to-bionic problems? You have a body chemistry that is fighting the Bionic and your wife doesn't?

... Thom

the phones are close to each other--hers has 4G when mine loses it. I can hold her phone and it's fine while mine has lost 4G.

 

[Thom]

the phones are close to each other--hers has 4G when mine loses it. I can hold her phone and it's fine while mine has lost 4G.

Logic would take me to the conclusion that there is a configuration or app difference between the two phones accounts for the different behavior since you are getting the same result on two units you had.

When you got your replacement Bionic ... how did you get your old stuff onto the new phone? Did you "restore" it somehow or did you install everything "from scratch"?

... Thom

 

[joemn]

This is how Verizon's marketing model is working for me; Buy an expensive 4 g device for myself and my wife, both devices have data connectivity issues; ie. no data connection in an area with strong 4 g reception. The issue is reported in all the tech press, Verizon's answer is do a factory reset or send me refurbished telphones neither of which do anything to alleviate the problem.

Google is selling new top of the line andriod gsm phones for $300. If the problems I am having persist, I can buy a new phone for $650 from Verizon or just continue paying $140 per month for service I am not receiving.

And like whipped cream on top of a pile of dog **** they tell me that I no longer can maintain the unlimited data plan (which I'm not using much of anyway because it doesn't work) and I should transfer to a shared data plan that will cost another $20 per month minimum at the end of a two year contract owning a phone that only connects intermittently; Buy a new phone they say they are subsidizing but at a price their competitors sell a phone and make a profit.

Then for the cherry on top. Verizon is lobbying heavily to restrict the freedom of the net through their network, therefore generating more revenue from ad sales and restricting the freedom of me, their customer.

Why would I, or anyone else, subject themselves to such utter contempt from a company with whom I spend a LOT of money with.

The clear answer is lack of competition brought about by government controlling and dishing out bandwidth as they choose. This allows Verizon to control the quality and price of the telephones they sell, the price of the bandwidth they sell, and, if they are successful in changing the law with regard to Internet freedom from control, they will control the content I may receive over their network. And my money is working against my own interest of maintaining a free marketplace.

So bring on the next new gadget and I'll get in line to hand them my money which pays to destroy my freedom and is foolishness and paying for air. What a fool I am. The new 5 g stupiddroid or idope will be out in three months, send your money now so you can be sure to get one ahead of everyone else.

 

[Adara]

I think I might've said something earlier about the data drops being less frequent. I'd like the revoke that one.

To sum up, I've had data drops: on .905, on .902, with a new SIM card, with a replacement Bionic, in Pasadena, in downtown Los Angeles, in Burbank, and everywhere in between (especially annoying when data drops during navigation).

We're on our second Trouble Ticket with Verizon -- the first ticket was closed because "data just sucks where you live," the second has been open for more than a week now.

The latest tech and I agreed that: It's more than just my phone; it happens with other Bionics; it sounds likely that ICS will fix it; and we don't know when ICS will come out. Which means my choices are: Do I wait for ICS (whenever the hell that is) or would I like a different phone? He offered the Razr (on the theory that it already has ICS), but indicated he had some flexibility in that area.

I would hate to switch to another phone and then find out that ICS is coming out in a few weeks and I could've had my Bionic all nice and working again. I certainly don't want to switch to a phone that's less good than the Bionic -- and I'm annoyed that ANY switch will require a substantial investment in accessories (I'm one of those folks who can't live without a backup battery, car dock, and desk dock), not to mention the usual loss of app data suffered by We, the Unrooted, on any new phone.

I guess this is more of a plea for advice than a dicussion of the damn data drops; but I honestly don't know what I should do at this point.

 

[johnlgalt]

I think I might've said something earlier about the data drops being less frequent. I'd like the revoke that one.

To sum up, I've had data drops: on .905, on .902, with a new SIM card, with a replacement Bionic, in Pasadena, in downtown Los Angeles, in Burbank, and everywhere in between (especially annoying when data drops during navigation).

We're on our second Trouble Ticket with Verizon -- the first ticket was closed because "data just sucks where you live," the second has been open for more than a week now.

The latest tech and I agreed that: It's more than just my phone; it happens with other Bionics; it sounds likely that ICS will fix it; and we don't know when ICS will come out. Which means my choices are: Do I wait for ICS (whenever the hell that is) or would I like a different phone? He offered the Razr (on the theory that it already has ICS), but indicated he had some flexibility in that area.

I would hate to switch to another phone and then find out that ICS is coming out in a few weeks and I could've had my Bionic all nice and working again. I certainly don't want to switch to a phone that's less good than the Bionic -- and I'm annoyed that ANY switch will require a substantial investment in accessories (I'm one of those folks who can't live without a backup battery, car dock, and desk dock), not to mention the usual loss of app data suffered by We, the Unrooted, on any new phone.

I guess this is more of a plea for advice than a dicussion of the damn data drops; but I honestly don't know what I should do at this point.

Want my honest advice? Download and install the .232 leak onto your phone. You'll love it (your phone) again, for a variety of reasons, and the ICS version of Nav allows for offline mode too

It does not require you to be rooted at all - and you are not required to ever root your phone to install nor revert from the ICS leaks. So it is not a violation of any terms of the VZW contract, either.

The latest leak (.235) is irreversible - so don't install that one unless you're 100% sure you want to - you will be able to take future leaks but cannot revert to anything before.

Otherwise - wait until it is out. They said early Q3, which means really, no later than the middle of August (really should mean by the end f July, but I don't think they have enough time unless we start soak testing it tomorrow lol)

TBH - ask around for other BIONIC users in your area and see if anyone has already installed the leak- They'll be able to best tell you just how well (or, conversely, poorly) the leak is performing in your area.

 

[Thom]

... and ... the time between releases up until now was 3mo, 2mo, 4mo and apply that to when the last OTA came out you will conclude that ICS will come out somewhere between August 15 and October 15.

... Thom

 

[wildkitten]

I think I might've said something earlier about the data drops being less frequent. I'd like the revoke that one.

To sum up, I've had data drops: on .905, on .902, with a new SIM card, with a replacement Bionic, in Pasadena, in downtown Los Angeles, in Burbank, and everywhere in between (especially annoying when data drops during navigation).

We're on our second Trouble Ticket with Verizon -- the first ticket was closed because "data just sucks where you live," the second has been open for more than a week now.

The latest tech and I agreed that: It's more than just my phone; it happens with other Bionics; it sounds likely that ICS will fix it; and we don't know when ICS will come out. Which means my choices are: Do I wait for ICS (whenever the hell that is) or would I like a different phone? He offered the Razr (on the theory that it already has ICS), but indicated he had some flexibility in that area.

I would hate to switch to another phone and then find out that ICS is coming out in a few weeks and I could've had my Bionic all nice and working again. I certainly don't want to switch to a phone that's less good than the Bionic -- and I'm annoyed that ANY switch will require a substantial investment in accessories (I'm one of those folks who can't live without a backup battery, car dock, and desk dock), not to mention the usual loss of app data suffered by We, the Unrooted, on any new phone.

I guess this is more of a plea for advice than a dicussion of the damn data drops; but I honestly don't know what I should do at this point.

The previous 2 days (today has been fine) I have noticed a rash of drops. The odd thing is, it says 4G LTE still, just goes from blue to white.

Isn't that sign it's losing connection to Google?

 

[Thom]

The previous 2 days (today has been fine) I have noticed a rash of drops. The odd thing is, it says 4G LTE still, just goes from blue to white.

Isn't that sign it's losing connection to Google?

Did you try transferring some data with WiFi disabled? Don't you have to do that to see that there really is a data drop? Maybe the indicator is just wrong (an unproven hypothesis of mine that it was introduced in 5.9.905).

... Thom

 

[Adara]

Want my honest advice? Download and install the .232 leak onto your phone. You'll love it (your phone) again, for a variety of reasons, and the ICS version of Nav allows for offline mode too

It does not require you to be rooted at all - and you are not required to ever root your phone to install nor revert from the ICS leaks. So it is not a violation of any terms of the VZW contract, either.

I am thinking this is a good plan. I've seen in the reference docs where I can find me the .232 leak (and the FXZ for going back), but have not yet found An Idiot's Guide For Flashing An Update.

Well, googling gave me this: Installing the ICS Leak on the Droid Bionic - A Step by Step Guide -- is that about what we're talking about here? (Minus, I hope, all the dire warnings.)

 

[johnlgalt]

... and ... the time between releases up until now was 3mo, 2mo, 4mo and apply that to when the last OTA came out you will conclude that ICS will come out somewhere between August 15 and October 15.

... Thom

However, Moto's pages were updated to show Q2 for the RAZR (which was on time) and early Q3 for the BIONIC. If you use terms early, mid, and late, you get July, Aug and September. October is Q4.

To me Early Q3 is no later than Aug 15, b/c that is pretty much the middle of the quarter.

The previous 2 days (today has been fine) I have noticed a rash of drops. The odd thing is, it says 4G LTE still, just goes from blue to white.

Isn't that sign it's losing connection to Google?

Yes. Or else you've lost your gateway (the VZW servers) through which you get connected to Google.

Did you try transferring some data with WiFi disabled? Don't you have to do that to see that there really is a data drop? Maybe the indicator is just wrong (an unproven hypothesis of mine that it was introduced in 5.9.905).

... Thom

Usually a web page saying page unavailable / Play Store saying connection unavailable with a retry button are the best indication for me. Most of us don't notice the white until we get some sort of error to the extent that the page cannot display / servers unavailable, etc.

On the ICS leak, even before you log into your first Google account, the connection shows blue, so it is connecting to *something* somewhere. Either they simulate a Google server, or....It's something else, but a connection to VZW's gateway, which makes more sense.

I am thinking this is a good plan. I've seen in the reference docs where I can find me the .232 leak (and the FXZ for going back), but have not yet found An Idiot's Guide For Flashing An Update.

Well, googling gave me this: Installing the ICS Leak on the Droid Bionic - A Step by Step Guide -- is that about what we're talking about here? (Minus, I hope, all the dire warnings.)

If you're on .905 now:

1. Download the .232 leak
2. Put it on your external storage
3. Boot into recovery
   • power off phone,
   • hold vol DOWN *AND* UP and while holding press power
   • at the menu use vol down to move to recovery, then press Vol up to select (vol up does not move the cursor only selects)
4. In the blue recovery menu scroll down using vol down to Install ZIP from SDCard and press power to select
5. Find the file on your SDCard and select using power button
6. Wait.

be sure to have a fully charged battery - you cannot charge when it is in recovery.

If you are not on .905, get the .905 update as well as the .232 update, put both on the SDCard, then in the blue recovery menu, find the .905 file first and install it, and after it is done, don't reboot - immediately after find the .232 file and install it, then finally reboot.