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Help Can't always (ever?) connect to Internet...
- Thread starter DWFII
- Start date
No.
Can you swipe the ribbon to the left. There has to be somewhere to turn data on and off.
Only one button...
From left to right:
Wifi, Bluetooth, GPS, Sound, 4G, Sync.
When I press and hold 4G, I get a notice saying that "Wifi is now connected. Turn off Wifi to connect to 4G network."
If I turn off Wifi, and then press and hold 4G, what I get is a Network Notification screen and a checkbox to turn on 4G notification. If it is checked (and Wifi is turned off) the phone scans for 4G networks for a moment and then disconnects.
But at that point we are back to the old same same--wifi is not working (turned off) and even though I have 5 bars of signal strength for 3G, I still cannot access the Internet. But to reiterate, I do get text and talk over 3G or possibly 4G.
Even if this did work I'm back to having to turn wifi off and 4G on every time I'm out of range, and vice versa. It also flies in the face of Network Optimizations (checked) which, as I understand it, is supposed to automatically switch back and forth.
I don't know...at this point that's above my pay grade (I'm still learning). But even if that's true, I don't know where I would go to get a new Virgin Mobile SIM or even if it could be replaced.
The question that pops into my mind is why does everything else work? Like text and talk? Etc..
Thank you for taking the time. See post #7 and #8
(also...tried to implement their procedure and was stymied at step one.)
Network: Virgin Mobile
Signal Strength: -86 dBm 4 asu
Mobile network type: EvDo-rev. A:8
Service State: In service
Mobile Network State: Disconnected (see post # 17)
IMEI: My daughter gave this phone to me. It was new when she bought it. It has never been rooted or rom'ed (?) and has never belonged to anyone but her and now me. When I reactivated it on Virgin Mobile (same carrier as she was using) and to switch to my own phone number, I had to provide the IMEI to Virgin Mobile. Everything checked out with them.
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Wait just a minute ... are you sure the network type doesn't say EVDO? Which would be a CDMA network, so your sim card would only be for 4G (if the S2 supported 4G, which I don't think it does). Assuming the phone was already connecting to VM's network under your daughter's account, then I have to think that VM has something messed up for your mobile data connection. Maybe they just need to send a refresh for your IMEI (and make darn sure they have it correct for BOTH data and voice. Since your phone works for calls and messaging, then I'd have to think they do have the number correct at least in one place.
Yes, it does say EvDo...my mistake sorry. (post #36 edited now)
Yes, this iteration of the S2 is 4G. But it automatically switches to 3G if 4G is not available and I still can't access the 'net even with 5 bands of signal strength.
And Virgin Mobile might just have the worst support structure in the world. As mentioned in a previous post, I called. I called VM and was given a set of procedures to follow...starting with dialing a sequence of numbers. But the next screen was not what the support person said it was going to be and it asked for information that I didn't have or know where to get. (I know how to get ESN, etc.)
Worse...and no offense intended...the support person's native language was obviously not English and I suspect she was reading from database entries and was not really tech support with a thorough grounding in the technology. It was frustrating, IOW.
[Sometimes I think these companies deliberately hire non-native speakers to do support work so as to discourage customers. If a customer is calling from France, have a competent speaker of French answering the phone, not someone who speaks Dutch or even English. Only makes sense, doesn't it?]
I'm probably not going to call VM again or expect much from them by way of support.
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Well as far as I know, Virgin Mobile uses Sprint towers....mostly--at least 40% of the time. But the phone has been a VM phone for its entire life and my daughter, who lives in Portland, uses the 'Net extensively and never had problems.
I don't believe the proxy is activated for VM phones. Only those branded by or used within Sprint's own networks, so you shouldn't have that issue.
I hear you about VM's support. It's across the board awful these days, but if you keep at it you generally do get decent information. I had a similarly frustrating issue with AT&T that was finally resolved using Twitter. Go figure.
I have never been a VM Sprint or Verizon customer so I don't have any experience with the nuances of CDMA protocols but is there a way you can log onto your account and at least verify they have a data connection activated for your account and that the IMEI is correct? You should at least be able to see data use and if there is any significant, then something is definitely set incorrectly on their end.
I hear you about VM's support. It's across the board awful these days, but if you keep at it you generally do get decent information. I had a similarly frustrating issue with AT&T that was finally resolved using Twitter. Go figure.
I have never been a VM Sprint or Verizon customer so I don't have any experience with the nuances of CDMA protocols but is there a way you can log onto your account and at least verify they have a data connection activated for your account and that the IMEI is correct? You should at least be able to see data use and if there is any significant, then something is definitely set incorrectly on their end.
Jfalls63
Android Expert
You could look at their online activation and see if there are any steps you missed or even go through the process again.
https://www2.virginmobileusa.com/activate/overview.jsp
https://www2.virginmobileusa.com/activate/overview.jsp
Not sure what that means.
On the other hand...again above my paygrade...if I can connect and access the Internet through wifi, wouldn't that suggest that VM has "data connection activated for my (sic) account"? correctly?
IIRC (not always guaranteed), they did the most of it for me. In any case, it wasn't a DIY deal because this was my first smartphone and I had no clue, period.
Nope.
In a modern cell phone you have 5 separate radios (broadcast/receivers). Voice and text, Mobile data (3G/4G/LTE), Wifi, Bluetooth and GPRS (which is actually only a receiver). They are pretty much independent, although with CDMA networks like VM the voice and data share some bandwidth frequencies, which is why you can't be on a call and use the internet at the same time using only mobile data. The WiFi component of a cell phone is just like that of a laptop. When you connect to WiFi, whether it's at home or a public hot spot, you are connecting to the internet through that route and VM has nothing to do with it.
The fact that you can send and receive calls, tells me that the VM account is active and the CDMA radio is working. The fact that your info shows the mobile network as 'disconnected' and you can't access APN settings tells me that either you don't actually have an active data plan (which you say you pay for) or your data connection was activated improperly. Both are VM problems.
I'm having an identical issue with an LG from a friend. Phone would not activate. VM said it was a hardware problem and left him in the cold. I rooted it and deleted the activation app. Now the device can call and text but no mobile data. This is an LG/Walmart/Sprint/Virgin Mobile/Data Done Right
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