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Help Not getting photos

D

DWFII

Well-Known Member
Set up my wife's new/old S5 yesterday. Everything seems good. But there's a lot of stuff there...apps and setttings...that weren't on the old S2.

So, first thing, sent a text to our daughter using the default "messages" app. And received one in reply. She sent a photo. But it didn't download and display in the message app. We got the text but in place of the photo was a button that said "Download." Pressing that button caused something to happen but the photo didn't show.

Moments later the same photos was sent to the old S2 and it came through just fine.

What is the problem do you suppose? Is it a setting i missed? or do I need another messaging app? This isn't be acceptable.

Appreciate any help...
 
Any photos sent as attachments to a text automatically convert to an MMS message which requires a mobile data connection. If you aren't getting pictures in texts then make sure you have an active data connection and that your Wireless Access Point settings are correct for your carrier.
 
lunatic59 said:
Any photos sent as attachments to a text automatically convert to an MMS message which requires a mobile data connection. If you aren't getting pictures in texts then make sure you have an active data connection and that your Wireless Access Point settings are correct for your carrier.
Click to expand...

Where do I find WAP's for Tracfone and where do I set them on the S5?
 
PS...The phone is probably accessing wifi for all activities in this location rather than using the 4G radio. But the S2 was definitely using wifi as well--same location, moments apart, and the S2 doesn't get data reliably if at all because the carrier is crap in this area (which is why I bought the new phones, in the first place.)
 
To access your WAP settings go to settings>wireless & networks>cellular networks>access point names

Tracfone has a website to check what your specific settings should be. Here's the link.
 
Thanks to you.

But while were at it and since you are presumably willing and obviously able...I've been having much the same problem with my original Virgin Mobile S2 for about six months. I am getting photos fine but I cannot access the Internet or my Gmail when I am away from my Wifi.

Virgin Mobile is no help. They told me to dial ##72786#, after which I could expect a "SCRTN" screen. But that's not what happens. Instead I get a request for the MSL. I can't find it.

So...trying to learn and trying to do it myself...I have been all over the 'Net looking for ways to change the APNs on the S2 and find I need to change the MMS settings, which if I'm reading right can only be accessed by first getting the MSL.

*!$$#%*!!

Any advice?

Again thank you...without this forum I'd be gnashing my teeth.
 
Last edited:
The topic sounds relatively familiar. Are you sure we weren't talking about this issue in another thread?

In any event, let's review ... no, not enough time ... let me sum up ;)

You have a Virgin Mobile branded Samsung Galaxy S2 that has always been on Virgin Mobile. The problem is that you do not get a data connection when not connected to WiFi, and, while it's been suggested that your APN settings are incorrect, you can't find them to check.

Now, I just happen to have an old S2 sitting here and while it's the AT&T branded SGH-I777, it's running the stock firmware so our menus should be VERY similar. I just happen to have an extra SIM card that I am using for a test account in another phone so let me throw it in the S2 to show you the menus.

This is what you should see.

att-apn.png


From settings>more settings>Mobile Networks>Access Point Names you then press the hard menu button to either add a new APN or you long press the current APN to edit it. Again, you'll need to know what your APN settings should be for your account and Virgin Mobile will be best equipped to tell you that.
 
How are you getting those screen shots?

The reason I ask is because I'm seeing much the same thing until screen three. The only things I have on screen three are Mobile Data (checked) and Connection Optimizer (checked).

If I had some way to capture the screen, I could show you.
 
Press the power button and the home key (little house on the front) simultaneously for a few seconds.
 
Okay ... Interesting development. While checking what settings might be interfering with your menus I turned my WiFi off. And ... no data connection! Hmmm, so I'm not one to simply accept this (my wife would probably liken it to a hungry pit bull in a room full of bunnies ;) ) I did a little more testing. It turns out that in the test phone, which has the radio bands to accept LTE connections, the current APN settings do indeed work, but both my Nexus 4 and the S2, which don't have support for LTE, they wouldn't connect. I did manage to find APN settings for the older 3G/4G networks which for my carrier (H20, in this case which is an MVNO* for AT&T) and they worked right away, so you might have two problems.

First, you need to be able to enter a new APN and then finding one that will work with older data connections on Virgin Mobile.

*Mobile Virtual Network Operator ... which is a fancy way of saying that they buy access to another netwrok and resell it.
 
lunatic59 said:
Okay ... Interesting development. While checking what settings might be interfering with your menus I turned my WiFi off. And ... no data connection! Hmmm, so I'm not one to simply accept this (my wife would probably liken it to a hungry pit bull in a room full of bunnies ;) ).
Click to expand...

I'm like you...I am about to scrap the S2 for the S6 but it galls me that I have been paying to 4G for over six months and not getting it. I guess I'm a completionist and would like to see this work one time before I put it aside. If only for the lessons learned and the knowledge.

In the end, the real problem may just be Virgin Mobile. I've read that they are real reluctant to give out the MSL even to the customer.
 
Hmmm. Not sure what connections optimizer is, but what do you get when you open that? Could be they've included some wizard-like setup nonsense for VM that you have to go through to get to the manual settings.

I'm not sure where else to look except maybe, if you're determined and adventurous, rooting and flashing a custom ROM on this baby. I't snot like you have to be worried about voiding the warranty. ;)
 
lunatic59 said:
Hmmm. Not sure what connections optimizer is, but what do you get when you open that? Could be they've included some wizard-like setup nonsense for VM that you have to go through to get to the manual settings.

I'm not sure where else to look except maybe, if you're determined and adventurous, rooting and flashing a custom ROM on this baby. I't snot like you have to be worried about voiding the warranty. ;)
Click to expand...

No, I'm pretty sure it's an applet that supposedly makes the phone use wifi when it is available and 4G when not. When you click on it in Settings you get a long screen of legalese...like a EULA...and you have to agree to the terms to activate Connection Optimizer.

That's all. No further screens, no binary switch, nada.
 
lunatic59 said:
I'm not sure where else to look except maybe, if you're determined and adventurous, rooting and flashing a custom ROM on this baby. I't snot like you have to be worried about voiding the warranty. ;)
Click to expand...

Well, I don't know that I'm that adventurous. At 70, my adventuring days are pretty much behind me.

More to the point, I don't want to "brick" it. I've had exactly one other cell phone (the S2) in my life...got it six months ago. I'm a quick study but I don't think I know enough (maybe not interested enough) to fiddle around with rooting it. Might be good for a grandchild...or $25-30.00?
 
I'd say, if you can get $30 for it, SELL SELL SELL. ;)


I see new S2's on eBay for $80~$90, which IMHO is too high. A used one? Keeps it for the grandkids. (Mine are still a little too young, but they grow up too fast anyway. :) )
 
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