6 replies to this topic

[jhocutt06]

Hello all,
I've been visiting these forums for a while but is my first time posting. For the past few months I have been having a problem with my Droid Razr Maxx dropping its data connection. I have been working with customer service and getting feedback from the VZW community support forums to try to fix the problem but still no luck. I figured it’s time to post the problem to a different community to see if I can get to the bottom of this.
I live in a 3G only area with pretty good coverage (3-4 bars -70 to -80 dBm signal strength typically). While browsing, checking email facebook linkedin or whatever the 3G indicator will disappear, signal bars turn gray, bars drop to nothing and after 30 seconds to sometimes 5 minutes the signal returns and everything works normally until the problem comes up again.
I started with the normal troubleshooting steps of factory reset and booting in safe mode and uninstalling apps, still no good. Going to my local store the reps there decided to send me out a refub phone. After activating the “new” phone the problem still happens. I called VZW customer support and went through some more troubleshooting steps and decided to send out a new SIM card. Getting the new SIM and installing it the problem came back after a few hours. I swapped out the micro SD with a spare I had around my apartment and formatted. Factory reset my phone and on initial setup did not link my google account, work exchange account or my personal email and did not install any apps or even open the play store. Started browsing the web as a test and… started happening again…
So yet another call to VZW and they decided to open up a trouble ticket and said they will get back ahold of me in a few days. I’m going out on a limb here in thinking that they won’t find anything since my fiancé’s Iphone4s never has any problems with data.
From reading through forums and articles it seems like this is failrly common amongst Motorola phone (Razr, Razr HD, Bionic). Here’s a few of the sources I’ve found on the VZW and motorola support communities:

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So I’m in a tough spot. I will probably wait to see what the results of the trouble ticket are but not expecting much. Seems that VZW is unsympathetic. Has anyone else encountered a problem like this and if so do you know a fix? Do you have any recommendations with how I need further approach this with VZW?
I have attached some screenshots of the problem happening while looking at the network type and strength in the settings menu for reference. Here is also the link to the forum thread I started on the VZW support forums:

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[Brian]

I am going to guess that you have ICS and did not root your phone, nor are you on any sort of custom ROM. It isn't uncommon for VZW to send out bad phones, I have had to return several devices within a short period of time. Sometimes it was for battery issues, sometimes for data issues, my son has the razr og and I have the Maxx, he would have full data and I would have nothing, sitting right next to each other. Finally after 3 or 4 phones, they sent me out one that actually worked. Your best bet may be to try another phone, also if you haven't already you might try and switch to global. One final thing would be to see if your coverage changes in different areas of your city. Also, you have to be firm with these reps, tell them you can't be without a phone, ask to talk to a supervisor if you have to.

[satman80]

Sounds like the Antenna is bad on the phone, there are 3 antenna's

1 for the 1x, 3g
1 for the 4g
1 for the wifi

If the antenna for the 1x 3g, is messed up this will happen, if you notice, sometimes if you keep it still, say on the desk on once specific spot, u might be able to get it to stay on 3g or 1x..

Faulty phone, they need to send you a replacement, I know because I went round and round on this once before with VZW, if you get the right tech one that knows what and why they have a 4g sim card and the reason for different antenna's, they will come to this conclusion that its defective

Hope this helps..

[jhocutt06]

Thanks for the responses guys! You are correct in assuming that I do not have a custom rom and have not rooted and am in fact on ICS. I agree this looks like an antenna issue but being on the second device with the exact issue is peculiar. I will probably try to push for yet another phone it's frustrating having to do this multiple times!

[Brian]

It is very frustrating, I believe that if you pay good money (as opposed to bad money) for a new phone on VZW's contract, they should at least give you a new phone on the first replacement. I have returned at least 7 different phones between the razr og and maxx, and each time they give me a refurb phone, and there is ALWAYS something not right with it. Lately, I have gotten several phones that the kevlar backing seems to have a slight bubble in it...nothing huge, but irritating, especially after buying a new phone at full price to keep my unlimited...

[jhocutt06]

I almost want to throw in the towel and buy an unsubsidized phone and be rid of the problem. It's unfortunate that most of the other phones on Verizon are not appealing to me and what drew me to the Maxx was the battery life. Just gotta keep pushing I guess!

[The Persuader]

Thanks for the responses guys! You are correct in assuming that I do not have a custom rom and have not rooted and am in fact on ICS. I agree this looks like an antenna issue but being on the second device with the exact issue is peculiar. I will probably try to push for yet another phone it's frustrating having to do this multiple times!

Agreed with the Antenna...after 2 devices its not That...What is the setting on your Wife's phone? Compared it to yours? Guessing your both on Verizon...

Maybe it could be the Baseband (Radio)...the output for Singling reception...

Its Bubba