Nexus 5 on Vodafone - Mobile Data stops working, but still connected

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#1109968 17-Aug-2014 15:10

bmoff: Could be, don't care really. I use 2 Degrees for serious data use. Not paying Vodafone's ridiculous rates. I use Vodafone only for calls and light data use like email, so the speed isn't really an issue.
My point was simply that I too have experienced drop-outs.

nate: I live just off Dominion Rd and have never experienced the issues you describe.

You sure it's not your handset?

This thread is not about pricing between carriers and what you think, This thread is going the same way now as the carrier aggregation thread,

C0R3

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#1109971 17-Aug-2014 15:16

I have had similar experiences on my N4 before the latest Kitkat update - it would still show an active HSPA connection but no traffic was passing through. However, this stopped after the 4.4.4 update.

dcole13

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#1109980 17-Aug-2014 16:21

I've tried on 4.4.4 and L, same thing happens. It seems that it's because of the imported phone, i'll try see if I can get it to work.

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#1109988 17-Aug-2014 17:26

bmoff: Could be, don't care really. I use 2 Degrees for serious data use.

So you're not really after a solution, you're just here to troll Vodafone?

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#1110355 18-Aug-2014 11:33

This is interesting - I have tested a variety of Android and Windows Phone handsets around Auckland, both locally supplied and parallel imported, for personal and work use, and have not had this issue unless I've run out of data, in which case opening a browser page will redirect to the Vodafone mobile site (The app is also handy for keeping an eye on this). I have experienced this in the past on parallel imported handsets, although that was on other networks. I'd think this might point to a handset configuration or software issue, but if it's showing up on a locally sourced iPhone as well, that makes things a little less straightforward. Curious that it seems to be presenting on two Nexus 5s in this thread. John had a Nexus 5 for a while, and AFAIK had no issues of this nature.

Are there specific locations where this occurs, is this in fringe 4G coverage, and have you spoken with the faults team to have it investigated? Are you on a Red plan, Prepay, or another On Account plan?

Can you confirm that your APN is set to 'vodafone', and not anything else? Overseas handsets and custom software builds will often default to older APNs if they have a profile for Vodafone NZ at all.

As John notes, the 4G network primarily operates on a higher frequency than the recently-reinforced 900MHz 3G network, so this can result in dropping down to 3G in areas the higher frequencies can't penetrate as easily (Such as the bunker-like back half of my house), and some handsets like to lurk on 3G until the data connection has been idle for a period of time before jumping back up to 4G. Unless you're in an area like a sports match with loads of other people on 3G causing some congestion, though, the data connection should not be stalling out along with the handover.

Be keen to hear from anyone else with Nexus 5s that have noticed the same issues - especially if they're locally-sourced handsets that have that latest software (Which was held back for local certification - see the 2degrees forums).

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#1110544 18-Aug-2014 14:48

FWIW I got an issue similar to what you described on Telecom's 3G with my Nexus 5 for a while. Data session shows as active but is not usable. Someone i know got it on their Nexus 4 as well.

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#1111683 19-Aug-2014 23:10

I've had my Nexus5 since they came out. I don't have this issue at all and I use my phone a lot. And I've used Play, many ASOP and L is my daily driver ATM.

I would love to know how to stop that Sim card logo that keeps coming up after 12hours uptime. With Android L it shows on the lock screen now. I was over this years ago but it seems its still a problem.

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#1111752 20-Aug-2014 07:44

I've had similar problems with my (parallel imported) Sony Xperia Z Ultra on Vodafone. Turning off LTE or restarting the phone usually fixes it, but I'll have a look at fast dormancy and the options suggested.

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#1112957 21-Aug-2014 16:44

NikT: This is interesting - I have tested a variety of Android and Windows Phone handsets around Auckland, both locally supplied and parallel imported, for personal and work use, and have not had this issue unless I've run out of data, in which case opening a browser page will redirect to the Vodafone mobile site (The app is also handy for keeping an eye on this). I have experienced this in the past on parallel imported handsets, although that was on other networks. I'd think this might point to a handset configuration or software issue, but if it's showing up on a locally sourced iPhone as well, that makes things a little less straightforward. Curious that it seems to be presenting on two Nexus 5s in this thread. John had a Nexus 5 for a while, and AFAIK had no issues of this nature.

Are there specific locations where this occurs, is this in fringe 4G coverage, and have you spoken with the faults team to have it investigated? Are you on a Red plan, Prepay, or another On Account plan?

Can you confirm that your APN is set to 'vodafone', and not anything else? Overseas handsets and custom software builds will often default to older APNs if they have a profile for Vodafone NZ at all.

As John notes, the 4G network primarily operates on a higher frequency than the recently-reinforced 900MHz 3G network, so this can result in dropping down to 3G in areas the higher frequencies can't penetrate as easily (Such as the bunker-like back half of my house), and some handsets like to lurk on 3G until the data connection has been idle for a period of time before jumping back up to 4G. Unless you're in an area like a sports match with loads of other people on 3G causing some congestion, though, the data connection should not be stalling out along with the handover.

Be keen to hear from anyone else with Nexus 5s that have noticed the same issues - especially if they're locally-sourced handsets that have that latest software (Which was held back for local certification - see the 2degrees forums).

Hi,

I'm on Prepay 19, yes the APN is on 'vodafone'. I can't test 4G as much as I only get to use it in the city, but it still does happen with 3G. I ported my number from 2degrees if that could change anythign.

Thanks

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#1112975 21-Aug-2014 17:09

@dcole13 Ported mobile number would have Zero impact, Does it seem to happen more in one location and if you leave it for a while does mobile data start again?

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#1112985 21-Aug-2014 17:28

This is the reason i left vodafone a couple of years ago

I found that it would happen when travelling on the motorway or between cell sites.
It would say I had 3g but nothing would load, it was like it would drop coverage and pick up a site again but data would not work, had to reboot or flick the device to airplane mode and back out.

This was on a number of different handsets including nexus 1 and a s2. Talked to vodafone about it did the sim swap that did not help.

Happen to me a few times a week and use to drive me nuts, swapped to telecom/spark never had the problem again.

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#1113020 21-Aug-2014 17:54

johnr: @dcole13 Ported mobile number would have Zero impact, Does it seem to happen more in one location and if you leave it for a while does mobile data start again?

It seemed to only happen often on 4G around Massey University in Albany, it worked fine for me 6:30pm-10pm yesterday in Mission Bay Area. If I leave it on for a while it starts to work again.

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#1114979 25-Aug-2014 11:01

michaelt: I've had similar problems with my (parallel imported) Sony Xperia Z Ultra on Vodafone. Turning off LTE or restarting the phone usually fixes it, but I'll have a look at fast dormancy and the options suggested.

Fast dormancy is a 3G-only feature, LTE doesn't have/need it. :)

Kezzainc: I've had my Nexus5 since they came out. I don't have this issue at all and I use my phone a lot. And I've used Play, many ASOP and L is my daily driver ATM.

I would love to know how to stop that Sim card logo that keeps coming up after 12hours uptime. With Android L it shows on the lock screen now. I was over this years ago but it seems its still a problem.

Could you please give us a little more information about this one, or a screenshot?

dcole13:
johnr: @dcole13 Ported mobile number would have Zero impact, Does it seem to happen more in one location and if you leave it for a while does mobile data start again?

It seemed to only happen often on 4G around Massey University in Albany, it worked fine for me 6:30pm-10pm yesterday in Mission Bay Area. If I leave it on for a while it starts to work again.

Thanks for that - John should be able to add more value here. Sounds like it's worth logging a fault with the team.

FWIW I travelled through the Nelson region over the past week, spent a lot of time going through areas with no coverage from any network, and didn't have issues with data stalling in the handover between 2G/3G/4G/.

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ajobbins

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#1114982 25-Aug-2014 11:06

This was a major issue a few years ago on the Vodafone network that had these exact symptoms. JohnR also vehemently denied at that time there was a problem and it look many months for him to accept otherwise ;)

It was fixed back then, but could be back perhaps.

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#1114985 25-Aug-2014 11:07

Can confirm I had this issue with my NZ new Nexus 5, Mainly while traveling on the train from Ellerslie into the city, jumping between cell sites.
I remember having to put the phone into flight mode or turn mobile data off / on to get ti working again.

Haven't had that issue in the past 5months since getting rid of my Nexus though, Always put it down to being a 2Degrees phone not having the right settings enabled.

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