VF 3G problems with iPhone: 'Dialing...' delays, 3G speeds

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › VF 3G problems with iPhone: "Dialing..." delays, 3G speeds

yahnz

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#41996 27-Sep-2009 22:25

I'm getting really frustrated with VF and their support...

Every few days it seems, my iPhone 3G turns into a useless brick. Trying to dial most numbers results in minute-long "Dialing..." screen - most of the time I just give up, hang up (which sometimes lasts equally long!) and try again and again. It's a royal PIA if you need to, well, use the phone! I've had this happen in locations with good 3G and in areas with no 3G - but it does seem to go away if I turn 3G off. Resetting the phone (power on/off, airplane mode on/off, etc.) rarely helps.

The second problem is with iPhone 3G speeds - they are by-and-large pretty bad. Central CBD in Akl or Wlg for example - fine one day, non-existent the next (the phone usually seems to settle on GPRS, and only switches back to 3G on radio reset). The unpredictability of the 3G coverage makes it less than useful - it certainly isn't reliable in a business sense.

The advice I've received from VF reps is to turn the 3g off. Not too crazy about that option as you might imagine. Oddly enough I've had similar problems a while back, and eventually forced VF to replace the iphone - the new one seemed to fix this behavior for a while although I later discovered that the problems were most likely caused by the XT interference fiasco rather than the iphone! (just for laughs - the first VF customer service rep who dealt with me then wanted to know which way I was facing when dialing the phone. Kid you not.)

If anyone has any advice on what to do with the phone or how to deal with VF please let me know - I'm about to just accept the termination charge and go back to Telecom. (All-told I spend over 1k a month with VF now... Home, bb, multiple data cards, mobile... Pain to switch, but this is driving me nuts)

J

Ham

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#258838 28-Sep-2009 00:16

Why do they always suggest to turn 3G off? If you wanted a non-3G device then I'm sure you would have bought one!

In my opinion I really don't think the iPhone 3G/3GS is good on the VF network... We're missing out on all the 900mhz goodness! I'm the same as you in that I'm waiting to see what VF offers after the free 3GB promo runs out then if they don't offer anything decent I will look more closely at XT

johnr

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#258850 28-Sep-2009 07:22

first thing I would be trying is the same SIM in another 3G device i make many 3G calls on a daily basis and have no issue dialing out. So before getting cranky and blaming the carrier try some basic fault checking maybe your handset has a issue and no matter how many times you turn 3G off and back on again will the issue be resolved

richms

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#259179 28-Sep-2009 22:56

Ham: Why do they always suggest to turn 3G off? If you wanted a non-3G device then I'm sure you would have bought one!

In my opinion I really don't think the iPhone 3G/3GS is good on the VF network... We're missing out on all the 900mhz goodness! I'm the same as you in that I'm waiting to see what VF offers after the free 3GB promo runs out then if they don't offer anything decent I will look more closely at XT

What 900MHz goodness is this you speak of? You mean the stuff I would have to drive about an hour out of my way to have any chance of using?

I see the same massive post dial delays on my GSM handsets on vodafone around the place. Chances are your iPhone is falling back and then not putting the call thru. Utterly braindead of apple to leave out the option to disable GPRS/GSM mode but thats apple for you.

IMO move to XT, people with iPhones I know who have are pretty happy.

Richard rich.ms

Ham

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#259195 28-Sep-2009 23:18

Take a look at VF coverage maps to see the diff between 900mhz and 2100mhz... If you travel at all you'd notice it.

richms

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#259205 28-Sep-2009 23:31

There is no 900MHz in auckland. That has been confirmed by vodafone in the past. I do travel occasionally and to be honest I dont really care if its 900 or 2100 when traveling, because in a car it makes no difference. unlike in a building where 2100 barely makes it thru one room.

Richard rich.ms

Ham

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#259208 28-Sep-2009 23:34

I'm simply saying that there is more of it, not getting into characteristics of different frequency ranges

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richms

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#259211 28-Sep-2009 23:43

To me there is none of it. Sure, there is some for people out hellensville etc, but as I will probably not be in a 900MHz served area for the next 3 months, and then when I am its just driving thru so not a huge market for high speed 3g its not relevant. A majority of iPhone users are not missing out on anything because they dont have 900MHz on the phone, because there is nothing there to miss out on.

The problem with iPhones is the GSM fallback, and the crapness of the GSM network in urban areas with long post dial delays and failures to setup calls. I have on occasion tried to dial a call on one of my GSM phones at the top of onewa road, and had to try 2-3 times before getting it connected - putting me outside the school or further down the hill.

IME the iPhone frequently is on 3g till you make a call and then falls back only to go back to 3g as soon as you hang up.

Richard rich.ms

yahnz

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#259213 28-Sep-2009 23:47

John - I do not have a spare 3g device to test on, and I would imagine most people do not. The symptoms match the last go-around, when I did finally get the device replaced. I am getting cranky because the vendor I bought my gear from (VF) is doing a crappy job supporting me as a customer.

I had to go through a lot of rigamole with the shop last time around to get them to accept it as it appeared to work fine there. On top of it, I could not make use of the phone for a week.

So yes, replacement is an option, but VF sure don't make it easy.

I understand from your message that you also have an iPhone 3G, running with 3g enabled full time, and have never had any ridiculous dialing time issues?? I wonder what's different? Is yours set to pull email? ??? Would love to troubleshoot this.

J

caldazar

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#259341 29-Sep-2009 12:42

yahnz - I have an iphone with similar issues. The past few weeks I've been getting the usual text "You have 3 voice messages". Hang on? I didn't miss any calls...

It seems with Vodafone, the best bet to get any reliable service when using an iphone in Auckland is to keep 3G turned off. Pretty pointless.