Although I'm interested in explanations or theories as to what happened and why, this is more of a story than a question...
Like most of us, I've had this phone for over 2 years, and I've been running / testing / messing with a variety ROMs for a long time... My "daily driver" recently has been from the cm10.1 nightlies (updated every week or so).
I saw the March 16 availability of BAKED blackbean, and thought I would give it a try... Being lazy, my initial flash was "dirty" after clearing only the cache partition and dalvik. All looked good on boot, but I soon noticed the infamous "phantom key presses" that usually only occur in very low signal areas... This was happening even though I could see 3-4 bars of signal. 3G data was working to some extent.
I dialed *228+ to reactivate (not technically sure when it's a good idea to do this - I once heard it should be done whenever a new kernel is installed, but it rarely seems necessary). But, the call failed to connect... I rebooted to recovery, full wipe, reflashed, same issue. Reflashed back to "stock" cm10.1 (3/15 build - why does this feel like "stock" these days . Still no outgoing call capability and some phantom key presses. Couldn't send SMS messages either.
ODIN time - back to (truly) stock GB EH03. Still couldn't call to activate. My wife's fascinate, from the same room, could make calls and send texts, etc. so I mostly ruled out coincidental VZW network issues.
I went to VZW.com to "deactivate" my fascinate temporarily to a new phantom device and reactivate (an old trick), but VZW wanted me to choose a new data plan first and said I wouldn't be able to go back... So I called VZW tech support and got them to re-provision the phone from their end, and we finally got things working again only after using the EH03 stock function to factory reset (Settings --> Privacy --> Factory Reset), which kicks off an activation wizard on the next boot.
The VZW 2nd-level tech guy then called me, traded SMSes and verified I could call out to one of their test numbers... At this point, I seriously thought about staying on stock GB (or perhaps GeeWiz 2.9 - which is good stuff .
Anyway, now I'm back on cm10.1 with my usual data partition all nicely restored and everything is hunky-dorry. For a minute there I thought this old device may have been showing signs of old age and was about to die. But it seems good-as-new (better than new actually - given CM10.1 .
So, any ideas of what happened to my phone in what seemed to be the normal life of a flash-junky? I don't blame BAKED blackbean (no similar tales in that thread), although my dirty flash of that ROM coming from CM10.1 was where the problem started for me.
When should one really reactivate their phone via *228? How often is it necessary to update "roaming" capabilities?
When will the Galaxy SIII refurbs start showing up on VZW.com (I was contemplating my best replacement option there for a few minutes - why spend $200 on something new when you've got a perfectly good Fascinate)?
Very interesting story. Since I too am a Flash Junky. Hope nothing like this happens to me
Sent from my SCH-I500 using xda app-developers app
I haven't dialed *228 in 2 years lol I don't really see why you should have to
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
Related
Hi! My service bars will sometimes completely drop (I am in full coverage area), and I can't call/send text messages, then it will come back randomly.
I am not sure what caused this, i have tried different radios (EC01,EC09,ED01,ED05) and they all seem to do the same thing.
Any ideas on a fix for this?
Thanks!
(currently on MIUI)
Update: It happens when I am trying to send a text message normally, at the exact same time my service will switch from 3G to 1X.. this is really starting to annoy me. Any ideas guys?
^^occurs now without sending messages
Update #2: Flashed DL09 Stock Eclair Rom, everything booted up fine, did *228 opt 1 & 2, for some reason option 2 wouldn't work, i had to retry it about 4 times before it worked.
I am in a full coverage area and only receiving 0-1 bar of service, and I should be getting 3G but keep locking on to the 1x more often than not
& THIS IS ON THE STOCK ROM which i originated from. I just don't get it
I may just try going in to verizon and getting a replacement? I just don't understand what caused this.
Since your on miui, I would think ec09 radio should be your best bet..have you done a*228 option 2 on ec09? In my experience the ec09 radio has been the best one hands down.
Also the 3g symbol disappearing the moment you send a text is normal and you haven't necessarily lost 3g..it will switch to 1x to send and receive texts/mms.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
efan450 said:
Since your on miui, I would think ec09 radio should be your best bet..have you done a*228 option 2 on ec09? In my experience the ec09 radio has been the best one hands down.
Also the 3g symbol disappearing the moment you send a text is normal and you haven't necessarily lost 3g..it will switch to 1x to send and receive texts/mms.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried EC09 on MIUI and it didn't change anything. When I do *228 it says it completed through the voice on the phone, but the text on the phone says that it failed, so then I just reboot.
This issue has persisted now on ALL Roms, Eclair, Froyo, GB, MIUI MTD or CM7, it hasn't mattered. Or it doesn't matter what radio.
I went into Verizon today and am having a replacement sent to me, so hopefully I will never have this issue again but am scared to try again since this problem has occurred previously...
Now no matter what radio/rom combo whether froyo, eclair, or gb I am on,
my DATA will either not even download ANYTHING from the market or even connect, and if it does it is slow as nails and doesn't ever finish the download. It is the oddest thing. I have always done clean flashes, but it seems like I have ****ED UP my fascinate, it doesn't make sense though because it is all software and not hardware...
^I have tested this on 3 rome already, stock ED01, EF voodoo, and MIUI, ALL of them do the same thing, and this is with clean flashes, clean modem and cam stuff
i just don't understand. I have only made software changes, always used a pit file, only bricked my phone once, and it was a soft brick..
Bell Atrix running OTA GB. The phone is unlocked and rooted now as I have been trying to fix this for a while now.
When the GPS is activated (the circle crosshair icon appears) my data connection drops and reconnects. This can take from 10-45 seconds and is highly annoying. It has only been happening since the update.
I have:
Flashed Gobstopper for Froyo - seems to work fine with no loss of data connection
Flashed Gobstopper for GB - GPS/Data issue is back
Flashed Faux123's kernal - GPS/Data issue is there
Flashed CM7 Beta - Same GPS/Data issue
Each flash is through recovery with a complete wipe (wipe Dalvik, cache, data. Erase boot, system, userdata, cache, webtop, preinstall.)
I am out of ideas. Any suggestions?
Well I guess my issue is unique. Lucky me.
After flashing Froyo and letting the OTA update happen everything was doing well...
until I used THIS method to root my phone. As soon as I did this and installed Titanium Backup the GPS causes data connection drop.
At least I seem to have found the reason, now to find a fix.
(I am continuing to document this in case someone else has this same issue in the future.)
EDIT: After flashing 2.2.2 and letting it OTA update to 2.3.4 once more I found that it did the same thing again. GPS turns on, data connection drops then reconnects. This is without redoing IHOP. Without rooting. So the rooting method is off the hook. I am now leaning towards a hardware issue. I guess it is time to check out eBay for a spare Atrix and send this off to Bell to see if they will fix/replace it with an unlocked bootloader.
Deleted
10 char
Update: Bought a new phone. Bell Atrix. Came with 2.2. Put my sim in it. Logged in to Motoblur. Updated OTA to 2.3. Added my google account.
Still does it. I can't believe there are no others experiencing this. That is two phones. Same thing.
Only other thing I can think to do is get tasker and keep gps off until needed.
I still love my Atrix!
You are not alone!
I started experiencing this at some point after the Gingerbread 2.3.4 update as well.
It's disappointing to hear that it also happens with CM7.
Did you ever post about this in the Motorola Support Forums?
I haven't posted in the Motorola support forums. I searched there and found most of the responses lacking in service.
I am running CM7 stable and it seems to work better now. Better all around. Haven't gone back to Bell's GB for a couple of weeks.
Before I made the leap to CM7 I did find that if I left the GPS off and turned it on just before using it there was less of an issue.
Yeah Motorola has absolutely terrible support, but I only was wondering if you posted there since it might help them take notice.
I'd really love to put CM7 on mine too, but I can't get any answers to some of the questions I have first, and lots of the info I find online is contradictory.
I found though that if I turn off the "use wireless networks" option in the location settings that it seems to help a lot.
But then there are apps that nag at me about that setting being off.
Been running CM7 nightly 4. No issues at all. Best firmware for this phone. Hands down.
Follow the instructions and everything will work great.
Hey There.
Bell atrix freshly international boot unlocked, CWM with Neutrino 2.7, first time google mapping startup after bootup, Data connection drops right after GPS icon lights up. Data picks up again, and most times have to restart app, google mapping then works.
Waste around a minute every time. Can happen a while after first boot as well.
Seem to remember a problem like this on my Vibrant, had to change supl settings through phone codes.
But I've got nothing here. Still digging.
FYI - I'm also a canadian Bell Atrix owner. A commonality?
Also determined:
If on wifi when gps app/gps turns on, I see Atrix drop wifi, and go to H+ data.
If only on data when gps app/gps turns on, I see Atrix drop H+ data, and go... nowhere. H+ Data comes back after a dozen or so seconds
Also, happens when using NottachTrix as well.
Threw in my Rogers sim as well, same problems with dropping data when GPS runs
I remember having this problem on my Desire Z. It was driving me crazy back then, but I finally found the culprit.
It turns out the problem was that there were 2 data APNs (not including MMS). Whenever the GPS is enabled, the phone would disconnect from data because of this. I deleted the redundant APN (leaving only one APN that I wanted to use) and everything worked fine since.
Working rom
I found a rom that works, Max Blur 5, it is based on the original bell rom 2.3.6, I tested several other Roms and only based on bell works. The last version Max blur 6 not working it's base on ATT rom..
I am on the Bell network in Montréal Québec.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1855288
I am a flashaholic. I flash any new rom on my fassy whenever a new one is released. I recently did TSM Res 2.0. I always flash by the book. I made many mistakes as a rookie and I try not to repeat oopsies. All was well and I found the rom to be stable and well put together. The next day I rebooted for an unrelated issue. After that, as the day progressed my data connection fizzled. By the next day I had lost it completely. I flashed back to stock and nothing. Then Superclean, CM7 and still nothing. Called Verizon and got a replacement. My last day with the phone, day 4, my ability to call also went. I called Verizon. I did an activation and had it authenticated. Rebooted phone and ta-da. All was well.
So WTF? Any ideas folks?
I kept the replacement anyways.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
UPDATE: Thank you guys so much for the help! My phone is running well so far! The GPS works well enough for navigation, and I should hopefully be able to limp through until my full upgrade. I can't tell you guys how thankful I am that you all took the time to help me answer my questions and get my phone going again!
what would you do? I have a Vibrant, and have done quite a lot of troubleshooting with it. Tmo's tech support said it's a hardware issue and that they've done all they can.
I've tried just about all the Froyo ROMs on it, and things seem to work well for a while, then it gets odd. I regularly clear my call logs, messages, and browser cache. I use wifi whenever I'm at home, and whenever I'm in the minivan I have my phone plugged in.
I am currently running Axura - Moped/FishmanMod v1. This has seemed to work the longest.
Lately, though, I've been missing phone calls...as in, no notification, no log, nada. I rebooted last week and suddenly had a voicemail icon...I had 7 new voicemails. One from my son's teacher. I never knew she even called. I've since reinstalled Tmo Visual Voicemail and at least now I think I'm getting my voicemails. Missing phone calls can't happen though. We don't have a landline, and we have a child with health issues. I have to be available.
Other issues:
*My battery died about halfway through the day yesterday, even though it had charged fully overnight.
*This thing is slowing down. As in, taking a photo with my phone isn't really viable. By the time it finally snaps the picture, my kiddo has grown an inch.
*Lag! I'm using Swiftkey X and it often hangs on a key for several seconds before finally typing it. It's very slow to open apps, etc as well.
Does anyone have any more advice for me? I'd love to run an ICS or JB ROM, but having the ability to call 911 is not negotiable for me. Woodrube and some others have given me some great advice, which has helped, but I'm still having some issues.
I could pare down the apps and use it just as a phone, but what would be the point of having an Android...and data? I need the calendar, email, task list, etc. to keep track of everyone.
I'd love to try to figure out how to make this phone last longer. I could upgrade now, but our checkbook doesn't like the idea.
Personally I'd Odin back to stock JFD and either do a reflash or pick a new ROM (bionix comes to mind).
Could do a fresh install of the apps you want on your phone. Your battery could be going bad and may need to be replaced, and if your sim card is getting old, you may need to stop by T-Mobile and have them replace it.
Not sure if that could be the trouble with your notifications or voicemail, but they are all quick things to try that should be cheap and quite possibly very effective.
The_MamaBee said:
what would you do? I have a Vibrant, and have done quite a lot of troubleshooting with it. Tmo's tech support said it's a hardware issue and that they've done all they can.
I've tried just about all the Froyo ROMs on it, and things seem to work well for a while, then it gets odd. I regularly clear my call logs, messages, and browser cache. I use wifi whenever I'm at home, and whenever I'm in the minivan I have my phone plugged in.
I am currently running Axura - Moped/FishmanMod v1. This has seemed to work the longest.
Lately, though, I've been missing phone calls...as in, no notification, no log, nada. I rebooted last week and suddenly had a voicemail icon...I had 7 new voicemails. One from my son's teacher. I never knew she even called. I've since reinstalled Tmo Visual Voicemail and at least now I think I'm getting my voicemails. Missing phone calls can't happen though. We don't have a landline, and we have a child with health issues. I have to be available.
Other issues:
*My battery died about halfway through the day yesterday, even though it had charged fully overnight.
*This thing is slowing down. As in, taking a photo with my phone isn't really viable. By the time it finally snaps the picture, my kiddo has grown an inch.
*Lag! I'm using Swiftkey X and it often hangs on a key for several seconds before finally typing it. It's very slow to open apps, etc as well.
Does anyone have any more advice for me? I'd love to run an ICS or JB ROM, but having the ability to call 911 is not negotiable for me. Woodrube and some others have given me some great advice, which has helped, but I'm still having some issues.
I could pare down the apps and use it just as a phone, but what would be the point of having an Android...and data? I need the calendar, email, task list, etc. to keep track of everyone.
I'd love to try to figure out how to make this phone last longer. I could upgrade now, but our checkbook doesn't like the idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, although it isn't too helpful to say...I honestly believe that if you simply must be available because you have a child with health issues, you definitely should not be tinkering with your device. True, my phone runs better, faster, stronger, and longer (ha daft punk) than it did running stock, but I have certainly had the occasional issue such as data issues, force closes, battery drains, SODs, etc, etc...it's simply a fundamental part of the life of modifying your phone. It's not to say that you won't have issues if you kept it stock, but you really shouldn't be messing with your phone if you don't have a land line and you NEED to be available for something so important.
Now, onward!
I will look into similar occurrences of your problems and report back..(sorry in class atm, then off to a meeting). Until then, Gl!
you could try and use a cyanogenmod based Rom. They are one of the best roms out there except you can't as of right now call 911 (some phones can and some cant ) also gps is semi-broken.
blizzardproof said:
you could try and use a cyanogenmod based Rom. They are one of the best roms out there except you can't as of right now call 911 (some phones can and some cant ) also gps is semi-broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice, but not an option. I have to have 911 capability, and we're pretty active geocachers, so my GPS gets used a ton. I've been so tempted by CM Roms, and my husband is rocking one on his One S, but going without 911 isn't an option.
After this last round of my phone's slowness, we did ODIN back to stock, then did the ((*^&^%$*&^) updating it to Froyo. (Yay!) We were hoping that taking it back to stock would help our issues, but it actually seemed slower. (And oh, the agony of using TouchWiz!) I very, very carefully added back ONLY the apps I used on a daily basis, watching carefully to see if there were any issues. It was crazy slow.
We then went to this last ROM and I added back apps even more slowly. I noticed that I had issues after I put the Zedge app back on, so it's gone. I also noticed that it acted funky after I put Google Goggles on, so it's gone as well.
I am not, by the way, storing any music on my device. I stream it through Google Music.
I do have another battery for it. I'll put Battery Calibration on and swap batteries to see if that helps. Good idea.
Also, my SIM is pretty old. I hadn't thought about seeing if I could get a new one! I know it solved some issue LONG ago with my BlackBerry. I'll see if I can do that at our TMo store today. Appreciate that suggestion.
I've been just about the give up on this phone altogether and just going with the One S like The Hubs, but forking over the money for it (not to mention that it would be $200 for me and $49.99 for a new contract!) is just not in the budget now. Might be getting close to something we just can't avoid though.
Try flashing back to stock 2.1 with repartition checked. Then flash one of Fishman/Moped 2.2 ROMS ( he has odin files if you prefer that method). I think you may still have some "ghosts" left behind from the last ROM or two you had on your phone. A fresh odin to stock with repartition checked should get rid of any "ghosts". Also when restoring apps make sure you restore app only, not app+data. Remember, after installing a ROM allow your phone to sit for a good 10 minutes then reboot before you use the phone.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk 2
iTz KeeFy said:
Try flashing back to stock 2.1 with repartition checked. Then flash one of Fishman/Moped 2.2 ROMS ( he has odin files if you prefer that method). I think you may still have some "ghosts" left behind from the last ROM or two you had on your phone. A fresh odin to stock with repartition checked should get rid of any "ghosts". Also when resorting apps make sure you restore app only, not app+data. Remember, after installing a ROM allow your phone to sit for a good 10 minutes then reboot before you use the phone.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That could definitely be it. I used to just restore all my apps+data with My Backup Root. I'll see if I can convince The Hubs to help me work on the phone this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks!
Okay, we did the repartition flash, then put it on FishmanMod Blue 2.2 Frankenstein Slim. Seems to be running a little better, but now my GPS won't lock at all. I've rebooted, tried Samsung GPS Restore (never locks) and GPS Test. Test sees 4-5 satellites but doesn't ever lock on. I've tried Nav as well and it is not able to lock on.
I've checked our forums and I see a lot of fixes, but no recent fixes and most of them are for 2.1. I've tried dialing the *#*# numbers, but they don't do anything.
I sure could use some suggestions. I'd like to be able to use my GPS. I know it's generally an issue with Vibrants, but mine has never failed to lock on before. Might be slow, might take it until the end of the block, but it always locks. Until now...
Thanks in advance!
Go to the Dev section and look for a thread called GPS Fixes by Solisfiend. It'll be buried way back and I'm mobile so I can't link it. It has directions and app to fix Froyo GPS.
I have 2 posts in there, 1 is clarification of some things and the other is a download app you can use. Should work well for you.
Thank you, Woodrube. I'll do just that.
ETA: Found the link.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1393991&highlight=gps+fixes
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app
I had a stock EVO 4G LTE running ICS, I upgraded OTA to Jellybean....had problems with the proximity sensor after the upgrade, so I put CM10 stable on it - and that worked fine for a month. Worked very well actually!
For curious reasons, I wanted to go back to the stock ROM and see if I was just imaging the issues (which Im not, others have reported), so I downloaded the "RUU_JEWEL_CL_JB_45_S_Sprint_WWE_3.15.651.16_Radio_1.12.11.1119_NV_2.87_003_25007_release_299302_signed"
I relocked the bootloader and installed the RUU. Installed fine. However, the phone was SUPER slow. The camera had problems too...but for example, Id make a call and it would ring and call time start, but 10 seconds later the phone would vibrate indicating the call went thru, even though I was a good 4-5 rings in.
So I went back to CM10 - the same exact version I went to before. It was still on my SD Card. Totally unstable. Freezing, rebooting, screen goes blank for no reason...just all sorts of weird problems. Would freeze and reboot during a call, but the caller would still be on the line!
I reflashed the ROM like 5 times, ever time clearing cache, davlik, factory reset, and system. Still completely goofy.
I read there was a problem with the 3.15 RUU, so I followed these directions here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2097150
But that still didnt help.
Right now Im back on the STock JB ROM. At least I can take phone calls with it, but I'd like to return to CM10.
Any suggestions would be VERY apprecaited!
Thanks.
More things I am noticing:
The Flashlight app doesnt work anymore
Camera doesnt work then causes the whole phone to become unresponsive.
Bump!
Can anybody help me out? Im dying over here without a phone that works.
the phone app keeps crashing. If i reboot, things work ok UNTIL I make a phone call....then nothing works.
Very strange!
I would try wiping 3 times
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 09:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 AM ----------
Also are you restoring things from the titanium backup?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
MerkoPCS said:
I had a stock EVO 4G LTE running ICS, I upgraded OTA to Jellybean....had problems with the proximity sensor after the upgrade, so I put CM10 stable on it - and that worked fine for a month. Worked very well actually!
For curious reasons, I wanted to go back to the stock ROM and see if I was just imaging the issues (which Im not, others have reported), so I downloaded the "RUU_JEWEL_CL_JB_45_S_Sprint_WWE_3.15.651.16_Radio_1.12.11.1119_NV_2.87_003_25007_release_299302_signed"
I relocked the bootloader and installed the RUU. Installed fine. However, the phone was SUPER slow. The camera had problems too...but for example, Id make a call and it would ring and call time start, but 10 seconds later the phone would vibrate indicating the call went thru, even though I was a good 4-5 rings in.
So I went back to CM10 - the same exact version I went to before. It was still on my SD Card. Totally unstable. Freezing, rebooting, screen goes blank for no reason...just all sorts of weird problems. Would freeze and reboot during a call, but the caller would still be on the line!
I reflashed the ROM like 5 times, ever time clearing cache, davlik, factory reset, and system. Still completely goofy.
I read there was a problem with the 3.15 RUU, so I followed these directions here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2097150
But that still didnt help.
Right now Im back on the STock JB ROM. At least I can take phone calls with it, but I'd like to return to CM10.
Any suggestions would be VERY apprecaited!
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i say you should flash MEANBEAN, its a stable JB rom and some of the bugs like the proximity sensor have been fixed thanks to the devs here at XDA. its running very smooth for me. the only issue for me is that google's navigation doesnt work, but telenav works just fine. just wipe your phone about 3 or 4 times (i always do that to ensure i get a clean install on any rom). good luck!
I would re-download CM10 and verify checksum since you didn't mention that.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
Thanks for the replies.
Really all I want to do at this time is go back to stock, which I currently am on.
But even on the stock 3.15 ROM, it is very very unstable. The phone is majorly delayed. I get 1 ring on incoming calls before it goes to voicemail - but the person calling hears the normal 5-6.
For CM10, I used the same zip file (stayed on my SD card) that I used without problem for almost a month.
I took the phone to sprint (back to stock) and they couldnt figure it out. Getting a replacement tomorrow.
Could I just have a coincidental hardware problem? Seems odd if that is the case, the phone was working perfectly until I went back to stock using the 3.15 RUU
I got my replacement phone last night, did an OTA upgrade to JB in the store and the proximity sensor didnt work...
was about to tell the rep to just order me a GS3, but I said hold off....I really prefer the 4GLTE over the S3
Went home and flashed Meanbean......WOW!
Just like stock, and the prox sensor works!
so my plan is to just keep this ROM until HTC fixes the issue in their next maintenance release.
in TWRP, i made a backup and selected all the options Is this sufficient to get me back to stock, then do an OTA upgrade for the maintenance release, if and when it comes out?