I had this same problem as well as flat out LOS of the 3G; intermittant and sometimes the 3G would be out for the entire afternoon. It was never the same, but I did notice that when WIFI was disconected, the 3G vanished as well; or if the hotspot was turned off, the 3G vanished. It seemed that if anything was changed at all, 3G took a hike.
I put a IPHONE 4S and HTC EVO 4G shift side by side to the GS2, and the others has excellent 3G; but the Samsung was dead in the water. I went through the entire "support" thing, and here's what the Samsung LIVE CHAT stated; (BTW, I would love to know how to alter the GS2 to have excellent 3G support).
"Please wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Charlie '. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK5640788320X
Charlie : Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
Visitor: I had a Samsung Galaxy EPIC 4G touch for Sprint. I had horrible reception and LOS (3 G vanished). I then used my other Sprint phones, a HTC EVO 4G Shift and IPHONE 4S side by side the Galaxy EPIC and all but the Samsung got 3G reception. I returned the phone... got a new one, no change. I did the TECH support SOFTWARE updates and the ## phone thing, NO CHANGE. I have until tomorrow to exchange BACK to the Samsung EPIC if I want to... and I was wonder ing if there is any fix to this LOS thing. I returned the phone within 14 days for the IPHONE perfect 3g. Is there a fix for the Samsung?
Charlie : Please allow me to go through the inquiry.
Visitor: History:
Visitor: 1. bought the EPIC for SPRINT. 2. PROBLEMS with 3G vanishing in an area where SPRINT always had 3G. 3. Tested phone, problems compared to other SPRINT phones; same location. 4. Returned phone for a new one; no change. 5. Worked with Sprint tech to ensure software and the phone was up to date; all done. No change with LOS and the 3G dropping. 6. I loved the phone but no 3G caused me to return it. I now have until tomorrow to get it again if I want. Is there any fix for the weak and los of 3G?
Charlie : I understand that you are having issue with the 3G signals on the device. Is it correct?
Visitor: All this is well documented on the various web forums. All say Samsung is pointing to Sprint, and Sprint points to samsung. I called samsung, who said that the issue was listed as resolved with the DEC update; which by the web interaction is not correct. YES.. the 3G was gone. It would come back momentarily, then vanish. HOT SPOT would come in and out. There were always 2 to 4 bars of reception during all this. I made screen saves for the technicians at Sprint. No ability to fix.
Visitor: The HTC Epic 4G Shift and the IPHONE 4S have no issues with the 3G where I am. Is it an antenna problem with the SAMSUNG EPIC 4G?
Charlie : Thank you for the information.
Visitor: I just want to be sure that if I get the Samsung Galaxy, it will be able to have 3g or a fix on the way. IS A FIX on the way? Are they really working on it? Is the antenna weak as many suggest?
Charlie : I am sorry to inform that there are no known issue in the device. The device does not have any antenna issue. I am sorry to inform that there are no available update for the device. I am sorry to inform that we do not have the information on the ongoing updates for the device.
Visitor: I don't understand. The forums are terming this drop in 3G as a "LOS BUG". It's very prevalent on the forums that others are having the same issues I am. I see messages from 2011 to date. Why isn't Samsung acknowling this? Can you explain why everyone is listing this problem (and that they've contacted Samsung) yet it's not known by Samsung?
Charlie : I will be right with you.
Visitor: thank you
Charlie : I do understand your concern. However there are no known issue with the device. However let try isolating the issue by performing a factory reset on the device. It should fix any issue with the device software. It will delete the data in the device memory.
Visitor: I'd like to get the phone, but with all the web talk of the same issues I'm having, and Samsung not acknowledging it after many have already said they've contacted Samsung, I'm worried about buying a Samsung product under those circumstances; especially since I have experienced these same issues first hand. "The problem doesn't exist" hurts my trust in Samsung. Many have said that Samsung told them to reset the device (and thus your suggestion gives their response credit, and that Samsung has been notified of the problem). They also said that it didn't work. The LOS BUG still remained. but.... since you have stated "there's no signal problem and no fix is apparent", my questions is answered. I was hoping Samsung would address the outcry on such a wonderful phone. Do a GOOGLE search on Samsung Galaxy S2 EPIC 4G Touch LOS and you will get an exhaustive report of this problem.
Visitor: Is there anything more other than RESET the phone? (It did not work)
Charlie : I am sorry to inform that there is no other way other than the reset on the device it will isolate the issue is with device or not
.
Visitor: Thank you. This problem has not been resolved. I can say that because the IPHONE 4S and the HTC EVO 4G Shift had no problems with 3G on the same carrier (Sprint); the Galaxy S II has a reception problem and most probably an antenna issue. This issue is well documented on the Internet. Samsung is ignoring it. This is very sad. I know first hand that the issue expressed on the Internet is real as I have experienced it as well. Can you formally introduce this issue to Samsung for me by doing some Internet Research on LOSS OF CARRIER/LOSS OF DATA SIGNAL for this phone? I would appreciate it."
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So that's the rub. I might still try it out. I'd be interested knowing how to ROOT and all that so I can get the phone and have 3G service too. What is the best resource to get things accomplished with the 3G LOS problem?
Thank you.
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