HTC 10 Evo Keeps Disconnecting from Data services? (Mint Mobile)

[Twisty2k]

Recently I got an unlocked HTC 10 Evo and purchased an account with Mint Mobile. Got the SIM card, put it in, everything went smoothly. y I was able to receive and send texts and calls and MMS worked fine. But I what I soon noticed was how often the data seems to flat-out disconnect. Every few seconds, whether I have 1 bar or 5 bars, I get the symbol with the 5 bars with the line crossed through it, and when I go into the settings the data says "service unavailable". This seems to happen more particularly when I have the Wi-Fi on and I have a solid connection that way... when I'm outside or using the GPS in the car, it doesn't seem to disconnect or have any problems. Even during phone calls, I never disconnect or get lag or anything. It's as if when I'm actively using the data, the phone stays connected to it no problem, but when I'm not currently using it, it's prone to sporadically disconnecting and reconnecting for seconds or sometimes minutes. It's really bizarre, I don't think this is normal. I called Mint Mobile and they told me they didn't see anything wrong with the connection and it most likely was my phone's fault.

Here's what I tried:

-I hard reset the phone
-I reset the network settings
-I set the APN settings to what Mint Mobile's website advises this phone should be set to, as well as what other websites have said
-Re-seating the SIM card

But no luck. What's even more annoying is that, ever since I did a hard reset, I no longer can send or receive MMS... any ideas? Thank you.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! It might have to do with which T-Mobile bands are strongest in your area (which is what Mint uses). Of T-Mobile's 4G bands, your phone only supports one (band 5).

https://www.t-mobile.com/support/co... (2.5 GHz)-,4G LTE,50% faster speeds than 3G.
https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_10_evo-8404.php

 

[Twisty2k]

Thank you, that may be the case... do you have any recommendations of companies for this phone that I could potentially switch to in the future?

 

[B. Diddy]

I don't think so -- you can cross-reference the main LTE bands for major US carriers here: https://www.phonearena.com/news/Che...on-T-Mobile-and-Sprint-use-in-the-USA_id77933

Since you specify that you have the HTC 10 Evo, I assume it's that global version that you see in the GSMArena page. It was also sold in the US as the HTC Bolt, with somewhat different band support (better for US carriers) -- but there's no way that I know of to force that onto the global version.

 

[mustang7757]

Thank you, that may be the case... do you have any recommendations of companies for this phone that I could potentially switch to in the future?

Can you test your sim in another phone?

 

[Twisty2k]

I don't think so -- you can cross-reference the main LTE bands for major US carriers here: https://www.phonearena.com/news/Che...on-T-Mobile-and-Sprint-use-in-the-USA_id77933

Since you specify that you have the HTC 10 Evo, I assume it's that global version that you see in the GSMArena page. It was also sold in the US as the HTC Bolt, with somewhat different band support (better for US carriers) -- but there's no way that I know of to force that onto the global version.

Well rats, according to those 4G LTE providers, none of them have any more bands that the HTC 10 Evo (or Bolt, whatever it is). Verizon and Sprint aren't compatible with it (I checked), so the only other option would be T-Mobile, but again, according to that site and what I've tried to research, it has no more bands this phone I have is even compatible with. I guess I just picked the wrong phone for my area?

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm afraid so. Just to be sure -- when you go to Settings>About Phone, is the Model listed as HTC 10 Evo or HTC Bolt?

 

[Twisty2k]

I'm afraid so. Just to be sure -- when you go to Settings>About Phone, is the Model listed as HTC 10 Evo or HTC Bolt?

Actually, in there it says HTC 10 Evo.

 

[Twisty2k]

Can you test your sim in another phone?

I have put the SIM card into my old HTC One M9 and it appears to be working, I'm not getting any interruptions or random disconnects anymore.

I still want a new phone as this one is old and slow now... would the HTC U11 work with Mint Mobile? Any Android phones that will work well with it you think? Because I don't really know how to tell...

 

[mustang7757]

I have put the SIM card into my old HTC One M9 and it appears to be working, I'm not getting any interruptions or random disconnects anymore.

I still want a new phone as this one is old and slow now... would the HTC U11 work with Mint Mobile? Any Android phones that will work well with it you think? Because I don't really know how to tell...

So thats good news , I would look in mint mobile website which phones work best with them .
I'm assuming anything newer in today's market should work.

 

[B. Diddy]

The U11 should work, but it'd be best if you got the unlocked US version: https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u11-8630.php#usa. The global version is missing a band, which might be fine, but the unlocked US version covers all of the bands. And I'd avoid the Sprint version -- I don't know for sure if there are any issues, but Sprint devices (before the current T-Mobile/Sprint merger) can have odd issues when you try to use them on other networks.

Are you open to other phones? If you're looking for an affordable but excellent midrange phone, consider the Pixel 3a (or the upcoming 4a).

 

[Twisty2k]

The U11 should work, but it'd be best if you got the unlocked US version: https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u11-8630.php#usa. The global version is missing a band, which might be fine, but the unlocked US version covers all of the bands. And I'd avoid the Sprint version -- I don't know for sure if there are any issues, but Sprint devices (before the current T-Mobile/Sprint merger) can have odd issues when you try to use them on other networks.

Are you open to other phones? If you're looking for an affordable but excellent midrange phone, consider the Pixel 3a (or the upcoming 4a).

Would this be an example of an unlocked US U11? https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...464%253Ag%253AQLUAAOSw45xesvhq&token=ckDtNfrw

I don't see the term "US" anywhere in it, but these are what appeared when I searched that up.

And regarding the Sprint device issue, that is curious... the HTC 10 Evo I got, before I got Mint Mobile on it, said "Sprint" in the Network Provider. I wonder if that had anything to do with it.

And although the SIM currently in my old HTC One M9 is working a little better than it did in the HTC 10, it's still a very, very weak connection and at times disconnects, but I'm assuming that's just due to such a weak connection; on the HTC 10, I'd get 4-5 bars and then, sporadically, it would all just drop at unpredictable times. It makes me wonder what will happen if I do try out the U11, will I just also get a similar result? It almost makes me just want to switch carriers entirely.

I'm really up for switching to any phone, just something that will work (hopefully) with Mint Mobile, but even then I'm up for switching carriers, too. I just want a functioning phone with a decent connection at this point.

 

[B. Diddy]

That link is for the U11 Life, which is different from the U11:

https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u11_life-8885.php#10
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=8885&idPhone2=8630

The U11 Life is more of a midrange phone, while the U11 was a flagship (when it was released). But the 4G band coverage should be fine for Mint.

It's always possible that you're in an area that's not covered well by T-Mobile. Historically, they've been strongest in major metro areas, and not so good in more rural areas. They've steadily improved their network over the years, though, and it will presumably get a lot better once they completely integrate Sprint's network.

 

[mustang7757]

That link is for the U11 Life, which is different from the U11:

https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u11_life-8885.php#10
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=8885&idPhone2=8630

The U11 Life is more of a midrange phone, while the U11 was a flagship (when it was released). But the 4G band coverage should be fine for Mint.

It's always possible that you're in an area that's not covered well by T-Mobile. Historically, they've been strongest in major metro areas, and not so good in more rural areas. They've steadily improved their network over the years, though, and it will presumably get a lot better once they completely integrate Sprint's network.

Agree

 

[Twisty2k]

I got an HTC U11 and for the last weeks have not been having any issues with the same SIM card and Mint Mobile. Thank you, you two!