lock-in 3G

[Dan Traylor]

I live in a rural area where Straight Talk Verizon 4G is very weak.
When my S4 running Lollipop is using 3G I get 3 or 4 bars signal strength and
have no trouble browsing or even watching streaming video.

My problem is the phone will often try to connect with 4G at only 1 or 2 bars,
and connections mostly time-out, or fail to connect at all.

Is there any way to lock-in 3G and stop 4G trying to connect?
I see no network setting that will accomplish this.

 

[Dan Traylor]

For anyone else with this problem, Straight Talk said there is no way to fix this issue.

 

[itguyjax8430]

I live in a rural area where Straight Talk Verizon 4G is very weak.
When my S4 running Lollipop is using 3G I get 3 or 4 bars signal strength and
have no trouble browsing or even watching streaming video.

My problem is the phone will often try to connect with 4G at only 1 or 2 bars,
and connections mostly time-out, or fail to connect at all.

Is there any way to lock-in 3G and stop 4G trying to connect?
I see no network setting that will accomplish this.

Welcome to Android Central!

That is weird that you can't get to the network settings to change it to GSM only. It is usually under more settings / Mobile Networks

 

[Dan Traylor]

Verizon (USA) does not use GSM.

 

[Digipokemon]

Verizon galaxy S4 does have GSM capbilities, but it doesn't have all the bands available like any other phone.
According to WIllmyphonework.net the Verizon GS4 will work Straight Talk all the way to 4g, but only on certain bands.
from other posts, Verizon phones no longer have the option to switch to 3g only it seems.

 

[Sgooter]

In Google Play there a some apps/widgets claiming ability to turn on/off 4G. A while back the app 4G Toggle was popular, but seems to not work any longer. That said, doing a search for 4G Toggle in Google Play presents other seemingly similar choices to examine. At your own risk in doing so. Also, I recall in this V-GS4 thread some discussions in the past about turning off 4G - try running a search in this thread.