Regular no network (Virgin Mobile UK)

[Android Central Question]

Hi,

I'm regularly losing my Virgin Mobile Network (total loss), probably 6-8 times a day, mainly when I go into an area that I would expect to lose it (ie central lift core of my building or other network blackspots). The network won't then return either by itself, or by turning the network off and on again, nor by setting aeroplane mode and then removing it. The only way I can bring it back, most of the time is to restart the phone.

This has been occuring for 3 weeks now (so possibly around time I moved to Android 9). Initially I went to Virgin Mobile and got a new sim card but the problem persisted.

Around the same time, my Pixel was turning off anytime I charged it or added an official 3.5mm jack converter. I raised a call to Google over both issues and my device was swapped out for a refurbished handset. Within a day the network connectivity issues were back, which leads me to think it's an Android 9 bug..?

The new device now only has the Network issue present, although when charging it the first night, the standby screen was flickering so maybe I should report that to Google?

Anyone got any clues on this dropping Network issue?

Many thanks in advance!!

 

[belodion]

Which model of the Pixel? https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

 

[jwb_123]

Hi,

Apologies! It's a Pixel 2 XL.

James.

 

[belodion]

Okay. Welcome.

I'll move the thread to that forum in case it's something other users will recognise.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Does this also happen in Safe Mode? https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2852139?hl=en

 

[jwb_123]

Hi,

I put it in safe mode, and ran it through aeroplane mode a number of times - each time it returned a network and wifi fairly quickly.

I then took my phone down 32 floors in the lift shaft and out onto the street (Central London) and couldn't get a network. I clicked in and out of Mobile Data and Aeroplane mode and after around 6+ tests I didn't once get Network.

I returned to my office on 32nd and it connected to Network.

Thanks

James.

 

[B. Diddy]

In the street, are there a lot of tall buildings? Is reception typically not that great outside your office?

 

[Rukbat]

I've been running 9 since it came out and never had those problems. Just contact Google again and have them send you another one. And another. (I had 4 of them sitting here when the fingerprint sensor stopped working ... in the winter, which is now a known problem.) Eventually, they'll send you one that works, or you'll be talking to a person in the Android area, who will tell you how to do a debug core dump and email it to him - and then they'll see what the problem is.

 

[jwb_123]

Re tall buildings, not really, there's a few 5-10 story buildings, and the signal can be a bit patchy due to high concentration of users in the area, but it's never been bad to the point of no signal at all, or the odd drop out for a few moments.

Usuaully by the time I'm on the street, reception has returned. Now I'm stood on the street for 2 minutes and nothing is happening.

I've brought my old sim to work to see if I have the same issue (the issue happens at home as well, and during the cycle home), or incase I accidentally didn't switch sims.

Assuming I haven't messed up the sims, I'll report it back to Google.

Thanks for the direction everyone, I'll keep you updated.

James.

 

[jwb_123]

I've double checked the sims, I definitely have the new one in my phone.

Going to run repeat tests in safe mode and go back to Google.

 

[jwb_123]

This Morning, I've uninstalled the following apps in case they were affecting the Network (and the lack of Network in safe mode was due to working on 32nd floor and moving between that office and the ground, where it can take a few secs to get a signal due to overcrowding) :

What3Words
Pizzahut
Pizzahut restaurants
Voice
Ticketmaster
Eyecloud
Firefox
Signal
Arts & Culture

Please don't judge me on any of these! It already seems much much more stable and responsive. I will monitor throughout the day.

Thanks for all the help and support, I will update again later.

James.

 

[jwb_123]

Hi,

I've removed another tranche of apps, but then also searched for Android 10 today - it was available so I installed it - so far working back how it did 3-4 weeks ago ie a few seconds lag locating network once lost.

Hopefully it was a known bug (in the Aug security updates) and that's now it. I'll see how it is over the coming days and hopefully update this thread, putting it to bed!

Thanks again everyone.

J.

 

[jwb_123]

A couple of days in and whilst I now only have half my apps and the Network issues have been slightly less present, the problem is still happening. Going to delete off the rest of the apps and see if that makes a difference.

:-(