Sprint GNex 3G data failure

[thenomad]

I picked up a new Galaxy Nexus from the local Sprint store this afternoon. It failed to provision data on boot and continued to fail to provision it with everything the store people tried. We wound up putting it on the store WiFi so I could at least start the phone configuration.

Symptoms include not being able to download PRL or Profile information (getting a 600 error) without WiFi enabled. With WiFi it downloads both just fine.

Based on post #16 and followup at Sprint Community: Galaxy Nexus by Samsung Available on April 22 for $199.99 this looks like a problem that's happening in multiple markets (I see posts from San Francisco and Dallas/Ft. Worth, I'm in Seattle).

The salesman at the store told me that he's seen one pre-order GNex that had a similar symptom and the other GNex they sold today apparently worked fine.

The first-level customer service person at Sprint didn't really know how to handle it. He set me up for an in-store replacement but of course none of the stores in the area have a replacement unit.

Is anyone else seeing this? If so, were you moving from an existing android phone (like I did) or starting with your first one?

 

[anon(94115)]

maybe it was the flash on their end, something went wrong. Maybe try to restore the stock image and activate it yourself (can you do that on Sprint?)

Here is the stock image and a thread on doing it: Sprint Restore To Stock! (Nandroids CWM+TWRP & Recovery IMG) - xda-developers

 

[anon(71576)]

My pre-order nexus has that exact same issue. I should be receiving a replacement today. The tech support on the phone and in the sprint store were just baffled. Unfortunately, since I ordered online, I couldn't just exchange it at the store. Hopefully the one I get today will not have this issue. I'll post back when I get it.

 

[thenomad]

They want me to take mine back to the place of purchase (Sprint corporate store) for a replacement. Unfortunately, that store doesn't have any more - I got the last one. There's another store several miles away that might get one in this afternoon but probably not.

 

[anon(71576)]

Ok, just received the replacement and went through the online activation. Everything looks like it's working. Got 3G. I'm going to keep a cautious eye on it today though. My defective one would (I think this happened a total of 3 times since I got it on Friday) get a data connection for a couple minutes then disconnect. I'll try and post an update on it tomorrow.
As far as getting your replacement, contact a Sprint store and have them hold one for you and give you a call when they get they're shipment in. The one's in my area are pretty good about doing that.
Also, an option is to just return it (you're within your 14 days) and buy it from a non-sprint store.

 

[shibby]

this happened to me, i think something was messed up when they activated the phone i got home and did a factory reset and started over on setup it worked fine after the reset, haven't had any problems since.

 

[scoobdude]

I have the issue. Tried a reset with no luck. It gives me 3g when trying to provision but after that nothing. Guy in tech support says there is a ticket open and should be resolved tonight. Keeping my fingers crossed

 

[thenomad]

I just tried a factory reset. It looked (briefly) like it was going to work but I hadn't even gotten to the sign in screen before the 3G symbol vanished, never to be seen again.

 

[anon(71576)]

Honestly guys, I don't think this is a network issue. My replacement is working great. I was having the same problems you guys are having on my original. If you can, don't wait for them to try and resolve the issue. Don't settle. Demand a new-working phone. You have every right to return it. Just my thoughts from my own experience.

 

[thenomad]

There are no Sprint stores in Seattle that have one right now. The phone support people refused to ship me a replacement since I'd purchased it in a Sprint retail outlet. They even went so far as to tell me I had to return it to the specific corporate store I bought it from (the sales people at the corporate store were shocked to hear that). Hopefully one will show up shortly and I can snag it. Meanwhile, I might as well see if I can get this one working.

 

[anon(71576)]

I totally understand you can't swap it when there's no stock. Just letting you know it's probably the device and not the network. Good luck.

 

[scoobdude]

I am in the same boat. No stores around me have one

 

[freeborock]

I have this problem also. And no sprint store has replacement units.

 

[Deleted member 5726]

Actually, what it sounds like is that you are all trying to activate a phone in a data outage area. This actually happened to me and Sprint was quick to fix the problem in my area. I got a phone call out of the blue with customer service and all of a sudden my phone started going through the activation process and my Galaxy Nexus started showing very fast 3G speeds... like faster than what I had before on my Evo 4G.

The problem is that Sprint has separate Data & Voice roaming agreements and you can be using Sprint's Voice network but another carrier's Data network in roam and it will only show roaming on Voice. Once your phone has been activated on the Sprint Voice or Data Network it can roam, but only after it has been activated. The problem with my phone was Sprint's Data Network was out in my area but the Voice network was just fine.

 

[dukenewt]

Same issue with me. Voice is fine, no data and no stock for replacement. Was promised the first one that arrives, but I doubt I will get a call from the local Sprint store. I'll give them until the weekend, then return it and wait for shipments that work.

 

[gene26]

I am in the same boat. Not sure what to do, since I pre-ordered online. Hopefully the local store can help me out. It's at least comforting to know I'm not the only person in this situation.

 

[thenomad]

gene26, since you ordered online you can get a phone shipped to you. Call sprint customer service and don't get off the phone until they say they are sending you a new one.

 

[thenomad]

Good news (for me, anyway). I got a replacement phone and it is working properly. Now to see if I can figure out why the LED isn't lighting to show charge status and hopefully squash a few other 'nits' that annoy.

 

[gene26]

I am happy to report that, after whatever voodoo the sprint store guy did, my phone is working perfectly. Apparently, my phone didn't provision completely. So, hooray! I hope everyone gets their problem solved. This phone is too awesome to have problems hinder it.

 

[thenomad]

I'm about 80% certain it was a provisioning problem and not a phone problem. Getting a new phone causes reprovisioning so would "fix" the problem.