Update Has Screwed Up 4G

[Bebusy]

I to have never rooted a phone and I live in a very strong 4g area and the update is a POS.

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[Bebusy]

But I also got a replacement yesterday and it does not have the update preloaded and the phone is working great!

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[Davidoo]

I would like to verify: Is the correct option "wipe cache partition"?

Thanks

So what exactly will the Cache Wipe remove from your phone? I'm assuming this is much less drastic than a factory reset.

 

[Golfdriver97]

So what exactly will the Cache Wipe remove from your phone? I'm assuming this is much less drastic than a factory reset.

It removes the cache from the phone. That same cache can actually confuse the OS after it gets an OTA update.

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Android Central Forums

 

[bontjes]

Thank you, thank you.
Yes it should be set to LTE/CDMA, the update must have reset it to Global. I'm pretty sure thats the problem.

Will update later after testing.



UPDATE

It looks like changing the network did not work for me, still having the same issue, but it seems to have worked for some.

Here is an article reporting on the problem Verizon Galaxy S3 update killing 4G LTE for some - Android Community

I'm sure that my network was set on LTE/CDMA before the update and the above article states that the Global setting was not default before the update.

At least it's a well documented issue so I'm sure it won't be too long before a fix is found. Will update if I come across any more news.

It didn't work for me either.

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[mcweav111]

So now that you mention it THAT'S why my apps may be so slow! Email is also a problem.

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[bontjes]

Just to let everyone know, someone commented on the Verizon post that I started that he did a factory reset to try to fix the problem and it didn't fix it. That was going to be the next step for me, but I guess I'll just have to wait it out.

"bontjes" did the factory reset fix the data issue for you, besides the issues with MMS? I can live without MMS for longer than I can live with intermittent mobile data.

Also the "fresh network app" that I mentioned in an earlier post does not work in getting the data to be restored after it cuts out. Nor does it find a 4G signal when on 3g.

It also seems that my phone is using more battery(not really sure), but it might be related to the phone repeatedly searching for a 4G signal.

It didn't fix it. At all.

However, I think the caller id application that Verizon snuck in was the culprit. I deactivated it and uninstalled the application (from within the application) and so far my phone feels like I'm back to normal. Going to go a full day before I fully decide.

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[sixty_four]

Honestly, both my wife and I have downloaded the update last night. And we haven't had one issue. I think you guys tinker with your phones too much. That could be part of the problem. 4G doesn't drop, battery life typical and the uodate is as advertised.

My wife and I both have S3's with the update applied. I'm a mild tinkerer (some customizations but no root), my wife not so much. Since the update, we're seeing the 4G slowdown problem on both our devices in areas of 3 bars or less. 4G does drop completely where it never used to when signal is even lower than 3 bars. Battery life appears to be unaffected.

Don't blame the "tinkerers" because the update is also affecting our 2 relatively stock phones.

Just curious - how do your 4G speeds compare to those you had before the update? Have you checked in lower reception conditions?

 

[leftyman]

All I can say is thank god I read these forums, was in the process of downloading the update, decided to see what the update was all about, and started seeing all the threads about the fubar update.
Quickly canceled the download and waiting for a resolution (if and when).

 

[Tommy Benton]

Update screwed mine up. I went back to VRBMB1 with 4.1.2 and all is good now. I rooted while I was at it.

 

[sardar615]

Power off device
Press and hold volume up, power, and home.
When you see the blue letters at the top let go.
A menu will appear and one of the options is cache wipe.
Scroll down to it with the volume rocker, select it by pressing power
When its done, menu will reappear, select reboot.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

Will this delete things off my phone, like apps, or anything like that?

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Will this delete things off my phone, like apps, or anything like that?

No...as long as you only wipe the cache, your settings and apps will be left untouched. It may take a little longer to reboot afterwards, but besides that, you shouldn't notice any signification changes to anything...it's only deleting temporary system files.

 

[sardar615]

Any way to get to the older version without root?
and is there any way to get "Audio applications: Earphones connected to the device" option back in the Accessory menu??? I used to love that when I was driving and connected my AUX wire, and it would give me the option to play my music, rather then going in the actual app and play the songs....

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Any way to get to the older version without root?
and is there any way to get "Audio applications: Earphones connected to the device" option back in the Accessory menu??? I used to love that when I was driving and connected my AUX wire, and it would give me the option to play my music, rather then going in the actual app and play the songs....

I'm pretty sure you can flash a factory image in Odin to revert back (I don't have the specific info on how to do that), but that would require a FULL data wipe of your device.

EDIT: OK, here's what I was quickly able to find. The procedure isn't very difficult, but if most of this seems to be above your head, it's probably best to just leave it alone! As usual, I'm providing this info only FYI -- do NOT blame me for anything that happens to your device. You could, in theory use this as an opportunity to root your device if you so desire (since you have to wipe it out and start over anyway), but otherwise...

REMOVE YOUR SD CARD IF YOU DON'T WANT IT WIPED!

See here:
[GUIDE][VZW Edition]How to root your Galaxy SIII & More!(ROMs/CWM/Stock) - xda-developers
Now, you're not interested in rooting, so skip down to "Section 5" of the first post. Follow the instructions there to flash the factory image and restore your device to the older software version.
Notice, there is no image for the last official OS, VRMBM1, which is what you probably want. (VRMBM1 was the last version before this recent OTA). Still though, this will get you back to point where you can start fresh...

 

[Davidoo]

Contrary to what I posted a few days ago, my S3 has been affected by the low 4G signal too. Where I live and work are close to towers so I didn't notice it. I live in Phoenix and never drop out of 4G anywhere. I did some driving around and now find the phone constantly drops to 3G. The good thing is it will come back to 4G when I get near a tower.

So, I called VZW tech support, and I'm sure you can all guess what the rep said. "We have not heard of any issues at all regarding this update causing a problem with the S3." I told him about the online articles and forums and that their very own VZW Galaxy S3 forums are full of complaints, but he said no. I insisted there was a problem and he put me on hold multiple times to talk to other techs. He transferred me to a higher level, maybe level 2 support. This person also started off saying they had no problems. After a while I could hear through her lies as she started asking me questions and she knew exactly what to ask about what was happening. Then, I guess not even caring that she lied to me, she said everyone who has had this problem has been corrected with a factory reset. I told her that is not what is being posted on the forums and she insisted I do the reset. Told her no, that I was busy at work and would do it later. Of course I'm not going to.

The issue here is that the 2 things I hate both happened. One, they lied and didn't seem to even care about the fact they were exposed. Second, they think everyone else is stupid. I absolutely can't stand it when they think we're stupid and they can lie and we won't know it. I don't have the time now, but later this week when I do I'm going to call and demand a partial refund due to lack of reliable 4G data I am paying for. I'm going to post this on the VZW S3 forum, but I'm thinking it might get "edited for terms of service."

 

[stickmoney]

I'm gonna try your tip and see how it goes. If it works thank you in advance, now if we can figure out thebattery drain

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[mrtwohands]

Add yet another user with the same problems mentioned above. When I am at work I basically have NO service to the point that I cannot even send or recieve text messages and/or sruf the internet. Normally I would have 4G in my office but when I am outside the office the phone works fine. I was having the issue of, when being at home, when connected to WIFI it would show the 3/4G also. After removing the Caller ID Name App it seems to have corrected that for the most part. As I notice anything else that is messing up I will be sure to notify everyone.

I sure hope they figure out something soon. This stinks a big one and stinks paying for something you cannot use.

 

[carlos31820]

Add yet another user with the same problems mentioned above. When I am at work I basically have NO service to the point that I cannot even send or recieve text messages and/or sruf the internet. Normally I would have 4G in my office but when I am outside the office the phone works fine. I was having the issue of, when being at home, when connected to WIFI it would show the 3/4G also. After removing the Caller ID Name App it seems to have corrected that for the most part. As I notice anything else that is messing up I will be sure to notify everyone.

I sure hope they figure out something soon. This stinks a big one and stinks paying for something you cannot use.

This post describes my problem as well. Phone has no mobile data or texts while sitting at my desk at work. Anywhere else it seems to work fine. I'm sure I would see the same issue in other places that have marginal LTE coverage.

 

[aaCharley]

I posted this in the other thread about the VZ screw up on the OTA update. I wanted to post here so that we might possibly get something going on an improved replacement phone.

+++++++++++++
The OTA update screwed my GS3 too. 4G service won't work unless in a very high powered signal area. 3G also drops out. So I'm left with terrible data service. I've been to the VZ corporate store a couple of times and am getting another phone shipped to me. However, I really think that VZ should give the affected people an opportunity to buy the GS4 for $150 or so. I had a relatively new phone that worked fine until VZ konked it. I didn't do it. Now it seems that they want to possibly send me a refurb or some type. Meaning that the replacement phone had problems and they hope they fixed them. My phone dind't have any problems until they "fixed" it. Offering a current model phone as an option for a reasonable discount price seems fair to me. Why do I want something that has a history of not performing?

Anyway, I wanted to post that they will replace the phone. I hope that if enough people howl a bit we can get the replacement policy changed to include the upgrade option. Another factor for me is that I'm on the old Unlimited Data plan so another upgrade through VZ is not going to happen. It seemed to be a good opportunity to move up.

 

[carlos31820]

So it says I have LTE but no mobile data is working.

After a few minutes of this, the LTE indicator goes away. No 3G, nothing.