Is it my phone or the SIM? please read this.

Legacy_user

A few months ago, I replaced my EE sim only deal with a Life Mobile sim only deal because I get 1500 mins , unlimited texts and 1gb of data. Soon after life issued the sim, before I could do much with it, I dropped my sony experia phone and broke it, and replaced it with a Lenovo A816 phone (second hand shop).

I like everything about the phone, but can only connect to the internet using my home wifi and local hotspots in town, the data part of it appears not to be working. I informed Life Mobile and they have issued me with a new SIM.

The result is no difference. What am I to think. Is Weymouth a poor reception area or have I not done something to my phone?, by that, how do I know if it is set right? should I either check or uncheck something. Being a bit dumb, I would have expected a connection anywhere?. The phone recognises hot spots and it also recognises the wifi code when in family members houses.

Ideally you will tell me I need to do something. What I don't want is to buy another phone and find it is the area. I don't have another phone to try with sim.

indesisiv

Sounds like a settings problem. I am presuming that you have a phone signal (Calls and texts) but just no data?

Use the settings here

ballyblack

AS above

Make sure DATA is turned on

In settings Mobile data or data usage Turn ON

This is a dual SIM phone, maybe data is set for other SIM if inserted?

nyermen

When you change phone, they should automatically configure the internet (APN etc) settings. It's possible this hasn't happened (I have a sony backup phone that I used yesterday - it didn't). Don't know the phone, so difficult to advise how to check this - it'll be under connections / data connections / Access Point names (APN) settings / something like that. Lifemobile will have settings that should be in there - for things like Mobile Web (or even WAP is still used as a term sometimes).
Their website may say what. For example, for o2, in mine I have mobile.o2.co.uk with a username and password. Be cautious - these can vary if on payg or contract.

System

Thank you for getting back.

First can I tell you this, when I go to settings>mobile networks>network mode>preferred network mode there are four options listed thus:-

LTE/WCDMA/GSM
WCDMA/GSM which is checked
WCDMA/GSM
GSM only
I seem to remember changing this originally, but don't know why.
So rather than embark on changing anything else, re your posts, thought I would ask about this first.
The data connection is ON but data roaming OFF
It is an android 4.4.4 version.

indesisiv I looked at your link and it is one I hadn't seen before, but rather than proceed, read the other posts first, mainly to assess.

ballyblack, the data appears to be on as everything is blue.

Can I wait to see what you nake of the Preferred network mode first

System

Well, I have been and followed your link, several times, but I can see no change other than on start up, whereas before there was a EE logo on screen, it now shows LIFE.

On the APN page, (via settings) eeinternet was highlighted so I changed it to "new apn everywhere" to see if that had any effect, but it shown nothing.

If it is of use, along the top (task bar) in the left corner is a symbol which looks like a syphon and a red cross beneath it. I turned my wifi off, so the phone didn't connect to that, and now there is a G with upward/downward arrows, but still can't connect.

PS, nothing had been entered in those boxes, because I didn't know about it, I assumed it would be done automatically.

System

Update. I have spoken to Life Mobile. They say all settings were done at their end. I told them of the four options in Preferred Network Mode and they suggested trying each of them remembering to go through procedure correctly, which I have done to no avail.

They then said, the likely-hood is that this model phone is too old and I should try someone else's using the SIM. This can't be done, as family live away and my wife's phone is very old and only used in emergency. They then suggested that I consider a second hand refurbished model and that I should state it has to be a smart phone. This one was second hand and thought to be suitable, clearly it isn't. Now my wife say's "buy a new one"!!!!! so will report back later.

indesisiv

If you have a 'g' with arrows then you are getting data, its just very slow. Can you go and stand outside or something where you have a better signal and see if it changes from 'g'

Set it to WCDMA preferred or WCDMA/GSM can't remember what it is called as mine has different options. I think that life is only 3G/2G.

ballyblack

It could have a faulty intermittent aerial?

If its second hand that's why the previous owner got rid of it??

System

indesisiv wrote: »

If you have a 'g' with arrows then you are getting data, its just very slow. Can you go and stand outside or something where you have a better signal and see if it changes from 'g'

Set it to WCDMA preferred or WCDMA/GSM can't remember what it is called as mine has different options. I think that life is only 3G/2G.

Interesting now. I went outside and turned home wifi off, the g remained but then it changed to E, I changed the WCDMA to WCDMA/GSM and it returned to G, as you said that suggested a connection, I googled MSE forums and the screen reluctantly changed slowly, I didn't get here though, I could see/tell things were trying to move. I then turned home wifi back on via settings the E changed back to G and then MSE forum appeared.

If I have understood you correctly, we have lift-off. So, my question now is, how can this be improved to a usable standard?. I'm hoping you will say "once you have a better phone...................

indesisiv

Is there somewhere you know you can get a 3G signal to test that it changes onto 3G (will either say, 3G, H, H+)?

Edge (E) and GPRS (G) are 2G and hence very very slow.

What was your signal like before on EE where you are currently?

Unless it is a real problem with the antenna then a new phone won't make much difference to the loading speed of pages.