Comments on: Force iPhone to Find Network

By: Joseph Park

Joseph Park — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:04:15 +0000

Exact same problem I’ve been suffering with. It has been causing couple of very difficult situation while waiting people on the street with no sense about the bug. After the incidences I just had to create an habit to check Network and force to find network periodically if needed… What a great pain this is !!
I believe this is not an issue related to signal strength or saving battery, as if someone below explained, but just a true bug. The evidence is that my IPhone never get out of the “Searching” state unless I force it to find network manually.
I knew the problem ever since I’d purchased IPhone 3G about 2 years ago and wished that the problem can get fixed whenever new release came out. However, unfortunately it neither be fixed nor seen any reasonable feedback from Apple. So, I gradually become to believe that Apple has too much confident to their own solution and direction, but doesn’t respect Customer’s feedback.

By: Anju Sharma

Anju Sharma — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:19:58 +0000

The reason for this is neither Network nor Signal strength (in subway or life/elevators). Its the way iPhone is built to preserve battery life. See, network search and selection takes lot of battery life. So manufacturers avoid spending the battery when signal strength is zero/very less trying to find the network so that the phone can be used for other purposes for longer time. Like in iPhone use it for iPod. Cant blame the network guys since signal can never ever reach places full of concrete like the subway or lifts. Also, its too risky from security point of view. So why not enjoy zero signal for other good things rather than seeing the phone for coverage. Lol.

By: Dhiren Mehta

Dhiren Mehta — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:11:10 +0000

This Airplane setting I am using (when I come out of my building lift) but I do not remember every time to set that up!! It is ridiculous to remember and do that every time, no? I had Imate KJAM and there was never a problem.

By: Mac Beginners

Mac Beginners — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:59:39 +0000

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By: Honza

Honza — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:12:21 +0000

The ‘no sim’ thing… I think either your sim or iPhone is faulty. Assuming you are using the ATT sim, otherwise you may have a slightly incompatible sim card. Shouldn’t be an issue these days, but I have seen this in the past.

By: Force iPhone to Find Network! « aGEEKspot

Force iPhone to Find Network! « aGEEKspot — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:10:49 +0000

[...] Force iPhone to Find Network! Jump to Comments Force iPhone to Find Network [...]

By: kortina

kortina — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:47:06 +0000

Didn’t ever think of that. Makes sense. I ride the subway with Germano, so I’ll be using this tip a lot too.

By: Mike Germano

Mike Germano — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:28:29 +0000

As a New Yorker I always have that problem wish I thought of this earlier. Great tip I will use it in a couple hours on my commute home.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:24:29 +0000

I’ve noticed the same problem, and my last Blackberry was much better at coming back to life (nudge nudge apple, don’t let BB win!)

Also to note, if I attempt to make a call and there’s no signal, it should immediately go looking for a signal, instead of waiting till the next interval time. I’m guessing the interval is pretty large for battery reasons. Valid, but let me force it to check if I do something that needs radio. This includes sending TXT messages, as the iPhone has no ability to queue them up and send when the radio becomes active.

p.s. Not being able to write/queue up texts when I’m on the subway is one of the biggest negatives I’ve had for the iPhone, and one that’s easy to fix..