• GeneralPixel 6a
  • 6a unstable cellular connectivity since ~ beginning of APR '23

Not sure if this is 6a specific or not, but putting it here 'cause that's what I've got. Please let me know if this should NOT go here and be placed elsewhere...

Having an issue I need to troubleshoot. I have Pixel 6a w/ latest update (just the other day) and have been having cellular connection issues for about the last month. When I say connection, referring to both voice and data. Sometimes shows service, but not really there when trying to make a call or use data, sometimes shows no service, sometimes can be in the middle of a call, etc. and it will just drop. Can sometimes toggle airplane mode and the connection will come back, sometimes a reboot or power cycle helps, but sometimes neither do. Using an ATT MVNO here in the US. Swapped SIMs w/ another phone on same carrier and everything stays the same. I have to use VoLTE for carrier purposes, but have played w/ pinning to LTE vs allowing 5G and get the same result. Interestingly, wifi calling works even during the time while the cellular connection is broken. I just got a replacement SIM and reconfirmed carrier settings (APN) and still getting the same results w/ known good settings. I did a network reset previously and then re-config'd my wifi and cellular.

I'm thinking it's either a hardware issue or something on the carrier side that changed, but of course the ATT MVNO doesn't know anything on that front and simply cops-out because the issue might be because I'm bringing my own device. Yes, this happens in known good service areas...sometimes at home where I've never had an issue as well as the phenomena occurs while out/about as well. It has seemed to be consistently working great since getting it last summer until this happened all of a sudden ~ a month back...seemed to just instantly start...possibly after an OS update, but couldn't really tell for sure.

Some other context:

  • single physical SIM
  • have been running with 2G off and locked to LTE-only for the network type with VoLTE on (due to carrier) for KISS and small surface principles
  • now testing turning 2G on to see if that helps any
  • running proton VPN...may test turning that off to see if there's any positive effect there, but have been running it all along just fine...maybe they made a change?

Please share if you have you had, or are having, similar issues.

Is there anything you think I should check or consider before writing this off as a hardware issue and pursuing google warranty?

Any identical, or related, known issues out there you can reference...preferably w/ a solution?

Who is your carrier?

Is it possible that they have been fiddling with the directional patterns of the antennas on the tower(s) in your area?

    Blastoidea Not sure...like I said, the MVNO of AT&T didn't know anything other than "we're always upgrading the network". That's for when I'm stationary at one position, though. This has happened all over the place...not just in one place where one antenna change could have been the cause. ie: sometimes I'm out of service for 10's of minutes in other good-service metro or interstate areas.

      johnthelearner
      Are you using Boost Mobile or Boost Infinite? Over the past few weeks, Boost users on their subreddits have been reporting plenty of mess.

        matchboxbananasynergy I've tried it in 5G(recommended) mode and had the same results. I wasn't going to lock it down to something less than LTE (ie: 3G) as I'm sure ATT would not offer service then. LTE-only has been rock solid and I've had that setting for ~ a yr and it's worked well at home and out-n-about 'til recently.

        A quick update - I've been running with Allow 2G for whatever it's been...a day or so...and it seems to work much better. I don't have a ton of time on the clock w/ this setting yet and know that this could be a false positive & time will tell, but so far, so good.

        Question - what are the practical downsides to running w/ this setting on? I turned it off ~ a yr a go as I wanted to keep things more locked-down and noticed the warning that this is a less secure setting. I'd rather leave it off, but it so far seems that this is the only way to keep me afloat. I'm still wondering if I have a phone issue that might allow me to run w/ 2G turned-off. Thoughts?

        @matchboxbananasynergy @Blastoidea @spiral

          johnthelearner
          Probably, at the end of the day, if using 2G somehow helps your overall reception then it's probably worth using.

          It might be helpful for you to ask your carrier if they support 2G at all, or even 3G.

            spiral Thanks. Seems the 2G does help it have a little more signal, but still suffering bad audio, dropped calls, etc. Seems I was optimistic and just didn't have enough time on the clock w/ the setting.