Xperia Mini keeps dropping data connectivity

[#1]

Model number: ST15i

Assembly code: 11W29

Android Build number: 4.0.A.2.377

Network: 3G, Hong Kong CSL (one2free)

Applications affected: Hotmail, WhatsApp, Browser.

Hi,

My Xperia Mini keeps dropping the data connection and it is very, very, annoying!

If the phone is left in an stationary condition, say on my desk at the office, or table at home, its works as expected and will do so for hours at a time. I will receiving incoming email real-time and can start the browser no problem.

However, the moment I leave my house, or move from any other position, the device will lose its internet connection. I will stop receiving email, Whatsapp updates and if I try to open the browser, a pop-up message is displayed, informing me that there is “No internet connection”. For the email and messaging apps, this is fatal and the apps can no longer perform their function. The browser however, after displaying the pop-up message, will continue to load a homepage in the background and re-establish its internet connection.

My suspicion is that when the phone is moved far enough that it has to perform a cell reselection, (or maybe a RAU?) for some reason, it drops the PDP Context, (which it should not do). The Email and messaging apps rely on the PDP context being ever present and without it, cannot function. The Browser however, is capable of triggering a PDP Connect activation request, if needed.

The only other work-around I have, is to manually disable data services, then re-enable them again. This restores the data connection to its fullest and all services resume (until I move again). This problem is 100% reproducible and happens to me many times a day, every day! This is unacceptable and very frustrating. The reason I moved to a Smartphone was to have real-time email and messaging capability, without it this phone is of no use to me.

Notes to add:

On the notification bar the ‘H’ symbol continues to be displayed, which is odd. But I suspect this is displayed because the phone is still being GPRS attached, at least  (without it, even the browser could not re-establish the PDP Context).

Both the ‘Background data’ and ‘Auto-sync’ settings are set to enabled.

I’m not using WiFi, only the 3G network.

Please advise how to resolve.

Thanks in advance.

[Aimee]

Hi,

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing these problems. Is there any chance you could try connecting the handset to a Wi-Fi connection or Hotspot to see if the same issue occurs? This will help us narrow down what is causing the problem.

I would also suggest trying a different SIM card (preferably with a different service provider) to see if the issue occurs when using this.

Another thing you could try in the mean time is a software repair through the PC Companion software which would help us rule out a software glitch.

Let me know how you get on.

[#3]

Hi,

Thanks for the response and suggested test items.

I performed a test using SIM cards from two other Hong Kong service providers.

First, I used a Smartone SIM (3G) for 24hrs, during which the phone did not experience any disconnections from the internet. Then, I used a PCCW SIM (3G), again during 24hrs of usage the phone worked flawlessly and the email and messaging apps did not experience any interrupts to service.

I was then able to try an alternative CSL (1010) SIM (3G) and within just 2hrs of usage, the phone suffered the same kind of internet disconnection, as originally reported.

Clearly, this points more towards a network issue than a phone problem. But I know of other users on the CSL network that do not experience such problems with their Samsung or Nokia phones. Also, seeing that there are other threads on this forum, from other Xperia owners reporting a very similar problem ( http://talk.sonyericsson.com/message/115650#115650 for example), who too are using the CSL network, it does suggest there to be a possible interoperability

problem between the Xperia range of SE phones and the CSL network.

Do you have people that can investigate this further with CSL network people or can at least communicate it to the right technical people there?

I went into a CSL shop yesterday to try and relay the issue to a CSL staff member but they were really very unhelpful and not wanting to understand it – despite being able to demonstrate the problem right there and then, to them.

Thanks in advance.

[#4]

Hi,

I'm an owner of mini pro (SK17I, 4.0.A.2.335) and my carrier is CSL (one2free).

I have the same problem encountered as mantioned from the poster.

When the phone is idle, the carrier will drop my data connection.

As I don't have a spare SIM, I couldn't test out how other networks performance on my phone.

Thanks in advance.

[#5]

Hi all

I am from slovakia..my provider is Orange and I have the 3G sim too...but my problem is different!!! my xperia mini keeps disconnecting from my Wifi Hotspot...and i dont know what is the fault...I even disabled idle timeout on hotspot for connections...but it looks like the phone does the first request and then drops the connection. And because i have a lot of wifi around me I never use the 3G data...

plz help

[#6]

Well, this issue is still occurring, much to my frustration. Can I please get some assurance that this problem is being investigated?

Thanks.

[#7]

ok I managed to repair it...I found out it was the opera mobile tht was making the error and disconnecting...I manualy deleted all the files from my phone memory...tht was belonging to  Opera....went to market and installed new opera again...there was probably some error when it was updating it self...to new version...from this point -- no droping

[#8]

Hi there,
Just wondering if there may be some confirmation that Sony Ericsson is looking into this issue?
Weeks have now passed and it seems no nearer to getting resolved.

Cheers.