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Verizon iPad 3 constantly dropping LTE

It's been almost a week and I wanted to report that my LTE connectivity is solid on my iPad. I am not a very heavy Cellular user as I mostly use WiFi, but so far I have not noticed a single time where would my connection drop to 3G.
I know this isn't the most helpful news to those that have their iPad's out of warranty, but those who still have their hardware under warranty, I highly recommend to visit apple store and request a replacement and go from there.
 
My first step was to ask Apple about the issue and I also received a replacement iPad at an Apple Store. Unfortunately, the replacement had the same problem, which is why I've been looking for a solution myself. They did swap my old SIM into the replacement. So other than potential baseband or software issues, the SIM seemed like the common denominator.

I spoke to a rep at Verizon today. He acknowledged he's been hearing of issues with LTE iPads. After asking me to do the basic "reprovision" and "reset network settings," he insisted there's nothing else he can do. He said that really nothing is wrong because LTE is only an "added benefit" that is not guaranteed even in coverage areas with the proper plan and device. He did agree to cancel my account and refund me since my plan had just renewed and I had used almost no data. He said the SIM will now be unusable and I will have to get a new one with a new account, which he said might solve the original problem. I may try that in a few weeks. For now, I'll just stick to Wi-Fi. Better luck to everyone else.
 
vzwusr said:
I just tried the "account reprovision" tip above and hopefully that will work. So far, it has been about 5 minutes without reverting to 3G, so that's a new record. We'll see if it holds out all day.
Click to expand...
I wanted to check in again and report that this seems to have done the trick for me. "Reset network settings" didn't seem to do anything, BTW. But my LTE connection returned and has stayed solid since I did the "account reprovision."

It has only been 3 days, but everything seems back to normal, so I'm pretty confident that was the right solution in my case. Thanks to those who suggested it. :D
 
vzwusr said:
I wanted to check in again and report that this seems to have done the trick for me. "Reset network settings" didn't seem to do anything, BTW. But my LTE connection returned and has stayed solid since I did the "account reprovision."

It has only been 3 days, but everything seems back to normal, so I'm pretty confident that was the right solution in my case. Thanks to those who suggested it. :D
Click to expand...
Mine is also "normal" at home in Florida but really bad on the road. Phone and android tablet don't miss a beat but the iPad is always searching or not connected. I've given up using it at my son's in Southern California....... And I mean really bad.

Done all the "tricks". :(
 
For those of us who are still having this issue, just wanted to mention that the 6.1.3 update released today brings with it an updated baseband for the iPad 3. I don't currently have an active SIM so I can't verify whether or not the new baseband solves this problem.
 
After two replacement iPads, a new SIM, restores, reprovisions, basically everything mentioned here, I was told by an Apple store employee to call Verizon and ask them to change my phone number I on my iPad. That seems to have fixed it.
Ask them to give you a new SIM and call in to get your number changed.
 
thundermustard said:
After two replacement iPads, a new SIM, restores, reprovisions, basically everything mentioned here, I was told by an Apple store employee to call Verizon and ask them to change my phone number I on my iPad. That seems to have fixed it.
Ask them to give you a new SIM and call in to get your number changed.
Click to expand...

That can't be it, at least in my case. I've swapped my working Galaxy Tab sim, which has a different phone number with poor results in the iPad, while the iPad sim and phone number works like a champ in the Samsung Tab. For me it is all dependent upon location and signal strength or perhaps the iPad radio is sensitive to some outside interference.
 
HouseOfCards said:
My first step was to ask Apple about the issue and I also received a replacement iPad at an Apple Store. Unfortunately, the replacement had the same problem, which is why I've been looking for a solution myself. They did swap my old SIM into the replacement. So other than potential baseband or software issues, the SIM seemed like the common denominator.

I spoke to a rep at Verizon today. He acknowledged he's been hearing of issues with LTE iPads. After asking me to do the basic "reprovision" and "reset network settings," he insisted there's nothing else he can do. He said that really nothing is wrong because LTE is only an "added benefit" that is not guaranteed even in coverage areas with the proper plan and device. He did agree to cancel my account and refund me since my plan had just renewed and I had used almost no data. He said the SIM will now be unusable and I will have to get a new one with a new account, which he said might solve the original problem. I may try that in a few weeks. For now, I'll just stick to Wi-Fi. Better luck to everyone else.
Click to expand...

So basically they are putting crap performace on verizon data plan with no engagement so at the end you cancel it and take a more expensive, two years contract one.

good job verizon. Just what I thought ...
 
Having the same problem on my iPad 3. Started about 6-8 weeks ago... Prior to that it was fine. Went to Verizon... They reset everything above AND changed the SIM card. The SIM card had trouble activating in my iPad... Ultimately they activated it in the store demo iPad and then placed it in mine. Still poor service unless I was right under a tower. My PRL is 15226 - just checked the one in the store which is 15230. I took the iPad to my local Apple store who ran diagnostics and declared it fine. They wiped the device and reloaded iOS and upon reboot I had 3 bars LTE INSIDE the mall. (Before I had no service) however by the time I walked out to my car it had reverted to 1 bar 3G. At this point Verizon says its a hardware problem and Apple says its Verizon. Just tried again to reprovision my iPad while sitting under a Verizon tower but hitting the button suddenly does nothing. I may backup, wipe, restore and try again. Short of that its - wait for iOS 7 OR the new iPads hopefully in October.

Can people post their PRL numbers to see if it is one PRL causing the problem. You can find it under: General/About/Carrier - tap Carrier a second time and you will see the PRL.
 
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Mr.damien said:
So basically they are putting crap performace on verizon data plan with no engagement so at the end you cancel it and take a more expensive, two years contract one.

good job verizon. Just what I thought ...
Click to expand...

No, basically they are putting crap performance on the iPad 3. Great Verizon LTE data reception on my Sony Xperia Z tablet, Samsung 7.7 and Motorola Razr Max in the same location the iPad has crap.
 
Reprovisioning worked for me.

I had this problem after changing my SIM card.

(In NYC, LTE speed is ~40 mbps, so falling back to 3G at ~1.5 mbps is awful. I'm not really interested in cellular service on my iPad for that crappy speed.)
 
My ipad 3 verizon ran great for about 6 months then it was constantly saying bad sim kept on changing sim it would work then it wouldn't drove me nuts then I just said screw it and for 10 bucks a month I just use my phone as a hotspot works great I get 5 gig a month then it gets throttle back till next billing cycle and by the way I tried restoring all that other stuff just never seemed to work right
 
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