I've searched everywhere and am quite surprised nobody has experienced this problem, so here it is: The BB browser on my 8800, at what seems like random intervals, loses its ability to send and receive data, and the only way to fix it is by doing a battery pull. When this happens, I try going to any website, yet I dont see any transmit/receive arrows on the top right as would appear when data flows. The browser simply doesnt attempt to send any request. Im running the latest AT&T version 4.2.1.139. Ive called AT&T support, yet they have no clue. I was told it was possible to be transferred directly to RIM support, but the rep said she did not know how to do it. Has anyone here been able to talk to RIM directly, and if so, how?

I would suggest a software upgrade. The sticky thread is at the top of the 8800 forum and I've linked it below. The latest OS right now was released by Vodafone but they're all the same. You'll notice no difference except the upgraded version. It's possible this bug was fixed in this version but AT&T hasn't released it yet.

http://www.blackberryforums.com/gene...-vodafone.html

(My search was for "data connection loss")

I'm having the same issue with my Verizon 8830... It worked like a champ for the first two weeks then it started losing its data connection at random. No email, no Blackberry messenger, no web, nothing. Its not the network, my friends at work have no problems getting on the web while mine says no data connection available. This problem follows me all over town. I also noticed a couple random "reboots" -- about one every other day. This happens regardless of me browsing or letting the phone sit idle. My indicators will switch from "1X" or "1XEV" to "1x" or "1xev". Phone calls are not affected. Oh, one other little side effect seems to be the battery wears out much faster than the initial first two weeks. I could easily go 2 days with average usage. Now I'm lucky if I make it to the end of the day on one charge.

I tried "Turn all connections off" and turning them back on; with no luck. Only way to fix it is a battery pull -- then it works again... This is my first Blackberry -- How often do you usually have to do a battery pull to keep the Blackberry functioning properly? I'm up to twice a day.

My OS version is: v4.2.2.148. Is that the latest?

The Verizon CSR said I may just want to bring it in and switch it out with another 8830 since I'm still within my "30 day worry free guarentee."

If I do the switch out, does "backing up" the blackberry through the desktop manager allow me to re-import all my contacts (along with photos that are part of the contact info). Emails too?

I would also assume that just before I hand over the "broken" Blackberry at the store I would do a "wipe handheld"?

Need some advice... Thanks!

Outside of an application software load, RIM will not do much for you with your situation. If the BlackBerry has the updated software and it is unable to maintain a data connection, it is either your network coverage to the closest tower or a defective BlackBerry.

Well, I don't think its the network... Like I said, my friends have excellent connections while sitting next to me, the problem happens no matter where I go, and when I do the battery pull, the connection works perfectly again.

So if I exchange it:
1) Are my contacts protected if I backed them up in the desktop manager?
2) Will "wipe handheld" clear off all my personal data (contacts, emails, appointments, tasks, browsing histories, ect)?

TIA!

I am also suffering the same issue. It is being discussed here:

Losing EVDO connection - PinStack.com


Also there is one report of replacement phones having the same problem and the upgrade to the TelUS newer OS not fixing the problem either.

Similar on my 8700 and 8800 too, it show upper case EDGE on the phone but no data transmission, looks like I have good solid connection to tmobile but problem from tmobile to blackberry end.

I'm pretty sure its Opera Mini 4. I've stopped using it for the last week and have no issues. As a test, I tried using Opera Mini and within an hour I had to do the battery pull.

Too bad, Opera is a much nicer browser than the blackberry one...

Anyone else notice this with Opera?

I am having the same exact problem and agree that the OPERA was aggravating other apps including my e-mail. No more battery pulls now. My hope is that they will find a workaround or improve future versions.

Tried the update on that page.. Sprint had one listed also.. 4 hours after doing it I had the same issue again... Connected to sprints network running EVDO surfing one second then bam the "your in an area with no data" message and connection manager says Sprint network no data... Waited about 5 mins and it stayed the same.. Turned off network turned it back on and problem fixed for now.... But it will come back..

Just a tip.. Dont upgrade using the sprint site.. After I did that I have never had this data disconnect issue so many times. And I did a full fresh wipe of the phone for the upgrade.. Just today it has happened 4 times. Form using the browser to using sprint navigator.

You have described a problem which we have had since week one. We've been through three 8800's, which has not resolved that problem(or any of the other shortcomings of the 8800).

BTW, we had Opera Mini installed only briefly(just long enough to discover that it offered no benefits to us, then I uninstalled it), so that definitely wasn't the cause, in our case.

In the end, Tech Support told us to try the battery pull and, if that didn't resolve it, then it was an overloaded tower and to try using it, some other time.

In my experience, the battery pull works about 50 percent of the time. In the other cases, I simply don't use any of the data features for anywhere from 2-6 hours, and the data access restores, all by itself.

Dont need a battery pull to fix it I can fix it quickly by turning the radio on and off....

But thats a load of bull about the tower.. I have had it happen at 2 or 3 am in the morning and I live in a low density residential area with a cell tower less than 1/4 mile away, even my treo 700 and 755 never had this issue.

That was a suggestion which was offered in a previous thread on this topic, some time ago. We tried it, but it didn't resolve the issue, in our case.

I think that the fact that there seems to be multiple fixes suggests the possiblity that this is not a single problem, but rather, a constellation of problems which share the same symptoms.

In the case of our business usage of the 8800, we are not dependent upon the data connection for our priority needs. So, if the battery pull doesn't solve the problem, then we know the problem will resolve all by itself, in a few hours.

I too have this problem. I have two phones, my wifes and mine. I have opera installed on mine but not on hers. I have the Sprint 8830, The battery pull works, but it does get annoying!!! I also do provisioning to make sure that my blackberry is connected to the BIS...tools, network, menu, provisioning, that seems to work too..I hope someone comes up with an idea of what is going on. I do not think it is a blackberry problem since there are many us with the same problem. CAN ANYONE PLEASE ENLIGHTEN US!!

Same issue with the Sprint 8830.

I did upgrade the OS from the Sprint site and have seen an improvement.

One other way of getting your signal back -

1. Click the green phone button,
2. Dial *18
3. Go back to browser or other app - the connection will be restored.

what does *18 do? anyone know?

I think it just reconnects you to the nearest tower.. I think it works on every sprint phone.. I remember my treo could do this also.

My guess on the data issue is a conflict that the EVDO and the voice radio, I know the treo had somewhat of a conflict that you could only do voice and no data or data and no voice, which is true of EVDO Rev 0 phones but I think the blackberry is trying to overcome this software wise and something is getting messed up. Thats just my theory.

So....

Is RIM looking into this issue? This is the type of problem that large corporations are not likely to put up with. I know of one who just bought a large number of 8830s. They could be seriously unhappy if this is systemic.

I do beleive it is systemic for the 8830 and it does not seem to matter which carrier the phone is using. *18 does fix it for me but it fails again with an hour or less sometimes. It will also come back on it's own sometimes and do that multiple times per hour depending on how far I am from a cell tower.

Sprint told me it isnt their issue! I told them if it happens to their customer (me) it certainly *is* their issue. They said please call Rim.

I have not called Rim yet......

Update the PRL list from time to time. On Verizon you dial *22899 and wait for the process to finish.

Yesterday I picked up another VZW BB 8830. This will be my third try. I't didn't have the latest update so I updated it. It still did the data loss thing all night long. I forwarded my messages to both my VZW and ATT BB's .net account. The VZW BB seems to fall asleep at times. Messages to the ATT BB always come in fine. Then the VZW BB "wakes" and several messages come in at once sometings after 30-40 mins being the longest. VZW users getting messages on BES or direct BIS (vzw.blackberry.net) check the message headers and look for time message was sent. Then compare time received. It should be no more than 2 mins difference. Spoke to RIM tech support on this months ago. They felt it was the VZW network. If you do a "reconcile now" it goes and get the messages after it does some 1XEV to 1x jumping. I've now returned the third VZW BB 8830. Just an FYI. VZW thinks I'm crazy. Signal here is -80db on VZ and -93db on ATT.

Well wether you are crazy or not I cannot say! but we all seem to have connection issues regardless which network is primary (sprint here). Seems to me that if all the networks do it that it isnt a network issue? (unless they are are doing the same stupid thing?)

Updates seem to make little difference. so far anyway. I think it is a Rim issue, but maybe I am crazy too!

Updating the PRL does not help...Like I said when the treos started to go to EVDO they had similar issues since the device can either do Voice or Data not both at the same time..

My guess is this is an EVDO hitch for Rim since this is one of their first EVDO devices. I think so far with users having multiple phones we can conclude that this software related and hopefully can be fixed.

I don't have this issue...

Usually it happens when surfing the web after a while.. Or when downloading an application or large mail file.. Try downloading a few files..

Yeah, I don't have this issue.

I am in Canada using Rogers and have the same problem. Since I travel a lot, the same thing happened while I was in Australia a few weeks back. It is a major pain! I can either turn it back on or it will eventually do it by itself. This is not related to carrier nor signal. Not too many solutions to fix, but maybe buy something else!... I was flying back from Australia with someone using iPhone. He was so happy with it! Might not be a bad idea to switch eventually!

seems fair to me. seeing as you have so many other issues !

pad da dum dum!

That is the same for me with my 8830 on Sprint... happens almost every day, usually more than once.

I'm also having this issue and seems to happen often most after some opera mini browsing, although I don't often use the bb browser so maybe it would happen then too. Seems to happen every couple of days or so. I'm on Telus with a 8830. What's most frustrating about it is that I get to a high score on brickbreaker and then loose my score cause I need to pull the battery.

I'm going to try to uninstall the Opera Mini to see it that solves the issue...

uninstall of anything wont help. adding anything wont help, unless it is 4.3 maybe! It is not a sprint issue nor a VZ issue nor ATT. It is a RIM issue!

CDMA phones do it and some GSM's. I take it the entire 8800 line does it on occassion.

Sure wish those RIM folks would hear us. Maybe we can see a fix in the new OS. Wouldn't that be nice?!

I've not used opera mini nor jivetalk for several days now and haven't had the problem once. When i've decided that I have enough points in brickbreaker I'll start to use opera again and see if it happens again and if not then I'll try jivetalk.

I have had my Verizon 8830 since mid-May and have never had this problem until the week of 12-9-07. Just so happens Verizon turned on EVDO here in Northern Illinois at the exact same time. I get the small 1xev symbol which indicates a loss of data connection 2 or 3 times a week. When this happens I stop getting my email but still recieve text messages. If I pull the battery then it works fine for a few days. I have friends that have a Verizon chocolate and they have the exact same issues. It appears to be problems with the quote " Reliable Verizon Network" since it affect non-Blackberry phones.

We support about 20 8830's on our BES and I have fielded complaints from a fair number of users, probably at least 10. Most of them are former 7250 users and I don't think I ever saw the problem on a 7250.
I have swapped out 2 or 3 with Verizon which no change in the problem. My feeling is it a core 8830 issue. I have upgraded software, PRL etc to no avail.

I cant wait for the Curve! (if it is coming...)

People with the new pearl 8130 from sprint and verizon are reporting this issue as well, so its not just a 8830 issue.

I have an 8830 from sprint and have this problem, it doesnt matter if i have 2 bars or 5 bars, my connection still gets dropped when browsing the web... but a friend of mine has the pearl 8130 from sprint as well and she does not have this problem.

The same friend is a store manager for sprint and she told me that the curve will come out this summer.... take it for what its worth.

If u read the buzzaboutwireless forums.... according to a sprint employee this is a known issue.... so maybe they are working on a fix for it (i hope).

Well unfortunately it happened to me again today and I still haven't used jivetalk nor opera mini since the last lost data of about a week ago. Man, I was up to a score of 378,500 on brick breaker. lol.

Never happened to me. Probably will now though, since I just jinxed myself. Running on Verizon 8830 since July...

I have been having this problem as well, after a certain amount of time it will just stop, and yet will still display EDGE coverage. I switched to a different 8800 as well, and the issue was there as well. This is very frustrating. Soft reset won't resolve it, I must pull the battery to fix this.