Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

Hello community,

My n900 has started to exhibit a rather disturbing bug that seriously affects its reliability as my primary phone.

It happened first a month ago; the gsm modem (I assume) goes all zombie on me such that I can not receive calls, or receive / send text messages, upon attempting to call myself I get a "general error" (very useful). The problem is fixed with a reboot.

The major issue here is that the phone gives no indication of the problem. The network bars are there, and the operator name. My phone is continuously connected via 3g / gprs but I do not get a "internet connection failed" report. So I tend to go hours with people trying to call me whilst Im oblivious to the issue.

Has anyone heard of a similar case?

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

Is it while you're connected to 2.5g internet?

Know you can't receive calls while connected online on 2g, 3g is ok.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

I believe being connected via 2 or 3g does not affect incoming or outgoing calls, 2g connections are suspended during calls.

Anyway the issue has occured in a 2g and 3g network; it has also happened whilst internet connection was facilitated by wifi. So no packet data connection at all.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

Have you updated it to the latest firmware? Its possible a reflash could help.

What is the wireless provider? It could be their problem and not your device - or a coverage issue.

I've had mine lose data network in spotty coverage areas and require a reboot to recover that, even though I have moved into a better coverage area. I've had that same thing happen with a lot of devices on both GSM and CDMA networks - it does happen.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

This exact issue happened to me for the first time yesterday, and then today again. I use WIND Mobile in Canada for what it's worth, and both times that it happened a reboot fixed the problem. Hopefully it doesn't happen again.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

I've noticed this once, the issue started when I connected via 3G and started driving around town. At one point at a red light, I noticed that I couldn't do anything on the net, like check email or surf, but I didn't really need it and left it like that.

After a couple of hours I needed to make a call and that's when I noticed that I can't do that, so I had to reboot. After the reboot everything started working and I got several texts that I had voice mails.

From this anecdote I can conclude that you shouldn't be driving around with GPRS on, or your GSM chip/software might lock up and you will not be able to receive or send calls and texts. :)

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

The phone started to lag a lot, open keyboard display lits up after a few seconds. No incomming calls nor smses. After reboot several texts and missed calls notifications. 2.5G connection in the status, not a sign of dead network.

I've installed camkeyd last friday and suspected it. the other suspect is unstopped alarm. i was away from the phone when the alarm started and haven't stopped it for about 5 hours.

before rebooting checked with htop processes only evolution-address.. was getting about 15% cpu every few seconds.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

i've had the same problem. i phoned vodafone who reckon that the phone hasnt registered with the network for a long time, sometimes doesnt re register when you re boot the phone

they recommended manually connect to another network, then reconnect back to your own network and then back to auto

this has resolved the problem for me

hope this helps

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

Sounds like im not the only one with this problem.

I use Saunalahti / Elisa in Finland; latest firmware. The timeout thing did cross my mind since people trying to call me get the "person you are dialing could not be reached" thing, the same they would get if the phone were off. Then the first time this happened I started getting angry people calling my friends trying to reach me after I made a phone call just 2 hours ago, so the phone died some time within the two hours, so its not like the the phone has been sitting idle for ages. And to the best of my knowledge my phone tries my email server every 10 minutes...

I really know very little about gsm networking. Maybe there is some inherent process in all mobile phones that pings the network every x minutes telling it that its still there, and maybe this process somehow miraculously dies on the n900 occasionally.

Its odd cause Ive used this phone for >4 months and the first time this happened at all was about a month ago. Could be some buggy app (yes I have extras-testing enabled) but cant recall anything that should be directly related to gsm.

When the next firmware comes out Ill just dump half of the apps I dont use anyway, maybe that will help.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

@MoKopila...hey...i bot a n900 yst...nd wen i cal its showing the same msg "GENERAL ERROR"....bt i recieve msgs nd calls...bt i cant cal.....any solution???....plzzzzzzzz....:(

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....got it.....its solvd!!!!.....go to settings.....then clik on tht phone icon....
set the my caller ID ad - let network choose
and data roaming as - always allow.....
it workd for me...i hope it may help u guys....

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

Same issue here in Malaysia. My N900 would persistently "internet connection failed" until I restart the unit.

Previous round was so bad that it didn't even display the operator logo. But after restarting everything behaves as normal.

I have been an avid Debian user for a couple of years, hence my affection of a debian-relative n900/maemo. Upon coming up on this problem, I am seeking ways to restart the cellular data subsystem without going through the hardware restart/poweroff and on, but have not located it. In debian, there is almost a way to call the /etc/init.d/service restart script to restart the relevant process without having to bring down the whole system which could be running for months on ends.
:confused:

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

Hey wrongdg, I've found a somewhat decent workaround. If you install the 2G/3G status area switcher you can then toggle between the two network types (which effectively bounces your connection for the phone and data).

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

My problem is more that the phone gives no indication that it has detatched from network, since I still get the operator name and the bars at the top of the screen.
This sucks because people may end up calling me for hours without success and I dont suspect anything.
That said the problem hasnt been reproduced by me for months, its just the insecurity about if it will happen again which is bothering me.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

I have exactly the same problem with my phone. The N900 has become a very expensive internet tablet which is useless as a phone. My daughter's 30 euro model does a better job!

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

I'm having the exact same issue.
Having a phone is quite literally a life and death necessity for me.

This is a serious issue.
The fact that so many people have it across totally different networks in different countries suggests it is a problem with the phone.

There is no evidence of it being a problem on the phone until you try to make a call.
This started happening for me yesterday.

I have the latest firmware update.

The big problem for me is that there's no noticeable problem - you can't tell if this issue is happening. So if people are phoning me, I won't know if they can't get through.
And if I suddenly need the phone in an emergency and it doesn't work, I'm stuffed.

Since this seems to have started only very recently, could the latest firmware update be at fault?

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

negative.
the problem first surfaced for me around march. And it has happened about four times since then, with no apparent pattern between the intervals. In three of the four cases it was fixed by rebooting the phone, in one case the phone apparently fixed itself after half an hour of darkness.

I do have unstavle apps installed but cant think of any that would cause this; and the problem is impossible to reproduce so its very difficult to file a useful bug report.

Have you installed any unstable apps recently that could cause this? What was your uptime when it happened, I think it may be related to long uptime.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

Ahh ok, not the latest firmware then.

Uptime I'm guessing you mean how long it's been on without a reboot.. well I leave it on all the time and only ever reboot if it's playing up, so a long time.

I'm trying to work out which of my apps are from testing, not extras, but in app manager uninstall, it doesn't show that, whichis rather annoying.

I don't have devel catalogue at all.

The only apps I've recently installed that I've not been using regularly before now are:

to-do-o
siggy
Shopper
shake2control which is useless for me anyway and is being uninstalled now
pomodoro
espeak gui client
espeak time

I've used shopper and to-do-o a tiny, tiny bit, but not had a chance with the others, except shake2control.

I'll have a look and see if I can find out which catalogue they're all from.

I do have a couple of other apps that are definitely from testing, but I've had them for months and they've been fine.

Oh FMMS is a fairly new grab for me too, and it's had a number of updates recently, but it's working well and doesn't seem to be causing any issues for anyone else.

Uptime could indeed be an issue if I got it right on what that is. I should definitely be rebooting more often I think. If only just to clear out the memory cache.
If it works like that.. sorry, very long time as a windows person!

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

The only thing thatc could be remotely related is fmms, because it interacts with the network.
As said im a questionmark when it comes to this "bug". Im just happy it hasnt happened for a few months, maby it was some app that has thusfar being updated.
Ill come back to this thread if it happens again.

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

I had this issue with t-mobile. New simcard solved the problem.

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...pgrade+simcard

Re: Rather grave GSM issue with my N900
 

all those who are facing "general error" and can't make a call please change your settings "send my caller ID" to let network choose from---
--settings> phone> set my caller ID to "let network choose"