Normally, you don't have to
think about your wireless signal; it just works. However, sometimes
things happen to cause you troubles. You may try the Browser but realize
that you have no data connectivity. If you see an hourglass or X
instead of a check mark when you try to send an email, you know
something is wrong. The BlackBerry makers were nice enough to give you a
wireless signal status meter at the top of your BlackBerry screen (or
it might be on the bottom, depending on your particular BlackBerry
wireless carrier or theme).
There are two components to your wireless status meter: The Signal Strength Meter and the Data Connection Letters, which are usually right next to the Signal Strength Meter.
1. Data Connection Letters (Vary by Network Type)
Your data connection allows you to send and receive
email and data and browse the Web. The confusing thing is that you may
have very strong signal strength (e.g., four or five bars) but still not
be able to send or receive email. The three of four letters or numbers
shown next to the Signal Strength Meter will vary based on the type of wireless network to which you are connected.
If you are connected to a CDMA Network (e.g. Verizon, Sprint, Telus, or Bell-Canada), you will see 1XEV, 1X, 1xev, or 1x.
If you are connected to a GSM Network (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile, or Rogers), you will see 3G (with or without a logo), EDGE, GPRS, edge, gprs, or GSM.
Take a look at Table 1 to understand whether or not you have a data connection.
Table 1. Interpreting Data Connection Information
| If you see... | It means that... | You should... |
|---|
| OFF | Your radio is turned off. | Turn your radio back on: Click Manage Connections Restore Connections. |
| GSM (no logo) | There is no data connection, only phone and SMS work. | Try the "Turn Off and On Your Radio" .
|
| 1XEV, 3G with logo | The highest-speed data, phone, and SMS text are available and working. | If email and web are not working, try the "Register Now" .
|
| 1X, EDGE | High-speed data, phone, and SMS are working. | If email and web are not working, try the Register Now . |
| GPRS | Low-speed data, phone, and SMS are working. | If email and web are not working, try the "Register Now" . |
| 3G (no logo), 1xev, 1x, edge, gprs | There is no data connection. Phone and SMS only work. | Try the "Turn Off and On Your Radio" . |
2. Trouble with Email, Web, or Phone?
If you're having difficulties with email, web browsers, or making calls, try the tips in the following sections.
2.1. Turning Off and On Your Radio
If you're having difficulty with your email, web
browser, or phone, many times the simple act of turning your radio off
and back on will restore your wireless connectivity.
To do this, first go to your home screen and click the Manage Connections icon. In the Manage Connections screen shown in Figure 1, click Turn All Connections Off.
Wait until you see the word "OFF" next to the wireless signal strength icon on your home screen, and then click Restore Connections to turn on your radio again.
Look for your Wireless Signal Meter
and uppercase 1XEV, 1X, 3G (with logo), EDGE or GPRS. Check to see if
your email and web apps are working. If not, try some more of the
troubleshooting tips that follow.
2.2. Registering for Host Routing
Another possible solution to connectivity issues is to select register for host routing:
From your home screen, click the Options icon, or press the hotkey O.
Now, click Host Routing Table (use hotkey H to jump down to this option); see Figure 2.
In the Host Routing Table screen, you will see many entries related to your BlackBerry phone company.
Press the Menu key, and select Register Now.
If you see "Registration message sent!", you should be OK. If you see a
message like "Request queued and will be send when data connection is
established", try some more troubleshooting steps in the following
sections.
2.3. Sending Service Books
This trick for solving connectivity issues will work
for you only if you have set up Internet or personal email.
From your home screen, click the Setup or Settings folder and then the Manage Personal Email or Set Up Internet Mail icon (each carrier names these a bit differently).
If
this is your first time setting up these email accounts, you may be
asked to create an account or log in to get to personal email setup.
After you have logged in to your email setup screen, press the Menu key, and select the Service Books item.
Roll to the bottom of the screen, and click Send Service Books.
You should see a "successfully sent" message and, in your Messages icon, a number of "Activation" messages—one per email account, as shown in Figure 3.
If you see any other message indicating the message
was not sent, you may want to verify that you have good coverage at your
current location.
3. Trying a Soft Reset
If you're having trouble with general slowness in
email or web applications, sometimes, like on your computer, you simply
need to try a reset or reboot (like pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del on a Windows computer). You can do a similar soft reset on your BlackBerry by pressing and holding three keys simultaneously ALT + CAP + DEL (Figure 4).
4. Using a Hard Reset (Removing the Battery)
When you really need to start over, you can try a hard reset.
Turn off your BlackBerry by pressing and holding the power button (the Red Phone key). In some cases, if your BlackBerry is locked, it may not turn off, just remove the battery as shown in the next steps.
Remove the battery cover. Slide the back cover down and off the back of your BlackBerry.
Gently
pry out and remove the battery. You will have to put your fingernail in
the top right or left edge next to the printed gray or black smooth
semicircle and pry the battery out from the bottom edge. It has a few
small tabs holding it in at the top of the BlackBerry.
Image courtesy of BlackBerry.com
Replace the battery, making sure to slide in the top of the battery first and press down from the bottom.
Replace the battery door by sliding it up until it latches.
Power
on your BlackBerry (it may come on automatically). Then, you will need
to wait a little for the timer to go away (up to several minutes).
If you see OFF
next to your radio tower indicator in the upper-left or upper-right
corner, you will need to turn on your wireless radio again. To do this,
tap the Menu key, and click the radio tower icon, which says Manage Connections, and then click Restore Connections.
