TCL Flip 2 not keeping the right time?

[rcentros]

I've got two TCL Flip 2 phones. One on Tello (T-Mobile) one on Tracfone (Verizon). Neither one can keep the correct time.Right now it's 12:50 A.M. The Tello phone is at 12:55 A.M., the Tracfone phone is at 1:01 A.M. If I shut them off they'll come back with the right time, but that seems to be the only fix. Has anyone else ever run into this issue with these phones. It's irritating because, twice now (I'm a slow learner), I thought my wall clock was off and reset it. Only to find my clock was right, it was my phone that was wonky. Does anyone know why they jump ahead? Weird. I've never seen this before on any other phone.

EDIT: Figured it out. I guess you have to have mobile data turned on to keep the correct time. I turn it (and WiFi) off because I don't need to use data on these phones and I like a longer battery life. Now they've both downloaded an upgrade. Hope they didn't screw anything up. (I'll turn auto update off after they're done.)

[hpham]

I don't know about the Flip 2. Most cell phones (flip, bar, slab, etc) get the time from the cell phone network by default as long as they're active and connected to a network (not in airplane mode). Data or Wifi doesn't need to be on. You can verify this if you have multiple phones on the same network, their clocks should be showing the exact same time.

[sillyette]

There's a setting for the time to be set either "manually" or "get time from the network". I think the setting is available on the Flip 2 too.

I believe if the phone is set for "manual time" it will tend to show the wrong time over time. I've had it happen on an old phone that doesn't have any service on it and is permanently in Airplane mode.

[advcomp2019]

I know most if not all get their time from the cell tower in some way.

I had a tower set to the wrong time zone a number of years ago. Whenever I went to Omaha, NE, there was a small area that had a tower that set phones to the mountain time zone. I even tried to get Verizon to correct the issue, but since I was not a true Verizon customer, they would not take a report on this issue. So, I reported it to the stores. A few months later, they finally fixed it.

[drooper]

Yes, I gave a phone to a buddy and he had the exact same problem with data turned off. It would correct the time when turned off and on. I believe he has data turned on now. I'll have to check with him and see if it is keeping time.

[rcentros]

I don't know about the Flip 2. Most cell phones (flip, bar, slab, etc) get the time from the cell phone network by default as long as they're active and connected to a network (not in airplane mode). Data or Wifi doesn't need to be on. You can verify this if you have multiple phones on the same network, their clocks should be showing the exact same time.

Well the phones are definitely active. And I have Automatic Date & Time on, and I also have "Use network provided time zone" turned on. These phones definitely look like they're using Mobile Data to set their time. Turn Mobile Data on momentarily and it immediately sets the correct time.

[rcentros]

There's a setting for the time to be set either "manually" or "get time from the network". I think the setting is available on the Flip 2 too.

I believe if the phone is set for "manual time" it will tend to show the wrong time over time. I've had it happen on an old phone that doesn't have any service on it and is permanently in Airplane mode.

I've got the automatic settings turned on on both phones (I think they default to that.) As mentioned in another post, it looks like the Flip 2 uses the data network to set the time, rather than the voice network.

[rcentros]

I know most if not all get their time from the cell tower in some way.

I had a tower set to the wrong time zone a number of years ago. Whenever I went to Omaha, NE, there was a small area that had a tower that set phones to the mountain time zone. I even tried to get Verizon to correct the issue, but since I was not a true Verizon customer, they would not take a report on this issue. So, I reported it to the stores. A few months later, they finally fixed it.

The fact that both phones (on different networks) have the same problem (which is immediately corrected when data is turned on with both of them) makes me think TCL has set this phone to get it's automatic time information via Mobile Data. It's just something I'll have to remember now that I know what's going on.

Thanks. I would rather the Flip 2 got its time information the "old way," but it is what is, I think.

[rcentros]

Yes, I gave a phone to a buddy and he had the exact same problem with data turned off. It would correct the time when turned off and on. I believe he has data turned on now. I'll have to check with him and see if it is keeping time.

It's probably not that big of a big battery cost to keep the mobile data on. I might go that direction as well. Thanks.

[rcentros]

I should mention that, so far, both Flip 2 phones are showing the right time without the Mobile Data turned on. So, maybe, this was an issue that was resolved with the latest update. (?) I guess time will tell.