Can the iPhone service antenna go bad?

guitarmandp · Dec 17, 2012, 11:57 AM

Okay I use an iPhone 4S. It is jailbroken but I'm not sure that has anything to do with the problem.

For the past couple of weeks I've noticed absolutely horrible reception. Yesterday I hit rock bottom as pretty much all day it either had the AT&T logo show up with 0 bars or it had 1 bar of service. It would go to 5 bars for about 30 seconds and drop right back to 0 or 1.

My question is, do you think this is a problem with the service antenna, and has anybody else had this problem?

Today it seems to be behaving a lot better but I'm still wondering if I should get the antenna replaced. There is an iPhone repair place not far from me.

Davejprince · Dec 17, 2012, 12:04 PM

I would bring it back to the Apple Store to let them test it or anything and if the reception-problem is a hardware flaw they should replace your phone without any costs at all.

Dave,

BigMcGuire · Dec 17, 2012, 12:05 PM

I've had days on Verizon where I usually get MAX reception, I've had 1-2 bars... I imagine they're just repairing a tower or fixing it or whatever because after a day or two it goes back.

But sounds like you're having another problem - the 5 bars for 30 seconds thing.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davejprince

I would bring it back to the Apple Store to let them test it or anything and if the reception-problem is a hardware flaw they should replace your phone without any costs at all.

Dave,

Don't you get shot on sight if you have a jailbroken phone and enter an Apple store?

Davejprince · Dec 17, 2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMcGuire

I've had days on Verizon where I usually get MAX reception, I've had 1-2 bars... I imagine they're just repairing a tower or fixing it or whatever because after a day or two it goes back.

But sounds like you're having another problem - the 5 bars for 30 seconds thing.

----------

Don't you get shot on sight if you have a jailbroken phone and enter an Apple store?

A simple restore on the iPhone itself solves the "problem", once you've done that they aren't able to know that the device has been jailbroken in the past.

Jordan921 · Dec 17, 2012, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarmandp

Okay I use an iPhone 4S. It is jailbroken but I'm not sure that has anything to do with the problem.

For the past couple of weeks I've noticed absolutely horrible reception. Yesterday I hit rock bottom as pretty much all day it either had the AT&T logo show up with 0 bars or it had 1 bar of service. It would go to 5 bars for about 30 seconds and drop right back to 0 or 1.

My question is, do you think this is a problem with the service antenna, and has anybody else had this problem?

Today it seems to be behaving a lot better but I'm still wondering if I should get the antenna replaced. There is an iPhone repair place not far from me.

Could be the towers were having some issues and they are now ok. Wouldn't hurt to go to an apple store to have them look at it tho if there is a problem.

guitarmandp · Dec 17, 2012, 12:32 PM

My phone is jailbroken and there is no way I will bring my phone to Apple to for them to unjailbreak it like they did with my iPod touch that is now stuck on iOS 6

You say a tower might have been down but how come other peoples phones were working that had AT&T

Mrbobb · Dec 17, 2012, 12:44 PM

There is no family, friends, neighbors, old flip phone to compare?

dontpannic · Dec 17, 2012, 12:46 PM

My jail broken 4S was always doing that. Try a restore first.

guitarmandp · Dec 17, 2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontpannic

My jail broken 4S was always doing that. Try a restore first.

You can't do a restore without losing your jailbreak.

lifeguard · Dec 17, 2012, 04:08 PM

Put the phone in Field Test and post the the results to see what the radio is seeing. (the number next to the AT&T)
dial *3001#12345#*

blueroom · Dec 17, 2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarmandp

You can't do a restore without losing your jailbreak.

There's the rub.

unknownbeing · Dec 17, 2012, 05:21 PM

Restore and if that doesn't work then bring it to an apple store.

guitarmandp · Dec 17, 2012, 10:39 PM

I took it to an iPhone repair shop and they told me they think the baseband is damaged.

dontpannic · Dec 18, 2012, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarmandp

You can't do a restore without losing your jailbreak.

Well ****, I suppose you'll just have to live with it. iOS 6 will update the baseband, but if your jailbreak is too precious then there's nothing you can do.

Gav2k · Dec 18, 2012, 01:19 AM

I would compare your carrier update file against a non issue iphone. You may have an outdated file which is causing the issue.

Dec 17, 2012, 12:04 PM	#2
Davejprince macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: The Netherlands	I would bring it back to the Apple Store to let them test it or anything and if the reception-problem is a hardware flaw they should replace your phone without any costs at all. Dave, __________________ Black iPhone 4s, iPad 2, Asus K55V Notebook, customized Windows desktop;
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Dec 17, 2012, 11:57 AM	#1
guitarmandp macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2012	Can the iPhone service antenna go bad? Okay I use an iPhone 4S. It is jailbroken but I'm not sure that has anything to do with the problem. For the past couple of weeks I've noticed absolutely horrible reception. Yesterday I hit rock bottom as pretty much all day it either had the AT&T logo show up with 0 bars or it had 1 bar of service. It would go to 5 bars for about 30 seconds and drop right back to 0 or 1. My question is, do you think this is a problem with the service antenna, and has anybody else had this problem? Today it seems to be behaving a lot better but I'm still wondering if I should get the antenna replaced. There is an iPhone repair place not far from me.
	0

Dec 17, 2012, 12:32 PM	#6
guitarmandp Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2012	My phone is jailbroken and there is no way I will bring my phone to Apple to for them to unjailbreak it like they did with my iPod touch that is now stuck on iOS 6 You say a tower might have been down but how come other peoples phones were working that had AT&T
	0

Dec 17, 2012, 12:44 PM	#7
Mrbobb macrumors 68030 Join Date: Aug 2012	There is no family, friends, neighbors, old flip phone to compare?
	0

Dec 17, 2012, 12:46 PM	#8
dontpannic macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Orpington, Kent, UK	My jail broken 4S was always doing that. Try a restore first.
	1

Dec 17, 2012, 04:08 PM	#10
lifeguard macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2010	Put the phone in Field Test and post the the results to see what the radio is seeing. (the number next to the AT&T) dial 3001#12345#
	0

Dec 17, 2012, 05:21 PM	#12
unknownbeing macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New York	Restore and if that doesn't work then bring it to an apple store. __________________ iPhone 5, My website:http://ahelpern.com/ My Gaming Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Team20LP
	0

Dec 17, 2012, 10:39 PM	#13
guitarmandp Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2012	I took it to an iPhone repair shop and they told me they think the baseband is damaged.
	0

Dec 18, 2012, 01:19 AM	#15
Gav2k macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2009	I would compare your carrier update file against a non issue iphone. You may have an outdated file which is causing the issue.
	0