3GS Antenna Issue Confirmed

[ouimetnick]

Try using two hands. I can drop from 4 bars to one in about 20 seconds every single time.

Why would I use two hands? The iPhone 4 goes from full bars to SEARCHING when touch in the spot lightly. My 3GS MUST be gripped with 2 hands tightly to drop 3 bars. I was using an iPhone 4 the other day. I held it naturally in my left hand. My skin just touched the spot. The pone went from 5 to SEARCHING and my call was dropped. Holding an iPhone 3GS i the same way has no effect. In fact, in all the different ways I hold my iPhone 3GS, I don't lose a bar. But if I hold my phone unnaturally, it loses a few bars, but the call IS NOT dropped. I tested the iPhone 4 and 3GS in the SAME location, and had the issue on the iPhone 4.

 

[eckseid]

has anyone outside the USA been able to do the same thing?

i've tried this on my thing on...
my iphone 3g with fido - nothing happens
my work bb bold with rogers - drops 2 bars but goes back up and rarely happens.
my brothers 3gs with bell - nothing happens
my friends 2g with rogers - nothing happens.
and my parents ghetto samsung flip phone with telus - nothing happens.

so can this some what be related to att? can someone with an ip4 try it outside the USA?

It does happen outside of the USA. Look up other threads.

It seems to me everyone is missing the point in all of this. If you hold any phone in a "death grip" (stupid ass name), it may lose bars, but most won't lose service like the iPhone 4. The problem with the iPhone 4 is, you can put 1 finger in the wrong spot (READ: ONE FINGER) and you lose service. I would be pissed if I was RIM and other cell providers being lumped into this. I've never EVER had any problems with my other cell phones, including my 3GS when it was out of the case.

Quit defending apple. It was a stupid design decision like RIM said. Apple knows they ****ed up, hence the free bumpers/cases. If it's such a small percentage, why bother doing that?

Edit: Btw, who the **** holds their phone with 2 hands? Really people?

 

[solarein]

Try using two hands. I can drop from 4 bars to one in about 20 seconds every single time.

For crying out loud, do you look over your posts before you make them?

Hey guys! The 3GS has the same issue as the iPhone 4!
You can't reproduce it? Hold your hand around the entire bottom part! Yes, grip it tightly!
Still nothing? Use two hands!
Got it now? See? What did I tell you? Exact same problem!

 

[bobr1952]

I'm sure my Speck case is a pretty good insulator. I have never actually used my phone without it. The guy at the ATT store put it on when I bought the phone. I'm sure the same would happen if I bought a new phone--which would be nothing since I'm sure I would buy a case for that as well.

 

[ouimetnick]

It does happen outside of the USA. Look up other threads.

It seems to me everyone is missing the point in all of this. If you hold any phone in a "death grip" (stupid ass name), it may lose bars, but most won't lose service like the iPhone 4. The problem with the iPhone 4 is, you can put 1 finger in the wrong spot (READ: ONE FINGER) and you lose service. I would be pissed if I was RIM and other cell providers being lumped into this. I've never EVER had any problems with my other cell phones, including my 3GS when it was out of the case.

Quit defending apple. It was a stupid design decision like RIM said. Apple knows they ****ed up, hence the free bumpers/cases. If it's such a small percentage, why bother doing that?

Edit: Btw, who the **** holds their phone with 2 hands? Really people?

Because Apple "loves" their users.


/sarcasm/

 

[harry20larry]

The problem is not that you can recreate it, every phone has this issue. I have gone to around 20 friends today as the pointed and laughed at my iPhone and recreated it on their phone.
It is where the antenna is located regards normal usage. Most phones position the antenna on the bottom rear side of the phone, this area is usually uncovered in normal usage.
With the iPhone 4, they put this contact point on the side of the phone, where people with left handed tendencies often cup the phone. This is when the antenna gate effect comes in. I am right handed so this does not affect me, and when I hold it in my left hand (as with my right), I don't cup it, I grip it with points of my fingers and my palm. But this is just my style. The only time I have problems is when I type in portraight mode with both my hands.
The simple hardware fix would be to move these gaps to the bottom of the phone where they would be in contact with the body far less.

 

[ogdogg]

For crying out loud, do you look over your posts before you make them?

Hey guys! The 3GS has the same issue as the iPhone 4!
You can't reproduce it? Hold your hand around the entire bottom part! Yes, grip it tightly!
Still nothing? Use two hands!
Got it now? See? What did I tell you? Exact same problem!

I don't have to use two hands. I'm just saying if you can't reproduce it using two hands you're a liar. Just trying to weed out the yous, I mean trolls.

 

[King Luis]

It does happen outside of the USA. Look up other threads.

It seems to me everyone is missing the point in all of this. If you hold any phone in a "death grip" (stupid ass name), it may lose bars, but most won't lose service like the iPhone 4. The problem with the iPhone 4 is, you can put 1 finger in the wrong spot (READ: ONE FINGER) and you lose service. I would be pissed if I was RIM and other cell providers being lumped into this. I've never EVER had any problems with my other cell phones, including my 3GS when it was out of the case.

Quit defending apple. It was a stupid design decision like RIM said. Apple knows they ****ed up, hence the free bumpers/cases. If it's such a small percentage, why bother doing that?

Edit: Btw, who the **** holds their phone with 2 hands? Really people?

kind of hard to find the other threads when there are a million of these ones and mods don't clean up the forums. also, its probably the 8th time i asked on different threads and no one replies...you sir were the first.

 

[ouimetnick]

The problem is not that you can recreate it, every phone has this issue. I have gone to around 20 friends today as the pointed and laughed at my iPhone and recreated it on their phone.
It is where the antenna is located regards normal usage. Most phones position the antenna on the bottom rear side of the phone, this area is usually uncovered in normal usage.
With the iPhone 4, they put this contact point on the side of the phone, where people with left handed tendencies often cup the phone. This is when the antenna gate effect comes in. I am right handed so this does not affect me, and when I hold it in my left hand (as with my right), I don't cup it, I grip it with points of my fingers and my palm. But this is just my style. The only time I have problems is when I type in portraight mode with both my hands.
The simple hardware fix would be to move these gaps to the bottom of the phone where they would be in contact with the body far less.

So they should still laugh. If you hold an iPhone 4 normaly, and it goes into Searching and drops the call, then thats due to Apple's failure. If other phones have this similar issue, but only happen when you hold the phone in a not normal way, so it wouldn't happen if you used the phone normally.

 

[TMar]

Try using two hands. I can drop from 4 bars to one in about 20 seconds every single time.

Your in idiot. My my 3gs I can get it to drop from 5 bars to 2 if I intensionally cup both hands over the bottom of the phone. Guess what. There is no way to use the phone in this manner. I'm just holding it not using it if I have both hands in this position. Holding it in a normal manner I see no drop in signal.

The iphone 4 on the other hand puts the "weak spot" right in contact with my palm when holding it in a natural manner. If this spot was on the top or even on the opposite side (but then that would screw left handed users) this would be a non-issue. This is why it's a design flaw, because it is so easily cover when holding in a natural manner.

 

[harry20larry]

So they should still laugh. If you hold an iPhone 4 normaly, and it goes into Searching and drops the call, then thats due to Apple's failure. If other phones have this similar issue, but only happen when you hold the phone in a not normal way, so it wouldn't happen if you used the phone normally.

You got it, essentially, it is a huge ergonomic cock up rather than an antenna flaw. However, most people a blinded by media stirring to care about the real problem.
The antenna is incredible, I am getting service in far more places now. The decided to position it in a stupid place, complete ergonomic failure...

 

[ogdogg]

Your in idiot.

You're complaining about an issue on a phone made of glass that can be fixed with a small piece of rubber and you're calling me an idiot? And to top it off, you write "your in idiot" instead of 'you're an idiot'? C'mon son.

 

[jpcarro]

Apple has successfully blurred the issue. Sure, many phones can drop bars when "blocking" the antenna locations with your hand(s). But that's not the issue is it? On the iPhone4, Apple located a gap between 2 "external" antennas in a spot where many people are likely to touch. This can cause the signal to weaken to the point of dropping calls. Throw on a case, and the iP4 is like any other phone. Without a case...design flaw. Hence the great case give-away.

 

[TMar]

You're complaining about an issue on a phone made of glass that can be fixed with a small piece of rubber and you're calling me an idiot? And to top it off, you write "your in idiot" instead of 'you're an idiot'? C'mon son.

Nice deflection to avoid the facts. Makes you even more of an idiot.

 

[ogdogg]

Nice deflection to avoid the facts. Makes you even more of an idiot.

You namecalling when you clearly can't comprehend the issue is pathetic.

 

[wongster41]

I just tried cupping the bottom of my 3GS to see what would happen for myself and was surprised to see it drop from 4 bars to 1 bar every time. I used that phone for 1 year without ever knowing a problem existed. The reception issues are overblown. Try it on any phone and see for yourself. I am now a believer.

give me a break.... the iPhone 3gs doesn't stop transmission to a halt by just touching it with one finger like the videos below. Stop drinking the apple koolaid and do some critical thinking


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNmXrVNeGzs&playnext_from=TL&videos=NyBkeUX7zp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzn8QhrYIvI&playnext_from=TL&videos=akZbxrK-5i4

 

[TMar]

You namecalling when you clearly can't comprehend the issue is pathetic.

What's to comprehend? It take two hands on a 3gs to do what can easily be done with one finger on an iphone 4. It's not that it happens, it's how easily it is to reproduced in a natural manner. Plannetbeing has proven by looking at the signal strength directly from the baseband that there is an instant 16-20 dB drop with just one finger on the "weak spot".

 

[Ashin]

But the iPhone 4 actually drops calls when held like that, almost instantly - that is the major problem.

A slight drop in reception isn't a big issue however.

 

[bluer101]

Our original iPhones (my wife and I just upgraded) does the same thing as our ip4's. I noticed the problem years back while surfing on safari in a restaurant. I could cause the drop just about everywhere we would go. Now our ip4's I can also do it but it never drops below 1 bar.

The best thing about the newer phones are I get better service everywhere I go now then with my original phone. I used to drop calls more and no service a lot. The ip4 yet has not dropped a call or got no service. Yes this could be because of location too.

There has been many times traveling with the old phones to other parts of the country and get real terrible service, so I can sympathize with some of you guy. In the end you need to make the right decision for you and what makes you comfortable.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

"Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM's customers don't need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple."

- Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie

Sounds like someone doesn't like the truth.

 

[eckseid]

Sounds like someone doesn't like the truth.

What truth? The fact that it takes an actual unnatural "death grip" (again, stupid ass name) to do it unlike the ip4 where it's just 1 finger gently pressed on the side of the phone?

One of the pictures that Jobs showed off on another phone is floating around. The guy's thumb is RED because of how hard he is holding it. People don't do that. If I'm holding the iPhone 4 in my hand and my finger accidentally goes onto one spot of the phone, it drops bars AND service.

Quit drinking the koolaid and open your damn eyes.

 

[DeathChill]

I can stop data transmission on my 3G by holding it naturally without a case. However, I step outside where I get better signal and I can't get it to stop. Weird.

 

[ashVID]

Ugh, for the umpteenth time... "death grip" will hurt any phones reception. IP4 can be TOUCHED in the wrong spot and the signal drop. I have the issue, fixed by a bumper, with normal RIGHT HANDED use. Apple openly stated the IP4 dropped more calls than the 3Gs. It's worth noting, that even with a bumper my IP4 drops more calls than my 3Gs did.



ash =o)

 

[darngooddesign]

I just tried cupping the bottom of my 3GS to see what would happen for myself and was surprised to see it drop from 4 bars to 1 bar every time. I used that phone for 1 year without ever knowing a problem existed. The reception issues are overblown. Try it on any phone and see for yourself. I am now a believer.

My 3GS only does it in very weak signal areas. The difference, for me, was that my 4 did it in strong signal areas while my 3GS won't.

 

[Pravda]

Just updated to the 4.01.

My naked 3Gs is unaffected by any grip.