8.3 Signal Strength

[Böhme417]

Since I updated to 8.3, my displayed signal signal strength on my iPhone 6 is lower than it was before in all locations. I am frequently looking at 1 dot when I was seeing 3-4 before.

I compared with a friend's iPhone 6 on the same carrier. He's still running 8.1. His phone is in an OtterBox case; mine is in one of the rubber Apple cases. Side by side, his phone had 3 dots, and mine had 1. Is it possible for my radio to have been affected somehow? I would think an update would only change the graphical representation of the same signal strength. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get his actually signal strength (dBm) at the time, and I don't have enough past information from my other phones to compare.

It wouldn't be as big of a deal, but I'v also experienced 3 dropped calls in the past week (normally a very rare occurrence for me). I've already contacted my carrier, and of course they claim they have had no known issues in the area.

Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[sunking101]

Funny you should say that but I'm frequently seeing one dot of signal strength less than I used to do. It was obvious to me because at home I normally only have two dots, but now I have one.
I put it down as 'one of those things' but now you mention it...

 

[puckhead193]

i've too noticed this...

 

[appleaday6477]

Wim also seeing this, thinking of going back to 8.2

 

[simon lefisch]

Don't use the dots. Look at the dBm to get a correct reading of signal strength.

In case you wanna get an accurate reading in dBm:

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/enable-numeric-signal-strength-ios-8

 

[Böhme417]

Update: I compared actual signal strength with a coworker at lunch. We were getting the same dBm, but her phone was still showing two more dots than mine. It's weird they would alter the signal strength display that much for 8.3.

 

[sunking101]

Update: I compared actual signal strength with a coworker at lunch. We were getting the same dBm, but her phone was still showing two more dots than mine. It's weird they would alter the signal strength display that much for 8.3.

Yeah, why make it appear worse.

 

[Ries]

Yeah, why make it appear worse.

They removed the iPhone 4 bug fix cheat, in which they made the signal look stronger by faking more bars to fix the unfixable antenna flaw.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3821/iphone-4-redux-analyzing-apples-ios-41-signal-fix

 

[sualpine]

Yeah, why make it appear worse.

Accuracy?

 

[whatos]

Funny you should say that but I'm frequently seeing one dot of signal strength less than I used to do. It was obvious to me because at home I normally only have two dots, but now I have one.
I put it down as 'one of those things' but now you mention it...

This surprises me.

I thought about posting regarding 8.3 signal strength and battery life since both of mine have gone up considerably which I didn't expect. In certain areas where three dots were the norm for a few years, suddenly I'm getting five. Thinking it was a fluke I started paying very close attention. I even called my carrier to see if they added towers, but they've not made changes.

Regarding the battery, I do use my phone a lot and carry an external pack. Yet I've found I'm not having to use it till much later in the day. An interesting change.

 

[Shrek1970]

8.3 Signal Strength

Don't use the dots. Look at the dBm to get a correct reading of signal strength.

In case you wanna get an accurate reading in dBm:

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/enable-numeric-signal-strength-ios-8

Thanks for that

 

[e93to]

Signal strength actually increased on my 5S... I used to get 2 dots at home, and now I get 3 dots after 8.3 update. 5 dots at other locations I frequently visit. However, I noticed cellular signal dropping to 3G time to time..

 

[VSMacOne]

Is this something that could be affected by a carrier update? I remember seeing Apple and TMobile push out a carrier update after 8.3.

 

[wilky76]

I'm getting a better signal now on Three at home since the update where as before i would get 2 to 3 dots on 4G, I now get constant 4 dots on 4G.

 

[simon lefisch]

Thanks for that

No prob

 

[sbailey4]

Update: I compared actual signal strength with a coworker at lunch. We were getting the same dBm, but her phone was still showing two more dots than mine. It's weird they would alter the signal strength display that much for 8.3.

Yep I saw same thing but tested between wifes 8.2 before updating and the dBm was the same so its a display only issue. Fieldtest mode tells the real story.

Yeah, why make it appear worse.

Perhaps they made it more realistic/accurate. That was a problem way back when when it falsely reporting higher signal than it really was getting.