Alumacase

[glen e]

With all the talk about metal cases and reception, here's my IRL test - not the numbers, or bars or whatever. I have all the cases below and routinely every morning, noon and evening, drive thru a 3/4 mile tunnel under a waterway.

Both elements lose the call every time 3/4 way thru
The Atomic and the Alumacase hold the call every time.

Just my observation.

 

[bighabeeb]

With all the talk about metal cases and reception, here's my IRL test - not the numbers, or bars or whatever. I have all the cases below and routinely every morning, noon and evening, drive thru a 3/4 mile tunnel under a waterway.

Both elements lose the call every time 3/4 way thru
The Atomic and the Alumacase hold the call every time.

Just my observation.

Glen - it seems to be very hit or miss. I use the speedtest as a numerical way of taking a look, but all I needed to know about the alumacase occured last night as well. I tried to make a call out from my kitchen, where I generally show decent bars and don't have an issue being heard. With the alumacase on, the call completed, but the person on the other hand could not hear me other than the occasional blip. I removed the case while on the call, and immediately could be clearly heard.

The GPS info doesn't lie either, where the numbers might...and the GPS was far enough off as to be rendered fairly worthless. Unfortunately I didnt have an easy way of catching that on video, so everyone will have to take my word for it

 

[beedish]

thanks for your review bighabeeb. just a correction, the case is $65 shipped, not $90... still doesn't affect results, but nonetheless...

it's weird how we get such different results everywhere. i couldn't replicate the GPS problems as bad as you were talking about, i managed to always be in the 10' diameter blinking area. My cell signal (origin signal started off at about your strength 2-3 bars) got worse, but i was still able to test strength with a speed test.

i'm thinking that there might be a problem with the top half of the case since it seems to actually press against the phone when you tighten it to the bottom half without trying to physically align the pieces together. i noticed the phone working better once i pulled the side pieces out to match the bottom side pieces...just a thought??? maybe the aluminum touching the antenna is screwing things around??

 

[yOyOYoo]

Case is over $90 shipped if you add a carbon fiber back piece. Which I did. Still haven't received item which supposedly shipped out last Wednesday. Getting nervous... don't like being lied to...

 

[bighabeeb]

thanks for your review bighabeeb. just a correction, the case is $65 shipped, not $90... ?

Add 15 for the carbon fiber backing, +5 for shipping

So 85 instead of 90

 

[bighabeeb]

Case is over $90 shipped if you add a carbon fiber back piece. Which I did. Still haven't received item which supposedly shipped out last Wednesday. Getting nervous... don't like being lied to...

If you got vampire red I can send you mine lol

 

[ufcfighter]

Mine did the exact same thing, you had to push the bottom on go get the screws in because of the foam in the case. My biggest problem was not reception. Since it's a work phone and my job requires travel my GPS has to work. Sometimes I am in the middle of now where and if my GPS is not accurate or can not find me then I have a big problem. And I really don't want to carry an allen wrench with me all the time just in case. No case is worth all that trouble.

thanks for your review bighabeeb. just a correction, the case is $65 shipped, not $90... still doesn't affect results, but nonetheless...

it's weird how we get such different results everywhere. i couldn't replicate the GPS problems as bad as you were talking about, i managed to always be in the 10' diameter blinking area. My cell signal (origin signal started off at about your strength 2-3 bars) got worse, but i was still able to test strength with a speed test.

i'm thinking that there might be a problem with the top half of the case since it seems to actually press against the phone when you tighten it to the bottom half without trying to physically align the pieces together. i noticed the phone working better once i pulled the side pieces out to match the bottom side pieces...just a thought??? maybe the aluminum touching the antenna is screwing things around??

 

[beedish]

Add 15 for the carbon fiber backing, +5 for shipping

So 85 instead of 90

forgot carbon fiber back plate! d'oh!

 

[chris975d]

Case is over $90 shipped if you add a carbon fiber back piece. Which I did. Still haven't received item which supposedly shipped out last Wednesday. Getting nervous... don't like being lied to...

Don't feel too bad about not getting yours yet, neither have I, and supposedly mine shipped out last Wednesday as well. It's never taken over 3 days for anything sent first class to get to me from Cali, ever. I'm wondering if my case even actually shipped.

 

[Gonz19]

Has anyone tried calling them about their orders? I called the number and was able to speak with someone (should have gotten a name) and he said he would check on it. Said it should have shipped last Thurs and I am in Houston Tx. I seem to recall reading on here that someone from H-town had there case already. Maybe call and check on your orders as well. Will let you know what he says when he calls back. At least someone actually answered and not some recording that just loops over and over.......

 

[Moyank24]

Has anyone tried calling them about their orders? I called the number and was able to speak with someone (should have gotten a name) and he said he would check on it. Said it should have shipped last Thurs and I am in Houston Tx. I seem to recall reading on here that someone from H-town had there case already. Maybe call and check on your orders as well. Will let you know what he says when he calls back. At least someone actually answered and not some recording that just loops over and over.......

I'm in Houston, and I received my case yesterday and according to the shipping box it was shipped on Thursday as well. So you should have at least gotten it today if they were shipped at the same time.

 

[Gonz19]

Any type of tracking # on the box? He said he was going to track the package. Did you have to pay anything when it arrived?? I am not home when the mail shows up so I don't know if they are expecting the COD.

 

[RIPNHL2005]

Got mine today and am extremely disappointed that when I put it on, it pushed up half my Power Support Anti Glare screen cover to the point where it wouldnt stay down unless it was unscrewed pretty far!!!

(

Anyone able to get this case on with a screen cover already on???

Thanks

 

[Moyank24]

Any type of tracking # on the box? He said he was going to track the package. Did you have to pay anything when it arrived?? I am not home when the mail shows up so I don't know if they are expecting the COD.

I didn't notice a tracking number, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one. I'm at work now, so I can't look, but I can let you know when I get home.

And they left it in my mailbox...no hint of any type of COD.

 

[graphiteevo]

Any type of tracking # on the box? He said he was going to track the package. Did you have to pay anything when it arrived?? I am not home when the mail shows up so I don't know if they are expecting the COD.

Mine arrived in a small flat rate priority mail box w/ a printed first class mail shipping label with a delivery confirmation on it. I returned my Alumacase for a refund which jeremy@alumacase was more than happy to help me out with. Just had to pay return shipping.

I'm done with aluminum cases, and think I'm gonna try the neo hybrid ex next

 

[thinkdiesel]

so alumacase and all of their accounts are silent now...

I wonder if they're trying to figure out a scheme to make more accounts to deny reception and gps issues. That I'm willing to bet.

 

[kingalien]

I'm done with aluminum cases, and think I'm gonna try the neo hybrid ex next

It's because of the reviews here that I've given up on the aluma and ordered a hybrid EX.

 

[graphiteevo]

It's because of the reviews here that I've given up on the aluma and ordered a hybrid EX.

Nice! Which color did you order if you don't mind me asking..think I'm gonna go with gunmetal

 

[kingalien]

Nice! Which color did you order if you don't mind me asking..think I'm gonna go with gunmetal

Great minds think alike, got the gunmetal as well

 

[RIPNHL2005]

Well I ran field test with so so results for 3G and was going to give it a fee days to see how it worked, UNTIL I turned my wireless on and it didn't even see my wireless. I moved closer and finally got 1 bar and it saw it.
I removed the alumacase and it went back to the normal 2-3 bars for my wireless in the same spot in my house.
I never thought wireless would be affected by the case but it's significant enough to not even consider keeping it.

Back to the case search and no more aluminum cases for me!!!

 

[Gonz19]

Spoke with them and they said if I don't have it by tomorrow he will try and locate it. I did speak to him about the reception and he stated that it had to be adjusted on the case. I'll give it a try if and when I receive it and see how it works. Thanks for all the replies back.

 

[bighabeeb]

so alumacase and all of their accounts are silent now...

I wonder if they're trying to figure out a scheme to make more accounts to deny reception and gps issues. That I'm willing to bet.

Well, they did respond to my email, and gave me all the return info, and told me I'd see the refund in my paypal account quickly after the device was returned...the statement "Sorry to hear the case did not work in your area" was also included - I guess they have some customers that have been happy, which is great to hear.

 

[RIPNHL2005]

Great minds think alike, got the gunmetal as well

Is this Neo Hybrid that much different and better than the apple bumper?
Looks pretty similar, just curious since I am done with aluminum cases and want something better than a bumper.

Thanks!

 

[thinkdiesel]

Well, they did respond to my email, and gave me all the return info, and told me I'd see the refund in my paypal account quickly after the device was returned...the statement "Sorry to hear the case did not work in your area" was also included - I guess they have some customers that have been happy, which is great to hear.

Isn't that what you expect them to say? They are not going to go out and say their case has a reception issue. (Put all the iphone jokes here)

Granted I'm sure there are instances where the case works for people. But my gripe is how they try to market their product and false promises.

 

[bighabeeb]

Isn't that what you expect them to say? They are not going to go out and say their case has a reception issue. (Put all the iphone jokes here)

Granted I'm sure there are instances where the case works for people. But my gripe is how they try to market their product and false promises.

I agree - I didn't like the promises that were made and not met, however my assumption is that it was the same situation as all the others "Look, our reception didn't drop at all from our normal 5 bar situation". Unfortunately, 5 bars are a dream for many of us...I routinely have 1 - 3 in my house, and sometimes even less in NYC (though that seems to have gotten better lately) - it's there that the drop is both significant and visible. My guess is that all the testing they do is under ideal circumstances.

As for what I'd expect alumacase to say...I'm not sure. Atomic and Element have both confessed that their cases cause reception issues for "some users" - while that has not been quantified as least they are acknowledging that its the case causing an issue - albeit one related to the reception area.