Antenna issue in Canada?

[sportsfreak]

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Hey all,

I just recently purchased my iPhone 2 days ago. I am noticing substantial problems with my antenna even with a case on.

I work in downtown, with my 3G I was getting full bars and was able to use my Internet while waiting on the go train in union station. With my 4 I cannot do that as it drops the network completely. Also when at my home I normally get 2/3 bars where as with my old phone I would get 5 no question.

Even when I was quickly bypassing a subway area my old phone would hold onto a signal and the iPhone 4 would loose it.

To my understanding Rogers has a 30 day/15min return policy so I need to make up my decision soon whether or not these problems are unacceptable.

My main concern is that I go to university in London and was worried about service down there. Anyone have experience with iPhone reception in London Ontario.

See if i take my phone to the apple store to get replaced, I would not be able to return it to Rogers.

Anyone else in Canada what are you experiences with the antenna?

 

[halisray]

go with Bell - rogers blows

 

[Shield]

I'm with Bell and have found the iPhone 4 has better signal strength and retention than any phone I've had before. Yes I can duplicate the antennagate issue when I deathgrip the phone....it will drop 2 bars. No big deal I think.

 

[slicecom]

The iPhone 4 has a better signal than my 3G had. Both on the Rogers network in Toronto.

 

[sportsfreak]

Thats strange because I am getting a far worse signal than i did before. Don't get me wrong i love my iphone to death and that is why I am so reluctant to return it.

If you don't mind me asking, what weeks are your phones and what cases do you use?

I can get my phone to go to 1 bar with the deathgrip from 4 bars. In addition "with" the case one in my house the signal often drops down to 2 bars without me touching the phone.

 

[AC202]

I have no case on (only BSE skins over the antennae), and the most I've seen applying the death grip is 2 dropped bars, and takes a long while to drop as well. Never experienced a dropped call either, which is certainly more important than simply dropped bars. I'm with Rogers.

 

[Cynikal.Mindset]

I was downtown this past weekend with no issues, havent had an issue from waterloo to toronto yet with dropping signal/calls etc. you may have a defective unit. dont compare your old phone's bars to the new phone cuz the old ones are faked anyways

 

[sportsfreak]

Im not merely comparing bars but the speeds of my connection as well. When I sat on the go train parked at union, my signal dropped, i couldn't make a call or browse the net. However, when i was using my old phone, I always sat there browsing and talking on the phone frequently. Even in my house, sitting down, the 3G connection is slower on my 4 than on my 3g when i am at 1 bar. In addition, i frequently get a message popping up stating that there is "no cellular connection"- and when i receive this message I have 3/4 bars. It doesn't make sense.

This phone is going to be my main phone while i am at university as I opted not to get a landline as most students choose not to. I really need the phone to be reliable.

Here is my dilemma, I can return the phone to rogers tomorrow, but then im out an iphone 4. I would like to get it replaced by apple, but do they replace them with refurbished units. This is a new phone and I would only expect I would get a new one in return to see if I got a defective phone. However, if I were to switch my phone at apple and then decide I want to return it, would i be able to? Im asking this because the serial numbers wouldn't match with the box. It seems that once i decide to switch it and try for a replacement, that I have no option to return the phone if it is giving me problems.

 

[jbyun04]

haven't had any problems with mine, everything is better than my 3gs. I'm on Fido.

 

[slicecom]

I have a week 28. Maybe yours is defective. Bring it to an apple store.

 

[Shield]

If you don't mind me asking, what weeks are your phones and what cases do you use?

I am not using a case. Plan to get the free one eventually because, well, it's free. Not sure what week my phone is....how can you tell?

 

[Steel28]

I work in downtown Toronto as well, no reception or any other issues with my week 29 16gb.

 

[Autopilot638]

I had my first dropped call yesterday.
No case. On Fido in the GTA.

 

[Hutch1]

Might also be a bad sim. Try taking it out and putting it back in. Worth a try.

 

[boxstboy]

I have a week 31 32gb iphone 4 and i'm definitely having problems without a case. With a case, it's about the same as my 3gs in good reception areas. I find in low reception areas, though, it's much worse than the 3gs. I live in Ottawa.

 

[mgacam2]

I'v been in toronto/North York commuting on the subway every day to work and my iphone 4 on the bell network has by far completely surprised me everyday with how great the reception is. My old rogers phone was terrible and never worked properly. I also found that the Rogers 3G network is extremely slow compared to Bell. Bell FTW except for how they bill you.

 

[sportsfreak]

Yea i think i am going to return the phone tomorrow and try again later to see if i can get a better iphone 4

 

[bettykoyle]

london ontario has good service, no problem there

 

[Pandora01]

Mine is week 29. I live downtown and I have not dropped a call yet. Internet speed is also fine, and other apps that require a 3G connection run great. I was able to reduce bars using the death grip once when I was at College and Yonge, but I really had to squeeze the phone really hard (not to mention hold it in an unrealistically awkward way), and it wasn't bad enough to drop a call. You should definitely exchange the phone. Nothing to lose, right?

 

[RafaelT]

Yea i think i am going to return the phone tomorrow and try again later to see if i can get a better iphone 4

I'm not in Canada but I can tell you that my iPhone 4 has a better signal then my 3GS for sure. You probably did get a bad phone, good luck with your new one once you exchange it.

 

[sportsfreak]

After all your posts I decided to return mine. I did not want to take it to apple and get a refurb as it was only 3 days old. I dont mind waiting and i got this phone by fluke. Someone posted that they were at the eaton center, i work there, went down and picked one up in 20 min. So it was not like i waited in line for hours in an attempt to get a phone.

Well im now stuck with a micro sim and am going to be purchasing an adapter to use with my old 3g. I will try to pick it up from apple eventually but i am in no rush to buy or keep a phone that is giving me problems. Even for 300 dollars I would like a "working" device.

 

[Steveo47]

i have no problems with telus in alberta.

 

[mcmanus7]

I can replicate the antennagate dropped bars here in alberta on Fido, however call quality is not sacrificed. Only one dropped call for me and that was in a parkade elevator going 2 floors underground =)