e13ctron aluminum case Full Review

[chris975d]

Chris is exactly correct on this. This is what I was trying to explain because Verizon is pretty much known for using 850 MHZ everywhere which won't hardly penetrate a house let alone a metal case. Then you have at&t that uses 1900 and will penetrate cement and other very hard and thick objects. Verizon has gone with the first method because the signal will travel further giving them better coverage in most places, At&t is just the opposite. So neither is bad, just bad for case manufacturers for the Verizon phone. That is why I was so impressed by what Element was able to do with their case!

You're right on your concept, you just have the frequency properties reversed. 850 is the "more penetrating, longer reach" frequency. When using this frequency, the towers can be spaced out a lot more, because of it's greater coverage strength. 1900's less penetrating, lesser reach properties means the towers have to be spaced closer to cover the same way. It's why 850 is typically used in more rural areas because it's reach is further, as long as the carrier has a license to use it in that area.

 

[scelzifan]

I had my carriers backwards. But that was the point I was making. In my area an at&t tower can believe it or not has reached around 10 miles while a Verizon tower on a good day may make it 5. Verizon just has a lot more towers than at&t does.

You're right on your concept, you just have the frequency properties reversed. 850 is the "more penetrating, longer reach" frequency. When using this frequency, the towers can be spaced out a lot more, because of it's greater coverage strength. 1900's less penetrating, lesser reach properties means the towers have to be spaced closer to cover the same way. It's why 850 is typically used in more rural areas because it's reach is further, as long as the carrier has a license to use it in that area.

 

[scelzifan]

I don't understand why you can email these guys before an order and they jump right on it but after you order then won't answer you for anything. My cases were supposed to go out yesterday and I was to get a tracking number and now I can't even get them to reply or answer my emails or calls. Its obvious this case will not work with the Verizon phone so I guess I will contact PayPal and go about it that way.

 

[chris975d]

That's what I was wondering too about the Verizon version, and why I tested it that way. I don't know if you can make the same leap to the AT&T version though...



Let's not be hasty here. This isn't a bad company or even necessarily a bad product. I really like the case and want to use it if I can salvage the signal issue. I am posting here honestly because I want the help and I am not getting a reply from the company so far...

jbromer, I just talked to Jacob (of e13ctron), and he was out of town yesterday due to a family emergency. He will get caught up on email replies today, and should be looking into your issue/case. Heck, you may have already gotten a reply from him by the time that you read this.

 

[jbromer]

jbromer, I just talked to Jacob (of e13ctron), and he was out of town yesterday due to a family emergency. He will get caught up on email replies today, and should be looking into your issue/case. Heck, you may have already gotten a reply from him by the time that you read this.

Yeah, we traded a few e-mails today, thanks. He seems to be baffled about my situation, and didn't really have any ideas, once we verified the case wasn't touching the antenna. He said some phones are just more sensitive, but I can't imagine that it is just my phone. He offered to let me return it. I am bummed, because the case looks/feels great, but I can't take the performance hit as I use the phone for work. I was hoping he would say, "let me just send you a hybrid back prototype to try" or something...

 

[scelzifan]

We exchanged a few also and came to the conclusion that this case probably won't work with Verizon without a hybrid back so I am supposed to get a refund but have yet to see it!!

Yeah, we traded a few e-mails today, thanks. He seems to be baffled about my situation, and didn't really have any ideas, once we verified the case wasn't touching the antenna. He said some phones are just more sensitive, but I can't imagine that it is just my phone. He offered to let me return it. I am bummed, because the case looks/feels great, but I can't take the performance hit as I use the phone for work. I was hoping he would say, "let me just send you a hybrid back prototype to try" or something...

 

[jbromer]

We exchanged a few also and came to the conclusion that this case probably won't work with Verizon without a hybrid back so I am supposed to get a refund but have yet to see it!!

Hmm. I don't know why they would sell it then. That is quite a bummer. He wants me to try a new set of liners (in case the case is touching the aluminum). We'll see, but I a m a little less optimistic.

 

[chris975d]

Hmm. I don't know why they would sell it then. That is quite a bummer. He wants me to try a new set of liners (in case the case is touching the aluminum). We'll see, but I a m a little less optimistic.

Yours definitely does seem like an anomaly. The other Verizon iPhone e13ctron users I know of have shown very good results, actually losing less signal (measured in dB) than the AT&T users, which for the AT&T users is typically 7-10 dB of signal loss. I'd be curious to find out which band you're operating on (850Mhz or 1900Mhz) in your specific location in New Jersey, as that could play a big difference, just as it does with the AT&T users. If you're on the 1900 band, then I could see it not penetrating the aluminum as well as on the 850Mhz band. The maps I've looked at for New Jersey show that Verizon has license for pretty much the whole state to use either band, but I don't have any way to look up which specific band you're using where you're at. You could do it from the phone (I think, most phones have this info in field test mode) if Apple had implemented it in the Verizon iPhone, which it seems they didn't. You'd need to find out what channel you're on on the tower you're connected to, then you'd be able to see what band it's on.

 

[scelzifan]

I wouldn't say that for sure. I have tried a old Vapor on my phone and no matter where I went it completely killed the signal. I think Verizon pretty much operates their 3G network on mostly the 1900 frequencies now that they have started deploying LTE. For some reason I was told that they don't play nice together so that is how they solved the issue. So I honestly don't see this case or most aluminum cases working very well with the Verizon phone. But that's just my take and my experience so far.

Yours definitely does seem like an anomaly. The other Verizon iPhone e13ctron users I know of have shown very good results, actually losing less signal (measured in dB) than the AT&T users, which for the AT&T users is typically 7-10 dB of signal loss. I'd be curious to find out which band you're operating on (850Mhz or 1900Mhz) in your specific location in New Jersey, as that could play a big difference, just as it does with the AT&T users. If you're on the 1900 band, then I could see it not penetrating the aluminum as well as on the 850Mhz band. The maps I've looked at for New Jersey show that Verizon has license for pretty much the whole state to use either band, but I don't have any way to look up which specific band you're using where you're at. You could do it from the phone (I think, most phones have this info in field test mode) if Apple had implemented it in the Verizon iPhone, which it seems they didn't. You'd need to find out what channel you're on on the tower you're connected to, then you'd be able to see what band it's on.

 

[chris975d]

I wouldn't say that for sure. I have tried a old Vapor on my phone and no matter where I went it completely killed the signal. I think Verizon pretty much operates their 3G network on mostly the 1900 frequencies now that they have started deploying LTE. For some reason I was told that they don't play nice together so that is how they solved the issue. So I honestly don't see this case or most aluminum cases working very well with the Verizon phone. But that's just my take and my experience so far.

I'm just going off of what is reported when researching Verizon's coverage and spectrum licenses...

Things are a bit trickier for Verizon users, as Verizon uses both the 800Mhz and 1900Mhz frequency bands for their EVDO networks. Verizon often uses the 1900Mhz band in more populated areas, because it offers more available spectrum and can support more users, but the downside of the 1900Mhz band is that with a shorter wavelength it requires more towers. You'll typically see the 800Mhz spectrum in areas that are more rural and require a longer wavelength to penetrate through trees and mountains. Despite these generalizations, you should NOT assume that Verizon is using the 1900Mhz frequency just because you live in the city, or that they're using the 800Mhz frequency because you're in a rural area - in order to confirm the frequency they're using in your area, you need to check using VZAccess Manager.

 

[scelzifan]

Oh I believe you. I am just saying what I read and what has been reported to me by Verizon field agents who have been working in my area.I think for e13 to make a case that works great with the Verizon phone like they have done the at&t phone is a hybrid back. They have too unless they want to continue to battle this issue with Verizon guys. Plus they would sell a lot more cases!!

I'm just going off of what is reported when researching Verizon's coverage and spectrum licenses...

 

[chris975d]

Oh I believe you. I am just saying what I read and what has been reported to me by Verizon field agents who have been working in my area.

It's cool, it doesn't matter to me either way, as I don't use Verizon for my primary line anyway. Just trying to help jbromer out in possibly figuring out what's going on with his phone. But it really doesn't make any sense for Verizon to move 3G to 1900 (if it's not already on 1900), as the LTE they are deploying is in the 700Mhz spectrum block they bought in the spectrum auction a few years ago. So there's no point in trying to free up anything.

 

[scelzifan]

It actually makes perfect since, why would you want one of your frequencies at 850 and the other at 900? And since they flip back and forth I think that is the reason why they did start using the 1900 almost everywhere. I think that was the biggest reason Verizon waited so long t to deploy their 4G phones was because of this issue. I would just tell Jacob to make a hybrid back and problem solved and he will continue to sell a lot of cases. He already has the equipment to do it, or quite selling the Verizon version all together. That's what I would do if I was running his business.

It's cool, it doesn't matter to me either way, as I don't use Verizon for my primary line anyway. Just trying to help jbromer out in possibly figuring out what's going on with his phone. But it really doesn't make any sense for Verizon to move 3G to 1900 (if it's not already on 1900), as the LTE they are deploying is in the 700Mhz spectrum block they bought in the spectrum auction a few years ago. So there's no point in trying to free up anything.

 

[chris975d]

It actually makes perfect since, why would you want one of your frequencies at 850 and the other at 900? And since they flip back and forth I think that is the reason why they did start using the 1900 almost everywhere. I think that was the biggest reason Verizon waited so long t to deploy their 4G phones was because of this issue. I would just tell Jacob to make a hybrid back and problem solved and he will continue to sell a lot of cases. He already has the equipment to do it, or quite selling the Verizon version all together. That's what I would do if I was running his business.

So far other Verizon e13ctron users aren't reporting issues, that's why I was trying to help jbromer figure out what might be causing his. It very well could be the aluminum case in this instance, but since he would like to try to figure out a way to use it, may as well troubleshoot it. But I've got a strong hunch you'll see a Verizon hybrid back soon.

 

[scelzifan]

I hope so, he makes great looking cases!!

So far other Verizon e13ctron users aren't reporting issues, that's why I was trying to help jbromer figure out what might be causing his. It very well could be the aluminum case in this instance, but since he would like to try to figure out a way to use it, may as well troubleshoot it. But I've got a strong hunch you'll see a Verizon hybrid back soon.

 

[jbromer]

I hope so, he makes great looking cases!!

That's my hope too. Thanks to both of you for your help. Some replacement stuff is on the way, so we'll see what happens. I'm not giving up yet...

 

[IGM]

Hey people,

Thanks for all the reviews and information. I have been using a Vapor4 since they were released, however I am looking to change to a E13 after reading through all of these reviews.

I have looked for a "classifieds" section here, but don't see one. If anyone has an E13 case they'd like to sell in the CONUS, please email me at JCres621 @ gmail . com.

I can provide plenty of references, and am known to grnamin here via another forum where I have over 5000 posts and PLENTY of good business transactions.

Thank you,

Jason

 

[phatbass30]

i just got the chrome today. awesome! all my friends said that this is the most beautiful case they've seen me using. and i agree! and being one of the lucky ones, i got no issues with these cases. i've been using them since it came out.

and the costumer support, as awesome as the case! woot!

thanks a lot Jacob!

 

[Kenji458]

i just got the chrome today. awesome! all my friends said that this is the most beautiful case they've seen me using. and i agree! and being one of the lucky ones, i got no issues with these cases. i've been using them since it came out.

and the costumer support, as awesome as the case! woot!

thanks a lot Jacob!

That's awesome.. Could you post pictures of the chrome? I'm contemplating whether to order the Black chrome..

 

[Kenji458]

15% off

Coupon fb0515 for 15% off till 15 may~

 

[DrFreeze21]

Been a long-time lurker on this thread, waiting for the day when I could join the ranks of e13ctron case owners. Finally this weekend I received my delivery and have my iP4 wrapped in a Lucky Labs matte black wrap and covered with an e13ctron matte black top and bottom case! Love it! Based on just a few days of use with the case on, I have noted almost no effect on my reception at home. I noticed a slight drop at my parent's house but it hasn't been such a drop in performance that I'm concerned at all. So happy to finally have my phone accessories complete.........for the time being. Now to find new color schemes!

 

[Edin]

Checkout

Hello gents, new here, hopefully someone can help me out.
1st of all, I would like to say how much I appreciate your input in this thread, it is full of useful information, mostly visual ofc

Now about my problem.
I was about to checkout with e13ctron.3dcartstores.com, but I could not find AE (Armed Forces Europe) as a State, even tho it gave me shipping costs for my Zip, 09355 APO.

Anyone have any clue on how to bypass this?

Thank You all,
Edin.

 

[Laike]

Send a message to their customer service. They should be able to sort your problem out

 

[Edin]

At first I didn't know where to look, but now I found it this morning, cool.
So I've send email, hopefully they respond me quick, I am really excited about getting some combos

Thank ya,

 

[Edin]

YaY

Weee placed my order yesterday
Jacob was best support ever. We found a solution within minutes.
So, it's been shipped, waiting for my matte light grey bottom and polished bronze top ... I might hook up something from lucky Labs as well.

Well ... I'll post em pictures as soon as it comes *excited*