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i have an AR15 that id love to keep, but it completely destroys my signal, this thread is way too long for me to read through all of it but is there any way to mod these cases so it wont affect my signal???

thanks
 
For you who have a elemnt case Carbon Back Plate .....Does you text (v4 carbon) on that sticker go away?? My letter C is gone :/ ....this is disappointing
 
Satin Nickel

Hey everyone,

Below are images of the Satin Nickel case. I have not seen
any differences with my reception with the case on. I have
more images if you would like to see them.

81.jpg


71.jpg


Have a great one!
 
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don't buy the Nickel Satin - it become black in 24 hours!!!
even after i cleaned it up it took again 24 hours to become black again.
this is what they say in there website about that :

"About Nickel Plating: Over time, the nickel finish will naturally tarnish - meaning it will get darker. Many people like this transformation while others like the bright luster of newly plated nickel. If this is your preference, the tarnish can easily be cleaned off with metal cleaner that can be purchased at any hardware or automotive store."

i can't understand how someone like this transformation .

if someone have any idea how to keep it from become black - please tell
 
don't buy the Nickel Satin - it become black in 24 hours!!!
even after i cleaned it up it took again 24 hours to become black again.
this is what they say in there website about that :

"About Nickel Plating: Over time, the nickel finish will naturally tarnish - meaning it will get darker. Many people like this transformation while others like the bright luster of newly plated nickel. If this is your preference, the tarnish can easily be cleaned off with metal cleaner that can be purchased at any hardware or automotive store."

i can't understand how someone like this transformation .

if someone have any idea how to keep it from become black - please tell

Anyone with metal experience knows that nickel tarnishes very easily as well as a few other metals like copper. Have you ever looked at a penny? Now it seems that Element is giving you fair warning by posting that on their site so I am not understanding why people are angry. Sure its a pain in the butt to clean, but they did tell you up front that it would need to be cleaned. I got my order email several days ago and decided to pass. Just not really wanting one anymore. After waiting so long to order, the fun is gone and I have moved on. But the nickel does look great when its clean, that's for sure.
 
i just got my email confirmation to purchase this case. iono if i should get one or one from atmoic. what you guys think? i like the design of this case because of the curves, and i dont like how it affects your signal..
 
i just got my email confirmation to purchase this case. iono if i should get one or one from atmoic. what you guys think? i like the design of this case because of the curves, and i dont like how it affects your signal..

Well...the vapor has a pretty good chance of impacting your signal. How much seems to depend on what your signal strength is like. I live in a low strength area, and the all aluminum atomic wiped out whatever was left of my signal. The hybrid did not impact my signal in any way. in fact, I think I've only seen one poster state that the hybrid DID impact their signal...with many others posting that it did not.

Please note: I am NOT saying that the guy claiming it effected his signal was lying...any more than I am claiming that those who say the all aluminum cases did NOT impact their signal are lying. I'm just pointing out that there can be exceptions to every rule.
 
Just got the preorder email too. Not going to order it took them months to send it to me who knows how long it will take them to actually ship one. The case looks good but I just don't see it as a smart purchase when you know it will effect your signal and gps.
 
yeah i decided im going lay off this one. until maybe they make a hybrid case too. i like the curves of the vapor. the atmoic looks kinda weird and bulky with its sharp boxy edges.

Just got the preorder email too. Not going to order it took them months to send it to me who knows how long it will take them to actually ship one. The case looks good but I just don't see it as a smart purchase when you know it will effect your signal and gps.
 
Anyone with metal experience knows that nickel tarnishes very easily as well as a few other metals like copper. ... <snip> ...


This is such a shame, and a fact of nature, I realize. There ain't no substitute for some of the lovely colors adorning the periodic table. Sigh.

Satin nickel, copper -- I'd be all over one of these in a heartbeat if they'd come up with some sort of alloy that would resist tarnishing, yet retain the original (true) color/luster of the metal.
 
The "new" composite case from Element will be cheaper and less quality than the Vapor?
 
This is such a shame, and a fact of nature, I realize. There ain't no substitute for some of the lovely colors adorning the periodic table. Sigh.

Satin nickel, copper -- I'd be all over one of these in a heartbeat if they'd come up with some sort of alloy that would resist tarnishing, yet retain the original (true) color/luster of the metal.

Yes a copper one would be awesome. Maybe some type of clearcoat would work? Something that will take abuse and not wear/rub off over time.

To stay on topic. I got my Vapor the other day. I got the silver/silver one and I'm impressed. I was kinda worried with signal loss but seems to have improved for me? I used to get around 4 bars inside my house, now I get 5 full bars. WiFi isn't affected either and I tested GPS a few days ago and it tracked me just fine(in Google Maps). I really love the look and feel of this case and I think it will be permanent. Anyone want an orange bumper and black incase slider? lol. I have this teamed up with Invisible Shield both front and back.

Only thing I can't understand/dislike is the cutout for the SIM card. Come on who removes their SIM often enough to actually use it? I think it would have been more clean to leave that filled in. I love how it doesn't add hardly any weight to the phone or it doesn't feel any bulkier either. Feels better than the Apple bumper. I have big fingers but have no problems hitting the mute/volume controls. And since the bottom is slotted, holding the phone in landscape doesn't affect the volume since my hands no longer blocks the speaker holes.

Now one day I'm hoping for a full carbon fiber style bumper.
 
Yes a copper one would be awesome. Maybe some type of clearcoat would work? Something that will take abuse and not wear/rub off over time.

To stay on topic. I got my Vapor the other day. I got the silver/silver one and I'm impressed. I was kinda worried with signal loss but seems to have improved for me? I used to get around 4 bars inside my house, now I get 5 full bars. WiFi isn't affected either and I tested GPS a few days ago and it tracked me just fine(in Google Maps). I really love the look and feel of this case and I think it will be permanent. Anyone want an orange bumper and black incase slider? lol. I have this teamed up with Invisible Shield both front and back.

Only thing I can't understand/dislike is the cutout for the SIM card. Come on who removes their SIM often enough to actually use it? I think it would have been more clean to leave that filled in. I love how it doesn't add hardly any weight to the phone or it doesn't feel any bulkier either. Feels better than the Apple bumper. I have big fingers but have no problems hitting the mute/volume controls. And since the bottom is slotted, holding the phone in landscape doesn't affect the volume since my hands no longer blocks the speaker holes.

Now one day I'm hoping for a full carbon fiber style bumper.


I have the same model silver/silver. The signal I get at home actually seems to have improved from 3 bars to 4 most of the time. This doesn't make sense but I have to believe my eyes.

In my opinion the sim card opening was done to expose some antenna to improve signal and only secondarily to allow access to the sim. The slot was added as part of the second version of the case that was introduced to improve the signal degradation problem.
 
The above 2 posts sound promising re: signal. I get good signal reception in my area to begin with, so I don't foresee it a a problem.

(Honestly, I haven't read through the 2600+ posts in this thread to hear others' thoughts on the signal issue. I've perused it, and read both ends of the spectrum on the signal issue.)

I'm giving this case serious thought. Still wondering whether to go with one of their higher end metals, or just stick with one of their (more reasonably priced?) standard cases.

What's the turnaround time these days (if anyone knows) from:


  1. Registering with them to actually receiving an email to order?
  2. Ordering to actually receiving the case?
Yeah - I saw the website stating 6-8 weeks, but I'm wondering if that's a boilerplate statement from a while ago.
 
The above 2 posts sound promising re: signal. I get good signal reception in my area to begin with, so I don't foresee it a a problem.

(Honestly, I haven't read through the 2600+ posts in this thread to hear others' thoughts on the signal issue. I've perused it, and read both ends of the spectrum on the signal issue.)

I'm giving this case serious thought. Still wondering whether to go with one of their higher end metals, or just stick with one of their (more reasonably priced?) standard cases.

What's the turnaround time these days (if anyone knows) from:


  1. Registering with them to actually receiving an email to order?
  2. Ordering to actually receiving the case?
Yeah - I saw the website stating 6-8 weeks, but I'm wondering if that's a boilerplate statement from a while ago.

For me registering to email took a very long time. Eight weeks seems optimistic. Maybe they are improving now that they are catching up with orders.

I must warn you about the signal issue. It's my impression the experience a few of us have had with a good signal is an exception to the rule. There was a test done by Larry Greenberg and some associates that showed a very poor signal with this case. It was very scientific. I can't find the link. Maybe someone else knows it.

You might be lucky and have good results. If your area has strong signal it may not be a problem. That seems to be the key to good results with this case.
 
For me registering to email took a very long time. Eight weeks seems optimistic. Maybe they are improving now that they are catching up with orders.

I must warn you about the signal issue. It's my impression the experience a few of us have had with a good signal is an exception to the rule. There was a test done by Larry Greenberg and some associates that showed a very poor signal with this case. It was very scientific. I can't find the link. Maybe someone else knows it.

You might be lucky and have good results. If your area has strong signal it may not be a problem. That seems to be the key to good results with this case.


Thanks for the heads up re: the time wait & the (exception to the) signal issue(s). I may rethink the purchase of one of these lovely (yet potentially signal destroying) cases.

Curious: What, in your estimation, constitutes a "good" signal (tested via field mode) when the iPhone is sans case (bare naked)?

[Again, apologies for the rehash of info if this has been posted. I did use the search function before asking, and found varying numbers.]
 
Thanks for the heads up re: the time wait & the (exception to the) signal issue(s). I may rethink the purchase of one of these lovely (yet potentially signal destroying) cases.

Curious: What, in your estimation, constitutes a "good" signal (tested via field mode) when the iPhone is sans case (bare naked)?

[Again, apologies for the rehash of info if this has been posted. I did use the search function before asking, and found varying numbers.]

As far as numbers go, you can't really assign a value - its going to vary based on where you're starting. Generally speaking the losses by adding one of these cases (where it's occured) has not been minimal - its been noticable.

As to buying one, worst case scenario you can send it back - best case, you have a new case. If you find that it doesn't work for you, but really like that look, you can also check out the atomic hybrid (I've also heard that vapor is going to be releasing a hybrid in the near future, but that may just be rumor/speculation). Lots of people have had complaints about their customer service, but the case itself performs beautifully for everyone I've read about (I think there was one person who said it caused them an issue).

I hope vapor has figured out their issues...competition in the market place is good for the consumer...and more than one case of this style that works for a majority of testers would be a fantastic thing :)
 
As far as numbers go, you can't really assign a value - its going to vary based on where you're starting. Generally speaking the losses by adding one of these cases (where it's occured) has not been minimal - its been noticable.

Shykes; too bad.

As to buying one, worst case scenario you can send it back - best case, you have a new case. If you find that it doesn't work for you, but really like that look, you can also check out the atomic hybrid (I've also heard that vapor is going to be releasing a hybrid in the near future, but that may just be rumor/speculation). Lots of people have had complaints about their customer service, but the case itself performs beautifully for everyone I've read about (I think there was one person who said it caused them an issue).

I hope vapor has figured out their issues...competition in the market place is good for the consumer...and more than one case of this style that works for a majority of testers would be a fantastic thing :)

That's some good stuff to stew about. Really, I do like their case -- though the SIM card slot, as one (or more posters) pointed out -- slightly 'roughs' up what would be a completely sleek looking accessory piece. Minor though, in the overall scheme of things.

Good to know you can send it back; who knows though -- by the time they get to me with an "OK" to order, I may have moved on (Atomic, etc.)

Like you said, maybe market competition will force them to quicken up production, and possibly produce a signal friendly version.

Thanks for the input, sir 'beeb. ;)
 
I've heard/read some rumors of this. But 'shykes' again -- as I was thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these ebay items just recently.

Best I stay away and, if I so choose to go the "Vapor" route, get it from them directly. (No wonder there are so many of these so called limited versions popping up on ebay, huh?)

Thx for the advice.
I think you should be fine if you buy from a reputable seller, possibly look to see if they have positive feedback from selling vapors previous.

There are so many limited xtreme metals because they were selling for 400+ dollars and people trying to cash in.

Also not very limited anymore they sell 200-500 every ordering period now which is about once a week or two weeks
 
Only thing I can't :Dunderstand/dislike is the cutout for the SIM card. Come on who removes their SIM often enough to actually use it? I think it would have been more clean to leave that filled in.
I had the original without the sim card cutout. It was beautiful, but a bit loose. I contacted them, they were very accommodating and sent me a replacement overnight.

Unfortunately it had a flaw in the finish. Upon calling I learned they were out, as well as in the midst of a "change" in design. Assuring me it was a very minor modification, I waited and waited. Finally it arrived, the cutout was quite a surprise.

Between that and how this product negatively impacts the signal (they were both the same) I gave up and returned it. Two of my friends also ordered these, they also experienced the same issues with the signal reduction so they also gave up.

Oh well, perhaps they'll create a better product going forward.
 
Element Vapor

I just received my Element Vapor Extreme cases after a 12 day wait. First off, the machining of the contours and fitment are excellent, anodized colors and finish are rich n bright. In my usual driving routes to home from work, surprisingly the signal was better. I may sell the 007 and the frost/red, the wow factor is gone for me. Waiting for the Atomic delrins I ordered; supposedly arriving in a few days. My friend has the Atomic delrins and they're very nice as well, and he doesn't experience any significant signal loss.
 
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I just received my Element Vapor Extreme cases ....

Curious -- as the price isn't listed on their website, what does the '007' version retail for -- purchasing it directly from Element?

EDIT: Nevermind. Found it on their site. $99.
 
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Just got the preorder email too. Not going to order it took them months to send it to me who knows how long it will take them to actually ship one. The case looks good but I just don't see it as a smart purchase when you know it will effect your signal and gps.

Hi since youre not planning to use it, Can you share the preorder code for me.. I have been waiting for their email weeks now...
 
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