Exactly. So speculate. People are saying "without a doubt, its a hardware/software issue." That's not speculation.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 4 Drops Calls when Left Corner is Touched
- Thread starter dagomike
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Exactly. So speculate. People are saying "without a doubt, its a hardware/software issue." That's not speculation.
Yeah, Apple a few months ago claimed they iPhone doesn't need a case or any protection. Now, all of the sudden they are in the protective case making business? Have they ever made any cases for anything before, ever? They knew of this issue, that's 100% guaranteed. The bands were obviously a rush to market fix for the solution. They had the option of letting the product out or delaying it indefinitely to correct the obvious major design flaw of the product. This issue was probably caught way too far in the testing/production phase.
I'm glad that you had luck on the phone. My first call was dismal; they told me to buy a bumper. Second call was much better, they left the case open and he said the problem would be going straight to his immediate supervisors.
Looking forward to seeing some official information from Apple.
OY: Some iPhone 4 users are reporting cellular reception problems when they hold the phone with their hands around the outer metal band of the device.
Users have been sending in videos to Gizmodo showing the signal bars dropping noticeably, sometimes from 5 to 1 bars, when they hold the metal ring around the iPhone 4. The stainless steel band, which is broken into three pieces with small gaps in between, are extensions of the antenna and help it boost wireless reception.
It appears the problem happens when a user's hand connects the different metal sections together, somehow killing the phone's ability to receive a cellular signal. One respondent said it happens specifically when you hold both the left and bottom panels at the same tim
Users have been sending in videos to Gizmodo showing the signal bars dropping noticeably, sometimes from 5 to 1 bars, when they hold the metal ring around the iPhone 4. The stainless steel band, which is broken into three pieces with small gaps in between, are extensions of the antenna and help it boost wireless reception.
It appears the problem happens when a user's hand connects the different metal sections together, somehow killing the phone's ability to receive a cellular signal. One respondent said it happens specifically when you hold both the left and bottom panels at the same tim
I also have the signal strength issue but ...
I am UK based on O2. If I hold my new iPhone in the palm of my hand like a PDA I see a drop in the number of bars which recover when I put it back on the table.
BUT when I hold the phone to my left ear I actually hold it differently (three fingers on one side, thumb on the other) and the call quality was more than adequate. So try the test with your fingers in the position they would be in when using the phone for making calls.
BTW remove the plastic film before talking your first call, it helps, a lot!
I am UK based on O2. If I hold my new iPhone in the palm of my hand like a PDA I see a drop in the number of bars which recover when I put it back on the table.
BUT when I hold the phone to my left ear I actually hold it differently (three fingers on one side, thumb on the other) and the call quality was more than adequate. So try the test with your fingers in the position they would be in when using the phone for making calls.
BTW remove the plastic film before talking your first call, it helps, a lot!
idk man, that just doesn't seem right. You're explanation seems too obvious; Apple would know their customers would catch onto that and that would be terrible for business. But that's just my opinion, you could be 100% right.
Surely this affects right-handed people too?
When browsing, etc, my phone sits in my left hand, while I using my right hand for typing and navigation.
When browsing, etc, my phone sits in my left hand, while I using my right hand for typing and navigation.
Sorry if this was covered before. I don't have time right now to read through the whole thread.
I've been testing this quite a bit myself and noticed that this problem only occurs where the signal strength is medium to weak. Before with the 3gs, I got only three bars on average at home. Now I get full bars at home but once I short the two antennas on the left, the bars will immediately start dropping.
I then tested this at work today where I always get full bars and I could not get the bars to drop no matter how I held it.
My theory is the new auto band hunting code in iOS4 is the culprit. When the antenna is shorted, the software detects a drop in the signal. It then starts switching bands to find a better one but as there are none, the signal strength starts dropping until it goes to zero. In an area with a strong signal, the shorting of the antenna will not degrade the signal enough to warrant a band change in the software.
This issue should definitely be easily remedied through a software fix but that will not address the fact that just by physically touching the frame, the signal gets reduced.
I've been testing this quite a bit myself and noticed that this problem only occurs where the signal strength is medium to weak. Before with the 3gs, I got only three bars on average at home. Now I get full bars at home but once I short the two antennas on the left, the bars will immediately start dropping.
I then tested this at work today where I always get full bars and I could not get the bars to drop no matter how I held it.
My theory is the new auto band hunting code in iOS4 is the culprit. When the antenna is shorted, the software detects a drop in the signal. It then starts switching bands to find a better one but as there are none, the signal strength starts dropping until it goes to zero. In an area with a strong signal, the shorting of the antenna will not degrade the signal enough to warrant a band change in the software.
This issue should definitely be easily remedied through a software fix but that will not address the fact that just by physically touching the frame, the signal gets reduced.
A Quick Fix
I received my i4 yesterday and did not notice any problems until I started reading this forum (thanks guys). My phone drops signal strength when holding the phone in my left hand, like many who have reported.
I had a extra piece of Invisible Shield screen protector and cut a thin strip to match the thickness of the stainless steel antenna band. I attached it to the band from the lower volume button, proceeding downwards and wrapped it around the bottom of the phone, ending at the speaker (or microphone) hole. I can hold the phone now without any degradation of signal strength. This will last until I get some cool case (which doesn't exist yet).
I received my i4 yesterday and did not notice any problems until I started reading this forum (thanks guys). My phone drops signal strength when holding the phone in my left hand, like many who have reported.
I had a extra piece of Invisible Shield screen protector and cut a thin strip to match the thickness of the stainless steel antenna band. I attached it to the band from the lower volume button, proceeding downwards and wrapped it around the bottom of the phone, ending at the speaker (or microphone) hole. I can hold the phone now without any degradation of signal strength. This will last until I get some cool case (which doesn't exist yet).
I got mine on the 23rd. I am able to replicate this for sure. Not a deal breaker, since I know it will either a) be fixed through software update b) exchanged for a new fixed hardware iPhone.
Either way I am still happy with the iPhone 4. I would have preferred this not be a problem though.
Either way I am still happy with the iPhone 4. I would have preferred this not be a problem though.
Here's to hoping you're right. But if you're not and it is indeed hardware, it's whatever. I'm sure apple will fix it even if it takes an actual recall.
Exactly!!! I don't know why people are so up in arms about it. No one's perfect, not even apple, and sometimes companies screw up on things. **** happens everyday ... plus it's just a phone! not the end of the world.
I have one reserved for pick-up at a store today. I'm not going to pick it up. Need to see how this pans out.
Well, if touching the frame reduces the signal it seems like an engineering problem. How would software updates fix this?
This is what happens with my handset...
I answered a call on the phone using the headset and during the call I picked it up and the following happened:
1. At the start of the call the reception bars were full when it was on the desk
2. As soon as I touched the phone at the sides (left and right sides) the bars reduced to 1 however the call did not drop.
3. As the call continued the bars started to return with the phone still in my hand back up to the full bars.
4. I then kept switching hands however I could not get the handset bars to reduce.
5. I hung up the call and the bars immediately dropped to 1 bar
6. I tried to call back several times and tried to call other numbers however all attempts resulted in a failed call.
7. Finally I placed the phone back on the table and slowly the reception increased back to full bars again.
I've also reported this to Apple and the engineer has asked me to keep a record of what happens over the next few days.
I answered a call on the phone using the headset and during the call I picked it up and the following happened:
1. At the start of the call the reception bars were full when it was on the desk
2. As soon as I touched the phone at the sides (left and right sides) the bars reduced to 1 however the call did not drop.
3. As the call continued the bars started to return with the phone still in my hand back up to the full bars.
4. I then kept switching hands however I could not get the handset bars to reduce.
5. I hung up the call and the bars immediately dropped to 1 bar
6. I tried to call back several times and tried to call other numbers however all attempts resulted in a failed call.
7. Finally I placed the phone back on the table and slowly the reception increased back to full bars again.
I've also reported this to Apple and the engineer has asked me to keep a record of what happens over the next few days.
Like everyone else on here, I have the same issue with my iPhone 4. I contacted Apple support this morning; they had me do things like check the SIM card, turn airplane mode on, wait 10 seconds and turn it off, reset the network settings, none of it worked. So they bumped the call to a higher level of support, I was told that, "now that they know if the issue they will inform it to their engineers and I should receive some update in 48 hours."
Now the interesting thing, I still have (actually gave to my wife) my iPhone 3GS which I upgraded to iOS4. If I hold my old 3GS in the same way that I hold my iPhone 4, the signal meter decreases in strength, the same way that the iPhone 4 does. The only difference is that the 3GS didn't completely lose signal, it did drop to about 1 bar and changed from 3G to Edge network.
So my opinion (for what it's worth) is that this may indeed be a software issue linked to iOS4.
Thanks all for your time.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Now the interesting thing, I still have (actually gave to my wife) my iPhone 3GS which I upgraded to iOS4. If I hold my old 3GS in the same way that I hold my iPhone 4, the signal meter decreases in strength, the same way that the iPhone 4 does. The only difference is that the 3GS didn't completely lose signal, it did drop to about 1 bar and changed from 3G to Edge network.
So my opinion (for what it's worth) is that this may indeed be a software issue linked to iOS4.
Thanks all for your time.
Sincerely,
Jeff
I thought of this and raided the office supply cabinet in search of supplies. So far I have tried scotch tape and paper post-it notes, neither of which have worked for me. When I get home I'll try some black electricians tape, which us meant to be an insulator.
yep, a lot of people have been testing this on their older models updated with iOS4 and they are all running into the same problems. Gives me hope.
I know that it's too early to determine what's happening, but I know that people have different electrical conductivity in their hands depending on their skin chemistry, how much they sweat, and so on. Also, people generate slightly different electrical fields around them. Obviously, I'm just guessing, but maybe the difference in experience has more to do with the person than the phone? In other words, all the phone work equally well or poorly depending on who is holding it. Are there some people out their who could prove/disprove this idea?