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iPhone 4 Drops Calls when Left Corner is Touched

Hmm, I am not convinced that it's connection of antena via the hand that's causing the issue. I just wrapped my hand in a plastic bag and held the phone - no skin on skin, and the issue still persisted. If you hold it in your left hand, there is more "hand" for the signal to go via...

It could just be the phone software is struggling to deal with a weaker signal, or a strong -> weak signal.
 
Not able to replicate with hand, but using a paperclip or key it does drop from 5 bars to 3
 
same

freejack said:
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.
Click to expand...

this might have some merit. I have noticed a couple things, same as reported here. If I have a strong signal, ALL BARS, I CANNOT get it to drop at ALL no matter WHAT I do or HOW I hold it. but, if I have 2-3 bars and hold in the left hand, or complete the circuit, boom it goes down, 3G goes away I have even seen the GPRS DOT. When was the last time you saw the DOT?

What I HAVE found is that somehow using the HEADPHONES makes it better. Historically it was rumored that the headphones acted as a secondary antenna, but I thought that was bunk. If I MAKE a call with the headphone in, I cannot get the BARS to drop
 
hackum said:
Well, if touching the frame reduces the signal it seems like an engineering problem. How would software updates fix this?
Click to expand...

Remember that even if the signal is degraded (all antennas get wacky when touched), it could also be a problem with how the firmware interprets the signal from the antenna.
 
jefflesh said:
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
Click to expand...

I have a 3GS upgraded to iOS4. Holding it in the "suspect" manner does not affect the signal strength. It seems clear to me that, having the antennae exposed on the outside of the phone is to problem.
 
This is one of the biggest blunders I have ever seen from an iphone launch. Good job Steve, your iphone is so magical it does a dissappearing act when holding it.
 
shawntkeating said:
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.
Click to expand...

Pretty much my exact thoughts. I may have to hold my phone like some weirdo for a few days but I guess it could turn into some new trend like the nGage Taco Shell. Anyone remember that?
 
can someone snap a picture with an iphone 4 and a rubber band around the bottom portion of the phone, and photoshop the following words to the image:

Apple Iphone 4 Fix

you can also throw in a FAIL if you like..

first one who does it wins!
 
N1CKOLAS said:
Remember that even if the signal is degraded (all antennas get wacky when touched), it could also be a problem with how the firmware interprets the signal from the antenna.
Click to expand...
This is probably the case. If this were a hardware issue, the edge signal would've dropped in a fashion consistent with the 3G.
 
scrapple said:
can someone snap a picture with an iphone 4 and a rubber band around the bottom portion of the phone, and photoshop the following words to the image:

Apple Iphone 4 Fix

you can also throw in a FAIL if you like..

first one who does it wins!
Click to expand...
There are all sorts of people up in arms here, what you're doing is not in the least bit constructive :rolleyes:
 
N1CKOLAS said:
Remember that even if the signal is degraded (all antennas get wacky when touched), it could also be a problem with how the firmware interprets the signal from the antenna.
Click to expand...

if this is indeed the case, then it should be easily fixed.
 
tivoboy said:
this might have some merit. I have noticed a couple things, same as reported here. If I have a strong signal, ALL BARS, I CANNOT get it to drop at ALL no matter WHAT I do or HOW I hold it. but, if I have 2-3 bars and hold in the left hand, or complete the circuit, boom it goes down, 3G goes away I have even seen the GPRS DOT. When was the last time you saw the DOT?

What I HAVE found is that somehow using the HEADPHONES makes it better. Historically it was rumored that the headphones acted as a secondary antenna, but I thought that was bunk. If I MAKE a call with the headphone in, I cannot get the BARS to drop
Click to expand...

Brilliant.

Seems likely. Thanks for the insight.
 
freejack said:
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.
Click to expand...



Same issue here. In my room I used to ONLY get like 2-3 bars, now sometimes I get full signal strength(while my Verizon Droid Eris only gets 2, Iphone 4 full), however in my room is where I can recreate the signal loss problem 10/10 times. Outside I cannot.

I think you're on to something. Smarty pants. ;)
 
I've had this happen to me a few times at home but I couldn't get it to happen at work (downtown). Maybe the strong signal strength downtown overpowers it?
 
A (sarcastic) summary of this thread:

Phone don't work = hardware broke = RECAL!!!
Computer don't work = hardware broke? = recall...?

This logic simply does not work. I'm not denying that the problem COULD be hardware related, but jumping to this conclusion given a nearly inifinite set of potential variables is just silly. There are so many variables to consider, it's overwhelming. It sucks that the phone isn't working day 1, it really sucks, but by taking a pro-active approach, you could potentially speed up the process of getting this problem fixed.
 
rayward said:
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.
Click to expand...

Ever heard of a one-year hardware warranty? How about the 30 day trial period? Surely if it can't be fixed with software, Apple will address the issue.
 
Yeah I don't understand the panic. It's annoying for sure but it's not like Apple will just laugh at you and accept the fact that it's selling a defective product. It will be resolved one way or another, get your phone, enjoy it and let time do it's thing.


I still wouldn't let a soul pry this beautiful gadget out of my hands. I'm very grateful to have an Iphone 4 right now, I wanted it badly and am very pleased with it. It's still early ladies...
 
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