iPhone 4 Drops Calls when Left Corner is Touched

[sinshackj]

I'm having the same problem with losing reception after holding my phone with my left hand (being left handed, this happens sometimes obviously).

But, I did notice that after about a half of a minute with no service the bars went back up! Would the switch between bands create the same momentary loss of connection that a switch from E to 3G?

If so, could this actually be a software correctable option in which Apple/AT&T could disable whatever frequencies are being blocked either by the bone in the hand or the conductivity between the antenna and the user's body?

Also, could the electrical properties of the user's body be affecting who experiences lost signal and who doesn't?

tl;dr I think the phone isn't losing signal so much as changing frequencies when one is lost due to physical contact

 

[WilliamG]

Here's something weird. When I had my iPhone 4 yesterday activated on the wrong family line, I could easily reproduce the antenna issue.

After going to the AT&T store and getting a new microsim activated on my number (not the wife's), I can NOT reproduce this issue.

Anyone else want to chime in here?

 

[duction]

nah its just switching because your hand killed the current connetion. lol

 

[speendle]

im sorry but the guy your talking about is right haha, i work in electronics for a living and to be honest theres about 0.1% chance this is going to be a software fault.....

maybe if you ground yourself say to a radiator in your house ? and try this ? anyone done that ?

the hardware is too sensitive and to be honest apple knew about this thats why they released the bumper. think about it,

if mine gets deliverd next week and i get the same problems, its going back and im having a refund.

£600 on a product that doesnt work, haha f' that

Errr, he's not *that* right - electrical current is the net flow of charge - your body does not generate a net flow of charge. You might pick up charge - static - through various means, which you then discharge into something at a different potential to yourself, but you aren't a battery. An electric field acting on your body will induce charge separation, or if the field is oscillating, it'll make the charges mimic the oscillations - so you can act as a transmitter yourself (50 Hz pick-up etc.) - this, and more than probably direct skin conduction are the likely cause of the interference, not current from your body.

 

[nooaah]

So yes this probably explains what we see. Even taking a phone (any) from outside to inside a car will reduce the signal by 10 db ( 10 times less).

So for the calibration of the iphone bars (3G scale):

5 bars means -91 to -51 dbm ( a factor of 40 dB or 10,000)
5 bars to 0 bars means -91 to -113dBm ( a factor of 22, or about 100).

This probably explains why some see the effect and not others (nothing to to with software or hardware in the phone, or differences in batchs).

And 10 to 20 dB ( 10 to 100x) influence of a hand is not unreasonable to me. Maybe it could be less. But this means that those on the fringe and with 5 bars do not realize it.[/color]

While I agree that this effect doesn't result in more than a loss of 20 dB (observed from multiple locations), a lot of us are on the fringe with AT&T because AT&T is what they are. Therefore, 20dB is the difference between having a conversation and potentially dropping a call or losing clarity. The fact is that this 20dB drop only occurs when holding the phone in that specific spot, and that spot is where many of us naturally rest the phone while holding it to talk.

 

[duction]

so were agreeing this isnt software based ?

 

[ReflexReact]

so were agreeing this isnt software based ?

No one knows. If the signal is changing bands, or dropping a certain number of dB (even if it's only say 20% or something - not enough to actually cause an issue), and iOS4 is interpretting that incorrectly and dropping signal / going into some kind of loop - then it could still be SW in my opinion.

There's not a chance Apple would let this slip through testing. They'll have considered the concept of fingers touching both metal plates... they're not idiots...

 

[duction]

No one knows. If the signal is changing bands, or dropping a certain number of dB, and iOS4 is interpretting that incorrectly and dropping signal / going into some kind of loop - then it could still be SW in my opinion.

why would it drop and change signal type if it were only software? i dont want 3g to stop when i pick up my phone.

 

[sMiK]

so were agreeing this isnt software based ?

if it's not it's gonna be hell hard to get a replacement due to the fact how many they've sold and how many need replacement

 

[pango1in]

UK Problems too!

I'm in the UK. I bought the iPhone from an Orange store today. At work, I noticed that my 3G signal dropped when I was holding it.

I phoned Orange early on, before this was too widespread, who quickly put me through to Apple. After taking my IMEI number, they said I could exchange it at an Apple Store or get an overnight replacement. I opted for the Apple Store as I wanted a case too.

After turning up at the Apple store and literally pushed to one side by the security guard (as I didn't have a reservation to buy an iPhone) the manager (?) of the Leicester store asked why I was there, I showed him, he said "So what, mine has bad reception in here too" and pulled out his 3GS . Yeah, that's the same phone... same problem, obviously...

After 5 minutes of explaining that I was told to come in and get a replacement by an Apple representative (the manager tried to tell me the guy I spoke to in America was an Orange representative and nothing to do with him) I was told there was no stock. I gave him my reference number, I told him who I spoke to, but he wouldn't budge. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad customer service Apple... I knew it was too good to be true.

Those bumper cases are shocking too. Very hard to get on and off, like when you want to dock your phone.....

And to top it all off, my iPhone 4 doesn't work with my Zeppelin mini...

Oh, last thing... when in a very strong signal area (like outside in the centre of a city), you won't notice any drop off. Only happens when you are in a slightly weaker area.

 

[kopite19]

Ok, on my iP4 (16GB on 02-UK) I can only recreate the fault if 3G is turned on. If 3G is on, the signal bars will drop until I have just an EDGE (o) signal available. The signal bars will then increase back to normal even with my finger in place.

I turned off 3G and held my finger over the joint and nothing happened.

I repeated this several times. I'm now going to test it on my iPhone 3G on OS4 and hopefully prove this to be a software fault and not a balls up with the 3G antenna on the phone.

Anyone else with the issue, turn 3G off and try and recreate it please..i'd be interested to see if you have the same findings...

 

[RichL]

No one knows. If the signal is changing bands, or dropping a certain number of dB (even if it's only say 20% or something - not enough to actually cause an issue), and iOS4 is interpretting that incorrectly and dropping signal / going into some kind of loop - then it could still be SW in my opinion.

There's not a chance Apple would let this slip through testing. They'll have considered the concept of fingers touching both metal plates... they're not idiots...

Well.....we do have this issue now so......

 

[speendle]

Ok, on my iP4 (16GB on 02-UK) I can only recreate the fault if 3G is turned on. If 3G is on, the signal bars will drop until I have just an EDGE (o) signal available. The signal bars will then increase back to normal even with my finger in place.

I turned off 3G and held my finger over the joint and nothing happened.

I repeated this several times. I'm now going to test it on my iPhone 3G on OS4 and hopefully prove this to be a software fault and not a balls up with the 3G antenna on the phone.

Anyone else with the issue, turn 3G off and try and recreate it please..i'd be interested to see if you have the same findings...

I have the problem, I'm in the UK, and not only is 3G turned off but I can't get a 3G signal, or EDGE in the first place... :-(

 

[joey561]

Ok, on my iP4 (16GB on 02-UK) I can only recreate the fault if 3G is turned on. If 3G is on, the signal bars will drop until I have just an EDGE (o) signal available. The signal bars will then increase back to normal even with my finger in place.

I turned off 3G and held my finger over the joint and nothing happened.

I repeated this several times. I'm now going to test it on my iPhone 3G on OS4 and hopefully prove this to be a software fault and not a balls up with the 3G antenna on the phone.

Anyone else with the issue, turn 3G off and try and recreate it please..i'd be interested to see if you have the same findings...

Very interesting... I'm on o2 also, and just did what you said. Steady drop offs when 3G is enabled, but once I've disabled it, the Edge coverage stays strong and doesn't drop. Any ideas from anyone why this would occur?

 

[Anuba]

This isn't a software or hardware issue. Your body produces a electrical current that can disrupt electronics

And that's why you build %=)(%""=€ electronics with this in mind. You don't build it first and then go "oh, rats, I didn't know people would be touching it with their grubby hands". I mean, what's next? Will Apple remove the plastic isolation on power cables and just leave the wires naked because it looks cool, industrial and minimalistic?

It's like some Spinal Tap skit, just replace Nigel Tufnel with Jony Ive and a vintage Fender with an iPhone 4 and you're good to go:

Ive: Look, still has the old tag on, never even used it.
DiBergi: You never used...?
Ive: Don't touch it!
DiBergi: Well I wasn't going to touch it, I was just pointing at it.
Ive: Well don't point! It can't be used.
DiBergi: Don't point, OK. Can I look at it?
Ive: No, no, that's it, no... you've seen enough of this one.

 

[archgrove]

Same issue here

Not mine, but my brothers. The iPhone 4 has 5 bars 3G when it's sitting on a desk; my iOS 4.0 iPhone 3G has 2 bars 3G. Pick them both up, in turn - iPhone 4 goes to 1 bar GPRS. iPhone 3G stays between 1 and 2 bars of 3G. He's already managed one swap for a brand new one - same problem.

Whilst it might, in theory, be a monstrous baseband firmware bug, it looks more and more like a design defect. I'll be holding off on a purchase until they do something about it - if the answer is "Buy a case", then I guess I'll be looking at the new HTC Android handsets. Why buy a beautiful piece of design, then hide it behind £0.29 of rubber?

 

[tivoboy]

called

what number did you call?

I called in, they had "heard" of a problem, but no more information. Go "buy a bumper and try that"

I think having to BUY something just to GET A phone to work is NOT a solution.

 

[Star-fire]

Don't see to have the problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHVhOj3-8sk

 

[foot56]

Don't see to have the problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHVhOj3-8sk

your surfing on wifi? Correct?

 

[uberamd]

So in my office at work I get 5 bars of 3G on the iPhone 4 (which is odd as it was always 2-3 bars with my 3GS). When holding the left lower corner I can easily make the signal go out. I went to my girlfriends who lives 2 blocks from my work, had 5 bars of 3G and held the corner and could only get 1 bar to go away after holding it for 20ish seconds (which could have been a signal flux from other causes anyway).

This definitely seems location based. I called the experts and they said they would look into it, and i spoke to the Apple rep at my work and he said he hadn't even touched an iPhone 4 yet.

Ugh, annoying. My incipio case came in today as a temporary solution.

 

[CubeHacker]

So in my office at work I get 5 bars of 3G on the iPhone 4 (which is odd as it was always 2-3 bars with my 3GS). When holding the left lower corner I can easily make the signal go out. I went to my girlfriends who lives 2 blocks from my work, had 5 bars of 3G and held the corner and could only get 1 bar to go away after holding it for 20ish seconds (which could have been a signal flux from other causes anyway).

This definitely seems location based. I called the experts and they said they would look into it, and i spoke to the Apple rep at my work and he said he hadn't even touched an iPhone 4 yet.

Ugh, annoying. My incipio case came in today as a temporary solution.

You guys do realize that you CANNOT go by the number of bars to see if this problem exists or not. The only sure way to see if this problem happens with your phone is to look at the signal strength in dB - which AFAIK cannot be currently accessed on the iPhone4.

Reason I bring this up is because in my house on my iPhone 3G I get a signal strength of -51dB, which equates to full bars. If I had an iPhone 4 starting out at -51dB and covered the antenna, my signal might drop to -70dB, which would still equate to full bars. Thus, I would assume that my phone is problem free.
But if I start out at -70dB or less (like some people do in areas of weaker reception), and I cover the antenna, it might bring me to -90db or less, enough to watch the bars drop, and possibly even drop the call.

This is why you CANNOT use bars to determine if this issue exists in your phone.

 

[TRBUK]

Just to add my experience of the iPhone 4 antenna issue, this was taken whilst using the SpeedTest.net app over 3G (O2 UK network)...very disappointing, I'm barely touching the phone. I'm really impressed by the quality of the screen and camera on the new device over the 3GS, but yeah, this isn't great.

Hoping it is easily fixed, although from reading various sources on the internet it sounds like it's at the design stage

 

[ulbador]

This is why you CANNOT use bars to determine if this issue exists in your phone.

Umm, if you touch "the spot" and the bars drop to zero and you lose service, I'm pretty such the issue exists.. No phone calls, no data at that point.

 

[macbd]

You guys do realize that you CANNOT go by the number of bars to see if this problem exists or not. The only sure way to see if this problem happens with your phone is to look at the signal strength in dB - which AFAIK cannot be currently accessed on the iPhone4.

Reason I bring this up is because in my house on my iPhone 3G I get a signal strength of -51dB, which equates to full bars. If I had an iPhone 4 starting out at -51dB and covered the antenna, my signal might drop to -70dB, which would still equate to full bars. Thus, I would assume that my phone is problem free.
But if I start out at -70dB or less (like some people do in areas of weaker reception), and I cover the antenna, it might bring me to -90db or less, enough to watch the bars drop, and possibly even drop the call.

This is why you CANNOT use bars to determine if this issue exists in your phone.

I watched a video last night of a guy testing for the issue while on a call with his wife. Not only did the bars go down, the reception gradually degraded and the call was dropped. So that's not just a bars display issue.

 

[uberamd]

You guys do realize that you CANNOT go by the number of bars to see if this problem exists or not. The only sure way to see if this problem happens with your phone is to look at the signal strength in dB - which AFAIK cannot be currently accessed on the iPhone4.

Reason I bring this up is because in my house on my iPhone 3G I get a signal strength of -51dB, which equates to full bars. If I had an iPhone 4 starting out at -51dB and covered the antenna, my signal might drop to -70dB, which would still equate to full bars. Thus, I would assume that my phone is problem free.
But if I start out at -70dB or less (like some people do in areas of weaker reception), and I cover the antenna, it might bring me to -90db or less, enough to watch the bars drop, and possibly even drop the call.

This is why you CANNOT use bars to determine if this issue exists in your phone.

I certainly can. When the bars start dropping so does my data rate and eventually my calls cut out. No dropping bars means no decrease in data rate for me and no dropping of calls. I tested this with my device.