I agree with you 100%.
However some people think that just because they don't see their bars move when they touch the metal strip that their phone doesn't have the problem. I'm trying to say that you can't determine it by just looking at bars.
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iPhone 4 Drops Calls when Left Corner is Touched
- Thread starter dagomike
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I agree with you 100%.
However some people think that just because they don't see their bars move when they touch the metal strip that their phone doesn't have the problem. I'm trying to say that you can't determine it by just looking at bars.
I thought that this would be a really annoying issue but then I realized how unnatural and difficult it is to talk on the phone while holding it like that. I talk on the phone while holding it with my finger tips.
Obviously, if you see your bars drop when you touch the strip, then you do have the problem. But what i'm trying to say is that if you DON'T see the bars drop, that doesn't mean your phone is immune to the problem. You need to see the actual signal strength to determine that.
yes, because one is the 3g antenna the other one is for regular data & gprs. So if you turn off 3g only one antenna is active. Edge is just bundled gprs. only one antenna = no problem.
and for all those who are so happy about the camera. the pictures are alright and look better on the phone itself and just like any other 5mp pics on a computer screen.
On hold being transferred to a senior advisor..lower level guy admitted however that our hands are short circuiting the two antenna pieces so apple is more than aware of this issue...basically the guy admitted its a design flaw
WTF
WTF
You are missing the point. What he is saying is that you can't use bars to say your phone is working perfect.
There may be the same amount of signal degradation but the initial signal was stronger for one person so they remained at 5 bars where as the other person started at barely 5 and dropped to 1.
Both phones are losing signal in that case despite the bars appearing to remain the same.
Basically if you have 5 bars and you touch the sweet spot and still have 5 bars you still might be losing signal.
aha!
quote:
Update: A couple of commenters have said they have been unable to replicate on their iPhone 4, while others have, so it may not affect every device.
this is good news (kind of) since it appears to be the case only with some percentage of units shipped...
it might not be all that bad after all
Last night at home where I have a strong signal, I tried and tired to replicate this and couldn't get it to happen. But, today at work where I have a weaker signal (but still 4 bars) I can get it to happen every time
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
And the irony of it is that neither the screen nor the camera was designed/produced by Apple but the antennas were.
Wow, this thread is full of lots of angry people who have no idea what they're talking about. The so called 'electrical engineers' here don't appear to know much about the principles of electronics!
Firstly, I really don't think that this is down to one single issue - lots of people have reported seeing a less severe effect with the 3G/S and even non-Apple phones. Putting your hand in close proximity to the antenna is always going to disrupt the signal. Anyone who gets a 1 or 2 bar drop arguably ISN'T suffering the same issue as complete loss of signal.
There are arguments for both software & hardware faults.
Hardware - if the bottom plate is common ground (connected to the 0v terminal of the battery), then a short (or low impedance, caused by a function of resistance and capacitance) will reduce the dynamic range of the induced frequency. This might explain how there are varying results, as skin resistance is very variable. However if this is the sole issue then directly bridging the two edges using a strong conductor such as wire should zap the signal COMPLETELY! AFAIK, nobody has been able to replicate this issue.
Software - As I mentioned above, blocking the antenna with any object (of comparable wavelength) will always reduce its effect to some extent (i.e. walking into a house). If iOS4 interprets a particularly low level as too low (somewhat arbitrarily) for operation, it could very feasibly be programmed to search for other networks, which could be really improved in a firmware update.
Personally, I can't see the whole iphone design team missing the fact that that small gap could be so easily bridged. No doubt that they have made a big oversight, but I would be highly surprised if they hadn't considered the possibility at all. Surely that's the first question that pops into your head when someone says that the antenna is on the outside?! Apple have made an otherwise brilliant piece of hardware here, so its fair to expect them to not make an obvious mistake. Yes they have made a mistake, but it won't be as simple as you guys are saying...otherwise you would be working at Apple.
Firstly, I really don't think that this is down to one single issue - lots of people have reported seeing a less severe effect with the 3G/S and even non-Apple phones. Putting your hand in close proximity to the antenna is always going to disrupt the signal. Anyone who gets a 1 or 2 bar drop arguably ISN'T suffering the same issue as complete loss of signal.
There are arguments for both software & hardware faults.
Hardware - if the bottom plate is common ground (connected to the 0v terminal of the battery), then a short (or low impedance, caused by a function of resistance and capacitance) will reduce the dynamic range of the induced frequency. This might explain how there are varying results, as skin resistance is very variable. However if this is the sole issue then directly bridging the two edges using a strong conductor such as wire should zap the signal COMPLETELY! AFAIK, nobody has been able to replicate this issue.
Software - As I mentioned above, blocking the antenna with any object (of comparable wavelength) will always reduce its effect to some extent (i.e. walking into a house). If iOS4 interprets a particularly low level as too low (somewhat arbitrarily) for operation, it could very feasibly be programmed to search for other networks, which could be really improved in a firmware update.
Personally, I can't see the whole iphone design team missing the fact that that small gap could be so easily bridged. No doubt that they have made a big oversight, but I would be highly surprised if they hadn't considered the possibility at all. Surely that's the first question that pops into your head when someone says that the antenna is on the outside?! Apple have made an otherwise brilliant piece of hardware here, so its fair to expect them to not make an obvious mistake. Yes they have made a mistake, but it won't be as simple as you guys are saying...otherwise you would be working at Apple.
I Have A Fix!
I am here to offer to you a 100% fix for your reception issues! Search no further! Cheaper than Apple's version too!
It really works!
Is it magics?
Easy on/off!
Get yours today!
I am here to offer to you a 100% fix for your reception issues! Search no further! Cheaper than Apple's version too!
It really works!
Is it magics?
Easy on/off!
Get yours today!
The iPhone 4 initially has 2 antennas, they separate from the bottom left corner.
Holding the bottom left corner with your palm will result in dropped signals because your connecting the two antennas with a conductor, aka, your skin.
This is very simple knowledge people, an easy fix is to simply grab one antenna, or hold the phone from the back so that it's resting in your palm.
So again, if you don't want to buy something that covers the stainless steel antennas to prevent interference from your skin, make sure your skin isn't connecting the two antennas together.
The best way to hold it while making a call, if you hold it with your right hand, place the pointer and middle finger on the very bottom left corner (just below where the antennas split) and your thumb on the right side (anywhere).
If you use your left hand to take a call, you have to make sure your not touching both sides of the phone. The only way not to connect the two antennas with your left hand is to grab the back pf the phone with your 4 fingers and the front screen or bezel with your thumb.
Remember, any case that covers the stainless steel antennas will solve this issue.
- if there are any typos, I'm using my iPod touch, forgive thee
Can someone try to put some clear tape around the metal band to prevent shorting the antennas? How about some clear nail polish in the metal rim? Maybe that's all that is needed.
You shouldn't have to put nail polish on your new phone to make it work. Get a refund.
Here is the simplest and clearest demonstration of the problem around:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oflC4qo8M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oflC4qo8M
I am here to offer to you a 100% fix for your reception issues! Search no further! Cheaper than Apple's version too!
It really works!
Is it magics?
Easy on/off!
Get yours today!
my inet runs like crap after a min of holding. even if i then put it down for 10 minutes and come back to it, the 3G never reinstates itself and the connection is god awful slow. anyone else finding the phone less likely to connect to 3G?
By all indications this is a problem that Apple ignored and shipped the phone anyway. I read where Apple was worried about the competition, and decided to release the phone before the engineers were finished. With the DROID X event yesterday and the promise of new BlackBerrys and other fine smartphones, this is Apple caving into the pressure of the marketplace. So the Apple excuse makers will defend them and spin it as an AT&T problem. After all if not for AT&T the Gulf Oil Disaster would not have happened. That's Apple logic.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
Yes this is clearly a serious issue that may result in a lot of returned iPhones.
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
This is proof positive that it is a hardware issue. A lot of people are talking software, but I can't see how any software update could correct this issue %100.
Expect a software release that just makes your iPhone4 LOOK like it has MORE BARS then it really does. That should appease the masses and shift blame towards AT&T.
Same here. Except the other way around. At home I always had problems with my 3gs dropping calls inside the house. Weak signal. The iP4 shows 5 bars and if I use my left hand (I am left handed) and bridge the bars it goes down to no bars and I loose connection. At work I have a strong signal. This morning I was able to get it to drop to two bars. But this afternoon, I've only got it to drop to to 4 bars.
So, at work, it's fine. At home I have to be careful how I hold it or I loose connection. It's better than the 3gs but I would rather not have to worry about how I hold it. It needs to be fixed.
I have an old Speck 3gs silicone case that I put the iP4 in and couldn't get the bars to drop at work. Going to try it again when I get home.
There is two ways of looking at it, both ways don't paint the design team in a positive light.
#1 - Hardware Issue
#2 - Software Issue
Now I'm a simple kind of man, so feel free to call me crazy, but if I buy a $600 phone, shouldn't it be free of any defects? The fact this even made it out the door should give us all pause to stop and think. If it's conceivable that software caused this issue, isn't it also conceivable that Apple knew about the hardware problem and just pushed it through anyway?
Selling bumper pads that cover up the said defect is either strategic, or really, really, ironic.
Question
I live in northern NJ, work in NYC, and go to school in PA. All of these complaints dont matter if we are planning on putting the phone in a bumper correct? No one is having these issues unless it is skin to phone contact so if I am planning on doing this it should be ok?
I live in northern NJ, work in NYC, and go to school in PA. All of these complaints dont matter if we are planning on putting the phone in a bumper correct? No one is having these issues unless it is skin to phone contact so if I am planning on doing this it should be ok?
ok now i would appreciate an answer from someone other than a 40 year old man with nothing better to do at work than take pictures of himself with a rubber band around his phone