Sidebar Sidebar
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

Replacement phone 4 to ship tomorrow

Just got off the phone with Apple (in Austin, TX) and was transferred to a Senior Advisor. He said the solution to the hardware problem is to put the phone in a case. I explained several reason why I can not use a case. He offerred a replacement phone and they will waive the $30 fee. He did say replacement phones are built in a wharehouse and not on an assembly line. The replacements get used/recycled parts and are thoroughly tested. But, because the iphone 4 is so new they haven't been assembling any. So, it sounds like I will get a brand new phone. I asked if the replacement phones are tested to be free of the defect, and he really could not answer. He did say it sounds like a small batch are defective.
 
N1CKOLAS said:
Sorry, I should have clarified, pro-active meaning testing the iPhone in a variety of different situations (location, case on/off, etc) to help the support person and engineers pin-point the problem.

I should also correct myself, I know there aren't an infinite number of variables, but there are many variables, each contributing to whether the phone is working or not. If you read my previous posts, I too suggested that it may be a firmware bug or even a hardware problem, it's just too early to decide that pressing the side of the phone = hardware problem like so many have declared.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the clarifications. The question of whether or not signal reception changes by bridging the 2 antennas is not even one that should be debated. Obviously it does, that's the way the laws of physics work. Now we get to figure out if it's software mishandling a known change in signal quality, or the signal being so distorted as to make it unusable. My money is on software. There is simply no way Apple would have not known this and not taken that into consideration when engineering the hardware.
 
I just cant beleave people are seriously considering using a free bumper or adice of putting a case on it!

Seriously this problem should not be there! so what the next iphone do I have to buy the screws seperate to keep it together?

I seriously think theres going to be a major recall or apple will try to at least contain it with free cases and the rest of the people just keep replaceing them till they get fed up of doing so! then admit it when there out of warrenty like the nano screen problems!

Its a design flaw its exposed metal! and the bodys conductive! simple! try holding onto a portable radio antenna the thing goes crackly unless your signal is comming from a really close tower!

I for one will be sending back my iphone 4 for a refund if this happens, ive even considerd canceling the order because it makes so much sence it would happed! as I had an old nokia phone do it in the past when i lost the back... you touch the metal attenna the signal would drop out!
 
I fully believe it's software/location based.

All day at work, i was able to do the "touch the antenna and drop the bars" thing, but as soon as I got home, pretty much 5 bars all the time, NO signal degradation no matter what i do to the phone (other than shutting it off).

I really do think it's the software interpretation of the signals that the antenna is sending...
 
budfoot said:
I fully believe it's software/location based.

All day at work, i was able to do the "touch the antenna and drop the bars" thing, but as soon as I got home, pretty much 5 bars all the time, NO signal degradation no matter what i do to the phone (other than shutting it off).

I really do think it's the software interpretation of the signals that the antenna is sending...
Click to expand...

The problem seems to only occurs during less than ideal reception. Stronger the reception at your location, less like you'll notice the problem.

At minimum I'd expect the iPhone 4 to be similar to the 3GS. Because of Apple's design I don't think we should have to settle with not doing voice calls in fringe ATT coverage, which is spotty as it is...

If it is a software issue, I don't think that explains dropped calls. Unless the software is telling the phone to give up on the call for no reason.
 
I have a 32GB. I have the problem.

My fiancee has a 16GB. I'll test her to see if it is present in that.

This is major. I go naked with my iPhone. Sadly, everything else on the phone is amazing. Very impressed with camera and screen. I will not accept a case as a solution--that is not what I signed up for.

For this not to be considered in engineering is impossible. Are there videos of someone's not doing this?
 
dagomike said:
The problem seems to only occurs during less than ideal reception. Stronger the reception at your location, less like you'll notice the problem.

At minimum I'd expect the iPhone 4 to be similar to the 3GS. Because of Apple's design I don't think we should have to settle with not doing voice calls in fringe ATT coverage, which is spotty as it is...

If it is a software issue, I don't think that explains dropped calls. Unless the software is telling the phone to give up on the call for no reason.
Click to expand...

Incorrect.

I am connected to a 3G microcell and the problem is still there. My 3GS has 5 solid bars. Please explain that.
 
AbSoluTc said:
Incorrect.

I am connected to a 3G microcell and the problem is still there. My 3GS has 5 solid bars. Please explain that.
Click to expand...

Arn did the same thing and said differently.

My issue is doesn't appear in strong reception areas.

Please explain that. :)
 
I'm dropping calls like crazy. Turned off wifi and 3g and it gets better. I think the corner thing may be a problem but can't make it do it every time. I put incase rubber case from 3g on (tight fit but it works) turned wifi and 3g back on and seems to be better, but not as good as both off. I'm confused and irritated. Why have a phone you can't really use all functions...might have to go off the ranch. Think this is going to be a big deal for Apple.
 
dagomike said:
The problem seems to only occurs during less than ideal reception. Stronger the reception at your location, less like you'll notice the problem.

At minimum I'd expect the iPhone 4 to be similar to the 3GS. Because of Apple's design I don't think we should have to settle with not doing voice calls in fringe ATT coverage, which is spotty as it is...

If it is a software issue, I don't think that explains dropped calls. Unless the software is telling the phone to give up on the call for no reason.
Click to expand...


Possibly. I seem to recall when the first 3G came out that there was a lot of discussion around the new 3G chip they were using and how IT was responsible for dropping the call.

It later came out that AT&T will drop the call much quicker than VZW if you're "spotty". Whereas VZW's total goal is to keep you connected, AT&T's total goal is to give you the best "quality."
 
Considering my bad luck with my 3G build quality, I am surprised I didn't get a bum 4. However, my phone doesn't seem to have this problem. It just tends to show weaker bars than my 3G, but seems to be able to connect well even with 1-2 bars.
 
When is Apple going to officially respond to this problem? lol - it's widespread and needs an answer.
 
dagomike said:
Arn did the same thing and said differently.

My issue is doesn't appear in strong reception areas.

Please explain that. :)
Click to expand...

How do you determine "strong reception"? At work I have 5 bars which appears to be "strong", yet I can repeat this issue 100% of the time. Same with at home, 5 bars yet 100% repeat rate.
 
confirmed busto. checked it out in the Greenwich, CT store.

wifi - really fast
3g - same craptacular deadtech slow ATT network ( not that VZ is better, 3g blows)
3g holding in my hand - no connection, could not load a single web page


this is a really embarrassing and amateurish blunder for Apple
 
uberamd said:
How do you determine "strong reception"? At work I have 5 bars which appears to be "strong", yet I can repeat this issue 100% of the time. Same with at home, 5 bars yet 100% repeat rate.
Click to expand...
Don't use the bars, that's the only way. If you're not restored from a jailbreak that showed the actual signal in dB, then there isn't a measurable way considering the diagnostic menu is gone in 4.0.

img0060n.png
 
uberamd said:
How do you determine "strong reception"? At work I have 5 bars which appears to be "strong", yet I can repeat this issue 100% of the time. Same with at home, 5 bars yet 100% repeat rate.
Click to expand...

Well, basically 5 bars that don't fluctuate at all, but specifically no matter how I hold the device.

Another possibility could be the tower frequencies, but I have no way of observing that.

Basically what I'm saying is after spending all day on this, there are places where I don't experience the corner of death and those are generally constant 5 bar areas. If it's not 5 bars or waivers, it usually will eventually drop on me.
 
My Nokia drops RF like the iPhone

My Nokia 6230i (a rock star of RF if any) shows the signal loss from the table to held in my hand and back to the table, just like iPhone. We should expect some of this with all phones. The RF Antenna in the Nokia is internal encased in plastic. The split in the iPhone antenna may be another issue, but holding any phone will change the RF conditions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_RP7Fn1w8Q
 
Actually, this makes sense. When you touch that part, you make the signals which goes through the bottom piece of metal and the left piece of metal interfere with each other because your body acts as a bridge between the two, since the only thing separating the two pieces of metal is that black strip. Apple probably should have thought of this though, it is pretty inexcusable.
 
cjmillsnun said:
the answer is simple. They recommend a bumper. In other words it's a short between the two aerials caused by your hand.

Why not stick a piece of clear sellotape over the affected area so as to insulate the aerials from your hand. This at least means you can use your phone until they finally acknowledge the issue and provide free bumpers.
Click to expand...

They must have known IMO. I see a Class Action. Unlike the iPad "bait and switch" this will be "buy and cover". Too much market pressure. Apple is at a Cross Road. Slow down Steve. You are not a deity.:apple:
 
I just had a ideal to look at the ifixit photo of the iphone 4 teardown, and its probably a shot in the dark... but it just came to me that would the out case flex inward on the rubber points?

If this was true the picture below shows the GSM attenna extremly close to the LCD back and could therefor bridge it to the 3g attenna one or the internals via the lcd backplate!

iphone4.jpg
 
res1233 said:
Actually, this makes sense. When you touch that part, you make the signals which goes through the bottom piece of metal and the left piece of metal interfere with each other because your body acts as a bridge between the two, since the only thing separating the two pieces of metal is that black strip. Apple probably should have thought of this though, it is pretty inexcusable.
Click to expand...

But by all accounts, by doing this, when held properly, the iphone 4 has better RF than the 3GS.
 
I replied earlier in a different thread that I could not reproduce the signal dropping. Still can't make the bars go down no matter how I hold it.

HOWEVER, after a day of use I dropped calls like never before. Clearly an issue. I'm right-handed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back