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iPhone 4 Reception Issue? [Video]

iStrat said:
Heh.
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We'll never know if the guy waiting in line will be pissed since he won't be able to call anyone to complain :p

msduncan said:
It's definitely happening to me.
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LOL... I could make so many comments here, but I won't, you've had a tough day. I will pass down the brotherly advice I got in middle school: Glove up! (I'm talking about your new phone btw ;))
.
 
ryannazaretian said:
He actually has a point. I use this technique when my car remote won't reach my car. I stick the remote in my mouth and point my mouth towards my car. Push the button, and I can lock my car from nearly half a mile away... Think of your mouth as a satellite dish.

I wouldn't do this to an iPhone though.

I can't test the reception problem though... I didn't get my iPhone today. :(
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You can point the remote under/behind your chin and it should have the same effect.
 
I was being sarcastic about it being a "user problem". Basically I meant that the reason some people get the problem and some don't is that the people getting the problem might not be electrically grounded.

I'm also curious to why bumpers don't fix the problem. I know Apple's bumpers have metal buttons for the volume switch, which may pose a problem, but an all-rubber or silicone case shouldn't conduct enough of a current to disrupt service like touching it with your bare hand would.
 
thetexan said:
I can't tell if you are being serious or sarcastic. Not being properly grounded is now user error? I'm supposed to find a stop sign or other pole to grab hold of when I need to make a call in public?
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buying the iPhone 4 - another user error.
 
ryannazaretian said:
He actually has a point. I use this technique when my car remote won't reach my car. I stick the remote in my mouth and point my mouth towards my car. Push the button, and I can lock my car from nearly half a mile away... Think of your mouth as a satellite dish.

I wouldn't do this to an iPhone though.

I can't test the reception problem though... I didn't get my iPhone today. :(
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Wow. I'd like to hear the thought process that led you to do that for the first time!
 
hackum said:
Everything so far points to a hardware problem. Or perhaps a faulty batch of phones.
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Right, perhaps a faulty batch, but a hardware problem doesn't explain why a significant number of people are reporting not having this issue.

I'm just trying to cross stuff off the list.
 
While AT&T service was poor in my office using my 3G iPhone, it worked most of the time. My new iPhone 4 exhibits the behavior in the video when I hold it -- and I've not yet been able to make a call using it. I hope it works at home.
 
I am happy for commandant Jobs' glorious iPhone. If the iPhone has no reception then I do not want reception. Apple knows what is best for me. Who needs to use the iPhone as a phone anyways?

Die Flash. Die.
 
misterc0w said:
Its a me too post, but I'm experiencing the same problem. When I hold the phone touching both antennas bars drop off, and when I set it down, service returns.

I was planning on getting a bumper case any way, hopefully that will take care of the issue until a fix can be put in place.
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Wow! This is a huge problem! Didn't they test this in Cupertino? :eek: :(
 
Nocaster said:
Right, perhaps a faulty batch, but a hardware problem doesn't explain why a significant number of people are reporting not having this issue.

I'm just trying to cross stuff off the list.
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I'd be curious to wait a few more days before we see if those same people report no issue. If I live right next door to a tower I might still get a pretty good signal if I ground out the antenna. Those reporting no problem should take a drive around town to see if they drop calls where they normally wouldn't drop calls.
 
I just did a long and painful test. I let my phone sit on the table for 5 minutes without any dimming going on. It stays 4-5 bars the ENTIRE time. I then grabbed the phone with 1 hand and held it in the exact same position for 5 minutes and it stays at 1 the entire time. After the 5 minutes were up I set it down and within 10 seconds it was back to 5 bars.
 
Daremo said:
A BUMPER WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE.

I have a Griffin Reveal case on the phone. It has a rubber "bumper" around all the metal, covering it all. The signal still drops with i pick up the phone with the case ON.

same things folks. It's NOT a skin on metal issue.
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Now THAT is a data point. Perhaps this is software after all. There was supposedly new link management code to chase not just signal strength but link quality. Perhaps in some situations related to subtle degradation the software chased its own tail into oblivion.

Interesting that there is a video on the gizmodo site of a phone NOT exhibiting this error at all (just ignore the prickish statement he makes at the end).
 
ttech10 said:
You would think though that since all have been delivered the same day they'd essentially been produced around the same time. Not too sure though.

You create the thread I'll post my SN.
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I would, but I won't have my phone until tomorrow. I'm not about to ask others to post their Serial numbers until I can post mine.
 
21 pages and it's all the same mumbo jumbo no one has tried any of my fixes:

- covering the aluminum trim with vaseline
- trying to make a call with the phone in your mouth
- phone on one hand, index finger from other hand on your nose
- try the above step while standing on one leg.

lets get to the bottom of this guys
 
While this is disappointing news... It is happening to my phone also.... I am not worried.

In the end, if its a hardware issue, Apple will replace parts/issue new units for people who are having problems at no cost to the consumer. If its software, then it will be a simple update.

Yeh it sucks, but im not worried. If they have to replace 1,000s of units at their cost, they will. Simple as that.

Only question is, How long before Apple issues a response and/or fix for the problem.
 
This is very bad, adding the bumpers will probably not fix it because the issue can be replicated by just holding it in your palm without touching the antenna. If I leave the phone on the couch arm rest, a tv tray, or the table, I get 5 bars even at my house which in the past I've gotten terrible reception.

When I go to pick it up, keep in mind I'm laying it flat on my palm, the bars slowly decrease all the way to 1 or 0. I tested out call quality and it did drop some of the conversation.

This also was happening with wi-fi, with the data turned off. I tested it by viewing hd trailers on youtube. The trailer would load fine when laying flat, but as soon as I picked it up the progress bar would slow and then stop.

Danger Will Robinson, Danger
 
phas3 said:
umm someone was able to duplicate this problem on their 3g
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I remember in the older phones' manuals, they had a warning along the lines of:

Don't place your fingers on this area of the phone, this is where the antenna is located and might cause connection problems.

So I am sure it can happen on any phone, but the issue is obviously much more prominent on a phone with an external antenna.
 
Nocaster said:
Right, perhaps a faulty batch, but a hardware problem doesn't explain why a significant number of people are reporting not having this issue.

I'm just trying to cross stuff off the list.
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because some people might be so delusional that their new toy is perfect that they dont notice a problem thats right in front of me, i know it happens to be all the time with different things, i eventually admit it, but if its actually a hardware defect, which i think it is, then thats a huge problem
 
I wonder

I WONDER if we are thinking about this in the wrong way.

It appears that the signal is going down, but it appears that CALLS are not dropped.

It COULD be in some way, that the signal meter is a measure of impedance and that when touching the body - which EXTENDS the antenna possibly that the impedance measurement (the phone is calibrated for an actual antenna and not an organic medium) goes DOWN

I wonder if someone would try this with other MATERIAL? Like, cover it with plastic. Cover the SIDES with GLOVES ON.

Touch to the sides with some form or metal? It won't shock you, but variations of metal and allow should give different results. Try with a bubble gum wrapper, then try some tin foil, then try some other metal. Try the SIDE of a coke can.

We could learn a lot from these tests.
 
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