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iPhone 4 Reception Issue? [Video]

Damn...count me in

So I thought I escaped this problem (and posted so earlier) but I am now sitting in my basement with 3 bars when untouched and able to surf on 3G. When I grab the phone in my left hand and cover that one section, I drop to searching and cannot pull any data over 3G :mad:
E
 
Inconvenient said:
I am getting the complete opposite where I live.
I live in a super secluded town near the Bay Area and there are 0 cellphone towers in my suburb and the nearest one is about 1 mile away and in my house, nobody gets reception on any network, and on any other phone, including the 3GS. However, I currently have 3 bars and a steady 3 bars. I can receive calls, make calls, text etc. I have tried the hand wrapping test and it does not affect the signal in any way for me.

These new metal antennas are a godsend for me.
Click to expand...

Well, another poster said "Apple told him AT&T hadn't finished upgrading the software in their towers for the 4G", and maybe that IS the issue, and yours were upgraded. One can hope...
 
I've been doing some tests with my iPhone 4 and I'm unable to reproduce this here at my office where I usually have a strong signal. I'll try at home were my signal is always weak.
 
noobinator said:
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.
Click to expand...

OH I forgot to add, these tests were all done with a silicon case I bought from eBay that covers the metal parts entirely.
 
ravensfan55 said:
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.
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If shorting/grounding is the issue, the bumpers DO fix the problem. I think we have a lot of bogus reports here, because people think they have the problem, when it could just be the regular shielding issue that happens on all phones. The bumper will thoroughly electrically isolate your hand from the antennae, so its either software, or RF interference, which would happen with internal antennae too!
 
Can we get a poll on this thread asking if iPhone 4 owners are able to recreate this problem?



Broph said:
If fingers do this, imagine what a bumper would do.
Click to expand...
Probably nothing, actually. Human skin is conductive, rubber is not, so it wouldn't connect the antennae. Additionally, rubber doesn't interfere with wireless signals.
 
carrako said:
Yeh it sucks, but im not worried. If they have to replace 1,000s of units at their cost, they will. Simple as that.
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replace 1,000s x 600 at least, more like x 1000.

If this is INDEED a hardware problem - which I am not saying it is, it represents a VERY poor QA on the part of apple.
 
neekon said:
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
Click to expand...

Sure...but they're posting video, so luckily I don't have to rely on their "rose colored" perspective. I can see it with my own two eyes.
 
tivoboy said:
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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Calls ARE being dropped. I've seen it.
 
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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No, but from our perspective, it does help to know is electrical conductivity at least contributes. I suggest finding a copper pipe that feeds into the ground, or a water pipe :)
 
gloss said:
Do you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain?
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the absolute BEST POST I HAVE EVER READ IN MY 15 YEARS ON INTERNET FORUMS...

so out of left field, so original, so funny, so relevant

great work
 
Steve is smiting all of you who received early iPhones.

Now be smitten!
 
I have dropped calls all day long. I have only had one call today that actually stood connected the entire call.
 
cooleoc said:
People please get a grip. I have a 3g with iOS4 sw. If i hold the phone the way he does in the video ... sure enough I drop down to no reception. But who grips a phone like that when making a call?
When I hold the phone as I normally do(with just my fingers...not surrounded by my whole hand!) it has no effect on reception.
If you hold the phone the way he does, your fingers stop you getting it to your ear!

I challenge any one on this forum to pick up their phones now as though making a call and see how much of your hand touches the edge. I bet you don't bridge the gap and the bars remain the same.

Storm in a tea cup is the expression i think:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The same thing happens with my 3GS when I hold it like that. It goes from 5 bars down to 2.
 
Broph said:
If fingers do this, imagine what a bumper would do.
Click to expand...

Chaszmyr said:
Can we get a poll on this thread asking if iPhone 4 owners are able to recreate this problem?




Probably nothing, actually. Human skin is conductive, rubber is not, so it wouldn't connect the antennae. Additionally, rubber doesn't interfere with wireless signals.
Click to expand...

donbenjy said:
uh, fix it? Fingers conduct electricity, bumpers don't :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The above exactly, but since when did the rubber used in bumpers conduct electricity :eek:

I wonder what the effect would be of wrapping a coil around the phone, or placing a magnet next to it :eek:
 
tivoboy said:
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.
Click to expand...

another one not reading all the posts and also obviously not owning an iphone 4.
ther are a few posts here like mine where i state i can not make or receive calls,, however if i go down the road a mile or 2 i can make it receive by laying it on my car hood,
but if i pickit up it drops the call..
oh forgot to add as i said in other posts here and others also have,, the old 3G works great no matter what i do to cover it
 
Nocaster said:
Sure...but they're posting video, so luckily I don't have to rely on their "rose colored" perspective. I can see it with my own two eyes.
Click to expand...

im not saying that everyone has the problem, im just saying that the problem could be a hardware issue and also not show up on all the devices, sounds odd, but true, there are more factors than just holding it

signal strength of all the towers in your area, proximity to a tower, im sure all of those factors matter. this could be a very big problem if it noticeably affects even just 10% of iphone 4 users, i was on the phone with a friend who has one early and he was cutting in and out the entire time.
 
I am convinced this is some sort of grounding issue. I get the symptoms when holding the iphone 4 bare handed.

The bars return when I hold the iphone 4 wrapped in a cloth that keeps my hands off the metal rim.

This is a grounding issue and I will have to admit, bad design. I hope the invisible skin I bought for it will serve to keep my hands off the bare metal.
 
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