Was hoping an Invisible Shield solved my problems, but no cigar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoWiY_psU9k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoWiY_psU9k
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iPhone 4 Reception Issue? [Video]
- Thread starter FFArchitect
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In the WSJ article here's what concerns me the most:
However, on at least six occasions during my tests, the new iPhone was either reporting no service or searching for a network while the old one, held in my other hand, was showing at least a couple of bars. Neither Apple nor AT&T could explain this. The iPhone 4 quickly recovered in these situations, showing service after a few seconds, but it was still troubling.
How could either AT&T or Apple not have seen this behavior during the testing? I've got some time before my upgrade (in August) is available so I hope/pray this gets resolved.
Tomorrow could be an embaresment for Apple when all the TV reporters show people walking out of the store saying.... "hello? Are you still there?"
However, on at least six occasions during my tests, the new iPhone was either reporting no service or searching for a network while the old one, held in my other hand, was showing at least a couple of bars. Neither Apple nor AT&T could explain this. The iPhone 4 quickly recovered in these situations, showing service after a few seconds, but it was still troubling.
How could either AT&T or Apple not have seen this behavior during the testing? I've got some time before my upgrade (in August) is available so I hope/pray this gets resolved.
Tomorrow could be an embaresment for Apple when all the TV reporters show people walking out of the store saying.... "hello? Are you still there?"
Blah blah this is happening to me too, yes I'm displeased but yes I'm planning on buying at least a bumper. Anyways, this might have a software fix to it as after going through 15 pages I didn't see any mention of Apples antenna software that chooses the least congested band for use. Maybe the bio-electric interference is throwing that off or something.
I really hope that it can be fixed, this seems like a giant f-up and it makes me sad.
I really hope that it can be fixed, this seems like a giant f-up and it makes me sad.
......And oddly enough on my 3.1.3 3G, I go from 5 bars to 3 when I pick up my phone and grasp it fully in my palm.
This is just perplexing.
This is just perplexing.
I don't buy it.
Software should have no affect whatsoever. Unless the software is specifically programmed to detect and behave differently when someone is holding the phone -- and I highly doubt that is the case.
I just held my 2G running 3.1.3 tightly and it dropped off down to 1 and it took 1 minute to get back up. How the crap didn't we notice this before.
To be fair thought I really had to crowd the phone with my hand. Nothing like I've seen people with the iPhone 4. I saw one guy literally touch the antenna with one finger and the phone went down to one. This is a BIG deal here folks.
The bumper could very well be made of a different material that alters the conductivity of the human hand interfacing w/ the antenna assemblies. In a different way than your silicone bumper. But we'll find out tomorrow.
Forgive me if someone already posted this, but I thought the Gizmodo speed test screen capture was the most convincing argument that something is wrong with the Apple "outside antenna" design. That explains:
- Experts telling us that hands making antenna contact degrades reception.
- No one else having designed their phone like this before...if it worked.
- Mossberg's review finding the same thing.
- Bumpers.
Does it really matter what hand you're using to operate the iPhone? This flaw is unacceptable. It's a design flaw. It's a phone, we're supposed to hold the edges of the phone while using it. It is frustrating enough to be using it on AT&T's network and now this? I tried making a call with 2 bars while holding the phone from full bars. The signal icon is not off, the reception is definitely dropping. Aren't you at least concerned that you paid $ for the phone and got something that has a defect?
One thing we haven't considered yet: the accelerometer. Is there ANY chance the signal disturbance could come from movement of the hardware in general?
Not necessarily 'when someone is holding the phone,' but certainly 'when a certain set of signal criteria are met.' I'm sure there's a noticeable difference as far as the phone's concerned when the antennae are bridged. Perhaps there's a way for it to handle this sort of mixed signal in a slightly more robust manner.
Unless Apple used different hardware, the same iPhones will be released as the ones that have already seen deliveries.
Hmmm... perhaps if it is a case of two different antennae types confusing each other, they could turn one type off while you held the phone to talk? Or perhaps during a live call?
I could see where this might work.
I have full 5 bars when not holding mine.
Of course there is strong signal, and then there is saturated with signal which you might be.
I was fully prepared to come in here and say that it's a hardware issue, however I just tried this with my year-old launch day iPhone 3GS 16GB with iOS 4.0 installed. On the table, five bars. In the palm of my hand, dropped to two bars within seconds.
Looks like we might have a baseband bug.
Looks like we might have a baseband bug.
This sucks, but I'm not concerned personally. I don't wrap my whole hand around my phone when I talk--I have big hands, I use 2 fingers and a thumb--thumb and middle finger on either side, and pointer finger resting on the back.
This doesn't create any reception issues at all when held like that. Also I think with a case or bumper that the issue would lessen as well. I have a case and I couldn't get mine to replicate the extremity of the video.
Mine fluctuated a bar or two, but as hard as I tried I couldn't get it below 3 bars.
Curious how a fix would come out--it appears that this is a hardware issue *shrugs*
This doesn't create any reception issues at all when held like that. Also I think with a case or bumper that the issue would lessen as well. I have a case and I couldn't get mine to replicate the extremity of the video.
Mine fluctuated a bar or two, but as hard as I tried I couldn't get it below 3 bars.
Curious how a fix would come out--it appears that this is a hardware issue *shrugs*
I've found a video demonstrating exactly what you're talking about. Sorry if it's a repost, I can't bother to read 27 pages (I stopped after 12, so that's at least some effort): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Lpt2YkF3Q
Here is how the phone knows your touching the sides and it can be a software glitch.
Picture the bars as your fuel gauge in your car and your car is set to shut the engine off at 98% empty because its not good to run at 2% or less.
Now imagine your fuel gauge miss calibrated and its reading empty at 75% so your engine shuts off but you still have gas... strange if only the fuel gauge was working you would be able to drive.
Looks to me like the radio in the iPhone is too sensitive and touching the phone drops the signal lightly but the phone thinks is a lot and poof searching...kinda like the squelch on a CB sp.