Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 4 Reception Issue? [Video]
- Thread starter FFArchitect
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
We had no less than 4 new iphones activated today, all of our family. We were all very concerned about this rumor as we already have pretty iffy 3G reception in our neighborhood to start with, so as soon as we got our shiny new phones we all immediately checked that issue, trying to hold the phone in every imaginable way, with either hands. NONE, of our iphone4 showed any lessening of the 3-4 bars we all displayed no matter how hard we tried to cover and touch as much of the metal frame/antenna on the iphone. Not only could we not repeat the issue, but all went to sit in our respective cars, in our carport, where we typically could not initiate a call reliably, and all of us suprisingly managed to place a call successfully with a full 1-2 bars!!
Moreover, a few hours later, when my neighbor David stopped by to share his excitement for his own new iphone4, he wasn't aware of this so called issue, and we also tried to weaken his signal strength by holding the frame the way it supposedly trigger the drop, but no go, he also had a steady 4 bars on his iphone! Now, I know that a mere 5 iphone sample is not much to stand on, but the fact that none out of 5 manifested the drop tells me that it is definitely NOT a widespread issue, if an issue at all...
AAPLy yours.
Moreover, a few hours later, when my neighbor David stopped by to share his excitement for his own new iphone4, he wasn't aware of this so called issue, and we also tried to weaken his signal strength by holding the frame the way it supposedly trigger the drop, but no go, he also had a steady 4 bars on his iphone! Now, I know that a mere 5 iphone sample is not much to stand on, but the fact that none out of 5 manifested the drop tells me that it is definitely NOT a widespread issue, if an issue at all...
AAPLy yours.
Interesting reads for everyone here:
Atenna expert on the iPhone, FCC is to blame (somewhat):
http://bit.ly/9XYXk9
Steve/Apple, you're holding it WRONG!
http://i.imgur.com/zAJ0y.jpg
Atenna expert on the iPhone, FCC is to blame (somewhat):
http://bit.ly/9XYXk9
Steve/Apple, you're holding it WRONG!
http://i.imgur.com/zAJ0y.jpg
Odds are, you are very close to a tower. Your signal drops, but you can't tell since the "bar meter" will show 5 bars for -50db to ~-100db and you are still within that range.
I can replicate the issue now. At first, I could not since certain part of the day, I guess and my hands where really dry, usually are. But this evening my hands where more moist.. and now I can replicate.
However, who isn't going to use a case on the iphone4 anyways?
I mean.. why would you not. I know that it shouldn't "be there" as an issue but .. meh. My bumper will be here this week.
However, who isn't going to use a case on the iphone4 anyways?
I mean.. why would you not. I know that it shouldn't "be there" as an issue but .. meh. My bumper will be here this week.
Video of myself replicating this phenomenon on my Nokia mobile phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PsYDfoNWXI
Poor compressed quality. Sorry about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PsYDfoNWXI
Poor compressed quality. Sorry about that.
Video of me not being able to replicate the issue......a 2nd time .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zehL4z__G-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zehL4z__G-o
I can reproduce it twice in a row as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-b56MdVjo
I'm just torn now - I want to use the device without a case, but I can't. There's just not a good enough reason to hold it the way apple wants you to hold it. It's just really stupid. I'm actually contemplating about returning the device -but I am of course screwed over with a 2Year contract.
Bumper case it is then
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-b56MdVjo
I'm just torn now - I want to use the device without a case, but I can't. There's just not a good enough reason to hold it the way apple wants you to hold it. It's just really stupid. I'm actually contemplating about returning the device -but I am of course screwed over with a 2Year contract.
Bumper case it is then
Incidentally, a solution would involve holding the phone upside down (speaker side up) while on a call.
While speaking on the phone, holding it upside down (speaker side up) gives you great sound, optimal reception, and would eliminate any possibility of interference while holding it. (antenna side up)
For anyone who has reception/interference issues, this would eliminate them.
The trick is to find someone who has a phone that is known to exhibit the problem and bring them to the same locations you had no problems with, and see what happens. That is, if you want to see whether your phones really have the same problem as others. Or you could just carry on enjoying them and not worry about it.
iPhone Reception
I'm sorry but I'm having a hard time believing that Apple was not aware of the problem. They were also aware that people would tolerate the problem as long as they got their hands on a unit. Any way, wouldn't it be possible to go the route of the iPod with the FM adapter? The headphone wire that connects to the unit acts as an antenna. Would something like that work? Just a thought.
I'm sorry but I'm having a hard time believing that Apple was not aware of the problem. They were also aware that people would tolerate the problem as long as they got their hands on a unit. Any way, wouldn't it be possible to go the route of the iPod with the FM adapter? The headphone wire that connects to the unit acts as an antenna. Would something like that work? Just a thought.
Well Duh!
Engineers at Apple should take a short course in RF antenna design.
Sure, if you put your fingers directly on the antenna (which happens to be the metal sides of the unit), you are going to change the effective length of the antenna, or worse yet, ground it out to your body, and the signal reception will drop into the "mud".
Perhaps this could be rectified by Apple by an easy fix, or maybe you will just have to start wearing insulated gloves to use the iPhone 4.
Since I don't own, and do not plan to own an iPhone 4, can someone else please do this test:
Put on a pair of gloves. Make sure that the gloves fully cover your fingers (don't use weight lifters gloves
)
Now hold the phone in exactly the same way you did without the gloves, and see whether the signal drops.
Oh, and surely try putting the iPhone into it's case.
Neither gloves nor the case will completely solve the antenna issue, since a lot of the energy is still going into or being blocked by your hand, but at least if you're not making physical (electrical) contact with the antenna element, the signal strength should improve.
Note that one can see the effect of antenna placement much more easily with your VHF walkie talkie (FRS radio, police radio, etc). I like to carry mine in my hand, not on my belt, simply because my body blocks a lot of the signal when the antenna is laying against my body (even though it is not contacting my skin).
As was said in that excellent antenna article (link posted by blen).
Unfortunately, cell phone signals are quite weak (and have to be to keep SAR down to acceptable levels), and having the phone in your hand is exacerbating the situation.
Maybe someone will come up with a cute little fix. Something to re-direct the antenna back to where it was in earlier models.
I read on CNN.com that Apple thinks this is a software problem. Huh?
I don't think so.
Good luck
KE2KB
Engineers at Apple should take a short course in RF antenna design.
Sure, if you put your fingers directly on the antenna (which happens to be the metal sides of the unit), you are going to change the effective length of the antenna, or worse yet, ground it out to your body, and the signal reception will drop into the "mud".
Perhaps this could be rectified by Apple by an easy fix, or maybe you will just have to start wearing insulated gloves to use the iPhone 4.
Since I don't own, and do not plan to own an iPhone 4, can someone else please do this test:
Put on a pair of gloves. Make sure that the gloves fully cover your fingers (don't use weight lifters gloves
)Now hold the phone in exactly the same way you did without the gloves, and see whether the signal drops.
Oh, and surely try putting the iPhone into it's case.
Neither gloves nor the case will completely solve the antenna issue, since a lot of the energy is still going into or being blocked by your hand, but at least if you're not making physical (electrical) contact with the antenna element, the signal strength should improve.
Note that one can see the effect of antenna placement much more easily with your VHF walkie talkie (FRS radio, police radio, etc). I like to carry mine in my hand, not on my belt, simply because my body blocks a lot of the signal when the antenna is laying against my body (even though it is not contacting my skin).
As was said in that excellent antenna article (link posted by blen).
Unfortunately, cell phone signals are quite weak (and have to be to keep SAR down to acceptable levels), and having the phone in your hand is exacerbating the situation.
Maybe someone will come up with a cute little fix. Something to re-direct the antenna back to where it was in earlier models.
I read on CNN.com that Apple thinks this is a software problem. Huh?
I don't think so.
Good luck
KE2KB
At the frequencies used by a cell phone, antenna design is critical; a lot more so than at FM radio frequencies, which are much lower.
Apple never should have put the antenna anywhere near where your fingers/hand will touch.
It should be common knowledge to anyone designing an RF (radio) device.
Please try the experiment I described in my other post.
KE2KB
Same thing here. At work can duplicate as were close to the tower at home not only can duplicate, but also drops the all every single time.
As a ham you are correct. Another thing to remember is broadcast signals (radio/tv) transmit very strong signals 100,000 watts. Cellular technology depends on very weak signals arranged in a overlapped "cell" configuration. That's why this problem is so prominent.
Yeah trust me you do, every one does. its just depends where you are approximate to the tower. 4 People at work told me no issue while in the office, different stories at home all had the same problem.
Interesting observation:
I held my phone with my left hand and watched my service drop in incriments until flatlining at what appeared to be 1 bar and -113dB. I kept holding it, and not only did the bars go back to 5 but the signal went to -80dB.
For people having this problem. Hold your phones and have the signal drop. Keep holding it for 30 seconds longer and see if the signal then returns. I don't know what this would mean, but it's just more evidence for the experts to consider.
I held my phone with my left hand and watched my service drop in incriments until flatlining at what appeared to be 1 bar and -113dB. I kept holding it, and not only did the bars go back to 5 but the signal went to -80dB.
For people having this problem. Hold your phones and have the signal drop. Keep holding it for 30 seconds longer and see if the signal then returns. I don't know what this would mean, but it's just more evidence for the experts to consider.
It's not.
This is now being noticed because of the attention that the external antenna has drawn.