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iPhone 4 Reception Issue? [Video]
- Thread starter FFArchitect
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Being a "wiseass"
Looks like you are a "mad" apple fan. 90% of the people reporting on this site seem to have problems. And iphones have had issues in the past like dropped calls.
So instead of trying to mask the reality it would be better if you just accept the truth.
Looks like you are a "mad" apple fan. 90% of the people reporting on this site seem to have problems. And iphones have had issues in the past like dropped calls.
So instead of trying to mask the reality it would be better if you just accept the truth.
I've just been playing with my iphone 4 for a few minutes too, and mine also has the reception problem. I can't send text messages or make calls when i'm holding it in my left hand.
After experimenting a little further this is what I found:
Connecting the metal siding on the left to the metal on the bottom of the phone with your skin is what causes the reception to drop out (this is equivalent to covering the notch that people have been talking about). If i hold the phone and avoid the metal segment on the bottom reception is fine. Has anyone spoken to anyone at apple about this yet? What did they have to say?
After experimenting a little further this is what I found:
Connecting the metal siding on the left to the metal on the bottom of the phone with your skin is what causes the reception to drop out (this is equivalent to covering the notch that people have been talking about). If i hold the phone and avoid the metal segment on the bottom reception is fine. Has anyone spoken to anyone at apple about this yet? What did they have to say?
I am not normally an alarmist, but....
If this is a universal problem, this could possibly be one of Apple's worst hardware problems ever. I mean, you have to realize that Jobs specifically bragged about the new antenna system. If this turns out to be a an antenna issue due to interference by human touch, then it means either 1) they didn't test the phone enough before finalizing the design, or 2) something during production wasn't assembled properly and is causing this problem.
Either way, it will be the tumbling block on top of a heap of iPhone 4 launch problems. It could be disastrous to Apple's reputation, their stock, and will upset millions of early adopters. I truly hope this doesn't happen.
PS - I just got my phone call from Best Buy and I have my appointment set up for 7:30am tomorrow morning. As luck would have it, they will NOT have ANY bumpers tomorrow. So even if I wanted to shield myself from this problem, looks like I'll have to wear gloves or put tape on my phone! lol
If this is a universal problem, this could possibly be one of Apple's worst hardware problems ever. I mean, you have to realize that Jobs specifically bragged about the new antenna system. If this turns out to be a an antenna issue due to interference by human touch, then it means either 1) they didn't test the phone enough before finalizing the design, or 2) something during production wasn't assembled properly and is causing this problem.
Either way, it will be the tumbling block on top of a heap of iPhone 4 launch problems. It could be disastrous to Apple's reputation, their stock, and will upset millions of early adopters. I truly hope this doesn't happen.
PS - I just got my phone call from Best Buy and I have my appointment set up for 7:30am tomorrow morning. As luck would have it, they will NOT have ANY bumpers tomorrow. So even if I wanted to shield myself from this problem, looks like I'll have to wear gloves or put tape on my phone! lol
I cannot believe Apple released this phone with issues like this! I have wondered since they announced that the iPhone 4 would have the antenna on the outside of the phone what would happen when you held the phone.
Remember the rabbit ears for your tv way back in the day? If you touched them, it interfered with tv reception.
Remember the rabbit ears for your tv way back in the day? If you touched them, it interfered with tv reception.
What do you mean by "significant" bars? Does it drop ANY bars while you hold it with your left hand or right hand that also touches the left and and bottom strips? If you lost ANY bars, it means that when you are in an area with less initial reception, you very well could lose service.
The problem only seems to happen if you bridge the left side black rubber separator.
I can use my index finger only and bridge it and this problem happens. However I can cover up almost the rest of the entire outside band, and as long as I dont bridge to the bottom section I keep 5 bars.
I can use my index finger only and bridge it and this problem happens. However I can cover up almost the rest of the entire outside band, and as long as I dont bridge to the bottom section I keep 5 bars.
Here's a question:
If I go into Best Buy tomorrow to purchase my phone, is there any way I can check for this problem before activating it? I mean, they do the activation there and I would assume you can't actually check for reception without activating anyway, right?
If the problem happens to me in the store before I leave, can I immediately return it without paying a restocking fee and without eliminating my early upgrade discount if I decide to buy again later?
If I go into Best Buy tomorrow to purchase my phone, is there any way I can check for this problem before activating it? I mean, they do the activation there and I would assume you can't actually check for reception without activating anyway, right?
If the problem happens to me in the store before I leave, can I immediately return it without paying a restocking fee and without eliminating my early upgrade discount if I decide to buy again later?
hmm, I think if this is a hardware issue, we can all expect trade-ins for updated models, or free bumpers (or both).
Has anyone done any more scientific, measured testing? For example, directly clipping either antenna to a grounded surface (a radiator for example), and shorting the gaps with metal, rather than their hands? I realise that it doesn't show real life testing, but I think our bodies are far too unpredictable for us to be able to work out if it's hardware or software. I would think that it could be shorting the antennae to the lower alu band, which is internally grounded. If this is true, it is ridiculous design, but hopefully could be fixed with either a firmware update (if the lower band connection is through some logic chip) or possibly by a genius/recall simply severing the direct contact.
I fail to see why the band should be grounded - we're not using mains power here!
I'll post back when I pick mine up tomorrow, but if it is a hardware issue, I won't be paying for a replacement or for a bumper - Apple need to do that for me.
Has anyone done any more scientific, measured testing? For example, directly clipping either antenna to a grounded surface (a radiator for example), and shorting the gaps with metal, rather than their hands? I realise that it doesn't show real life testing, but I think our bodies are far too unpredictable for us to be able to work out if it's hardware or software. I would think that it could be shorting the antennae to the lower alu band, which is internally grounded. If this is true, it is ridiculous design, but hopefully could be fixed with either a firmware update (if the lower band connection is through some logic chip) or possibly by a genius/recall simply severing the direct contact.
I fail to see why the band should be grounded - we're not using mains power here!
I'll post back when I pick mine up tomorrow, but if it is a hardware issue, I won't be paying for a replacement or for a bumper - Apple need to do that for me.
Looks like after dozens of tests, that we can narrow it down to the left, long side metal strip being touched in conjunction with the bottom metal strip.
Maybe they kind this issue with the white iPhone, but foxconn assured them that it is a new mistake and al the black IRS are fine. Just a random though. I doubt what I said is the saw though. I just winder how is the white iPhone harder to make. All they do is paint re glass white correct?
Never mind contacting just apple support, anyone considered emailing Steve himself?? He supposedly has been known to reply to emails, and at least that way he can't deny he doesn't know!! I'd do it myself but I haven't got one yet, just a reservation for tomorrow, which I'm now seriously reconsidering.
Not here. I have a 3GS with no case or shield and I can hold it anywhere around the phone and don't lose any bars. Besides, there aren't any major complaints about losing bars on the 3GS while you are holding it and it's been out for a year. I'm not saying that holding your phone won't cause ANY change in signal. But this iPhone 4 issue is major and will affect just about everybody who uses the phone without a case or bumper.
Haha
I thought it would be funny to post, I know how specific people can be about isolating problem on these forums.
"iphone drops calls when held within 24 hours after wacking!"
I love this place.
The antennas are for different frequencies. When you bridge them that causes the problem. This is a bad problem but I knew it would happen when it was announced based on how antennas work and the conductivity of your skin. If the bumper fixes it Apple should give us all free bumpers.