iPhone 4 Signal Declines While Being Held? A Longstanding Issue?

[far182]

I found that any metal (like a simple house key) will cause the same problem.

Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvH-i7rKPJc

 

[mhdena]

I'm not saying people aren't having problems, and sure it could be a design error. But it's not widespread, and no one has any evidence that it occurs more often in iPhone 4 than any other mobile phone.

All iphones have dropped calls more than most since they launched (more than blackberry and dumbphones combined), it should be fixed by now. I ordered my 1st one due 7/14. By then some of these 'issues' should be resolved, acknowledged, or.... Nexus One here I come

 

[bahooki]

It's not irrelevant to those who need to use their phones frequently for business, and have already switched over from the 3GS. There are some impressive mac zombie apologists roaming here.

Yep, you could show some people around here iphones killing babies and they'd still bury their heads in the sand screaming NOTHINGS WRONG? On a forum such as this, you need to ignore the trolls and the rabid fanboys. They're equally pathetic.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

It's simply ridiculous how blind someone can be.
It might already easily be called "religion"...

Yeah right. I hold my phone like a phone and it drops every single call I make. I hold it awkwardly between my thumb and forefinger and not a single call drops. That's not making a lot out of anything. That's a huge problem. Regardless of what apologists want to say.

Sorry, but there are a ton of other people out there enjoying their new iPhones without this problem that has been present in all iPhones and many (I can't say all) models of cell phone. Maybe it is more widespread with the iPhone 4, but there's no evidence of that.

 

[bahooki]

I think people are looking a little too into this. People are watching those bars like hawks now.
1 bar or 5 bars, seems the same to me.

Besides, who really gets many bars with AT&T anyways?

Huge difference between 1 bar and SEARCHING. 1 bar can make, receive and maintain calls. SEARCHING can't do a damn thing. I've owned plenty of phones, including 3 other iPhones, the iphone 4 is the first to consistently drop every single call I make while holding the phone like a phone.

 

[Zander-Fragile]

Yep, you could show some people around here iphones killing babies and they'd still bury their heads in the sand screaming NOTHINGS WRONG? On a forum such as this, you need to ignore the trolls and the rabid fanboys. They're equally pathetic.

It seems the trolls and the fanboys constitute a sizable percentage of the demographic unfortunately. Macrumors has been around since 2000, but I notice that most people posting registered in the last year or two. The fanboy apologists essentially push the independently minded away.

 

[bahooki]

Sorry, but there are a ton of other people out there enjoying their new iPhones without this problem that has been present in all iPhones and many (I can't say all) models of cell phone. Maybe it is more widespread with the iPhone 4, but there's no evidence of that.

And there are a ton more experiencing the problem. I took my phone into an area near me that has strong AT&T service, and the bars dropped down to 1 but maintained a call. The quality of the call was crap, but it didn't drop. But everywhere I went where AT&T is simply ok to good in signal strength, every single call I initiated dropped unless I set the phone down and used speakerphone. This is going to be a huge problem for a lot of people.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03PQyWp0mWE

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

And there are a ton more experiencing the problem.

There are not more people experiencing problems than those who aren't. Don't make things up.

I took my phone into an area near me that has strong AT&T service, and the bars dropped down to 1 but maintained a call. The quality of the call was crap, but it didn't drop. But everywhere I went where AT&T is simply ok to good in signal strength, every single call I initiated dropped unless I set the phone down and used speakerphone. This is going to be a huge problem for a lot of people.

Thank god we have one person's anecdote as definitive proof of a widespread major issue!

 

[valkraider]

To actually be able to make an intelligent, informed judgement, you need... well, I don't want to confuse you, but you need a lot more cell phones.

Yep.

Scientific Method does not include people posting adhoc videos of uncontrolled, unverified, and uncoordinated tests to YouTube.

We need controls, we need blinds, we need volumes of data.

All these anecdotal claims are is a good reason for Apple and AT&T to look into the data and see if there is an actual problem or not.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Yep.

Scientific Method does not include people posting adhoc videos of uncontrolled, unverified, and uncoordinated tests to YouTube.

We need controls, we need blinds, we need volumes of data.

All these anecdotal claims are is a good reason for Apple and AT&T to look into the data and see if there is an actual problem or not.

This is the internet, it's full of morons who will just never understand.

 

[BigJimmyC]

Sorry, but there are a ton of other people out there enjoying their new iPhones without this problem that has been present in all iPhones and many (I can't say all) models of cell phone. Maybe it is more widespread with the iPhone 4, but there's no evidence of that.

Do you have an example of any other phone that drops its signal completely when you hold it like a phone? You keep stating that this problem is widespread across cell phones, but haven't actually presented any evidence or examples of this. Sure, if all cell phones had exposed antennae this could be a widespread issue, but i'm guessing that most of them just don't.

 

[Lord Vader]

Good, I'm not buying until my 3GS dies.

 

[Castiel]

Huge difference between 1 bar and SEARCHING. 1 bar can make, receive and maintain calls. SEARCHING can't do a damn thing. I've owned plenty of phones, including 3 other iPhones, the iphone 4 is the first to consistently drop every single call I make while holding the phone like a phone.

You act like you've been using the phone for months. You've had it, what? One day?
For now, I don't think you have enough evidence to claim anything.

 

[Skaterbasist]

I tried it out on my new iPhone.

First attempt at my desk: It was laid on my glass desk, full bars. I grabbed the phone from the metal edges, keeping it at the same angle with an elevation of well, just about the thickness of my hand. And it dropped to 1 bar

I tried it again elsewhere in the room (holding in the glass portion vs the edges), and the bars stayed full. Strange...

Edit: I just tried it again and it dropped by 4 bars. Hopefully it can be resolved with a software/firmware update?

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Do you have an example of any other phone that drops its signal completely when you hold it like a phone? You keep stating that this problem is widespread across cell phones, but haven't actually presented any evidence or examples of this. Sure, if all cell phones had exposed antennae this could be a widespread issue, but i'm guessing that most of them just don't.

There are videos of this happening with previous iPhone versions. It's mentioned on the front page. I'm not saying it's a widespread, I'm saying it happens with many, many phones, but in small numbers.

 

[bahooki]

There are not more people experiencing problems than those who aren't. Don't make things up.



Thank god we have one person's anecdote as definitive proof of a widespread major issue!

Like I said, the rabid apologists on this forum are as bad as the trolls. Welcome to the kill file.

 

[hifoo45]

Anyone who has a 3G or 3GS can replicate this. I just did it with my 3GS. It's nothing new and if you didn't have a problem with it on the 3G why is it an issue now?

I think people are over reacting.

 

[bahooki]

You act like you've been using the phone for months. You've had it, what? One day?
For now, I don't think you have enough evidence to claim anything.

Yeah, you're right. Holding the phone in my hand causes every single call to drop is evidence of nothing. Perhaps tomorrow only 99 percent will drop.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Like I said, the rabid apologists on this forum are as bad as the trolls. Welcome to the kill file.

I love this forum. Some days people tell me to leave and call me a WebOS fanboy, other days people call me an Apple apologist.

God forbid I suggest the scientific method in the 21st century. Of course this is the internet and it's full of morons.


One thing I've definitely noticed lately is how rude many members who have only joined in the last few months can be. Have a little respect guys.

 

[duderodamus]

No loss of signal

Haven't noticed drop in signal. Covered entire outer edge and signal stays strong. Hope these are isolated issues like the tinted screens.

 

[bahooki]

Anyone who has a 3G or 3GS can replicate this. I just did it with my 3GS. It's nothing new and if you didn't have a problem with it on the 3G why is it an issue now?

I think people are over reacting.

Wow some people are dense. Watch the video I just linked above. Same test done with 3G and iphone 4. Both drop bars when held, but only the iphone 4 drops every single call.

 

[locust76]

Edit: I just tried it again and it dropped by 4 bars. Hopefully it can be resolved with a software/firmware update?

Unless Apple has developed an API that allows programmers to define new laws of physics, this probably won't be fixable with anything other than new hardware.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Yeah, you're right. Holding the phone in my hand causes every single call to drop is evidence of nothing. Perhaps tomorrow only 99 percent will drop.

yeah, you have one phone to test. Did you ever think that maybe yours is defective? Have all the calls you've tried to make been in the same place? Maybe go to another side of town to do some actual testing.


Again, this is the internet. It's full of fools.

 

[cheese0]

well, they did fix it with software for the 3G two years ago...

 

[David87]

What's the big deal? Doesn't this happen with all phones? Every phone I've ever owned has had the signal strength decrease when it's held; it's physics! Obviously my current 3GS is included.