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

I just tested this on a call to a friend of mine and when I placed my palm on the lower left side of the phone, it dropped within ten seconds. I repeated this same action 5 times with the same results each time. When I switched to holding the phone with just my fingers, the call signal remained strong.
 
AppleMojo said:
Not quite sure how people can call bad signal quality 'trolling'... it's a fact, the only way I am able to use my iPhone 4 at all since yesterday is to have it in a case.

I posted two videos here, one with my iPhone 4 without a case and one with it in a case:

http://www.loyalmoses.com/2010/06/iphone-4-poor-signal-quality-with-and-without-case/

It's quite possible that some people aren't experiencing it, but that has no relevance for those of us who are experiencing it.
Click to expand...

sounds like your phone's busted too, ******.
 
Terrible Reception with iPhone 4

I, too, am having the same issue.

Even beyond this, though, my new iPhone 4 gets WAY worse reception than my 3G or my wife's 3GS. Irregardless of where you put your hands, the overall reception & antenna placement is a major FAIL.
 
AppleMojo said:
Not quite sure how people can call bad signal quality 'trolling'... it's a fact, the only way I am able to use my iPhone 4 at all since yesterday is to have it in a case.

I posted two videos here, one with my iPhone 4 without a case and one with it in a case:

http://www.loyalmoses.com/2010/06/iphone-4-poor-signal-quality-with-and-without-case/

It's quite possible that some people aren't experiencing it, but that has no relevance for those of us who are experiencing it.
Click to expand...

sounds like your phone's busted too, sh*tty
 
I'm having the same issue, I'm going inandout of service, without holding the phone and losing nearly all my bars when it's in my hand. What is apple to do...
 
I guess the iPhone 4 users will have to use a headset to talk on the phone.

Headset + iPhone 4 = no brain cancer + best signals! Kill 2 birds with one stone!!
 
I don't know about you all, but I don't remember adding 'Add Me Into Beta' into my shopping cart when I ordered my iP4. At first I didn't think I had this issue but when you're sitting on the couch with full bars, grab the phone to browse the app store and quickly see the bars diminish to 'searching', that's not acceptable.

Luckily using the headset makes the phone just dandy but this is not the right 'fix'. Now I'm wishing I didn't sell my 3GS and I got a phone interview tomorrow. Headset.... don't fail me!
 
Same here!

I followed how the guy did it, held the iPhone then there it goes the signal dis-appears then searching. I can smell a recall!!!
 
sanders4617 said:
Whoever is saying it is iOS4 is probably RIGHT! Because since I updated my phone (3G) to iOS4 (Monday night).. I have had more problems browsing the web and connecting than I ever have before.. and now with the iPhone 4.. having trouble there too.. So I think we may can narrow it down to iOS4.

I can't use Rhapsody on iOS4 either.. if anyone has that.. Not even in Wifi.. it wont play the song
Click to expand...

Since I updated my iPod Touch 2G to iOS4 it's been having poor WiFi reception. So I HOPE it's the software!!
 
Anyone know if the bumpers could help with this? I don't know what how cell reception is affected by rubber but it seems to me that it may help.
 
This issue occurs when you hold right-handed IP4 with left hand. Just inappropriate usage. Left-handed IP4 will by released in September.
 
Well guys it happens with almost every cell phone no-one (joe blow) really notices it that much. To really stop the whining the iPhone would have to have an antenna like this:
 

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Perhaps we should all step back a minute, and report back once we start to actually use the phone, real world... in the car, on the streets, w/headset, etc.

Cupping and holding any antenna, on any RF device will cause issues. Additionally, previous iPhone versions (3GS, 3G) are doing the same thing under iOS4, version 3 has still been unanswered.

I'm going to pick up my iPhone 4 tomorrow morning, and will help posting any issues I find, if any.

Gizmodo will not take away the excitement of the remaining 557,000 + people who have not yet received their new iPhone!!
 
Im sorry... how can this be a, and I quote, "longstanding issue"

The phone isnt even bloody available yet.
 
Tyre said:
Anyone know if the bumpers could help with this? I don't know what how cell reception is affected by rubber but it seems to me that it may help.
Click to expand...

Sure thing. It is easy to assume that bottom part is grounded. When you connect both parts with hands you ground antenna with some resistance. Sweaty or wet skin has lower resistance so grounding is more efficient.
Rubber will prohibit the grounding issue.

Edit: i say resistance for simplicity. In real world this is so called impedance. Impedance's value depends on frequency. Because GSM signal seems to be sensitive to "touch" and WiFi is not then technically the reason for troubles is pretty big capacity that appears between antenna and bottom.
 
maxijazz said:
This issue occurs when you hold right-handed IP4 with left hand. Just inappropriate usage. Left-handed IP4 will by released in September.
Click to expand...

Bingo.. this is actually it!
apple-wwdc-2010-168-rm-eng.jpg


It's meant for your right hand. Your'e right hand fingers won't bond the two pieces of metal together. But your left hand palm will... creating the issue!
 
This is just a matter of simple physics. The phone is sucking the radio energy out of the air around it. If you have a good wind or a fan to keep the air moving then you won't have a problem. Otherwise, just wave the phone around or move a few feet and it will be fine. If you talk too long or have a long download, you could end up with one of those pesky black holes--then you really have a problem on your hands.
 
Signal strength

People all the iPhones have done this, I have had all of them got iPhone 4 yesterday and it does it the same way as my original,3G and 3GS. So don't worry all is fine!!!
 
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