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 Signal Declines While Being Held? A Longstanding Issue?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The reader that called it trolling has removed his video. Probably got sick of negative comments. He could have turned off comments, though.
As mentioned, all the iPhones dropped bars if you held them a certain way. Pre iPhone 4 if you held it by 2 fingers at the top, either corner, you could get up to 3 more bars and noticeable more speed. So now with the whole band being part of the antenna I wonder how best to hold it to get receiption. Typically a human touching an antenna creates better reception, though it may also bring unwanted other broadcasts. I'd experiment with pinching any where with 2 fingers with none touching the metal band. Dropped calls are pain. How is it with a bluetooth headset?
As mentioned, all the iPhones dropped bars if you held them a certain way. Pre iPhone 4 if you held it by 2 fingers at the top, either corner, you could get up to 3 more bars and noticeable more speed. So now with the whole band being part of the antenna I wonder how best to hold it to get receiption. Typically a human touching an antenna creates better reception, though it may also bring unwanted other broadcasts. I'd experiment with pinching any where with 2 fingers with none touching the metal band. Dropped calls are pain. How is it with a bluetooth headset?
Your sarcasm meters antenna must be out. Its either that or the sarcasm meter software.
Losing a few 'BRAS' might be fun!
Most Amateur Radio folk (N6OFY here) know however, that anything touching the antenna WILL effect receiving or transmitting of an RF signal. (there are also other hazards, Emf) The 'bumper' might be Apples way of trying to fix it.
So... Let's add something interesting to the mix. It happens to me, very predictably, when my phone is on 3G service. Once it drops to Edge, the problem goes away... Can anyone else confirm this? Maybe it is a problem with the 3G radio...
Update: I might have been wrong... It looks like it might just be because my Edge is stronger. It is now going down to 3 bars from 5 when on Edge service, and from 4 bars to searching when using 3G...
Update: I might have been wrong... It looks like it might just be because my Edge is stronger. It is now going down to 3 bars from 5 when on Edge service, and from 4 bars to searching when using 3G...
This is not the first phone to use the metal ring as an antenna. I'm sure I heard the older phones used it too. In fact I believe Apple has a patent on this concept. I don't know if the ring was used for cell, WiFi, or both on older phones, but the difference here is separating the ring into multiple antennas.
has anyone thought that this might be a bug? I know that Mossburg has said apple has acknowledged it to him. and since some people are having it on the 3GS with iOS 4, maybe this is some kind of weird linking between the accelerometer, detecting movement, and not actually cell reception?
I suggest trailing a wagon behind you with the phone placed gently on a pillow.
Don't use the metallic wagons though, as this will likely cause interference. Use a plastic wagon. In some cases this may not resolve the problem 100% so you might need to get some rope to tie on the handle and get an extra 5'-8' of length between you and the phone.
This should clear up the problems for anyone.
I have a video coming out shortly to show it working.
First, if you read Gizmodo for anything more than laughs, you fail. I read it. But, just to see the bizarre stuff they do. Not for real news.
Second, this is news? You do realize many phones on various networks do this. I see fluctuations in signal strengths on many phones. Including Andriods and Blackberrys when held. So, again, why is this news?
And, for those who want their money back or want to return their phone, I hope your in my neck of the woods. This just makes for better service for me
Second, this is news? You do realize many phones on various networks do this. I see fluctuations in signal strengths on many phones. Including Andriods and Blackberrys when held. So, again, why is this news?
And, for those who want their money back or want to return their phone, I hope your in my neck of the woods. This just makes for better service for me
Not the same at all. My old iPhones do it, but dont do it to the degree that it goes from full bars to NO CONNECTION. Huge difference. Please, apologists, leave the thread and let the people experiencing the issue talk.
First, if you read Gizmodo for anything more than laughs, you fail. I read it. But, just to see the bizarre stuff they do. Not for real news.
Second, this is news? You do realize many phones on various networks do this. I see fluctuations in signal strengths on many phones. Including Andriods and Blackberrys when held. So, again, why is this news?
And, for those who want their money back or want to return their phone, I hope your in my neck of the woods. This just makes for better service for me
People just see an apple product and they begin to dissect it crazily. its sad. did any of this happen when the Evo came out?
I used to have exactly the same issue with my 3G and 3GS when I was living in the United States and using the AT&T network. Both my iPhones always lost signal or switched from 3G to EDGE whenever I held them. Now that I live in Canada, I have never experienced the issue. My phones NEVER lose a bar of signal when I hold them. Rock-solid 3G coverage everywhere. The signal never fluctuates. My phones never switch to EDGE during phone calls or heavy downloads either.
Perhaps this issue is simply another indicator of how poorly designed the AT&T network really is.
Perhaps this issue is simply another indicator of how poorly designed the AT&T network really is.
Actually would it not be a sign of a superior built network? One that can relay in instant time how close or tight someone is holding their phone and then decrease the signal on the fly?
That is some pretty amazing technology, and clearly you are not forward thinking enough to see what this means for the future of the world!
Imagine a glass that starts to quickly evaporate your drink when you pick up the glass?
What about a book where pages disappear while you read it?
Can you not see what a time saver this kind of stealth technology will be?
As unpredictable as ATT service is I can't replicate any of this in my 3Gs or 4? Problem is definitely not universal.
The wifi on my iPad however is another story all together!
My wife got her phone today. We live in an apartment that already gets crappy reception. However, since using her iPhone 4 around the place, I have noticed the huge fluctuations in signal unfortunately. This is really, really bad news. The iPhone is already a subpar phone. I don't think I reasonably be able to keep it if it became any worse.
I have not tried the holding it vs not holding it yet. Wife is in bed with it right now and mine is stuck in Alaska.
I have not tried the holding it vs not holding it yet. Wife is in bed with it right now and mine is stuck in Alaska.
As does Gizmodo.
You notice ever since they got caught breaking the law, they've been practically tripping over themselves in the attempt to slag the iPhone 4?
my BlackBerry gets better service when held upside down on TMobile, should I report this to the gadget blogs?