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iPhone 4 Signal Strength Indicator Issue Alleviated by Use of Bumper or Case

There are different frequencies of 3G, and also proximity to the tower could certainly affect this as well as many other factors, which is why we're seeing slightly inconsistent results.

This is NOT a software problem, there is absolutely no way it could be.

It's also not really a big deal - don't hold the phone by the bottom. Done.
 
Touching mine doesn't seem to have any effect on the phone, I've tried multiple times. With that said, the phone does seem to lose signal randomly, but this happens even when my phone's in the cupholder and I'm talking through my car's bluetooth system.
 
knewsom said:
There are different frequencies of 3G, and also proximity to the tower could certainly affect this as well as many other factors, which is why we're seeing slightly inconsistent results.

This is NOT a software problem, there is absolutely no way it could be.

It's also not really a big deal - don't hold the phone by the bottom. Done.
Click to expand...

yeppp. How many on these boards loved hearing about a loose Droid battery door?:p
 
keyofnight said:
Alright. After sleeping on it, I have a theory. Bear with me, as I don't have an iPhone 4 yet (it's on its way here from SoCal—long story). Tell me what you guys think.

On the iPhone, I presume there is some sort of light, stylistic anodization or coating on the steel parts. I could (definitely) be wrong, but usually a brushed or muted texture on steel indicates some sort of coating or treatment to the steel's outside. I don't have an iPhone 4 yet, so I can't test my theory. Could someone tell me if this is true?

Either way, such a coating would prevent us from "completing the circuit" between what are supposed to be two separate antennas. If there is a manufacturing defect in the coating, you would surely complete the circuit with physical contact (—or any other conductive contact). If this is the case, then it is a manufacturing defect, not a design flaw—though I will admit that the design enables this defect. This would also explain why people can't reproduce the issue; and some can only reproduce the issue with a few dropped bars but no dropped service.

I'm hoping it is a defect; the design is beautiful, and changing it would prove to be a debacle for both the consumers and Apple.

If I'm correct, Apple need only strengthen the process used on the antennas (be it a light anodization or whatever else it is) and issue a general recall on broken iPhone 4s. The recalled stock can be used to make available refurbished phones, and everyone wins.
Click to expand...


i feel it's a design flaw, not a defect-- i agree they probably didn't hold it in their palms when testing signal strength. kinda crappy QA, but understandable sort of, i don't really hold it in my palm except when tapping links on the internet or watching a movie or reading. when i'm talking i naturally hold the edges with a stabilizing finger on the back, so it doesn't seem to be much of an issue for me. however:

i'm going to try a light coating of clear nail polish on the steel band/antenna on the bottom and see if that helps the issue at all.. i'd rather not use a bumper or case personally.
 
If this happened to any other phone: lol it's such a terrible product
When it happens to an iPhone: no big deal, just get a case or don't hold it from the bottom
 
mdelrossi said:
Just did mine,
Works great, just be sure to cover the black band as well.
Hardly notice it, but this still sucks.
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Great! If that didn't work I was going to suggest...
csimiamifinger.jpg

:eek:
 
wont do it now

Have been sitting at my desk all day...earlier the bars would drop when i held the phone.....now i cant get it to drop any bars. Not a bad thing but what the heck.....
:cool:
 
I think it may be in conjunction with the signal strength in the area, At my girlfreinds house i wrapped my whole hand around the steel ring and it never dropped below 5 bars, yet inside a building at work where i usually get 5 bars, i do the cupped hand trick and itll go from 4 to searching. At home I get marginal service and i can drop a call on command based on how im holding the phone. Apple probably should have done some more realistic testing before they talked a hard game about improved reception.
 
Iv had my phone since the 23rd and don't have this problem at all! No matter how i tightly i hold my phone.
So all you jerk faces can ***** off k?
Thanks:)
 
Tsunami911 said:
Software patch is in the works which will send an electrical shock through your body should you mistakenly block the iPhone4's signal.

Thank you for your patience.

- Steve
Click to expand...

Ahahaha...

"ZZZZzZZzZzzZZZZZZzzzzZZZZZttttttt. Take THAT. That'll teach ya for thwarting the iPhone's reception with your hand!"

;-)
 
Kid Red said:
Forget dropped calls, I can't surf the web because I hold the phone in my left hand and scroll/click with my right.
Click to expand...

Not only that, when you hold the phone in your left hand (in a comfortable, normal position to me) to dial w/your right, the signal drops. Like I said in an earlier post, I tested this on 3 different phones at the Apple Store. All phones had full signal strength, then dropped to 1 or 2 bars w/in 10-40 seconds.

Btw, I tried placing just a finger tip over the left side gap. No matter which phone and no matter how long I held it there, I could not get the signal to drop with just a finger tip. Only when held in my left hand and resting against my palm did the signal drop.

Still, this issue does not dissuade me from buying an iPhone 4. Whether I resort to a bumper or hold the phone differently or whatever, to me the benefits outweigh the inconvenience.
 
Mines still syncing at the moment so not had a chance to try - however It will be interesting to see if I get the problem. At a computer room I used to manage I installed a water detection system under the floor in case the air con went west. This consisted of a metal strip that ran under the floor tiles.

We found that one of my colleagues would set the alarm off as soon as he touched the strip. However when I touched it, no matter what I did, it would not activate, whereas even the lightest touch from the other guy would set it off.
 
Vorst said:
Again I tried it on my BB curve and the iphone 3GS and got a dramatic drop of signal when I put my hand around it. Why would the iPhone 4 be different?
I just don't get it, that everybody starts to panic about this.
Click to expand...
My 3G have the same casing as your 3GS. There is no drop of signal regardless how I handle it. No surprise since the antenna is not part of the casing. The iPhone 4 IS different in that respect. I really, really wanted to purchase the iPhone 4.
 
Just thought i would throw something else in to this mess!

I have a bumper case on mine and have found i can even get full signal to drop to 2 bars by cupping the bottom in my left hand and holding my right thumb on the home button (without actually pressing it).

Hmmmm? Anyone found this?
 
I have a bumper, and I can confirm that this issue still exists. Sometimes my signal will drop really low, maybe not quite as low as naked (like 1-2 bars) and I don't really notice it until my webpages start loading slower. Then I'll change the way I hold it to be pinched by two fingers at the top and my bars slowly increase back to 5.

I thought I read something about iPhone 4 using advanced spectrum switching technology when it encounters obstructions or other interference on the current band. Perhaps this is the software problem? It's just not switching properly? Because it seems to be slowing down. Haven't used voice enough to be able to tell.
 
ScooterLibby said:
If it didn't happen to you it couldn't possibly happen to anyone else.
Click to expand...

i wasn't talking about them. I was talking about the people saying oh never buy a new product blah blah. Go head and be jealous cuz you have a busted iPhone or whatever your on your period for.
 
Problem solved

I have put a very small bit of tape over the back bar. Sorted can lose a bar however hard I tried. Went to take a photo to post but image can't even pick up the tape. Not solved to most people satisfaction but will stop it happening till apple says what they are planning to do.
 
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