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

macduke said:
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.
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wise words. another well put "the software might just be overwhelmed by what's happening to the signal" argument
 
kntgsp said:
I realize I'm not the oldest fart here, but man how I yearn for the old Mac community.
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Is that the one that treated mistakes by companies as possible, too? Or the one that gave companies 10 minutes to fix their mistakes before grabbing pitchforks?

I know it's one of those.
 
Are you kidding me, Apple?!?!? I was using a 60 DOLLAR Samsung GO pay-as-you-go phone for two weeks leading up to he launch. I experienced only three drop call within those THREE DROPPED CALLS!!!

In only a few hours of usage of my shiny new 300 DOLLAR iPhone 4, I've experience FIVE, I repeat, FIVE DROPPED CALLS!!!

WTFH is the problem, Apple?!?!
 
There's so much going on.

1) Brand new product from Apple.
2) An ever-evolving attempt by AT&T to improve their network.
3) An internet community that responds in SECONDS to problems that may (antenna issue) or may not be (discoloration issue) real problems.

Only time will tell what's really going on. There's few companies in the world that are as good at delivering timely and regular updates as Apple, and you can bet this is something they know they need to sort out.

In the meantime, I am perfectly capable of making calls, getting emails, shooting video, taking pictures, and browsing the web.

The sky ain't fallin'.
 
SonGoku v2.5 said:
Ya muck it up anyway via fingerprints and scratches...don't tell me your iPhone/iPad/iPod (ESPECIALLY THE BACK OF THE IPOD) stays perfect/pristine/gorgeous/adjective despite usage in your hands, in your pockets, and anywhere that can cause aesthetic damage. I always wonder why some people have iPhones and iPods that look like absolute trash in comparison to mine, and I can tell you that it certainly isn't because they have any kind of protection on them - they don't. Unless you wipe your device down after every time you use it as well as protect it at least while it's in your pocket, I can guarantee that it will look bad in a matter of months if not weeks.
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Oh that is because it is ONLY a phone and not the slab with ten commandments that fell from sky to be savored with a case and crisp pages. These are only tangible things, its going to depreciate in value by the minute. No use protecting it unless you care about the resale value to buy the next edition.
 
alhumphrey said:
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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was doing the same while you were posting. resolved the issue...for now
 
Problem Solved


hands%20free%20cell%20phone.jpg
 
charliepratt said:
Only time will tell what's really going on. There's few companies in the world that are as good at delivering timely and regular updates as Apple, and you can bet this is something they know they need to sort out.
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Took them almost two years to acknowledge in-ear headphone problems.

Longer than that to admit to crap batteries in 3rd gen. iPods and then only after class action forced their hand.

Apple ain't so freakin' grand.:rolleyes:
 
i noticed that when i'm in a very strong signal area - like my office - the bars don't change when i touch that spot. but when i'm home - where i have a weak signal - then the bars disappear when i do it. so those people who aren't having a problem are probably in a good area.
 
bumper case does NOTHING!

Long story short....I replicated the issue at home read the "bumper theory" and like a tard went back to the store.

Tried to replicate it at the store without the bumper, but the signal was a complete 5 bars. Bought it anyway........why? I'm an idiot......

put the bumper on came home, same problem.......

DO NOT WASTE YOUR $30 ON THE BUMPER! :mad:
 
Just read the article on this at engadget... this part struck me:

One iPhone 4 demonstrated the issue everytime it was held in our left hand (as a right-handed person is apt to do) so that our palm was essentially bridging the two antennas. You can see that in the video after the break. Bridging the two with a finger tip, however, didn't cause any issues with the reported reception. If we had to guess, we'd say that our conductive skin was acting to detune the antenna -- in fact, we've already managed to slowly kill two calls that way so it's not just an issue with the software erroneously reporting an incorrect signal strength. That said, we had no issues when Apple's $29 rubber bumper accessory (given to us free for standing in line) was attached, creating a buffer between our palm and the antennas. Our second UK-purchased iPhone 4 was fine, showing none of these handling symptoms. See the video evidence after the break including Insanely Great Mac's version which got us to worrying in the first place.

P.S. Don't forget to take our poll and let us know if you're seeing both the yellow spots / stripes and reception issues. Unfortunately, we're suffering from both flaws which is not a good sign for quality control on this first batch of Apple handsets.

P.P.S. Since some of you are asking, our review unit showed none of these issues.
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Three different iPhone 4's. Two unaffected. One showing problems.

Same location/network/band/signal strength etc. -- so that removes those variables from the equation.

It's gotta be a quality control issue, NOT a design issue. If it was a design flaw, all of engadget's phones would have shown the problems, not just one. They tried to replicate the problem, and could only get 1 of the 3 to show it.

Makes me feel better that it doesn't appear to be an Apple design problem affecting every phone, but at the same time, I feel real bad for the workers at whatever Chinese factory was responsible for the bad batch(es). :eek:
 
bumper issue

Hey anyone notice that the Apple bumper DOES NOT allow for larger 30-pin plugs due to the size of the plug? My Griffin accessories now don't fit with the bumper on in my card, nor will it work with the dock :(

Incase needs to release their solutions now!
 
Very clear evidence of bridging-flaw

Here is a continuously-shot video that shows websites loading up quickly and easily when the top-part of the phone is held, but completely freezing up as soon as the guy moves his hand down. This is pretty damning evidence that this isn't just a display issue, but an actual data-loss issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydVxwKJWGV0

Here's the annotated version of the same video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oflC4qo8M
 
go figure your hand acting as a conductor. Common sense would have told engineers that. Glad both mine sold on ebay. Buying a bumper is not a solution. I always hated having a case on my phones. Takes away the beauty of it. Ill keep my 3Gs and signal.
 
dwcolt said:
Here is a continuously-shot video that shows websites loading up quickly and easily when the top-part of the phone is held, but completely freezing up as soon as the guy moves his hand down. This is pretty damning evidence that this isn't just a display issue, but an actual data-loss issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydVxwKJWGV0

Here's the annotated version of the same video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oflC4qo8M
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easy to try this yourself using the bandwidth speedtest.net app

I get 1600kbps up and down not holding the phone.
hold the phone and I get 16kbps up and about 4kbps down!
 
GOPboi said:
HEY GUYS, SORRY TO TYPE IN CAPS BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THIS MESSAGE.

I CALLED APPLE AND THEY TOLD ME TO TO RESET THE NETWORK SETTINGS TO FIX THIS ANTENNA ISSUE.

SO FAR, IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING.

GO TO SETTINGS. THEN GENERAL, THEN SCROLL TO RESET ALL THE WAY IN THE BOTTOM, THEN RESET NETWORK SETTINGS.

I've touch the atenna several times now and the signal bar is still at five bars, let me know if it works,

thx,

manny
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I'll be damned this works .................

At least for now and where I am now .

Being very careful to sit in the same place and hold the phone in the same way.. I got it to do the drop signal ............... then I reset the network settings, re entered my wifi pass and held it the exact same way ....... before within a min it would start to drop bars.. now I held it for 4 and it never dropped even one bar.

nuts.

Try it folks can't hurt
 
My signal drops from 5 bars to one just by bridging the left hand gap with the tip of my index finger!
 
One thing seams to becoming to light that lots of people use two hands to use there iPhone. Left hand to hold it right hand to tap with. Am I the only one that uses one hand. Resting phone in palm of right hand with fingers warped round and thumb to tap away. Btw I only have small hands in find it really easy to hold like that and quicker to type with and no signal loss issue.
 
twarner776 said:
go figure your hand acting as a conductor. Common sense would have told engineers that. Glad both mine sold on ebay. Buying a bumper is not a solution. I always hated having a case on my phones. Takes away the beauty of it. Ill keep my 3Gs and signal.
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would have and has ...
it's absurd to assume, the apple desig and engineering dpt. lacks the common sense you have.

manufacturing issue
 
I live in Salt Lake City, UT and have not seen any problems on any iPhone 4 yet. While waiting inline at the apple store, one of the employees let me play with a demo model... i did not see any yellow spots, signs of scratches, and when I tried to hold the phone as shown in the videos, the signal did not drop at all - it remained at 5 bars. Immediately after activating my iPhone I tried to see if my signal would drop, and it did not. Now, I have the Invisible Shield installed and still no dropping signals.
 
HornetOSX said:
I'll be damned this works .................

At least for now and where I am now .

Being very careful to sit in the same place and hold the phone in the same way.. I got it to do the drop signal ............... then I reset the network settings, re entered my wifi pass and held it the exact same way ....... before within a min it would start to drop bars.. now I held it for 4 and it never dropped even one bar.

nuts.

Try it folks can't hurt
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Wow... This is interesting. Wonder how it will effect other people?
 
Despite my earlier hopes - I am getting this same problem as well unless I use a case.:mad:

This is a major testing failure on Apples part and I would imagine is going to result in the biggest product recall in history.

The product is failing in its designed claims of being a mobile phone and under UK law we are entitled to a full refund.

Looks like another 5 hour queue at the O2 store again !!!
 
and its also making those of us who queued for so long a laughing stock !!
 
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