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

To those saying that calls wouldn't drop if it was a software issue that isn't necessarily true. Let me bring out a car analogy :)

My friends car started shutting off the other day. Basically you would drive it and it shutdown like the gas had been turned off. Turns out there is a senor that watches the driveshaft to check RPMs. When this sensor fails and registers zero RPMs the cars computer turns off the fuel pump and stops the flow of gas even though technically the engine is fine to run. In this case there is a faulty sensor, but a computer 'fix' could simply ignore the sensor.

In the iPhones case there could be firmware/software that is misreading signal strength (they have the newly touted ability to switch freqs based on need) and when the signal drops to zero the software cancels the call. The hardware could be completely fine with a bug in the software ruining the show.

The greatest evidence against a software issue to me though is that some phones do not exhibit the problem. If if were a software issue, I would expect all phones to exhibit the same problem when tested in the same location (as apparently Engadget has done).
 
This sucks... my iPhone keeps breaking up when I hold the phone (normally) while on a phone call! When I move my hand up towards the top the reception comes back.... I waited in line for 6 hours to get the phone this morning and now I get to be mocked for a new iPhone 4 that doesn't frickin' work! Thank you Apple...:mad::mad::mad::mad:
 
rcandre2 said:
This sucks... my iPhone keeps breaking up when I hold the phone (normally) while on a phone call! When I move my hand up towards the top the reception comes back.... I waited in line for 6 hours to get the phone this morning and now I get to be mocked for a new iPhone 4 that doesn't frickin' work! Thank you Apple...:mad::mad::mad::mad:
Click to expand...

You are welcome.

-Apple
 
rcandre2 said:
This sucks... my iPhone keeps breaking up when I hold the phone (normally) while on a phone call! When I move my hand up towards the top the reception comes back.... I waited in line for 6 hours to get the phone this morning and now I get to be mocked for a new iPhone 4 that doesn't frickin' work! Thank you Apple...:mad::mad::mad::mad:
Click to expand...

Thanks for reporting this issue, we might never have known about it had you not chosen to repeat what others have already stated. If your schoolyard friends continue to mock you I suggest bringing the matter to the attention of your teacher. In the meantime, Apple is working on a fix for your phone.
 
I've never bothered to register to post anything before and I didnt read this entire thread but here is how I fixed this problem.

I used 3m di-noc carbon fiber look vinyl.

cut it out with razor.

front.jpg


back.jpg
 
@ mnemonix: LOL.

Well, so it's only on Monday that the fix will be available?

Good thing I'm from Europe and only get it in August, I suppose. :confused:
 
andrew9223 said:
I've never bothered to register to post anything before and I didnt read this entire thread but here is how I fixed this problem.

I used 3m di-noc carbon fiber look vinyl.

cut it out with razor.

front.jpg


back.jpg
Click to expand...

much better then the ducktape i used...
 
mnemonix said:
The fact that the firmware is incorrectly responding to the change in the antennas properties when touched in some situations and mismanaging or dropping the connection unnecessarily. This might also be affected by signal strength, availability or any of the other variables it uses to manage the connection, hence the different experiences that are being reported.
Click to expand...

Yes, this makes the most sense to me, as it would explain the problems on SOME older iPhones AS WELL as some of the new ones. The iPhone 4 hardware issue theory on the other hand would not take the fact that some 3G/3Gs phones are exhibiting these problems into consideration.
 
Blues003 said:
@ mnemonix: LOL.

Well, so it's only on Monday that the fix will be available?
Click to expand...

Who knows? Do you think I know what I'm talking about? If its the case then it'll be available as soon as they figure it out. If not, we'll have avoided two queues, the one to buy it and the one for refunds by getting ours next month instead of this.
 
ouimetnick said:
So you are willing to live with a design flaw. You are going to give the same company that sold you a product with a design flaw another $30? You shouldn't need to do that. The phone should function w/o you wasting $30 on a little piece of plastic/rubber. If it can't they should be giving it to you for free. And your going to keep defective hardware, or hardware that won't function properly.:eek::rolleyes: Apple ustomer continue to amaze me with accepting a obvious design flaw.
Click to expand...

I agree. Some random thoughts:

The yellow tint issue on screens is reminiscent of what happened with their imac screens. I am skeptical, but curious to see, that it does indeed go away after a few days. I highly doubt it.

I wondered myself if the exterior antenna would cause issues. But if their engineers are so great as someone said, then why wasn't this caught? This was foreseeable, as was the software bug in Snow Leopard that caused data to be deleted, as was the yellow imac screens, as was.... I bought an HP monitor (with HDMI!) three years ago, it's great, and I don't have to wait for Steve to decide I can have HDMI ports on my monitor.

Folks are already starting to post comments and videos on YouTube saying how fragile they are.

I, like many other posts I read on sites, am still smarting over the loss of my contacts, text message history, and Safari bookmarks from upgrading to iOS4.

Judging from the unboxing I saw in my office today, they still have not redesigned the power cable. As someone who has duct tape holding his second cord together, this is unacceptable. Interestingly enough, when I went to several sites to see what I could sell mine for, I was offered more money if I had an aftermarket cable. Enough said.

I am currently evaluating an HTC phone, a 3GS, and maybe just a generic flip phone. I had settled down over the second power cord breaking and was set to get the new phone until I lost my data and then started seeing widespread complaints online.

But, given the issues that others are reporting, it is amazing to me that Apple considers this acceptable. I personally have about had enough.
 
END3R said:
My thoughts are similar to this. I wonder if it has to do with touching the two antennas on each side, being that our bodies are conductive and making a connection between the two antennas would cause this interference.

Just my thoughts.
Click to expand...

That's likely exactly what's happening with this new model. Many say the solution is to just put it in a case and problem solved. For some like me, using a case is not an issue as my last iphone (3G) has been in a case from day one. The problem is that not everyone likes cases. The iphone 4 is a beautiful example of ID (Industrial Design) and people want to appreciate this and want to let others appreciate it as well. When form disrupts function, you will hear it from your consumers. I hope apple figures out a better resolve that's better than asking people to use cases.
 
paymaster said:
I said this earlier, but my iPhone 3GS does exactly the same thing at home. Set it down I have 5 bars, hold it in my hand and it drops down to 1 bar or no service. I have to have it in the palm of my hand, and yes in my left hand so I am guessing the antenna is in the bottom left. I found a 3.1 firmware online and I am tempted to downgrade to see if that makes a difference but I am afraid of bricking the phone. Does anyone have a 3G or 3GS they haven't upgraded yet they would be willing to test with, and then test again after they upgrade to 4.0?
Click to expand...

I posted earlier saying that I tried this with both a 3GS with the latest software update and a 3G on the 3.1 firmware. I notice the same exact thing with the bars dropping.
 
andrew9223 said:
I've never bothered to register to post anything before and I didnt read this entire thread but here is how I fixed this problem.

I used 3m di-noc carbon fiber look vinyl.

cut it out with razor.

front.jpg


back.jpg
Click to expand...

WHAT THE??????:eek:
Why not just return it or wait for a fix or recall!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
andrew9223 said:
I've never bothered to register to post anything before and I didnt read this entire thread but here is how I fixed this problem.

I used 3m di-noc carbon fiber look vinyl.

cut it out with razor.

front.jpg


back.jpg
Click to expand...

You should patent this otherwise Apple will do it ;)


iPhonefinat23 said:
I posted earlier saying that I tried this with both a 3GS with the latest software update and a 3G on the 3.1 firmware. I notice the same exact thing with the bars dropping.
Click to expand...

That explains all those complaints about dropped calls on earlier versions of iPhone.
 
Issues with loud static sound while the Car is turned on

Anyone else having issues with bad static while in the car but only if the car engine is ON? This happend yesterday I called Apple while in the car, i have an Appt tomorrow and then the static went away. Well today I get in the car and again the static loud sound, but this time i got out the car while talking and it went away. Then i got back in the car loud noise again, turned off engine and the loud phone static stopped. Called Apple again the noted the account and advised to def. go in tomorrow to see what they can do.

Anyone else experience something like this with their iPhone 4. My 2g and my hubby's 3g never gave us any grief like this.
 
Joelever said:
Anyone else having issues with bad static while in the car but only if the car engine is ON? This happend yesterday I called Apple while in the car, i have an Appt tomorrow and then the static went away. Well today I get in the car and again the static loud sound, but this time i got out the car while talking and it went away. Then i got back in the car loud noise again, turned off engine and the loud phone static stopped. Called Apple again the noted the account and advised to def. go in tomorrow to see what they can do.

Anyone else experience something like this with their iPhone 4. My 2g and my hubby's 3g never gave us any grief like this.
Click to expand...

Probally a finger over the antenna band, drove in the car 6 blocks on the phone w/ no problem..
 
Has anyone tried to put an iPhone 4 into one of the new Belkin or Griffin Technology cases and see if THAT fixes the problem? If that works, this tells me the iPhone 4 suffers from interference from the electrical charge from a human body transferred through the skin of the fingers holding the iPhone.
 
Sweetbike40 said:
WHAT THE??????:eek:
Why not just return it or wait for a fix or recall!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Its just a sticker, you can use scotch tape to cover the bottom antenna and it will fix the problem. I just happened to use the vinyl which some people might not find appealing.
 
leegordon79 said:
Much more likely, in my opinion, is the following:*

Apple realized very early on in the manufacturing process that they had a problem (back when they first started ramping up production to significant quantities in early to mid-May). They immediately rectified the issue from there on out, but they then faced a choice: They could either take the iPhones they had already manufactured off the supply line, eat the cost, and, most crucially, delay the launch and suffer a PR disaster; or they could let the defective models come to market.*

Apple's being Apple, they would have been extraordinarily reluctant ever to publicly acknowledge there was an issue, so instead, they thought the problem through and came up with a way they could maintain the launch date and mitigate the cost, in profit loss and PR, that they would have to eat due to recalling the defective devices: Quickly rush to market a set of colorful Apple-endorsed iPhone cases that JUST cover the conductive surfaces of the phone. ...

... saving Apple substantial amounts of money and, more importantly, PR problems. Never publicly admit there's a problem, maintain the launch date, and preserve Apple's "untarnished" image. After a month or so, the iPhones subjected to the revised manufacturing process would hit the market, people would start experiencing the problem in much lower quantities, and the problem would quickly fizzle away to nothing, only to be vaguely remembered in the annals of Apple product launch history.*

I actually think it is a rather interesting and creative--if not completely responsible--way of handling the issue. And it seems to me to be the most likely theory of what's going on. I'll reserve further judgment until we see how this pans out. Until then, let us all watch with bated breath.*
Click to expand...

You think that this sleazy, duplicitous, and exploitative behavior would be "creative and responsible"? :eek: Wow. Just wow.
 
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