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iPhone 4 Signal Strength Indicator Issue Alleviated by Use of Bumper or Case
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This very well may be the case. Apparently, the iPhone4 antenna issue only affects one of the two frequency bands AT&T uses (800 & 1900).
Hopefully, this will be clarified soon - as far as we know, it could be due to any number of variables.
Big HD image of MacRumors logo in the beginning of the 3 minute Death Grip package. Congrats on he massive publicity Arn.
Bravo!!!
Hopefully, someone will post it soon.
Maybe everyone doesn't need to know this because it is a total load of crap. My iPhone4 doesn't have the problem at all and every pre-iPhone cell I have ever held had this problem to some extent.
I saw someone else say if it was a non-apple product everyone would be getting out the tar and feathers, but the real truth is that if it was a non-Apple product, we would never have even heard about this.
In spite of all the people reporting experiencing the problem, all the videos demonstrating it, all the front page news stories, and all the blogs saying they've reproduced the problem, some people will still believe anything that comes out of Steve Jobs mouth. Only the funny thing is, even he didn't deny it; he just said to suck it up and live with it. Nice.
You really think that if there was a Droid with this problem it wouldn't be reported? It sure would be, especially now.
Umm... There has been a thread at Google forums since February with people fighting the exact problem with Nexus One:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=34ae2c179184c33e&hl=en
And here's a video of the same problem in a Nokia 6230:
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/24/other-mobile-phones-with-similar-signal-loss-issues/
Haha
Who actually holds the iPhone like that? I have had my iPhone for about 2days now. No problems at all... I guess due to the fact i hold my iPhone like a normal person rather than cupping it.
Who actually holds the iPhone like that? I have had my iPhone for about 2days now. No problems at all... I guess due to the fact i hold my iPhone like a normal person rather than cupping it.
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Normal person? Why so judgemental?
Even Apple have people holding their phone by cupping it in their hand on their promotional videos.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/hey-apple-youre-holding-it-wrong/
Oh how I wish I was "normal" and held my phone like you. Care to show us how the normal people do it?
howmanytimes said:
Normal person? Why so judgemental?
Even Apple have people holding their phone by cupping it in their hand on their promotional videos.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/hey-apple-youre-holding-it-wrong/
Oh how I wish I was "normal" and held my phone like you. Care to show us how the normal people do it?
To loose signal on my iPhone and anyone else's i have used you physically have to cup it like this...
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/2...or-issue-alleviated-by-use-of-bumper-or-case/
How you are describing is what i would call correct use but it is not cupping just resting in the palm of the hand, which does not effect the signal at all.
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/06/2...or-issue-alleviated-by-use-of-bumper-or-case/
How you are describing is what i would call correct use but it is not cupping just resting in the palm of the hand, which does not effect the signal at all.
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Edit I believe you are referring to the opening posts video and in that case, I totally agree with you! Looks like I got the wrong end of the stick, sorry!
Have you rest the thread at all? Some people completely lose signal just by resting a finger across the gap whilst the others have had no issues whilst holding it abnormally as you like to describe it.
Why, back in the days before signal issues, this was just fine and dandy.
Now all of a sudden, people question who holds their (expensive) smartphone firmly. I for one don't want to put such expensive hardware at the mercy of being knocked out of my hand by not gripping it properly.
I hope you don't think I'm being an arse but to question people on how they hold things is a tad wrong. I've already been told that as I am left handed I must use my right hand to hold my phone as they were right handed and use their left..... crazy!
Edit I believe you are referring to the opening posts video and in that case, I totally agree with you! Looks like I got the wrong end of the stick, sorry!
Have you rest the thread at all? Some people completely lose signal just by resting a finger across the gap whilst the others have had no issues whilst holding it abnormally as you like to describe it.
Why, back in the days before signal issues, this was just fine and dandy.
Now all of a sudden, people question who holds their (expensive) smartphone firmly. I for one don't want to put such expensive hardware at the mercy of being knocked out of my hand by not gripping it properly.
I hope you don't think I'm being an arse but to question people on how they hold things is a tad wrong. I've already been told that as I am left handed I must use my right hand to hold my phone as they were right handed and use their left..... crazy!
This signal problem is amusing.
I had my iPhone 4 resting in my left hand (as I then tap/pinch etc with my right hand) and it gradually went down from 5 bars of O2 3G to 1 bar. Then put it back on the patio table and it slowly went back up to 5 bars.
Then I put my handkerchief over my left hand and rested the iPhone 4 back in it. This time it only went down from 5 bars of O2 3G to 4 bars. Then I got someone to pull the handkerchief out (which proves how the iPhone 4 was resting in my hand, not being gripped tightly!) and the signal slowly went down to 1 bar.
For reference, this was outside in Bath (in the UK) with the iPhone 4 connected to WiFi.
TLDR: Having the iPhone 4 resting in my left hand but insulated makes it drop 1 bar, without the insulation it drops 4 bars.
Apologies for keep mentioning "iPhone 4", it's because I've still got my 3GS so have been comparing them!
I had my iPhone 4 resting in my left hand (as I then tap/pinch etc with my right hand) and it gradually went down from 5 bars of O2 3G to 1 bar. Then put it back on the patio table and it slowly went back up to 5 bars.
Then I put my handkerchief over my left hand and rested the iPhone 4 back in it. This time it only went down from 5 bars of O2 3G to 4 bars. Then I got someone to pull the handkerchief out (which proves how the iPhone 4 was resting in my hand, not being gripped tightly!) and the signal slowly went down to 1 bar.
For reference, this was outside in Bath (in the UK
) with the iPhone 4 connected to WiFi.TLDR: Having the iPhone 4 resting in my left hand but insulated makes it drop 1 bar, without the insulation it drops 4 bars.
Apologies for keep mentioning "iPhone 4", it's because I've still got my 3GS so have been comparing them!
It does seem different to each individual from reading more of the post. I am right handed, ive had no issues at all. Living near Brighton UK. (on O2)
Infact i have my iphone here... Which i shall now purposely cover the black antenna lines and cup fully and tightly.... ok... after sitting here for ages and trying different ways of holding it i still have full signal.
Infact i have my iphone here... Which i shall now purposely cover the black antenna lines and cup fully and tightly.... ok... after sitting here for ages and trying different ways of holding it i still have full signal.
Well there you go. You'd think that Apple's crack design team might have been more aware of this earlier.
I'm pretty sure that Apple's team is (and was) aware that covering a mobile phone antenna with a hand will harm the signal. Or did I completely miss your point?
Software fix (iOS4.01) might be expected next week:
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/25775/
Can't wait to see what the "must be a design FAIL" people say then.
You do realize at&t stores have signal repeaters throughout their stores right? The issue to me seems that this makes a strong signal weaker, and a weak signal non existent. If you are standing next to a tower, I would not expect this to affect you much
It is most likely both a software and hardware glitch...
The software is setup to choose the least taxed tower in the area, not the closest. So currently if your closest tower is busy, then it chooses a tower further away. Then, when you block the signal by a design flaw it exacerbates the weak signal.
Now, when you change the software to pull from the closest tower, the signal strength will improve and make the design flaw a lesser issue, until you go somewhere with towers that are spaced further away. Plus, people in highly dense areas like new york will end up on the short end of the stick.
Yes?
Yes, I think this would work as it would be just like insulation around wire.
This is what Ill do as I tend to not like cases but the problem does not seem to be that bad on mine or have any effect on calls and data and I dont hold my phone in a way that grounds the antenna. I still cant figure out how people wrap their hand around the phone when its up to their ear. I really think people are going out of their way to make it happen and nobody has even given Apple a chance to address it. Some people shoot then ask questions.
Im sure Apple will have an answer as well as a fix, if it truly is a problem.
Yes, I think this would work as it would be just like insulation around wire.
This is what Ill do as I tend to not like cases but the problem does not seem to be that bad on mine or have any effect on calls and data and I dont hold my phone in a way that grounds the antenna. I still cant figure out how people wrap their hand around the phone when its up to their ear. I really think people are going out of their way to make it happen and nobody has even given Apple a chance to address it. Some people shoot then ask questions.
Im sure Apple will have an answer as well as a fix, if it truly is a problem.
I think you're probably right. As I think I said in another thread, when you live in a "form over function" world, "function" becomes very, very secondary in importance.
Not the same exact problem. the N1 signal degradation issue would result in poor or no 3G signal in weak 3G areas, but edge would still work. ip4 signal degradation results in no service for a fair number of handsets.
interesting question..
eventually down the track mophie will probably bring out a iphone 4 juice pack out, i wonder if a cover or a case like that will make it worse or better??
just that I'm not a big fan of having my iphone "naked", so to speak and always have a cover on it anyways. i'm not saying thats right though, something silly like holding in a certain way is just baffling, but hoping that once all of the third party stuff starts coming out it might fix some problems anyway...
eventually down the track mophie will probably bring out a iphone 4 juice pack out, i wonder if a cover or a case like that will make it worse or better??
just that I'm not a big fan of having my iphone "naked", so to speak and always have a cover on it anyways. i'm not saying thats right though, something silly like holding in a certain way is just baffling, but hoping that once all of the third party stuff starts coming out it might fix some problems anyway...
Does this issue have anything to do with how sweaty a person's hand is. I am still waiting for mine but after hearing this I went to the Apple store and tried holding the all the Iphones on display at the store and I did not have that issue at all. However the palms of my hands are typically dry. No matter how much I covered the metal bands, nothing happened to me.
Then another person picked up a phone I just tried and it happened to him. Hmmm....
Then another person picked up a phone I just tried and it happened to him. Hmmm....
absolootly yes more wet will cose it to fail faster, but go to a doctor and check why are you dry?