iPhone 4S Users Complaining of Audio Issues: No Audio on Outgoing Calls, Echoes, Static

[MacRumors]

Earlier this week, BGR noted a growing number of complaints in Apple's support forums regarding problems with echoes on the iPhone 4S when used with a headset, with calls typically degrading over the duration of the conversation. One thread on the issue has reached 14 pages of posts with a number of users reporting the same issue on a variety of different phone models and carriers.

When using the Apple hands free headset with the phone during a call, I get an echo problem. It does not occur immediately. It can very from 30 seconds into a call and as far up to 9 mins in before it begins the annoying echo. If I unplug the headset it goes away but will return when I plug the headset back in. I have tried 3 brand new iphone 4s headsets with the same problems. So far I have tried rebooting, and also restored phone back to factory original settings as a new phone and still no resolution. I have been told by the other person on the line a screech sound is made then the echo begins.

Users seem to be having some success in fixing the issue by briefly toggling the speakerphone option on and off when the echo begins.

A potentially related issue of static on iPhone 4S calls is also being documented in its own lengthy thread, with the issue affecting both incoming and outgoing calls and some users reporting the issue occurring on multiple handsets as they've exchanged devices at Apple retail stores in attempts to address the problem.

Finally, a third issue being tracked in a nearly 300-post thread involves users experiencing no audio on a subset of outgoing phone calls.

Picked up a Verizon iPhone 4S - 32GB and on about 1 in 10 calls I get no outbound audio when dialing. Call shows the timer counting as if the call is progressing but absolutely no ring back and cannot hear the party on the other end when they answer.

As with the echo issue, some users have reported that toggling the speakerphone option may fix the lack of audio on a given call, but others claim that the tactic does not always work. For its part, Apple support staff have been unable or unwilling to specifically diagnose the issue as either a hardware or software problem. At least one user has reported that the first developer beta of iOS 5.0.1 released yesterday does not fix the issue.

Article Link: iPhone 4S Users Complaining of Audio Issues: No Audio on Outgoing Calls, Echoes, Static

 

[jamesryanbell]

I had the static issue, and they replaced it immediately. Very good service.

Also, the static is similar to holding a phone up to a computer speaker (the clicking), except it's coming through the earpiece. Very real, and VERY annoying.

New phone doesn't do it at all.

 

[MultiMediaWill]

My only issue with the 4S is the 2 hour battery life. Other than that, it's a great phone.

 

[nfl46]

Hopefully it can be fixed with a software update. I guess we'll be getting a 5.0.2 soon after the 5.0.1 in a few weeks, unless they can some how put in the 5.0.1 update.

 

[dethmaShine]

Affirmative.

This happened to me just this morning. I restarted the phone and then things went normal.

Another stupid issue is wifi-sharing from my iMac.

I share from the ethernet, but after every couple of days, the wifi drops and the iPhone connects to it but but doesn't configure the wifi settings as seen in the Preferences. (technically doesn't get a static IP)

EDIT: As for the issue, it is not recurring or is not frequent. It happened just about an hour back and was fixed (temp.) by restarting.

 

[Arcus]

The latest iOS update seems to be plagued with sound issues even for iPhone4 users.

 

[mobi]

They are working round the clock to address issues reported by BETA testers (early adopters).

 

[tfitzsimons]

yeah i have this issue too. i think its a siri problem. it seems to change the volume when you use siri and sort of lose track of the microphones, speakerphone, headphones etc settings when you're finished using it.

i brought it into the apple store and they said it was my fault for having buggy apps. lame. let me know if anyone manages to get this fixed!

 

[BlindMellon]

Heh, "it just works". This is why I didn't get the iPhone 4 untill they had most of the bugs worked out. Seems Apple has a lot of trouble with their new phones.

 

[nfl46]

I did have an issue with Siri when the volume will get extremely loud after I use it.

 

[bacaramac]

It does seem a little buggy, but nothing major. The one thing I noticed is my car bluetooth. It shows it's connected to car, but every once in a while the call doesn't direct sound through the bluetooth when a call comes in nor does the car recognize a call is coming in. I would probably blame this on the new bluetooth 4.0 chip and being new. Probably a few bugs to work out.

The other issue I have is with 3g Data, sometimes it refuses to pull up a webpage or send an iMessage. Holding down power and home button to reboot seems to fix this every time.

EDIT:

I did have an issue with Siri when the volume will get extremely loud after I use it.

Have this issue as well.

 

[SandynJosh]

I did have an issue with Siri when the volume will get extremely loud after I use it.

Siri's a woman, it's normal.

Can you hear me now now ow ow www...?

 

[guitarman777]

I've had the occasional no audio on outgoing calls issue on my 3GS before iOS 5, so this honestly doesn't sound like anything new to me...

 

[Sinequanon83]

Weird. I haven't had any issues as described in the article on my 4S (it's Sprint).

 

[sbrhwkp3]

Steve Jobs would be making heads roll right about now.

 

[soco]

Audiogate, right?

 

[parapup]

I am sure Tim Cook is on to it and the question why are you still here has been asked of some iOS or Radio Engineer who then has proceeded to the iLab to fix the issue

 

[YoussefA]

I got an unlocked iPhone 4S from Australia, and I'm really having none of these issues I've been reading about (not to rub it in or anything).

I haven't had any of the static issues mentioned in this article, nor have I had any battery problems. In fact, my battery performance has been great.

The only thing I'm a little bummed out about is that the screen is much warmer than my iPhone 4's screen is, which is a bummer. I really liked the 'cooler' screen.

 

[thinkadam]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

Thank you for finally taking note of the outgoing audio issues.

 

[yukio]

I have experienced the echoing on my 4S - and true, it's not consistent.

What I have found was that often times the 4S' built-in microphone is active while I am also using the headset, creating the echo effect.

Having similar issues connected via bluetooth.

With any luck it's a "one line fix for all."

 

[gocatsgo538]

I purchased a white 64gb iPhone 4S on the day it came out and I have been having an issue with static noise in the background of my phone calls. Hopefully it's a software problem and can be fixed. In the meantime, should I attempt to exchange my iPhone to see if the new device will work properly?

 

[benhollberg]

I had the no audio on outgoing calls for the first week maybe. Haven't had it since. The speakerphone always fixed it. Want to get a new device but I can't produce the issue anymore.

 

[iPhone Addict]

So grateful that MacRumors has decided to cover this. It is a real issue and is the most discussed thread for the iPhone 4S on Apple's discussion board.

I had this issue and went to the local Apple Store and got a replacement. With 5.0.1 not fixing this, it makes me think it is a hardware fault. The replacement phone I got hasn't had any issues.....yet.

 

[ArcaTech]

Heh, "it just works". This is why I didn't get the iPhone 4 untill they had most of the bugs worked out. Seems Apple has a lot of trouble with their new phones.

I am SO tired of people trying to make fun of that phrase every single time there's a bug. When Steve Jobs said "it just works", he did not say, "there will never ever be a bug in our software ever." There will ALWAYS be bugs in software and that will never change.

"It just works" meant that you don't have to configure a bunch of settings or go through any kind of long and annoying process to use a feature. You're being immature when you continually make fun of a company by taking a phrase in a direction it wasn't meant to be taken.

 

[rsxmachine]

don't have these issues but do have loud volume after using siri and buzzing (like lightening hitting a pole) but not static in the earpiece. You can hear it even if you listen to the back of the phone. This is the case on multiple 4S devices I have tried so I have to assume this occurs on all devices just that it doesn't bother most people.