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Is The Concensus That ALL Aluminum Cases Screw Up Reception?
- Thread starter TOYSTRY
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I have had 7 aluminum cases - al messed with signal - it's not the insulation that fixes it, it's being clad all the way around that kills it - never again for me - the true test is 100% accuracy in maps app and GPS.....hybrid all the way...
My understanding is very similar:
1) Cases made entirely of aluminum all affect signal to some degree. Some worse than others and this is where design matters. People in low signal areas see it more readily (a few decibels means more to them).
2) Hybrid cases seem to do much better - Atomic is 1/4 aluminum, 3/4 composite, and seems to be the best. The Vapor Pro seems to be in the middle. It has more aluminum than the Atomic, but still has some composite.
The real trade-off (IMO) is the look/feel/stiffness of an all aluminum case, versus the improved signal of a composite or hybrid. I personally don't care for the delrin composites - I think they look like plastic and are weaker so they wiggle and bow. So I feel they offer me no improvement over any another plastic case and cost much more. Again, that is just my opinion.
But bottom line is there seems to be at least some signal degradation with any full aluminum case, so it is trial and error...
I understand what both you and Glen E's saying. I think you just can't get around the iP4 being trapped around all aluminum. If its not all signal, its GPS and also DL and UL speeds. I do not really see how the hybrid is plastic feeling once its on the phone. Honestly it feels no different than a matt aluminum case. I have no bowing on mine. I was excited to buy the vapor pro but after Glen e's and few others discovery that its just a minor improvement and not a solution, 150.00 is just a bit too steep for me. At the same time I am on the list for the Diamondback which also is SUPPOSED to have not signal problems too. We shall see!
I honestly could care less if the Diamondback does work which I honestly don't think it will. I think it will still have SOME affect on signal or gps, there is no getting away from it but for 200 bucks it still aint worth it even if it does work as advertised, its priced way to damn high. 200 bucks will go along ways towards the next iphone!!
yeah, I also have no bowing and my delrin is very close to metal...some even guess graphite - with a pure chrome cap, it looks great.
I swear it's like I had a different case from you guys. I'd almost say it was a mistake except that they sent me 2, and they were both the same. They both even had little "tags" hanging off the cutouts as though they had been roughly popped out of a mold. Looked awful. It's so strange, because it sounds like your cases are a completely different material. I don't know...
I think some people that say they do not affect reception are in denial ... they so badly want the reception to be good
I think some people that say they do not affect reception are in denial ... they so badly want the reception to be good
I agree 100%!
There is no question
Metal is a conductive material and plastic isn't. Simple as that isn't it?
If all of the guys who spend all of their time talking about/purchasing metal Iphone 4 cases, put more time/money in to plastic cases, and then we would have a more informed forum on cases in general. I think.
AC
Metal is a conductive material and plastic isn't. Simple as that isn't it?
If all of the guys who spend all of their time talking about/purchasing metal Iphone 4 cases, put more time/money in to plastic cases, and then we would have a more informed forum on cases in general. I think.
AC
But we really like the look of the metal cases... I suffer with my plastic iPhone case
I really wanted to use an Aluminium case, love the aesthetics.
Despite no end of trying to insulate the alu from the iPhone & even knowing that Anodised Aluminium is an electrical insulator I was still determined to either make it work or live with the drop in signal. After a few weeks of very weak or zero reception I had to give in & admit its nothing to do with electrical conductivity but rather the shielding effect of the Aluminium. So bummer! If you want no loss of reception Ali cases are not for you.
Now the engineered plastics actually machined from solid stock do interest me.
Despite no end of trying to insulate the alu from the iPhone & even knowing that Anodised Aluminium is an electrical insulator I was still determined to either make it work or live with the drop in signal. After a few weeks of very weak or zero reception I had to give in & admit its nothing to do with electrical conductivity but rather the shielding effect of the Aluminium. So bummer! If you want no loss of reception Ali cases are not for you.
Now the engineered plastics actually machined from solid stock do interest me.
I have always had problems with aluminum cases and therefore I will not buy them again. I just don't like them. From now on I will stick with the Candyshell (sp?) you can get from the at&t store or Marware cases. That is it. I like good signal and protection. That is all I want in a case. Well that and a cool design.
Problems with Atomic Diamondback Satin Silver order
Hey guys, If any of you is contemplating ordering this product from Atomic, you should be aware of the problems I've had so far. I ordered one of these on April 30th and was told that it would be sent to me by May 13th. Nothing! So I sent two emails to Atomic before I got a reply from customer service telling me that the company was at the mercy of the anodizers and that my case would be sent out by the end of the following week. And again, NOTHING! And not a peep from the company at this point about this latest delay. With shipping and handling, I paid $209.95 for this case and was hoping I'd have it by now to see how well it worked and review it for others who might be interested in purchasing it. The company adamantly claims the case WILL NOT interfere with the phone's signal, but I can't confirm this until I actually get it. I'm pretty certain my case won't be shipped this week either. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder just how long it will take to get it, or if I will? Fortunately, I made the purchase through PayPal and can file a claim if I never receive the product. At the time of this posting it will have been almost a full month since I placed my order and despite delivery promises at least twice, I've not received the case and no word from the company as to when it will ship. If and when it finally does arrive, I will post a review of the case here and let you know whether I think it is worth the expense and/or the wait! In the meantime, consider yourselves warned!
Hey guys, If any of you is contemplating ordering this product from Atomic, you should be aware of the problems I've had so far. I ordered one of these on April 30th and was told that it would be sent to me by May 13th. Nothing! So I sent two emails to Atomic before I got a reply from customer service telling me that the company was at the mercy of the anodizers and that my case would be sent out by the end of the following week. And again, NOTHING! And not a peep from the company at this point about this latest delay. With shipping and handling, I paid $209.95 for this case and was hoping I'd have it by now to see how well it worked and review it for others who might be interested in purchasing it. The company adamantly claims the case WILL NOT interfere with the phone's signal, but I can't confirm this until I actually get it. I'm pretty certain my case won't be shipped this week either. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder just how long it will take to get it, or if I will? Fortunately, I made the purchase through PayPal and can file a claim if I never receive the product. At the time of this posting it will have been almost a full month since I placed my order and despite delivery promises at least twice, I've not received the case and no word from the company as to when it will ship. If and when it finally does arrive, I will post a review of the case here and let you know whether I think it is worth the expense and/or the wait! In the meantime, consider yourselves warned!
I've had an Atomic Hybrid case for my iPhone 4 and haven't noticed any receptor/GPS issues.
Prior to owning the Atomic case I've had an Element Vapor 4 case but case was terrible for my reception (2 bar drop). I thought it was bearable until my phone started to consistently lose all signal at my local Chapters and could barely manage 0-1 bar in some stores.
In terms of the Vapor and how well it worked with the GPS, let's just say it took a while longer to "lock on" but once it's locked I haven't experienced any problems.
With everything being said I DO prefer the look and feel of the Vapor 4 over the Atomic case, but having to sacrifice phone functionality for pure aesthetics is not something I can put up with on principle.
Prior to owning the Atomic case I've had an Element Vapor 4 case but case was terrible for my reception (2 bar drop). I thought it was bearable until my phone started to consistently lose all signal at my local Chapters and could barely manage 0-1 bar in some stores.
In terms of the Vapor and how well it worked with the GPS, let's just say it took a while longer to "lock on" but once it's locked I haven't experienced any problems.
With everything being said I DO prefer the look and feel of the Vapor 4 over the Atomic case, but having to sacrifice phone functionality for pure aesthetics is not something I can put up with on principle.
I would have to agree that most or all manufactures have learned that ALL aluminum cases kill the reception on the iphone... But is it only on the iphone? I would love if someone would make an ALL aluminum case for a Droid or Blackberry to see if there are any reception kill problem with those.