K 11 bumper

[6thDAY]

I got my k11 and e2e protector today and while I really, really wanted to like it I'm going to send it back. It looks and feels great and maybe it will actually protect from a 6ft drop, but within an hour of using it the screen protector had shattered right near the home button. Also, the bottom "sagging" issue was very noticeable to me, AND the buttons definitely do rattle.
Maybe I just got a bad case, I don't know, but for about $70 total it's just not worth it to me. I'm hoping that Thanotech does the right thing and makes returning both easy, and also hope they give me a refund for their screen protector. I could understand if it was a different brand but they advertise it as working perfect with the bumper. And before anybody asks, no, I didn't drop it or abuse it. I had it in my pants pocket for a little and then a coat pocket, definitely nothing that should have shattered the screen.

I will add here that Thanotech has some great customer service. They emailed me back within an hour or so of my request to return the bumper. I'm still going to send the k11 back but I'm going to let them mail me a replacement screen protector since they said a few defective ones were shipped out.

I wasn't planning on using their glass protector, I was only gonna buy the bumper on their website and add in the Ice Max 3D, but this bottom sagging really concerns me.

Some people here have mentioned they have no such defect, but I hate to play the lottery game with this case. However, it's the only bumper that I have researched on and found to be compatible with edge to edge protectors while still providing a good lip for lay-on-the-table design.

Damn the dilemma..haha

 

[danny8200]

This is compatible with MOST e2e SP's. I hate to say this but.....

This thing lifted my Ice Max 3D SP when I had it installed. I have since removed the SP though. They don't play well together. Again, results will vary.

 

[6thDAY]

This is compatible with MOST e2e SP's. I hate to say this but.....

This thing lifted my Ice Max 3D SP when I had it installed. I have since removed the SP though. They don't play well together. Again, results will vary.

I bit the bullet and ordered both the K11 and Ice Max. If it lifts the GP, or has any of the aforementioned issues, I'm returning the K11.

2 questions for you though:

1. Are you 100% confident you aligned the Ice Max perfectly when you installed it?
2. Roughly how many days after the Ice Max installation did you try putting on the K11?

 

[danny8200]

I am 100%. It was working just fine with my UAG case too.

I would say about a week and a half. Enough for it to "cure". Once I removed the bumper the Ice Max was ok.

 

[pocketdoc]

I must confess that after using the case for a couple of days, I did notice some drop in signal, especially in an area with a weak signal. Not good. I took it off.

 

[iMerik]

I must confess that after using the case for a couple of days, I did notice some drop in signal, especially in an area with a weak signal. Not good. I took it off.

Yep, this was becoming very noticeable to me. I have a return in progress. Overall and regardless of what I think of the K11 specifically, I realize I am not a fan of bumpers.

 

[thegrants82]

Yep, this was becoming very noticeable to me. I have a return in progress. Overall and regardless of what I think of the K11 specifically, I realize I am not a fan of bumpers.

And that's the prime reason that I sent mine back........

 

[Sparxxx]

Well, i just received mine yesterday and unfortunately I loose 1 bar of signal almost everywhere.
It sucks because I really like the design of it...
Well, I might return it this week.

 

[kagharaht]

No loss for me. Same Field Test Numbers in areas tested. At worse areas -1 or the same. In your worse locations, If your Field Test is -113 without the case you may get -114 with it or no change at all.

 

[thegrants82]

No loss for me. Same Field Test Numbers in areas tested. At worse areas -1 or the same. In your worse locations, If your Field Test is -113 without the case you may get -114 with it or no change at all.

That's nice about your `field test` and all but the fact of the matter is that any metallic bumper is going to degrade signal. Maybe the k11 isn't the worst but it does.

 

[archrider]

That's nice about your `field test` and all but the fact of the matter is that any metallic bumper is going to degrade signal. Maybe the k11 isn't the worst but it does.

You say any metallic bumper is going to degrade signal. I know several metal bumpers in combination with other material that do not degrade. The phone itself is aluminum. I know you'll point out that the phone has bands of composite material for the function of antennas. So in a way the phones skin itself is a metal case. Isn't it possible that a well engineered aluminum bumper with strategically placed composite bands can provide the same benefit to the signal. It may be that Thanotech did not completely achieve the ideal design. A blanket statement that a bumper that contains metal can have insignificant or no effect on signal does not exist, is just plain wrong.

 

[kagharaht]

That's nice about your `field test` and all but the fact of the matter is that any metallic bumper is going to degrade signal. Maybe the k11 isn't the worst but it does.

Umm actually I've tested a few and it's not a -1 for those. It's usually at a range of -10 to no usuable signal at low areas. The K11 is absolutely top of the class for no degregation in signal. You need to do Field Test Mode during different periods of the day at the same locations. The time of testing can yield different numbers with or without the case. Only then can you really have an accurate test. The bars or dots are ridiculous to use for signal testing. lol

 

[thegrants82]

Umm actually I've tested a few and it's not a -1 for those. It's usually at a range of -10 to no usuable signal at low areas. The K11 is absolutely top of the class for no degregation in signal. You need to do Field Test Mode during different periods of the day at the same locations. The time of testing can yield different numbers with or without the case. Only then can you really have an accurate test. The bars or dots are ridiculous to use for signal testing. lol

You just keep telling yourself that. Lol.

 

[archrider]

You just keep telling yourself that. Lol.

You just had to get in the last word didn't you.

 

[thegrants82]

You just had to get in the last word didn't you.

No at all. Never even thought about that.

 

[zooby]

Why are you so butt-hurt over someone not liking this over priced bumper? It's a matter of personal opinion. What works for you may not work for the next person. The purpose of this forum is to post the pros and the cons.

Vendetta against the k11? Lol, I think that you are watching a little too much Netflix. I bought the k11 and returned it. That's not a vendetta when someone posts there thoughts.

It's just that you, HickDead and thegrants82 repeat the same negative comment again and again. Once was enough. Is it a vendetta, for the two of you, against the company. There are two commenters on the kickstarter site that are the same way. every chance they get after someone gives a positive review boom their names come up to screw up anyones good feelings. You two might be them. Some would define baiting like that as trolling.

To thegrants82 I actually don't use the $140 case. I realized that it looks to complex to on a simple designed phone. There are dozens of bumpers and cases in that price range all over the internet. Some people don't like plastic crap on their $700 to $800 dollar phone. You might as well go for a close to free phone that has poor design and cheap materials.

I'm fairly convinced that archrider works for Thanotech. It's not normal to get so butthurt over someone merely suggesting that they might not like something about a silly bumper.

 

[archrider]

I'm fairly convinced that archrider works for Thanotech. It's not normal to get so butthurt over someone merely suggesting that they might not like something about a silly bumper.

No I don't work for Thanotech. I have their bumper and many others. I like theirs the best.

Actually I'm retired and have no life. So with all the time I have on my hands if I see something I really like I enjoy defending it when I think I see criticisms I don't think are right. Maybe that makes me a troll. it's just, I enjoy the back and forth.

By the way my butt doesn't hurt.

 

[HickDead]

I'm glad to hear that some of you have finally acknowledged that this metal bumper does in fact degrade your cellular signal. It pains me to say that I was right . Well not really but you know what I mean.

 

[iMerik]

ThanoTech was great about my RMA request. They processed my return pretty much the instant they received it. In all, I'm out $10 for the purchase shipping and RMA return shipping. Although the K11 and E2E didn't work well for me, I'm pleased with ThanoTech as a company overall.

 

[kingston73]

ThanoTech was great about my RMA request. They processed my return pretty much the instant they received it. In all, I'm out $10 for the purchase shipping and RMA return shipping. Although the K11 and E2E didn't work well for me, I'm pleased with ThanoTech as a company overall.

I feel the same. The bumper wasn't for me but I do think people should try it for themselves since it is a very well made product and they make it very easy to return. They processed my return within a few days of me sending them the email with the tracking #.

 

[AFDoc]

No sagging on mine. There is a specific way to put it on. Those that sagg could have been put on wrong.
Repeated on off could cause sagg.

No.... they sag because of the material and bending of the aluminum. Don't make up excuses because of some crap k11. YMMV but I have 2 and both sag in spots.
[doublepost=1453169089][/doublepost]

Otherwise it looks fine and works really good. Signal loss is negligible. No degradation with your connectivity. Stop lying about that.

SO those that are having issues with connectivity because maybe they live on the edge of signal strengths are liars? LoL... OK.
[doublepost=1453169140][/doublepost]

I must confess that after using the case for a couple of days, I did notice some drop in signal, especially in an area with a weak signal. Not good. I took it off.

According to some you're a liar.

 

[Sparxxx]

Well... mine does not sag at all and I love the looks and the build quality.
Unfortunately the signal loss is an issue. Not a big one but you loose definitly 1 bar most of the times (I didn't test with Field Test but for sure it impacts the signal).
Maybe it's not an issue for you but in my office the signal is anyway poor (2 bars) and if I loose another one with the bumper...
In areas where the signal is strong/full there seems to be no signal loss so it affects only poor signal areas.

 

[kingston73]

Well, I came back to the k11 after trying a few other cases. This is my second case and unlike my first one there's no noticeable sagging. It does lose maybe 1 decibel of signal, in areas where I got -110 now I get -111, but in practical use I don't notice any difference. Unless you've done the "field test" mode I really doubt you'll notice a difference, unless you are already in an area with poor signal like mentioned above.

I added 2 strips of grip tape to the sides and now it feels great. Also, the buttons do rattle but you can fix that EASILY with 2 tiny bits of tape, one to the inside of each button. Like I said earlier, I really do think this is a good company and one that people should try out and decide for themselves.

The only thing I'd love to see, and no, I'm not going to do it myself, is an independent drop test video. I'd love to know how close to reality that 6 ft drop rating is.

 

[thegrants82]

Well, I came back to the k11 after trying a few other cases. This is my second case and unlike my first one there's no noticeable sagging. It does lose maybe 1 decibel of signal, in areas where I got -110 now I get -111, but in practical use I don't notice any difference. Unless you've done the "field test" mode I really doubt you'll notice a difference, unless you are already in an area with poor signal like mentioned above.

I added 2 strips of grip tape to the sides and now it feels great. Also, the buttons do rattle but you can fix that EASILY with 2 tiny bits of tape, one to the inside of each button. Like I said earlier, I really do think this is a good company and one that people should try out and decide for themselves.

The only thing I'd love to see, and no, I'm not going to do it myself, is an independent drop test video. I'd love to know how close to reality that 6 ft drop rating is.

I don't understand why somebody would voluntarily put a bumper on their phone that is known to cause signal loss. Even a small signal loss affects battery performance.

 

[kagharaht]

I don't understand why somebody would voluntarily put a bumper on their phone that is known to cause signal loss. Even a small signal loss affects battery performance.

That's a silly assumption. During the day your signal always fluctuates up and down even without a case. What your talking about is a 10 db loss that will cause battery drain. A 1db loss is negligible.