[Merged] Reception / Antenna / Signal Bars theories

[diabolic]

At this point you know where Apple stands. Things will improve with software, you can believe that or choose not to.

And when Apple releases the software update and says it works well enough for them, that is going to be the end of it. Despite what some would like to believe, once Apple says it's working as designed, there will be no recourse other than returning the phone for a refund.

Apple will not lose any lawsuit about poor reception, no matter how people are holding the phone. Rather than gain steam, the issue will mostly go away.

 

[Dsr1205]

I can't speak for millions of people so I don't know. I have had no issues not touching it based on how I hold the phone.

Again it's VERY simple. If you must touch that clearly visible seam either buy a case or get a new phone. This has been discussed to death on this forum.

There's no other phone on the market that does this crazy drop of signal by touching one specific area. If you are in a good coverage area, there is a good chance you won't notice the antenna problem. I'm in a low coverage area and it is annoying to have to buy a bumper case for my phone to work.

 

[marksman]

Apple never said you could not cause interference on a iPhone 4 with your hand.

You can do the same thing with any phone. You just have to hold in the spot that most blocks the antenna. If you knew where that was on the 3G you would see just the opposite result in your test.

I don't know why people think Apple said that blocking the antenna will not cause signal loss, because they have never said any such thing.

 

[MikePA]

...and it is annoying to have to buy a bumper case for my phone to work.

Then don't buy one and return your iPhone. Simple solution.

 

[lgrulz]

To those of you having reception problems and are experiencing dropped calls I returned my 1st phone and haven't had a problem since. I can death grip it anywhere I go and only drops 1 bar. I have 2 towers not very close to my house... Apple genuis said it was a hardware problem. If that doesn't fix the problem and insist on keeping the phone and crying about it sell you darn house and move closer to a tower. You should have thought about that before buying your house. Simple as that

 

[tkao2025]

You forgot:

F) Those in weak signal areas that touch the iPhone in that corner and don’t lose signal or have a problem (and don’t have a case or bumper).

That would be me.....

 

[rotobadger]

I have a question somewhat related:

Is it possible that Apple is correct in a way? Here's what I'm wondering.

When the signal "appears" to drop to 0 bars and "No Service" is it possible that there is indeed still signal but the phone is miscalculating and thinking that, since there is no signal, it shuts down the radio? The software is telling the phone there's no signal so it THINKS there is no signal...even though there is one?

Does that make sense? I probably presented that scenario poorly but it's what I'm curious about.

 

[Leftyum]

Apple fanboys will turn a blind eye to everything. Apple truly is lucky to have customers like them

 

[scaredpoet]

yada yada yada this is the same reply that sheep like you tend to say when a valid argument against Apple is made "take it back"

The only sheep are the ones who feel their lives must be ruled by this hunk of metal and glass. You claim its defective, yet you continue to use it. What does that make you?

What would you rather have us do? We don't work for Apple nor foxconn. We can't re-write the software or re-engineer the phone for you. We can't make Apple give you a free bumper.

No amount of repeating the same bile over and over at us is going to change that.

Your options are to wait for a fix (which you appear unable to do), demand an exchange (which you appear to refuse to do) or take it back and get a refund (which you again refuse to do).

The latter two options force Apple to take a hit in the pocket book and registers your dissatisfaction with the device. If you want any hope of making Apple listen to you, that's the way to do it. Posting tantrums in a forum that Apple higher-ups will never read or pay any attention to won't do a lick of good for you.

You rather stick your head in the sand, pretend nothing is wrong and accept being lied to.

So do you apparently. The "death grip" appears to be not only a way to make the iPhone 4's signal meter to drop, but the stance people like you take when someone dares suggest that you part with it.

You cling to your iPhone tighter than the fanboys you rail against. Why? Is it worth the aggravation to you?

 

[jkozlow3]

I have a question somewhat related:

Is it possible that Apple is correct in a way? Here's what I'm wondering.

When the signal "appears" to drop to 0 bars and "No Service" is it possible that there is indeed still signal but the phone is miscalculating and thinking that, since there is no signal, it shuts down the radio? The software is telling the phone there's no signal so it THINKS there is no signal...even though there is one?

Does that make sense? I probably presented that scenario poorly but it's what I'm curious about.

I'm far from a phone engineer, but this assumes:

1. There is some logic in the software to drop the call before it flat out loses it's connection to the tower (do we even know if this is true)?
2. Apple is looking at "bars" and not the ACTUAL signal numbers to decide when to drop the call.

I'm not sure if #1 is true, but I highly doubt #2 is true. I mean, the bars are only a visible representation of the signal based on an (incorrect) algorithm. Surely, if there is logic in the software to cut the signal, it is looking at the REAL signal strength and noise numbers and not the number of bars displayed to the user.

Just my $.02

 

[firestarter]

Does that make sense?

no

The underlying phone code will be looking at signal strength. Bars are just for users.

 

[Ronnoco]

Apple fanboys will turn a blind eye to everything. Apple truly is lucky to have customers like them

And Apple Hate boys will continue to whine, cry, complain, bit h, attack and have temper tantrums but not return the phone. LOL
It seems there are extremists on both sides.
Apple is accepting returns with no restocking fee...if you hate your iPhone, or are consistently dropping calls that you didn't on your previous phone, return the phone for a full refund and by a different branded phone...
It really is a simple solution...everyone has a right to rant when the product doesn't work for them, but GEEEEEZZZZ, one rant is enough! These drama rants for days and days and thread after thread and post after post by the same drama queens is ridiculous...it has become very clear just who is really having problems and who are just Apple hate boys.
Remember, thsi IS an Apple product forum, so you must expect there will be a LOT of Apple fan boys here LOL...coming here to thrash Apple products is not going to be without flaming...Sure, most of us here understand that there will be problems, and it helps all of us to hear about problems but the drama we have seen here has been comical...
I'd bet this will calm down when the hate boys FINALLY return their iP4's and get their Android phones and go back to the Android forums to complain about their Androids phones...most of the drama queens here this week will complain about EVERYTHING, not just Apple...LOL

 

[Ronnoco]

The only sheep are the ones who feel their lives must be ruled by this hunk of metal and glass. You claim its defective, yet you continue to use it. What does that make you?

What would you rather have us do? We don't work for Apple nor foxconn. We can't re-write the software or re-engineer the phone for you. We can't make Apple give you a free bumper.

No amount of repeating the same bile over and over at us is going to change that.

Your options are to wait for a fix (which you appear unable to do), demand an exchange (which you appear to refuse to do) or take it back and get a refund (which you again refuse to do).

The latter two options force Apple to take a hit in the pocket book and registers your dissatisfaction with the device. If you want any hope of making Apple listen to you, that's the way to do it. Posting tantrums in a forum that Apple higher-ups will never read or pay any attention to won't do a lick of good for you.



So do you apparently. The "death grip" appears to be not only a way to make the iPhone 4's signal meter to drop, but the stance people like you take when someone dares suggest that you part with it.

You cling to your iPhone tighter than the fanboys you rail against. Why? Is it worth the aggravation to you?

It's the DRAMA! They are Drama Queens!!!
LOL

 

[sneezymarble]

For what it's worth, I got the same results from tests of my iPhone 4 and 3G, and I agree with the OP that that does seem to indicate that Apple's response is disingenuous, if not flat out misleading. However, I still think it's a great phone, and, for me, it's certainly one worth keeping, even if I do have to change my holding habits for it.

 

[rotobadger]

no

The underlying phone code will be looking at signal strength. Bars are just for users.

I see...

I just was thinking that this could possibly be the phone getting incorrect information somehow.

I guess this is why I'm not a antenna engineer!

 

[Aeroflux]

Hmm...

It doesn't take much more than a basic understanding of electronics to consider Apple's statement. To me the only way it could be "software" is if the firmware for both antennas cannot isolate the interference when they are bridged by a hand or finger. We are pretty conductive...if so it'd be an easy fix. What worries me is according to Apple the antenna innacuracies have been going on since the 3G...buh? That one statement turned what seemed a feasible explanation into what now feels like a pile of BS intended to delay or divert.





Since the 3G? Really? That's like Toyota saying since Datsun.

 

[Sleazy E]

For those of you that are unhappy just take the phone back. The vast majority of us are very happy with our phones and I, for one, think it is very bizarre to keep something you are unhappy with and continually cry about it on these forums.

 

[Darwing]

I don't get it... How can they cone out with a statement like that blatrntly lieing, there are videos out there that show a 3gs and a 4 sitting right next to eachother the 3gs drops 1 bar and the 4 droops all bars with same software... It's only going to show the iPhone 4 having much less bars than the 3gs...

 

[Ronnoco]

I would think the bottom line here is 'are you dropping calls and data'?
I've always thought signal bars are unnecessary with digital signal...It seems the whole "bars" concept is leftover form the analog days...
IIRC, with a digital signal, you are either on or off...it's not like a weaker signal will have less connection, right? There should just be a light that indicates that you either HAVE a signal or DON'T HAVE a signal and perhaps the light could blink when you are leaving a service area...it is binary, right? On or off...
No matter how or where I hold it, my iP4 drops less calls than my 3GS which dropped many...
THAT is the bottom line for me...

 

[randyhudson]

Apple's argument seems pretty straightforward. Just because it doesn't offer a wonderful solution to the problem that doesn't cost $30 doesn't mean it's an invalid argument. They admit that the phone drops reception when holding it in the bottom left corner.

Where do they admit this? Their only official statement says the problem is perception, not reception.

 

[Ronnoco]

Where do they admit this? Their only official statement says the problem is perception, not reception.

Well, it would seem to me that them saying "don't block the antenna with your hand while gripping it" and if you are having bars drop, use a case" prety much says to me that they are aware that a certain grip will block the antenna...right?
Not quite the way I would've said it, but clearly they are admitting in those statements that blocking the antenna with a certain grip will cause the bars to drop in the indicator...

 

[Slip Jigs]

If i needed a case for a Phone to make a call, shouldnt that come with a phone? and if it comes without one, isnt that called a design failure that I require a case for the calls not the drop?

What you're asking here is a completely separate issue than your original post.

You performed a test using two phones, and got a certain result. From there you drew a conclusion. The response was to then, do the same test using a case or bumper, and then see what the results are, and see how that affects your conclusion.

 

[frikfrak]

iPhone 4 Antenna Flaw? No. Apple Design Choice? Yes. Bad Choice? Sales will tell.

Here's my take, and your reaction is welcomed.

Apple CHOSE to place the antennas on the outside. Why? So they could pack more goodness inside a form factor that's smaller than previous iPhones and any other smartphone. And in this diminutive package, there's more battery, a better display, a better camera, a front camera, etc., etc., etc.

Apple's not stupid; they know, and knew, that touching the external antennas would detune them and cause attenuation, especially noticeable in low signal areas. They also know that the vast majority of people use a case, which mostly alleviates the problems inherent with the external antennas. And further, they concluded that those that don't use a case could deal with the need to hold it differently.

So Apple made their choices, right or wrong, good or bad......

Apple probably has more engineering prowess than NASA, so I don't believe they made engineering mistakes (notwithstanding the bars issue, which is really the "non-issue"). If a mistake has been made, or if there's a "flaw," it was born at a conference table when the iPhone 4 was conceived and they made assumptions about the users.

Some time, and sales numbers, will tell us if the iPhone 4 is flawed in the minds of owners.

What do you think?

(As for me, I still don't know if I think they made the right design choices. I always use a case, and with it have no issues. But knowing that if I don't use the case I'll have to hold it the "right way" really bothers me. Having said that, for the moment, I've decided to keep my iPhone 4.)

Don't start with any fanboy garbage or other BS. If you can't contribute in a mature way, then leave.

 

[RonHC]

I think we should have a separate forum for Theories and Conspiracies

 

[Finz151]

poop