I agree. I think they should put some sort of teflon clearcoat on the metal bands.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
My iPhone 4 signal issues are gone...
- Thread starter jav6454
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I agree. I think they should put some sort of teflon clearcoat on the metal bands.
It's likely what will happen...without telling anyone, of course.
I was hoping to try the field test mode on my iPhone but, look at that, field test doesn't work on iPhone 4. Awesome.
No no no, what we don't need right now is another cover-up of the problems... We need real solutions, people!!!
Sorry, couldn't pass that one up, just too fitting.
Exactly. Having that mode would go a long way to helping us better understand this issue and why some people have it and some "don't".
Exactly. I could run around all day and keep a log of it throughout Chicago. I travel all over during the day so I could get a good sample.
I'm surprised that I get five bars in my basement where I once only got 2-3 at best now that I have a piece of paper between the tray and one edge of the SIM but I can still replicate the antenna issue.
If people say that they can replicate this (antenna issue) on a 3GS as well directs me towards it being 1) baseband issues, 2) at&t issues and 3) iPhone design issues crossing generations.
The SIM may be another issue itself but not directly related to the antenna issue.
Have you already read this? Interesting...
http://fscked.co.uk/post/751030001/more-on-the-iphone-4-signal-issue
PS: sorry if that link was already posted but i am not going to read the 25 pages to find out
http://fscked.co.uk/post/751030001/more-on-the-iphone-4-signal-issue
PS: sorry if that link was already posted but i am not going to read the 25 pages to find out
I think it should be said that this remedy should be considered a POTENTIAL fix. Clearly people are having mixed results.
But even more importantly - it would be equally "disastrous" if Apple accepted this fix as THE FIX when it wasn't.
I am excited that some of the posters here have fixed their issue. I am sorry to hear that some of the posters still have the issue. Let's not let any "mania" take away from scientific research and data collection.
ETA: The cynical side of me (or maybe it's the optimist) wants to believe that Apple Engineers would note whether or not a SIM should or could be in contact with whatever it was near without causing an issue. Surely whatever team was responsible for that aspect of the phone would do testing since the iPhone went through a full redesign AND the casing was different than previous models.
Logic dictates that if they changed sim trays/casings that they would examine the seating of the sim.
But even more importantly - it would be equally "disastrous" if Apple accepted this fix as THE FIX when it wasn't.
I am excited that some of the posters here have fixed their issue. I am sorry to hear that some of the posters still have the issue. Let's not let any "mania" take away from scientific research and data collection.
ETA: The cynical side of me (or maybe it's the optimist) wants to believe that Apple Engineers would note whether or not a SIM should or could be in contact with whatever it was near without causing an issue. Surely whatever team was responsible for that aspect of the phone would do testing since the iPhone went through a full redesign AND the casing was different than previous models.
Logic dictates that if they changed sim trays/casings that they would examine the seating of the sim.
I'm just reporting in that this greatly improved my reception. Before, bridging the spacer would always result in no bars or "searching". I just tried it again and it dropped from 5 to 3 bars and stayed. Amazing!
jav6454 should get a medal or something.
jav6454 should get a medal or something.
samcraig:
I gotta ask, what do you think of the just discovered (or at least finally reported) aspect of Apple apparently looking for 3 Antenna Engineers? Coincidence? Any significance at all that could be related to all the issues so many of us are having and bothering to report on (yourself included, I'd say)?
I gotta ask, what do you think of the just discovered (or at least finally reported) aspect of Apple apparently looking for 3 Antenna Engineers? Coincidence? Any significance at all that could be related to all the issues so many of us are having and bothering to report on (yourself included, I'd say)?
I'm sure they did. It's possible that the coating/seating of the SIM is a manufacturing issue.
I haven't read all 24 pages of replies to this, nor the 2000+ posts regarding the iPhone 4's dropped calls, nor do I own the new iPhone.
<Insert flaming comments here - fire away!>
However, I do neurophysiological experiments in which we amplify biological signals by 10,000x or more. One of the things one learns in doing these experiments is that the human body makes an excellent antenna, and this depends on a variety of factors including the degree to which one sweats (perspiration is a good conductor) and even nature of one's shoes (rubber-soled shoes insulate one from the ground, resulting in a better human antenna).
The thing I wonder is whether the apparent signal drop-out is not an attenuation, but the addition of noise that masks the cellular signal. Touching the exposed iPhone antenna should make it receive signals better (if you are not grounded). However, if you live in an area that has a lot of electromagnetic radiation (high power electrical lines and equipment emitting electromagnetic noise at high frequencies directly or through harmonics of low frequency noise), this might paradoxically reduce the reliability of calls because the signal-to-noise ratio is reduced. This might explain some of the variation in users' experiences. Just sayin'....
<Insert flaming comments here - fire away!>
However, I do neurophysiological experiments in which we amplify biological signals by 10,000x or more. One of the things one learns in doing these experiments is that the human body makes an excellent antenna, and this depends on a variety of factors including the degree to which one sweats (perspiration is a good conductor) and even nature of one's shoes (rubber-soled shoes insulate one from the ground, resulting in a better human antenna).
The thing I wonder is whether the apparent signal drop-out is not an attenuation, but the addition of noise that masks the cellular signal. Touching the exposed iPhone antenna should make it receive signals better (if you are not grounded). However, if you live in an area that has a lot of electromagnetic radiation (high power electrical lines and equipment emitting electromagnetic noise at high frequencies directly or through harmonics of low frequency noise), this might paradoxically reduce the reliability of calls because the signal-to-noise ratio is reduced. This might explain some of the variation in users' experiences. Just sayin'....
Doesn't FIX the signal loss but IMPROVED speeds.
So I can still get the bars to drop on my phone however I have greatly improved my data speeds. I could barely get to 1.6mbps here at work and even worse I was experiencing a lot of tests under 1mbps. After filing the sim and putting it in the tray so its not touching, I have done multiple speed tests and they are much higher and much more consistent. At home Im now more consistently hitting 2.5mbps or higher and this morning at work I hit 4.1mbps and more importantly Im consitently getting 2-3mbps. Much much better.
So I can still get the bars to drop on my phone however I have greatly improved my data speeds. I could barely get to 1.6mbps here at work and even worse I was experiencing a lot of tests under 1mbps. After filing the sim and putting it in the tray so its not touching, I have done multiple speed tests and they are much higher and much more consistent. At home Im now more consistently hitting 2.5mbps or higher and this morning at work I hit 4.1mbps and more importantly Im consitently getting 2-3mbps. Much much better.
That makes sense, actually. That's why if you go near a TV or touch it's aerial, it fixes the signal until you sit down again, right?
There's a great deal of explanations in the "Occam's razor" thread about why touching a cell phone antenna is detrimental to the entire circuit, most notably because organic tissue wicks away the microwave energy at substantially increased rates over simple absorption because of passing through and bleeding off some of it. Long posts there but pretty in-depth (and yes it's my thread but even so... the info is accurate, or as accurate as I can relay it).
It also offers information related to detuning which is another secondary issue that could be related (and could be resolved with a software/firmware fix). The hardware issue of having the antenna in contact with skin isn't nearly as easy to resolve.
Basic rule of microwave antenna design of any kind: you don't touch the antenna, ever.
Apple apparently thinks they know better, so... even in spite of the rumored coating (speculation so far but a logical assumption I suppose), it's still basically a flawed design from start to finish.
so the reason i have never had the signal dropping issue, with good signal or bad, is simply due to my sim being seated properly? Strange because when i first got it, I got the no sim error once. Haven't seen it since and never did anything with the sim. Simply re-booted the phone
A great cliche applies "there are no coincidences."
I believe Apple got several of these phones back before it went live to the public. Now it could be that none of them had the signal issue and their sims/trays were correct. But who can say.
Having worked for one of the larger phone manufacturers, I can say that extensive testing is done before and after the phone gets to manufacturing. Engineers, software developers, etc rigorously test to make sure what they designed is what was actually implemented.
That's why I am a bit cynical about this "fix." And that's no disrespect to the OP at ALL! There's still the unanswered question - is there a coating on the antenna that some have and some might have "less" of. Is it a software issue? Did resetting the phone make the iPhone lock into a different tower.
In other words - there are many variables. Which doesn't bode well for the average user here to solidify any data. Theorize, yes.
But unless you have a bunch of phones. Know about cell/tower technologies. Have information about the complete manufacturing process of what should be "spec" for the phone - again, it's all conjecture as to what is the real problem.
That's why - fortunately or unfortunately - Apple is the only one who will be able to determine (if they can) the solution. Because unless Apple shares that last bit of info (full manufacturing specs) to some 3rd party to investigate - there's a BIG missing piece of the puzzle.
I'll need to do more testing at home because that's where I initially did several speed tests so this could be a difference in towers but check this out:
before fix (home 5 bars):
max dl: 721
mac ul: 875
after fix (work 3 bars):
max dl: 3804
max ul: 1236
Im thinking thats just the tower. You might have a faster tower where you live. Mine does the same thing.
Steve, Send out bunches of broccoli!
I tried the taped SIM experiment with no success. Same dropped bars. However digging around the junk drawer where I keep my tape I found a solution that really does work.
Find that extra wide rubber band that you saved from your last produce purchase and voila you have a free bumper! It really works.
Steve, for those who don't like broccoli, send them a bunch. They'll appreciate the fix.
I tried the taped SIM experiment with no success. Same dropped bars. However digging around the junk drawer where I keep my tape I found a solution that really does work.
Find that extra wide rubber band that you saved from your last produce purchase and voila you have a free bumper! It really works.
Steve, for those who don't like broccoli, send them a bunch. They'll appreciate the fix.
