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Hey Guys,

I inserted my SIM card into the phone without the tray at all and I still get the same issues as before. So I do not think this has anything to do with the tray at all. It still appears to be a attenuation problem with the antenna.

Do you have a pic of the phone with sim in it and no sim tray? I would like to see how it fits in the phone...
 
Works!

All I did was take it out for a few seconds (did nothing to the chip or tray) and put it right back in. tried the handle of death; nothing.


Thanks so much man!
 
Got new sim card- now have problem

So my parents got me an iPhone 4, but when they bought it they had to activate it under their number. When they gave it to me I had to get a new micro sim card to put it on my account.

With the first sim card, there was no signal loss no matter how I held the phone. It has a smaller contact area than the new one (see pic).

Put the new one in and activated it on my account, and now holding the phone in left hand drops the signal down to 1 at work, no signal at home.

Going to go see if ATT has the smaller contact area card, cant use original one anymore.

Wow- I actually took the card out to take this pic, and after reseating it I don't drop any bars- seems to me the sim card is DIRECTLY related to the signal loss problem.
 

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That actually sounds like a plausible fix! Except, I can't seem to eject my sim tray with my existing iPhone 3G sim-eject tool. I don't want to force it out though, what should I use to get it out?
 
That actually sounds like a plausible fix! Except, I can't seem to eject my sim tray with my existing iPhone 3G sim-eject tool. I don't want to force it out though, what should I use to get it out?

Dude it takes some force and uses the same tool.
 
So my parents got me an iPhone 4, but when they bought it they had to activate it under their number. When they gave it to me I had to get a new micro sim card to put it on my account.

With the first sim card, there was no signal loss no matter how I held the phone. It has a smaller contact area than the new one (see pic).

Put the new one in and activated it on my account, and now holding the phone in left hand drops the signal down to 1 at work, no signal at home.

Going to go see if ATT has the smaller contact area card, cant use original one anymore.

Wow- I actually took the card out to take this pic, and after reseating it I don't drop any bars- seems to me the sim card is DIRECTLY related to the signal loss problem.

It appers that there are 2 models of SIM cards. For those who are having issues, is it possible to report which card you have? I have the one on the left, and have no real issues with the death grip.
 
It appers that there are 2 models of SIM cards. For those who are having issues, is it possible to report which card you have? I have the one on the left, and have no real issues with the death grip.

i have the one on the right and have huge issues....hmmm....seems to me that we need a new thread with a poll and a pic of the two sims...
 
I just cut my SIM card pretty thoroughly (contacts no longer touch the edge of the tray) and I'm still having the issue. Oh well.
 
I read about this, tried to eject my sim and was surprised by the amount of force required to do so, in comparison to the 3gs.
After my 1st attempt I lost courage and found reference on ifixit to the fact. However when I turned on my phone it came up showing no sim inserted. Turned it off, broke out the paper clip again inserting it until the sim holder began to rise, reseated it, turned on the phone and the sensitivity of the signal loss is greatly reduced.

The issue isn't altogether gone, however prior to this, the signal was incredibly sensitive and 1 finger placed in the right spot reduced data (via speed test) to 0, upload and download, whilst signal strength rapidly dropped from 5 bars 3g to 1 bar edge.

My phone is significantly less sensitive now.
Great improvement and good work on noticing this AND posting it Jav 6454.
Thanks.
 
I am undecided on this "fix" as of yet. I did drop a couple bars in a few locations this morning, but not all the way down to zip.

I am still having the stalled 3G data issues that several are having so there is that as well, isolated or not.

So I am going to still give this a chance, but if no fix has been arrived at just before my return deadline, then I will pass on this phone and go back to my bomb proof, albeit slower 3G until the next phone comes out.
 
I don't have the signal problems where I am most of the time, but I have seen it when I have lower signals. What I do see is the stalled data despite 5 bars and the 3G symbol. What I have discovered today is if I am getting stalled data, simply tapping the back of the phone or tapping it on my desk gets the data moving. Not sure if it's related to the sim or not. I discovered it after removing the sim and putting it back in and getting no data during a speed test. I picked up the phone and shook it and it started to go. Then I set it down and heard the feint sound of something moving in the phone (always assumed it was a button, but perhaps it's the sim?) Got another stalled test. I picked up the phone and gently tapped the corner on the desk and bam, 3Mbps. I was getting 4's and 5's all morning and each time it stalled, I just tapped the phone and it starts going. I'm getting between 1.5 and 3 now with more stalls, but it's lunchtime and I suspect the network is getting more traffic.

Much like the OP, nothing certain but I'm going to keep watching this behavior and if it persists I'll make a genius appointment.
 
I got some results

My old 3GS used to get 5 bars of 3G on my desk, plugged in. We live in the woods so any movement from that position and it quickly goes to 1 Bar Edge. With my new iPhone 4 I got 3 bars in the same position. I figured it was just a different way to display bars (boy are they going to milk that excuse). I tried the Sim card trick cause I like to try improvements. I saw the metal on the card was touching the metal on the tray so I got the thinnest sliver of black electrical tape stuck between them and now I am back to 5 bars 3G in that same position I mentioned above. Hope this helps someone. I hope Apple doesn't get too burned from this. :apple:
 
So my parents got me an iPhone 4, but when they bought it they had to activate it under their number. When they gave it to me I had to get a new micro sim card to put it on my account.

With the first sim card, there was no signal loss no matter how I held the phone. It has a smaller contact area than the new one (see pic).

Put the new one in and activated it on my account, and now holding the phone in left hand drops the signal down to 1 at work, no signal at home.

Going to go see if ATT has the smaller contact area card, cant use original one anymore.

Wow- I actually took the card out to take this pic, and after reseating it I don't drop any bars- seems to me the sim card is DIRECTLY related to the signal loss problem.

Love that GREEN spot in the centre of that image!

Let me guess you took that picture with your iPhone 4!

OMG!! Total fail.
 
I am undecided on this "fix" as of yet. I did drop a couple bars in a few locations this morning, but not all the way down to zip.

I am still having the stalled 3G data issues that several are having so there is that as well, isolated or not.

So I am going to still give this a chance, but if no fix has been arrived at just before my return deadline, then I will pass on this phone and go back to my bomb proof, albeit slower 3G until the next phone comes out.

can you please further describe your stalled 3G data issues. i am also having serious issues with that. i have both the iPhone 4 and 3GS side by side, and the 3GS is working flawlessly while the iPhone 4 is struggling terribly.
 
I have the iPhone 4 and the iPad 3G

Both use microsim.

i have amazing reception on my iPad when using 3G never had any problems and it holds 3g signal better than my iPhone 3gs

This issue of the simcard touching the metal sim tray does not hold.

The microsim used in my iPad has a larger memory area and there is a large proportion of the sim is in contact with the sim tray.

This is my iPad 3g micro sim.

1f780n.jpg


I think this proves that there is no basis in this fix.
yes the ipad isnt effect because the outer side structure of it isnt an antenna like the iphone 4
 
Anyone figure out why gripping it would impact the phone if this SIM card alignment is indeed the issue? Is it just that holding it tightly makes metal and the touch squeeze so they touch? If so, wouldnt it be cause gripping it elsewhere? Why only on the seams?

Not trying to rain on a parade because I would love nothing more than a quick fix. But trying to play devil's advocate to make sure all angles are considered.

Glad it has helped some people so far.

Could it be that the "Grip" flexes the phone just a bit to knock the SIM card out of alignment?
 
Question for those that got this to work. Seriously, why can't ONE of you post a video of your thumb on the bottom left seam in an area you previously had low signal.

It would be a 3 minute video at the most.
 
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