Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

New iPhone 4 drops signal and calls. Do bumpers actually solve problem?

N

NJRonbo

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2007
3,281
1,317
Finally got my new iPhone 4.

First thing I noticed was that the signal
dropped to nothing when I held it in my
hand at the bottom of the phone -- the
same way I have always held an iPhone.

Made a phone call yesterday and the
call dropped when I accidentally moved
my hand to the bottom.

Do the bumpers actually solve this problem
or is that a myth?
 
Yes, if you normally hold your phone over the antenna at the bottom, the bumper will cover the problematic areas.
 
NJRonbo said:
Finally got my new iPhone 4.

First thing I noticed was that the signal
dropped to nothing when I held it in my
hand at the bottom of the phone -- the
same way I have always held an iPhone.

Made a phone call yesterday and the
call dropped when I accidentally moved
my hand to the bottom.

Do the bumpers actually solve this problem
or is that a myth?
Click to expand...

Search much?
 
Yes it fixes it. Dropped calls the first few days I had it. Put on case. Have not dropped a call since.

I am happy.
 
NJRonbo said:
Finally got my new iPhone 4.

First thing I noticed was that the signal
dropped to nothing when I held it in my
hand at the bottom of the phone -- the
same way I have always held an iPhone.

Made a phone call yesterday and the
call dropped when I accidentally moved
my hand to the bottom.

Do the bumpers actually solve this problem
or is that a myth?
Click to expand...

Really? You know where to post when you have a issue, however do you read or search before you post ? What rock do you live under. I am calling troll
 
Troll? You kidding me?

Wow, really appreciate the warm responses here.

No, not living in a ditch. What a bad guess.

The real problem is that depending on who you
talk to there either IS a problem or it's a MYTH
about the signal loss.

Same goes for the bumpers. Some say it works
some say it doesn't.

I'm merely taking the latest head count on opinions.
 
In essence the dropped call situation is dependant on the strength of the signal in your call area. The bumper can help thus why it's being given out. Bumper is a generic term and some are going to work better than others. Some bumpers are made from D3O a far superior material to rubber but more expensive.

The trick here is to experiment and do what works best for you.

Despite many who like a naked phone it's only a matter of time before you drop it and being made of glass it doesn't take a Genius to work out it's going to shatter. So a case/cover/band favouring function over aesthetic appeal should be chosen.
 
NJRonbo said:
Troll? You kidding me?

Wow, really appreciate the warm responses here.
Click to expand...

Ignore the negativity and focus on the replies that actually gave you the information.

Yes a case fixed my problem. Will it fix yours. Probably. If you don't want to waste money on a case to see if it works for you. Get electrical tape, cut it thinner and wrap it around your phone and try it out for a few days. If your phone works, then you know you just need to get a case.
 
NJRonbo said:
Same goes for the bumpers. Some say it works
some say it doesn't.
Click to expand...

I gotta side with the OP here. You can find evidence of every side of the argument if you search for it. There are those that say they have no problem with a naked iPhone, some say the still have the problem with a case, and of course, all those in between. There are also videos on YouTube of cases fixing the problem, and videos demonstrating that bar droppage still happens with a case.
 
Guys,

Appreciate the time you have taken
to provide more helpful responses.

I already applied for a free bumper
case. Will take 3 weeks to arrive.

As for the iPhone, I'm sort of bothered
by the fact that Steve Jobs claimed that
the complaints about signal loss were
over-hyped. Clearly, I can see the problem.

I wonder how much the bumper will
really protect the glass front in case
of a fall. Is the bumper case thick
enough around the front glass that
there is enough cushion where the
glass won't meet the floor it hits?
 
Another suggestion, if you want to try a case, just get a cheap on on eBay. there are ones that ship from Hong Kong for 99 cents shipped. Yes, you read that right. The seller is ashopone, and most people say they are good (for a buck of course). If you don't want to wait for shipping from China, you should be able to find similar stuff that ships from the US for under 10 bucks. Then you can try it out without investing $30+ in a case that may or may not fix you up.
 
Thanks again for the help, guys.

This an important issue for me as
you can imagine when investing in
a phone.
 
NJRonbo said:
Guys,

Appreciate the time you have taken
to provide more helpful responses.

I already applied for a free bumper
case. Will take 3 weeks to arrive.

As for the iPhone, I'm sort of bothered
by the fact that Steve Jobs claimed that
the complaints about signal loss were
over-hyped. Clearly, I can see the problem.

I wonder how much the bumper will
really protect the glass front in case
of a fall. Is the bumper case thick
enough around the front glass that
there is enough cushion where the
glass won't meet the floor it hits?
Click to expand...

I've been asking myself this too. I haven't yet gotten my iPhone, but when I do, I think I'll definitely get a case with a back cover on it for the extra protection. But the bumper definitely has a lip that keep the glass from coming in contact with a flat surface. There are a ton of videos on YouTube at this point reviewing the Apple Bumper case. Check them out. It'll give you some good visuals showing you what kind of protection you get from it.
 
NJRonbo said:
Guys,

Appreciate the time you have taken
to provide more helpful responses.

I already applied for a free bumper
case. Will take 3 weeks to arrive.

As for the iPhone, I'm sort of bothered
by the fact that Steve Jobs claimed that
the complaints about signal loss were
over-hyped. Clearly, I can see the problem.

I wonder how much the bumper will
really protect the glass front in case
of a fall. Is the bumper case thick
enough around the front glass that
there is enough cushion where the
glass won't meet the floor it hits?
Click to expand...

You must live in an area with poor reception. I have five bars where I live, and I can't replicate the signal drop, no matter how I hold the phone.

If you are worried about it breaking, you need to buy a full-coverage case. The bumper doesn't provide any protection if you drop it.
 
Doesn't solve the problem, but it delays it. I can still go from 4 to 1 bar with the bumper, it just takes longer.
 
You must live in an area with poor reception. I have five bars where I live, and I can't replicate the signal drop, no matter how I hold the phone.
Click to expand...

Wish that was the case.

I had a 3GS that I upgraded to an iPhone 4.

So, in the same location I used my 3GS phone daily with
no signal loss and no dropped calls, the opposite is happening
with the iPhone 4.

I can see the signal loss go from full 5 bars to nothing
just by placing my hand over the line on the bottom of
the phone.
 
NJRonbo said:
Week #28

Is that good or bad?
Click to expand...

Cannot tell you if it is good or bad but I hear people saying that iPhone 4 with built week starting 27 have been modified (coating on the antenna). That is too me pure speculation and cannot proof this...
Maybe you are in a poor reception area...AT&T sucks anyway.
I have a week 26 and live in Paris, France...never had a single issue with reception. But we have a strong network in Paris. I am taking some vacation soon in a remote location where the reception is poor and will be able to compare my iPhone 3G vs. my iPhone 4...it's going to be interesting.
X
 
NJRonbo said:
Wish that was the case.

I had a 3GS that I upgraded to an iPhone 4.

So, in the same location I used my 3GS phone daily with
no signal loss and no dropped calls, the opposite is happening
with the iPhone 4.

I can see the signal loss go from full 5 bars to nothing
just by placing my hand over the line on the bottom of
the phone.
Click to expand...

That's a shame. I have a better signal and no dropped calls with my iPhone 4. Sounds like you should return the phone and get something else. Or go back to your 3GS.
 
As far as I know, all of my dropped calls have been due to the proximity sensor issue. However, before I put a case on, I could get the bars to drop to 0 (never went to "Searching" though); since adding a case, I can no longer do that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back