One Possible iPhone 4 Antenna Fix With Mixed Results

That's what happens when you start using new freaky micro SIM cards! There's a reason why the proper SIM card had so much plastic around it!
 
chronometer said:
I just covered the very edge of the sim card with regular transparent tape ( thinner than black electrical tape and since low voltage) and it seems to work perfect!! FULL bars. Previously I lost 3 bars in the same location. So far so perfect. It figures that once again the AT&T part of the phone has caused the problem. If Apple makes it it works. If AT&T does well.... This would also explain why not everyone is having a problem. My guess is that those sim cards were cut correctly and don't make contact with the tray.

Ok a half hour later and it not does not work. I'll try it longer but this is looking more like a hoax. Maybe something to do with the phone searching for a signal after re installing the sim???
Click to expand...

I think you're on the right track.

For those of you who think this works, try pulling the tape off you sim (or un-modifying your mod). Does your reception problem return? How about removing the sim, doing nothing, and then replacing it and turning the phone back on. Do you still have the same reception problem? Only if you can answer yes to both can you claim an effect.

I think some of the posters here should have paid a bit more attention in their science classes.
 
iEdd said:
No you don't. You either believe you do*, OR you have gotten better at death-gripping the phone.

*Common psychological symptom that happens in medical trials as well. Placebo effect.
Click to expand...

Nope I am placing my fingers in same exact position. Also, without tape or paper trick it takes 15-20 seconds to lose signal and with the trick it takes about 6-7 seconds. Believe me I timed.
 
According to Apple, the correct terminology for a modified micro-sim card is a 'circumcised sim'.

They recommend you visit your local Apple store and ask to have a circumcision at the Genius Bar.

Another way of improving your reception is to get silicone sealant (available from Home Depot) and fill in the seams running around your phone. Beige, white and clear sealants are available.
 
?

This doesn't work it's either a software or hardware issue they need to fix obviously reconstruct the antenna.

Thanks Steve Jobs for making me wait for the fix.
 
I'm not buying an iPhone until this whole debacle is remedied.

Call me a heretic if you must, but this wishy washy way of finding a solution doesn't cut it for me. I'm waiting for Stevie Jay and his crack team of engineers to come up with something scientifically valid. This may sound like crazy talk, but it would seem to me that the people who built the device are best qualified to 'fix' it.
 
Just read somewhere that the issue of the sim card is only valid for those who cut down a larger one themselves and cut it incorrectly in the first place.
 
Much has ben said, but take a look at this:

"...the rumors of the iOS 4 fix actually make sense to me. The AppleInsider post explains that "The fix is expected to address a [sic] issue in iOS 4 related to radio frequency calibration of the baseband. Readers who saw the original forum discussions say that the issue is believed to occur when switching frequencies; because the lag is allegedly not calibrated correctly, it results in the device reporting "no service" rather than switching to the frequency with the best signal to noise ratio..."

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent...ed_coming_soon_to_fix_iphone_4_reception.html

Does this make any sense to some of you RF guys?
 
These SIM cards look nothing like the ones O2 in the UK are using for the iPhone. The O2 sims do not have any metal touching the sim tray... they are surrounded in plastic... could this be why I cant re-create the problem on the iPhone 4?

It seems ridiculous to me that AT&T would use cards with exposed edges?!
 
one09jason said:
For those of you who think this works, try pulling the tape off you sim (or un-modifying your mod). Does your reception problem return? How about removing the sim, doing nothing, and then replacing it and turning the phone back on. Do you still have the same reception problem? Only if you can answer yes to both can you claim an effect.

I think some of the posters here should have paid a bit more attention in their science classes.
Click to expand...

Finally. A call for some sort of control. I was about to post this myself, but Jason beat me to it!
 
newfoundglory said:
These SIM cards look nothing like the ones O2 in the UK are using for the iPhone. The O2 sims do not have any metal touching the sim tray... they are surrounded in plastic... could this be why I cant re-create the problem on the iPhone 4?

It seems ridiculous to me that AT&T would use cards with exposed edges?!
Click to expand...

I can recreate it with my o2 micro sim, so can several friends - you're doing it wrong =P
 
here in germany the tmobile microsims only have a very tiny chip. It is DEFINITELY not touching the tray and still the reception issues can be reproduced easily. So, sure it's nice if this works for you, but I think it's a placebo effect ;-)
 
marksman said:
What do you mean?

They guy said that this solution had no objective measurement. Neither does the reported problem. You want to contend that there has been some kind of scientifically valid and objective study to prove this is an issue, yet there isn't.

Most of it is just people waving their phones around saying look at the bars drop. Oh my I can't make a call.

What is objective about that?

I am not going to stop speaking the truth. This has as much chance as being the legitimate issue as anything else brought up so far.

Since I don't think most people even know what the "problem" is how to actually recreate it, and are likely just suffering from poor signal in general, I would dismiss a lot of those who say this does nothing for them at this point.

Right now it is more spot on to see if several or more people can see the problem go away by modifying/reseating their sim card.

The fact that some people say it does nothing for them is not really relevant at this point, as we have no way to know if they were having a problem to begin with...
Click to expand...


Since you don't seem to be informed, here is video evidence of what is happening.

http://vimeo.com/12864890
 
I had a very similar problem with my iPad 3G, it kept loosing signal and/or access to the 3G tower. Upon further inspection I found that the SIM was not sitting in the tray correctly no matter how you tried to get it to. I used the edge of a knife to gently scrape a little bit off of one side of the SIM and after that it has never had a problem.

If the SIM is making contact with a part of the metallic tray I can see where it would cause some issues. Based on the attached photo the SIM sure does look to be way off centre.
 
CrownSeven said:
You guys are nuts for hacking up your shiny phones.

The fix is going to be a recall by apple. Plain and simple. The phone has a defective design. This has nothing to do with sim cards.

And some advice - pass up on the snake oil, you don't need land in florida, and the Brooklyn Bridge is not for sale.
Click to expand...

If it was a defective design then most likely all iPhone 4's would be experiencing the same problem.

It is more likely a problem with a batch of SIM cards or in the actual manufacture of the iPhone which resulted in a bad batch of antenna's.

There is something to be said for iOS4 as well. My reception is noticeably worse on my iPhone 3G after installing iOS4.
 
after doing a sim to microsim conversion tonight I can say that there is little to no room between the circuit on the sim and the metal holder. seems it varies a lot with the different sim cards how large the metal area is.
 
I noticed my SIM card was that way (way too close, IMHO) when I couldn't get the phone to activate properly. It's good to know that everyone's is that way :)

But I never considered it might be tied to the reception problem.

I guess someone would need to identify what those pins are for...

Gary
 
What I find most odd is that there is a tray at all? Surely it would be simpler just to have a slot with a cover that slides or hinges into place with a snap to hold the sim inside?
 
marksman said:
What do you mean?

They guy said that this solution had no objective measurement. Neither does the reported problem.
Click to expand...

Ah, yes it does. The bars go down, that pretty objective. You're thinking of denial, as in being in denial, thinking that the original problem doesn't exist.
 
Let's face it for once and for all...
iPhone 4 has an epic design flaw... and that's it... the antenna, which was supposed to revolutionise the design of mobiles , is a big failure.

Apple thought it could teach something to Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola or HTC... but it failed badly :D
 
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