Why the antenna issue probably ISN'T causing your dropped calls

[openendstraight]

As far as the dropping calls problem, I had the same problem with my iPhone 3G, and if I turned off the 3G and just use edge, it almost never dropped calls.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

The way I see it, a hardware defect would only make sense if the phone was exhibiting the same symptoms in a different area, which it is not. The area where the calls and data are being dropped in VA, is not a low signal area, I can assure you. This has got to be some sort of weird network issue or an issue with the way iPhone 4 is communicating with the 3G network.

iPhones are exhibiting the same symptoms all over the U.S. Just because you can't replicate it in every single circumstance does not necessarily mean that it is solely software or network based, but it is certainly possible (likely probable) that there are a few factors combining to cause the problems.

As for your assertion that the area in VA where your calls are being dropped is not a low-signal area, what proof do you have? Unless you can physically measure the signal using something other than an iPhone (any iPhone, considering Apple has now admitted they suck at displaying actual signal strength), you might not necessarily know the truth. Add to that the fact that signal strength can vary radically over even a small area, and there are a host of problems with the supposition that the antenna has "nothing" to do with the dropped calls.

 

[malnar]

I THINK that with the one on the TOP one would ALSO have to bridge the one on the bottom RIGHT in order to get to the 3G/Data antenna on the BOTTOM. There are three seperator rubber pads/bars

Two antennas - the right/bottom is the GSM, the left is wifi/bluetooth/gps. The separator on the right is purely aesthetic, just to balance the functional left one.

 

[tivoboy]

I think

Two antennas - the right/bottom is the GSM, the left is wifi/bluetooth/gps. The separator on the right is purely aesthetic, just to balance the functional left one.

I THINK that the only real part of the GSM antenna is the bottom. I know it appears from this graphic that the whole right side is data/3g etc., but there is a kink at the bottom and we have a BLACK rubber bumper on the right. I think that the rubber bumper on the right is actually a separator (and internally this piece of metal is NOT contiguous). I also think that the only part of the antenna that the FCC allows is on the bottom of the device, furthest as possible from the HEAD of the user. An antenna on the entire right side would negate all of this and make it actually closer to the normal RIGHT handed user and along the entire length of the phone.

 

[hockeydude35]

iPhones are exhibiting the same symptoms all over the U.S. Just because you can't replicate it in every single circumstance does not necessarily mean that it is solely software or network based, but it is certainly possible (likely probable) that there are a few factors combining to cause the problems.

As for your assertion that the area in VA where your calls are being dropped is not a low-signal area, what proof do you have? Unless you can physically measure the signal using something other than an iPhone (any iPhone, considering Apple has now admitted they suck at displaying actual signal strength), you might not necessarily know the truth. Add to that the fact that signal strength can vary radically over even a small area, and there are a host of problems with the supposition that the antenna has "nothing" to do with the dropped calls.

Two ways that lead me to believe it's not a signal issue. First, I cannot replicate the bar drop syndrome in my apartment (where as I can in other known low signal areas). This in itself is a pretty good indication of a strong signal. and Secondly, when I had my 3GS jailbroken, I used a numerical signal strength indicator and the signal was always between -75 and -55.

 

[tivoboy]

video

I have tried to capture this in a video, anyone know a better network throughput app that displays in real time for testing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H795Qz-PBQc