iPhone '4' thread

N20Y1D

poppy10 wrote: »

Extensive coverage of the signal loss problems on gizmodo:

http://gizmodo.com/5571171/iphone-4-loses-reception-when-you-hold-it-by-the-antenna-band

It's been confirmed by multiple sources - if you hold the iPhone 4 in your hand it loses signal, almost to no bars. Leading to dropped calls and huge deterioration in 3G speeds. But don't worry, apple fanboys - at least it's still sooooo shiny :rotfl:

haha,

It's been suggested that using the rubber bumper case that Apple sells separately for $29 is solving the problem because it prevents a user's fingers from coming in contact with the antenna band. It's unclear if this is why Apple for the first time decided to make its own case. The company has previously left that up to third-party manufacturers.

Just a coinincidence i imagine..

oh and it wont stay that shiny for long apparently...

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/23/yes-you-can-certainly-scratch-the-iphone-4/
:rotfl:

dvs

I still haven't opened my phone yet. Going to Thorpe Park tomorrow so don't want to take new phone on the rides anyway.

My dilemma is whether to use the bumper I bought or the dock. You can't use both (unless you remove the bumper each time). I really want to be able to charge it in a dock but thinking about whether it's better to reduce the chance of call problems and damage with the bumper.

robbies_gal

Streeet wrote: »

Well I just had a call back from Orange.
Against what was said earlier.. they are now trying to force me to add a £10 internet bundle before they'll send a microsim.

I already have 500MG data allowance included in my plan so I told them I didn't need it and want to risk going over my limit..

I was again told no internet bundle.. no Micro Sim..

So I told them to keep it! (from my iPhone 4 with a home made micro sim )

What a penny pinching, greedy, pain in the bum network. I'll be complaining..

they cant do that you ordered that should be the end of it

go higher and tell them they lost a customer

djrobmac

poppy10 wrote: »

It's been confirmed by multiple sources - if you hold the iPhone 4 in your hand it loses signal, almost to no bars. Leading to dropped calls and huge deterioration in 3G speeds. But don't worry, apple fanboys - at least it's still sooooo shiny :rotfl:

Ummm how many times do I have to point out, it's doing the same thing to many people on all iPhones and iPods that have upgraded to iOS4 i.e its looking like a software bug.

Love the haters trying to be clever :rotfl: what really makes me chuckle is to look at the MSE users that are trash talkin, their previous posts in this long thread have done nothing but slagged off the iPhone 4 long before it was even released (poppy10 and N20Y1D for prime examples)

I wouldnt change this phone for the world, and I wouldnt use it without a bumper so even if I had this problem (which I don't) it wouldnt matter anyway as "it's been confirmed by multiple sources" that those having problems don't when using a bumper

spike87

Oh dear the jealousy on this site is shocking! Can I add that the problem with the signal dropping IS NOT A FAULT WITH THE IPHONE 4 BECAUSE IPHONE 3G/3GS USERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM.

greatsite_2

Tried cutting two sims one pay as you go, works fine, then my contract and is saying no sim... vodafone not able to offer me a micro sim (so customer service say) so I have one phone that I can not use

poppy10_2

djrobmac wrote: »

Ummm how many times do I have to point out, it's doing the same thing to many people on all iPhones and iPods that have upgraded to iOS4 i.e its looking like a software bug.

It's absolutely not looking like a software bug - if you read the links above you will see it has already been clearly established that it is a hardware issue. The problem occurs when you create an electrical link between the external antennaes on the bottom and the left of the iPhone 4. This is the reason using a 'bumper' case fixes the problem. The rumours of similar problems with previous models upgraded to iOS4 have not been substantiated.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365650,00.asp
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7851879/iPhone-4-buyers-reporting-antenna-problems.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1289321/Apple-iPhone-4-problems-Phone-loses-reception.html
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=949326

In an experiment conducted by PCMag.com Thursday, the iPhone 4 reception problem could indeed be replicated, with the so-called "death grip" – where the iPhone 4 was held with fingers touching the three antenna "lines" circling the device – causing the signal to drop.
In our testing, we discovered that the iPhone 4 "death grip" is definitely real. Using the Speedtest.net speed testing software, we started a test with the phone sitting on a tabletop. If we picked up the phone and purposefully put one finger on each of the three "lines" around the edge of the device, with the corner tucked into the pad of the hand, the speed dropped dramatically and sometimes stalled out. Returning it to the tabletop caused things to speed up again. Adding one of Apple's rubber "bumpers" to the phone negated the death grip, so it clearly has something to do with conductivity.

edit: Extensive coverage on the macrumours site, hardly an anti-apple source, just in case you think I am being biased.

boo_star

poppy10 wrote: »

It's absolutely not looking like a software bug - if you read the links above you will see it has already been clearly established that it is a hardware issue. The problem occurs when you create an electrical link between the external antennaes on the bottom and the left of the iPhone 4. This is the reason using a 'bumper' case fixes the problem. The rumours of similar problems with previous models upgraded to iOS4 have not been substantiated.

From my testing this is incorrect.

I have tried testing the "link" theory with a finger, covering as little of the bottom antenna as posssible, although there is a signal drop it is not particularly severe (3-4 bars depending on how much is covered.
When I have tried covering the lower area with something non-conductive (tried a sheet of paper, a piece of cellophane and sellotape, complete coverage of the lower half with the hand drops the signal considerably (1 bar on 3G or it drops to EDGE.) However I was able to make phone calls and never got "No Service."

Using thicker material (decided on corrugated cardboard) covering the side and bottom of the phone and using a hand to cover resulted in a drop of service to 3-4 bars.

It appears that the bumper is effective because it creates a gap between your hand and the phone, preventing you from completely covering the antenna and stopping signals getting in, nothing to do with creating an electrical link. This I imagine is the reason why its much harder to do on a 3G/3GS.

If it isn't a software issue then Apple are going to be in fairly big trouble, it would obviously be a fundemental design flaw and nothing short of a redesign will fix it. I don't think Apple's current stance of "use a bumper" will cut it (and certainly not if they continue to try and sell them to affected customers.)

Edit: tried the death grip and got similar results to completely covering the lower area, guess there is more than one way to skin this cat.

dvs

I'm not worried if the phone is slightly faulty - it will be fixed or replace. Usually these things are just a storm in a teacup. And if it isn't, well it'll get sorted one way or another.

robbies_gal

can i jsut say as much as i am jealous (:P) i didnt post the link to the signal problems to just get at anyone with a phone