iPhone 4's antenna dilemma

[OTACORB]

I hope they fix this!

..and pronto diaz!

It is definitely the software because I tried holding phone with and without the case and wouldn't you know, I have the same issue. I'm glad to see it's just the software rather than the phone. This is with my updated 3GS.

Thanks Chelle for your report!

 

[rstark18]

I replicated this exactly with my iOS4 3G that has NEVER been JB. It only happens in my right hand not my left. Very strange.
BTW, case or no case does not matter as long as it's in my right hand.
Maybe it's the new anti-porn feature from Steve (anyone get it?).

 

[cmikhow#AC]

It's impossible that a PHYSICAL issue with the phone is a software issue.

I watched the video and there's too many sketchy things about it for me to believe that.

Do you truly believe it's possible for humans to PROGRAM a cell phone to lose reception when someone holds the edges? Just think about what you are insinuating.

 

[Hack-My-i]

It's impossible that a PHYSICAL issue with the phone is a software issue.

I watched the video and there's too many sketchy things about it for me to believe that.

Do you truly believe it's possible for humans to PROGRAM a cell phone to lose reception when someone holds the edges? Just think about what you are insinuating.

^Hes right... Apple knows about this flaw and although im not having this issue, it still has me worried...its def not iOS4, it doesnt make sense, its the SS antenna frame around the i4, check it out: Let me google that for you

There are sooo many blogs about this issue...i guess it depends highly on location as well..

 

[cmikhow#AC]

"Oh guys totally our bad, we accidently forgot to code the software so that it doesn't lose bars when you touch it"

"we'll send a patch out right away to fix this, also to apologize for the inconvenience we'll patch an extra 8gigs hardrive space for you, our b"

 

[OTACORB]

It's impossible that a PHYSICAL issue with the phone is a software issue.

I watched the video and there's too many sketchy things about it for me to believe that.

Do you truly believe it's possible for humans to PROGRAM a cell phone to lose reception when someone holds the edges? Just think about what you are insinuating.

I think it is very possible that there is a bug in their algorithm that they are using for reception. If this algorithm doesn't think the signal is sufficient due to the short being created by the metal conductor (aluminum antenna band) that it could cause the signal to totally drop out. This stuff is much more complicated than one might think.

If it turns out to be hardware related, then I think Apple is likely going to be forced to do a recall because I don't think telling folks to buy a $29.99 bumper is going to cut it. That would be like putting a bandaid on a gunshot.

I think in the coming days they are going to have to put out some sort of official statement on this issue. WE know they are aware of it, but to what extent this issue really is, no one seems to know. You have some saying they can't get their phones to do it. You have others saying they can replicated easily. This is now on the iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPhone 4 that I've seen reported. Why would the iPhone 3G and 3GS suddenly start having hardware failures because a new iOS was installed? I am just not ready to buy the hardware thing yet.

 

[ghostface147]

It has to be a software issue. Apple even said there's a signal accuracy bug they will fix soon. I don't think it's hardware because if I can touch a tv antenna and get better reception, why wouldn't that same concept apply to a phone?

 

[nator76]

checking in with my experience

black 32gb iphone 4, 2 of them

no signal drop issue on either phone when doing any of the combinations seen online. when covering the phone with both hand (just trying to smother it, essentially) the signal will drop 1 or 2 bars, but so did the rest of the phones ive ever owned.

no screen issues either on the phones, just an fyi

p.s. this thing is sick, unreal.

 

[skew]

Mine is bad too I can touch the seam on the left side and it goes from 2-3 bars to no service in about 10secs every time. I was wandering why I was dropping every call yesterday. Now I know because I hold it with my left hand.

 

[imex99]

will test when i get mine today

 

[big9erfan]

I can replicate the issue but not 100% of the time. First time I tried I showed my gf and was able to replicate it 4 or 5x in a row. After that I've been unable to dup it. No matter how I hold it now my signal is fine. Humm.

 

[purplewithenvy]

This is now on the iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPhone 4 that I've seen reported. Why would the iPhone 3G and 3GS suddenly start having hardware failures because a new iOS was installed? I am just not ready to buy the hardware thing yet.

I completely agree, this seems to be a problem with iOS4, not the iPhone 4. Hopefully they'll push out an update here pretty quickly.

 

[tkao2025]

Hopefully it's the iOS4 and not the phone.....judging by the fact that people with 3Gs are reporting this problem, makes me think software.

Keeping my fingers crossed when I get my phone today.

 

[John T]

I must admit to wondering about the RF reception on the iPhone 4 when Steve Jobbs described the external antennas. To my knowledge, this is the only 'phone with such an arrangement.

Anyone with the most basic knowledge of electronics must know that the efficiency of an aerial (antenna) is effected when it's capacitance is increased when in electrical contact with another conductor, in this case, the users hand. Just listen to what happens when touching the aerial of a radio.

In areas if relatively high signal strength, the effect would not be so noticeable which could explain why some people are experiencing problems and others are not.

As far as solutions are concerned, the use of a bumper, which would act as an insulator between the hand and the iPhone, could be the answer. However, this may not be popular with some people.

 

[ghostface147]

I must admit to wondering about the RF reception on the iPhone 4 when Steve Jobbs described the external antennas. To my knowledge, this is the only 'phone with such an arrangement.

Anyone with the most basic knowledge of electronics must know that the efficiency of an aerial (antenna) is effected when it's capacitance is increased when in electrical contact with another conductor, in this case, the users hand. Just listen to what happens when touching the aerial of a radio.

In areas if relatively high signal strength, the effect would not be so noticeable which could explain why some people are experiencing problems and others are not.

As far as solutions are concerned, the use of a bumper, which would act as an insulator between the hand and the iPhone, could be the answer. However, this may not be popular with some people.

So does that explain why when I touch an antenna on an older TV, it gets better reception instead of worse?

 

[John T]

So does that explain why when I touch an antenna on an older TV, it gets better reception instead of worse?

Yes, with TV's and radios, their tuners are set to fairly wide bandwidths, mobile 'phones are set to higher tolerances.

 

[theogt]

It's impossible that a PHYSICAL issue with the phone is a software issue.

I watched the video and there's too many sketchy things about it for me to believe that.

Do you truly believe it's possible for humans to PROGRAM a cell phone to lose reception when someone holds the edges? Just think about what you are insinuating.

Or possibly the software is reading the change in signal wrong. (Duh.)

I can replicate the loss of "signal" but it does not equate to a loss of reception. I've tested it with phone calls and with testing the bandwidth dozens of times. I never lose quality or drop a phone call, and quite often I have better bandwidth when the phone is showing that I have no reception.

I was up in arms about the problem until I realized it's not really a problem (at least on my phone).

 

[JohnH59]

I was at Best Buy earlier today and I was talking to a guy with a 3GS and an iPhone 4. I was showing them the drop in signal on my iPhone 4. The guy with the 3GS took his out and tried it and the signal dropped on his as well. The other guy who had a iPhone 4 was able to replicate as well.

I purchased a case and now it's not a problem. Still needs to be address, but at least it doesn't bother me.

 

[touchyphone]

I dont have this issue at all. I sat with a friend last night for 15min testing it with me covering every antenna, didnt lose signal at all for some reason, my iP4 has no issues....whew!

 

[scottdoc718]

In areas if relatively high signal strength, the effect would not be so noticeable which could explain why some people are experiencing problems and others are not.

As far as solutions are concerned, the use of a bumper, which would act as an insulator between the hand and the iPhone, could be the answer. However, this may not be popular with some people.

I am able to replicate the signal drop, just not all of the time. So, I have to agree that the problem is a function of where you are at the time and what the signal strength is.

I am still not sure if the signal loss is real though (or perhaps just some weird software issue).