Dropped calls with 3G

I'd start with AT&T... they were ill prepared for 3G volume of users and their network is suffering right now and not near enough towers going up fast enough... also, their networks need an overhaul on the system mgmt side to accommodate the increased bandwidth. The more users accessing 3G the slower your reception... This is bigger than just APPLE...

BTW, the new SIM card has helped a little... and you can get a signal enhancer sent to your phone... but again, the more 3G users there are the bottom line isn't going away... and I don't care which 3G phone you are using... I lost svc all together this past Saturday a.m. and I am in a decent 3G area... only to have it reappear again an hour or so later.

Ultimately, your solution may be the only one... unfortunately, APPLE is tied to AT&T, which means it must also face fall-out over VERY POOR 3G network issues... bottom line is the 3G network can't handle the current volume of 3G users... I also came over from Verizon.. and didn't have dropped call issues... different networks all together... I also drop calls on EDGE where I never dropped call's before on Verizon... I don't care which wireless 3G phone you are using, the problem remains the same. There are different SIM cards now... the one I had put in Saturday, Aug 9 didn't improve signal dramatically, if at all... but I didn't have to run home to sync to iTunes like before... so if that is any indicator on which SIM card you tried... I would anyway to see if it makes a difference. Bottom line remains AT&T are pulling APPLE 3G iPhone down the tubes with it... When I do get good 3G signal, its great... but to watch the signal strength vacillate in front of my eyes is frustrating...

You are not alone!! I'm very frustrated. I've had mine for 3 weeks. I'm travel alot in my car and in a 4 hour drive I had 2 calls dropped calls per hour driving from NYC to Philly. That's crazy. I came from verizon and never a dropped call.

I think the #1 objective of any phone is to maintain connectivity while talking and AT&T and Apple lost focus on this issue. I hope it's an easy fix with a firmware update. Isn't the phone suppose to switch from 3G to EDGE without dropping the call? This is not happening. Also this issue is getting blogged to death and is on Yahoo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cnet/20080811/tc_cnet/83011357931001242037

People stated that they have returned their iPhone, some say their new phone and sim now gets better reception. I don't know what to do. I guess I'll talk to AT&T and see what's up.

Come on AT&T and Apple acknowledge this issue so we know you are working on it.

I've had the same issue with my phone, dropping and/or failing to dial calls repeatedly. I've had AT&T a long time and I've pretty much always had issues with connectivity, I know my phone doesn't connect well at work or at home. I've gone back to AT&T to report my problems with my other phones and the best they've ever offered is to switch my SIM Card. Often I will notice an improvement for a couple of days and then back to the same old, same old. I love the iPhone and all of it's features, the connectivity is a big issue though because now there are even fewer places I can use my phone with any kind of consistancy. I used to be able to go outside my office and use my other phones, with the iPhone I have trouble connecting anywhere and if I can connect, the person can hear me, but I can't hear them. Very frustrating.

Experiencing the excessive 3G dropping of calls and "no service" messages where I used to have full coverage on my Gen 1 iPhone. The handoff between 3G and EDGE is pitiful - I just drop the call instead of the call transferring between the two networks. At my apartment right next to a window, I only get one bar now and can't hold a call but get 4 bars on EDGE with no dropped call issues. Get tons of "call failed" messages when trying to dial as well. Having problems all over LA - especially Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, West LA and Santa Monica.

Welcome to my world. In live in Los Angeles - of 3G doesn't work here, where does it work? Well, IT DOESN'T. Reception on my original iPhone was fine - as good as ATT gets (which is worse than Verizon, but that's another story). The new 3G phone? Dropped calls all the way from my house to work. After three weeks I've just permanently turned 3G off. Now the phone works fine, on Edge. Ironic, don't you think?

Lars,
So switching to EDGE works well for you when driving in the car. I'll try that. I was reading more on the issue. Appleinsider had articles stating that it appears to be a hardware issue in the phone itself. The article was dated yesterday That's discouraging. I wonder how they'll fix this with 2M plus sold.
Here is the link...
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/iphone-3g-connection-woes-may/story.aspx?g uid=%7BA660CD8F%2D3C9B%2D4203%2DA22A%2D9D812D7ED443%7D&dist=TQPModmktwN

I talked with Apple support, actually I was transferred to the overflow department in Cork, Ireland and said they have heard of alot of USA issues on this. They had me reset the phone and said turn off 3G. This is apple saying to switch off the 3G when traveling. Boy that's a $10/month waste if I have to do this all the time! Thanks for nothing.. I guess.

Just thought I'd pass on the latest

I found some "try this". I found that if I reset my network settings, I get very few dropped/failed calls. Go to settings, general (scroll down), reset, and choose "reset network".

Shawn

i read the post regarding the 3G chip set, however, i have an iPhone 2G 8GB and have had no end to dropped calls (yes i am previous verizon customer with never a dropped call on that system) and i have experienced a significant increase in dropped calls as well as 'call failed' since upgrading to 2.0 firmware.

so why the uniformly poor connectivity for both 2G and 3G with different chipsets?

doc

I tried this tonight and so far, even with 3G on, I am actually staying on EDGE at my house where I only got 1 bar of 3G coverage. I'll try to place some calls tomorrow as I drive cross town and see what happens. I'll write back on my experience once I do some testing.

Thanks for posting your "Try This" - there might be something here.