iPhone 3G Reception Problems? You're Not Alone - Continued

I've also noticed that 3G reception can vary significantly even depending on where you place your hand next to the phone. Sometimes it drops from 4 bars to 1. no wonder it has diffculties then to copy with any kind of building structure.

I hope apple fixes this firmware and/or hardware issue soon.

agree. nothing of that worked for me either.

I do think, however, that battery life will improve as soon as there's a fix for the reception issue as the phone won't have to struggle to keep the signal any more.

Frank Fuller wrote:
If I knew, however, that Apple had a plan to make this right, then I would be willing to hold off on that precipitous decision. So, I'm willing to give it 2-3 more days, but if there is no public announcement from Apple, I'm returning the phones.

Good report. I have been on the AT&T wait list (direct fulfillment). I think today I am going to go off that list and wait a month or two or until I see some resolution of this problem.

German tech mag Area DVD have published a test of the iPhone 3G. They said their device (serial production, not part of a seeding) had serious trouble maintaining a stable signal even 300 meters unobstructed view from the celltowers. 500 meters from the celltower within a building they could hardly get any 3G signal.

At the same time, their Nokia E61i worked fine, with full bars reception.

This is the report (German, unfortunately):

http://www.areadvd.de/hardware/2008/iPhone3G01.shtml

I have checked and I do have the latest sim card. So far, I have noticed problems when I am home (South side of Saint Louis, Missouri). I don't seem to have connection problems outside my home, so far. However, I don't make lots of calls. I find myself dialing and holding the phone away from my head until someone answers. It connects most of the time if I remember to do this.

I was wondering if someone has tested the phone with and without the "skins" or protective wraps? Would the phone work better without this? Had the iPhone been tested with the various protectors in place that so many people use? I would think it should make little or no difference.

i have used the iPhone 3G only without protectors. I have a small bag for it and take it out whenever I want to use it. This doesn't help with the reception problems.

orbit8 wrote:

I was wondering if someone has tested the phone with and without the "skins" or protective wraps? . . . I would think it should make little or no difference.

I think you are right.

Great, but then a non-Apple 3G phone will works just fine all the time. It seems they work quite well on the same "over-loaded" network. Why does the 3G iPhone have this problem; why are problems unique to the 3G iPhone irresepctive of carrier or country? The 3g iPhone needs optimal signal quality, minimal network coingestion to function while other 3g phones work just fine.

+"German tech mag Area DVD have published a test of the iPhone 3G. They said their device (serial production, not part of a seeding) had serious trouble maintaining a stable signal even 300 meters unobstructed view from the celltowers. 500 meters from the celltower within a building they could hardly get any 3G signal.+

+At the same time, their Nokia E61i worked fine, with full bars reception."+

At last...Our complaints and observations are being affirmed, and the 3g iPhone has now finally been evaluated in the context of the problems we have been seeing, and not the hype and of Apple cool.

{quote:title=newrat wrote:} the problems we have been seeing{quote}

They have also added a couple of screenshots for general illustration purposes of the device. Look at the bars they get:

EDIT: Removed the links as they aren't displayed correctly. But you can view them on the actual page http://www.areadvd.de/hardware/2008/iPhone3G01.shtml

Message was edited by: taltal

Taltal,

Thank you, thank you!

I wonder for how long are we to continue receiving zero acknowledgement from Apple or continued obfuscation from their reps blaming the carrier (yes, even thoughclearly AT&T's 3G network is not as mature or as fast as European carrier 3G networks, but the problem belongs to the iPhone as other manufacturers 3g phone work well in the same conditions), or are we just going to hear "turn off 3G".

It's ridiculous. Everyone experiencing a problem should just return their iPhones.. period. One months later and not a peep from Apple.

The 3g signal where I live is poor, at the att store it was good and that is about 2 miles away. Several months ago I looked up the 3g signal and where our house is it wasn't supported, last month all of a sudden it showed it was supported. Really doesn't bother me as I use wifi at the house and checked out edge and it was fine for what I'll be using it for. Also we are building a house in the sticks and hey I'm lucky to even get a edge signal but I do. kevin

I am getting 3-4 bars of 3G service inside my office about 1 mile from a 3G tower. I am 2 miles from a 3G tower at my home in the suburbs and get 2 bars of 3G service. I dropped one call yesterday in an area that my EDGE iPhone and Treo 750 (3G) frequently dropped calls as well. So far I haven't had any other issues.

My phone was produced during week 29 (July).

newrat wrote:
Taltal,


It's ridiculous. Everyone experiencing a problem should just return their iPhones.. period. One months later and not a peep from Apple.

Its already a month since the iPhone 3G launched? Boy!! I must have been in a coma.

Overall, how is the 3G reception on your new iPhone in comparison to your Treo?