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

I wonder when they will start another new thread... this one is getting rather long now!

hoi kefrens

I just wonder how it can be a software issue if some don't have a reception problem, and some have the problem - with the same software/firmware running?

Hoi taltal,

i HOPE that it is a software problem, IF it is a SW prob, apple can fix it and everything is fine.
If it is a HW prob you have to send the phone to apple and wait for an exchange..... some days.... weeks... or so 😟

The first fix would be better 🙂

Gruss

Kefrens

Here in Berlin, Germany, I do not have any issues with 3G reception but I occassionally have problems with dropped calls. The coverage in downtown Berlin is excellent though.

Just a few thoughts on the problems some users are having:

1. Do not compare the reception bars on your iPhone with other phone. They are not standardized. I have an old Nokia 3G phone that gives me full bars where the iPhone gives me two bars only, but when you look in the network monitors they actually have the same reception.

2. In contrast to GSM networks you can normally take full advantage of 3G even with one bar only. 3G and GSM networks are totally independent and not just a different codec implemented in the existing GSM network (some users I believe think that it is the same network as GSM therefore expecting the same coverage)

3. 3G is not 3G. Here in Germany all cell towers of the 3G Network of T-Mobile have HSDPA implemented. Therefore i can get up to 7.2 Mbit/s download rate (some cell towers up to 3.6 Mbit/s). As I understand, AT&T has a mix of both UMTS and HDPA Towers. On UMTS only, you can only get a maximum of 384 Mbit/s.

Please also understand that 3G bandwidth is shared by everybody using the cell tower, which also explains the higher speeds you receive in off-peak hours.

4. Due to the nature of 3G networks the coverage is dynamic. The cell you are connected to is "breathing" depending on the amount of active users. Therefore you may also experience a better coverage on some days compared to other. In fact, coverage can change by the minute.

5. There is definitely a "dropped call issue" with the iPhone. A lot of first generation 3G phones used to have this and I think it can definitely be addressed by firmware update (hopefully soon)

6. The SIM cards has as much to do with the reception of your iPhone as the colour of the t-shirt you are wearing. Seriously, any experience in this regars is imagination or owed to the fact of the dynamic 3G coverage (see above)

{quote:title=Airlancer wrote:}I have an old Nokia 3G phone that gives me full bars where the iPhone gives me two bars only, but when you look in the network monitors they actually have the same reception.{quote}

This doesn't seem to be true for other users. They do experience NO SERVICE on the iPhone 3G while they can make an receive calls with other handsets (you find this in posts further up or in the original thread).

I was just posting things to consider. The iPhone is definitely not having the best 3G reception of all phones.

Kefrens wrote:
Hi guys,

i live in switzerland and i have no problems with my 3G. I have a black 16 GB version. Software 2.0 ( 5A345 ) installed.
The SIM is about 5 years old and works fine.

Don`t know if only you guys in the US have the problem but for me in switzerland and my friends in germany everything works fine....

I`m sorry for your trouble with your iphones.....

Best regards from switzerland and sorry for my lousy english 🙂

Hi Kefrens,

Could you give us some information about your iphone? For example, model number, serial number (first five digits only) and firmware version. Thank you.

[]s,
Marlos.

Hi Marlos,

sure, here we go:

serial: 87826

and firmware as mentioned above: 2.0 ( 5A345 )

Model: A1241

Message was edited by: Kefrens

People,

I got other iPhone from Vodafone customer service (in Portugal).

Model# MB048LL
Serial# 87826

Same problems... 😟 😟 😟

[]s,
Marlos.

Thank you Kefrens, but are you sure that model number is correct? They usually star with MB plus something.

[]s,
Marlos.

Ehm.... the model number in the backside is the mentioned but @ the software is the following:MB496FD

Message was edited by: Kefrens

Location Berlin, Germany and the same problem. Today i got my iPhone back from repair service, they couldn't find anything.

Did they say anything else? Because when you contacted them for the first time I remember they said it shouldn't have these problems.

What are you going to do?

You should use your 2G maps because AT&T puts a blanket BLUE over everything for 3G coverage. A better gauge of your expected reception is the 2G map which is before the hype about total coverage. My 3G tower is miles away from my house. When I move towards it inside by house from the bedrooms to the living room, the bars go from none to 1-3, depending on where in the living room I am (near the window towards the tower etc.). No, the antenna and chip are tuned to use less power and that increases battery and reduces reception/transmission. My iPhone doesn't switch back and forth. It stays until it is more or less forced to switch. Riding down the freeway on a bus I watched the antenna go through great 3G to none, finally switch to 2G near the university where you would expect full 3G......... So the power saving and poor 3G antenna coverage is where I see the problem. There are NOT as many 3G towers as they would have you believe, even on the I-5 corridor as you would think has full 3G coverage. Peace out.

Michael

Michael

So you have great coverage even with the old version of the firmware/software and an old SIM. I wonder if your provider uses the 1900 frequency which Apple tested with, vs. another. Many have posted AT&T uses 850. Can you confirm please one way or the other? Thanks!

Michael