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

It's my understanding that as of now AT&T primarily uses the 850 band for its Edge network, and the 1900 for 3G. Since 850 penetrates buildings much better than 1900, this is the preferred band to use, but there are, of course, far more Edge phones. They will be transitioning the 3G network over to 850 over time.

I read all this in an article a couple of weeks ago, but I can't find the link for reference. If anyone has better facts or more accurate info, jump in.

I called the repair service and they told me that they didn`t found any problem with my phone and they never had heard anythink about this problem. It's truly unbelievably.
I will wait some weeks and look what will happen.

Airlancer wrote:
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.

I wondered about that when the iPhone was released a couple of weeks ago (wow, it's actually almost three weeks now) when people first started posting problems. I suggested that perhaps all the new active users on the networks were causing at least some of the issues. The idea was immediately shot down as preposterous by everyone moments after I posted the suggestion, but it seemed logical to me. Yesterday, after our local shake and bake, my 3G reception was terrible all day. In areas that I had consistently gotten 5 bars, I was getting 1 or 2, or switching to Edge. I even worried for a bit that perhaps all the issues were related to a loose or faulty antenna connections and maybe mine had finally knocked loose and I was in the same boat as everyone else now. However his morning, taking the same route to work that I took home yesterday evening, it seems back to normal. That lends some support to your statement given how saturated the network was here yesterday with well wishers and concerned friends and family calling all day.

Has anyone who had reception problems when they first got the iPhone seen any improvement?

I heard the same thing the other day, more or less.

Apparently they decided to drop a ton of towers down for the the last 10-13 days as the support person on the phone mentioned that Silicon Valley has 'the best rating possible'.

Andy_Vang wrote:
Thread too long??? More like thread too long might draw too much media attention. If you log in it breaks it down into pages. If not for media purposes can you please sticky the other thread so it doesn't get lost in the pages?

The reset didn't work for me either, still dropping calls when switching from 3g to edge. This whole experience is a bummer!

There are actually several different viewing options for threads. I personally use the threaded view which puts them all one one page, and indented based on who they are replying to.

However, long threads can present performance issues, and this is not the first, only, nor last time a thread has been or will be split to help with page loading times.

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

Is AT&T having congestion issues? Probably.

Is the UMTS network deployed here in the US inferior to the HSDPA networks deployed in Europe? Absolutely.

And so yes, even with a good phone, speeds are disappointing here on AT&T.

But I know 5 people in NYC with 3G iPhones, and all of us believe they the 3G iPhone has serious problems based upon our experience. Irrespective of how disappointing AT&T may be as a carrier (Apple saddled everyone with their choice)... in EVERY case( i.e all 5 of us) obtain stronger connections, greater data throughput and zero dropped calls on our Nokia, LG and Samsung 3G phones on the same AT&T network.

For us, the 3G iPhone has been a monumental disappointment. There are times and places in Manhattan (invariably inside), where a call cannot be made or received when the other 3G phones have no problem whatsoever. Maybe it's just pure bad luck, but I am beyond caring. Truly I do not personally know of ANYONE who has had a good experience with the 3G iPhone.

I read positive comments here and I am mystified, and envious. I see lines congregrating outside the Apple store on my way to work in the morning, and I am stunned. I mean, I have stopped asking "how widespread is the problem" at this point; I am now asking how many 3G iPhones actually are decent and perform as advertized but again why would Apple care at this point as evidenced by their response which has been non-existent. Their store reps, who just point the finger at AT&T, are either misinformed, or disingenuous to say the least. None of them claim they are aware of any problems or complaints.

However, people are still lining up to buy the phone and Apple simply can't meet current demand, and so I do not expect that we will hear a response from Apple any time soon. So it's time to stop complaining, there are alternatives and nobody is holding a gun to our heads to keep these iPhones or to buy new ones. So, by this weekend, there will be at least 5 additional 3G iPhones that will have been returned. I've stopped waiting for Apple.

Bought an unlocked 8gb iphone in Italy. Using it in Ireland on vodafones network. Getting really poor 3g signals and it seems to go up and down a lot, sometime I cant send sms messages the network strength is so low. Sometimes I get a stong signal but it seems to be totaly random. Doubt its a network problem as I had an N95 and always had perfect 3g reception in the same areas.

That's a shame newrat, it really is. Clearly you purchased the iPhone with great expectations, and have been let down. If you and your friends all have the same experience, Apple should very much care regardless of how many people are lining up daily.

I think my iPhone is working great, I really do. I hope that's the case and there are, in fact, a mix of good and bad iPhones, because if that's not the case then there is far less likelihood that those with issues are going to find a solution. I'm encouraged that this is so by the fact that even the OP of this thread managed to go from an iPhone that didn't work, to one that does. There are also reviews like the one on MobileTech that directly compared the iPhone 3G to a Nokia and LG, and found the reception to be as good, if not better using field test numbers. Was theirs a special review unit? Perhaps, I don't know, but it lends some hope to those suffering that there is a possible fix out there somewhere. +Regardless, if such a solution does exist, it's maddening that it eludes so many+.

I say I "think" my iPhone is working great because I don't have another 3G AT&T phone with me to compare it to. I get 5 bars most of the places I go around town. I've not had any dropped calls either (although I make far fewer calls than I used to with texting and email so readily available). I get terrible reception at my office (it switches to Edge which is improved, but still marginal), but that was the case before I got my new iPhone, and plenty of others here at my company (employees & clients) complain about the reception with their phones in our building and parking lot. However, if someone walked in with a Nokia, Samsung, or whatever and was able to get decent 3G reception where I cannot, my opinion would change. If that happens, I'll report it here and on my other thread. To that end, if someone in the Pasadena area with another brand of AT&T 3G phone wants to drop by so we can do some comparisons, I'm totally up for it. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong and would like to know.

While I have many friends with original iPhones, I only know one other who has managed to get a 3G so far. A colleague here at my company had been on a waiting list at the AT&T store and finally got his two days ago. I asked him off the cuff this morning if he was getting good 3G reception. He replied "Not here! Everywhere else, yeah, it's pretty good." However, like me he didn't move from another 3G phone to the iPhone. For both of us, it's our first 3G phones.

Hi There UK User here on O2.

Been following this forum since launch date

Here's a brief history of my problems so far :

Bought phone on launch day first phoen suffered with qwoeful battery life and bad 3g signal, was dropping calls etc. Took it back to an apple store, they replaced it and was quite superb about the whole thing.

2nd Model : Battery life fantastic, but still suffering from poor 3g.

Took this one back got a 3rd model, same problem again with 3g which I will try to explain here.

On my old N95 I was on T-Mobile, never had a problem with signal for 3g either in my office (Which is in central london in the sqaure mile which according to O2's 3g plan is in a full signal 3g area) At present I only get one bar, no more, no less, I never had a problem on my old phone t-mobile.

I have been missing a lot of calls so have turned 3g off.

At homeI only get one bar (again in a full 3g area) The minute I plug it into the dock though I get 3 bars. Every single time.

The other problem I have is on the way into work, whereas before I rarely dropped a 3g signal now I am lucky to get edge, also it can never really seem to make it's mind up what it wants to swap to 3g, edge or gprs.

I really do think that these problems can be ironed out with firmware upgrades, o2 are full of sh*t and won't admit to any problems whereas apple are a little more forthcoming and a guy i spoke to on the phone finally, and i mean finally admitted that it is an issue that their tech guys are aware of and working on.

I fully expect some sort of resolution, because if they don't then you might as well call it the "apple iphone 3g when you are outside and next to a cell tower, but even then don't expect full 3g"

I think it's a bit of a joke, but at least apple have half admitted it and this makes me happy because as long as someone admits to a problem at least you can hope that they will be working on a resolution.

I had a load of problems with my n95 when it first came out went through a couple of them (with a lot more bother i must add) so I fully expect it to be resolved. Apple released a product worldwide on the same day, I never expected it would be perfect, I also never expected it to be as shoddy as this is. It's just can't seem to make it's mind up what it wants to do with regards to signal.

I'm running the latest software version A347 as well.

This is my first venture into apple, I bought an imac on the strength of it as well.

I must say apples in store customer service is fantastic, best ive ever dealt with, cant recomend enough, mind you saying that I like to think i talk to people with respect and treat them well.

Finally.

I love the iphone, i love it, i can't stop fiddling with it, and it's just a real thing of beauty, i just hope that they can fix this, because at the moment it's like having a very very good looking other half who hasn't really got much conversation. I mean she looks good, she performs well in the bedroom but when it comes to the crunch you can't really get much sense out of her

Good luck all, here's hoping we get it resolved.

I am in Orlando/Celebration area and get horrible 3G reception. I have never gotten dropped calls or "no service" with my iPhone version 1. Now I miss most calls at my home and even on our main streets because of no bars or no service. After reading other discussion forums I decided to disable 3G and my iPhone 3G works great. I have a Pro Care appointment at 9a here in Orlando. My goal is a new phone. I assume my phone has a defect and Apple will swap me out. I already went to AT&T and they are sending me to Apple because it's a warranty issue.

I took the spreadsheet posted by heidelberghero and loaded it into google maps. The paging in google maps is not the best, it displays in the order the data was loaded. I sorted by zip code as a compromise. If anyone wants the kml file to load into google earth let me know.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=111565430708036480542.00045340c af5a2c341c1f

Airlancer and KBeat, I'm with you, at least for my circumstances.

I've done all the steps, Apple swapped my original phone out (without me asking for it) and even found one of my local towers as a little mini-adventure. (AT&T was leaving it as I arriving; I like to think that was from my trouble ticket over the weekend.)

There may have been improvement along the way, just not at my home. I do know that I got five bars in downtown Mountain View last night where on launch day I had poor reception. I can't say for certain what the cause or solution was for sure. Self-reported anecdotal evidence is still subject to misinterpretation.

That said, 3G cell breathing is a real phenomenon and passes the Occam's Razor test for my area. HowardForums members without iPhones have been noticing troubles on AT&T as well.

The iPhone 3G does seem to have some trouble switching networks, at least for me, and it's during that switch that I notice dropped calls. I'm betting that that can be handled in firmware. The combination of these effects dovetail nicely with most noted problems.

I'll begrudgingly turn off 3G while at home and while driving (I upgraded in part for call quality, and I work at home) and will keep AT&T posted as to status. AT&T phone reps have even asked for such updates, and have indicated at least twice that engineers from both companies are aware and working on it.

Yeah, it's been one of the more frustrating early-adopter experiences I've had in a while, and it'll take time before I trust the system of iPhone and AT&T's 3G network. However, I also don't recall being forced to take this risk, so I'm going to see it through because this phone is otherwise nearly perfect for me.

Regarding SIMs, my first AT&T rep thought he saw my iPhone connecting with a significantly older SIM, which he believed would cause connection issues. I suspect now that he was looking at information on my old iPhone, but who knows. I lack the expertise to know if this old data was a factor.

I do have to say that all the Apple and AT&T phone reps have really impressed me.

gsusx wrote:

I think it's a bit of a joke, but at least apple have half admitted it and this makes me happy because as long as someone admits to a problem at least you can hope that they will be working on a resolution.

Has Apple half-admitted anything? If they had I'd probably feel a little better too, but as far as I know they haven't said squat.

They won't say "squat" until about 2,000 people come knocking at the door!

Hi - London calling (well, occasionally)
I posted in this thread's former life about reception problems here in London on O2. Nothing has improved. O2 are proving to be a waste of space completely - utterly, totally useless in every respect. They will not acknowledge the issue, even when I stand in one of their own stores with my iphone 3g showing 1 bar, and one of their demo N95's is showing full signal. Staggering.

This is an awesome device in many ways, but the reception problems and battery drain are, frankly, sucking the life out of me now. My gen 1 iphone, hacked onto Vodafone, completely wipes the floor with the iphone 3g on O2 - better call quality in every single location I've tried it.

People, let me be clear: this is NOT a network problem - it is a hardware/software FAULT in the iphone 3g. Apple should be ashamed at not owning up. If it had handled this mess as well as the more honest and grown-up approach to the mobileme, the thousands of us who are angry right now would be being much more patient.

Seriously, this has gone on long enough now - Apple: step up and act responsibly.