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

Cheers Fellow 3G'ers with a Love/Hate relationship.
SALT LAKE CITY checking in..
...SAME ISSUES HERE!!
Doesn't matter the city or area. The 3G signal is not stable. Owned an original Blackjack (not the greatest signal) and it was 5 times stronger at MAINTAINING a 3G connection than my iPhone. Granted, the iPhone achieves high 3G bars, but it soon drops off to nothing within seconds.
[IT'S A GOOD THING THEY HAVE THAT HANDY 'CALL BACK' option right on the screen - cuz it's gonna be warn-out]
C'mon APPLE - we're all routin for ya to figure this out. Well designed though!
lol

Regards.

I couldn't agree more! I can't believe they released the iPhone like this and also that they haven't addressed the issue yet.

I returned mine today and here is the link to my youtube video that discusses all of the issues I had with it including the signal problem and why I returned it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpYE4eej7kg

I am now back with my ole reliable BlackBerry!

thank you very much for this video, JacobMac01. I couldn't agree more to what you said. I think it very much sums up what a lot of people feel about the reception issue (and it probably being a hardware issue), and about the non-existing response from Apple.

I also think that most people in this thread are loyal customers like you are, they love the products Apple produce, and they also love the iPhone 3G for its innovative features - but they are just disappointed with the way this was (an still is!!!) handled.

on a more positive note, just imagine if iPhone didn't exist .... just imagine having to continue with what you have now ... (in our case Symbian 60 on a Nokia E61, and whatever it is on a Samsung SGH560 - I'm having nightmares already) ... pushing the frontiers has always had its ups & downs !

'thought the following interesting :

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/01/atandt-to-remain-sole-us-iphone-carrier-into -2010/

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/01/netshare-tethering-app-reappears-on-app-stor e/

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/01/iphone-app-store-numbers-reveal-large-revenu e-opportunities/

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/31/nullriver-introduces-3g-edge-tethering-app-f or-iphone/

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/31/apple-seeds-mac-os-x-10-5-5-9f5/

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/31/apple-provides-iphone-developers-with-daily- download-stats/

I love the iPhone, man I really do. But the reception ***** OMG its horrible.
I live in the Sacramento area too as the OP does.

I need the iPhone for my job. I need the full internet to get a real search result on ebay. Its the only phone that does it. 3g is fast, so fast.. when theres signal.. and that isn't often.







<Edited by Moderator>

I think that I know a possible culprit for these connection issues with the 3G iPhone. I have had constant connection issues with my 3G iPhone. Constantly switching between No Service, 1 bar, 5 bars etc.

I found this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2342?viewlocale=en_US

It is possible that the magnet in my phone carrying case is causing the network interference. I have already replaced my iPhone 3G once through Apple Care, changed my SIM Card 3 times, Restored my phone multiple times and talked with AT&T & Apple technical support. In fact, AT&T is having their engineers look into the issue in my local area (which is not a 3G area). I am having decent luck thus far (an hr or two) with not using the magnetic case. It is possible that if the magnet in the case is causing the issue. In that case even if you removed the iPhone from the case the issue could still persist until a reboot (Home + sleep/wake) is performed.

I will post back with the information this week after the engineers test out the local network. The crazy thing is that my 2G iPhone has never had an issue. Even last week when my 3G iPhone was in it's cardboard coffin the 2G iPhone worked flawlessly. Again, read the support document above and check and see if you have a case that uses a magnet. It is possible it would only effect the 3G iPhone and not the 2G iPhone even though it is possible.

Some of the posts in this thread have blamed the new 3G hardware for the poor reception. I have a 2G original iPhone that has become next to useless since the 2.0 software upgrade.

I have dropped a ton of calls, receive "no service" and have seen the call failed screen all too often. Prior to the upgrade my phone was behaving well.

I know that my 2G device is suffering from a software issue. This issue has affected my reception.

Pete

3g is pretty good in the Clovis/Fresno area. At the corner of Shaw and Fresno I was able to get 2.4 Mbps on 2wire.com. My phone next to my brother's 3g wireless card had the same -db readings, so for now I think my phone's working.

I haven't had any problems with my phone. No dropped calls yet and I've had full bars on 3G and Edge.
Serial: 87831 ***
It is a 16 GB black model and I've used the phone in the Salt Lake Valley and Utah Valley (Pleasant Grove/Provo).
I hope this helps.

Message was edited by: Cab

As mentioned I am posting after my trip to the Genius Bar. I went in today to discuss why I was having connection issues when my phone was in 3G mode and why it would show 5 bars in the same area when 3G was switched off. As fate would have it when the rep came over I had 5 bars without 3G and when I switched over to 3G it went straight to "No Service". The rep said "Yeah I have an idea of what the problem is" took the phone and without question issued me another. Thats $325 that Apple is taking in the pants in the short term. After the blah blah blah he said that it was a internal modem issue and off I went. Twenty minutes later I'm having the same issues.

I love the device and think its an engineering masterpiece. I don't know what the problem is and I'm not qualified to make any assumptions as to if its the device or the network or both. I had AT&T before and it stunk and what a surprise it still does. The handset is suspect at this point from the numerous posts on this site.

Its now obvious to me that neither Apple or ATT has a clue whats up and the fact that they say nothing means they care about the same. As long as the lines for the phone still materialize nobody at either place will care enough to get off their behinds and do anything, that you can be sure of. I cant take the idea of going 23 more months of driving over next to the cell tower to make a call.....

I am having some major problems to!! I Love the Iphone to death!!! With my original iphone no problems with receptions, all of a sudden I get my 3g I phone and BAM 1 bar and dropped calls!! I mean come on I waited in line like most of you expecting and awesome high speed Iphone, and I have to use the 2g network on the 3g phone!!! that really bugs me.!! I dont know if any of you read this: http://discussions.apple.com/ann.jspa?annID=644 I honestly dont agree with it!! If the phone is supposed to switch to the best possible network why em I only getting one bar in the exact same room, I normal get 4-5!!! By the way I live in Glendale, Ca, pretty big city next to DownTown LA!!!!

I as well am in California in a desert community that has been built out relatively recently so its flat as well as blanketed with Cell Towers and the map reflects that although the coverage would be spotty at best in actuality. I get the same BS 3G as everyone else here 1 minute with 1 bar and gone the next.

I finally received resolution with my 3G iPhone. I had continual dropped calls, poor reception and screen lock ups. Sometimes the GPS showed my in texas. I was actually in Oregon. I called apple and reported my problem. They made me an appointment for a couple days out at a apple store. I called ATT and complained. They ran some test and said my phone could be defective take it in. I showed to my appointment on time and they saw me on time at an extremely packed store. I told him all about my problems and he sounded empathetic. The kicker statement i made was. When I hold the phone up and put my hand in front of it and the 3G signal immediately cuts in half. He said oh your phone is defective and here is a brand new one bye. Oh ya stop by the ATT store outside and update your SIM card too. I did all this 4 days ago and I have not had one problem with my phone. Easy fix you just have to go see them.

Message was edited by: malamarbarmomo

So you replaced the SIM card in the replacement phone that was activated in the Apple store with another one from AT&T? I'm not sure after reading your post. Thanks for clarifying.

Michael

+Some of the posts in this thread have blamed the new 3G hardware for the poor reception. I have a 2G original iPhone that has become next to useless since the 2.0 software upgrade.+

+I have dropped a ton of calls, receive "no service" and have seen the call failed screen all too often. Prior to the upgrade my phone was behaving well.+

+I know that my 2G device is suffering from a software issue. This issue has affected my reception.+

mmm... sorry about your unfortunate experience but this is really quite good news! It sounds as if it can be fixed with a software update & so better for everyone concerned.

Could you not revert to the 1.1.4 firmware version?