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

I am on a 3G-only carrier in Australia and have to pay to use EDGE as it is considered roaming.
I have been using this 3G-only carrier since April 2003.

The iPhone 3G drops calls where my old phone (Nokia N95) would work fine.

Updated to 2.01.
I am in the middle of AT&Ts dark blue 3G map.
Update is no help to 3G network (-99 dbm to -113 dbm signal strength on a stationary phone on my desk).

[Interesting observation - I went to the AT&T store where I purchased my iPhone 3G. I asked if I could compare my 3G signal with an iPhone 3G at the store. I was informed they do not have a single functioning iPhone 3G in the store {Victorville, CA}]

Updated to 2.01.
I am in the middle of AT&Ts dark blue 3G map.
Update is no help to 3G network (-99 dbm to -113 dbm signal strength on a stationary phone on my desk).

Interesting observation - I went to the AT&T store where I purchased my iPhone 3G. I asked if I could compare my 3G signal with an iPhone 3G at the store. I was informed they do not have a single functioning iPhone 3G in the store (Victorville, CA).

not a single functioning iPhone in the store? is that what they said?

Yes, I was told "... not a single functioning iPhone 3G in the store."

I want to explore all options before resorting to swap at the Apple Store. I have had AT&T reload my network settings, verified their settings match mine, rebooted, removed and reinserted the SIM (which has the number that seems to work for some people). I will probably try a SIM swap before going to the Apple Store (Rancho Cucamonga, CA).

(BTW, there is an Edge site at Victoria Gardens Mall in Rancho Cucamonga, so at the Apple Store there, it appears the employees keep their phones in the 3G off mode. That store is also on AT&T's map in the dark blue 3G map.)

If you want to see how the 3G service works go down Baseline Road between Rochester and 15 ideally at the corner of Day Creek and Baseline and you will probably have 5 Bars in 3G other then that I have yet to get a better signal in 3G. My phone is shipping out tomorrow back to Apple.

I will do that!

Have you spotted the cell site serving that area?

Are you giving up on the iPhone 3G or doing a swap? If you are doing a swap, please let me know your results on the 3G network with the replacement.

Thanks!

Doesn't anybody read about 3G? There have been numerous posts not only here but elsewhere. 3G simply does not penetrate buildings as well as Edge (at least here in the US) as most of AT&T's service is running on 1900. Some areas are lucky and have 850 and this bandwidth penetrates buildings.

AT&T is switching over to 850 but it is going to be a slow process.

On top of that the number of bars can not be compared between 3G and 2.5G. 3G will work better with less bars than 2.5G.

Unless you're having absolutely terrible 3G reception in a good coverage area returning your phone is probably not going to get you anywhere but frustrationville.

I have already done a swap out at the RC store they were extremely helpful friendly etc and to be honest I have not had that dire a problem with the device although I have turned off 3G almost since I walked out of the store opting for Wifi. Just after reading this thread did I kick on the 3G and thats been the only time I have any satisfaction with it. To answer I am returning the phone for good and heading back to VZ and the Blackberry. I use the device for work and home and I have zero coverage at home (although just off Baseline and decidedly in the middle of the darkest area of the map). I don't get it but I was hoping to solve this by using the icall app but they havn't made that available to date so I'm out of options.

mscheidell, most of us have read a lot about how 3G works in the last couple of weeks.

however, if you read this thread there are a lot of people who have two 3G phones on the same network, one of them being the iPhone 3G. While the iPhone 3G shows no service or drops calls, the other device can make calls with no problems.

a lot of people have also switched from 3G phones.

and I am in the highest coverage area possible and I still have this problem of low reception, i.e. the dbm values are between -100 and -103 most of the time, which is simply inacceptable.

This is a problem, and it's not about bars. It's about dropped calls. And bad voice quality.

I do understand your need for the BB.

I was using a Blackberry (8800 on AT&T) until I obtained the iPhone 3G. I do find the iPhone is superb as a tech toy, while providing barely adequate communication. Fortunately, I am now retired. If I was still working, there is no way I could/would depend on the iPhone for essential communications (mail, phone and sync).

MobileMess is still MobileMess in my opinion.

To mscheidell: I do not reference the bars at all. I keep the dbm displayed at all times (which contributes to my iDepression - actually: iDisgusted).

A good friend of mine described the BB and the iPhone as Tool vs Toy and I didnt get that really until using the device. I feel bad about giving it up but as you point out I need reliability with work etc and need to be reached in a pinch. I have dropped more calls in a month then I did in 2.5 years with vz

3AC,

I've yet to meet someone who switched from Verizon to AT&T who was what I would describe as happy. On the other hand, I know a few people that switched from AT&T to Verizon and describe the reception differences as "night and day" (not iPhone users). One day, and I guess not until at least 2010, we'll be able to buy a phone like they do in places such as Hong Kong and use it on any carrier we choose (differences in network technology accounted for of course).

This doesn't apply to users on other networks, but whatever issues the iPhone may have for a number of people, no firmware, software, or hardware fix is going to satisfy a current Verizon user on the AT&T network today. It's too bad Verizon passed on the iPhone when it was initially offered to them. It's a decision I'm sure both Apple & Verizon lament.

Absolutely, well said. I am waffling again. Should I try again with AT&T or just forget it and stay with Verizon. Today, I am staying put but I love the device.....

I had wondered why a company as innovative as Apple wouldn't roll out a CDMA version and just sell it in there stores for use on Verizon's network. I think probably at this point and with Android being rolled out and the pressure for VZ to open their platform this may become the case especially by 2010.

I am in NO WAY happy about having to go back to VZ. I am very use to the interface of the iPhone and will look in envy at those who can get by with the iPhone.