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

Hello Modular747,

We shoulld really get an updated 3G pic up here. But, I would assume the placement of the antenna(s) have not changed?

Doug

JL1365 wrote:
I got one hostile post reply when I noted AT&T was to initially dump EDGE in the Spring of 2008. I read this at NireWire and in mobiletechreview's initial iPhone review in early 2007. It's why I held off buying the iPhone, figuring let the kinks get worked out, but they have continued with EDGE for now, makes one wonder why; Uh, the 3G coverage isn't working well. Gardner's article makes me wonder how much energy is going into EDGE, when they are focusing on 3G and now 4G.

You didn't get a "hostile" reply. You got a reply from me, which still stands. I wanted you to site some resources for your statement that AT&T had planned to dump their Edge network a few months ago (Spring 2008) and only held off as not to upset original iPhone users. As their 3G rollout barely covers anything beyond the largest metropolitan markets as of Summer of 2008, that statement stretches credulity. If it's true, I'd love to read about it and know what they had planned for the millions of customers in non 3G areas and without 3G handsets. And they did so as not to upset the relatively minor number of iPhone customers? Just doesn't make any sense to me.

great video, thanks lev.

how will the iPhone 3G ever be able to cope with walls when it can't even handle hands?

I do not know.... It should be noted that I live two blocks from the cell site.

That's why i say it's certain handsets... my serial number starts with 85827 and model mb704LL with a 3022 sim... I have no problems in new orleans with 3g service, everywhere is full service with 3g or edge. My phone just won't automatically switch to 3g, i have to do it manually but i haven't been there since the new update to see if it changed anything. I had one week of dropped calls about 2 weeks ago and it has gone now but I associated that with the 3g that we are supposed to be getting here in Alabama this week. I can place my hand all around the phone also and the signal strength does not change like others have said. I just think there have been many runs of hardware and some aren't as good as others. Like I have said in a previous post, my friends that have 3g iphone are not having problems with theirs either...

have you checked this video:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=TGzcCjpOXSQ

or this (on a 3G, but with 3G switched off):
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=AN6265QQwhU

It clearly shows how the signal fluctuates if moved by only a couple of inches.

My iPhone is:
Part No. MB048LL/A (Black 16gig)
Serial No. 878289xxxxx
Assembled in China Model A1241

I will provide an update when I get finished with Apple tomorrow.

Ah the pain! Returning my two 16GB iPhones! But it is, after all, supposed to be a phone! I live in an area surrounded by towers but got the dreaded "No Reception" message on both phones. Even at work the reception was continuously shifting between 3G and Edge. ATT told me to step outside, where I got 4 bars. "See," they said, "You are getting what we promised. We don't promise reception inside buildings." I can understand concrete and steel, but the flimsy 2x4, clapboard, and drywall construction of my house doesn't seem to compare. I went back to Verizon, which gives great reception, and tried their "Dare" phone...a supposed iPhone killer. What a joke! It cannot come close to the iPhone - except that the phone works! So, I am waiting for the next round of iPod Touch devices to come out, hopefully at a lower price. Sigh!

Latest talk on the Internet:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10012420-37.html?hhTest=1&tag=xlr8yourmac

KevLeviathan wrote:
It should be noted that I live two blocks from the cell site.

Kev, how did you know that? For that matter, how do so many people on here know exactly where their 3G towers are? I have no clue where the towers are around me, but I'd love to know. Thanks!

Message was edited by: KBeat to fix typo.

maybe this does it:

http://www.atttowers.com/towers/welcome.do

That's great Taltal, thanks for the link. Yep, it does show AT&T towers. It doesn't appear to show if towers are 3G or not. Are towers usually both in 3G areas, or are there dedicated towers for 3G and Edge? (I know you're not an AT&T expert where you are Taltal, but I'm wondering if anyone knows).

I'm also getting very poor reception in my house in San Elijo Hills area. I believe I can actually see at least one tower from my front yard, we're on the crest of a hill, not in a canyon; but I get zero to one bars at best, anywhere in my house. Even tried adding a zBoost, which will be going back to Fry's because it appears to do nothing. (By the way, I still can't tell which of the zBoost you're supposed to get so I paid extra for the dual band 800/1600).

Went into the ATT store to find out if there's anything I can do about it. Two other people in line had the same problems. The person there was of no help whatsoever, suggested I call 611. They were also no help at all - the best they could do is look at the same map I looked at online and tell me, "it looks like you should have moderate coverage." And they cannot reccommend a repeater/booster (maybe because they'd have to admit how bad their service is to begin with).

I am nearly one of Apple's biggest fanboys, have owned dozens of Macs since 84, and Apple IIs before that. I got the iPhone two weeks ago, the day my Verizon contract ran out. Actually I got two 16gb'ers, one for my wife, and she's the one who would really prefer to make and receive calls at home.

I really do love the phones. I'm going to take either one or both of them back and get back on Verizon. Haven't yet decided whether I'm willing to pay for and carry both an iPhone AND a Verizon phone. ATT - this is unacceptable. Apple - choosing ATT over Verizon was a BIG mistake.

Message was edited by: justfred

I am also in the same position can literally see the att tower from my place in Manhattan Beach. I returned my 16 gig this weekend and am staring at a Curve I picked up at Verizon. I just need to be connected without all the drama. I was thinking of getting one of those Zboost gizmos along with getting a home phone from my cable co to forward all my calls to when I'm at my place. What a circus.

I have decided to return my iphone. 3G network is bad here in-spite of ATT promises and information that it would work.
The contract and iphone can be returned within 30 days and so I am doing.