Signal Strength / "No Service" Issues

Settings - General - Reset - Reset Nework Setting

I didn't seem to help on my phone.

Thank you!

Hello I been reading the issues with the signal strength on here and i have seen a few things on the web about them. I saw a story on TUAW that had a youtube video of this very problem. It said that if you hold the phone by the sides it showed the signal strength dropping till it read no service. It then showed him holding it by the glass and it jumped back up to five bars. I hope this is not a sign of a bad design.
When I did a search of this problem on BING it had an article about metal antennas on phones and that this very thing could happen. It basically said that the hand completes the connection and could slow down signal strength. I hope this too is not an issue and that it is just a network issue since there are so many of these phones ordered.
Two things though that make this seem even more likely?

1. Is that Apple seemed to now of this problem and that is why they made these bumpers.
2. Mr. Jobs seemed to have a similar issue with the WiFi at the WWDC.
Coincidence? lets hope so cause I want this phone.

Thanks all

How can a problem such as this not have been discovered during testing?

Unbelievable.

😟

Makes me kinda glad my Radio Shack isn't getting any iPhone 4's and now I can sit and watch how this problem and the screen problem works out before I get one.

The problem is the metal bezel. Contacting the bezel with skin is changing the impedance of the antenna. The field tests were done with plastic cases to disguised the iPhone 4's as just an ordinary 2/3. This is actually a design flaw. People have 3 options. Request Apple for a "Bumper". Put the phone in a non metallic case (Place it in a metallic case will cause same problem as it will short the antennas out.) Or the could try clear nail polish and paint the bezel.

I think the issue is more software than hardware. Ever since I updated to 4.0 my bars have been crazy on my 3GS. Check out this video and the person here shows issues with the 3GS with 4.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOLuwZ_GVsc

Try lightly wetting your hand. Not wet but damp. It will be far worse. (Do this at your own risk though, Cell phones don't like water)

For the most part, people are getting too upset over this. There was a review in the Wall Street Journal (a very positive review) in today's paper. The reviewer had the phone for a full week. He noted a couple of issues with bars, and even commented that at times the bars disappeared entirely, but calls could be made and calls were not dropped. So, being a good reporter, he contacted AT&T and since he's the Wall Street Journal, they told him they were still optimizing their networks for the iPhone 4. I know AT&T is maligned a lot. I'd be really interested in seeing how Verizon would have been able to handle a mega launch like this? I'm betting things will be working well for everyone in short order and if by some chance there is a design flaw, Apple will take care of everyone.

I'm not saying it's not troublesome for those who are experiencing issues with their new phones. But things tend to become magnified on these forums and I'm betting there are more people who got their phones today, who are beyond happy with them and they're completely trouble free.........

Just a thought........

Same problem here... I've tried all of the suggestions (resetting network settings, airplane mode) and none of them make any long-term difference. My phone has 5bars+3G service when it's sitting on my desk. When I swipe to unlock I see the bars immediately jump down a notch or two. Then, holding the phone causes them to go down to 1-2 bars (and sometimes no service). Even when I have 1 bar, im still able to make calls but the data feels really slow.

I agree that emotions should be kept in check. The discussions should keep the focus on solutions.

That being said, we received several phones today and have tested most, all with the same result. There is a real issue here and it can result in missed calls and loss of access to mail, calendar and voicemail. We have experienced all while a 3GS in the same location continued to have access.

We are working in cooperation with our local AT&T group. They have been responsive and helpful.

Using a case does help. I just obtained one at the Apple store and in this case, i had good 3G connectivity (5 bars) when I held the iphone in my hand in the case, 1 bar on the Edge network without the case. This was inside the Apple store.

BTW - the Incase "Leather Sleeve" for the iPhone 3GS works great with my iPhone 4! I cleaned out the store for all our new iPhone 4 devices.

Do you have a link to the Wall Street article?

Thanks

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2475309&tstart=0
explains it here