Signal issues? You're holding the phone wrong.

The only thing a bumper case does is ensure your skin doesn't make contact with the metal. This being said, if holding it the exact same way while using a bumper doesn't have the same issue then logically it's fair to say that it is your skin contacting the antenna that is causing the problem. Unless the estimated signal strength it displays is wildly off I really don't see how a software update will make any more than the smallest difference.

If there's some sort of higher power, less efficient mode that should kick in sooner or a stronger but choppier method to contact cell towers then the best fix is for us customers to spend more money on covering the antenna with the bumper that should have come with it for free in the first place. Kicking the phone into emergency find a signal at all costs mode is fixing the symptom, not the problem - and even then it's bringing it's own set of undesirable side effects.

Wow, you really have all the answers I see! Who knew it was "baseband management"? You did, champ!! This is a physical issue... Not sure how you can guarantee this will be fixed with a software update. If they do update it, it will only be a cosmetic fix and you will still experience dropped calls--only now you will believe it is AT&T's fault! They already fixed the bar problem with a software update for the 3G models--notice the dopped call issue was never fixed? not saying Apple is responsible for the cruddy cellular network, but holding your hand over the antenna certainly will NOT help the situation in an area with poor network performance. That is a physical fact that no software update can fix--5 bars or not.

Message was edited by: Frozo

I am 99% sure its not a hardware issue. How do I know this? because 3 layers of tape, a thick rubber band, a silicone case, Apples own bumper case does not fix the problem.

The smoking gun. My 3GS works fine with OS 3.x. When iOS 4 is installed it has the EXACT same problem as the iPhone 4. There are a ton of youtube vids that show much the same. In fact if I left palm my 3GS right now it drops everything faster than the iPhone 4 does. With 3.x OS, it drops a couple naturally, but no big deal (no calls dropped).

Could I be wrong about all of this, of course. But I don't think I am. The evidence is quite clear. For the record I have run every beta of iOS4 since it was available as well. I've seen this thing go from a turd to a really stable OS. Unfortunately, it still has a pretty big problem.

Here's the point I think you keep missing... Your 3GS works fine because it uses the firmware update in version 3.x that boosts those bars up when the signal dips (such as when you cover the antenna with your hand). When you install 4.0, the bars problem is back once again (as it was in the original 3.0 software) because they didn't include that same fix back into the firmware. They will add it again next week and you will all be happy to not see the bars drop when holding the phone, however those mysterious drops when you have 5 bars will continue.

Am I speculating? SURE! but since Apple refuses to ever comment on things like this, that's all we can do.

No, I have done complete testing with the 3GS... not just watching bars disappear. With OS 3.x you don't drop the call, everything continues to work as it should. With iOS 4, not only do the bars drop but so does your call.... just like with the iPhone 4.

This info from Appleinsider best describes my own position on the matter based on my testing....

The fix is expected to address a issue in iOS 4 related to radio frequency calibration of the baseband. Readers who saw the original forum discussions say that the issue is believed to occur when switching frequencies; because the lag is allegedly not calibrated correctly, it results in the device reporting "no service" rather than switching to the frequency with the best signal to noise ratio.

iOS 4 introduced some enhancements to how the baseband selects which frequencies to use, so it makes sense that the error may have crept into those changes. Additionally, this explains why iOS 4 has also caused similar problems for iPhone 3GS users.

Additional readers have shared other related experiences that also corroborate the idea that the issue is related to iOS 4's software control of the baseband, including the fact that the issue seems easily reproducible when connecting to a WWAN 3G network but does not appear when connecting to a Microcell 3G. If the problem were simply hardware related issues of the antenna design, it should only affect iPhone 4 units with that new design and should occur at all times, regardless of the tower type. That is not being observed.

Its ridiculous that people pay for such a nice phone but it turns out you have to hold it a certain way just to make a call and get reception, I mean even the really cheap pay as you go phones have better reception and you can the hold the phone the way you want.

Agreed, but I still say its overblown. The spot in question is less than 1/4 inch that causes the issue. Regardless, you're right, even that is not good.

Bring on the software update early next week!

I just tested something with mine. I held my iPhone 4 with a layer of 3 tipple folded paper napkins between any skin and the metal sides of the iPhone. No signal loss whatsoever. I then removed the napkins, held it as close to the same way in the same position as possible and I dropped to no service.

Granted paper napkins aren't the best anti-conductivity substance on the planet, but they happened to be nearby and after seeing a stack of 3 prevented my fingers from setting off the touch screen I figured I'd give it a try. This tells me that the issue, at least with my phone, is not related to where my hand is or how I'm holding it but rather where my skin is contacting it. What could a software update do to affect this in any way?

I think mileage varies. I tried several layers of tape, a thick rubber band, an old 3GS silicone case, and the Apple bumper case. None of them prevented the problem. The clincher is still that my 3GS phone exhibits the same exact problem with iOS4. I guess we will just have to wait and see what the update does or doesn't do. For Apple's sake.... and for the bajillion customers.... I hope they have a fix.

No....

Quite simply turn the phone up-side-down.... you'll get all 5 bars in about 10 seconds! Turn the phone the correct way and the bars just disappear. The steel band seems to me not to be connected to the antenna 'properly'. Anyone fancy opening their brand new phone to find out 🙂

I dont care if your left or right handed, it should not be doing this! I use my iPhone in both hands and if you realize it or not you actually use both hands as well, and more then likely you will be covering the phone with ur hand, because thats normal. We go into a deeper discussion as to what Apple SHOULD do, recall?
free bumpers?

this is an issue and we want real answers. Video also demonstrates other ways you can hold your phone 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00xggkMldns

Send it to your Apple friends and let's get this some bigger attention!

Alright, it gave me an excuse to play with my iPhone 4 some more.... so I recorded a vid of my 3GS reception issue. Its not the greatest vid by any stretch, but it shows what it needs to show..... 3GS dropping from 5 bars to almost signal loss in short order. Just like the iPhone 4. This particular area has a very strong signal from ATT so I actually can't get the 3GS or the iPhone 4 to completely lose service all the time.

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

Never had case,skin or cover, I never cradle/hold my iPhone from the top if I turn ip4 upside down the phone works/full signal but unusable that way. Yes free bumper for those that want, No don't want one ugly cheap looking rubbery rubbish bumper.

I cannot believe Apple let this happen...it's so apparent that when I hold my phone a specific way I lose reception. Apple this will set you back in the phone market. The fact that you can hold a Droid without losing reception will make you second or even third in the market. I'm sorry I bought this dumb phone now...I am seeking a refund.