Does the bumper really help the iphone 4 with signal and the metal band?

When I picked up my phone at the Apple store, the first place the Apple rep took me was to the bumper rack, so I bought it along with the phone. I think they were directed to encourage people to buy the bumpers with the phone. Anyway, I'm not sure if the bumper helps reception, but I'm sure that it doesn't hinder it. I'm getting the same reception at the same places that I've always gotten with my previous iPhone.

pattonleepark wrote:
Many people have said that the bumper helps with the signal and the metal band going around the iphone 4,is this true? I am thinking about getting the iphone 4 but if it loses signal based on where you hold it then i will not.so id the bumper the key to the sigan problem?

Helped me. Holding it bare it would drop to no service. Now it holds a steady signal.

Don't be! It's all good

Bumper make no difference for me... I still have signal issues both hand-held and sitting on my desk.

Regards

John

I have a plastic case from my 3GS that completely covers the IPhone 4 and have done extensive testing using the Speedtest App. This case which actually should be better than the bumper does not help!

Anytime I put the palm of my left hand over the left corner of the phone, data transmission literally stops within 3-4 seconds.

Personally, I don't see how any kind of software fix can alleviate this physical issue and I will be taking mine back and going back to my 3GS unless Apple has some sort of magical solution coming in the next few days.

I have a bumper and have almost the exact same issues with it or without it. The bumper helps slightly. What HAS helped me tremendously is the scotch tape fix.

I actually had some old screen protectors from some long gone palm device, so I cut an inch long strip from one of those just a hair wider than the metal band, and placed it over the bottom left antenna gap. Solved the problem for me.

The curious part to me is why the bumper alone did not resolve this. I won't pretend like I know anything about the electromagnetic properties of the plastic and rubber used in the bumper, but it LOOKED to me as if the bumper was causing the same "bridge" effect that our skin is causing. I dunno I'm just an IT geek, I'll let the electrical engineer geeks debate that one.

Of course the scotch tape fix negates my argument... But, I really think how much pressure you apply effects the issue. Seems like if I lightly hold it, not effect. If I hold the phone normally, minimal effect (lose 1 or 2 bars). Death grip, I can drop the bars to almost nothing.

I'm betting the 4.01 update will just mess with how the bars are shown to get people to quiet down... If it addresses the issue at all.

I think $30 for a rubber bumper is a complete rip-off and an insult. The Otterbox case I'm looking at/waiting on is $34.95 retail and it's plastic/rubber.

Message was edited by: Alexg1911

+I'm betting the 4.01 update will just mess with how the bars are shown to get people to quiet down... If it addresses the issue at all.+

A similar thing happened when the 3G first came out, not quite the same as at least they hid the antenna inside the thing so that people could not short it out with their skin. Apple went through various firmware updates to change the signal to bar calculation, so initially 3 bars was say -90dBm then 3 bars became -120dbm and it fooled some people but they had kept field test access so people could monitor actual signal rather than the wandering bars. I was about to move from my 3G to the 4 when this all blew up will now wait as cannot believe that any amount of software will resolve somebody shorting out 2 exposed electrical components, maybe some factory tweaking with the metal finish longer term might fix this. For those that have the problem does placing your finger/skin across the top joint also kill the signal? How could apple have thought they could get around the laws of physics to beyond me. Expect the iphone 4.1 to have a built in bumper!

pattonleepark wrote:
theres going to be an iphone 4.1?!

iOS update. Not new phone.

I am sure apple have tested the it on AT&T network and all engineers, senior engineers, managers, senior managers, etc...... approved every tiny bit of detail in this device. Yet, it looks like they forgot to make a phone call with it! Maybe we are supposed to only use the headsets or Bluetooth!!??

I still don't know whether it really is the antenna or the network. When I switch the 3G of I get excellent reception without interruption.

The most amazing feature yet,,,, the Gyroscope.