Reset network settings and wow, way better reception now

nothing here, still drops to 0 bars. my phone starts out with 4-5 bars for about a minute then goes to 0. I really think there is some baseband problem. The IOS4 searches for the tower with the least amount of users, not the best reception. Its doing a great job of that.

I did this and my overall reception did increase from 1-2 bars to 5 bars. It still drops when I hold the phone as has been found to decrease the signal, but not as much as before, just by 1 bar to 4 now.

This is worth trying.

My theory to explain this improvement after a network reset is the reconnection to the cell network prompts the phone to select 2G rather than 3G. IIRC the carrier wave of the 2G signal is a lower frequency, and therefore penetrates buildings (and other solid objects, like hands) far better than the higher frequency 3G carrier wave. And this would explain the improvement in connection strength and reduction in interference from people's hands. People are reporting different results because they will depend on the strength of the 2G signal where they are.

If this is true then it suggests that there are multiple issues at work here:

1. The external antenna is affected by contact with the human body (this not only sounds plausible, but likely to me). This issue is removed by fitting a case.

2. That covering the antenna with your hand, even when a case sits between the two, will cause a weak signal (spuriously reported as five bars) to apparently drop off dramatically.

3. That the phone is not prompt enough when choosing to drop the 3G network in favour of switching to 2G.

The first issue is not what I'd consider a fault, it's a poor design choice that anyone with a basic understanding should have considered (let alone a professional engineer).

The second issue isn't a fault either - it's physics and it affects any communication over RF waves.

The third issue is a fault, and something that is easily rectified. The phone needs to be less reluctant to keep trying to establish/maintain a 3G connection, particularly for voice calls. 3G voice calls offer little or no real benefit most of the time anyway and voice data is particularly unforgiving of lost packets, so a borderline 3G connection is going to make your call quality pretty poor. Data over a borderline 3G connection is less of an issue. Data sent over TCP/IP that never arrives can be resent. It will slow the connection down, but it will probably still be a lot faster than GPRS or EDGE.

I think that be tweaking the levels at which iPhone chooses to switch from one network to another will alleviate most if not all of these problems for the majority of users.

Since the 3G came out there has always been a lag in switching from 3G to Edge. When it first came out 2 years ago that was the biggest complaint, dropped calls due to the lag in switching.

I have an old 2G rubber case I am using until my bumper arrives on Tuesday or Wednesday, and there is no loss of signal at all. Without it, my bars drop from 5 to 1 or none in about 30 seconds. I seem to be actually be getting a better signal with my 4 than I did with my 3G in my house. We are about a half mile from the nearest tower.

dubmann...

Go to your Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.

When you do this, you will have to re-enter wireless passwords, etc.

John

Message was edited by: John-in-CA

Same here, I did network reset and it shows two more bars in average now.

However data speeds are similar and touching the bottom left corner makes the signal drop dramatically.

I wonder whether the fix Apple talks about in their letter will just deduct this two extra bars we have just got and go back to square one, lol!

I was in high hopes for this as I saw it posted on TUAW originally. I received a negative effect. I used to not have a large issue with the signal drop (couldn't always due it on command), but now I can make the signal drop just by applying my pinky to the little black strip. It was not that easy before, which now makes me curious to what the REAL issue is?

I have had the same results. Reception is much better but I can still make the signal strength drop by touching the side of the phone.

A case does help me maintain signal strength.

After the reset of network settings is the phone switching from 3G to 2G?

Had absolutely nothing to do with the baseband.

Here, read this: http://steve.grc.com/2010/06/26/iphone-4-external-antenna-problem

Well said ed2020. That makes sense to me, I believe you are correct.

How do you reset network settings?

Thanks for the note. However, I tried that and it didn't change anything. AT&Ts service is notoriously bad in Houston so I have a feeling that is my problem.

Worked for me. Before I had 0-1 bars at my desk at work, now I have 4-5 bars consistently.

Wow this worked for me to! Thanks a lot 🙂