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An Engineer Fails the Consumer Report Test

This is from this blog - http://mobileanalyst.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/iphone-4-report-consumer-reports-s tudy-is-full-of-crap/
I pass it on to bring another side to the story.
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Consumer Report iPhone4 study flawed
Posted on July 12, 2010 by Bob
Let me start off by saying that for much of my career, I worked as an electromagnetic engineer working on exactly the kind of issues that now face Apple on the iPhone4. But this isn’t about me. It is about Consumer Reports and its not so scientific testing on the iPhone 4.

Consumer reports “RF” engineers should know better than to think they can run an engineering grade test for an issue like this in a shielded room. And certainly not one with people in it.

To even reasonably run a scientific test, the iPhone should have been sitting on a non-metallic pedestal inside an anechoic chamber. The base station simulator should have been also sitting outside the chamber and had a calibrated antenna plumbed to it from inside the chamber.

I have not seen CR’s claim directly that the finger effect reduces the iPhones sensitivity by 20db as reported elsewhere, but unless CR connected to a functional point inside the iPhone that number is fantasy. Even the way they seemed to have tested the change by varying the base station simulator seems assume the iPhone receiver and/or transmitter operate in a linear fashion (the same way) across all signal strengths – bad assumption.

Bottom line. From what I can see in the reports, Consumer Reports replicated the same uncontrolled, unscientific experiments that many of the blogging sites have done.

I’m not saying that Apple has no h/w problem and they surely have a s/w issue. But I’m still wondering that if the software signal algorithm was not AFU’d in the first place how many if anyone would talking about this “problem”

I also don’t know what part of this problem is Apple’s and what part is related to the AT&T network.

And we don’t know how the observed effect is, or is not similar to other devices.

We also don’t know if placing a finger on the antenna bridge is detuning the antenna or detuning the receiver itself.

And neither does Consumer Reports.

Oh. Mr Job’s; right now. Silence is not golden. I’m quite sure Apple has these answers by now… If not, send me a few more iPhones, I’ll find a chamber and get you some answers in a day.

Ps. Blogged from my Iphone4 in a rest area on my way home from work, cause I just couldn’t help myself!
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Dell Intel quad core Win7 - 27" iMac I5, Mac OS X (10.6.4), MacMini - iPhone 3G - iPhone 4

Posted on Jul 12, 2010 8:04 PM

69 replies

modular747

Level 6

19,662 points

Jul 12, 2010 11:47 PM in response to Dan Slocum

The FIX?

The fix, as I and others have been saying, is to insulate the antenna with a coating or a free case. Even CU stated that putting some duct tape over the lower left corner fixed the issue in their test.

MrCourtney Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 12, 2010 11:49 PM in response to iSilver

Spoken like a true engineer - one would imagine Apple did these sorts of tests but how they work in the chamber doesn't really matter if the phone doesn't work when it's in the hands of the consumers.

No one is arguing that point. But if your don't do meaningful tests to get a baseline, all the problems later just leave the engineers scrambling to determine the problem. Again, we're talking problem, not symptom.
Be glad they tested your car before it was put on the market. Same thing.

Message was edited by: MrCourtney

Jul 12, 2010 11:51 PM in response to modular747

modular747 wrote:

The FIX?

The fix, as I and others have been saying, is to insulate the antenna with a coating or a free case. Even CU stated that putting some duct tape over the lower left corner fixed the issue in their test.

Good stuff. I believe you. I don't doubt you. But how can we get the fix from Apple if we don't speak up? I'm a reporter by trade. I believe in speaking UP!,,

MrCourtney Author

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Jul 12, 2010 11:53 PM in response to Dan Slocum

I'm a reporter by trade. I believe in speaking UP!,,

Yipes. I hope your not basing any factual article on some of the stuff spewing forth here 🙂

modular747

Level 6

19,662 points

Jul 12, 2010 11:54 PM in response to Dan Slocum

Speaking up is great, as long as you don't come off as a one note blowhard...

Jul 12, 2010 11:55 PM in response to modular747

modular747 wrote:
If you read some other threads, I discussed the anandteck tests, more than week ago. The weakness of that test is that it relies on the iPhone's own internal measurement of signal strength which may very well be inaccurate. The CU and other test proposed use an external measurement of signal strength in isolated conditions.

Yes, and I'm sure I made a few posts in those threads. I will say that I have to agree with you about the test relying on the iPhone's measurement of signal strength. But, all this would change is the exact loss of db. Maybe it isn't 24, but 25, 22, or 23. There is obviously and most definitely a loss though. A pretty easy test is to use the phone with and without a bumper. I finally bought a bumper on Friday. Since then I can hold the phone however I want without dropping calls. Sure I still lose a bar or two when holding the phone around the bottom, just like with any other phone, but I don't lose signal completely like I do without the bumper.

This is why I got so frustrated when I read that statement from Apple. Yes the so called "deathgrip" affects all phones. In my opinion, that isn't the issue. In my own personal experience, it was making a connection between the two antennas that caused my calls to drop within seconds. I felt that Apple never actually addressed the issue at hand, which I believe to be the external antenna.

Jul 12, 2010 11:56 PM in response to modular747

modular747 wrote:
Speaking up is great, as long as you don't come off as a one note blowhard...

sorry. That's truly not my intention. I just want to let people know what is being said publicly (outside the forum walls) about this. That's all really. I apologize if I've offended. That is not my goal.

MrCourtney Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 12, 2010 11:56 PM in response to modular747

Speaking up is great, as long as you don't come off as a one note blowhard

Agreed. There is a big difference between someone factually and diplomatically presenting their side of an issue - and the nut job standing on the corner yelling their point of view.
'nough said.

modular747

Level 6

19,662 points

Jul 12, 2010 11:57 PM in response to Stevenam81

Yes, Apple's nonsensical party line about the "bars" didn't impress.

Jul 12, 2010 11:58 PM in response to MrCourtney

MrCourtney wrote:

Speaking up is great, as long as you don't come off as a one note blowhard

Agreed. There is a big difference between someone factually and diplomatically presenting their side of an issue - and the nut job standing on the corner yelling their point of view.
'nough said.

sorry to you as well. I did not mean to offend.

modular747

Level 6

19,662 points

Jul 13, 2010 12:01 AM in response to Dan Slocum

No personal offense taken. Keeping the discussion factual and informative will have much greater effect (and not get deleted).

MrCourtney Author

Level 1

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Jul 13, 2010 12:01 AM in response to Dan Slocum

sorry to you as well. I did not mean to offend

No apology needed. I wasn't offended. I wasn't accusing you of being a nut-job. Your posts were passionate but civil. Good for you.

Jul 13, 2010 9:51 AM in response to modular747

What you read about the CR test was a blog post in simple English meant for average consumers and not engineers. The thought that the most highly respected consumer testing magazine who is always known for hiring top engineers would not know how to test phones is, candidly, silly. I am sure that was a lot more science around their tests than the blog post they offered suggested.

I suspect if CR had determined that there was not a problem, the folks on this forum who protest the engineering methods would be hailing CR as accurate and comprehensive in their testing methodology.

And, as I have noted, I am a loyal Apple customer.

Zebra1

Level 2

290 points

Jul 13, 2010 11:19 AM in response to Bostonimann

You mean you didn't just put tape there as the CR weasel suggested?

51Cards

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2010 11:22 AM in response to MrCourtney

Interesting read. I would point out as well however the person writing the article has clearly not watched the testing video as that is where some of the items he is questioning are stated. (like the 20dB drop) This makes me question the thoroughness of his response. I'm not outright discounting it... but when he missed something that blatant I question how much he researched his reply.

An Engineer Fails the Consumer Report Test