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iPhone 4s, echo when using apple headset during a call

I'm having an issue with my 32 gb iPhone 4s with Rogers. When using the Apple hands free headset with the phone during a call, I get an echo problem. It does not occur immediately. It can very from 30 seconds into a call and as far up to 9 mins in before it begins the annoying echo. If I unplug the headset it goes away but will return when I plug the headset back in. I have tried 3 brand new iphone 4s headsets with the same problems. So far I have tried rebooting, and also restored phone back to factory original settings as a new phone and still no resolution. I have been told by the other person on the line a screech sound is made then the echo begins.

iPhone 4s-OTHER, iOS 5, iPhone 4s

Posted on Oct 15, 2011 5:28 PM

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627 replies

Jun 12, 2018 5:34 PM in response to Themacguyver

Using the headset, I have the exact same problem.

Randomly, it become almost impossible to hear the other caller.

He complains to have a terrible echo, but I'm not earing the echo myself.


- Apple changed my iPhone 4S

- I've tested different headset

- I've also tested a full restore.


The workaround (on/off the speaker) is working.

Jun 12, 2018 5:34 PM in response to Themacguyver

Hi guys,


I have this echo problem since the very beginning.

(on/off the speaker was a workaround I used many times a day)


I'll need a few more days to confirm, but the upgrade to 5.0.1 seems to have resolve the problem for me.

Jun 19, 2018 1:13 AM in response to Themacguyver

I just got my first IPhone (4s - 16GB) and i have a echo all the time, hearing myself again. I also had a call where i did hear nothing, neither did the one who called hear me. I don't use a headset.

.

Very annoying, please fix. I will have to return the phone if nothing changes.

Oct 17, 2011 1:35 PM in response to rnguyen

The longest time it has taken for me so far is about 12 mins before it kicked in! The average time is between 1min to 6 mins for me. Im going to try and describe the sound as best as possible. When it happens the volume on the headset suddenly increases, as well as the white nose (snow) in the back ground increases to the point it pretty much over takes the conversation. The other person experiences quite alot of delay in the echo, about 2 seconds and we are no longer able to communicate with one another due to them hearing the echo. Unplugging the headset solves the problem, but will only come back once re-plugged in. Also I have noticed that my data from 3g usually drops to Edge or nil and my signal strength becomes very weak.

I would like to hear any more detailed feedback from any of you that you might have. ie carrier and phone type?

J

Oct 17, 2011 3:38 PM in response to Themacguyver

Same thing happens to me. Very annoying. But, the echo is on the other side of the conversation. What I hear is the person sounds like they are all of a sudden really far away, but the volume of the voice increases and it's scratchy. At the same time this happens, the person on the other side of the call says there is all of a sudden an echo. I haven't tried unplugging the headset yet, because I pretty much always use the headset and don't want to give that up. I just hang up and call the person back. SOOOOOOO annoying!!!! I'm on AT&T 32 GB black iPhone 4S.

Oct 17, 2011 3:48 PM in response to Themacguyver

Hi all,


My wife and I are experiecing the same issue. We just got our new iPhone 4S units (both 16GB), and this happened to us several times while we were speaking with each other today. I can't tell which one of us has the phone / headset that's causing the problem. She hears an echo on her headset, and I hear loud static. We're both using the Apple's included earbud / mic units. From the sound of things, which one of us has the problematic device / headset combo? Is the person who hears the echo or the person who hears the static?


Thanks,

Sam

Oct 17, 2011 7:21 PM in response to samchr

I have the 4s 64 gb model and I'm on the AT&T network. The problem I'm experiencing is identical to what is described in the above thread. After being on a call for 10-15 minutes, the echo and static starts. The first three times it happened, I was dialed into a conference call for work so we all thought it was a conference line issue and all re-dialed in and it fixed it. Today, I was on a call with a friend and after 10 minutes, the echo and static came on. That made me realize my phone was the issue. So I hung up and called her back and the echo went away. I then researched online and found that this issue also happened to older iphone models. One of the suggestion that I found was when you are on a call using the earphones and the echo starts, put the call on speaker for 2 secs and take it off of speaker. I did this and the echo went away. This has worked every time to fix the echo issue. This sounds like an iphone equipment issue and not a carrier issue; I'm making a visit to the Apple store soon...

Oct 18, 2011 3:01 AM in response to rnguyen

Ditto. New iPhone 4S with apple earbud headset. Only seems to happen with the headset. Static on my end, screech then echo on the other end after about 15 minutes of speaking. If I unplug the headset the problem seems to go away. Problem occurs with multiple apple headsets, so I imagine it's a handset / phone issue.


I'm going to wait until the next shipment of iPhone 4Ss is in until I take my phone into the Apple store.

Oct 18, 2011 9:24 AM in response to Themacguyver

My sister and I are having the same problem you all are encountering. We have the new iPhone 4S 64GB and are with Rogers. We actually went to Apple store yesterday and got new phones, however we still have the problem. We don't know what to think, it would make sense that it is a hardware issue, however it seems to be a limited problem (in that there isn't a massive reporting on the issue, lots of message boards talking about it etc.). We wonder if it is carrier related, somehow... we just don't know.


My sister restored her phone to factory settings and used it and still had the problem. We've tried restoring, resetting the network, nothing works (other than unplugging the hands-free set). It seems there was the same issue with the iPhone 4 when it came out. There are some older threads on this, but I don't know what the final resolution was to the problem. The postings on it seemed to stop, so maybe it cleared up? No idea.


For samchr, the problem presents as the other person hearing an echo. So, if you are speaking with your wife and she hears the echo, then it is your phone, and vice versa. As my sister and I speak to each other on our new iPhones we've worked it out. Another way to check is to unplug the hands-free set and see if the problem goes away. Which ever one of you clears up the problem by unplugging the hands-free, that's the phone that is causing the issue.


The problem is sporadic, it makes it harder to diagnose. I was out walking and had a fairly long phone conversation (12 minutes) with no issues. On the phone with my sister yesterday, it happened about 8-9 minutes into the phone call (I believe, I didn't check). Today I was speaking with my sister for just a short time, and the problem happened, but on her end this time.


It's a real puzzle. If anyone finds out anything on this, PLEASE post the solution for us on this board!

Oct 18, 2011 11:10 AM in response to Themacguyver

Yes, I can confirm that that solution works, thanks Themacguyver! It's a good short term solution anyway.


My sister (ms from toronto, see post above) and I are both scheduled to have our iPhone 4S's replaced again (so third iPhone 4S for both of us). Apple tech support asked us to confirm that this issue happens with a clean phone (not a restore), and it does. Waiting to hear back from the Apple store that they will have replacement devices available to swap out for us at our appts. on Thursday morning.

iPhone 4s, echo when using apple headset during a call

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