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Iphone 6s signal problems

Is anyone else having low signal strength with the new iPhone 6s?

Posted on Sep 27, 2015 9:59 PM

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Posted on Sep 30, 2015 9:31 AM

I have. I can stand in one place and watch the signal fluctuate between 2 and 5 bars. I'll also have no signal in places I did have signal with my iPhone 6. Dropped calls too.

78 replies

Feb 18, 2016 5:08 PM in response to jim7753

HI,


yes, i solved.

i read here and i found that My issue Cou be because was locked by My carrier here in Uruguay.

The history was that my iPhone was stoled in miami early january and i found by find My iphone. Yes, i have luck!

so, when i call My carrier to lock my sim they automatically oca the iPhone by imei.


i Call muy carrier and they unlocked Again.

thanks

pablo

Apr 23, 2016 3:06 PM in response to soapboxlaura

We bought 2 iPhone 6s from Costco kiosk 6 weeks ago and have had similar problems. Fortunately, with Costco, we have 90 days to take them back. We have done many of the things others have tried (multiple reboots, refresh network settings, remove & replace SIM card, etc) and all were unsuccessful.

However, just yesterday we returned to the kiosk and in desperation asked the attendant to change the SIM card. When he put in a new cards, both phones grew 2 or 3 more dots on signal. The ultimate test was when we returned home where we have a weak signal and had not been able to make a call on the 6s....Hallelujah!!!....Its working well on a 1 or 2 dot signal. Coming home from Costco, had great reception on the highway too. Now we will keep our iPhones!!

SIM cards have contacts that must connect in the iPhone; poor contact was our problem and I hope it is the same with others. Easily fixed!!

Jun 24, 2016 9:18 AM in response to justinfromnorthglenn

Just TURN OFF THE LTE! It's at Settings (mechanical wheels) - Cellular - Cellular Data Options (2nd from top) -- Enable LTE -- OFF! Some have said they are good with "Data Only" (instead of Off) so give that a shot. On mine, it slows down a little maybe with "Data Only" so I am still experimenting on that one. It's amazing! On SpeedTest.net with LTE: 2-2.5 Mbps down & .75 up; WITHOUT LTE: 15-16 Mbps down & 1 up. (With T-Mobile, the upstream is clearly "governed" to be 1.) Per some of the recommendations above, I did turn off the automatic carrier choice and manually selected T-Mobile.


This is some kind of GSM problem with LTE: note almost all the commenters are either ATT or T-Mobile (both GSM). I always thought LTE was a hocus-pocus marketing scam, now I am nearly certain. I have heard knowledgeable commentators state that LTE "is a deal with the Devil" without explaining. It would seem it is. Like many here, I was perfectly happy with my iPhone 5 (no "s," "c," etc.); my wife too. But T-Mobile was having a BOGO on the iPhone SE (an iPhone 5 body w/ all the goodies -- and baddies, apparently -- of the iPhone 6s: processor, camera, finger ID et al. So $400 for two much improved phones worked for me!


I switched SIMS and used "recovery" on the new SE so I have two clone phones: an iPhone 5 and an SE. So I had some fun with signal strength in light of people not hearing me well today. OMG, the old phone was just under -100Db (usually 95-97) while the "new" phone was -116 to -118Db. It was a miracle anybody could hear me which seems to indicate the improvements allow the SE to work with pretty much a non-existent signal (-120Db is considered no signal). (To use the Db tool, google "iPhone Field Test" and you'll get it.) Much research led to this page and turning off the LTE on the SE and everything seems great with a decent improvement. The 5 is usually in the 10-12Mbs download range and now the SE was in the 15-16 range. So good, after 5 years, a 50% improvement.


So then I got a crazy idea to turn LTE off on the older 5. Guess what: 15-16Mbs! I wish to note THE LTE TRICK AMELIORATES THE SIGNAL ISSUE BUT DOESN'T SOLVE IT. The 5 with the LTE off was now in the 85-88Db range while the SE had improved to be around 96-97Db. Both improved with the LTE off, the SE just improved more to get in the acceptable signal range. Now while writing this they have equilibrated to both be 95 or 96Db (both LTE off). So the SE may be “learning” where the towers are, etc.


I'll write more tomorrow. It could easily be the voice signal will now be horrible (remember: LTE is a deal with the Devil), although the comments above give me much optimism. I have noticed the “ping” on LTE is usually 20-40, when LTE is off it is never that low – frequently 60 or more. The ping is basically the turnaround time for the packets and it’s most important in phone transmissions so that may predict the voice will be awful. However, there is sufficient cause to think it's the antenna so I am going to the "Genius" Bar also.


As many of you have mentioned, Apple is reflecting typical American marketing irresponsibility. Then they wonder why Samsung, LG, Nokia, etc. are getting more and more of their market share. It’s GM all over again – Apple is also operating on a “planned obsolescence” marketing model. However, the SE is a departure from that path. I hope Apple continues to realize not everybody needs the iPhone 6 series phones that don’t fit in your hand, pocket, purse, etc. very easily. After all, most of Apple's success has come from making electronics smaller and easier to operate, not bigger and more complicated (such as LTE working poorly and forcing customers to resort to "fixes" -- which are an MS/IBM trademark.


Thanks to all the commenters for all their hard work and experimentation above that saved me hours of torture and an unnecessary return of a decent phone!

Jul 25, 2016 2:29 AM in response to justinfromnorthglenn

I have been an apple user for more than 25 years. Fifth iPhone now, but the 6s does really have signal issues. Signal drops inexplicably from 4 to 1, texts and calls cannot be used all of a sudden.

Even if this is an LTE-issue, it is something that ought to be fixed.

Apple should inform its 6s users and provide decent help. I have read too many post about this, to assume that it depends on the carrier or a broken/malfunctioning phone.

It seems that very many (if not all) 6s are suffering this issue. This shouldn't be the case; after all it's a "phone" and with a phone, you should be able to make calls, without all this hassle.

Apple, please take your responsibility and deal with this. Why has not a single answer been posted in this community by Apple? The reticence seems to prove that Apple knows that they are to blame.

Oct 23, 2016 10:50 PM in response to justinfromnorthglenn

I picked up the new 32gb version of the 6S yesterday and straight off I noticed this signal issue. In my lounge I should have 2-3 bars but sitting with no service, in the bedroom I usually have full signal but its sitting at 2 and fluctuating.


I take it the only solution is to return the handset?

Iphone 6s signal problems

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