3G iPhone Signal Problems...Post Here!

[dcdttu]

I'm in the middle of Austin right by Downtown and I barely get 1-2 bars at my office on the 5th floor. I am on EDGE most of the way to work on my commute on a major highway. I am amazed that the reception qualities of its 2G antenna aren't reflected in 3G... but I'm getting more convinced that this is a hardware issue with the phone and not a software issue (please let it be) or a AT&T issue.

Wow, if Apple botched this, they are going to do really bad. How on earth do you give it stellar 2G reception and worse than acceptable 3G reception and not notice???

I tried the airplane mode 'fix' and it just re-registers me on 3G with 1-2 bars. I don't have any issues with 'no service.' Maybe it's because I keep wifi off?

[iFitz]

are you dropping calls? If not, what's the big deal?

Yes, dropping calls all the time. Dropping in my office where I got full signal on my previous EDGE iPhone. So it is a big deal!

[BeerDrinkingDog]

Has any one else noticed that covering the bottom right corner of the phone can dramatically reduce the reception. I can have 4 bars wen browsing with it in my left hand and this then reduces to 1 if I place it in my right hand which covers the bottom right corner.

The bottom of the phone is apparently where the antenna is. Seems silly to me that they didn't put it up at the top of the unit, but maybe they couldn't because that's closer to your head when you actually talking on it.

I've seen this mentioned before for both the 3G and the earlier 2G-only model.

I've tried it and it didn't seem to make much difference for me.

Something that I did notice is this: My signal strength goes up when I have the phone plugged into the USB cable to charge or sync it. I guess the cable acts as an external antenna and boosts the signal?

[Dr Juice]

I bought an 8GB on Saturday and did the SIM card shuffle (swapping the SIM from my original iPhone into the 3G). So far, I'm dropping calls less in areas where I'd normally drop them a lot, but I seem to be dropping calls in new areas.

Last night, for example, I couldn't get a hold of my girlfriend for literally the entire ride home - first it was the "Call Failed" chimes, then I simlply got a busy signal after a ring or two. My GF's house has horrible reception, so I'm not sure if it's that or the 3G. Even with fewer bars on 3G than on EDGE, actual reception seems to be about equal (with a noticeable difference in audio quality).

I'm in the Cleveland area, and just wondering if anyone around there has had a new SIM card swapped in and if that's solved their issues or not.

[not_too_shabby]

The bottom of the phone is apparently where the antenna is. Seems silly to me that they didn't put it up at the top of the unit, but maybe they couldn't because that's closer to your head when you actually talking on it.

I've seen this mentioned before for both the 3G and the earlier 2G-only model.

I've tried it and it didn't seem to make much difference for me.

Something that I did notice is this: My signal strength goes up when I have the phone plugged into the USB cable to charge or sync it. I guess the cable acts as an external antenna and boosts the signal?

Mine can have 5 bars of service till I picked it up and it drops down to 1 or 2. I have a tower maybe 100 yards from here and I only get 2-3 bars of service at my desk on the other side of the building form the tower.

[Gern Blanston]

It's nice to know that I'm in a lot of company. I got my Iphone yesterday, and I frequently get "no service" at my house. I'm rarely getting 3G. Weak signal strength from almost everywhere in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I've tried resetting Airplane mode to no avail. Disabling 3G seems to have given me a better calling signal. Other AT&T phones work great in my house and area. My Tmobile Dash, which I just deactivated, worked wonderfully everywhere.

My friends tell me that I sound like I'm talking in a hole (no bad jokes please ).

Do we just have 14 days to return these things? From what I understand, Apple charges a 10% restocking fee on Iphone returns.

I think I've learned to never be an early adopter.

[djnick]

Orange County, CA in Irvine at my house 3g shows "No Service"
when i switch to edge 4 bars...and att coverage site shows full service with 3g in my area. Oh well 3g eats battery anyway

[DreamNofR1]

^^Yes, they do charge a 10% restocking fee. HOWEVER (and, I did this last year with the first iPhone) if you take it back within 3 days you don't have to pay squat except the activation fee. I was expecting a bill for 60 bucks since I bought the 8gb for $599 but it was only $36 bucks that I had to pay. And, I am sure if you fight that, you could probably get out of that as well, I just choose to avoid confrontation.

On the same note, my 3G area is covered on the map all by that wonderful blue color and I was told that I have a tower less than 3 miles from my house. But, as many others, I am only getting 2 bars max. on my phone of 3G service. I did turn 3G off and it went up to 4 bars. My question is, I thought that 3G was supposed to help the call quality? Why turn it off if your calls are going to suck? Or, maybe I was mis-informed because I always thought 3G was just for data transfer speeds.

[pdxrealtor]

Apple, as stated on their website, and verified with apple rep will take phone back w/in the first 14 days with no re-stock fee.

YOu have a full 30 days, but after 14 you pay the restock fee.

[oc12345]

same here with 3g no bars when i turn 3g off full bars ....wow this sucks

[RogerPodacter]

look there's GOTTA be something wrong with the 3g iphone RF. either you know you have 3g in your area or there is no 3g in your area. some people have used other 3g phones in the same location as their new 3g iphone, so that's at least something to compare against.

[jameskk]

The problem is that AT&T isn't running 3G on every tower. They are trying to spread the $$$ and are skipping many cell sites in dense areas. This causes the phone to use a cell site further away because the phone will try to use a 3G tower before it searches for Edge. This is also why many people can switch 3G off and get a full signal with Edge. Verizon did the same thing in my market when they launched EVDO. My Motorola Q which got a full signal all of the sudden got two bars because it was trying to talk with an EVDO tower further away. I hope that AT&T will spend the $$$ and upgrade ALL towers to 3G. I have been in direct site of two towers which I knew were 3G and had full signal on 3G so I know the phone is working properly. Again, it's trying to hit towers further away to stay connected to 3G in most cases.

[not_too_shabby]

I'm surprised by how much the signal attenuates inside. I have 5 bars outside of 3G with a tower in plain site, but by the time I get to the other side of the building I'm on edge.

[Wide_opeN]

no not at all, because the people with other 3g phones are having normal full service. its just the iphone 3g that is getting weak reception...

No, that's what I'm saying. That Apple and AT&T (or just AT&T) are specifically throttling down the signal pushed out to 3G iphones.

I know other devices are getting signal just fine, my samsung sync is right next to the iPhone 3G with full bars of 3G service while my iPhone 3G gets 1 maybe!

[misha24]

Apple, as stated on their website, and verified with apple rep will take phone back w/in the first 14 days with no re-stock fee.

YOu have a full 30 days, but after 14 you pay the restock fee.

If there are issues yes but if there are no issues then you have to pay the 10% restocking fee.