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Phone(s):
1: Nokia E61i
2: Blackberry Curve
3: Apple iPhone 3G
Provider(s):
Vodafone 02
Joined: Jul 2008
From: United Kingdom
Posts: 3
It is definately the phone, not the network - same in Europe!
I live in London and have placed the iPhone 3G next to a Motorola V8 and a Nokia N73 all on the same 3G network - O2.
The iPhone has 1 bar, the others 5 bar. Less relevant - Nokia E61i on Vodafone 3G also has 5 bar.
On Edge, the iPhone has 4 bar.
So, same comparison, tried in different continents, same result.
The download speed is also useless on 1bar 3G so there is clearly an issue here. Mine is going straight back to the supplier on Monday. (don't even get me started on mobileme!)
Now get this:
I live on the top floor (7th) of a suburban apartment block and a similar height building some 300 yards away has plenty of cellular antenna on its roof, both are above tree height with no obstructions and a clear line of sight.
That building is the HQ of Stuff Magazine (The leading UK gadget mag), their review of the iPhone 3G is here http://stuff.tv/Review/Apple-iPhone-3G/ . The mag makes no mention of signal strength problems, so perhaps this only affects a number of handsets. Who knows.
Stu
Phone(s):
1: Nokia E61i
2: Blackberry Curve
3: Apple iPhone 3G
Provider(s):
Vodafone 02
Joined: Jul 2008
From: United Kingdom
Posts: 3
3G download speeds with 1 bar on O2 (UK)
I went onto the ZDnet UK speed test site and it gave me the following results, I only had 1 bar 3G reception showing:
4008 kbits downloaded in 1.819 sec
4008 kbits downloaded in 1.920 sec
4008 kbits downloaded in 1.856 sec
4008 kbits downloaded in 1.494 sec
4008 kbits downloaded in 1.419 sec
4008 kbits downloaded in 6.058 sec
4008 kbits downloaded in 1.970 sec
What does the above tell you?
Well, for the most part, that I really should get out more...
Phone(s):
1: iPhone 3GS
2: Nokia 5800
3: Nokia N95
Provider(s):
Sweden Telia - Unlimited Calls And Unlimited SMS/MMS - And Flatrate HSPDA / 3G / Edge For $80 / Month
Joined: Nov 2002
From: Sweden
Posts: 6,228
i have the same problem here in sweden. i ALWAYS have full 3g covrage at home but with the iphone 3g i have max 2 bars, but usually ill only get 1 bar and the phone switches back to gsm
Someone should post comparison pictures, though its starting to sound pretty confirmed that there is a 3G RF performance issue, on at least a batch of devices.
It's not just the 3G iPhone with reception issues. My 1st generation iPhone with 2.0 installed has reduced reception. A significant drop in reception!!
I am now getting no service in areas where I had 2 to 3 bars. Strong areas are now fluctuating from 2 to 3 bars.
There is obviously something going on with the 2.0 firmware. I hope there is a fix for this or I will have to change phones.
Pete
I have to second this. I have a 1st gen iPhone and since upgrading to 2.0 there definitely seems to be some bar variance. This reminds me of when I first got this when it came out on the original firmware. I am right near a tower, I mean about 1,000 feet away at the most, maybe less. With 1.1.4 I had 4-5 bars all the time. Now, with 2.0, it varies a lot. Goes from 5 to 1 and anywhere in between just sitting there. I have not seen a "no service" so maybe just the firmware has some issues with signal. Maybe we will see 2.0.1 next week!!!
There's something going on with either a certain batch of phones or the network. We got a total lemon with our first review unit, but then our second review unit worked fine and dandy.
I was at home yesterday night and i got the no network coverage ,so for the fun of it i called home, and guess what? the call went through even though it remained no network coverage, maybe it has something to do with the phone just not reading the imformation right, very odd.
Just so you guys know you can read how strong the signal the phone is actually receiving by going into field test menu. To do this dial *#3001#12345#* then tap call. You will notice the signal strength bars will change into reading your current RF level.
Im currently getting:
3G: 4 Bars RF -89
GSM: 5 Bars RF -79
Also, my Samsung Sync will normally get about 1-2 bars of 3G at my home where my iPhone is getting 3-5 on 3G.
Should be *3001#12345#*
you added an extra '#' at the beginning
one thing I've noticed is there doesn't seem to be a correllation between bars and surfing speed... Was surfing fairly speedily on a bus, the bars went everywhere from 5-0...surfing speed was the same on either.
Phone(s):
1: Apple iPhone 3G
2: Apple iPhone
3: at&t Tilt
Provider(s):
at&t
Joined: Dec 2004
From: New York City
Posts: 6
In NYC, full 3G bars outside. Inside, almost anywhere, one, maybe two bars at most if I'm lucky. "No Service" at least a dozen times in the last two days. All while my Tilt has full 3G bars. 3G iPhone doesn't connect or receive calls in some areas that a Gen1 iPhone works perfectly at the exact same time. Wasn't that cheesy plastic back to improve signal strength?
Has anyone gotten a definitive answer or protocall from Apple or AT&T? I walked into AT&T and they said this is the first one they are hearing about with a problem and they would notate my account. If the problem persists at&t customer service may give a partial service credit.
Also, whats an average RF level? I'm getting:
3G with 1 bar -97
EDGE with full bars -71
07-13-2008, 05:58
Linear Mode
