My iPhone Reception Sucks…

Posted on 21 July 2008 by


Filed under the WTF department, a number of different claims AROUND THE WORLD are being cited regarding the poor 3G reception that Apple’s new flagship device is getting.  It seems that the iPhone is having trouble pulling in both 3G AND EDGE signals in countries across the globe, not just here in the USA. Dropped calls, the inability to make calls, bad data connections…if this is happening to you, you’re definitely not alone.

Here’s the good news – Nope, it ain’t you, your SIM (what I thought it might be) or anything else. While no one seems to have a definative answer, there are some theories being tossed around… The discussions on this in the Apple forum can be seen here.

To sum it up:

  • 3G may just be overwhelmed
  • iPhone may just have a terrible antenna (other AT&T phones work just fine)
  • Some are claiming a ‘poor batch’ of iPhones being sold early on
  • Apple has yet to [acknowledge any] hardware issues

I’m getting annoyed. Apple better get that ROM upgrade out and out quickly; or if that’s not it, provide another solution. It better address some of this stuff, or my iPhone may go back to AT&T. While I’m NOT trying to sound like a spoiled [American] consumer, I need to keep in mind (and remind everyone that) this expense is just that, an expense.

In THIS economy, if the device isn’t going to deliver what it promised me before I bought it (or deliver it soon) I may just take it back to AT&T in the next couple of weeks (before my 30 day trial is up) and ask for my money back. Again, its not just a buggy device kids (I’ve dealt with THAT situation before…just about every WM device I have is buggy); its the additional cost. I had to open a new line to get my iPhone, and the extra $75-100 per month for this thing may not be what I want to do with my money.

Source: iPhone Alley

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  • Matt Banks

    I have a feeling the issue is the v2.0 software. I have the original iPhone and ever since updating, I’ve been getting horrible reception as well. Sitting in my office, I used to have between 3-4 bars of signal. Now I have 1-2 and have had trouble making calls. I’ve even seen No Service a few times where I’ve had to restart the phone to get it back out.

    Apple does need to address the issues right away. Between the signal problems, lagging keyboard, freezing Contacts, and multiple crashes, the v2.0 software has been a nightmare.

  • http://www.s-consult.com/index.php Wayne Schulz

    I guess I got lucky. Except for a lot of lagging (especially in contacts) and the random crashes – everything seems ok. Oh – battery life is terrible but I don’t think that will be fixable (telling people to turn off features that they upgraded to is hardly a fix).

  • http://www.geardiary.com Mitchell Oke

    Hearing all this kinda makes me glad I didn’t pickup an iPhone on launch day. My Nokia E71 is trucking along nicely instead.

    Hope they work it out for you early adopters!! Suck to have crap like this happen. I remember similar disappointments with my BlackJack II.

  • wastan

    I’ve had this problem with my 1st gen iPhone and I’m in the middle of a major metro (DC) area. Apple replaced my iPhone, but the new one is no better. Other ATT phones work quite well in the same locations. So the problem isn’t 3G and likely isn’t ATT.

  • http://www.geardiary.com Mitchell Oke

    Haha, I wonder if they did this on purpose so that when 2.0 was immediately hacked, they could work out why, patch the hole, fix the radio and make everyone upgrade so their phone works properly?

    It’s all a conspiracy…

  • http://geardiary.com Christopher Spera

    if this is a software issue then it should be eazy to fix; and it makes me wonder how and why this got out the door. I don’t mind being a beta tester provided I know that is what I am doing. doing that unwillingly really sucks.

    unfortunately, I have all of thee issues. I really lime this phone, but don’t know that I like it enough to put up with this past the 30 day trial period.

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  • http://www.gamingwithchildren.com Michael Anderson

    My gadget-loving side really wants one of these, but I am glad that (a) we have all of our extended family on Verizon, making a switch to ATT unthinkable, and (b) no- cam policy at work means leaving it in the car.

    Those have helped my resolve … and that I have a 32GB iPod Touch with the 2.0 update ;)

  • TrvlngDrew

    Hmm.. Wonder how it is fairing down in Ozz.. I know there were huge activation issues.. Was on the phone for about 20 hours on launch day.. No fooling.. I’m liking my 32g Touch w/2.0 better and better myself.. At least for now.. :-)

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  • mchinsky

    I’m definitely waiting until at least September at this point. My Treo 700p is still working (albeit resetting every few hours for one reason or another). I’m also dreading having to buy another cell phone repeater due to my use in the basement which will be big bucks.