Poll: How's your iPhone 3G reception?
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Jul 17th 2008 2:02PM
posted Jul 17th 2008 2:02PM
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Well 3G isn't everywhere yet....turn off 3G if you are not using the internet and i am sure you will get a great signal.
talk about entirely missing the point...
Both my LG Viewty and my old Nokia N95 had the same problem and solution: switch from 3G to 2G to get both much better signal strength and double the battery life. A no-brainer...
Seconded, if you switch to EDGE your signal will blow through the roof!
The truth of the matter is the iPhone is getting a better signal:
In spots the other 3G devices aren't even picking up a 3G signal, they have more bars because they switched to EDGE. The iPhone is still able to pick up the 3G where they can't (better!), and so it displays lower 3G signal.
well then you have an original iphone, tell me, why did you buy an iphone 3g if you just turn the 3g off?
@Who?
Your reply makes perfect sense and at the same time made this entire discussion a moot point. I was thinking the same thing. :)
You tell me why you chose a 3G iPhone if you live in the middle of the desert. Check at&t's map of where 3G is before you buy it. Plus now you can use it almost all over the world, which you couldn't do with the first Gen iPhone.
@martin
better battery life, gps...
Talk about missing the point... Why does Engadget always put a nonsensical option in their polls? If you didn't buy an iPhone 3G, your opinion on this matter is irrelevant!
Is there a mass wave of imbecility sweeping the masses or are people just reacting in convenient denial rather than face the prospect that they dropped a large chunk of change for flawed subpar reception??
Whether or not you *can* switch backwards to edge is totally evading the point (to say the obvious). YOU bought a premium device whose release was explicitly around 3G capability - and your answer to how it's reception is compared to other 3G devices is "Oh just turn it off!"
DUHHH???
I'm a fan of Apple anything and can't stand the whole Apple i-sheep bashing, but I gotta tell ya, this is making me think twice!
Just junked my Profile refrigerator for a newer model with a high-end water dispenser built into the door. It cost me $500 more and it doesn't work, but IT's ALL good- I just use the ice cube tray!!
Prozac makes eeeeeeeverything seem just OK doesn't it? :)
Turning off 3G doesn't make any difference. You get much better QoS from 2-3 bars of 3G voice than you get with 4-5 bars of 2G voice.
@martin
Well, i bought the phone because it pulls girls :D so i could care less if it just like the "original" mine has aGPS and the "original" ones don't so mine is better.
All I have to say is AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
What sucks is all the people that use EDGE on their 3G to save battery life (or who don't have any 3G coverage) are still paying $10 bucks more a month now for the data plan.
Well, when I was paying $20 for EDGE, I was mostly using it through my Wifi... go figure.
Cagrino:
The problem is I don't remember there being a way of seeing the results without voting. I don't have an iphone but I was curious to see these results, so I voted the last option.
I'd think Apple would have auto-switching when 3G signal is low/non-existent.
Look at the poll, do they get we just dont care about iPhones? Ok they are out and people have them. Cover better phones.
@cagrino:
Would you rather they'd left that option out? Then we'd have to click the "sucketh with a mighty wooshing" option and pollute the _relevant_ results.
What's annoying is that if there is one bar of 3G coverage, and full Edge coverage, it will cling to that one single bar of 3G goodness for dear life.
"Look at the poll, do they get we just dont care about iPhones?"
Actually, no. From looking at the poll, I can deduce that at this point there're 15k+ people (54.5%) who don't have an iPhone but still care to read and vote in a poll that is regarding the iPhone (I'm one of them).
People who don't care (like my colleague sitting next to me) simply skipped the article and is now reading about AMD's results.
Well, I get either a terrible signal or "No Service" regardless if I'm on Edge or 3G. How about that?
Really?
This is what I would need to do if I turn of 3G:
Take 6 hour train ride across the country. Get onto a plane and fly to Australia. It's 3G or nothing in the country I live.
Still think turning off 3G is a good idea?
Yay! MORE IPHONE NEWS! Well not news, just redundant blog entries.
Actually the poll is very reassuring since almost half the people who participated in it don't want a 3G iPhone. Thank God.
This phone is NOT an innovation, it's an improvement/revision. People can say whatever they want but when the HTC Dream comes out with Android, THAT will be the wake up call for the cell-phone industry.
haha, i noticed.
maybe its time for iEngadget to focus on things people DO want?
I think Apple should get into the business of selling Butt-Scratchers - that way Engadget can preview it 10 times - follow the release - review it twice post 20 articles ranging from its internals to performance and lastly conduct polls on it.
Butt-Scratcher?Butt-Scratcher?Anybody Butt-Scratcher?
Open source butt scratchers FTW!
@EVERYONE
I FIGURED OUT THE TRICK TO FIX THE IPHONE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES....
OK I upgraded from an original 8 GB iPhone to a 16 Gb 3G iPhone and after I had restored the contacts and information from my first gen one I had some serious connectivity issues with the 3G iPhone. Even with 3G turned off.
To make a long story short ...
I talked to APPLE SUPPORT and they told me there is a software bug that interferes with the 3G's ability to switch between 2G and 3G networks when restoring from your original backup. He suggested restoring my iPhone to its original out of box state AND going to AT&T and having a new SIM CARD installed. Well, I did not restore the iPhone but I did go to AT&T and get a new SIM CARD ... Poof ... Now it works perfectly with 3G enabled ... It worked for me anyway ... I suggest simply getting a new SIM CARD and restoring all your setting to factory settings but not the entire phone ... No way i would manually enter all my phone numbers and lose my notes ...
Hope this very simple fix helps!!
I was having serious connection issues prior to this fix. Going from no service to max bars and back and forth without even moving (even with 3G turned off)
Thats what worked for me!!!
@ Krush
lol @ Family Guy
"Not now, Peter!"
*Sad voice* "Buuutt-scratcherrrrrr..."
I'm curious, has Apple indicated any area on the back cover of the iPhone 3G that shouldn't be excessively touched (usually the area directly beneath which lies the antenna) to avoid signal strength degradation. Nokia usually does this and mentions this in their user guides.
I believe its next to the headphone jack
N41
On the iPhone area of Apple's site they mention that the chrome around the screen, as well as the metal buttons and ring around the headphone jack are antennas.
Unlike the original iPhone, I don't think the antennas are all scrunched at the bottom of the phone.
Can't complain. it is working fine so far. Wheever I go it shows 3G but I'm not sure it is full speed 3G or not.
One other thing though, did you guys notice the poor plastic quality of the phone? When you're sliding your hand to the righ on the screen, you can feel the edge on one side and not on the left side. I've checked another unit to see if this si a defect but it has the same situation.
I'm getting full 3G coverage and all bars here in Chicago. Perfectly fine for me
Interesting, I never noticed before, but I can feet the same edge on my gen 1 iphone, but reversed- I feel it on the right side, the left is smooth. No biggy though, only noticible when you look for it. Maybe its more pronounced on the 3g.
I get excellent 3G coverage in San Diego. Its works better than my old iPhone. No dropped calls (iPhone 3G) VS some dropped calls (iPhone).
Low signal strength is a downward spiral: when it is low, the handset has to crank up the amplifier making the circuit really hot and deplete the battery really fast.Maybe their radio chipset is grab.
You mean crap, brother. Not grab. It's okay-you can say/type it. I promise you won't burn in hell. This applies to caffeine and alcohol too.)
Goll, heck, loosen up.
I would love it if instead you guys talked about how sluggish the keyboard and contacts app can get. I never had as much slow down as I do with the new firmware update. At times I can't even make a phone call because the phone is so bogged down, even after several restart. Please shine some attention on this engadget.
I get better reception btw. Doesn't matter though if my phone doesn't work properly.
I have that problem too. The phone and contact apps seem to freeze for 4-5 seconds every time I launch either, and they keyboard often seems to freeze the phone for the same amount of time when it's launched. It's really annoying.
Same problem here. TONS of LAG and sluggish response.
I call BS on all of you - I have never experience lag - especially not in the contact list
I get this ALL THE TIME in the SMS app on my original iPhone. It's horrible... Thankfully it will catch up so I can still type reasonably fast, but I like to wait to be sure the words are coming up correctly.
This issue is definitely the number one issue I have with the new software. I dearly hope Apple fixes it quickly...2.0.1 please?
From what I've read, that is a problem usually associated with App Store applications not fully quitting when you push the home button.
Try holding the home button down (=force quit) when ending your games/apps in the future. If that doesn't help, turn push e-mail off, and if all else fails, grab a torch and pitchfork and drive to Jobs' house.
Engadget isn't going to do that, it is only bad for the iPhone, unlike this poll where people can say its good.
Yep, same here. Big lag in address book and often big lag when typing in any app. Really frustrating. It's often faster to use the Google App and type in a contact name. Yikes!
I haven't tested a lot, but the keyboard lag seems to lessen when I have 3G turned off, which I've started to do to make the battery last.
@who?
This happens randomly on my phone, sometimes when I haven't even launched a downloaded app. A lot of times it happens after opening the phone app, which is bizarre because this never happened under 1.1.4 (which of course had the phone app).
Also, I have no email accounts on my phone right now, and have all data pushing/fetching off. So I guess I'll go grab a pitchfork now and head for Steve's...
Same here, I only have the origional iPhone but plan on getting the new one tomorrow actually. The lag on this new firmware 2.0 is SO annoying! I find that safari and many custom apps just lag out and crash all the time. Especially the keyboard, i find myself having to type quite slow in SMS and safari just to get anywhere and then watch as the letters slowly appear...
@Tastybread
Same problem here, contacts are extremely sluggish takes me about 3 tries to make a call, or any app that switches to my contacts is almost now impossible with the new firmware.
I just tried who?'s recommendation and force-restarted the phone, and the freezing seems to have gone away. It looks like the problem very well could be memory-leak related, after all.
BTW, to force-shutdown you have to hold the sleep button for about 3 seconds, until a "Slide to Shutdown" message appears. Slide to shutdown. To start the phone up again, hold the sleep button for about 3 seconds again.
I had the same issue until Forced my phone to the newer build. It available if you do a "restore" on itunes. It worked for me but its been getting mixed results for other people. Check out this discussion:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1593046
@Veraxus
I do that a lot actually and eventually the lag returns. In the phone app, I can press contacts several times and have nothing happen, only to have the whole phone lock up. I can't even play the scrabble app that I purchased because I keep getting dumped back onto the home screen before the game even loads up. I don't know; can you downgrade a 3G iphone?
Ok Engadget! Please make a poll for Sluggish iPhone 2.0 and send those results to Apple.
lol wtf?
App lags? Typing lags? Can't make PHONE CALLS?!? It's a PHONE!
This sounds like it sucks!
wow. these comments remind me of the days when i had the misfortune of owning a sony ericsson p990 and spent hours upon hours on message boards reporting terrible user experience and finding answers for work-arounds... so glad i kept my htc s710 now. just ordered a few new batteries. should last me until maybe 4th generation iphone or whatever other cool phone comes out that is worth switching from the rock solid performance and features of my s710.
good day all.
Considering its lackluster specs in all other departments, the UI was supposed to be what saved it and made it the holy grail of smartphones. If it's sluggish that basically puts it on par with a WinMo phone, only without flash, cut and paste, and other useful features.
Like making phone calls.
Holy crap! Me too. -I can't stand my new iSlug phone.
Created when I "upgraded" my iPhone to 2.0. WTF.
Engadget -I read you religiously. -I adore -I can't live without you. *snif *snif -- I love you.
Now -love me back!
Please -please -oh please -cover this issue.
This totally sounds like when I used to work with Motorola dev phones... LOL
I guess Windows Mobile doesnt look as 'antique, sluggish, and crappy' anymore when iPhones act that way running 3rd part applications.
i have that problem too.
on a different note, the questions--and comments here--should pay no attention to "number of bars," since that's a variable that can be set arbitrarily by the set maker. the discussion should be about quality of connections, dropped calls, etc.
I am having the exact same problem. If I'm typing anything in SMS or some apps it's like molasses. I don't even get the chance to close dictionary suggestions because they won't even come up!
I think it's the 2.0 firmware. I never had this problem before the upgrade!
My reception is great, oh wait i'm using a blackberry.
I bet that 3G works good on it too eh?
Verx = Tool
Its latin.
@natels
my blackberry works great too... and the 3g data works as well as the iphone's does.
So on top of poor battery now I have to deal with spotty reception. My blackberry works fine and has full bars at work. My iphones gets like 3 bars. Beginning to regret this purchase. :(
I don't believe you have an iphone, enjoy your blackberry.
In my apartment the signal fluctuates wildly whether 3G is on or off (in any event I only get EDGE reception there, anyway).
Sometimes I'll have 4 or 5 bars and the phone works perfectly, and other times (often in the middle of a conversation it seems) the signal will drop willy-nilly to 1 bar or none, causing the call to cut out or be dropped altogether. What could cause the signal to jump around so wildly in a single stationary spot has me stumped - but yes, there appears to be problems.
I have this same issue on my original iPhone. I thought it was a hardware issue so I had the phone replaced at an Apple Store. The issue is still there on my refurb and still just as annoying.
It happens a lot when sending texts too. I think it may have something to do with the iPhone trying to switch cell towers, but it doesn't do that so gracefully (like I would expect from Apple).
According to the current poll results, more people have iPhones than don't in the comment section, so NO FLAMING IPHONE USERS!!!
Only the majority has flaming rights... ;-)
Its not the phone its the piss poor service provider..
Believe it or not, it's the phone. Switched my SIM to a Nokia N95 8GB (my previous phone), getting twice the reception...
I'm regretting my purchase more and more.
I love how nearly half the votes are for not having an iphone at all. :D
Which means more people have iPhones than don't. Yeah. You can leave now.
OR DONT WANT AN IPHONE.
I love how half the people here can say they have an iphone as where the other half has other phones, apple is dominating the mobile market.
Actually I wasn't flaming anyone. I just found that interesting and somewhat amusing and pointed it out.
Also, as of this writing that choice now stands at 52%. ;)
Only because they didn't have an option for people who WANT an iPhone but haven't been able to find it in stock yet!
My 3g reception totally sucks compared to the Tilt.
Also, I am getting a lot of dropped calls when it is changing from 3g to Edge on the highway.
If I leave it on Edge, reception is amazing and no dropped calls.
What gives Apple?
In Bakersfield, CA. I'm pulling like 2-3 bars on average with 3G in both East Bakersfield and Southwest. In more heavily commercial/populated areas of the city my 3G reception is much better.
hey im in bako to and my reception is good every where except at my house but it might be the power lines cuz sometimes its spoty
Actually I was pleasantly surprised. Most AT&T phones get around 1-2 bars at my house and they would always drop instantly. Just horrible. The iPhone is getting 3-4 bars where I would get 1-2 and has been solid throughout. Compared to other AT&T phones in my experience this has been much better in terms of signal.
My 3g reception has been great in our area. No issues, fast speeds and no complaints.
Users with issues may be in high volume areas and the towers may be overloaded with everyone surfing porn on their new phones :)
I've got great reception pretty much everywhere. The 3G data network is such a huge step up from EDGE. Plus, on the 3G network I can use Pandora with no problems in the car-- no need to buy satellite radio!
Better get a car charger. Pandora 3G will put the smackdown on your battery
No.... because i wouldn't pay over the odds for an over hyped phone :P
Although my N95 is fine, full bars all the time :)
Where's the option for...
"There's no 3G coverage in my entire state, even neighboring states for that matter, and yet because this is my first iPhone I still have to pay the extra $10 for 3G data service."
Move?
Or wait.
Or... buy a f***king iPod touch for $300 and keep your old phone.
Then why get it? Just buy a damn unlocked iPhone Gen1 from ebay!
Inside my office building here in Sacramento CA., I get one bar if I'm lucky, the moment I step outside I have perfect signal. Oh well, it's not like I need internet on my iPhone when I'm sitting directly in front of a computer for work all day.
Same thing happens in my office here at work, and the IT office at school (where I spend most of my day). Both places I sit directly next to a window, so I would think that helps a bit, but I guess not.
I can usually pull two bars at work, but a lot of times only have one or no service at all. Both my school and work are in 5-bar coverage areas when outside.
I live in the pocket area (Sacramento) with terrible reception. Down town I'm ok but the rest of the city is just plain crummy reception wise.
I don't have the new 3G, but I have this problem with the original iPhone. In my house which has poor AT&T coverage I get 1 or 2 bars, usually one. Occasional 3 bar spikes, but rarely. I drop at least three calls a day, usually half of my conversations. Same thing with my last iPhone (this is the second replacement unit I've gotten). My family's Sony Ericssons however get a consistent 3 bars throughout the house.
here's a suggestion: get a bluetooth headset and leave the phone sitting on your desktop or countertop: don't hold it. i'm able to conduct "normal" phone business at my home in florida that way, when otherwise the phone is virtually unusable.
ATT says it's bad signal, but for eight months they have known about it, promised they're working on it, and accomplished nothing. The rub is it's a mile or two from one of those "more bars in more places" billboards. :(
that's with my original iPhone. I'm hoping (unreasonably?) a 3G iPhone might work properly there. (it's NOT the phone's problem, btw--it works near-perfectly at my home in kentucky)
You always have the option to move to NYC.
Well over here in Montreal, Canada, anywhere i go downtown or even in my house which is in a very suburban area on a small island my 3G coverage is FANTASTIC, and pretty much everywhere in Montreal my coverage is great on rogers, I wasn't expecting such great results with 3G but I got great results, and im very happy on the promotional pricing :) 30$ a month for 6GB of data (basicly unlimited for me)
My reception has been spotty, especially compared to the orginal iPhone. I expected better reception all around, but now my house seems to have dead spots that did not previously exist on my last iPhone. I have even had dropped calls!!!
I too would have to agree on the sluggish quality of the contact and keyboard apps - never been as slow as it has been now. I can only hope that Apple will address these problems in the forthcoming 2.1 firmware app.
I am still happy with the phone otherwise, and wouldn't trade it for anything else.....
Can yuo hear me now?