http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/ Engadget Comments for Poll: Is firmware 2.1 actually boosting your signal? http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
The values (dB) stays the same, but the signal shows different. That doesn't seem very good. Doesn't seem like anything changed except Apple tweaking what they consider "Okay" reception
]]>Sep 12th 2008 2:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
The real quantitative way to tell whether signal _actually_ has improved is to go into field trial mode, which is worlds more useful than "I have mo@r bars in X or Y location than I did before!?!!"

*3001#12345#* and then touch the Call button to put your iPhone into "field test mode" http://www.wirelessinfo.com/content/Inside-the-iPhone-field-test-mode.htm

RX Lev Full is really what you want to look at, as it reports the signal strength in dB during calls. Just call something stupid like goog-411 before and after the firmware update, in the same place, and see if this actually improves. If it doesn't do anything but the phone is reporting better signal in the barchart, it's just an entirely feel-good fix.]]>Sep 12th 2008 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
Exactly. I've been saying that for a long time, but no one would dare argue with "the bars".]]>Sep 12th 2008 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
Let's see if we can't get some people to actually post their Before and After signal strengths. This really is the _only_ way to know, given that they've changed the barchart reporting. I guess a plus is that they've actually told us, otherwise there would be allegations of underhanded attempts to make signal feel better.]]>Sep 12th 2008 2:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/09/12/iphone.update.ap/index.html]]>Sep 12th 2008 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 5:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 8:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
I put the phone into field test mode before and after the update, and it appears the signal strength got weaker!
I only took samples in one place, but before the update, I was getting between -79 (but only for a moment) and -113, but for the most part, it was staying in the -87 to -83 range. After the update, I have been getting a range that is a little more consistant: -99 to -85, but it has stayed mostly on -93 to -91. Also, there was a short time when it read "No Service" while I was testing it, but then it came back to full bars.

Most of the results were achieved with the phone sitting in the exact same place on my desk, not touching it.

In conclusion, it would seem that the update didn't really improve signal (remember, the more negative a number, the weaker the signal, so -80 is better than -90). However, the signal does seem to be slightly more consistent than before.

Update: Just turned off my wifi so I can see what network I'm on. 3g strength is at -103 and stable.(shows up as 1 bar, same as I've always gotten here) Edge strength is at -89 to -85 stable (shows up as 4 to 5 bars), so it would appear that at least some of the fluctuations I was experiencing for no apparent reason were caused by the phone switching back and forth between 3G and Edge.

The end result is that my test was inconclusive due to my failure to eliminate some of the variables.

Other changes in this firmware: Different 3G and Edge icons, improved contacts scrolling, etc...]]>Sep 13th 2008 2:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/So seems to work fine for me!

Thanks Stevey boy!]]>Sep 15th 2008 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 8:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
Effin troll.]]>Sep 12th 2008 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
I see my phone bouncing from 3 "3G" bars to 4 "edge" bars...

Total improvement over bouncing from 1 "3g" bar to 4 "edge" bars...]]>Sep 12th 2008 5:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
I've always been okay with the signal on my 1G, it's been as good as any other phone, but it is really choppy near my desk at work, all cell phones are. Today I had a conversation on my 2.1 software iPhone at my desk without even thinking about it -- so I'm guessing they improved reception on the 1G iPhone, even though I thought only the 3G as considered to have 'problems'.

Mostly I'm just happy to have my snappy UI back the way it should be.

In related news, I got my postcard for a class action suit against Verizon for $175 early termination fees -- yay! When I canceled I had over a year in, and Verizon had put out press releases saying that it should be pro-rated, but they charged me the whole thing anyway... Hopefully I get a few cents from the lawsuit.]]>Sep 12th 2008 10:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
I would think this article would be better suited for Monday seeing the firmware update came out mere hours ago.

People need time to DL the firmware and test the network. Five minutes of testing doesn't seem long enough IMO.]]>Sep 12th 2008 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 3:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 7:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 3:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 5:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
1. "Will Engadget ever learn to make a scientific and useful poll?"

Where's the option for "Well, I see more bars more often, but I can't tell if my signal is actually improved"?

2. "Will Engadget ever give us a way to view poll results without voting?"

Many times I want to see the results of a poll without voting, because either I don't have the product being polled or none of the answers apply for me (see #1). In order to see the poll results I have to skew the results by picking a B.S. response.]]>Sep 12th 2008 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 2:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
But that's one 'moron' we can all live with! :-D]]>Sep 12th 2008 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Why don't you just quit wining about it and realize it's for fun not for friggin science.]]>Sep 12th 2008 2:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
WHY OH WHY i there no copy and paste :(]]>Sep 12th 2008 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/Sep 12th 2008 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/poll-is-firmware-2-1-actually-boosting-your-signal/
I will give it a try when I get home.]]>Sep 12th 2008 1:49PM