iPhone 4 antenna woes contextualized by dude in the know
By Vlad Savov 
posted June 25th 2010 3:47AM
posted June 25th 2010 3:47AM
Spencer Webb runs AntennaSys, a company that designs tailormade RF solutions, and has himself worked on making quad-band transceivers for AT&T. As he tells it, almost all phone makers have now transitioned to locating their antennae at the bottom of the phones. This has been in order to move radio wave emissions away from the head (a shortcoming that a top-mounted aerial would incur), which the FCC has been quite demanding about with its SAR standards --
Another great point made here is that testing done both by the Federales and mobile carriers might include the head, but never accounts for the presence of the person's hand. Thus, although a phone's antenna could test very well, it might suffer from such issues as those experienced with the iPhone 4. Mind you, this still seems like an assembly (rather than design) problem to us, since most of our editors haven't had any reception worries and we in fact saw improved performance on that front while conducting our review testing. Spencer himself has decided to buy the phone knowing full well about this potential limitation, and concludes on the note that "sometimes an antenna that's not great, but good enough, is good enough."The iPhone 4, however, moved the antenna action from the back of the phone to the sides. This probably improves the isotropy of the radiation pattern, but only when the phone is suspended magically in air.
I knew the antenna being on a persons hand would have issues, i just cant help but think, why the hell didn't Apple test this issue beforehand!!!
So what I walk away from this is that Apple has ignored the FCC's request to locate antennas at the bottom of the phone to reduce radiation affect on the head and thusly everyone using an iPhone is going to get brain cancer shortly. I still think it's worth it. In fact, I may give a few iPhones to people I know, now.
fist it was mms, everone had those now antennas? throw in some xanax in the contratct and ill take it even prozac....just kidding but seriously i know you wanna be the leader and change everything but it shouldnt be something that is your fault APPLE! and then say het its not us its AT&T, no wonder, we all thouth the cotract was over between you too but you know a good scape gaot when you see one, as a matter of fact who or what is at&t again?
Still, If i hold my 3GS that way, my signal is fine. Apple needs to admit that they made a mistake, and release a fix for it for free.
How about a tiny piece of rubber to cover the gap?
have all you haters considered NO ONE uses an iphone without some sort of sleeve, thus negating all your useless - can't do it better - whining about hand contact on the antenna?
No.
kthxbye
@Nicnac Like buying a new car for full price but with only 3 wheels... Won't work correctly. But they offer to sell you a fourth wheel for extra... And you say "okay"?
Huh ...... only if i knew how to use "wingardium leviosa" ......
Hermione please teach me ........
@Sam7
Personally, I'd agreee because thats how some people end up breaking the screen on the phone. With screen shortages, they cant afford to replace the old ones when they are trying to sell new phones. =\ Business.... That is why I buy a holster for my phones now, now more cracked screens for me :)
Notice that the only people that say this is being blown out of proportion are the iPhone 4 owners that don't happen to have the problem? What about the ones that ARE having a problem? Do you think they think it's being blown out of proportion?
My advice to the people with no reception issue is this... Watch very closely how Apple handles this issue with it's customers who are affected by this. Soon there may be a another release in which YOU may be affected. The way they are treated by Apple today will be how YOU are treated by them in the future...
I mean no disrespect...
Apple should include the Bumper with all iPhone 4 purchases.
But it's TWENTY NINE DOLLARS. What a fucking joke.