Tests clear iPhone 3G antenna as cause of reception problems

The iPhone 3G's antenna does not appear to be the cause of its reception problems, according to new tests.

(Credit: Josh Lowensohn/CNET)

A new series of tests coming out of Sweden appears to absolve the iPhone 3G's antenna from blame over the phone's reception issues.

A Swedish tech publication known as GP conducted a series of tests this week on the antennas of iPhone 3Gs belonging to users reporting reception issues, as a follow-up to an earlier test on an iPhone 3G that was connecting to 3G networks as designed. In both cases, the iPhone 3G antenna was functioning normally and emitting a strong signal, leading GP to conclude that the iPhone's hardware is not the culprit.

The GP report does not address whether a software issue is to blame for the problems, which appears to be Apple's stance. The company has admitted that the 2.0.2 software release was designed in part to address the reception problems that iPhone 3G users have been reporting since the device went on sale in July. While some have reported that the 2.0.2 update was just the trick for their problems, others are still seeing problems connecting to 3G networks in areas that supposedly offer coverage.

While Apple has been working on its end to fix the 3G reception problems, perhaps it isn't the only company that has some work to do. Citigroup analyst Jim Sura released a research note this week reporting that the U.S. debut of Research in Motion's BlackBerry Bold has been held up by similar reception problems. The common thread? AT&T's 3G network.

[SixFiveO]

AT&T's 3G coverage on my Samsung BlackJack II phone is not too good either, though the signal is supposed to be strong here. It shows 3G, but once I start browsing or downloading it switches to EDGE. I only remember twice that it downloaded an app with 3G all the way.

[Zaunto]

My Blackjack 1 gets 3G where I work and EDGE where I live so 3G coverage isn't that important to me. That being said, I get 3G all over the Atlanta area.

[tech_junky48]

My blackjack 2 is fine.

[waitinawhile]

If it's an ATT 3g network issue, would it be enough for Apple to break ATT's contract? Or do we have to wait three more years for a reliable provider...

[Vegaman_Dan]

It woudn't matter even if it did break the contract. You can *only* use the 3G iPhone on the AT&T network. The radio frequency for 3G that the iPhone uses is hardset on the chip. It only works on the AT&T network. You can't take it to any other 3G provider as they all have different radio frequencies now.

So... like it or not, you're stuck with AT&T forever.

[bubblebathgirl]

I predict this will be resolved within 2 weeks.

You may now mark your calendars.

[Lance Jones]

I can use my 3G phone from home with three bars when 3G is turned off, but get "No Service" when 3G is turned on. To me, this indicates a problem with the phone. The phone should switch to provide reception. In addition my phone tries to switch, gets warm, and the battery drains within a few hours when 3G is turned on at home. The reception is admittedly weak but the phone is still a phone and should switch as advertised. When is a fix coming?

[rasv84]

If the problem does lie within the AT&T 3G network infrastructure, then there is no way the problem will be resolved in weeks, or months for that matter. Consequently, any fix that is released by apple will only improve how the device itself connects to the network, which might already be working perfectly. It will be interesting to see what course of action Apple takes if the problem does lie within the network itself.

[Hardcoregeek]

Now we should all call ATT for credits on out accounts for charging us for 3G network that we cannot use...

[steve_thibault]

How is the issue with the AT&T 3G network when users around the world are reporting the same issue? AT&T is US only.

[m.afshari]

I'm in Netherlands and using iPhone 3Gthrough t-mobile for a week now and all seems to be well and fast with my connection! It was it few areas my connection went to edge which was much more slower than 3G

[compudoc318]

This sounds like a network issue to me. I have a blackberry curve with Tmobile, the thing gets a bar anywhere if im lucky and never more than 2 bars. Ive complained to tmobile and still couldnt get off the contract, even replaced the phone to no avail. I use the phone for my business, so i had to do something, went out and got a curve through verizon, and guess what, full bars everywhere! Even took the 2 curves into a tmobile store and set them side by side on the counter, guess what....one bar for tmobile, full bars for verizon. Their response was priceless, they actually said "its the network"!!!! lol.

[techslut]

That's interesting. I read in a blog somewhere that Apple wanted Verizon to carry the iPhone in the first place. I know that Verizon has excellent service. I coulda had a real iPhone instead of an iDud.

[gireviks]

AT&T 3g network isn't that great because the tower spacing is optimized for edge, which has better range than 3g signal. I find that the iPhones reception is fine, the problem is the phones handoff between signals is bad which is the culprit behind the dropped calls. I leave my phone set to edge only unless I'm sitting down in one location using the web. A software fix should fix the dropped calls but won't make atts network better. That's gonna require more 3g cell sites, no way around it.

[sweet000077]

It's not ATT 3G people, I've had 3 ATT 3G devices and they are fine. samsung blackjack, LGcu500 and att8525. It's iphone software (possible hardware) issue. if it was just ATT, people around the world wold not have the same issue w/iphone... And....ALL 3g att phones would have a problem. Think about it.

[Iria00]

sweet000077: I've been saying this for some time. Additionally, I work with mobile phones. In my work / home areas, the iPhone 3G is the only one giving us problems. And I don't mean bars. I mean dropped calls, etc. etc. Why people keep focusing on the network is beyond me. Common sense should indicate it's not the network.

[ralfthedog]

The problem seems to be getting worse over time. 3G works great if you are near a tower, if you are on the edge of 3G (Bad cow pun) it bites the big pickle with signal strength bouncing all over the place. My guess it is an issue with 3G network load and may have something to do with the iPhone and time slicing when it has a week signal. (Does the tower give equal time to a phone with strong signal as with week? does the tower try to hand the phone off to a tower that does not exist or a tower that can't talk to the phone?)

I think this is a very complex problem with many factors combining. I am sure lots of ATT and Apple engineers are loosing hair trying to understand the problem. Even when the problem is solved it may never be understood. Thinking about investing in the company that makes Rogaine.

[sumalignidad]

Well 3G works fine in Mexico, i have a stronger signal that i use to have with my old Treo 680, my new iphone 3G does fine conecting underground just 1 floor, Nobody use to have signal there, but I do. I guess ATT should have a look to the brand new 3G network.

[Movieman1942]

I like the INSTORE " TEST " that COMPUDOC318 did. Has anybody, Apple or AT&T, thought of such a " scientific test " ???? Guess not. What about the class action law suite ??? Will we recover money spent on a feature that is, for all practical purposes, useless ??? Probably not. What about those that live in areas that do not have 3G and probably won' t for some time ??? I hope they solve these problems. ( I had the original iPhone and sold it to upgrade) I really like my new iPhone 16g 3G . I also have the iTouch. Keep up the good work Cnet.

[Iria00]

I have to tell you, I was in a hospital today for some tests. I had 2 phones + my iPhone with me as I work for a company that writes software. All of them dropped into EDGE, including the iPhone. The iPhone, however, dropped to 1 bar and could not browse or make calls. My Q9h was just fine, as was my E61.

It's not just 3G on the iPhone; it seems to be signal sensitivity period.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Doesn`t suprise me...Moto has a LONG history of making radios for the Govt. , Military , Police , Fire , etc. If my life was on the line...I would pick Motorola ! PS...Apple is a "johnny-come-lately" to this party.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Apple isn`t as shiny as it used to be. The Macs at Frys are collecting dust , while the HP`s sell like hotcakes.

[sportsfan206]

This is rediculous, can we stop this Apple can do no wrong nosense already? AT&T had no know issues with it's 3G network until the iphone 3G came out, my Tilt and my wife's Q9h have been working flawlessly on it for a year. Now I am supposed to believe that there is a problem with AT&T because the freaking iphone won't work on it? Oh yeah, throw in the fact it's not working on European networks as well. Will people just admit that Apple screwed up and move on, geez!

[sportsfan206]

ll

[KensingtonPark]

AT&T's 3G network in the US has uneven coverage because of tower separation that is optimized for a lower frequency network (EDGE).

To maximize the period of time that an iPhone is in 3G coverage, the phone has been programmed to "hold" its 3G signal longer than other 3G phones. In parts of the Bay Area, for example, many non-iPhone 3G users can attest that their devices regularly cycle out of 3G to EDGE in supposedly strong 3G coverage zones. You can safely assume that they are in a handoff zone when this is happening. Because iPhones are programmed to hold on longer, they will wait on the 3G signal longer before switching back to the EDGE network - even when it has effectively disappeared. During this time, they are in a "dead zone," since the phone won't drop to EDGE on its own and the 3G signal that the device is waiting on is too weak to permit either data or voice.

This is a choice: some data users would prefer holding the 3G signal as long as possible (they're accommodated by the iPhone's style of programming), where others would tolerate slow throughput even when the 3G network is available to avoid dropped calls and signals (these people hate the iPhone's programming). It likely would not be resolved by a switch to T-Mobile, since it has a similar but even weaker network. Verizon would present a host of other problems, since Apple has tried to make the iPhone a "universal" product. Now you'll need CDMA receivers in addition to everything else that is already there. I suspect that realistically, you'll need to lose GPS to get CDMA. If you traded HSDPA/GSM for CDMA, you'll have a US/South Korea version of the iPhone that's different from the others.

Why does this affect everyone? Because the programming is the same in all regions. When they say that the "common thread" is AT&T, it is tantamount to saying that AT&T's network, more than the other networks, drove the choice. It's not because AT&T sucks or Apple sucks (I don't particularly love either organization), it's because they've made a joint decision that is having more of an impact and getting more press than they had expected.

[cdtphilpot]

Umm, maybe I got lucky but I have great reception and 1 maybe 2 dropped calls a week. I live in Oklahoma and I never have issues when traveling. Even when I go on business trips I don't have any issues.