Version: 2008

Comments on: iPhone 3G network issues frustrating early adopters

iPhone 3G users around the world are reporting problems with signal strength and quality of service on their new handsets, but no specific issues have been identified.

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by harrys78 July 23, 2008 12:45 PM PDT
I have a Samsung Sync 3G which has no problems, so it is definitely the IPHONE which has problems.
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by PunkCityKid2 July 23, 2008 12:48 PM PDT
haha to all of the early adopters you have been pwned FTL
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by DrtyDogg July 23, 2008 1:14 PM PDT
again
by PunkCityKid2 July 23, 2008 12:48 PM PDT
haha to all of the early adopters you have been pwned FTL
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by applusr July 23, 2008 12:55 PM PDT
My Goodyear tires are losing tread faster than my wives tires...I suing
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by keithianw July 23, 2008 1:03 PM PDT
Those who don't think there is a problem are in denial. I live in Pasadena California and I went to the local ATT store. I asked the representative to compare my 3G signal on my iPhone with other 3G capable phones. One phone was showing full strength while my iPhone was showing 1 -2 bars. That in itself is proof. I compared my iPhone to the signal of 3 other iPhone users and we all had the exact same low signal.
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by ducttape36 July 23, 2008 1:03 PM PDT
wow, good thing everyone was willing to pay more money for such improved service.
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by javaper July 23, 2008 1:12 PM PDT
I have had AT&T for the last 4 years, and really haven't had any problems, I was even able to use my same phone in India with no problems last year. The only thing that keeps me from getting an iPhone is the incredibly high monthly price. A family plan is just exorbitantly priced and it is amazing that anybody can afford it.
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by mgof18 July 23, 2008 1:35 PM PDT
What? The Iphone 3G overdelivered and underperformed! Fanboys will ignore. They will only accept that Apple makes the best of the best. (Yeh Apple TV, the Roku is laughing at you!). "Last statement in the video states, WOW, HOW DISAPPOINTING". Your phone is only as good as the network and if the Iphone is hogging bandwidth from the 3G network, their is no real back haul to increase it. 4G is the only answer!
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by tazmain July 23, 2008 1:37 PM PDT
My 3G drops about 6 calls a day in Dallas - my old iPhone NEVER dropped a call. Turning off the 3G definitely does improve the call drop ratio, but why would I pay extra for something I've got to turn off just to use the phone?
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by tazmain July 23, 2008 1:38 PM PDT
My 3G drops about 6 calls a day in Dallas - my old iPhone NEVER dropped a call. Turning off the 3G definitely does improve the call drop ratio, but why would I pay extra for something I've got to turn off just to use the phone?
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by aka_tripleB July 23, 2008 1:42 PM PDT
One way to find out if it's the iPhone or the network would be to have another 3G phone next to it, and compare the signal strength. Then we can know if Apple failed at building a 3G phone.
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by Jewjenk July 23, 2008 2:09 PM PDT
It is not an APPLE problem but a general problem with ATT that they won't admit to. I have been going with them back and forth for over two years on dropped calls with the 3G service. I once had access to reps from the three main companies, ATT, Verizon and Sprint, The ATT rep gave excuses as to why I could not receive a signal in the same area that I could get signals from the other two
by fdunn3 July 23, 2008 3:29 PM PDT
Did you miss this part of the article?
"However, the problem doesn't seem to be contained within the U.S. iPhone 3G users in the U.K., Germany, and Australia are also reporting problems with 3G connectivity in their countries, and no one seems to know what is causing the issues in those areas."

So is it really AT&T or a design issue? With evidence presented here I'd have to say it is the latter of the two
by aka_tripleB July 23, 2008 1:42 PM PDT
One way to find out if it's the iPhone or the network would be to have another 3G phone next to it, and compare the signal strength. Then we can know if Apple failed at building a 3G phone.
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by stanford93 July 23, 2008 1:43 PM PDT
I've had no issues at all with my 3iPhone reception... no dropped calls, data throughput very good, MS Exchange synch has been flawless. only minor quibble would be that battery life could be a touch better, other than that, quite happy. minneapolis area.
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by jsarahb July 23, 2008 1:45 PM PDT
I live in San Diego and am experiencing the exact problems mentioned in the article. I purchased the new iphone on Saturday of the first weekend. After a call to AT&T customer support recommended that I should return the phone within the 30 day window and switch back to Verizon, I went in to the AT&T store. The representative there told me to turn off 3G and use the EDGE network which is stronger, even though the AT&T web site says where I live has excellent coverage. I still love my iPhone though.
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by Jewjenk July 23, 2008 2:04 PM PDT
Have had problems with AT&T ever since I got their service with the 3G, non 3G was okay, but with 3G, I get a lot of dropped calles. Calls to service only gets worse, the last time I called I was told that my RAZER V3XX was too old and that it should be replaced, (my contract was up) and this was not just with my phone but with my wife's phone as well. They won't admit that there is a problem with their service. I have gotten dropped calls and on recalling the number have gotten either constant ring, no answer, rings straight to voicemail, and even a message that the number I am calling " is not in service". Some times I have gotten dropped 3 to 4 times in a span of 20 minutes and this is while being stationary with full bars. The FCC needs to look in on ATT about their claim about the least dropped cals.
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by fdunn3 July 23, 2008 3:29 PM PDT
Did you miss this part of the article?
"However, the problem doesn't seem to be contained within the U.S. iPhone 3G users in the U.K., Germany, and Australia are also reporting problems with 3G connectivity in their countries, and no one seems to know what is causing the issues in those areas."

So is it really AT&T or a design issue? With evidence presented here I'd have to say it is the latter of the two
by wratbatblue July 24, 2008 6:23 AM PDT
I went home yesterday and looked at my "old" V3xx, which my son now uses. It had a full strength 3G signal. My new iPhone, held 2 inches from it, got 2 bars. No, wait, 3. No...2. Damn. Also, I've seen the iPhone display 4 bars, until asked to do something like work on the Internet, at which point the signal begins fluctuating wildly and even disappearing altogether. I'm happy that some of you out there have iPhone 3Gs that are working fine. It appears there are many of us who do not.
by daletrimm July 23, 2008 2:07 PM PDT
I'm downtown San Francisco... my prior iPhone had 3-4 bars at my desk.. (market & Main). The 3G iPhone... like many many others has 1 maybe 2 bars.. or No Service. Even in the Apple Store on Stockton. No 3G service.. only 5 bars of EDGE. I did load the latest version of 2.0 iPhone and it may have made a slight difference... but not much. OK This is very weird... as I was typing this I look at my 3G iPhone to get the version I'm using .. and for the first time since July 11th.. I have 5 bars on the 3G Network! Did something just change or is the wind blowing in the right direction? Anyway.. my current build of 2.0 iPhone software is: (5A347).
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by Dudeman_III July 23, 2008 2:10 PM PDT
I have this issue. I work in south Austin right off I-35 and 3 other people in my office have AT&T 3G service on various phones and have full signal throughout the building and absolutly no problems with signal or service. I barely have 1 bar on my iPhone 3G when I'm in the same location. Sometimes signal strength will go up to 4 or 5 bars then drop to no service while I'm standing still. If people try to call me, they get sent straight to voicemail 90% of the time. I replaced the sim card and eventually got a new iPhone 3G but neither has resolved it issue. Neither AT&T nor Apple have no clue what to tell me - I've called them both multiple times.
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by muskratboy July 23, 2008 2:40 PM PDT
1) I'm also in Dallas, and have not had a dropped call yet.

2) Signal Bars do not equal Signal Strength (yeah, that is silly)... but so many people are complaining about 1 bar, while not actually having signal issues. Would it help to have an app that always showed 4 bars, so they'd realize that things are actually fine?

3) I've read many, many posts of people with problems, so obviously there is something up. However, it is also easy to find as many posts from people who have no problems. Good hardware / bad hardware?

4) Battery life - already well established that a few full discharge cycles GREATLY increases battery life. so that's not really a problem with the battery.

5) By all means, keep bashing "fanboys"... because that will definitely fix the problem. then you can move on to liberals and conservatives, as they have just as much impact. bastards!
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by tekwiz4u July 23, 2008 3:12 PM PDT
Well....its obvious that you know everything. Go back playing your "Crash Bandicot Nitro Kart 3D" game and leave the real thinking to us.
by July 23, 2008 2:46 PM PDT
This is one of the many problems I'm also having with the 3g iPhone. Reception is full bars at my house with 3g turned off. When 3g is turned on, I can drop a call sitting at my office desk.

At first I thought it was AT&T's network, but after reports of other 3g phones getting FULL signal next to the 3g iPhone, I know believe there is a problem with the iPhone. I'm just not sure if it can be fixed with software, or is caused by faulty hardware.
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by JamesXFree July 23, 2008 2:51 PM PDT
In the area of Los Angeles I live in, we are supposed to have full 3g coverage. However I too am running into ridiculously frequent occurrences of dropped calls, and losing 3g. Earlier today I was sitting at a patio restaurant, had 5 bars and 3g service working fine. Suddenly dropped to 2 bars and down to Edge. Then dropped to No Service. Took a full iPhone reboot to get 2 bars again and never did regain 3g at that location. I have always loved my Apple computers but this is my first iPhone and my first experience with ATT and I have to admit, it's tarnished my opinion of both.
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by fdunn3 July 23, 2008 3:27 PM PDT
Did you miss this part of the article?
"However, the problem doesn't seem to be contained within the U.S. iPhone 3G users in the U.K., Germany, and Australia are also reporting problems with 3G connectivity in their countries, and no one seems to know what is causing the issues in those areas."

So is it really AT&T or a design issue? With evidence presented here I'd have to say it is the latter of the two
Showing 2 of 7 pages (176 Comments)
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