Fix for spotty iPhone 3G reception on tap?

Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:04AM EDT

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Is your iPhone 3G dropping calls left and right? Join the club. Also: Word is that a faulty chip might be the culprit, and that Apple is prepping a software patch to fix the problem.

Both the Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek are reporting that Apple will release the patch "in the coming weeks," although Apple—per usual—hasn’t made any official comment. An AT&T spokesman declined to tell a Journal reporter whether the new iPhone had more reception issues that other phones in its lineup.

I used my iPhone 3G pretty heavily in the past week during my (already over?!?) vacation in California, and while I suffered a couple of dropped calls, I didn’t notice any serious problems. Actually, let me clarify that: My iPhone 3G call quality and reception has been about as bad as every other cell phone I've ever owned or tested.

That said, other iPhone users have been lighting up Apple's support forums with angry posts, and an informal survey at CNET News.com found that 87 percent of respondents complained of sub-par cell service. And naturally, AT&T and Apple support reps are pointing their fingers at each other.

So, what's the trouble? According to BusinessWeek, the problem lies primarily with the iPhone 3G's custom-made Infineon chip, which is apparently having trouble switching between AT&T's speedy 3G and slower EDGE networks.

Symptoms include failure to get full 3G reception in areas where AT&T's HSDPA network should be readily available, as well as dropped calls when the iPhone 3G attempts to switch between 3G and EDGE, the BusinessWeek story says.

While the iPhone 3G's Infineon chip is, obviously, a hardware feature of the iPhone 3G, insiders are telling the WSJ and BusinessWeek that Apple believes a software patch will do the trick.

But wait—how could a software patch fix a hardware probem? Well, one BusinessWeek tipster claims that the Infineon chip has been programmed to "demand a more powerful 3G signal than the iPhone really requires." That means the chip could theoretically be reprogrammed to stick with a less-powerful, but still adequate 3G signal, thus keeping the 3G-EDGE switching to a minimum. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

So, anyone out there plagued with iPhone 3G reception problems? Sound off below.

Related:
What's Behind the iPhone 3G Glitches [BusinessWeek]
Apple Moves to Fix Problem of Dropped Calls on iPhone [WSJ]

 

Comments on Fix for spotty iPhone 3G reception on tap?

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  • 6 Posted by juicylarue on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Had all of these problems, but here is a little secret turn off the 3G if you are not using it, you won't drop calls.... and if there is WIFI in the area you are tring to use the internet, keep the 3G off also, the WIFI works just as well. JP

  • 7 Posted by armysgtbill on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    not worth the money i paid for it i get dropped all the time in missouri

  • 8 Posted by cason5@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    You think dropped calls are bad- try nor being able to use your hands free in your car like you could before 2.0 or 2.01

  • 9 Posted by aznraiden on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Apple and AT&T should refund us atleast 1 months worth of service. I enjoy Apple products but there is always controversy with their items. From nonremovable batteries that die after a couple hundred charges which in reality is only about 2 years. When I buy electronics, it hsould last me a good 4 years...I shouldn't be forced to buy their new crap just because their old stuff doesn't last and then have to deal with glitchy network issues.

  • 10 Posted by whytheylie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    In my opinion, ATT will need to add 3G towers to compete with a strong carrier like T-Mobile. If the 3G drops then this must be an issue with the ATT chip or ATT signal strength and not likely at all with the phone. Try installing the chip in another (non iphone) phone and use in the same location and see if you get dropped calls. I suspect you might. I doubt very much that this is an issue with the phone. If you have the luxury try using the iphone in a location that is known for strong 3G signal strenth and you will quickly find your answers. In my opinion once you can get iphone with a non ATT carrier you may see an improvement.

  • 11 Posted by john_and_maria_monaghan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am having the exact problem that this article mentions. I had a Razr, and had no problems with phone calls at my house. The other day, I had 16 drops in one phone call, where I had to redial my friend. It's happening constantly. As a cell phone, this thing really needs help. I hope this patch does the trick.

  • 12 Posted by needftease on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've been getting : Dropped calls, calls to my phone that go straight to voice mail, text and voicemail that arrive hours or days after they're sent to me, a sudden and complete lack of reception in my area and customer service who have no idea what they're doing. Also, I was double billed for this month! Don't buy an iPhone, don't switch to AT&T!

  • 13 Posted by bryan.holliday on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    Mine isn't nearly as fast as the commercial in web browsing and I have had a few dropped calls, more than the average from my 1st Gen iPhone. 3G coverage seems to be pretty spotty here in Austin, TX so to me all I got was GPS with the new phone and a black casing which scratches way more easily than the previous model. All in all though I prefer this over any of the other phones out there due to it's ease of use and the slick design...literally slick, it goes in and out of my pockets without grabbing. I love that!

  • 14 Posted by asinghalmd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    I live in San Jose, practically the home of Apple. Yet I get several "failed" calls per day (worse when in a moving car) as well as NO 3G reception when in my home (in a residential typical San Jose neighborhood). Many the iPhone's applications and functions are cute, fun, etc. But the poor 3G, failed / dropped calls, and really poor battery life are troubling. Anil S

  • 15 Posted by hitman45400 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    so, i've had mine for two weeks with no problems, it's just kind of laggy sometimes.

  • 16 Posted by wiremadness on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    I moved from a HTC 8525 to the Iphone 3G. The 8525 was much easier to customize and sync. The browser sucked. The GUI was adequate. Reception was fairly poor as compared to my previous Moto Q9h. iPhone? Incredible browser, second-to-none GUI, poor excuse for a camera (no zoom OR video??), reception on-par with the 8525. Overall, it is a give and take. What the iPhone goes well, it does better than any other phone. What it lacks, it is seriously lacking in. By that I mean basic features that any "free with activation" phone has.

  • 17 Posted by namrehs300 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    It may not be Apple as much as it is AT&T. I have had two 3G phones (Blackjack & Tilt) from ATT and they both drop calls like crazy. ATT's 3G network is a mess.

  • 18 Posted by wv2999 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    My iPhone 3G started dropping calls just last week. Pattern -- get a connection for 5 seconds with other party on the line, then, fast beep and message "call failed". Also, after failure the phone was on Edge. Each time (10 or so calls) no movement occurred. My fix was to turn off access to 3g in Network Settings until I hear that a final fix is available. Contact with support took too long!!

  • 19 Posted by evmsu1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is the worse phone I have ever owned. I hope they come out with a fix for the dropped calls fast. That will be one less compliant I will have about the phone. If you are thinking about buying one; DON'T. You will be much happier with a BB.

  • 20 Posted by gertneyo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    gertneyo@yahoo.com yesterday, aug. 20, 2008, for no apparent reason my new 3g iphone went on the blinks and i could not do anything with it for 2 minutes. the apple logo appeared and i tried to move it around to get reception to no avail. i live in hawaii.

  • 21 Posted by chewitt@prodigy.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Have 2 iphones. Very pleased with the service and connections. Suffer no more drop calls then I did with my old razr (which was a very fragile set). I have not ventured to far afield with it. 3G coverage in the Jackson MS MSA is not bad. Probably coverage in the larger cities is a problem.

  • 22 Posted by derekjeterkid2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am truly disapointed with the quality of service this phone has provided, updated to 2.0.2 when it came out, while on 3g connection, internet bar in address bar would just freeze and stop, when i turned 3g off and edge was on it worked fine just not fast, sometimes I will call some one 3g network and they cannot hear me but I can hear them, so they hang up thinking i hung up. Ive restored the phone about 5 times now.

  • 23 Posted by iav_786 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    we have had trouble with the new iphone since the day we bought it July 11, from setting it up on line to even start using it. I have lots of problems with dropped calls especially in bigger cities and sometimes my screen just goes blank, we recently updated to fix glitches, hopefully, time will tell. Hope we can get some kind of .

  • 24 Posted by ironbutttad on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Can you say, "not ready for the market?" Also, it's much touted Corporate integration with Exchange systems is nice, but pretty feature-less. Also, if your administrator has to do a remote-wipe on your iPhone, it will render it unusable for a couple of hours and will re-set it to factory, out-of-the box status, which means any music, any applications and/or anything else you've added are toast. Can you say, "definitely not ready for the corporate world?'

  • 25 Posted by jmisback_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Mixed emotions....finally made the switch to iphone, at times its the "best" hand-held internet device i've ever used....unfortunately, best of luck if you have to make a phone call. AT&T service is horrible!!!

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