[Meogeo]

I know my iPhone is a superb piece of kit but when it comes to a signal it is pathetic, I have a 3GS and my lad has a 4S and he is having a problem with signal, we have telephone masts dotted about around where we both work and live, but we are lucky to get 1 bar on the phone and when you go to make a call the signal just drops off, I bought a cheap Galaxy y to see if that was the same and no it was receiving a full signal where the iPhone was struggling, so when my contract ends I shall go over to a Galaxy.

My rant over.

[Sniffle774]

Someone told me once that there is no 'standard' for signal strength bars and one phone could five bars ad one could should less but still be on the same strength signal. No idea if they were rightl, or not. Personally my phone (Titan on VF) is seldom on full strength. Kinda given up even worrying about it. It either words....or it doesn't

[-GONZO-]

As long as it doesn't prevent you from making/recieving calls and using Internet data then I wouldn't worry about it.
If its at the stage that the iPhone prevents you from doing things due to it saying there's no network coverage then yes that is a problem that shouldn't be accepted.
My signal bars on my 3GS are in some locations lower than what my wife's iPhone4 shows sometimes.

[IvanIV]

Displaying and measuring of the signal strength are two different things. I think iPhones may be more pessimistic in displaying the signal strength after that antenna episode. It only becomes an issue if calls are being dropped because of it or data transfers are interrupted.

Another thing, I live in an area where 3G is very weak, I am on E most of the time, but whenever I woke the phone it was on 3G 1 or 2 bars and switching to E immediately. We do have masts in the neighbourhood, just not the fast ones. And I found out one more thing. I had my phone set to use 3G if available. I changed that to use E only. It almost doubled my battery life, it was 1.5 - 2 days before, now it's 3 - 3.5 days. Looks like a lot of energy was spent on switching between slower and faster data networks.

[alanwarwic]

Have they not brought back the 2G setting for the 4s?

I'm sure I read that it was too aggressive trying to use 3G so if you now have the 2G option try turning off 3G. However reputation has it that the 3GS was always poor.

[Meogeo]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

Displaying and measuring of the signal strength are two different things. I think iPhones may be more pessimistic in displaying the signal strength after that antenna episode. It only becomes an issue if calls are being dropped because of it or data transfers are interrupted.

Another thing, I live in an area where 3G is very weak, I am on E most of the time, but whenever I woke the phone it was on 3G 1 or 2 bars and switching to E immediately. We do have masts in the neighbourhood, just not the fast ones. And I found out one more thing. I had my phone set to use 3G if available. I changed that to use E only. It almost doubled my battery life, it was 1.5 - 2 days before, now it's 3 - 3.5 days. Looks like a lot of energy was spent on switching between slower and faster data networks.

Thanks for that I will try turning off the 3G, never thought of doing anything like that before.

[Meogeo]

Just turned 3G off and the signal has just jumped from 1 bar to 3 bars, lets hope this has solved my problem.

[David (2)]

Although i have a HTC, not apple, can others comfirm that a weak signal results in slow [very slow] internet use as a rule on all smart phones. Quite common to only have 1 bar 3G indoors downstairs, zero bars in the kitchen/garden, and 3 upstairs.

[douknowotimean?]

I had one bar when I was in Argos earlier. It was a pain in the neck. It was so slow. I only wanted to know how much an 0871 number would cost.

With my iPhone 4S, I've come to the conclusion that it must pick up signals from all sorts of places.

I've noticed when I check my local weather some mornings that it brings up the local weather for a location that is a couple of miles from where I live.

It doesn't bother me or anything as I'm still able to make calls, send texts etc and I'm still connected to a 3G Network as I'm with three, but I have noticed that my three MBB dongle picks up a better signal than my iphone.

[teh]

Originally Posted by douknowotimean?

I had one bar when I was in Argos earlier. It was a pain in the neck. It was so slow. I only wanted to know how much an 0871 number would cost.

With my iPhone 4S, I've come to the conclusion that it must pick up signals from all sorts of places.

I've noticed when I check my local weather some mornings that it brings up the local weather for a location that is a couple of miles from where I live.

It doesn't bother me or anything as I'm still able to make calls, send texts etc and I'm still connected to a 3G Network as I'm with three, but I have noticed that my three MBB dongle picks up a better signal than my iphone.

I'd take the 3 mbb stick signal level with a pinch of salt. I'm in a outside only coverage area, and my bars can range from 2 to 5 in the same position. Its more inaccurate than a phone tbh.