[ikenco]

I belive signal strength is a combination of both the actual handset you are using and the network you are using.

I bought my iPhone 3G on Sunday and have been using it since. Here's the problem:

1) In my bedroom Ive always had full reception for various networks - O2 and Orange etc (using other handsets). Now using the iPhone, I only get one bar.

2) At work, I also get one bar signal strength. Earlier I checked my work colleagues phone who's also on O2, but using a old nokia - she gets 4 - 5 bars. She sits right next to me.


The question is, is this normal of a iPhone? e.g has other iPhone users found the handset itself has reduced the signal strength?

If not then I may just have to take it back to the apple store and see what they say.

On all other aspects the phone is great, but its just this one single thing, which is obviously a very important thing!

[SPARKIE1984]

but is your handset showing the 3g signal strength? her old nokia probably would be showing the 2g strength

[browserxyz456]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPARKIE1984

but is your handset showing the 3g signal strength? her old nokia probably would be showing the 2g strength

That's a good observation.
She is probably hooked up to a different mast (one using inferior technology!)

[russellelly]

And of course the number of bars isn't a fixed scale - 1 bar on an iPhone may be an equivalent of 3 on a Nokia, I've no idea.

My number of bars seems quite low compared to the same area on 3. However since I haven't used another phone on O2 here I can't comment on the difference of the handset.

[ikenco]

Hi, not sure I really follow what you mean by 2G vs 3G signal strength.

Basically her phone's not even a internet phone. Also on the iPhone the "bars" show the network signal (phone calls) and the internet strength is shown by the icon (E/3G or wifi) right? so how does the bars relate to the 2G or 3G? or am i missing something?

Besides, Ive had O2 before, and the signal strength was never 1 bar. Im starting to think it may be faulty?

[ikenco]

Ok, just googled my problem.....found this:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2325523,00.asp

It sounds just like my problem. apple store it is tomorrow.

[SPARKIE1984]

no, i thought that the icon was whether there was 3g around, then the bars are its strength!

not bars for signal 3g icon for 3g otherwise you'd never know how strong it was,

if you turn 3g off whats the bars like?

[Sananda Maitreya]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikenco

Hi, not sure I really follow what you mean by 2G vs 3G signal strength.

they mean you and your colleague may be hooking up to different things; you to a 3G transmitter and she to a 2G transmitter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikenco

on the iPhone the "bars" show the network signal (phone calls) and the internet strength is shown by the icon (E/3G or wifi) right?

the bars show the strength of the signal for both calls and data.

the icons tell you whether the phone is picking up GPRS, EDGE, 3G or wifi.

[SPARKIE1984]

thought so^^^^^


noone listens to me lol

[ikenco]

After doing some reading I'm begining to understand it more, so yes I see what you ment now.

As to the problem, for anyone that is interested, I've found more stuff relating to it.

Cheers

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....02608&tstart=0