Service is still terrible (my 3rd iphone)...

[DropGems]

Just got the 3Gs (had the gen 1 and 3g prior). My place is so spotty with at&t and it seems like it hasn't improved at all since the gen 1. I figured better materials throughout the phones or stronger signals from the gen 1 to 3Gs but no, it's still the same crappy quality. I go from 5 bars to 1 bar instantly around my apartment. I figured with all the software updates that say stuff like "reduce number of dropped calls" etc... plus new materials in the newer versions, this problem would've been eliminated on my 3rd gen iPhone. I guess there's nothing that can be done outside of building a friggin tower down the street. ;(

[iksn]

It's not the Iphone, it's AT&T. That isn't an opinion, it is a fact. If you want to prove it, just get three totally different phones in the same household. None of my phones get decent reception in my house. Go down the street towards the city and they all (including my 3GS) get great reception. I have lived here 5 years and have been hoping for a new tower in my vicinity the whole time.

[jarofclay73]

Isn't AT&T going to sign up people to put mini cell phone towers in their homes? You should definitely sign up for that!

[iksn]

Isn't AT&T going to sign up people to put mini cell phone towers in their homes? You should definitely sign up for that!

Where do I sign up??

[sim]

Isn't AT&T going to sign up people to put mini cell phone towers in their homes? You should definitely sign up for that!

Unfortunately it is SELL you a mini cell phone tower and SELL you the monthly service to support it....from my limited understanding. Pretty sad if you ask me. "Yeah we know our service in your ares blows....how about paying more to get what you're already paying for now?"

Seems like a great deal to me! (Note Sarchasm!)

Steve

[iksn]

I was being scarcastic when I said : where do I sign up?

[jarofclay73]

Unfortunately it is SELL you a mini cell phone tower and SELL you the monthly service to support it....from my limited understanding. Pretty sad if you ask me. "Yeah we know our service in your ares blows....how about paying more to get what you're already paying for now?"

Seems like a great deal to me! (Note Sarchasm!)

Steve

I doesn't make sense to sell it. To me, a person taking a mini cell tower in their home is doing AT&T a favor. The cost to the person responsible for the "tower" is electricity and the basic upkeep of it. AT&T would save money by not having to actually install a real tower. So, you'd think you'd want the most amount of people having this.

If I was AT&T I'd give it away for free but with a contract to upkeep it. Of course, AT&T would have to pony up for any repairs if needed.

[sim]

I doesn't make sense to sell it. To me, a person taking a mini cell tower in their home is doing AT&T a favor. The cost to the person responsible for the "tower" is electricity and the basic upkeep of it. AT&T would save money by not having to actually install a real tower. So, you'd think you'd want the most amount of people having this.

If I was AT&T I'd give it away for free but with a contract to upkeep it. Of course, AT&T would have to pony up for any repairs if needed.

From what I read recently on Macrumors it has a very limited range....like 5000 square feet. You have to register users to allow them to use the signal and supposedly a side effect is that it can block the 3g signal of users who are not registered.

Steve

[Swagger]

Just got the 3Gs (had the gen 1 and 3g prior). My place is so spotty with at&t and it seems like it hasn't improved at all since the gen 1. I figured better materials throughout the phones or stronger signals from the gen 1 to 3Gs but no, it's still the same crappy quality. I go from 5 bars to 1 bar instantly around my apartment. I figured with all the software updates that say stuff like "reduce number of dropped calls" etc... plus new materials in the newer versions, this problem would've been eliminated on my 3rd gen iPhone. I guess there's nothing that can be done outside of building a friggin tower down the street. ;(

I have found the exact opposite to be true. My 3GS has far better reception than my aluminum v1. I never had 5 bars with the 1st version iPhone. The 3GS constantly has five bars. Maybe your phone is defective or the tower by you has some sort of problem. Mark

[iksn]

I think it is possible my 3GS gets better reception than my 3G did, but that doesn't solve my local crappy signal in my house.

[Swagger]

Just got the 3Gs (had the gen 1 and 3g prior). My place is so spotty with at&t and it seems like it hasn't improved at all since the gen 1. I figured better materials throughout the phones or stronger signals from the gen 1 to 3Gs but no, it's still the same crappy quality. I go from 5 bars to 1 bar instantly around my apartment. I figured with all the software updates that say stuff like "reduce number of dropped calls" etc... plus new materials in the newer versions, this problem would've been eliminated on my 3rd gen iPhone. I guess there's nothing that can be done outside of building a friggin tower down the street. ;(

I have found the exact opposite to be true. My 3GS has far better reception than my aluminum v1. I never had 5 bars with the 1st version iPhone. The 3GS constantly has five bars. Maybe your phone is defective or the tower by you has some sort of problem. Mark

[DropGems]

All the phones are probably the same. I just figured they maybe switched to better materials down the line for possibly increased reception and signal strength. But all the boosting signal range claims by at&t and software updates claiming "reduces number of dropped calls", well nothing has improved in that regard since I-Day for me. I can live with it, but it's still a total nuisance. I probably lose 1 in 5 calls.

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

I have found the exact opposite to be true. My 3GS has far better reception than my aluminum v1. I never had 5 bars with the 1st version iPhone. The 3GS constantly has five bars. Maybe your phone is defective or the tower by you has some sort of problem. Mark

You must have really liked your post, Mark - you posted it twice! :dft010:smiling

[dturner]

I have had all 3 phones and always had excellent signal until about the last 6 weeks. During that time the OP just about mirrored my problem with the exception of dropped calls and this would happen everywhere, not just at the house. I would go from full bars 3G to edge in a blink. I could also have full bars 3G and have no connection at all. Couldn't load anything. Well, today it has been working very well and fast. Never though it was a problem with the phone, but that ATT was/is doing upgrades. Hopefully today confirmed that thought.

[Tinman]

You must have really liked your post, Mark - you posted it twice! :dft010:smiling

Well, to be fair he needed one from the iPhone, one from the Pre...

Be thankful he's down to only two smart phones right now. :dft003:coolkid



--
Mike

[KabaModern]

Bless all of AT&T the day Verizon gets off their outdated CDMA network and goes to GSM...

[DropGems]

Just updating. I'm still dropping calls at least once a day from my pad. Sucks.

[Watcher]

Bless all of AT&T the day Verizon gets off their outdated CDMA network and goes to GSM...

I was just discussing this today with several coworkers, most who used to have or currently have Verizon. All of us agreed we'd keep AT&T (a few of them have an iPhone now). I've never had a problem with the reception on my iPhone unlike others. What people have to understand is that spotty reception is not a widespread problem. It depends on where you are and what part of the country you're in. Verizon is best in the West but I heard it's not so stellar in the East. And I can't believe people speak about the high prices AT&T charges for the monthly plans on the iPhone. Verizon is no better. I hated paying the same I'm paying per month with my iPhone with absolutely no internet coverage or roll over minutes for over 8 years on Verizon. You guys can go, I'll stay. :dft003:coolkid