New to AT&T and iPhone 3GS, now what?

[alm99]

Just purchased an iPhone 3GS, I ported from Verizon. Is there anyway to improve the reception of the iPhone?

I love the phone, works at my home, on my commute, but not at work. I spend 9+ hours a day inside, 45 hours a week, and my phone gets ?No Service.? I can?t text message, call or even use data. I love the phone and want to keep it, I cannot justify spending $100+ a month on it if I can?t take full advantage of it.

Is there anything I can do?

 

[nickbits]

Assuming your phone isn't devective you're SOL.

 

[Ns1]

I have that problem with VZW and hope that the switch to ATT solves my problems. I'm guessing it has to do with the network/your geographic location vs the actual phone

Check your coworkers with ATT phones?

 

[chadisawesome]

you should put one of those stickers on the back that improve reception lol

 

[bigrash]

Originally posted by: Ns1
Check your coworkers with ATT phones?

This is what I would do. My building at work never used to get AT&T and Tmobile signal untill they installed antennas in the building last year.

If no one gets AT&T signal, you're out of luck.

 

[alm99]

Yeah, someone else with AT&T and the iPhone doesn't get reception either. The moment I step outside I have 4 bars and 3G. Suck!

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: alm99
Yeah, someone else with AT&T and the iPhone doesn't get reception either. The moment I step outside I have 4 bars and 3G. Suck!

Well that doesn't help, find somebody with ATT w/o an iphone =P

But yeah, probably just a coverage issue then. Like I said, I have the same problem with VZW. Great coverage EVERYWHERE but inside my cubicle.

 

[Muadib]

I couldn't get a 3G signal at work today either. I got edge, and I also couldn't connect to the wifi that worked just fine with the 3G phone. I got 3-4 bars of 3G with the 3G iPhone.

 

[seemingly random]

If you can get reception just outside of the building, something in the building is shielding the signal. Does any cell phone service work in the building? It might be an apple problem.

 

[alm99]

VZW works great inside.

 

[Parasitic]

Turn off 3G.

There's a good chance that you live in one of those areas where AT&T has 3G only on GSM 1900MHz and their legacy 2G network on GSM 850MHz. GSM 850 has higher penetration through buildings than the 1900MHz band, but if you forced 3G mode it might preferentially pick 1900MHz over 850.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Turn off 3G.

There's a good chance that you live in one of those areas where AT&T has 3G only on GSM 1900MHz and their legacy 2G network on GSM 850MHz. GSM 850 has higher penetration through buildings than the 1900MHz band, but if you forced 3G mode it might preferentially pick 1900MHz over 850.

The iPhone automatically falls back. If he can't get a single thing, then he isn't getting 3G or EDGE/2G.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Turn off 3G.

There's a good chance that you live in one of those areas where AT&T has 3G only on GSM 1900MHz and their legacy 2G network on GSM 850MHz. GSM 850 has higher penetration through buildings than the 1900MHz band, but if you forced 3G mode it might preferentially pick 1900MHz over 850.

The iPhone automatically falls back. If he can't get a single thing, then he isn't getting 3G or EDGE/2G.

I have found areas where there was 3G but it was very bad would display similar behavior. The phone would constantly be searching for 3G, finding a bar here and there. When I turned off 3G it found a great EDGE signal consistently.

Not saying this will or won't help the OP but it can make a difference.

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Turn off 3G.

There's a good chance that you live in one of those areas where AT&T has 3G only on GSM 1900MHz and their legacy 2G network on GSM 850MHz. GSM 850 has higher penetration through buildings than the 1900MHz band, but if you forced 3G mode it might preferentially pick 1900MHz over 850.

The iPhone automatically falls back. If he can't get a single thing, then he isn't getting 3G or EDGE/2G.

I have found areas where there was 3G but it was very bad would display similar behavior. The phone would constantly be searching for 3G, finding a bar here and there. When I turned off 3G it found a great EDGE signal consistently.

Not saying this will or won't help the OP but it can make a difference.

I gave it a shot this morning and there is no change in reception from turning 3G on or off. Still "No Service." Looks like I have to give the iPhone up and go back to VZW. $#%&

 

[Rottie]

you dont have to return your iphone back if it is working fine at home and outside of your building. do you need to make a call inside the building? Why not go outside to make some calls and maybe set up a voicemail to take message when you are inside the building? I know you love your iphone but you cant give it up easily.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: Rottie
you dont have to return your iphone back if it is working fine at home and outside of your building. do you need to make a call inside the building? Why not go outside to make some calls and maybe set up a voicemail to take message when you are inside the building? I know you love your iphone but you cant give it up easily.

I feel that's kinda dumb. If you're paying that much you should get service 90% of the time. If you're in doors for that long of a period of the day, then I would want service as well. My recommendation.. just return the iPhone and buy the iPodTouch. Although, you'll probably want to wait until September to buy that.

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: Rottie
you dont have to return your iphone back if it is working fine at home and outside of your building. do you need to make a call inside the building? Why not go outside to make some calls and maybe set up a voicemail to take message when you are inside the building? I know you love your iphone but you cant give it up easily.

I feel that's kinda dumb. If you're paying that much you should get service 90% of the time. If you're in doors for that long of a period of the day, then I would want service as well. My recommendation.. just return the iPhone and buy the iPodTouch. Although, you'll probably want to wait until September to buy that.

Exactly my point, if I can't use the phone 50% of the time why would I pay $100 a month, over the life of the contract I would be throwing away $1,200 for service I couldn't use. I have generation 1 iPod touch and it has been great. I was looking forward to carrying one device. Ah well, one year agreement to VZW here I come in hopes of an iPhone on VZW next summer.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: alm99
Exactly my point, if I can't use the phone 50% of the time why would I pay $100 a month, over the life of the contract I would be throwing away $1,200 for service I couldn't use. I have generation 1 iPod touch and it has been great. I was looking forward to carrying one device. Ah well, one year agreement to VZW here I come in hopes of an iPhone on VZW next summer.

Yea, I would bet that by this time next year there will be a CDMA iPhone. It's just in Apple's best interest really, and Verizons.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: alm99

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: Rottie
you dont have to return your iphone back if it is working fine at home and outside of your building. do you need to make a call inside the building? Why not go outside to make some calls and maybe set up a voicemail to take message when you are inside the building? I know you love your iphone but you cant give it up easily.

I feel that's kinda dumb. If you're paying that much you should get service 90% of the time. If you're in doors for that long of a period of the day, then I would want service as well. My recommendation.. just return the iPhone and buy the iPodTouch. Although, you'll probably want to wait until September to buy that.

Exactly my point, if I can't use the phone 50% of the time why would I pay $100 a month, over the life of the contract I would be throwing away $1,200 for service I couldn't use. I have generation 1 iPod touch and it has been great. I was looking forward to carrying one device. Ah well, one year agreement to VZW here I come in hopes of an iPhone on VZW next summer.

If you still have it, try resetting the network settings. That worked for me today.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: alm99
Exactly my point, if I can't use the phone 50% of the time why would I pay $100 a month, over the life of the contract I would be throwing away $1,200 for service I couldn't use. I have generation 1 iPod touch and it has been great. I was looking forward to carrying one device. Ah well, one year agreement to VZW here I come in hopes of an iPhone on VZW next summer.

Yea, I would bet that by this time next year there will be a CDMA iPhone. It's just in Apple's best interest really, and Verizons.

Producing a CDMA iPhone is in Apple's best interest in only a small way. Sure, it opens up a new market for them, but only in the US. Spending the R&D dollars to make a special CDMA iPhone is not the brightest move on Apple's part.

It is in Verizon's best interest to try and get it, but they already have turned it down once, and I am not sure if they really would get that many new customers, or even repeat customers if they got the iPhone. It would be interesting to see number for where the US iPhone customers came from, whether they were natural upgraders due to their 2 years being up, or if they were due to attrition.

I have heard the rumor of the 'iPhone Lite' but I have no idea what that means. There isn't a whole lot that they could remove to have an iPhone Lite. They would probably want the same size screen (or at least the same res) since all the apps are written for that screen. I suppose they could decrease the storage capacity but that will just cause people to go to AT&T. They could remove the 802.11g radio, but again, that will just cause people to migrate to AT&T, or at the very least make it so people couldn't get every app unless they downloaded it via iTunes. Verizon's 3G network is incredibly pervasive. It is a very rare occurence that I have 1x service but not EVDO, but it doesn't take the place of the convenience of WiFi.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: alm99
Exactly my point, if I can't use the phone 50% of the time why would I pay $100 a month, over the life of the contract I would be throwing away $1,200 for service I couldn't use. I have generation 1 iPod touch and it has been great. I was looking forward to carrying one device. Ah well, one year agreement to VZW here I come in hopes of an iPhone on VZW next summer.

Yea, I would bet that by this time next year there will be a CDMA iPhone. It's just in Apple's best interest really, and Verizons.

Producing a CDMA iPhone is in Apple's best interest in only a small way. Sure, it opens up a new market for them, but only in the US. Spending the R&D dollars to make a special CDMA iPhone is not the brightest move on Apple's part.

It is in Verizon's best interest to try and get it, but they already have turned it down once, and I am not sure if they really would get that many new customers, or even repeat customers if they got the iPhone. It would be interesting to see number for where the US iPhone customers came from, whether they were natural upgraders due to their 2 years being up, or if they were due to attrition.

I have heard the rumor of the 'iPhone Lite' but I have no idea what that means. There isn't a whole lot that they could remove to have an iPhone Lite. They would probably want the same size screen (or at least the same res) since all the apps are written for that screen. I suppose they could decrease the storage capacity but that will just cause people to go to AT&T. They could remove the 802.11g radio, but again, that will just cause people to migrate to AT&T, or at the very least make it so people couldn't get every app unless they downloaded it via iTunes. Verizon's 3G network is incredibly pervasive. It is a very rare occurence that I have 1x service but not EVDO, but it doesn't take the place of the convenience of WiFi.

R&D to switch the radio from GSM to CDMA?

And what kind of fuckin company are you running if you don't want millions of customers? I don't understand this train of thought. ATT clearly can't handle the customers, let another company step up.