November 30, 2007 12:00 AM PST

Poor signal strength: Docking can boost, more

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Struggling with poor iPhone cellular signal strength? The less-than-practical answer may be to simply dock the device. Several users have found that connecting their iPhones to a Dock or via a USB cable to a host system can dramatically boost signal strength.

Meanwhile, a thread on Apple's Discussion boards rife with lamentation of poor signal strength on the O2 network in the UK has several users noting that the device appears to frequently hop between available cell towers, causing rapid fluctuation in signal.

Feedback on poor signal strength? Please let us know.

Topics:: Troubleshooting

Tags:: iphone,; Troubleshooting

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by dhirajpiste1 November 30, 2007 7:00 PM PST: Yea well, this is because it appears from tear-apart images, in Apple's "brilliance", they put the antenna transmitters at the BOTTOM of the iPhone... really dumb.

Just try turning your iPhone sideways or upside-down -- you will often notice increased signal...; Like this Reply to this comment


by dhirajpiste1 November 30, 2007 7:03 PM PST: See pictures here:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/29/iphone_teardown_reveals_better_than_ipod_construction_photos.html

And you wondered what that black plastic section was for... hahhaa :-(; Like this Reply to this comment


by dhirajpiste1 November 30, 2007 7:43 PM PST: To make it completely clear, see:
http://antennaguy.com/Images-iPhone/iPhoneAntenna3.jpg; Like this Reply to this comment


by bassato December 1, 2007 12:57 PM PST: just make the best out of it... ;)

boost of signal strength isn't restricted to the docking station or connection to the mac- put the dock cable in and enjoy a signal booster for inside car or areas with limited reception...; Like this Reply to this comment


by 3Giggity December 3, 2007 1:26 PM PST: Actually, placing the antenna at the bottom of the phone shouldn't make any difference in reception. The Moto RAZRs all have theirs on the bottom and those phones get some of the best reception around.; Like this Reply to this comment


by gkiernan December 4, 2007 4:46 AM PST: I've been struggling with this issue too. Have replaced the phone entirely and also gotten a new updated sim card, but nothing helps. This is purely an Iphone issue as I'm having signal issues in places I had no problems at before (been an ATT/Cingular customer for 2 years because I had better recepption with
them than with T-Mobile).; Like this Reply to this comment

(6 Comments)

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iPhone Atlas helps you navigate the ins and outs of Apple iPhone ownership with how-tos, troubleshooting information, news, reviews, and more. Got a tip? Want to contact us? E-mail iphoneatlas@cnet.com.