Signal strenth while holding phone

[bjboucher]

I did a quick search and didnt see anything on this topic. I just picked up my Thunderbolt yesterday and am really loving it so far. I have noticed one thing with it though, while sitting here at my desk, if I cradle the phone in my hand I get a much lower signal strength than I do if I set the phone down on the desk. About a 10-15dBm difference when looking at the signal strenth info on the phone. Are there any known issues with hands blocking the signal?? If I move my hand locations around it seems to change the signal strength too. FYI, I have the extended battery if that makes any difference. Thanks!

 

[scassel]

I did a quick search and didnt see anything on this topic. I just picked up my Thunderbolt yesterday and am really loving it so far. I have noticed one thing with it though, while sitting here at my desk, if I cradle the phone in my hand I get a much lower signal strength than I do if I set the phone down on the desk. About a 10-15dBm difference when looking at the signal strenth info on the phone. Are there any known issues with hands blocking the signal?? If I move my hand locations around it seems to change the signal strength too. FYI, I have the extended battery if that makes any difference. Thanks!

That's an iJunk problem, not a TBolt problem

Kidding aside, I have not read anything about this. I do know that the antenna is in the back cover and if the cover is off, you will lose signal. I suspect it is more location related than how you are holding it.

 

[ISUVetMed]

That's an iJunk problem, not a TBolt problem

Kidding aside, I have not read anything about this. I do know that the antenna is in the back cover and if the cover is off, you will lose signal. I suspect it is more location related than how you are holding it.

I can actually second this and noticed it right when I got the phone. If you look at your signal strength and set it down then pick it up I lose about 12dBM. If I move my hand around/how I hold it the single gets better/worse. Try it before you scream its an iphone only problem. I figured it was normal and signal would always be slightly worse when holding a device than if i was completely unrestricted.

 

[FrankXS]

Any antenna that is touched/blocked an in any way will result in a loss of signal strength. The whole question is does this specific design have any unusual loss. I say no. Unlike the AT&T version of the Iphone. I say AT&T because the iPhone4 with VZW's CDMA antenna is much better than the one on AT&T with the GSM antenna.

The TBolt seems fine, though.

-Frank

 

[JRZLocal]

I thought the antenna being part of the back of the phone was a little strange but I haven't had any signal problems. I do live in a 4g area and the only time I have connection issues is if I take the battery cover off the phone.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[jigz23]

YEAH! I noticed this also when I first got the phone and I thought I was crazy. I also notice this with data. My building at work is fairly weak for 4g data, but if I place it on my desk and just press buttons, it works. but the moment I pick it up and try to use data it completely dies out on me. I wonder why....

 

[scassel]

I can actually second this and noticed it right when I got the phone. If you look at your signal strength and set it down then pick it up I lose about 12dBM. If I move my hand around/how I hold it the single gets better/worse. Try it before you scream its an iphone only problem. I figured it was normal and signal would always be slightly worse when holding a device than if i was completely unrestricted.

How is this screaming?? See the winking Lloyd??

That's an iJunk problem, not a TBolt problem

Thank you

Any antenna that is touched/blocked an in any way will result in a loss of signal strength. The whole question is does this specific design have any unusual loss. I say no. Unlike the AT&T version of the Iphone. I say AT&T because the iPhone4 with VZW's CDMA antenna is much better than the one on AT&T with the GSM antenna.

The TBolt seems fine, though.

-Frank

Not trying to discount what is occuring. With the antenna in the back cover, I am sure there will be impact on signal. But not to the extent of the iPhone.

Trying to have fun at the expense of an Apple product in an Android forum is not allowed?

Can't we just have fun??

 

[potatolover1102]

My back cover has never affected signal. When I take it off signal does not change a bit and sometimes slightly improves. There are definite areas that reduce signal a bar or so on this phone if my hand moves around so there is some accuracy to this. I have no signal problems though so it rarely affects me. Also in 4g areas if I hold the phone in landscape and cover both ends my 4g goes straight to full signal in 1-2 bar areas but do not know why, as soon as I move my hands It drops again.

 

[FrankXS]

Folks... it's a phone! It's not like there are very many choices on where to locate the antenna(s). Not unless you would be enamored by one of those 2-foot telescoping antennas of old.

This thing needs three antennas (Cellular, Bluetooth, Wifi). And you have a very small device to work with. Your hand is bound to be covering one or the other of 'em.

-Frank

 

[Psyc]

Sounds like another antennagate issue is unfolding.

 

[ejweber]

After reading the original post, I too noticed a drop of one or even two bars depending on how I held the phone. The real question is whether or not this drop affects call quality. I would argue that it does not.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[scassel]

Sounds like another antennagate issue is unfolding.

My kind of humor

 

[FrankXS]

After reading the original post, I too noticed a drop of one or even two bars

And there you have it. Better quit reading before you lose all of your signal.

-Frank

 

[potatolover1102]

After reading the original post, I too noticed a drop of one or even two bars depending on how I held the phone. The real question is whether or not this drop affects call quality. I would argue that it does not.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

The one thing about verizon that I have noticed is that when calling 1 bar and full bars work just as well and you never get actual distortion or mess ups until you have no bars or the weakest 1 bar possible. 3g gets a bit slower but is about the same so one bar is fine with me but I never have only one lol.

 

[mikeg1028]

attenuation happens because of pure physics all phones have this problem, yes even your high and mighty thunderbolts,

- thunderbolt and iPhone 4 user

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

After reading the original post, I too noticed a drop of one or even two bars depending on how I held the phone. The real question is whether or not this drop affects call quality. I would argue that it does not.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

This does affect call quality, or recieving calls. I had the thunderboldt, signal dropped bad. Tried 2 of them and both dropped signal and data on a regular basis. Verizon even tested it out with me, called the phone 10 times, phone rang 2 times, the other times they would just hear ringing in the earpiece untill it went to voicemail. My droid x did not have this issue and I ended up switching to the, yes I will say it in this forum, the Iphone and that does not do it. Please dont turn this into a android versus the Iphone deal, I have both and both have their benefits and drawbacks. I am just posting that there are others like me that have had the signal issue with the thunderboldt, I was really dissappointed, I wanted to like the phone, but it has to receive calls. And there was a thread about this issue somewhere.

For the ones that the thunderboldt is working for them, it is a great phone from the little I haved used it.

Below is another post, they are out there if you want to search.

http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc-thunderbolt/75553-really-low-signal.html