WiFi signal behavior and hand positioning

[sfhub]

I recall people complaining about lower wifi signal levels with the E4GT.

I also saw 1 bar wifi signal coinciding with the connection dropping to 24Mbps mode, which is still plenty fast enough for most broadband connections (even at 12Mbps effective transfer rates)

I just happened to hold the phone on the upper portion of the phone leaving the middle and bottom portions exposed. Signal levels almost immediately went up. Connection moved from 24Mbps to 54Mbps.

After that I realized if I placed the phone on the table the signal levels are also higher and I could connect to the router at 54Mbps.

Now I think for most people even 24Mbps will not affect the effective speed they see, however the lower signal levels will probably affect the range they can effectively use their wifi.

Armed with this knowledge, I can actually have a usable WiFi connection signar further from the AP than before when I used to hold the phone in the more natural position in portrait mode.

Perhaps someone else can confirm this behavior and/or someone else will find this info useful.

Kind of reminds me of the iPhone 4 signal drop issue when you touched the corner of the phone.

 

[whatsitsname]

Nope I set mine on the table. It just switches from 4 bars to no bars back and forth. Speed test of range 700 kbps to 15000 kbps pretty much confirms that it is having a hard time getting or maintaining the signal.

 

[xxINFIDELxx]

Laying on kitchen counter.

Judo gripped in hands covering most of the phone and edges.

 

[JayWill]

LOL "judo gripped". Next try a rear naked choke just to be sure.

 

[DataHawg]

Laying on kitchen counter.
Click to view quoted image

Judo gripped in hands covering most of the phone and edges.
Click to view quoted image

Which speed test did you use to get these images?

 

[sfhub]

Laying on kitchen counter.
Click to view quoted image

Judo gripped in hands covering most of the phone and edges.
Click to view quoted image

So you actually got different # of wifi bars (in the first "on the table" example you have 1 extra bar). Not saying the wifi bars are portable and comparable on different devices, but on the same device it should indicate a better signal.

For me, even the lower signal I get when I hold the phone normally allows for full data, most places I'm at, it just has less range.