Help EVO Signal Strength and Hand Placement

[250GTE]

I have been having some 4G issues so I was taking a look at my signal strength today and noticed that if I cover the top/back of the phone (i.e. over the camera) with my hand the signal drops from about ~90 dBm to ~100 dBm. As soon as I move my hand down goes back to about 90 dBm. FYI, this is happening while I am on 3G not 4G.

Are others EVO owners seeing the same drop in signal due to hand placement?

 

[baley101]

I have tried to find out where the antenna is located on the EVO, but havent had any luck yet.

 

[sitlet]

http://member.america.htc.com/download/Web_materials/Manual/HTC_EVO_Sprint/sprint_evo_ug.pdf

Page 169 in the manual. if you are looking at the back of the phone, the antenna is to the left of the camera

 

[250GTE]

I was just worried that I might have a bad antenna in my EVO. I went to the Sprint store and held my EVO next to the store demo and I could get my signal meter to change when I covered the antenna and on their demo it didn

 

[250GTE]

Checking one more time to make sure that no one else is able to dramatically change their signal strength by covering the antenna with their hand. I was just checking again and my EVO jumps from 4 bars of 3G to 1 bar of 3G coverage just by covering the back of the phone.

Since no one else is reporting similar issues I am guessing my phone has a bad antenna and I may need to exchange it for a new EVO.

 

[sitlet]

hmm, now that you mention it, my phone does this too. i get a full 5 bars at home. i just put my hand around the back, and it immediately dropped to one bar.

 

[250GTE]

hmm, now that you mention it, my phone does this too. i get a full 5 bars at home. i just put my hand around the back, and it immediately dropped to one bar.

With over 120 views and only two EVO owners reporting this issue, it sounds like it isn

 

[sitlet]

Yeah I already took my phone back to Radio Shack today due to a screen problem (bottom of the screen was WAY brighter than the rest of the screen). They said there are no evo's left nationwide, and I would have to wait til Friday to get a new one when their new batches come in.

 

[250GTE]

Yeah I already took my phone back to Radio Shack today due to a screen problem (bottom of the screen was WAY brighter than the rest of the screen). They said there are no evo's left nationwide, and I would have to wait til Friday to get a new one when their new batches come in.

I am in the same boat but my Radio Shack said that they may only have pre-orders on Friday and I may have to wait up to 2 weeks to get a replacement. I am hoping they get extra EVOs on Friday and I am able to make the exchange.

 

[Whiteboyx69]

I have the same issue i wonder if mines a dud as well?

 

[250GTE]

I have the same issue i wonder if mines a dud as well?

Sorry to hear you are having problems also. With only 3 of us hitting this issue and over 200 views on this thread I am guessing that the 3 of us have bad hardware but I could be wrong. Hopefully I will be able to get a replacement EVO that will resolve this problem.

 

[aliveon2legs]

Mine does it, too, but I don't see it as an issue. Just don't put your hand there.

 

[Deleted User]

I just simply get a bad signal indoors in general.

 

[Justin Fletcher]

Wow, this never even occurred to me. I have not been able to connect to the WiFi at work from desk because of the poor reception. As soon as I moved my hand, I suddenly have workable connectivity.

Thanks!

 

[stkshooter]

Mine drops from 6 bars to 3-4 bars when I cover my hand around the top corner of antenna. This is sitting about 10 ft. from AiRave tower.

When EVO is sitting on desk I noticed signal dropped to 1-2 bars and stayed there, then bounces back to 6 bars and back down. So phone must auto power down radio because AiRave signal doesn't change 10 ft. from tower. Phone was plugged in charging too so no reason for power down based on batt.

Can't wait to repeat this test after I put my new Seidio Innocase Active Limited Edition cover on EVO.

If my hand makes this big of a diff. I can only assume heavy case will effect it too.

 

[alant]

I have the same problem on my evo. When I compared with another sprint customer with a blackberry phone, blackberry shows much better signal.