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Signal Loss When Holding EVO (same as iPhone4?)

QuesoGrande

Member
Nov 6, 2009
54
2
So guys,
I started a thread a while ago about poor wifi performance on my phone (weak signal right next to my laptop that has good signal). Long story short, I discovered that if I'm holding the phone in my palm with fingers wrapped around the sides in usual fashion... my wifi -and- cellular signal significantly weaken.

Surprisingly, there was no response to this. I began to think maybe this is standard behavior for a smart phone. I mean, when I'm in my office which is the basement, I literally set the phone down or hold it with just two fingers pinching the sides in order to download something on wifi.

This 'bulletin' just popped up on Boy Genius Report complaining of this exact same thing happening on the iPhone 4. What gives? Does this happen to other EVOs? Seems to happen on both mine and my wife's so I figured maybe it's just something I have to deal with. But if I have faulty hardware, I'd like to get it taken care of.

What do you guys think?

Here's the link to the iphone article...
Holding the iPhone 4 affects the antenna, degrades cellular signal? Boy Genius Report
 
The iPhone issue shouldn't be related. The iPhone's problem has to do with the fact that the metal casing actually is the antenna, and they're talking about 3g reception Dieing.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

The reason I'm making the link to the iPhone was that the lack of interest/response I got about my issue in this forum made me think maybe this was standard smartphone behavior. But when I see the same symptoms making 'news' about another phone... it makes me think that I *do* have a problem that should not be happening as well.
 
Upvote 0
So guys,
I started a thread a while ago about poor wifi performance on my phone (weak signal right next to my laptop that has good signal). Long story short, I discovered that if I'm holding the phone in my palm with fingers wrapped around the sides in usual fashion... my wifi -and- cellular signal significantly weaken.

Surprisingly, there was no response to this. I began to think maybe this is standard behavior for a smart phone. I mean, when I'm in my office which is the basement, I literally set the phone down or hold it with just two fingers pinching the sides in order to download something on wifi.

This 'bulletin' just popped up on Boy Genius Report complaining of this exact same thing happening on the iPhone 4. What gives? Does this happen to other EVOs? Seems to happen on both mine and my wife's so I figured maybe it's just something I have to deal with. But if I have faulty hardware, I'd like to get it taken care of.

What do you guys think?

Here's the link to the iphone article...
Holding the iPhone 4 affects the antenna, degrades cellular signal? Boy Genius Report

I noticed this as well. i was out of the country and only using it for wifi so cant comment on the cellular signal. but the wifi signal at the resort i was at was weak but after messing with different areas etc. i found that by holding the phone only by the edges and not wrapping my hand around it as you normally would, i had a better signal.

obviously this was by no means a scientific test but i noticed it as well...
 
Upvote 0
I noticed this as well. i was out of the country and only using it for wifi so cant comment on the cellular signal. but the wifi signal at the resort i was at was weak but after messing with different areas etc. i found that by holding the phone only by the edges and not wrapping my hand around it as you normally would, i had a better signal.

obviously this was by no means a scientific test but i noticed it as well...

Interesting, thanks for the info. I don't think it's a dealbreaker for me but if I can exchange it for one that doesn't do that, it would be nice. Trying to figure out if it's even worth my time to attempt it.
If you're seeing it and I'm seeing it multiple phones, then I bet exchanging it won't do me any good.
 
Upvote 0
The iPhone issue shouldn't be related. The iPhone's problem has to do with the fact that the metal casing actually is the antenna, and they're talkin

The reason I'm making the link to the iPhone was that the lack of interest/response I got about my issue in this forum made me think maybe this was standard smartphone behavior. But when I see the same symptoms making 'news' about another phone... it makes me think that I *do* have a problem that should not be happening as well.

I wouldn't say it's a smart phone issue as much as it's more of an issue with actual antenna design and physics. I haven't noticed an issue with how I hold the phone affecting wifi or reception on my Evo but it's definitely no unheard of. Ever since antennas went internal many manufacturers actually include instructions in their manual about where to not hold the phone cuz of the antennas. First time I saw this was on my Samsung mm900, it was a basic feature phone.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
 
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I haven't had any WiFi problems. I suggest you actually test the WiFi reception with a second Evo at the same time (your local Sprint store could work). Hold your phone and load pages while the other is merely sitting. You can also look at signal strength.

The iPhone has a bigger issue If you hold the phone in your left hand, it'll drop your calls.
 
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It can happen. Heck anything can happen. The lcd screens and glass on the phone interfere with the 3g/gsm/cdma/wimax/wifi signal, (pretty much anything from 500mhz-3ghz). So it is possible for you to have this problem.

tower->front of the phone->back of the phone-> hand. If you get this the signal will be reduced.

If you have tower ->hand->back of the phone->front of the phone. The signal will no decrease.

But there is a ton of variable in there, where the signal is bouncing off from, location of tower, antenna power, radio power, and other interference, ect...ect.

If you are having signal problems, which means the stars just aligned for you, move your hand to the bottom of the evo, or the top of the iphone.

If you are having chronic problems, do a hard reset, and if that does not work, return the phone for a replacement.
 
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This is normal if your covering the internal antenna it will happen at a certain degree. Don't relate this to the Iphone. The Iphone happens when you hold it in normal use and the antenna is external wrapping around its case. You are also was looking for a response ok. Your office is in the basement, that suggest you have a weak signal to begin with so any interference to the phone small may it be will cause loss of signal. Please mod change the Threads name i don't want to see this in engadget. Non-Related. This could be a hardware problem or you might be in a weak signal area or you really have a Iphone with a evo case wrapped around it.
 
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