August 5th, 2008
Did the iPhone 2.0.1 update improve the 3G/EDGE auto switching?
I bought my white iPhone 3G last Friday and by Sunday night I was already thinking of returning it to Apple for a refund, primarily due to poor reception issues. I was at the Seafair hydroplane races on the shores of Lake Washington on Saturday and the iPhone couldn’t get a signal, while my N95-3 could at least get a voice connection with the same AT&T SIM card. As you know Apple released the iPhone 2.0.1 software update that was labeled as “bug fixes”. One major improvement that I am seeing is that the reception capability has improved with the working 3G/EDGE data auto-switching.
There are generally 3-5 bars of AT&T 3G reception at my desk, but before yesterday when I headed into the bowels of our brick and mortar building in downtown Seattle my signal dropped down to 1 bar or no signal. Using this same AT&T SIM in a Nokia E71-2 or N95-3 gave me at least a couple bars with a workable signal and connection. After this new iPhone update I am seeing the iPhone 3G now switch to EDGE quickly and at least maintain a wireless signal so I can browse the web, check email, etc. while somewhere other than my desk (like the bathroom). I actually see it go from 1 bar on 3G that then falls down to 0 and then switches to 3 or 4 bars of AT&T EDGE. IMHO, this is a major improvement in the iPhone 3G and has helped me decide to keep the device for now.
I also noticed that I was able to maintain a signal along my entire Sounder commuter train route this morning, whereas on Monday the signal completely cut out from time to time.
Have readers also seen this improvement in reception functionality?
Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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