A Detailed Analysis of Apple's New Signal Bars

POST

MAIL

Posted July 15, 2010 at 4:40pm by iClarified

Apple has updated the iPhone with new signal bars that provide a more accurate representation of signal strength.

AnandTech has posted a detailed look at these new bars and how they differ from the old ones.

Apple has dramatically changed the signal strength to signal bar mapping in iOS 4.0.1 and the iOS 4.1 beta, making the dynamic range not only much broader, but the range values for each bar much wider. The range of signals that correspond to bars three and four are the same width, and bar two is only slightly less. The cutoff value for two bars to one bar remains the same, but every other value has increased. The result is that the worst case drop of 24 dBm no longer makes all the signal bars disappear, but rather two.

Taking a look at the charts below you will see that previously the absolute lowest value any iPhone would report was -113 dBm. With iOS 4.0.1/4.1, the value is now a shockingly low -121 dBm.

Read More

A Detailed Analysis of Apple's New Signal Bars

Follow iClarified

me - July 16, 2010 at 12:00pm

not that this solves any reception problems, but the bar-signal strength response is now about the same level as my original iPhone... so Apple saying that the problem with the programming of the bar-signal strength response went as far back as the original iPhone as completely BS!!! f'n liars!!!

Reply · Like

Nt02 - July 15, 2010 at 7:14pm

According to this last chart, when the iPhone just drops to 3 bars, an Android phone will be showing 5 bars? Hmmmmmm......

pastaboy - July 15, 2010 at 7:03pm

This is so wrong, almost all GSM networks will not allow a call below -110 dBm and showing bars below that value is a farce. If these readings are correct per anandtech then this iphone software is making a fool of consumers.

islandboy - July 15, 2010 at 4:53pm

Sorry, I meant *wool OVER our eyes* lol

islandboy - July 15, 2010 at 4:49pm

Lol, this STILL won't help reception issues. This is just something to throw wool under our eyes and try to disguise the fact that Apple will inevitably issue a recall. I will put money on it that is the big announcement tomorrow While my 3gs may be a doorstop atm thanks to new bootrom and os4 ootb, I have the satisfaction in knowing that at least when I DO get JB and unlocked, my calls won't drop as much! To think I was so close to getting an iPhone 4...good thing I held off until next batch is made

D. - July 15, 2010 at 5:16pm

I'm in the same boat and I see the source code is out, so the actual jailbreak is coming pretty soon. But I mean, we'll still have to wait for the unlock even after the jailbreak... lol.. I'd rather make a shitty call that gets dropped than no calls at all.

David - July 15, 2010 at 5:38pm

Here's the thing: unless you actually hold your finger/hand over that one spot on the phone, without a case, the reception is, in all circumstances, substantially better than that of the 3GS. So, by flaunting your continued use of the 3GS, you're basically saying that you prefer overall worse performance (*more* dropped calls) in order to be able to grip the phone anywhere you like ... even if the trouble spot is small. This is like saying that you'd prefer a worse camera in the phone as long as it didn't restrict you from putting your finger on the lens. It's one thing to want to improve the phone further, to avoid any trouble spot, but it's another to think that avoiding the phone is the best course of action if you want to minimize dropped calls.

kb24mvp - July 15, 2010 at 7:37pm

i updated my iphone 4 to 4.0.1 it fine nuthing really i never have problem with my iphone 4 and no i didnt get the first batch iphone when it release i thing that was only in the first shippment and i touch my phone on the antenna and everywhere esle it doesnt lose any signal only lose if im in area where att signal suck at home i get full bar

Keith - July 16, 2010 at 1:33am

I'll second that. I'm so glad I waited to get the iPhone 4.