Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Surveys and Polls, iPhone
Wired iPhone reception survey results
3G performance is slow almost all over, especially in cities where the 3G service is getting overloaded. If you want to have fast speeds, hang out in Germany and the Netherlands -- those folks had the fastest speeds (and it's no coincidence that the 3G network there has three extra development years on its American counterpart). The worst reception is apparently in Australia, as Optus and Virgin users had their iPhones chugging along at just 759 Kbps.
What can we draw from this? Just like those Swedish scientists told us, it's the service, not the phone. But you know what Mark Twain said about statistics, so just in case you want to draw your own conclusions, Wired has kindly made a Google Spreadsheet of all the data available to anyone who wants it. Anyone want to try putting together that heatmap?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ryan Trevisol said 2:01PM on 8-25-2008
Well, to be fair, I never got good signal in Antarctica with ANY AT&T phone.
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drierp said 2:17PM on 8-25-2008
the test was flawed.. The testing server itself was overloaded, reducing results. It was also in 1 location, and no adjustment was made for those physically further from the server (aka, Australia).
Bad statistics, and everyone (TAUW, ...) seems to be spreading the results without question. Go take a statistics class, or at least read the comments on the original Wired post before spreading this as fact.
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waiownsyou said 2:28PM on 8-25-2008
lol, statistics class
btw it's TUAW.
Johnny said 2:30PM on 8-25-2008
Agreed. They have proven nothing. However, I do agree with the hypothesis of these tests (despite the number of uncontrolled variables).
My thoughts are that a relatively small number of people got a slightly defective unit. It happens with almost all products, but this one is in the spotlight and being picked apart by every Apple nay-sayer out there (of which there are more than Apple fans). I'm sure plenty of companies with interests aside from Apple and AT&T are trying to exploit any negatives as well.
Quix said 2:25PM on 8-25-2008
Surely Apple has an escape clause with AT&T in the event their network fails to perform? And now that Apple isn't getting a monthly cut, but an up-front subsidization like the traditional carrier/manufacturer model, how about making the iPhone network neutral?
More iPhone sales + incentive for AT&T to get their crap together (including their increasingly ridiculous pricing plans).
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Pete said 2:54PM on 8-25-2008
The 3G service here in Denmark, EU, is usually not that bad. Most carriers cover our small country well. But the carrier that has iPhone in its stables, does a rather sad job at 3g coverage. With other phones this has been proved long ago, so it is hands down the carrier and not the phone. Don´t let anyone tell you otherwise.
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Greenscreen said 3:59PM on 8-25-2008
Hmmm... they have a 3G down/upload entry for Iowa, but AT&T doesn't offer 3G in Iowa yet. How is that possible?
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Johnny said 4:00PM on 8-25-2008
Up until a few days ago, I worked for Apple Retail. Let me be very honest with you. At least 25% of Genius Bar Appointments were for reception issues, and my store was in a very densely populated area.
The radio in the new iPhone is junk, and the old one wasn't exactly stellar. You're much better off getting a CDMA phone and an iPod Touch.
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Zak said 4:29PM on 8-25-2008
If the radio is junk, then so are the radios in a number of other 3G phones. That's what the results of that Swedish test told us, because the iPhone performed comparably to the other phones in the same controlled environment.
Make no mistake here - the reception issues are AT&T's fault. Not Apple's. That is specifically what that test was trying to determine.
Mike Puchol said 4:44PM on 8-25-2008
Tried to tip, but alas...here's my post on the subject, linked to by GigaOM:
http://tinyurl.com/5tv3e4
Basically, it IS the network, 3G bandwidth is assigned per cell, not per user. GPRS/EDGE assigns dedicated slots to every user, 3G is like a pie that gets split amongst all the guests that turn up to the party.
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mj said 4:52PM on 8-25-2008
Forget about 3g reception issues. How about TUAW issues, specifically, taking 30-60 seconds just to load the page! And on an Iphone, it would take up half my vacation. Am I the only one who is not visiting TUAW nearly as much because of this? Why isn't there a post on this?
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8corewhore said 4:58PM on 8-25-2008
The survey ONLY deals with data DL/UL speeds. It does not cover call quality issues, such as dropped calls. It does not ask for the time of day - so if a tester does it at night when the network is less impacted, he gets a better result. It doesn't ask if the tester is indoors or out. It doesn't account for driving (talking or location services)
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dimi whityyi said 5:07PM on 8-25-2008
ok...errr why do other phones work on these networks?
Look I want it to be ATT's fault but....
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Jim said 5:17PM on 8-25-2008
I've had the 3G since launch and it's probably the most dropped calls I've ever had. It's really getting to be annoying. I am supposedly in an area between 3 towers and I get about 1 bar at all times in my apartment on the 2nd floor. If I stay in my living room, I can talk on the phone but if I walk around or go in my bedroom, I get "Call Failed" over and over again or the other person saying that I'm echoing or fading in and out. C'mon Apple, fix it!
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Obsidian said 5:18PM on 8-25-2008
The main problem is basic reception, network performance is something different. In my neck of woods 3G/HSDPA coverage is excellent: my old Nokia has always 5 bars... iPhone just one.
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Mat said 6:26PM on 8-25-2008
I am with Rogers in Calgary Ab, and I haven't had a single dropped call. Pretty much always have 3g service.
My only complaints have to do with the buggy apps and the odd lock up of the iPhone itself.
That being said, Rogers has always been solid for me. I used to work for them so I may be a little bias but so far so good.
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tom said 10:15PM on 8-25-2008
Ahhhhh... New technology early adopters. Thank you so much for field testing the new hotness electronic gadgets for me. You allow me to sit back, enjoy my slightly older, previous generation product that has already been field tested by earlier suck-I mean customers.
AT&T rolled out 3G last year. It's new to them and not nationwide. When it is completely nationwide (w/ exception of swamps, mtn tops, etc) then I will consider buying a 3G.
Remember: the iPhone (which I happily use every minute of day both business and personal) is just that: a phone. Or even simpler: a radio. Subject to problems caused by: weather, building materials, overloading, etc.
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CAL said 12:28AM on 8-26-2008
I have had zero reception problems. Just loaded TUAW and it took roughly 22sec. Seems that 3G connectivity here in Portland is just fine wether it be at home or work.
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M said 4:58PM on 8-26-2008
In Finland, Sonera is artificially limiting the iPhone 3G to 512 kBit/s and requiring additional service plans for faster speeds:
up to 1 Mbit/s - 4,90e per month more to standard fees
up to 3,6 Mbit/s - 19,90e per month more to standard fees
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sean808080 said 10:13PM on 8-26-2008
well having the 1st gen iPhone and never having any issue with dropped calls, I can only say that since switching to the 3G iPhone, I've had at least 4 or 5 dropped calls a day.
Apparently, the 3g voice network is the problem. My 3g data is just fine. AT&T have given me 20 bucks for my trouble and I'm waiting on a fix.
Not too happy thus far.
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