As of late, we have reported extensive information about the reception problems have been plaguing the iPhone 3G worldwide. Frustrated users have been desperately searching for answers, and pointing fingers at who may be to blame for problems they are experiencing.
Despite Apple’s acknowledgment of the problem and recent 2.0.2 update, some folks have still been wondering whether the poor reception problems are truly a hardware issue.
Swedish company, Bluetest, known for making and selling chambers that test wireless devices, has recently taken a look under the hood of Apple’s iPhone 3G. Comprised of a noise free metal, the test chambers simulate a mobile device’s communication with a base station and measure how the handset sends and receives signals under a multitude of conditions. After a few rounds in the chamber, the verdict had come out to be positive. “The values are completely normal,” says Magnus Franzén, an antenna engineer with an M.Sc. in Engineering Physics.
After comparing the device’s results with those of a Sony Ericcson P1 and Nokia N73, the iPhone stacked up well, coming in right under the P1 with a difference of only 2 dB of receive sensitivity. The N73 showed a stronger ability to transmit signals, yet the difference was also minimal. “It is not much. At a difference of 4-6 dB one might start to wonder if there is anything wrong,” says Mats Andersson.
“The mobile under test is equipped with a special test SIM card. The mobile is then mounted on an arm which in turn is fixed to a revolving plate. When the door is closed it is not possible to see what is happening, but things are moving inside the chamber, to simulate a real environment.”
The first test conducted attempts to display the TRP values. The device is set to emanate at full blast under three different frequencies. Following this, the TIS values are tested by measuring the device’s signal receiving performance.
“This test was done twice with the iphone. Once with wlan, gps and bluetooth switched off and once with everything switched on. This was to see if it would have difficulties keeping the network connection due to noise from the other signals. But there was no difference.”
[via GÖTEBORGS-POSTEN]
