iPhone firmware 2.1 is out

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
apple just reworked the calculation for the signal bars. Field test mode shows the same signal levels pre 2.1, even though the phone now shows 4-5 bars

lol.

 

[JC86]

This is just anecdotal at best but in my den downstairs where my 3G reception used to be one to two bars, I now have 3-4. I have a hard time believe the signal levels are the same because I loaded some graphics heavy pages like gizmodo and they loaded just slightly slower than with wifi and much faster than they used to pre 2.1.

 

[MotionMan]

The update instantly fixed my 3rd part apps crashes. That was the only issue I was having that bothered me in the slightest.

Hopefully, the problem will not return.

(BTW, anyone have a particular 3rd party dock (with USB-independent charging) that they like? I am in the market for two, so cost is a factor. Thanks.)

MotionMan

 

[Kmax82]

texting and keyboard is still a bit laggy, but much better than it was. Hopefully it'll just be small bugfixes from here on out.

Contacts are near instant now, so that's good.

Signal quality and battery life are better with 2.1, although I have had one dropped call already.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Kmax82
texting and keyboard is still a bit laggy, but much better than it was. Hopefully it'll just be small bugfixes from here on out.

Contacts are near instant now, so that's good.

Signal quality and battery life are better with 2.1, although I have had one dropped call already.

That's because your signal quality is no better than it was. Apple pulled a fast one, and sadly, most people are falling for it.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: Kmax82
texting and keyboard is still a bit laggy, but much better than it was. Hopefully it'll just be small bugfixes from here on out.

Contacts are near instant now, so that's good.

Signal quality and battery life are better with 2.1, although I have had one dropped call already.

That's because your signal quality is no better than it was. Apple pulled a fast one, and sadly, most people are falling for it.

Yea.. I saw some stuff about that, and I'm quite disappointed. I hope they make it right, but I don't have much confidence there.

 

[JC86]

Originally posted by: JC86
This is just anecdotal at best but in my den downstairs where my 3G reception used to be one to two bars, I now have 3-4. I have a hard time believe the signal levels are the same because I loaded some graphics heavy pages like gizmodo and they loaded just slightly slower than with wifi and much faster than they used to pre 2.1.

fwiw, after a couple of days, my reception in previous dead spots are still spotty at best . . . still trying to figure out how my data speeds seem to be higher but i'm not complaining . . .

 

[derdrache]

I did notice that when you turn off wifi and switch between edge and 3g that the phone responds a lot quicker, at least it updates the information on the top bar about your connection a lot faster than it did.

I still get the contact lag but after ive been in contacts or phone for more than a few seconds it goes away. I only have 47 contacts if it matters heh.

Bringing up the keyboard in SMS is still slow but typing is much improved. I do kind of miss that phantom typing, after you were done it still popped up all the letters you hit heh.

NOTE: When apps are updated, they now automatically move back to where you had placed them on the home screen before. Really nice improvement!

Ipod app added information to certain areas, still no search though, crappy when you have over 800 songs there.....

Looks like its on the right path to being a good working phone again.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: derdrache
I did notice that when you turn off wifi and switch between edge and 3g that the phone responds a lot quicker, at least it updates the information on the top bar about your connection a lot faster than it did.

What do you mean by this? Are you saying that when it switches between 3G & edge it's quicker, or do you mean just when you turn off wifi?

I don't notice a change with either. What I did notice, was when I went to visit my mom Saturday, the damn thing stayed stuck on 1 bar for about 1/2 hour during my drive. Right then I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't turn off 3G, because I was doing 80mph on the turnpike, and it was in my pocket.

Now at&t might have made some changes, but I was well outside the 3G zone according to their map. Another thing wrong was that I usually have 5 bars while on the pike, and that's for the whole trip. That was for edge, so why was it not the same for 3G?

I still can't get a 3G signal at work, but a co worker showed me his new HTC phone, and he was getting 4 bars!! Same network, same cell tower, WTF!:|

And email locked the phone today.:disgust:

 

[NaOH]

Got it last friday and loving the new fw. I no longer lag AT ALL texting or accessing the phonebook and don't have the bug where I lose all my sound.


So far, so good for me. This is how 2.0 should have been on launch day when the 3G came out.

I'm on an unlocked 2G iphone and the unlock stayed after the update from itunes. So there was no baseband update.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I am sitting on 2.0 still.....have zero issues with it.

I do not want to go to 2.1, because I will lose my jailbroken apps !

 

[Muadib]

Those of you who are happy with your 3G performance, do you know if your towers are 1900 or 850 mhz for 3G?

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Those of you who are happy with your 3G performance, do you know if your towers are 1900 or 850 mhz for 3G?

How would we look this up?

MotionMan

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: Muadib
Those of you who are happy with your 3G performance, do you know if your towers are 1900 or 850 mhz for 3G?

How would we look this up?

MotionMan

I stole this post from howard forums, but it was easier:

When in 3G, enter Field Test Mode: *3001#12345#*

When in Field Test, go to: UMTS Cell Environment - UMTS RR Info - Downlink Frequency.

Note the Number...

I think this is what is referred to as 'Channel.' How you convert this to whether this is 1900 or 850, I found on the forum:

______________________

850 Channels:
Channels 4357 - 4458
Divide channel number by 5 (i.e. 4384 = 876.8 MHz)

Channels 1007, 1012, 1032, 1037, 1062, 1087 (850):
Divide the channel number by 5 and add 670.1 (i.e. 1007 = 871.5 MHz)

1900 Channels:
Channels 9662 - 9938:
Divide channel number by 5 (9662 = 1932.4 MHz)

Channels 412, 437, 462, 487, 512, 537, 562, 587, 612, 637, 662, 687 (1900):
Divide the channel number by 5 and add 1850.1 (i.e. 412 = 1932.5 MHz)

 

[Muadib]

I'm betting that those who are happy are on 850MHz. I say this because the antenna the iPhone uses for edge is pretty good. The rf on it is the on par my Razr which was outstanding. AT&T has plans to move 3G to 850Mhz everywhere, but that could take years.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: Muadib
Those of you who are happy with your 3G performance, do you know if your towers are 1900 or 850 mhz for 3G?

How would we look this up?

MotionMan

I stole this post from howard forums, but it was easier:

When in 3G, enter Field Test Mode: *3001#12345#*

When in Field Test, go to: UMTS Cell Environment - UMTS RR Info - Downlink Frequency.

Note the Number...

I think this is what is referred to as 'Channel.' How you convert this to whether this is 1900 or 850, I found on the forum:

______________________

850 Channels:
Channels 4357 - 4458
Divide channel number by 5 (i.e. 4384 = 876.8 MHz)

Channels 1007, 1012, 1032, 1037, 1062, 1087 (850):
Divide the channel number by 5 and add 670.1 (i.e. 1007 = 871.5 MHz)

1900 Channels:
Channels 9662 - 9938:
Divide channel number by 5 (9662 = 1932.4 MHz)

Channels 412, 437, 462, 487, 512, 537, 562, 587, 612, 637, 662, 687 (1900):
Divide the channel number by 5 and add 1850.1 (i.e. 412 = 1932.5 MHz)

Mine says 512, so I guess mine is 1900 (at least in my office).

MotionMan

 

[Muadib]

So you are happy then, MotionMan? What is your rf reading?

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Muadib
So you are happy then, MotionMan? What is your rf reading?

The 2.1 update fixed my crashing apps problem, which was a pain. Otherwise, I have been very happy.

One thing that made me crazy with my old phone (Verizon Treo 650) was that I could not get a signal at all in a building I frequented for work while others chatted away - it was like I was stuck in my own personal dampening field. With my 3+ week old iPhone, I get a great signal in the same building.

And, just to confirm my lack of knowledge of the lingo, what do you mean by "rf"?

MotionMan

 

[Muadib]

Rf= radio frequency

Cell phone towers are measured in decibels as negative numbers. Lower is better.
-70 or lower is great. -80db is a good signal. -95 to -101db is fair. Anything higher, and you will drop calls.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Rf= radio frequency

Cell phone towers are measured in decibels as negative numbers. Lower is better.
-70 or lower is great. -80db is a good signal. -95 to -101db is fair. Anything higher, and you will drop calls.

I am at 512 at home, too.

Where do I find my rf?

MotionMan

 

[Muadib]

If you go back into Field Test Mode, your bars should have changed into your rf reading. If you hold down the home button to close the test mode, your phone will stay in test mode, until you do a reset.

If you want your bars back, just touch the numbers. Touch the bars if you want the rf reading again.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Muadib
If you go back into Field Test Mode, your bars should have changed into your rf reading. If you hold down the home button to close the test mode, your phone will stay in test mode, until you do a reset.

If you want your bars back, just touch the numbers. Touch the bars if you want the rf reading again.

Sitting at my desk at home, which is traditionally a terrible place for me to get reception, I am getting a -95.

MotionMan

 

[Muadib]

Sounds like you are good to go if it stays in that range. My readings are all over the place in 3G. I can start in the -93 range, and drop off to -104 without freaking moving. Most of the time, it will drop to edge and I'll be in the -80 range then, but every now & then I'll get no service for 2-5 minutes. When it connects again, I'm back to 3G, and the pattern repeats.

I think I'm just going to return it, and start life with phone #3.

 

[Kmax82]

At work, I'm on 850, and I have a -63db rating... so those are good numbers. I've never had an issue with my phone at the office. I'll try it at home tonight though, and see what I get there. I have had a couple dropped calls while at home and I go back and forth between EDGE and 3G all the time.

 

[bigsamsung7]

2.1 is rock!!!