I have the same problem and I did not restore my iphone from a previous version since this is my first iphone

This is my first iPhone so no upgrade for me. 3G coverage in the UK is much worse than on other manufacturer's handsets. My personal speculation is that Apple tweaked the 3G radio in the phone to a low setting to conserve battery life. This decision, if true, has backfired.

I have two handsets here on 3G (HSDPA) - one is my new iPhone, and the other is an O2 XDA 'Orbit II' (basically a HTC phone) - I have to say that the signal strength on both of these phones is pretty much the same in my experience so far.

Back in the days when AT&T and Cingular were separate companies, AT&T usually did not limit what users could do with phones on their network (other companies disabled some features). With various phones, one could set the frequency with which they would scan for and switch to the base station with the strongest signal. Increasing the frequency led to a shorter battery life but reduced the amount of dropped calls (especially, when driving). However, continually switching from base station to base staion puts a bit more of a burden on the wireless operator. Similar to establishing a hundred outbound connections to download a web page quickly, this works well when one is the only person doing it but does not work well if everyone is doing it. So, these days, the ability to change the frequency with which a phone will scan for and switch to the base station(s) with the strongest signal can usually not be changed by the user.

With the iPhone 3G, this pre-set frequency for 3G currently appears to be very low and ill suited for driving. When briefly entering an area with low or nonexistant 3G reception (e.g., the core of a large building) and heading back to a window, the phone will start to show 1 bar or "no service" and can take upwards of a minute to show 5 bars of 3G reception. The low pre-set frequency may be Apple's attempt to maximize battery life in areas where all 3G base stations are far away and where the phone might be inclined to keep switching between base stations due to slight fluctuations in reception.

got my iPhone on Tuesday took back for exchange of handset on Thursday Now had new sim and no change I am putting bad signal down to phone. I have a work O2 phone and get full signal where I get 1 bar on iPhone. I live in a city so shouldn't have any problems. I well probably hand it back unless shop give me explanation and quick fix. Shame as the phone is fantastic. But not prepared to have such poor reception. I have had a three 3g phone for 5 years and coverage is complete

I have had my new iphone3g for about a week and the 3g reception totally sucks. Previously I was an AT&T subscriber with a Samsung Blackjack 3G phone and never had this problem. The calls will all go with the volume fading in and out in a cycle...the peopla at the other end hear it too. Particularly if I am moving around. Completely unusable for phone calls in 3g mode. I'm taking the phone back for a refund tomorrow even though AT&T told me there would be a restocking fee, I'm going to complain until they take it back, its ridiculous. Whatever the issue is, Apple blew this one.

I've had my iPhone 3G since July 12, and, unlike many comments on the apple discussions board, I have had good reception in 3G and in EDGE all around. The coverage is usually 4-5 bars throughout the Los Angeles area. Sure, it is lower in some places than in others, but not near as bad as others have been reporting, and in Los Angeles as well.

One theory that seems to be supported right now (at least on AT&T in the U.S.) is the SIM card version. In the Apple discussion board, several people have reported that their coverage went from bad to good after they went into an AT&T store and got a new SIM card from them. Several people had started with a SIM card with # 71234O3022, and got a new one from AT&T with # 71234O4022. Apparently the 4022 card is the one that works better.

I just checked, and my phone, which has been working great since day one, does indeed have a 71234O4022 sim card in it.

So, my suggestion to U.S.A. AT&T iPhone 3G users experiencing problems: turn off your phone and remove the SIM card, and check which number you have. If it is the 3022 number, go to the AT&T store, and get a new SIM card and have the AT&T support reps send an update to your phone (this is an over-the-phone process).

No 3G connection for me either. I live in Leicester, UK a big city, and I haven't connected to 3G for a week, in fact never!. It's a new 3G phone.

hi,

im from mactalk australia, i actually started the thread you have linked to above.

we have taken an informal survey of iphone 3g users in australia, and found that those people on Optus/Vodafone, on the 2100mhz frequency are those affected. while people on Telstra/850mhz report very few issues at all. (from almost 100 survey replies, there were 50 people on Optus reporting problems, and around 10 on Vodafone.)

i believe that Optus Australia is looking into the issue, but we have no news to report as yet.

i think this might be a software issue, as it seems the iphone IS capable of picking up a good signal, under the right circumstances.

here's hoping that 2.1 brings a fix.

Everyone with 3G issues on the new IPhone, please log your issue at Http://www.fixmy3giphone.com

Let's get some attention and put some REAL pressure on Apple.

Having this problem and checked my sim card as Dave G. suggested. I have the supposed good card (4022) so I don't think that's it. My reception is horrible. No bars at work, at home sometimes I have 3 bars, sometimes I have none.

I had the same problem and decided enough is enough. I returned my 3G and had AT&T cancel my contract.(Another nightmare story!) I have since purchased a Samsung Instinct on the Sprint network and find the device works everywhere and never has any of the problems the 3G had. I actually prefer the instinct, even though it is not as pretty a package, simply because it is very fast(faster than the 3G even when it worked) and it is extremely reliable. Not only that Sprint's price plans are a much better bargain than AT&T and they offer more features on the instinct than was available on the iphone. Plus the GPS applications are way better. Just a thought for those of you who might be considering a change.

The iPhone is a great phone. If it worked. I live in Atlanta and the reception is so bad, it reminded me of Sprint.

Att should have fixed this problem before they ever sold the first iPhone. But it is called greed. I made the mistake of selling my old iPhone.

I just figured out if you go to settings and cut off 3g the reception is like the old iPhone.

You will see a major change. The phone will be on the Edge ver. But works great.

well in lansing area we haven't got the 3g yet but I am getting a 5bar connection
And I think it's more AT&T then the iPhone because if you sit in the car and drive around it goes up and down
And I think the battery life still sucks even on the edge with 3g off + location off + push off

I don't believe for a minute that it has a any connection to phones that were restored from 2G. I picked up my 3G 16GB from the Apple store after my 2G got wet. Anyhow, the phone took forever to get a signal the very first time when it was activated in the store. That should have been my first warning. Later, after restoring from my 2G backup there was no diff in signal. Still spotty. Looking right now at a scant 1/4 of a bar while typing this. Later 3 bars, then back to barely one- all while sitting in the same spot.

I have the 3g problem also, so bad I can barely make phone calls where AT&T's map says I have coverage. An AT&T employee told me to turn off 3g until the problem is resolved. This helped greatly with making phone calls, but data is much slower on the Edge network. This solution is totally unacceptable for what I am paying for and Apple and AT&T need a solution before the class action lawsuits spread like wildfire...

not quit sure if you people know what you are getting into. but so far my phone works great. i think its just your network where you leaved. you should do your homework instead of trusting the sells man so easly. check the courage area for where i leaved and have no problem. i got 3g network for about 30-40 mile in radius. you ahould look it up. before purchase your next iphone

Has anyone used the iphone in Japan? Does it work?

I get better data transfer and battery life on Edge as opposed to 3G. Yeah my 3G reception is "good" when I am looking at the bars on the phone, but the actual transfer of data sucks. Not to mention the 3g reception is up an down a lot more than the Edge reception. In my room I have full 3G. In my living room I have only 2 bars. I have full Edge in both. So frustrating...this phone has been nothing but trouble. It has some awesome innovative things, but at the same time has some crippling necessities that need to be fixed.