Linguine-shaped cell phone antennas
I try to consciously use a cell phone in such a way that hopefully reduces my personal absorption of RF energy. I prefer to use an ear jack and mic on a wire, altho those can get really tangled, especially if you accidentally wash and dry them. When I have to hold them, I try to know where the antenna is hidden inside the unit so that my hand doesn't block the signal. I don't like to use them up to my ear. Cell phone signals aren't very strong, motivated largely by battery charge life.
There is a class action lawsuit against Apple about the faulty design of the iPhone4 external antennas. Apparently you can block the signal or reduce the signal strength significantly by gripping the phone wrong. This suit was set up mere days after Apple started to sell iPhone4. Apparently the argument is that it is nigh impossible to return 'em.
The innovation that Apple incorporated in the iPhone4 was to use linguine-shaped antennas that double as nice metal trim around the outside of the iPhone4 case. It means that the antennae are predominantly outside, not inside, the iPhone4 case. There are millimeter-wide gaps between the different antenna elements such that, it is said, if you place a finger right on top of the gaps, you somehow significantly reduce the signal strength of the phone.
In my experience, inside-the-case antennas are less effective than outside-the-case antennas. On wireless routers, you can swap an external antenna for a way more effective much larger external antenna, or a directional antenna. On cell phones, internal antennas tend to be pretty small, and are likely to be broadcasting into cell phone components.
Some people have found that the iPhone4 design is incompatible with "death-grips" during phone use. That is, they expect the phone to work unimpeded no matter how they hold it, even in weak signal conditions. Some people have found it is possible to really drop the signal strength by touching two antennas at a time with one finger over the space gaps between them. One antenna expert played with the iPhone to discover very little actual effect. By contrast, Consumer Reports decided to not recommend the iPhone4 because they think holding the phone in different ways does have an effect that aren't experienced on any other phone. CR has not appeared to publish its RF measurement findings in order to base its decision.
This outfit did, however. It is the best article I have found so far on the subject:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2
It shows that the external antenna is affected when touched. It also shows that the external antenna is pretty good. To solve the touching problem in manufacturing, I'd probably go with a painted-on external coating on the antennas to solve the issue. To solve the problem at the store, I'd hand every new customer a bumper.
There is a class action lawsuit against Apple about the faulty design of the iPhone4 external antennas. Apparently you can block the signal or reduce the signal strength significantly by gripping the phone wrong. This suit was set up mere days after Apple started to sell iPhone4. Apparently the argument is that it is nigh impossible to return 'em.
The innovation that Apple incorporated in the iPhone4 was to use linguine-shaped antennas that double as nice metal trim around the outside of the iPhone4 case. It means that the antennae are predominantly outside, not inside, the iPhone4 case. There are millimeter-wide gaps between the different antenna elements such that, it is said, if you place a finger right on top of the gaps, you somehow significantly reduce the signal strength of the phone.
In my experience, inside-the-case antennas are less effective than outside-the-case antennas. On wireless routers, you can swap an external antenna for a way more effective much larger external antenna, or a directional antenna. On cell phones, internal antennas tend to be pretty small, and are likely to be broadcasting into cell phone components.
Some people have found that the iPhone4 design is incompatible with "death-grips" during phone use. That is, they expect the phone to work unimpeded no matter how they hold it, even in weak signal conditions. Some people have found it is possible to really drop the signal strength by touching two antennas at a time with one finger over the space gaps between them. One antenna expert played with the iPhone to discover very little actual effect. By contrast, Consumer Reports decided to not recommend the iPhone4 because they think holding the phone in different ways does have an effect that aren't experienced on any other phone. CR has not appeared to publish its RF measurement findings in order to base its decision.
This outfit did, however. It is the best article I have found so far on the subject:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2
It shows that the external antenna is affected when touched. It also shows that the external antenna is pretty good. To solve the touching problem in manufacturing, I'd probably go with a painted-on external coating on the antennas to solve the issue. To solve the problem at the store, I'd hand every new customer a bumper.