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Help holding handset a certain way reduces WIFI/RF signal

Eaglesfan9106

Android Enthusiast
So I just figured out that whenever grip my phone at the top or hold it sideways with my thumb along the side of the phone my WiFi signal will drop to nothing is anyone else having this problem ? I will be taking it in tomorrow and they should replace it right? Also I've tested this multiple times with the same result except when I'm sitting next to my router I'm assuming the signals to strong for me to be able to block it
 
thats not a "problem". your body will absorb RF energy and radio waves. all RF devices suffer from this to certain degrees. ive seen this happen on the handset i use.
 
no no no.. I dont mean to suggest you should "live with it".. :) not at all.

im only going off what you stated sir/ma'am. I can hold the handset I use a certain way and can visually see the signal icons fluctuate. i dont know if there is any real world reduction in throughput since i dont test for it but i can see the bars fluctuate. this is just how things work. the body absorbs RF and radio/ microwaves.

now to what extent is relative to the individual situation. Im not there to see your handset. it could very well have a defect, however you have had this unit for a while now and if it was a serious design flaw or defect, i think it would have shown up on first day vs. a while later.

'course anything can happen. IF you feel your device is not performing within spec and within your expectations, then absolutely take it into a sprint corp. store and have them smoke it over. demo to them how you hold it, etc. you pay for insurance so you should use it if need be.

one thing im not clear on is are you just basing your assumption off the signal icon or are you using some speed test apps to judge performance when you are gripping your device a certain way? having some metrics on this that you can write down will aid in you getting your point across to sprint when you go in to explain the situation.
 
I see some signal drop, but not a lot. Wifi still functions as it should, so I don't worry about it. But if yours is dropping low enough where it's causing performance issues, then I'd also say you should get it checked out.
 
Mine does the same thing if I hold it a certain way. Not enough to make me return for a new one though. I'd rather stick with the phone I know works except for that small little issue than getting another one that may have more problems, always something to keep in mind. If it is bad though definitely return.
 
I'm two rooms away from my router and just tried it, and saw no difference. Do you have a case on the phone? I think a case gives the signal just enough wiggle room to squeeze in. Atleast that was Apple's answer to the iPhone 4 users.
 
I'm two rooms away from my router and just tried it, and saw no difference. Do you have a case on the phone? I think a case gives the signal just enough wiggle room to squeeze in. Atleast that was Apple's answer to the iPhone 4 users.

I to was 2 rooms away from my router which is a business router from version fios and I also took my phone into sprint and they told ne they coukd not replicate the problem but I'm sure they didnt even try what I told them but my question is this is a serious problem which causes me to have no internet what do i do to get a replacemebt that doesnt involve spending money?
 
you will have to go back into a store and show them that you actually lose connection. thats it. they need proof. to them, you are just someone trying to score a new device. you are guilty until proven innocent. go to another store, call up sprint customer service/retentions/account services and explain your situation.
 
I to was 2 rooms away from my router which is a business router from version fios and I also took my phone into sprint and they told ne they coukd not replicate the problem but I'm sure they didnt even try what I told them but my question is this is a serious problem which causes me to have no internet what do i do to get a replacemebt that doesnt involve spending money?

If you didn't take it to a Sprint Repair facility, I'm sorry, but you wasted your time. Go to Sprint.com and search for repair centers. If it is called "Sprint by so-and-so", don't even bother. Those third party vendors are worthless. Sprint stores will do an exchange if something is very obviously wrong, like light leaks and dead pixels, or something like that. But something technical like poor wifi reception is something a repair center needs to look into.

I've had a good experience with Sprint Repair centers so far. Hopefully you get the answers you need at one.
 
I did take it to a repair center but fwiw I also showed them I have a dead pixel and they said the could do nothing my sprint store is worthless
 
you will have to go back into a store and show them that you actually lose connection. thats it. they need proof. to them, you are just someone trying to score a new device. you are guilty until proven innocent. go to another store, call up sprint customer service/retentions/account services and explain your situation.


He's right, they want to make sure. Maybe grab another phone and do a little video to show the employees at the store what's going on.
 
its their call no one can tell you for certain.

point is make sure you can reproduce the issue. go to another store as mentioned above. call up sprint and make a claim/case there. if you generate enough noise they may eventually send you out a refurbished unit.
 
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