Nokia E71-2 reception issues? Mmm
There’s word on the big bad Internets that the E71-2 is having a bit of reception problems. If you’re a Nokia fan, you know that’s pretty hard to believe. But, we can tell you that the E71 does in fact suffer from a horrible reception problem. While our Bold and iPhone 3G are constantly on 3G, our E71 has never even picked up a 3G signal. Additionally, we’re only getting 1 bar on EDGE sometimes! What’s the quick fix? Well, as dumb as this may seem (though the out of place bright red power button is pretty damn dumb), the only place to integate the cellular radio antenna was on the bottom back. It’s pretty much the only roomy place on the device where there is no metal. If you’re suffering from reception issues with the E71, try this… first, completely cover the bottom back plastic piece with your hand, and check out the number of bars you have. Then, grab the phone just at the very top by the ear piece, and hold it for a couple seconds. Did your reception just skyrocket? Yeah, ours too. There’s only one issue with this… most people, you know, hold the phone in their hand because they want to… uh… use it. Anyone out there finding the same thing? Hit us up!
Since opinions and experiences with the device go from awesome to ugly how about a really good test? E71 vs Bold vs IPHONE vs Curve???!!!
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Why do people who don’t have problems with a device, always assume that the person who is having issues, is lying? I remember when the 360 first began to have RROD issues, people went to the web to see if they were the only ones having a problem. Unfortunately they were met with angry reactions by people who felt they were lying and trying to tarnish Microsoft’s rep. If BG is having problems with a production unit, but didn’t have problems with a review unit. Why is there so much anger towards him? If you’re not having an issue, that’s awesome. But don’t think it’s impossible for someone else to have a problem.
So what he compared the Iphone to the E71-2? If he had a device that was working fine and compared it to a device that he felt wasn’t working to it’s potential, then so what. You know what humans do when something isn’t working on a network? They go and check something else that’s connected to the same network to see if the network is the problem. It’s called common sense. I’m no Iphone fanboy either, I work for T-Mo’s.
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Is this a joke? Is the guy on Howard forums seriously whining about the E71 having a spotty reception in his basement? HIS BASEMENT!!!
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Wow, I have the E71-2 made in Finland and I am having 3g connectivity issues where I work.
I think I’ve seen every icon there is in that 3G spot ie. (antenna symbol, E, 3G, 3.5G) from just sitting on the same spot all day.
Now that I keep the connection as UMTS, it is 3G/3.5G. Yes I agree the E71 is definitely wigging out over which protocol to use.
Coming from Verizon where my Treo700W was getting solid EVDO all day long, this is definitely annoying.
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It’s quite amazing that Nokia phones have a good reception because its antenna performance is not any better than Motorola or Sony Ericson. However, the SW is amazingly good that can help call performance in the field tremendously.
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Guys, clearly the problem is that the e71 is using different 3G bands in different areas (some of which are better at getting around walls due to the different frequency etc).
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I think even the E61 has an antenna at the bottom, I read it in its manual, so what makes the E71 different??
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Wow! Running hot you guys!
Please take a step back and consider the issues that affect reception. They include but are not limited to:
1. The signal provider and the number of towers in place to provide coverage.
2. The frequency and GSM/UMTS modes used.
3. The environment - signal must transmit through or bounce around obstacles. This can cause multi-path/signal strength/call quality issues.
My experience is that with digital GSM or poorly serviced 3/3.5G areas (low tower numbers) service is poor and ‘disorganised’ in its performance.
Locking to a frequency or service will normally provide the most reliable fix.
The above issues are not handset specific.
It is true that hand/pouch/head/holding style can affect reception, but is often a function of the above.
I am personally awaiting the arrival of an E71-2NAM purely for its ability to access the 850MHz HSPDA frequency. My SIM will be locked to this and will not ‘roam’ to digital. We do have a large 3.5G network that does have a large number of towers.
As a rural user that has travelled widely with a lot of different handsets, will let you know how it goes.
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Not whining stating facts. My N95-3, N95-4, N82, K850i, C902, 3 year old V3 Razr, Razr2 all had reception in my basement, the E71-1 and E71-2 does not. And if you read the 25 page thread I’m not the only one having the Bad Reception.
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R-J I think you are the only one having this issue. This whole story on BGR is just a charade…everyone banded together so that you could a have a forum to tell people what phones you have in your basement. mmmm yummy….basement phones!
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Well while we are waving our phones in each others faces, I can say my E71-1 gets very similar signal to my N95-1, N95 8GB, E90, E61i and 6220c.
It’s heaps better than my HTC Diamond and HTC Tytn II.
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is this post a joke? i tried a friends e71 yesterday during lunch and there simply is NO reception issue (i live in europe). i will buy this phone in a week or so.
maybe this is an us only problem?
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I just wanted to chime in on the RF issue with the Nokia E71-2. I work in an office building in Delaware and get Edge (AT&T) at this location. Right now, as my phone is sitting on my desk…I get full bars. I picked up the phone to type (which means my hands are covering the backside of the phone) and the bars drop down to 0-1. I flip the phone upside down and have the keyboard in the air and hold the phone near the earpiece. Immediately I get full bars again.
So as a person who has the phone and has had it for about two weeks now…I can confirm that MY phone suffers from RF issues.
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i shoved part of a business card over my sim card and under the sim holder, as the sim card seems to bend away from the holder. i find that now when i make a call from an area with poor coverage my signal meter climbs up instead of dropping to 1 or 2 bars. i also find that the signal doesnt fluctuate as much as it was before. before i did this, when i would make a call from the main floor of my house, the signal would be around 2 to 4 bars. now when i make a call if the signal is not full bars it will climb and stay at full or near full.
it is still sensitive to the position of my hand, though, so i have to hold it from the sides near the softkeys and over the camera too. hopefully this helps others too
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well I got my e71 and it absolutely has poor reception issues. I have no service in my cubicle where my n95 worked good. Anyone here saying they don’t have problems are just not in a fringe area. With all the similar posts here and at howardforums shows its a problem. Now what to do with this speak phone. My n95 may have to stay.
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lmmfao at BGR:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1413828
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Here in downtown Glendale CA, iPhone has a very poor 3G reception. GSM reception is outstanding but in the same place I get only one bar on the AT&T 3G network. In Glendale, AT&T’s 3G network is broadcasted on 1900 MHz but GSM is on 850/1900 MHz. AT&T 3G service is still in the beginning of the road and it needs more 850 MHz towers for full and stable coverage. In some places, mixed frequencies (850/1900) make phones switch between bands constantly and you will experience unstable reception.
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I have been using the E71-2 for two weeks with no problems, much better reception than my blackjack I or II.
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Does the nokia e71 work on tmobiles 3g network?
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Guys, I really think it has to do with whether you are using t-mobile or at&t. It seems like most of you who have problems are on at&t. guys who had t-mobile seemed happy with the reception on edge and 2g. so that might be it. also, covering any phone’s antenna can make you lose bars. hope this helps.
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Complain complain complain. I’ll try not to hold the phone by the bottom with two hands. Who the hell does that? Hold it normally and you wont have any problems…sheesh
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I am now on my 2nd unit as the first was returned due to horrendous reception issues. This is not much better but you are right about covering the bottom of the phone which reduces the signal strength.
This is a replacement for my trusty E65 whch i gave to the wife. I immediatley noted that where the old E65 had full signal the E71 had very low or no signal at exactly the same spot. Living out in the sticks the signal frequently wanders and I get cut off.
I have also noted that many times when getting cut off the phone display disappears for a couple of seconds and then does a minor reboot with the Nokia handshake logo reappearing then the main screen coming back. Both phones have done this. Has anyone had this problem?
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Hi,
Just to add my experience regarding the E71-1 signal issues (Melbourne Australia Vodafone network). The first phone I received had significant issues very much like those described several times above.
However, I returned the unit for a replacement and have perfect signal and fast web connection ever since.
My advice is to get the hand set changed out as the reception issues do not appear to be an inherent problem with this phone. (However poor QA procedures in manufacturing might be??).
Otherwise the phone is fantastic…I am very pleas I stuck with it after my initial disappointment!
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You’ve bumped your head if you think the E71-2 has any reception issues. I’ve had the phone for two months now, and have traveled through seven states both in major cities and in the middle of nowhere and have never once had an issue with 3G reception or had less than four bars, be it indoors or outdoor and regardless of covering the bottom of the phone. The only place I had less than four bars was in Utah while driving along I-80 west of SLC, but that was due to lack of towers and not the phone.
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My brand new E-71 does have reception issues. The signal drops to one bar or sometimes none in certain areas. My E-61 has a good strong signal in these same areas. So I can actually compare side by side and confirm that there is a problem. This is disappointing, Nokia has always been good in this department. This seems very serious because it is a hardware problem not software. How do you fix it? If anyone hears anything about a recall or how to fix it let me know. Where I live Panama City, Panama, companies are not big on giving back money, so I hope I am not out of $500.00 in the short period of time I’ve had it. I do want to mention that I love the phone it is the best looking phone with many features that are important to me.
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