Submission + - Apple: Consumer Reports Antenna Testing Flawed
multimediavt writes: Many seem to be jumping down Apple's throat about the iPhone 4 antenna issue, but there still has not been any independent, credible, scientific diagnosis of the problem. Bob Egan, an electrical engineer, has posted a blog explaining how Consumer Report's testing was flawed and simply reinforces anecdotal evidence of a problem, but does not give any credible scientific diagnosis as to the cause.
From TFA:
"Consumer reports '½ÂoeRF'½Â engineers should know better than to think they can run an engineering grade test for an issue like this in a shielded room. And certainly not one with people in it.
To even reasonably run a scientific test, the iPhone should have been sitting on a non-metallic pedestal inside an anechoic chamber. The base station simulator should have been also sitting outside the chamber and had a calibrated antenna plumbed to it from inside the chamber."
Ok, there's a problem, but let's not overreact until we know the real cause and how it can be fixed. A recall may be needed, but it could really be a simple software fix.
From TFA:
"Consumer reports '½ÂoeRF'½Â engineers should know better than to think they can run an engineering grade test for an issue like this in a shielded room. And certainly not one with people in it.
To even reasonably run a scientific test, the iPhone should have been sitting on a non-metallic pedestal inside an anechoic chamber. The base station simulator should have been also sitting outside the chamber and had a calibrated antenna plumbed to it from inside the chamber."
Ok, there's a problem, but let's not overreact until we know the real cause and how it can be fixed. A recall may be needed, but it could really be a simple software fix.
