iPhone 5 housing swap cellular issues

**iDoctors Chicago** · 02-02-2013, 08:42 PM

Swapped an iPhone 5 stock housing to a blue housing. Everything works great except I've noticed a loss of signal and cellular data. It won't go all the way to "searching" but it will constantly only have 1 or 2 bars. Phone will barely show LTE, mainly stays on 4G now. Not sure if anyone else had experienced this. Going to clean all the antenna connections with isopropyl alcohol. Have already reset network settings, restored, etc.

**Cowboy** · 02-02-2013, 09:10 PM

Take the logic board out grab some sand paper and pm me

**iDoctors Chicago** · 02-02-2013, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Take the logic board out grab some sand paper and pm me

Haha you've experienced this as well?

**Cowboy** · 02-02-2013, 09:26 PM

Yup and i have a fix

**iDoctors Chicago** · 02-02-2013, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Yup and i have a fix

Great! Pm'ing you.

**joshmoulton** · 02-04-2013, 06:37 AM

Don't be keeping this a secret.. lol I didn't notice much with my swap, but would be nice to know.. lol

**ruslan120** · 02-05-2013, 09:01 AM

^ What he said!

**iRevival** · 02-08-2013, 02:40 PM

Lol. Yeah it's a known issue with pretty much any colored frame. Whether it be on a 4/4S or 5. There's always a fix though haha.

**joshmoulton** · 03-14-2013, 05:29 PM

the "fix" doesn't really work unfortunately arg. I've done this on multiple colors, still see an average of 2 bars loss. I'm trying to figure out ways to get around this right now, sucks because I've got a lot of people wanting these done, but I can't knowingly do the swaps, nobody wants loss of signal lol

**nakedorigin** · 03-15-2013, 07:50 AM

it would be helpful if someone could outline how to fix this issue

**joshmoulton** · 03-15-2013, 07:51 AM

There isn't a fix yet. lol The original fix was to sand the paint off the top antenna mounts, I still see 2 bars signal loss. I'm working on trying a few things this weekend hopefully to help improve, I'll post updates

**joshmoulton** · 03-15-2013, 04:43 PM

Alright.. So after some testing and researching last night, I modded a 5 high copy cover.. As of right now initial testing is showing good signs of probably the best reception will get on these. I'm currently restoring the phone from a backup and will test throughout the night and I will be doing the same mod to a friends tomorrow to see if I can replicate it. Once I've verified it's a solid fix, I will post information with pictures, etc.

**dk2000zx** · 03-16-2013, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by joshmoulton

Alright.. So after some testing and researching last night, I modded a 5 high copy cover.. As of right now initial testing is showing good signs of probably the best reception will get on these. I'm currently restoring the phone from a backup and will test throughout the night and I will be doing the same mod to a friends tomorrow to see if I can replicate it. Once I've verified it's a solid fix, I will post information with pictures, etc.

Awesome! Will be looking forward for it

**joshmoulton** · 03-18-2013, 06:26 AM

Well as excited as I was to think I had made some improvement, it seems as if it was a fluke lol. Still seeing an average of 2 bars loss on LTE and it wants to switch to 3G a lot more often than normal as well. My research continues.

**B-Roll** · 03-21-2013, 08:13 PM

I did a swap on my own phone today and I'm definitely noticing a signal drop. My wifi is also crap. Any suggestions??

**Cowboy** · 03-21-2013, 08:27 PM

Working on a fix it will take me a bit of time but i know the problem and hopefully what i am trying works out i will post more after the experiment

**iRevival** · 03-21-2013, 08:36 PM

I "luckily" don't have LTE in my area yet so my signal isn't affected as bad. That's where it seems to hit the most. As far as a fix, none yet. I haven't experienced as bad of a wifi drop as others have and can't quite figure out why the wifi signal would drop so much, but I do have an idea.

**joshmoulton** · 03-22-2013, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by B-Roll

I did a swap on my own phone today and I'm definitely noticing a signal drop. My wifi is also crap. Any suggestions??

I only see a small WiFi loss on mine

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Working on a fix it will take me a bit of time but i know the problem and hopefully what i am trying works out i will post more after the experiment

Can't wait

**iDoctors Chicago** · 03-23-2013, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by joshmoulton

I only see a small WiFi loss on mine

Can't wait

Haven't noticed a wifi signal drop on mine. Sanded down the the two points where the antennas connect to the housing and it worked a little bit. Still notice a signal reduction. Upon turning off LTE there is a large signal increase (usually two bars). Looking forward to a fix!

**Cowboy** · 03-24-2013, 09:46 PM

Okay guys update!

My project to make it work was a failure. Not completely i think it helped but was not much better.....

I have came up with a new solution learn to anodize and make the color backs your self lol

I am a little disappointed my fix didnt work i spent alot of time on the last few days and nothing that i did seemed to work. I will say i do know what the problem is but not sure if their will ever be a fix unless the back manufactures change the way they make the high copied back plates

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: iPhone 5 housing swap cellular issues

Hardware

iPhone Modding

Swapped an iPhone 5 stock housing to a blue housing. Everything works great except I've noticed a loss of signal and cellular data. It won't go all the way to