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Terrible GPS and LTE/mobile signal in Prime?

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by gene, Jun 12, 2021.

  1. gene

    gene Member

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    If I put my iPhone on the charging pad in my Limited, when connected via Bluetooth or USB, I get terrible GPS and mobile/cellular connectivity. In the cup holder it is “better” (I get some signal) but still not very good.

    Is anyone else seeing this? I’d sometimes have issues in the Gen 2 when on areas with limited signal/service, but things are way worse in the prime. I’m guessing it’s more of a faraday cage issue and the location of the charging pad is especially bad for reception.
     
  2. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    What phone? I’m not seeing this with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. If the iPhone 13 is any longer it won’t fit on the charger pad anyway. Who provides your cellular connectivity?
     
  3. gene

    gene Member

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    iPhone X and T-Mobile. In areas with very strong signal, it's not an issue, but in more marginal areas where it was fine when in the Gen2, I get much worse to no signal.

    Some of the issue may also be Apple Maps guidance when using Car Play... as apparently my car can teleport off highways it's been on for an hour onto a random side road... then onto a different side road on the other side of the highway (which I have not seen happen in quite a while before getting the Prime/using CarPlay).

    Good to know things may be better when I upgrade phones in the Fall though--thanks!
     
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Window tint?

    The factory tint is fine, but some (otherwise excellent) window tints are known to interfere with cellular reception.
     
  5. gene

    gene Member

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    Nope, no tint aside from what the car comes with. It's not crazy-different than the Gen 2, and the thread subject may have been an exaggeration (now that I've tested more)-but it's definitely worse. Glad to hear this isn't a general issue and may either by my phone or just driving in a different area the past few weeks!
     
  6. gene

    gene Member

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    Update — it’s my phone (US GSM version of thr iPhone X, apparently is known to have poor GPS) and that the Prime blocks just enough more signal to be noticeable than the Gen2.

    This is super annoying, since otherwise my iPhone X is in great—but I’ll likely trade it in this year.