Apple seeks antenna engineers after 'Death Grip' debacle, 10+ yrs exp & thick skin

[tmarket]

The three new positions are far from entry-level. Each position requires "10+ years of experience in RF with at least 5 years in antenna design and test for wireless consumer products." A Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is required, although a PhD is preferred.

 

[377OHMS]

Quote from tmarket:

The three new positions are far from entry-level. Each position requires "10+ years of experience in RF with at least 5 years in antenna design and test for wireless consumer products." A Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is required, although a PhD is preferred.

lol.

Hey Steve, do this:

1) Make a pole model (mount the phone on a tall stick in a anechoic chamber with the phone rigged to radiate CW at the freqs of interest).

2) Build a moveable rig that can position in varying azimuth angles at fixed elevation angles, mount a calibrated recieve horn on the moveable rig.

3) Radiate CW from the handset and collect 3D receive effective isotropic radiated power measurements at 300-400 azimuth angles at fixed elevation cuts.

4) Validate the setup and measurements so you feel sure you are getting a good data set.

5) Hire a Matlab expert and meshgrid the data into a nice 3D surface model of the resultant pattern. Make sure the data is repeatable. Save as baseline. Locate any severe nulls.

6) Now use this model to make small tuning changes to the matching network that connects the case-antenna to the transceiver. I would look here first before tweeking the case design as that would obviously be a last resort.

7) Take subsequent pole-model measurements and tweak until you get the most isotropic pattern possible. Its a tradeoff between a nice smooth pattern and directivity (gain over isotropic). If you must alter the case design approach it very incrementally.

Voila!

I would be happy to come over and fix this problem for, say, one tenth of one percent of total profits. PM me.

 

[bellman]

right, and as your #6 is the only point that really matters(and coincidentally the most vaguely described) your advice is really not worth anything to Jobs.

 

[377OHMS]

Quote from bellman:

right, and as your #6 is the only point that really matters(and coincidentally the most vaguely described) your advice is really not worth anything to Jobs.

Uhuh.

I routinely perform every task on that list on space and terrestrial systems carrying information rather more important than cellular traffic.

 

[Thermactor]

Quote from 377OHMS:

Uhuh.

I routinely perform every task on that list on space and terrestrial systems carrying information rather more important than cellular traffic.

Your premise is flawed in that you believe that anything may be more important than the day-to-day operations of 13-year olds discussing middle school politics and Twilight.

 

[WaveStrider]

They can always coat the rim with transparent non-conductive material.

Or manufacture Apple Tweezers so you can hold the phone while making a call...

 

[tmarket]

8 July: iPhone 4 return D-Day (or is it?)

Apple in its open letter state:

"As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund."

Well, that all seems pretty straight forward doesn't it? Except that it isn't. For you see, the 30-day returns policy may well be in place across the pond in the US and you can read all about it here in a special section of the sales terms and conditions on Apple's US website, but over here in Britain it's not the case.

You get just 14 days to make up your mind, and before you ask, there is no specific iPhone policy either.

So, we called the Apple Store in Regent Street. And the one in Milton Keynes. And the one in Manchester. And we were told the same thing everytime - the UK's return period is 14 days. Not 30.

(in UK) You need to get your iPhone 4 back to the shop by 8 July if you want a refund.

Oh, and for those in the US, that magical date is 23 July.

We're not advocating a mass return of iPhone 4s here. We're simply giving you the facts. If you're not happy with your iPhone 4 then return it within the stated period for a full refund. If you are, then hooray, and good for you - you've got one of the best smartphones on the market.

We have to say that our experience of dealing with Apple in the past when it comes to returning stuff is pretty exemplary. It has never quibbled about giving us a refund if we've taken a product back within the 14 days and it has also swapped our devices for new ones at the first sign of a fault within the warranty period.

If you do decide to return your iPhone 4 then you should have no problems. But ask yourself why you're returning it first. Because it's faulty or because you've been scared by the hype over the signal issues?