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[JustinJones]

I have upgraded to an iPhone 4S, ever since receiving it, if i use the hands free cable after about 5 - 10 mins the person on the other end complains of an echo so severe that i can no longer talk to them.

If I press the speaker phone button this clears the echo, but only temporarily for another 5 -10 mins

 I have tried my iPhone 4 hands free with my 4S and exactly the same happens. I am concerned that I have faulty handset. There is also a discussion on the Apple site of this problem and it is across a number of networks.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3395013?start=0&tstart=0

I have tried phoning Vodafone for support but the settings they asked me to change have had no effect. Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

Justin

[aznazeep]

@JustinJones I too have found this problem. It's very annoying for me and even more so for the person on the receiving end. I definitely think this is a software issue, I'm hoping Apple will sort it in a software update. Are you using the handsfree cable that came in the box? I've tried using that one and my Sennheiser iPhone headset - the problem occurs with both.

Mods - can you replicate this issue / acknowledge that this is a problem?

Thanks,

Az

[JustinJones]

Hi

I have used the hands free supplied with my iPhone 4S, and my hands free that I have for my iPhone 4. The one that I have used with my iPhone 4 works without issue with the iPhone 4, but when used with my new iphone 4S within minutes I have the annoying echo which makes continuing the conversation impossible.

Regards

Justin

[Wayne Moderator (Retired)]

Hi JustinJones and aznazeep

Thanks for your posts here.

Your two reports are the only reports I have seen on this issue. We can only investigate handset issues when we have 10 or more examples of this.

Until that point, I can only assume that this is a fault with your device. It will need to be sent away for repair via one of our Vodafone stores. For more information see our Vodafone Repairs Thread.

Alternatively, make an appointment with the Genius Bar in an Apple store and take your phone down and show Apple the problems you are having.

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

[aznazeep]

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for your response. I really don't think it's a fault with the device itself, but a software issue. I've been looking at the Apple forum JustinJones posted in his first post (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3395013?start=0&tstart=0) and it looks like it could be a problem in all handsets but only identified when using a wireless headset. Many people have returned their handsets for new ones, only to find the same issue. Resetting the phone also does not change things. I personally don't think there would be any benefit in sending the phone in for repair, so for now I think I'll just wait for more people to complain on here and hope Apple fix the problem in their next software update.

Regards,

Az

[aznazeep]

@JustinJones I was just wondering if you've sent Apple any feedback on this issue? I just sent them a rant about the problem to the following link: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html I've sent it as a bug report hoping it might make them listen. I realise it's unlikely to do much but I guess it can't hurt! 

Just out of interest, have you had any problems with outgoing calls initially failing when you try to make them? On occasion, my phone will do this, very annoying! Turning off 3G seems to solve the issue, however, this isn't really a proper solution to the problem as I want 3G enabled! I did wonder if it was related to this echo issue.

Thanks,

Az

[JustinJones]

@aznazeep I completed a bug report to Apple about a week ago. I visited the Genius Bar yesterday and the person I spoke to seemed totally unaware of the problem with the echo/noise when using the hands free but they have agreed to change the handset as soon as they get any. (They don't have any for Vodafone in stock at this time)

I have decided to try another handset due to the lack of response to the problem on this forum considering the number of iPhone 4S's that have evidently been supplied. If it was a widespread issue I would have expected more feedback on the issue. I will feed back if the issue has been resolved when I get and test the new handset.

As for any other issues my iPhone 4S other than the issue of an intermittent in call echo with the headset has been faultless.

Regards

Justin

[JustinJones]

Well got my new handset today and after talking to my girlfriend using the hands free for 20 minutes without issue was feeling confident that it was resolved. But at around 24 minutes the line got the interference again with my girlfriend saying she could hear the echo again. I pressed the speaker phone button and the line cleared and I continued the conversation for another 14 minutes without the echo reoccurring.

So in short a new handset has not resolved the issue, it is better than my last handset by a long way (could only manage about 5-7 minutes) but not without the problem completely. I don't think i could be unlucky enough to get 2 faulty handsets so think it must be a software issue.

Or could I just be unlucky????? :-(

Regards

Justin

[aznazeep]

Thanks for the update Justin. Sorry to hear that your replacement has the same problem I agree, it's definitely a software problem. Today, after making a call I got through 32 minutes of 'normal' calling before it happened again. More people seem to be discovering the issue everyday and several blogs and news websites have started to acknowledge the issue. I'm fairly confident Apple will fix the problem soon with an update, but I'm still unhappy that my phone doesn't perform as it should. Pressing the speakerphone button is a slight work-around, but this is still unacceptable.

Mods, I realise that only us 2 have complained (via the Vodafone eforum) about this issue thus far, but it is clear that this is a software issue and is widespread, is there any way you could investigate this?

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2011/11/01/iphone-4s-falls-prey-to-new-bug-involving-echo-on-voice-calls-ip...

http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/01/audio-echo-bug-plagues-iphone-4s-owners-during-voice-calls/

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3395013?start=0&tstart=0

Regards,

Az

[Wayne Moderator (Retired)]

Hi JustinJones,

Thanks for coming back to us here.

It sounds like it could be an issue with the firmware on the handset given that you have had the handset replaced and the issue still remains.

We just need to have 10 examples of this and making sure that everyone with the issue is on the same firmware. Whilst I appreciate that it is unlikely for people to be on different firmware as everyone will more than likely be on iOS 5, could you please confirm what firmware you are using?

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

[JustinJones]

Hi Wayne

My iPhone 4S is using iOS 5.0. I would add that my iPHone 4 is also using iOS 5.0 and I swapped sims to establish initially whether it was my iPhone 4S or a problem with the sim or person I was speaking to and the iPhone 4 worked hands free without any issues occuring.

So not being an expert does this point towards a software problem with the new switching antenna or Siri maybe???

Regards

Justin

[Dave]

Hi JustinJones,

Just one thought at this point - you've mentioned that this occurs hands free and when you switch on speakerphone, but is the headset still connected when you try this?

If so, and especially if you always try to use the headset, can you try it with the device specifically disconnected from the headset and see if the issue recurs? If it does not, it may be linked to the connection between the 4S and the headset. Are you using the standard headphones or a separate paired Bluetooth handset?

Dave

[JustinJones]

Hi Dave

Sorry for the delay getting back to you but I didn't get notification of your reply.

I only get the interference and the person on the other end complaining of an echo when I use the hands free that came with the phone or the hands free from my other iPhone 4. I haven't experienced it when using the phone normally or on speakerphone.

If the echo occurs (always with the hands free) pressing the speakerphone whilst the hands free is connected clears the call so that I can continue with the call for a limited period before it reoccurs.

I have now updated to iOS 5.0.1 but haven't tried using the headset thus far. If the echo reoccurs with the new firmware I will report back.

Regards

Justin

[ih]

Here is another example of a very annoying echo with the iPhone 4S. The person at the other end complains of an echo unless I switch to hands free.

I appreciate you need 10 examples, but if you search, you'll find this problem being reported widely (thousands of examples) so it would be appreciated if you could take this up with Apple immediately or find an alternative solution for Vodafone customers. You are charging a lot for a device that is not currently fit for purpose.

Thank you.