moeburn Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Boy do I feel stupid. So I got this nice metal case for my new Galaxy S3 at the dollar store, it was only $2 and made of real metal (not metal-coloured plastic crap), and while I know some people might think its fugly as hell, I thought it looked pretty sweet! So I put it on. And then I get very disappointed when I find out that my new Galaxy S3 can't receive wifi in my shed, like my old Atrix could. Even my netbook can get my wifi in my shed. And then I bring the phone inside, and discovered it can't even get a wifi signal in the basement of my house! So I walk around, and the wifi is working, just with a very very weak signal. I thought "this can't be right, this phone can't be that crappy", and then I remembered an experiment I did a while ago, where I wanted to see what material could block a wifi signal. I remember that all it took was a thin sheet of tin foil on top of a phone or tablet, and the device couldn't receive wifi at all. I took my new metal case off my phone. Suddenly the wifi signal increased by 25dB. :rofl: Apparently this nice metal case was to blame for all my wifi troubles. So could anyone recommend me a good place/online store to get a case for my Galaxy S3 phone for cheap? We have lots of stores and malls around here that sell them, but usually overpriced. I am specifically looking for a silicone rubber case so that I can prop/lean my phone up against something and not worry about it sliding down. I found many cases for my Galaxy S3 around here, but they are all hard plastic, which slides around like crazy. Thanks! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
metallithrax Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Boy do I feel stupid. So I got this nice metal case for my new Galaxy S3 at the dollar store, it was only $2 and made of real metal (not metal-coloured plastic crap), and while I know some people might think its fugly as hell, I thought it looked pretty sweet! Inflation's a bitch ain't it. primexx, jakem1, night_stalker_z and 2 others 5 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001247 Share on other sites More sharing options...
moeburn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Inflation's a bitch ain't it. Huh? I thought that was a pretty good price, seeing as how most of the sites I'm looking at are selling cases for $20-30. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001249 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAZMINATOR Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 you can get metal case from ebay... that are better than dollar store's crap. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001251 Share on other sites More sharing options...
moeburn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 you can get metal case from ebay... that are better than dollar store's crap. I would imagine that ANY metal case would have the same wifi-blocking effect. This one appears to be brushed steel. Aluminum has the same effect. I'm not sure what metals are available that don't have an EMI blocking effect. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001255 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAZMINATOR Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I would imagine that ANY metal case would have the same wifi-blocking effect. This one appears to be brushed steel. Aluminum has the same effect. I'm not sure what metals are available that don't have an EMI blocking effect. take a look here Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001261 Share on other sites More sharing options...
metallithrax Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Huh? I thought that was a pretty good price, seeing as how most of the sites I'm looking at are selling cases for $20-30. It was a funny based on you buying it from the dollar store, and it cost 2 dollars. :D Are they not like UK ?1 stores, where things are ?1, or 2 for ?1 etc, but no more than ?1 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001281 Share on other sites More sharing options...
moeburn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 It was a funny based on you buying it from the dollar store, and it cost 2 dollars. :D Are they not like UK ?1 stores, where things are ?1, or 2 for ?1 etc, but no more than ?1 Oh i see. Yes the brand name dollar stores around here try to keep prices under $1, but this was a 'mom and pop' non-chain dollar store. They didn't sell anything that cost more than $10. But you're right, it shouldn't be called a 'dollar store', it should be called a 'dollars store' or a 'bunch of random crap store'. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001291 Share on other sites More sharing options...
pack34 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 A sealed metal enclosure for any electronics device will act as a Faraday cage. The conductive material attenuates the signal. Smaller metal enclosures are commonly used inside electronic devices to prevent RF interference from affecting noise sensitive components. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001313 Share on other sites More sharing options...
xendrome Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008D4X804/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
moeburn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 A sealed metal enclosure for any electronics device will act as a Faraday cage. The conductive material attenuates the signal. Smaller metal enclosures are commonly used inside electronic devices to prevent RF interference from affecting noise sensitive components. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage Yeah, I know all about faraday cages, I tried building one once. I was just too dumb to see the connection at the time that I bought and tested the metal phone case. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1180647-psa-dont-buy-a-metal-phone-case/#findComment-596001321 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts