Oh, and I also had another theory for a while, but have long abandoned it. I suspect that my location is stradling between two competiting towers. In other words, both towers are almost equivalent in distance away from me, just different directions. For a while I thought that whenever I get a 30 second window of no service, I suspect that it my phone is switching between one tower to the next. Although they are of equal distance, depending on unique situations, the phone might think that the other signal is better, thus switching over.

If this theory is true, then it is a matter of software algorithm that is flawed. Perhaps the threshold telling the phone to switch to a different tower was a little too sensitive.

Of course, now comes the flaw that made me abandon my theory. I never get dropped when I’m on the phone riding the L or the bus. And I’ve covered almost 10 miles in that journey. So obviously the tower hopping is quick and transparent, thus not explaining why the 30 second window of no service.

I have pretty much given up on having a clear reception at home. People who call me will always just assume it was my service that got screwed up when the line goes dead.

I’ll put my money on the combination factor of iPhone and AT&T’s network.

That said, the day when someone frees the iPhone from AT&T, i will give it another shot. In the meantime, i am sending my money to the hardworking folks at The iPhone Dev Wiki.

I’m staying with them though, because once I leave my high rise, I have perfect service everywhere else. Doesn’t make sense to me…