Are recent iPhone reception problems on Rogers Canada the result of Bell and Telus putting up "dummy" HSPA towers? That's what a Rogers rep told one customer who complained about calls cutting in and out for the last couple of weeks.

I apologize for the inconvenience that is happening with you're iphone. It is probable due to the new hspa dummy towers being put up by other carriers that it is interfering with you're signal. So I would advise to manually select the rogers network instead of the phone doing an automatic selection which it does by default. To manually connect on an iphone do the following. On the phone go to 'settings' then go to 'carriers' uncheck automatic and only select rogers from that list.

I've been having similar problems, only while in the western part of downtown Montreal, and also only for the last two weeks, and I know of almost a half-dozen others with the same problem in the same area.

Are dummy HSPA towers a likely explanation? We'll give Rogers' proposed solution a try and get back to you. If you've been having the same problem, let us know if it works, or if you have other ideas.

There are more lawsuits about substandard iPhone 3G reception on AT&T than you can shake an accelerometer at, and as we mentioned the other day, blog-star Om Malik has just publicly broken up with his iPhone 3G due to what he considers to be lousy reception on AT&T. (He tried a BlackBerry on AT&T as well and had the same problems, so he clearly blames the network).

Are these just nuisance suits and link-bait? Does San Francisco suffer more than anywhere else? Do all networks have lousy reception for someone somewhere? Or is AT&T really the weakest link in the iPhone 3G value prop?

How's your reception on AT&T? Is it making you re-consider being an iPhone 3G owner? And if you're on another network, Rogers, O2, Orange, etc., do you have problems, or is it just the US?

Mike and Dieter discussed this newfangled tech being offered up by AT&T (and others) called Femtocell during the last Phone different podcast, and our sibling site, WMExperts has posted up the quick and dirty:

AT&T is joining the femtocell bandwagon with their 3G MicroCell. While pricing and availability aren't indicated on AT&T's site, we do know that it will cover up to 5,000 square feet, allow up to four simultaneous, secure voice or data connections, and will require a broadband connection to operate. It is also only compatible with 3G phones.

Gizmodo has an update as well, but basically if you have poor to no 3G reception, you can stick this box on your home broadband network and it will route all your smartphone connectivity (including voice calls) through your cable or DSL. Cell to internet adapter, in other words. Negatives will likely include an additional -- though hopefully small -- upfront or monthly fee. Positives could be free nationwide calling while your phone is on the home femtocell network.

Anyone in a bad area think they'll consider this? Would you rather pay $250 up front and no monthly charge like Verizon, or $100 up front and $5 a month like Sprint? Or is AT&T not scratching one more dime out of your already picked-clean pockets?

TiPb loves answering your emails, but we also love sharing our answers with the community in hopes that more people will benefit, and even better answers will present themselves (hey, that's why we have them forums!). Today's question comes from Brenden:

quick question - are you still hearing about widespread reception issues with the iPhone 3G? I bought one and took it back because of poor reception, but i'm considering getting one again if the reception issues are fixed ..

TiPb Answers, after the jump!

There hasn't been nearly the outcry about reception problems, or network connectivity problems since Apple released firmware 2.1. Your carrier and the region you're in, however, could play a roll in the ultimate equation.

Anyone else having reception problems under 2.1? If so, what carrier and area are you in? Please let us, and Brenden, know!