Do silicone "skins" choke wifi reception?

GavinBKK · 02-15-2011, 12:39 AM

Just after i got my iPad, I ordered a silicone skin from HK. I rarely used it, but with the demise of my Griffin Folio (don't get me started on their quality!), I started to use it again recently.

I have noticed that when the skin is on, I get less locations to connect to (plenty of free wifi where I am) and reception is generally slower.

I just tested this by taking it off and replacing it several times, whilst checking available hotspots and relative reception each time and there is definitely a difference - some weaker hotspots are not even shown when the skin is on.

I don't pretend to understand this at all - why should silicone have this effect?

mnewman · 02-15-2011, 03:50 AM

I was in a restaurant today with my silicone skinned iPad. A sign out front said there was free WiFi. I checked and found none. Later the owner (with whom I went to high school!) came over and asked if I was using their WiFi. I told him I didn't find any. He pulled out his iPhone (skinless) and he had two bars signal strength. I reoriented my iPad so that the screen faced in the direction of the WiFi AP and sure enough, two bars.

Could it be the silicone skin? Seems to defy logic. But I have noticed that my wife's iPhone generally finds a lot more WiFi signals than my iPad. I chalked it up to different designs, but, who knows?

SirDice · 02-15-2011, 04:38 AM

The silicone might be (slightly) conductive and it will then act as a Faraday cage.

roncross@cox.net · 02-15-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirDice


	The silicone might be (slightly) conductive and it will then act as a Faraday cage.

From what I understand, Silicone is rubber and shouldn't be conductive. Perhaps, it's just the direction that the phone is facing.

GavinBKK · 02-15-2011, 10:20 AM

Interesting stuff Gents. This morning, I was at my usual breakfast haunt, sitting within 6 yards of the router and had a single bar/spot. Take the "skin" off and an instant 4 bars, as well as alternative 'spots to link to.

I am now using a KbDock for heavy morning emailing and have been letting the skin hang over the top, as the iPad will not dock properly with the skin on. Take it off completely and no issues at all.

A phenomenon worth being aware of perhaps.

mnewman · 02-15-2011, 06:40 PM

If this were a widespread problem, you'd think you'd see more mention of it out there. I couldn't find a single thing except for one query on 'Yahoo Answers'.

I wonder if this is a tropical thing where high humidity causes a thin film of moisture to build up between case and skin?

More objectively; my router software (dd-wrt) has a pretty good signal strength display for wireless clients. It detected no difference in signal strength between skin on and skin off.

Go figure.

GavinBKK · 02-15-2011, 07:01 PM

Good point, I had not thought of that. On the other hand, I did buy a Pogo Stylus and that stopped working. Guess why? The tip had dried out - needs a certain level of moisture to work at all. Licking it did the trick.

Typing this from the same breezy haunt, no skin and loads of reception. I really started using the skin again because the iPad spends most of it's time under the seat of my bike - got one of those Yammy Nuovo things. I thought it would help with the vibration issue. Hopefully, Griffin will ship my replacement folio soon, so issue over.

renaultssoftware · 02-19-2011, 01:44 PM

I haven't a problem on my iPhone with an OtterBox case… then again, the silicone doesn't touch the device directly.

GavinBKK · 02-19-2011, 08:40 PM

Is the Otterbox made from Silicone?

renaultssoftware · 02-20-2011, 06:36 AM

It's some sort of rubber. Here's the iPad equivalent.

acme.mail.order · 02-20-2011, 06:59 AM

What colour is the silicone? I doubt that pure silicone will block radio signals but if it's black it could have a lot of carbon in it. Titanium dioxide is a common colorant when you want white (also used in sunscreen).

renaultssoftware · 02-20-2011, 07:13 AM

The silicone is almost black.

acme.mail.order · 02-20-2011, 07:24 AM

Feel like buying a clear one and comparing the two?

renaultssoftware · 02-20-2011, 07:28 AM

A few points:
1- I have an iPhone, not an iPad.
2- I haven't seen any "clear" ones.
3- The cases are like $70.

Sorry, but it's too expensive for me.

acme.mail.order · 02-20-2011, 08:11 AM

$70 for a silicone sleeve sounds rather high - the silicone wrapper for my 5G iPod was in the $10 range.

Gavin, mnewman: got deeper pockets than renault? (Or lower taxes? 13% in Ontariario.)

renaultssoftware · 02-20-2011, 01:47 PM

This is the OtterBox, which contains a plastic body and silicone around that. Did you look at the link I posted earlier?

GavinBKK · 02-22-2011, 10:23 PM

Yes, but the pics didn't really show the material clearly.

02-15-2011, 12:39 AM	#1
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 2,611	Do silicone "skins" choke wifi reception? Just after i got my iPad, I ordered a silicone skin from HK. I rarely used it, but with the demise of my Griffin Folio (don't get me started on their quality!), I started to use it again recently. I have noticed that when the skin is on, I get less locations to connect to (plenty of free wifi where I am) and reception is generally slower. I just tested this by taking it off and replacing it several times, whilst checking available hotspots and relative reception each time and there is definitely a difference - some weaker hotspots are not even shown when the skin is on. I don't pretend to understand this at all - why should silicone have this effect? __________________ LoadsaMacs.

02-15-2011, 03:50 AM	#2
mnewman MVP Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Korat, Thailand Posts: 2,046	I was in a restaurant today with my silicone skinned iPad. A sign out front said there was free WiFi. I checked and found none. Later the owner (with whom I went to high school!) came over and asked if I was using their WiFi. I told him I didn't find any. He pulled out his iPhone (skinless) and he had two bars signal strength. I reoriented my iPad so that the screen faced in the direction of the WiFi AP and sure enough, two bars. Could it be the silicone skin? Seems to defy logic. But I have noticed that my wife's iPhone generally finds a lot more WiFi signals than my iPad. I chalked it up to different designs, but, who knows? __________________ http://www.mgnewman.com/

02-15-2011, 10:20 AM	#5
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 2,611	Interesting stuff Gents. This morning, I was at my usual breakfast haunt, sitting within 6 yards of the router and had a single bar/spot. Take the "skin" off and an instant 4 bars, as well as alternative 'spots to link to. I am now using a KbDock for heavy morning emailing and have been letting the skin hang over the top, as the iPad will not dock properly with the skin on. Take it off completely and no issues at all. A phenomenon worth being aware of perhaps. __________________ LoadsaMacs.

02-15-2011, 06:40 PM	#6
mnewman MVP Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Korat, Thailand Posts: 2,046	If this were a widespread problem, you'd think you'd see more mention of it out there. I couldn't find a single thing except for one query on 'Yahoo Answers'. I wonder if this is a tropical thing where high humidity causes a thin film of moisture to build up between case and skin? More objectively; my router software (dd-wrt) has a pretty good signal strength display for wireless clients. It detected no difference in signal strength between skin on and skin off. Go figure. __________________ http://www.mgnewman.com/

02-15-2011, 07:01 PM	#7
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 2,611	Good point, I had not thought of that. On the other hand, I did buy a Pogo Stylus and that stopped working. Guess why? The tip had dried out - needs a certain level of moisture to work at all. Licking it did the trick. Typing this from the same breezy haunt, no skin and loads of reception. I really started using the skin again because the iPad spends most of it's time under the seat of my bike - got one of those Yammy Nuovo things. I thought it would help with the vibration issue. Hopefully, Griffin will ship my replacement folio soon, so issue over. __________________ LoadsaMacs.

02-15-2011, 04:38 AM	#3
SirDice MVP Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,119	The silicone might be (slightly) conductive and it will then act as a Faraday cage.

02-19-2011, 01:44 PM	#8
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	I haven't a problem on my iPhone with an OtterBox case… then again, the silicone doesn't touch the device directly. __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

02-19-2011, 08:40 PM	#9
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 2,611	Is the Otterbox made from Silicone? __________________ LoadsaMacs.

02-20-2011, 06:36 AM	#10
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	It's some sort of rubber. Here's the iPad equivalent. __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

02-20-2011, 06:59 AM	#11
acme.mail.order League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tokyo Posts: 6,045	What colour is the silicone? I doubt that pure silicone will block radio signals but if it's black it could have a lot of carbon in it. Titanium dioxide is a common colorant when you want white (also used in sunscreen).

02-20-2011, 07:13 AM	#12
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	The silicone is almost black. __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

02-20-2011, 07:24 AM	#13
acme.mail.order League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tokyo Posts: 6,045	Feel like buying a clear one and comparing the two?

02-20-2011, 07:28 AM	#14
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	A few points: 1- I have an iPhone, not an iPad. 2- I haven't seen any "clear" ones. 3- The cases are like $70. Sorry, but it's too expensive for me. __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

02-20-2011, 08:11 AM	#15
acme.mail.order League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tokyo Posts: 6,045	$70 for a silicone sleeve sounds rather high - the silicone wrapper for my 5G iPod was in the $10 range. Gavin, mnewman: got deeper pockets than renault? (Or lower taxes? 13% in Ontariario.)

02-20-2011, 01:47 PM	#16
renaultssoftware MVP Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pembroke, Ontario Posts: 2,051	This is the OtterBox, which contains a plastic body and silicone around that. Did you look at the link I posted earlier? __________________ Get Icon Creator and support me.

02-22-2011, 10:23 PM	#17
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 2,611	Yes, but the pics didn't really show the material clearly. __________________ LoadsaMacs.

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