iPhone

May 16, 2012 12:19 PM

iPhonefilter: After getting my screen replaced I cannot hear people when they call me but they can hear me. Speakerphone still works though. What happened? This is a 3GS.

Is it one of the three connectors connecting the screen to the main body? Maybe it wasnt inserted correctly?

posted by freddymetz to Technology (5 answers total)

There's not a plastic film covering the phone is there? The film from the factory is meant to be removed.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 12:24 PM on May 16, 2012

Yes, the earpiece is attatched by one of the three ribbon cables. As I recall, it is the one that is most difficult to connect properly when reassembling the phone. You can look at iFixit for more details.
posted by Good Brain at 12:25 PM on May 16, 2012

Response by poster: So its the number 3 cable? And in what way is the speaker different to the "receiver" for calls?
posted by freddymetz at 12:30 PM on May 16, 2012

The microphone and output speaker [the one that is used when in speakerphone mode] are at the bottom of the phone on either side of the dock connector. They're both built into that black piece in the lower-right corner of the photo linked above. The earpiece speaker is its own thing. In your case, that earpiece speaker is either not connected or it is dead/damaged.

Yes, it's the number 3 cable.

Given that the entire screen was replaced, probably it came as an assembly, which would have included the earpiece speaker. I vote for cable 3 not being connected, but in any case take it back to whoever did the repair.
posted by chazlarson at 12:56 PM on May 16, 2012

Before you take it back, also worth taking a look to see if there's some sort of dirt or dust on the earpiece speaker. I once dribbled a tiny bit of ice cream onto that speaker, and it was near-useless until I cleaned it (with a damp paper towel).
posted by psycheslamp at 1:18 PM on May 16, 2012