Totally different areas of the code... that's how it can be. One has to do with receiving the signal... the other has to do with displaying the relative strength of the signal on the screen.
Correct about different areas, but wrong conclusion.
The Infineon RF deck is programmed before assembly in the finished product, its code is not accessible without tear-down.
Reports like this - http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2008/tc20080813_430402.htm
say “Apple programmed the Infineon chip to demand a more powerful 3G signal than the iPhone really requires”
... and numerous reports of people using the 3G’s field test mode show no increase in received signal strength after updating to correspond to more bars shown.
... and you still have not addressed how a formerly maxed out transmitter would show as MORE bars when it is now providing LESS signal to each mobile.
BTW - it’s deja vu all over again -
“Apple has stated in their release that the new firmware update “improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display.” The question is, did Apple add any enhancements to get better reception or did they simply enhance the signal bar cosmetically?”