A new and an improved version of the J1…J4 method for optical phase detection, named J1–J3 method, is described, which is more stable to phase drift and simpler for implementation than the original one. The sensor dynamic range is increased while maintaining the accuracy and the minimum detectable phase‐shift. The method is experimentally validated by using an electro‐optic intensity modulator. The agreement between theoretical and experimental results, based on the 1/f voltage noise, is demonstrated. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett, 54:387–392, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26533