Develop Bugs

Where to I find an External Antenna for XDA II?

Since I'm not an expert on antennas I've had a hard time finding an Antenna for the XDA II. I'm actually looking for an antenna I can use in my home to get better reception. Does anyone know where I can buy one that plugs into the back of the device? I've already noticed much better reception with my XDA II over the XDA I ... with an external antenna it should be awesome. Thanks.

connectors
The connector was a standard unit used in the old 'carphones' I used to have loads of them, I worked on them from 89 to 96. I cant remember the name for them, they should be quite available, try www.cpc.co.uk they might have them.

external antenna - where to find?
I would love to find an external antenna also for the same purpose - stationary at home for better reception. Thanks for any help
Steve

external antenna - where to find?
I would love to find an external antenna also for the same purpose - stationary at home for better reception. Thanks for any help
Steve

I found out the specifications of the external antenna "receptacle" from the i-Mate folks (shown below). I've attached the PDF he sent. Now I have to find an appropriate antenna. I'm also thinking about getting a repeater, but I've heard they're expensive ($500-1000).
Thank you for the enquiry! Well, regarding your question; I am sending you a file (as an attachment) that should give you all the specifications of the external antenna. For any further enquiries, please contact us, we will be glad to assist you!
Regards,
Srushti Ghisad - Technical Operations Engineer - i-mate™ from Carrier Devices
Office No. 207-213 - Building 11 - P O Box 500085 - Dubai Internet City - Dubai, UAE

I cannot seem to open your attachment.

Bought my external at Radio Shack. The external unit cost $29, and the adapter was $10. Be careful with the adapters. Have the guy open it and make sure it fits right. Mine was for a motorola, and didn't have a black bushing around the base that others on the same rack did. The others didn't fit, but the one minus bushing did.

Sorry about the file. It's my first try to upload to the XDA Site. Here's the file from one of my websites.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/olliesshop/XDAStuff/RFConnector.pdf
Also, Thanks for the input about Radio Shack. I went there earlier and they said they didn't have anything. But it probably was the lack of knowledge of the salesman. I'll go to a different store and be more persistant. Thanks.

i had no problems saving the pdf file to my disk and opening it using acrobat reader
from the first uploading that is

Hey dadarkmcse - since you purchased one at Radio Shack that actually works . . . what's the part number? Might take a bit of the guess work out of it for the rest of us!
Thanks!

BRosenow said:
Hey dadarkmcse - since you purchased one at Radio Shack that actually works . . . what's the part number? Might take a bit of the guess work out of it for the rest of us!
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I knew you would ask that... and being me... i threw out the packaging. Let me swing by Radio Shack's site and see if i can find it...
17-345 is the base unit, and it was either 17-346 or 17-348 that was the cable for the unit. Try to find both at your radio snack and have the sales man open the package and plug it into the phone. The guy at the radioshack I went to was more than happy to do this, even though he had never seen my xda ii.
Good thing too - i HATE when they look at the thing and salivate all over it... quite annoying :wink:

Yea . . . I HATE when that happens. I just carry around a plastic bag to slip my i-mate into before I let anyone hold it. That way, it's 'drool proof'! :lol:

can you take some photos it?

What . . . you mean pictures of my i-mate in a plastic bag? :wink:
Oh . . . OK - I'd like to see pictures of the antenna and cable too!
Thanks dadarkmcse

I went by another Radio Shack on the way home tonight and they gave me that "Deer in the Headlight" look. They suggested going to AT&T ... arghhhh!!! I'm going to look at Radio Shack on-line and see if I can find something.

I finally found out the connector/adapter we need. I was told by my local Electronics Store / Experts that if I can get it to an SMA connector I'm all set. So after many phone calls and a few weeks of searching ... I finally found, I believe the only U.S. source for the adaptor.
This is the link to the page of the catalog http://dkc3.digikey.com/pdf/T041/0248.pdf. I ordered, from the top part of the page:
Switching Connector - #5
SMA Adaptor to Male
H2807-ND
MS-145-HRMP-A
www.digikey.com Toll-Free: 1-800-344-4539 • Phone: 218-681-6674 • Fax: 218-681-3380
I hope this works, since it cost $30.80 with postage. Now I need to go get an actual antenna that connects to SMA.

Thats the adapter, right? So what else do you need to make an antena, just coax cable?
:?

I haven't bought it yet, but my understanding is I need a Coaxial Cable with an SMA connector on one end and an antenna that attaches to the other end. I plan on buying a normal "glass mounted" type antenna, like they put on car windows and enough cable I can run it from my desk outside the window. The store I go to has a few different Car Kits that include the cable and antenna. We'll see how it goes.

Sorry to be boring, have you got a website for the type of antenna? Its just I guess????? in the UK i should be able to get the connector type from somewhere? RS or Farnells, or maybe maplins (there a bit like your Radio Shack) but the antenna I am not sure,
thanks in advance
Jim

as said up top www.cpc.co.uk they have loads of aerials, glass mount etc. click http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/product.asp?catalog_name=CPC+Catalogue&product_id=267273 for a page i found. I couldn't find the MS-147 on their site though.
Pete

XDA 2s Orange MPV200 Car Kit xdaiii imate

I am trying to find a cradle for my xda2s that will allow me to plug in a GPS reciever and use the phone functions as well. The spotty oiks I have asked in various shops can't help and email help at various websites isn't particularly knowledgeable. I already have a nokia kit in my car from the previous owner and intend using the wiring from that if possible. I particularly like this one:
http://www.pdamods.com/proddetail.asp?prod=A11XDA2SMNT&cat=113
but the details are scant on the site.
Anyone out there recommend anything to me???

GPS cradle
I've been looking for a similar thing and came across this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOLUX-CR100-G...QitemZ5826433844QQcategoryZ4668QQcmdZViewItem
I don't think you're obliged to buy it on eBay, but it's a start. What I'm wary about is that the microphone on the M2000 is on the bottom of the unit, so by plugging in as suggested in the picture on eBay would cover the microphone, and from memory the cradle uses the mic in the m2000. I haven't had the time to research this any further, but I hope this may help.

Exec - HTC Universal External Antenna

:?: I need a cable to connect to the phone antenna ports on the device - the port is smaller than the ones to be found on some mobiles (such as my old trusty Nokia 6310i) and I need to find out what type of connector is needed.
Does anyone know where a cable can be obtained or what type of connector is needed ?

I need a connector also
It took me weeks to find the special connector for my XDAII. Now I'm in the same boat for the Universal (JASJAR). I've been searching the net for a while to no avail, but hopefully I find one soon and let us know. :?

Sorry just too lazy to go through the manual so decided to ask the enlightened friends on this forum. I want to know if the antenna socket provided at the back of the Universal is for GSM signals. The GSM signal in my home room is too weak so I thought that attaching an external antenna would be beneficial to the strength of the GSM signal. But obviously even if it is so attaching an antenna would be possible only once we have found a suitable connector.
Kind Regards

I mounted an antenna outside my house
For the last 2 years (with my XDAII) I've used an antenna I ran through my outside brickwall and mounted outside my house. It helped the phone go from NO reception to a pretty good signal. I still have the cable running to my office/desk and all I need now is the connector. It has to be out there somewhere. I ended up buying my previous connector from http://digikey.com, but it ended up costing $30 ... but it was worth it. I'll do more digging today and see if I can find out more.
Oh and by the way, I was using GSM on my XDAII and the manual for the Universal says the connector (closest to the center or USB) is for GSM/GPRS.

Anyone find out what adapter fits the jasjar? My adapter for the pda2k does not fit.

I'm still looking
I've sent emails to PDAGold, HTC in Taiwan and i-Mate to not avail. I'm going to keep on looking. Obviously someone has to know.

Some progress - I've found out the connector type
The connector on the phone is a Amphenol MHC-H196.
I've posted a pdf with all the specifications of the connector on the circuit board ... http://wiki.xda-developers.com/uploads/MHCH196.pdf
Now it's just a matter of finding the correct adapter.

Well I gave up trying to find one and made my own
After spending many hours looking and getting an official "not available" from digikey.com (who I got my XDAII adapter from) and imate techsupport ... I decided to make my own. I haven't been able to test it with my Jasjar yet, though, since it's still being repaired at Topp Solutions in Miami.
I ended up using 26 gage solid wire (which is .4mm diameter) and a .062 inch (1.6mm) diameter female pin connector. This is smaller than the diameter of the connector on the phone, which is actually 1.82mm. Although, I expect it to expand slightly (permanently) when it's slid over the connector on the phone. Obviously, it's very crude for now. I just want to see if it works then I might make a prettier one. I included some pictures for fun. By the way this cost me about $9 in material (which I can use for other projects) vs. $35 for the last adapter I bought for my XDAII through Digikey.

From down under , land of long white cloud...
We have had the same issue ( product known as Jas jar)
My user name in this forum is Digs also, see our discussion :
REF: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=18&TopicId=7105
Did you see the interesting comments made by WilsonsElectronics. HTC really stuffed up with this one.
Is there any news on this matter.
At the moment I have sent an information pack to www.pasternack.com and I am currently waiting for a response. These people do customised products. See under technical support. I will keep you friends informed.
http://www.pasternack.com/ContactUs/ContactInformation.asp

I am after an adapter to get a signal booster... www.digitalantenna.com
I talked to them about three products. there email follows
Description Part Number List Price
60dB gain repeater system 4KSBR-50U $699.95
40dB gain repeater system 4KMR-30U $559.95
Direct Connect Amplifier DA4000 $299.95
DA4000:
The DA4000 amplifier must be purchased with an antenna and cell adapter cable and is a direct-connect system. The antenna is placed on the roof and connects to the inside amplifier which with the correct adapter would then connect to the cellular device. We have many adapters for different phones and air cards. If we do not have the adapter for your type of phone or air card the other option is a wireless repeater. However the direct-connect amplifier can provide higher performance because you are directly connected to it. Please use the link at the bottom of this email to download our 2006 on-line catalog. On page 28/29 is our Cell Adapter Cables which lists the adapters per make/model of cellular phone or PC card.
Description Part Number List Price
Direct Connect Amp. DA4000 $299.95
9dB cell antenna 288-PW $129.95
Cable 340-50NM $79.95
Adapter Cable pg 28/29 $19.95
4KSBR-50U:
The 4KSBR-50U system comes with an external antenna, 50' cable, amplifier/repeater, power supply and an internal antenna. So the external antenna can be installed on the roof with the cable going to the amplifier/repeater inside the house. The internal antenna is also plugged into the amplifier/repeater and is installed inside the house. There must be 40' separation and a wall/roof/bulkhead structure between inside and outside antennas.
With a good cellular signal outside the house the 4KSBR-50U system can reach as far as 40 feet from the internal antenna. Generally the SBR can penetrate 1 or 2 inside walls only and each wall will reduce the 40 feet coverage. Also keep in mind the weaker the outside signal the closer you will need to be to the inside antenna. The 4KSBR-50U system must have a signal that is at or greater than -90db to be able to amplify/repeat it.
4KMR-30U:
The 4KMR-30U, 40dB gain dual band cellular repeater system, comes with an external antenna, 30' cable, amplifier/repeater, power supply and an internal antenna. So the external antenna can be installed on the roof with the cable going to the amplifier/repeater inside the house. The internal antenna is also plugged into the amplifier/repeater and is installed inside the house. There must be 20' separation and a wall/roof/bulkhead structure between inside and outside antennas.
With a good cellular signal outside the house the 4KMR-30U system can reach as far as approximately 18 feet from the internal antenna but will not penetrate walls. Also keep in mind the weaker the outside signal the closer you will need to be to the inside antenna. The 4KMR-30U system must have a signal that is at or greater than -90db to be able to amplify/repeat it.

Try here for antennae and adaptors
I haven't checked this very far yet but the picture seems to match...
http://www.boatersphone.com/PDAs.asp[/url]

More detail...at : http://www.boatersphone.com/Adapters.asp
Its the Nokia 359914 Multi Manufacture Cell Phone adpater, You stick a velco thing on your phone next to the internal adapter, and slide the nokia adapter into it. This is NOT a direct plug in into the External GSM jack of the HTC Universal device ( ie Jas Jar ). But looks like our only safe option. Not sure how the velcro thing goes on the device, the Jas Jar has a plastic back ( over the battery )???
Works on these networks, the site says : 900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz/2100MHz networks
..."This is an extremely effective new kind of adapter, it works on a similar rinciple to the clip-on adapter, with the exception that it is tuned to work on more frequencies. We have tested it on all UK frequencies including 3G, and we know it works on the American 1900MHz band as well! This adapter was originally designed to work on Nokias but we have successfully used it on other makes of phones, making this a (hopefully!) truly universal adapter. It will work on 'candy-bar' style phones which have an internal antenna.
This adapter is two-piece, one piece is a velcro pad which has sticky-back plastic on it, and sticks onto the back of the phone over the internal antenna. The second piece is the adapter itself, which has velcro over the inductive plate, so it can be easily removed, and has a lead so it can be connected to an external antenna. '...

Where did you get the Information that it's a velcro adaptor?
reading the Page it says:
Plug-In Adaptor for O2 XDA Exec
More details about plug-in adaptor in general:
This kind adapter is called a plug-in adapter, for the simple reason that what it does is plug straight into the port on the back of the phone, and provides a cable connection to the antenna.
The plug-in adapter is preferred to the clip-on adpter, as it works on any mobile network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wrote them an email i'll keep you informed.

If you can get a plug in one then fine, but further down the page is where I get my info from. I highlighted in bold, just in case you cant see good.(Ha).
I'll bet the Jas Jar gets allocated the valcro one. As my experience is that its very difficult to find a plug one for the Jas Jar /O2 Exec.

Although I learly can read your bold text and being able to find this on on the page i really have no clue where you find the connection between the velco apdator and the O2 XDA Exec since it's marked with plug-in adaptor. Well we will see.

My apologies, yes "Plug-in Adapters", for "XDA, XDA II, XDA IIs, XDA Exec "..
BUT be carefull, the GSM external jack is very weak as per Wilson Electronic comments. Post me any confirmations of the plug in adapter working.

'Universal' adapters that apparently plug in
Their News page has a paragraph that describes a new adapter for various flavours of the Universal (although calling it Wizard to add to the confusion!) and warns against plugging in incompatible adapters. The adapters page lists the HTC devices under 'Plug-In' not 'Clip-on'. So that's why I posted.
I sent an Email after posting here, but it sounds like they are a small outfit so be patient!
Be careful with making adapters for transmitting antennae. For receiving antennae you can get away with almost anything, but for a transmitter a bad match on a connector will create reflections and emissions; it might even damage the transmitter (don't know if that's a problem here). If you don't see a clear increase on the reception bars with a well placed antenna, the adapter may be sending all the power straight back, doubling the voltage at the transmitter. Make sure everything is matched to 50R.
Nick (gave up my amateur radio license long ago since long hours in the loft didn't fit with married life!) :wink:

Reply from 'Boatersphone'
Can you do an adaptor from the obscure Amphenol MHCH196 socket on the HTC Universal Windows PDA phone? (XDA Exec, MDA Pro etc.). Presumably the other end is an FME f connector for the 'standard' phone antennas. Or alternatively the other end is a portable (non-mounted) antenna on 1800/2100MHz.
Many thanks
+++
Hello,
Yes we have an adapter to connect the HTC Universal to one of our antennae and you are correct about the FME F connection. We don't supply an adapter direct to an antennae, only in a two-part system via an FME connection, to allow for changing of either part.
If you require a portable antenna we have a 3G/Multiband antenna with a magnetic base (on 850/900/1800/1900/2100MHz frequencies) or we have a T-bar window antenna, which is 3G/Triband, although this doesn't produce as good results as the magnetic antenna.
Regards,
Arthur @ BPC

Any news? they don't seem to answer anymore. I wrote him two times. Anybody in contact with him?

Messing about in Boats
They advise to be patient, I bet we've flooded them with enquiries and they quote two days to reply!

BlueTooth reception Sucks....

I've used three SX66 vairiants of the Blue Angle and all of them have Crappy Bluetooth reception. You have to have the phone is your shirt pocket on the side where the headset is.
I know its not the headset as we have tried 4 headsets and they all work great with other Bluetooth phones. I can answer my Nokia phone from 2 offices down the hall with my Logitech Traveler. On my SX66 I cant answer it from my Cargo Pants Pocket with out getting masive static.
All the SX66s I've used are the BT v 3900...
Any Suggestions?

Same Friggin' problem
I have been up all night searching for an answer to this as I thought it was perhaps a problem related to upgrading. Then I remembered it was doing it before I upgraded. I wonder if it has anything to do with radio version, etc.
I would really, REALLY hate to go back to using the default earplugs that tangle if you think too hard.
Come on guys, is there a BT reception fix I'm overlooking? I was in a conference call yesterday from home and it sounded like someone was balling up candy wrappers in the phone on my end and the other's until I had to disable the headset and continue with the XDA IIs to my ear. :evil:

no bluetooth fix sorry.
radio has nothing to do with bluetooth

Reception really suck.....hope someone here can help....

I've been looking at this issue as well.
Per the nekkid blue angel pictures from the wiki, the bluetooth antenna looks to be a tiny chip looking thing...
Has anyone considered (or even did) replacing it with something a bit more substantial?
The wifi antenna is kind of small as well. GSM antenna looks OK.

try I Tech Clip II mini.
this is what I have been using for the past 4 months and has been great.
I have tried different types of Jabra BT, Mobile traveller.. none has worked and waste of money.
until i find this one... works great.

jdc said:
Per the nekkid blue angel pictures from the wiki, the bluetooth antenna looks to be a tiny chip looking thing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Jdc,
I cant find the pic you are talking about, if you could give me a pointer to where the bluetooth antenna is I see if I can come up with anything.

nuttja said:
Hi Jdc,
I cant find the pic you are talking about, if you could give me a pointer to where the bluetooth antenna is I see if I can come up with anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=BA_Technical
and
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=BlueangelNakedPictures
I can't find the page that lists which one is which now (naturally once I'm looking for it, it hides), but IIRC the wifi antenna is that small clipish looking thing at D-20, the bluish one at H-20 is the bluetooth, and the big green thing at the top of the board (letters C-K, numbers 1-6) is the GSM antenna.
Looking closer at the board, it would almost appear that there is an external antenna hookup as well for the wifi?
If I didn't have a cracked screen, I'd take mine apart to find out. I'm worried that if I did, the screen would totally stop working. :-(

That seems a bad location for the BT aerial to me with the charge socket at the back and all that shielding above.
I read an article about moding a usb dongle :
http://www.pentest.co.uk/documents/bt_dongle_mod/bt_dongle_mod.html
I’m thinking maybe we could try something similar on the Blue Angel but with an internal aerial in a better location, a bit like these ones on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200142840418
what do you all think?

nuttja said:
That seems a bad location for the BT aerial to me with the charge socket at the back and all that shielding above.
I read an article about moding a usb dongle :
http://www.pentest.co.uk/documents/bt_dongle_mod/bt_dongle_mod.html
I’m thinking maybe we could try something similar on the Blue Angel but with an internal aerial in a better location, a bit like these ones on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200142840418
what do you all think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, it is a bad location. Especially if one considers that often, one holds the unit in hand at that location, covering up the antennas.
Assuming that is the bluetooth antenna (I'm fairly sure it is, considering that is looks similar to the one in the dongle you linked to), I would think that it would be better to use one of those wifi antennas in the ebay link (or something similar) and try to keep everything internal to the phone. Since bluetooth does run on the same frequency as wifi, in theory, it should work.
No one wants to use a phone with a bunch of wires hanging off of it, otherwise why would we be complaining about the bluetooth range?
Now, if that other connector looking part is the wifi, the battery normally covers it. Unless there is a way to extend that to another user added jack, the same idea(s) for the bluetooth would apply.
I do not know how tight the clearances are inside the angle, as I've never opened mine. one would think that there might be a way to run the antenna wire on the inside of the back, or along the sides of the plastics. Perhaps around the GSM antenna area? Or would that cause too much interference to the phone/bt/wifi?

smtownsend said:
I've used three SX66 vairiants of the Blue Angle and all of them have Crappy Bluetooth reception. You have to have the phone is your shirt pocket on the side where the headset is.
I know its not the headset as we have tried 4 headsets and they all work great with other Bluetooth phones. I can answer my Nokia phone from 2 offices down the hall with my Logitech Traveler. On my SX66 I cant answer it from my Cargo Pants Pocket with out getting masive static.
All the SX66s I've used are the BT v 3900...
Any Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Love the read about this, but there was quite a discussion about this problem when the BA was released. I argued it with orange for pretty much the entire length of my contract, it was a faulty bluetooth driver. and surprisingly enough O2 and t-mobile got it right with their XDAIIs and the MDA III firmware's but Orange didn't get it right till almost about a year or more later. needless to say it started working after i pugraded the firmware later on. since then i'm now runnign t-mobiles firmware on it with the o2 active program ( hahaha yea best of both ) and it's been fine for me. So look into upgrading to any of the offical roms from whatever network your looking for, if' you've already unlocked the phone, great as should remain unlocked, if doesn't just re-run the unlocker

cyberjak said:
surprisingly enough O2 and t-mobile got it right with their XDAIIs and the MDA III firmware's but Orange didn't get it right till almost about a year or more later.
So look into upgrading to any of the offical roms from whatever network your looking for
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is an XDA iis form O2 with the last offical O2 firmware wm2003 1.40.242 WWE on, I`ve also tried T-mobiles 1.42 and upgraded the radio to 1.15 but bluetooth still sucks with a headset!
Maybe you got lucky or maybe its the headset you are using.

Bluetooth reception
Has anyone got an update on this subject since Aug 07?
I have the SX-66 version (Cingular/AT&T)
I have had this phone Since the middle of 2006.
I have upgraded to what I believe is the most up to date programming mods that are available: (other than WM5/6, of which I have planned to do in the near future, I have tons of software and utilities that only run in 2003 edition and I would have to reacquire.)
BA---PH20B1
WM2003 2nd edition
Ver. 1.42.00 WWE
Build date: 09/05/05
Radio Ver.: 1.15.00
Protocol: 1337.45
ExtROM: 1.40.125 WWE
BT- PPC/PE Ver.: 1.0.0.3900
The thing about Modding the chip or placing an antennae jack IS that, all of which that is exposed, in the naked pics of the Blue Angel, are all in fact, canned and can be difficult to expose, to do any modding, without micro precision equipment and a steady hand. I have accomplished modding regular cell phones this way, however, this device is a bit more at risk and can get expensive and messy. I have a few boards, I have acquired through buying spare parts for mine in the case of accidents, of which I have performed with ALL the help of these forums. I will work on this, at this point IF you folks do not have any other alternatives, outside hanging pointless wires hanging around (me thinks that is WHY the bluetooth and wireless technologies were implemented?) With any success, I will report, outside failure, with some sort of procedure and details, that maybe someone with a bit more knowledge and expertise can modify to a possible easier closure on this REAL problem. Sure there are maybe better devices that can, maybe measure up to this Blue Angel, but I love my Angel, even with the flaws!
It has been a great challenge and all of the possibilities that XDA development has brought to the table.
In the last 2 years I have had this phone this is my FIRST posting.
The Bluetooth has been my ONLY real problem. I have to carry it in my shirt pocket using a BT headset and it is still really bad at that. I have used some of the best headsets and gone to great expense, to try and alleviate what I thought, by chance, that I could have finally found one that would superceid
the problem, however, to no avail, I still have the same problem.
If by chance that I could actually find a bigger chip, I think I would have to have the right drivers for it and will have to lead a command string, I am guessing through going to the kitchen and cooking up some ExtROM for the 'moddapplication'?
Blackberry has, I think, one of the strongest chips available. I have a 7100t that i could answer from 300 ft of a house with walls. My 650 isn't that good.
I apologize for being long winded, I suppose I am catching up from not communicating in the past, but I followed the rules of this site, and I haven't needed to ask a question and not needed to help someone else, because you guys have had the answers in these forums. Without further a'due........
Finally, if you have any FRESH ideas or direction on this bluetooth delima, outside using a can opener, .........***please***, let me know............
Best regards,
gcopher
http://www.michellebrown-and-mmd.com

External GPS Antenna

My Artemis did not come with an external GPS antenna. I've been looking online, but I can't find any sort of specification as to what kind of connector this external GPA antenna jack uses. What kind of antenna should I buy?

The Artemis has a built-in Sirf III GPS antena which work even with cars having a reflective windshield.

Yes, thank you. I would still like an external antenna just in case.

in the Premium version, I bought, there was an external GPS-antenna included.
It has a very long cable.
But sorry, I can't tell you, what kind of connector it has.

If you really think you need an external aerial for the GPS unit in your device (which I doubt to be honest) have a search for the part number 36H00352-00M it transpires that the same aerial was supplied for the I-Mate PDA-n, you can purchase one from http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=129590 (at least I can improve the reception on my PDA-n now I know that! and I have found a use for the external GPS aerial that was supplied with my Arte) - Mike

... there is one also available here.
PavelR.

I was thinking of this as well.
It may be necessary to get an ext antenae, because it takes a about 1 - 5 minutes sometimes for the handset to pick up (or connect as it shows in grey) a GPS signal

AD10 said:
I was thinking of this as well.
It may be necessary to get an ext antenae, because it takes a about 1 - 5 minutes sometimes for the handset to pick up (or connect as it shows in grey) a GPS signal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the new update of Navigator 6 on the TomTom site before buying. Maybe there is some goodies there

I upgraded to the 6.03 and it still takes a very long time for it to get a valid signal.
I inquired about HTC P3300 external antenna GPS signal booster but they are out of stock and have no ETA when they are going to get them in.
Anybody have a source on where to get the above product from?

Ext Aerial
The HTC 3300 uses the same external aerial as i-Mate PDA-n. I got mine through Expansys. It really boosts the signal, but makes no real difference to TTFF. It is much better in the concrete jungle though.

How much from Expansys? I'm in melb too so AUD is no problem for me. My last city trip saw signal drop out nicely!
good thing i was testing and knew where i was going!

jdl1306 said:
How much from Expansys? I'm in melb too so AUD is no problem for me. My last city trip saw signal drop out nicely!
good thing i was testing and knew where i was going!
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WOW - Lucky you.
Imagine nto knowing your way.
@Camstech - How long does it take before you get a valid GPS signal with the ext antenna connected ?
Rgds

O2 Orbit Aerial
Hi. Having used an Exec running the same version of CoPilot, but with a Holux GPSlim 236 BT, the Orbit is definitely slower to TTFF, and sometimes gets a little 'lost'. For a few seconds, it will jump to a street maybe a 100m away, then come back, and recalculate the route again. I feel that an aerial might just improve matters a bit. I have read the previous posts, and am still finding great difficulty in finding an external aerial to fit the Orbit. O2 have no information at all, and when I've contacted the suppliers listed above, they have all said that they don't carry aerials that fit. One suggested that they suspect that the connector for the Orbit is now actually different from the original Artemis - although that seems rather unlikely. Have now tried MMCX, MCX,and lastly SSMB - none of which fit. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hiznibz54 said:
Have now tried MMCX, MCX,and lastly SSMB - none of which fit
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According to http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=5887 it's a mini-MMCX.

Aerial
Yes, I know, but when I rang them today, they were the ones who said that it wasn't the MMCX, that the O2 may be now different from the Artemis, and they had been asked quite a few times for a suitable aerial, but they definitely didn't have anything that fitted, nor did they know what it was.. The plot thickens.. The connector looks exactly the same as in the phone socket beside it, but a few phone companies I've shown it to don't know either.

I just picked up a BT-359W Bluetooth GPS Receiver for 85- Euro new.
The only difference between the BT-359W & BT-359S is the design on the top.
I made sure the battery was 100% charged before I turned it on (old habits die hard) and after spending 5-10 minutes trying to configure the Bluetooth on the HTC P3300 - I am a newbie when it comes to this new technology - it was able to get 3 satellites while I was in the house right away.
The thing is very small also - 82 mm x 41 mm x 13.4 mm (Inches: 3.22" x 1.61" x 0.52").
I would have to say that this is a great alternative to a wired antenna.
Here is a review I read before making my final decision: GlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS receiver review

I tried my BT Holux GPSlim 236, which I'd previously used with my XDA Exec, with the Orbit. It paired up automatically in about 20 secs, and the reception, and TTFF is MUCH better. Without 236, in my office, I was struggling to get more than 4 satellites, and a fix was at least 5 mins. Admittedly this was deliberately in a poor reception area. Swapping to the 236, by the time it had registered with the Orbit - as I said, only about 20 seconds - when I checked satellite status, it had already found 11, and had a 3D fix!! I had hoped for the simple life, with just the Orbit in an active car cradle, but I think if I can't get a simple plug-in aerial, it'll have to be back to the BT 236, and its charger.