Develop Bugs

Signal boosting experiment.

Well, it's 6 am here and I decided to do a little experiment with my phone to boost my signal.
I simply placed aluminum foil over the signal connector thingy and it did happen to boost it up to 3 steady bars, when I would normally get about 1.
This may or may not work for you. Let me know if this actually worked for you.
Sent from my ADR6350 using XDA Premium App

Pictures would be great. There are two antenna connectors in the back cover, one near the bottom and one near the top.

Didnt work for me

arent you supposed to put toothpaste in the foil and wrap it good?

jesand83 said:
Pictures would be great. There are two antenna connectors in the back cover, one near the bottom and one near the top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's exactly were I placed them and closed the cover. It molds right in.
Sent from my ADR6350 using XDA Premium App

voxigenboy said:
arent you supposed to put toothpaste in the foil and wrap it good?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know anything about that.
Sent from my ADR6350 using XDA Premium App

wouldn't that put both the ground and signal in contact with each other? possible to post a quick picture?

There are 4 contacts under the phone, and 4 on the back cover. 2 of them (next to the camera) are linked. I suspect the contacts next to the camera are the looped GPS antenna.
The other 2 contacts are separate radios. One is wifi and the other is mobile (they are not looped). These should not be bridged (this can cause problems, actually). I think the outer contact is mobile and the inner (has the longer yellow strip on stock back cover) is wifi.
I've been kinda studying the back cover antenna thing and I've come to a bit of a strange conclusion: I knew the yellow bit was conductive paint or ink, but I'm suspecting that the yellow bit is the entire antenna as I can't find any other connectivity, wires, etc.
I know I've been defending this device in terms of signal quality, but I'm thinking, now, that this can be improved a lot. I'm probably going to be destroying my back cover in the name of science this weekend. I know I can get a replacement back cover so no big deal!

nimdae said:
There are 4 contacts under the phone, and 4 on the back cover. 2 of them (next to the camera) are linked. I suspect the contacts next to the camera are the looped GPS antenna.
The other 2 contacts are separate radios. One is wifi and the other is mobile (they are not looped). These should not be bridged (this can cause problems, actually). I think the outer contact is mobile and the inner (has the longer yellow strip on stock back cover) is wifi.
I've been kinda studying the back cover antenna thing and I've come to a bit of a strange conclusion: I knew the yellow bit was conductive paint or ink, but I'm suspecting that the yellow bit is the entire antenna as I can't find any other connectivity, wires, etc.
I know I've been defending this device in terms of signal quality, but I'm thinking, now, that this can be improved a lot. I'm probably going to be destroying my back cover in the name of science this weekend. I know I can get a replacement back cover so no big deal!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a cover that's dented..if you need it for science...well..
sent from an under rated phone

nimdae said:
There are 4 contacts under the phone, and 4 on the back cover. 2 of them (next to the camera) are linked. I suspect the contacts next to the camera are the looped GPS antenna.
The other 2 contacts are separate radios. One is wifi and the other is mobile (they are not looped). These should not be bridged (this can cause problems, actually). I think the outer contact is mobile and the inner (has the longer yellow strip on stock back cover) is wifi.
I've been kinda studying the back cover antenna thing and I've come to a bit of a strange conclusion: I knew the yellow bit was conductive paint or ink, but I'm suspecting that the yellow bit is the entire antenna as I can't find any other connectivity, wires, etc.
I know I've been defending this device in terms of signal quality, but I'm thinking, now, that this can be improved a lot. I'm probably going to be destroying my back cover in the name of science this weekend. I know I can get a replacement back cover so no big deal!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool! haha. look forward to hear back any conclusions or findings from your experimenting.

nimdae said:
There are 4 contacts under the phone, and 4 on the back cover. 2 of them (next to the camera) are linked. I suspect the contacts next to the camera are the looped GPS antenna.
The other 2 contacts are separate radios. One is wifi and the other is mobile (they are not looped). These should not be bridged (this can cause problems, actually). I think the outer contact is mobile and the inner (has the longer yellow strip on stock back cover) is wifi.
I've been kinda studying the back cover antenna thing and I've come to a bit of a strange conclusion: I knew the yellow bit was conductive paint or ink, but I'm suspecting that the yellow bit is the entire antenna as I can't find any other connectivity, wires, etc.
I know I've been defending this device in terms of signal quality, but I'm thinking, now, that this can be improved a lot. I'm probably going to be destroying my back cover in the name of science this weekend. I know I can get a replacement back cover so no big deal!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I will have to do some science as well, with FOIL!
anyone know where I can get conductive paint from? Maybe thickening the pre painted paint will make a better connection with the signal thingies?
And about the pics, sorry I can't post any, my phone is the only camera I have at the moment.
Sent from my ADR6350 using XDA Premium App

you could still take pictures with the battery cover off, no? isn't the foil on the battery door?

Avelnan said:
Interesting. I will have to do some science as well, with FOIL!
anyone know where I can get conductive paint from? Maybe thickening the pre painted paint will make a better connection with the signal thingies?
And about the pics, sorry I can't post any, my phone is the only camera I have at the moment.
Sent from my ADR6350 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Conductive ink is generally composed of a conductive polymer or contains metallic dust for conductivity. It's generally used as a cheaper method of bridge contacts between conductors. I've never seen it used this way before.
One thing I know about wireless signaling is length of antenna wire is important. I don't know the exact math for determining optimal length by frequency, but I do know the longer the better, preferably long enough to receive a full wavelength.
To be honest I'd be quite surprised if the conductive ink is being used as the antenna. However, I really can't find evidence to state otherwise.

nimdae said:
To be honest I'd be quite surprised if the conductive ink is being used as the antenna. However, I really can't find evidence to state otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree..since it only gets signal with cover on.
sent from an under rated phone

The inner contact is actually the mobile radio. I'm getting signal with bus wire but it's not a marked improvement. This is connected to the full 400' spool, though.
I've already damaged my back cover so I'm pretty much committed to this experiment. Going to do a little more testing before I commit to modification.

nimdae said:
The inner contact is actually the mobile radio. I'm getting signal with bus wire but it's not a marked improvement. This is connected to the full 400' spool, though.
I've already damaged my back cover so I'm pretty much committed to this experiment. Going to do a little more testing before I commit to modification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an extra. Where you live
sent from an under rated phone

knipp21 said:
I have an extra. Where you live
sent from an under rated phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh, don't worry about it It's not gonna bother me to have to buy a new one.
After a bit of testing using a 1' length of wire (used solder to build a flat contact on the end and pressed it in, feeding the wire through the tiny hold...for testing) I've found the signal strength marginally improves, but the data speeds improve quite a bit. In one of my rooms I tend to get poor signal/speed (pipes? not sure) but was able to double my speeds. However, the connection was still pretty unstable.
The end with my homemade flat contact broke and I don't feel like making another one right now. I have a temporary solution that works, but is a bit fragile.

nimdae said:
Eh, don't worry about it It's not gonna bother me to have to buy a new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok btw I got hulu plus to work
sent from an under rated phone

Very interested to hear your results, nimdae. I was almost going to play around with this the other day.
I do have a suspicion though that some of the antenna may actually be "hidden" in the cover. I managed to carve off and expose some metallic looking material where you open the case at. Not sure if it is indeed since I didn't go any further.

Foil worked for me!!! My signal just went from -125 dbm to 98 dbm!!
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA App

Back cover won't snap in at the bottom left corner

It's only been 1 week and the poor quality, flimsy back cover is showing wear and tear. It won't get into its allocated slot, and by the looks of it, seems that it became a fraction shorter.

It always seems click in better for me if I start at the bottom and work up.

TareX said:
It's only been 1 week and the poor quality, flimsy back cover is showing wear and tear. It won't get into its allocated slot, and by the looks of it, seems that it became a fraction shorter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not putting it in correctly. Gotta make sure the bottom tabs are before you start snapping the rest. I have more success getting the right tab in first and messing around till the other tab falls in and the bottom of the cover kisses the phone.
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.

SOLVED: Thanks to this guy from androidcentral:
"Originally Posted by DBVille: And, make SURE the hooks aren't bent up. I am betting the hooks have been bent up, at least on one side, from trying to push it closed. (dont ask how I know). Look very closely at the hooks. Put your finger nail under them and pry them up/apart from the back if they are too close to the cover to engage the clips on the phone. When done right, it just snaps on. But, you must get the bottom done first."
The hooks were bent up... fixed them with my nails. Now it snaps back on. Still pretty cheap though.

Or user error?
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.

you're not supposed to snap in the bottom hooks, you lock them in first, then snap in the ones rest...

wonshikee said:
you're not supposed to snap in the bottom hooks, you lock them in first, then snap in the ones rest...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 this is how I do it...common sense...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

Happen to me too the first week. I'm a pro now.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

God, the build quality and camera are a real disappointment on this phone. thanks for the tip on bending up the tabs.. worked for me..

never the OP's fault that he doesnt know how to put the back cover on.. always Samsung's fault for not making it tard proof.

Zepius said:
never the OP's fault he doesnt know how to put the back cover on.. always Samsung's fault for not making tard proof.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Admittedly the back cover of the GN is one of the more complicated ones to put back onto the phone.
Do not force it on - if you do it right, it will go back on with just a little pressure. Like others said before you have to start at the bottom latches and work your way up from there. Note that the bottom latches are different from the others and do not snap in like the rest.

I'm extremely pleased with the build quality of this phone! A product feels VERY well build when you can't make it flex slightly or make the battery cover creak by squeasing the phone a certain way! Looking at you, HTC! The DInc, Thunderbolt, and Rezound that I've had all suffered from that. (Though I couldn't make the Thunderbolt flex)
And anytime you drop an HTC phone, first the battery door flies in the air, then the battery pops out -.-
Samsung on the other hand, the Nexus is VERY solid, battery door doesn't creak nor does the frame. No creaking sounds at all. I cannot flex the phone. What is it with people dissing Samsung for making plastic phones, what do you want them to do? Engineer a new compound? Geez

As so many have pointed out, the cover doesn't snap at the bottom; you start there by inserting the bottom hooks, then snap the sides and top.
In fact, I've found the easiest, most effective way to do it is laying out face down, insert the bottom hooks, then zip up both sides together with my thumbs, finishing with effortlessly snapping the top in.
As for the build, I couldn't disagree more strongly. The back design is brilliant. The phone overall is rock solid, and has solved the common back pop-off battery pop-out of most phones today.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I was at a Verizon store last night. Picked up the phone from the display they had it in. The back cover fell off along with the security device. Does the cover have issues staying on? Would a case solve this issue?

Tisosview said:
I was at a Verizon store last night. Picked up the phone from the display they had it in. The back cover fell off along with the security device. Does the cover have issues staying on? Would a case solve this issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no issue if you put it on correctly.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Careful because our store model had a broken back cover since day one. Two sided take is holding it together at the moment.

Tisosview said:
I was at a Verizon store last night. Picked up the phone from the display they had it in. The back cover fell off along with the security device. Does the cover have issues staying on? Would a case solve this issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happens at all the stores. Some have ziptied the backcover back on . However, it really is a non issue. In the case of the store phones, the heavy security device that is glued onto the back cover, pulls very hard at the back cover and it creates issues. In reality, given that it is a completely flat piece of plastic that is sitting flush against your phone with no handles, there is no way to exert even remotely the same amount of outward forces on the back cover.
While removing and putting on the backcover doesn't feel great, the cover does a great job, helps keep the phone slim and light, and looks pretty damn good. The store model did put me off due to this same issue with the security device, but I have had absolutely no issues with the backcover, or the phone feeling flimsy (and I came to the GN from the OG!).

LOL the back cover is well built imo. Just because it is thin does not mean it is of poor construction.The people who are having problems just aren't bothering to learn how to put it on. You don't just snap the whole thing on. Put any backcover on incorrectly and you risk damaging it.
I remove my back cover regularly to swap SIMs and although I've had it since release day not only does it look the same as it did when I bought it but it functions perfectly too (stays on nice and tight).
TLDR; If your tabs are bent you're doing it wrong. Don't blame design for your lack of intelligence.

Thank you for the replies. It is reassuring.
I found it funny that the security really didn't work for this device. Since the alarm didn't go off when the back fell off.

Bottom tabs get bent up
I've had my GN for a little over a week. The problem that I have, and I assume the others have, is that the tabs at the bottom get bent up so that they can't hook in.
I bent them down with my fingernail so that they are horizontal again, and it clicked in fine.
My concern is that this is already a problem after a week, and plastic can only take so much bending and fatigue before it totally breaks, which will eventually occur. I would imagine that at least some people who have had their GNs since launch have already experienced this.
Frankly, I think this is a manufacturing issue that Samsung should ultimately address.

modified back cover

so, i've got way too much time on my hands and was looking for a brushed aluminum style back cover to match our cameras online. I could find nothing. i started looking into the process of melting aluminum, which is surprisingly easy, as is creating the brushed effect. as of right now i currently have my back cover pushed into some drywall mud (no modeling clay) and drying so that i can form the second half of my mold. just thought i would inform you guys of my insanity!
TL;DR : trying to make an aluminum back cover from scratch.

extravillager said:
so, i've got way too much time on my hands and was looking for a brushed aluminum style back cover to match our cameras online. I could find nothing. i started looking into the process of melting aluminum, which is surprisingly easy, as is creating the brushed effect. as of right now i currently have my back cover pushed into some drywall mud (no modeling clay) and drying so that i can form the second half of my mold. just thought i would inform you guys of my insanity!
TL;DR : trying to make an aluminum back cover from scratch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder how that will work as far as cooling is concerned. Post some pics when you've got it all set.

dbjungle said:
I wonder how that will work as far as cooling is concerned. Post some pics when you've got it all set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think antenna reception would be a bigger concern. Still, I would totally plunk down some cash to buy one, if you figure out how to do something easily repeatable...

Keep us posted, this sounds like a really cool idea!

i'll definitely let you guys know how it goes. good to know people care because it will keep me from stopping half-way through. haha. i'll probably do most of it this weekend. the drywall mud was pretty dumb, im probably going to use a greensand mold and see what i can do with that. ill just do the dividing line along the back of the back cover.

the bad news: greensand is hard as hell to find at stores or anything
good news: i have scrap aluminum, and i can borrow my girlfriend's dad's propane torch. i went out and bought plaster of paris tonight. Going to set up the mold tomorrow morning and once it is hardened i can start the process of melting+pouring+setting the aluminum in the mold.
turns out walmart sells plaster of paris in a big purple box covered in flowers, which made it somewhat difficult to find considering nobody there knew what it was....

bottom half of the mold is set and drying. here's hoping i can get it back out. haha.

Looks like it might be kinda hard making sure the holes for the speaker are cut out properly!

i made sure the plaster got far enough into the holes to make an imprint, but not far enough to seal the back to the mold.

extravillager said:
i made sure the plaster got far enough into the holes to make an imprint, but not far enough to seal the back to the mold.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats good! Do you have a dremel or something else to smoothen out edges? Molds typically create a lot of extra garbage on the side that needs to be cut off... Your using aluminum right?
If yours comes out good and doesnt hinder the signal quality too bad, i think i might do the same

PMad said:
thats good! Do you have a dremel or something else to smoothen out edges? Molds typically create a lot of extra garbage on the side that needs to be cut off... Your using aluminum right?
If yours comes out good and doesnt hinder the signal quality too bad, i think i might do the same
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, i've got plenty of tools and scrap aluminum. depending on how well it turns out/how it affects the phone i may offer to sell them to people on here.
that isnt to say that buying one will be the only way to get one. I will be sure to post a full and detailed tutorial when i am finished for anyone adventurous enough to attempt it.

No to be a pessimist but did you notice that there is something on the original cover that seems to be taped in the cover? I figure an antenna?
How will you do it?
sent from LG OPTIMUS LTE using Tapatalk

I've noticed no difference in signal quality with the back cover removed so I don't think the back cover's antenna helps a whole lot lol.
Sent from my LG-P930 using XDA

stemalo said:
No to be a pessimist but did you notice that there is something on the original cover that seems to be taped in the cover? I figure an antenna?
How will you do it?
sent from LG OPTIMUS LTE using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i've been without a back cover while it is setting for about a day now and haven't noticed any adverse effects.

bottom mold is done, and looking pretty good besides a few air bubbles that i need to fill.

You may want to look at the back cover a little more closely. The warning message to not scratch the sheet makes me think the back cover also helps to serve as an antenna possibly??? Not sure, but it seems odd to have the warning.

About the sticker being an antennae, that never crossed my mind. For some reason I always assumed it was something to distribute heat away from the battery.
Both possibilities seem very plausible though.

schwin97 said:
You may want to look at the back cover a little more closely. The warning message to not scratch the sheet makes me think the back cover also helps to serve as an antenna possibly??? Not sure, but it seems odd to have the warning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it crossed my mind. however, like i said earlier, i was using the phone without a back for over a day and a half and didnt notice any adverse side effects (aside from the battery falling out.)

schwin97 said:
You may want to look at the back cover a little more closely. The warning message to not scratch the sheet makes me think the back cover also helps to serve as an antenna possibly??? Not sure, but it seems odd to have the warning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think thats for NFC

nfc would be nice. How do we use it if its there?
Sent from my LG-P930 using XDA App

A possible explanation for the Dinc2's terrible reception

My Dinc2, like everyone else's, has terrible reception. (relatively speaking). About a week ago, it went from tolerable to dropping calls like crazy. The db use to be in the 90's, but it has since pegged at 105 and stays there no matter what - indoors or outdoors, unless I'm downtown where a tower is almost in sight. WHY did this degradation happen? I flashed from the 320 radio to the 312, no change at all. I am running the Magnolia ROM, after having tried the others. The reception was doing fine up until a week ago....
Yesterday, I put my flashlight in my pocket, which has a magnetic base. When I used it later, I noticed something stuck to the magnet... it was a "U" shaped piece of metal. It was very defined, then it occurred to me it wasnt a U, it was a C. The "C" from the "HTC" on the back cover. The H and the T were already gone. So I wonder... if these being metal had anything to do with the antenna being in the back cover? Could these tiny pieces of metal be contributing to the reception? Or their loss being a determent?
If you have the metal HTC letters on your back cover, could you check your db rating then pop them out, and check it again? Strange request I know... but all in the name of science!
I would give anything for the Dinc2 to have Motorola like reception.... it's almost perfect, except for that.

I know it is a long shot, it was just a thought. The metal loading of the cover may or may not have anything to do with the reception... from what I've read the aftermarket covers do not receive as well as OEM's, so who knows.

if i took off back cover and dial *#4636#*#* i found the "db" became 105 and i put it back it goes normal,that means the antenna was integrated in back cover,so you can try do to it to find if the problem cause by back cover and order a new cover over the Amazon.

I have had this phone since May of 2011 and I never noticed that the HTC on the back cover had the metal inlays!!!!! Wow!!!! Anyway, I don't want to pop mine out but I did the same by removing the back cover and the db's also jumped to 105 for me when I did that.

Pop off your back cover and grab some tweezers or a small flat head screw driver. You'll see 4 gold prongs on the back of your phone. 2 near the camera and 2 in the bottom left corner. Gently bend those up a little bit, being careful not to break them off. Now grab a pencil with a good eraser. Look at the inside of your back cover and you will see yellow/goldish lines that line up with the prongs you just bent. Rub these lines with the eraser. Personally I would do this with my phone turned off, but that probably doesn't really matter. I suspect your reception will return to normal.
The metal letters have nothing to do with the antennas. They're located near the middle of the thinnest section of the back cover. The plastic would be thicker there if any metal or wires were running close enough for them to do anything.
Sent from my ICS Dinc2

I wasn't even having trouble with mine and did this and worked great. Thanks for the tip!!!

I bent the tabs, I tried the foil trick, I tried up and down grading the radio, and with the cover on at my house, I'm looking at 105db. I borrowed a Verizon Samsung network extender which plugs in the wall and internet router, and when I'm within 10 feet of it, my phone registers about 70db. However, it makes my GPS location about 75 miles away!
So I'm a loss... I'm grasping at straws here trying to not give up on the Dinc2.

My guess would be that a new back cover is in order then. Do you know anyone that has a Dinc2 that you could try swapping covers with?
If that doesn't work then maybe the magnet damaged your phone. Magnets can do some weird things to electronics.
Sent from my ICS Dinc2

What is this on the Outside frame of our note 4's?

Any one have any idea what these white-ish dots are on the outside edges of our note 4? They are on the top edge and bottom edge of the front and back of the phone (EX: right next to the spen)
Attached images. I figured maybe some kind of lighting (LED) nope.... Not concerned but maybe its just something cosmetic they did>?
Any thoughts?

I believe they are antennas that wrap around the ouside of the metal frame as signal would be bad without them. Try covering them all. My signal drops

Yeah, pretty sure they're antennas. The iPhone 4s had them as well.
Sent from my Note 4.

Yes...they are the antennas

The white things you see are actually the breaks in each antenna. Each antenna needs to be separated as they will interfere with each other if not. We say this on the iPhone 4 and antenna gate became a thing due to a person's palm completing a circuit between each antenna. Now they are all coated to prevent these types of incidents.

According to the fcc filing for this phone and this post everyone says the antenna is on the back just like the older phones.

Hmm. Signal went down... But maybe coincidence??..??
Maybe a tear down is in order! Not sure of I'm all that curious! Haha