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

Backing Plate Removed (With Pics)

Ok, so this isn't anything special...yet. But I do intend to see how much more I can find out over the weekend.
I decided I was gonna see what's under that back panel, so here are some pics, and what I did.
What you need:
-Patients
-Precision Screw Driver (Philips Head)
-Thin Guitar Pick
1st, Remove the top and bottom covers on the phone. This will expose 4 of the 5 screws you need to remove.
2nd, Peel up the bottom label. BE VERY CAREFUL AND VERY SLOW!!! This will expose the 5th screw to remove the back.
***This bottom label is designed to snap away from itself if removed too quickly. I don't know if this would void anything, so don't chance it.
3rd, Using a guitar pick on the HDMI PORT SIDE of the phone, carefully wedge open the seam down the side of the phone. Once this is done completely on that side, the backplate just kinda peels off, so to speak.
It appears as if there are a total of 6 water indicator stickers once the cover is removed.
NOTE: When you put the backplate back on, there is a single snap just above the camera that has to be secured before the top cover will go back on properly. BE CAREFUL, it looks like it can break easy.

Good tutorial. At least we have a tutorial on how to take apart the back of the ion. Hopefully there's future battery replacements that offer better battery life so we can use this method to change the batteries or other needed purposes.

Do you think it is possible to change the battery? It'll be great knowing that once this battery died I can buy a replacement.
Sent from my LT28i using xda app-developers app

Also, it looks like our phone is built like a tank! I think a lot of phones just have one layer of plastic
Sent from my LT28i using xda app-developers app

Getting to the battery is my goal. I've a second part-time job at a battery shop, so... once someone or myself can get to it, I can see if it can be ordered or if we can build it in the lab.
Sent from my LT28at using xda app-developers app

tribalartgod said:
Getting to the battery is my goal. I've a second part-time job at a battery shop, so... once someone or myself can get to it, I can see if it can be ordered or if we can build it in the lab.
Sent from my LT28at using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATE: This coming weekend, I will be taking this phone apart some more. Any warranty stickers I encounter, if any, will not be touched unless I can do so and still be able to reapply it. I will be taking pictures of everything I do, and will post them here. Stay tuned...
Sent from my LT28at

I have do it before. My Phone is dead to "brick", I removed the battery cables and repair

vuhien said:
I have do it before. My Phone is dead to "brick", I removed the battery cables and repair
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you happen to take photos? If so, would you share them with us?
Sent from my LT28at

tribalartgod said:
Did you happen to take photos? If so, would you share them with us?
Sent from my LT28at
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At Flash, my battery level is too low to result in dead phone, I tried to fix by simply removing the hardware but it's a big mistake, just flash the full charge the battery when everything is all right, no need to remove and reinsert the battery cable. sorry I do not have time yet capture

So I was having major trouble and decided to try and take the battery out. got one step further than tribalartgod, and took off the second plate by removing the torx screws (t5 fyi) and got nowhere after that. any who, Just thought I'd post the pic of whats next.
btw got the phone back up and running just had to charge a long time and reflash.

Did they have to have the top of the plastic connector open almost like a lid to pull out the ribbon? That's how most all of them are on the PSP. Maybe the same on the phone. Thanks for the pics.
Sent from my LT28at

Sorry, I didn't think to take any pictures of the plastic backing part. But, no I didn't have to remove any ribbons. Its just another plastic backing. I think there might have been some connectors but they were just contacts, no pins or plugs.
Oh and make sure the sim card and removable memory are out when you remove the plastic because they slide through the plastic into the slots. Its helpful to have a snap tool or guitar pick. I started from the bottom of the phone near the camera button and worked my way up and around. These snaps are harder to pop off too.

Nice. I appreciate the tip. I'm so behind on things I want to and need to do with this phone. I only get about 4 hours a week I can play, so.. I'll get to do everything I say I will, it just may be delayed.
Sent from my LT28at

test points?
after looking at both of your brave pictures. i noticed a slot under the sticker on the right side, in tribalartgod's pics, where you can see contacts. also in Guregnack's pics the plastic is gone and contact points are exposed.
could these be test points for SETool unlocking?
i have the at&t ion an have no 'official' unlock method. have seen the paid test point method for alot of other xperia's. i got my ion for free so,why not pay to unlock it.
thanks for the nice pics how about a video next time you get brave.

any idea what the prongs by the flash are for? look a bit similar to SGS3's wireless charging cover contacts. I could be hallucinating though.

Guregnack said:
So I was having major trouble and decided to try and take the battery out. got one step further than tribalartgod, and took off the second plate by removing the torx screws (t5 fyi) and got nowhere after that. any who, Just thought I'd post the pic of whats next.
btw got the phone back up and running just had to charge a long time and reflash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually just reflashed mine, myself. Sucks.
I notice in your photos there appear to be two more water indicator sticks. If they are, I say bravo to Sony... Placing those at various levels could tell them the extent of water damage. Pretty smart move if you ask me.

twent4 said:
any idea what the prongs by the flash are for? look a bit similar to SGS3's wireless charging cover contacts. I could be hallucinating though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be for camera auto focus emitter ring around lense
~Jaramie
from my LT28at ION rooted and eating an Ice Cream Sandwich

ToledoJab said:
Might be for camera auto focus emitter ring around lense
~Jaramie
from my LT28at ION rooted and eating an Ice Cream Sandwich
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most likely its nfc antenna connectors ,
nfc tags are working only if i hold it just right next to camera

im having problem removing the bottom cover. it seems tightly secure; i dont really want to scratch anything lol.

I just took out the back cover and see in the little bit that's see through on top of the white sticker label (the rectangle see thorugh thing that is covered by some orange plastic) what is that? because mine looks like it's broken but it might be just like that abnyways... It doesn't look neat compared to the others and that it looks like it's burnt or something but I'M NOT SURE, cant see it properly
My phone can't turn on, see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1896123 for my problem...
I can't take picture cause I don't have camera that can focus that close :/

[Q] S-pen dead spot on screen

hi all
i have a strange problem on my 1 day old note2
i have been playing with all the feature and have discovered a sort of dead area when using the pen
load up snote/memo or anything else using the pen
then on the right hand side when using the pen there is a square about 1cm in size that does not detect the pen when applying NORMAL pressure, using my finger its fine.. then to make it more odd if i apply i little more pressure it picks up the pen.. when applying pressure the line being drawn is more bold everywhere until i draw over the dead spot when it becomes a lighter line ie nor picking up the same pressure,,
i hope my very bad explanation is understood lol..
phone is 1 day old and i'm not sure if i have a fault or a bug
firmware is stock thailand
gt-n7100
4.1.1
baseband n7100dxalj1
build jroo3c.n7100xxalj3

Do you have a case on?

Zamizzle said:
Do you have a case on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes.. small unobtrusive one
just tested without case and no problem
confused
is there a thread about this issue .. looked but cannot see

Does your case have a magnet on the side of where your S-Pen does not work?
It happened with me as well.

Zamizzle said:
Does your case have a magnet on the side of where your S-Pen does not work?
It happened with me as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup.. thats the problem
having more info in hand google was my friend
:Apprarantly this problem occurs if you use a case with a magnet. The area will correspond with the location of the magnet.Samsung’s user manual clearly states not to use it with cases that have magnets. People have also commented on how this effects the internal compass too. Prolonged exposure will apparently result in the internals getting magnetized – no way out then!
People have reported that even after removing the magnetic case, it take between 24-48 hours for the effects to disappear. .!:
very worrying
i wonder if there is a way to block the magnet in the case from effecting the note..
otherwise its throw out the new case

[Solved] S-Pen Dead Spot

So, I noticed a dead spot about the size of a nickel on the right hand side of my screen while using the s-pen this morning. I did a search and decided that I would have to exchange the phone (and hope not to get a refurbished one return). Decided to show my wife and suddenly realized the problem (and the solution). I have the phone in a wallet case with a magnetic clip. Well it turns out that if you fold the magnetic clip around to the back side of the phone to get it out of the way then the s-pen will not work on top of it (duh).
So take this as a heads up. Careful with magnets near the screen while using s-pen.
PEACE!
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app

Thank you so much for posting this. Been trying to figure this out for days and was going to return the phone. This was my exact issue.

Beherrschen said:
So, I noticed a dead spot about the size of a nickel on the right hand side of my screen while using the s-pen this morning. I did a search and decided that I would have to exchange the phone (and hope not to get a refurbished one return). Decided to show my wife and suddenly realized the problem (and the solution). I have the phone in a wallet case with a magnetic clip. Well it turns out that if you fold the magnetic clip around to the back side of the phone to get it out of the way then the s-pen will not work on top of it (duh).
So take this as a heads up. Careful with magnets near the screen while using s-pen.
PEACE!
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH i can't believe i missed that. Thank you sir, i've been factory restoring my device for a month now repeatedly as, in between some restores, the screen becomes active. Turns out that was because i took off the cover at those times!!! This is lovely! All fixed now, Note EDGE BTW.

You know, there should a fund for people like you! I had almost the same problem, but for added stupidity, the manufacturer of my case had hidden a magnet inside of the back of the phone, to keep the flip lid in place on the back. Took me a lot of effort and a lot of insulting conversations with the cellphone store clerk where "sometimes it works" being an ingredient.
I have how completed the easy part; using a scalpel to open the side of the case to remove the magnet.
Now to swallow my pride and go down to the phone store and explaining that "you were right, there is nothing wrong with the phone, this cheap knock-off case that I bought online is the problem". She should bill me for the hours spent trying to satisfy me, so that I could forward the bill to the online store.
God I feel stupid. And arrogant! And thankful!

Thank you. Explains some random things I see, depending on how I'm using my case. Had magnets I didn't even know about...

wow thanks.

Rectangular S Pen dead zone near bottom of screen-different, but similar cause fixed
This feed led me to the cause of my issue but it wasn't a magnetic case. I experienced this issue after installing a new battery from Energy Pal (extended life and NFC). I was able to correct my issue by placing a few strips of electrical tape and folded piece of aluminum foil between the battery and the upper part of the battery compartment (covering that raised rectangular area). I was super pleased to be able to use the entire screen area again.

Well done!
I haven't used the spend much since I got my new Note. Just laying in bed playing around with it and noticed the big deadspot in the center of the screen.
Just starting to get angry and decided to do a quick Google.
Never would have occurred to me it was the Steelie magnet on the case causing the issue!
Well done XDA. Saved the day again.
Beherrschen said:
So, I noticed a dead spot about the size of a nickel on the right hand side of my screen while using the s-pen this morning. I did a search and decided that I would have to exchange the phone (and hope not to get a refurbished one return). Decided to show my wife and suddenly realized the problem (and the solution). I have the phone in a wallet case with a magnetic clip. Well it turns out that if you fold the magnetic clip around to the back side of the phone to get it out of the way then the s-pen will not work on top of it (duh).
So take this as a heads up. Careful with magnets near the screen while using s-pen.
PEACE!
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

nexus 7 digitizer area?

I'm planning on doing a nexus 7 2013 install on my car, but the area I've got to install the tablet is really limited. Ideally I'd have to cut ~1 cm off the lower corners of the nexus.
After watching a bunch of teardown videos, I can see I'll have to relocate the wifi module, and some of the other boards which is no big deal.
The only issue is the digitizer. I won't be cutting nearly far enough to go into the screen, but will cutting the corners off break the digitizer, or is it only active above the lcd?
i.imgur.com/ySop52N.jpg
i.imgur.com/9abdPrZ.jpg
the location in question:
i.imgur.com/2AqCjvd.jpg

How do you plan on cutting the digitzer and not the lcd ? ....you better find some other way ... Perhaps a custom enclosure ....
What car is it ? Post a pic of your dashboard cause there has got to be some easier way .
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app

the lcd is only in the center of the device - i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/727/355/522/522355727_328.jpg
I can't post external links yet, not enough posts. That last imgur link in the original post is a pic of the dash. The car is an acura nsx.

neonshaun said:
the lcd is only in the center of the device - i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/727/355/522/522355727_328.jpg
I can't post external links yet, not enough posts. That last imgur link in the original post is a pic of the dash. The car is an acura nsx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'd be far better off setting up a custom mount for the device to avoid cutting across the screen and moving parts inside the chassis. What you're proposing is likely to damage your tablet to a point that the whole process would've been a waste of time. Honest opinion.

quickdraw86 said:
You'd be far better off setting up a custom mount for the device to avoid cutting across the screen and moving parts inside the chassis. What you're proposing is likely to damage your tablet to a point that the whole process would've been a waste of time. Honest opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, I'm not planning on cutting across the screen, I'm planning on cutting the corners off the plastic in front of the screen that contains the digitizer... but I don't know if the digitizer is only active in the center over the screen, or if it needs to be continuous all the way to the edges of the tablet.
A custom mount isn't gonna happen, it has to look like it came integrated into the console, not smacked on top...

^Then you probably need to take the dash out and fit it in from the back. Cutting the glass is unlikely to end well. If you did do it without breaking the screen I don't know if the digitizer would still work. It probably would.
There is no "plastic in front of the screen that contains the digitizer" unless you're talking about the tiny bezel/backshell. It's all glass.
Edit: If the red lines on the picture are your cuts yes it will work fine. Problem is there's no way in hell you're cutting that without breaking the rest of the screen. Well I guess you could. Post pics if you try!