Develop Bugs

Weakest Wifi - hardware FIXED!

Is there anyway to boost the wifi on this thing. I have 3 tablets (samsung tab 7, Lenovo Ideapad K1, and this) Samsung and Lenovo keeps connection with my home router but this one it disconnects half the time. Kinda frustrating. I assume this also will kill my battery faster than it already does. Any advice?
EDIT:
So I exchanged my tablet and still the replacement has bad wifi. I figure this had to be hardware related so following the procedure here I decided to take it upon myself to figure it out. If youre not comfortable doing this I suggest just keep returning your unit till you get a good one. Note when you remove the first side bezel there's a black sticker over one of the screws. I was able to remove it easily with an exacto knife being careful not to rip it so I can put it back on later. After removing the 3 sides except for the power button side (not necessary) you remove the back off and you end up with this.
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I'm not sure which is the wifi antenna or if they work as a pair but I moved both antenna connectors around (I didnt try to remove it cause this might make the connectors loose) and moved the black antenna right on top the camera. Reference all the red arrows. I left the tablet on so I was able to tell if it was making a difference. Eventually got it to get 2 bars just like on my Lenovo Ideapad! Possibly one of the micro coax connetors was not making good contact. These are the same RF connectors on RC receivers so they are a little more susceptible in losing contact specially if they're too lose. So just move them side to side and dont remove or lift them off.
Prior to this I was alternating between no bar and 1. This time it consistently stayed at 2 bars regardless how I moved or where I moved in my room (our router is in another room upstairs). Carefully put the tablet back together and now my connection is stable 2 bars. Finally!
So it does seem like there's some QA issue with these tablets. There's a huge thread in the acertabletforum about this issue and some say to change your connection from DHCP to static but that doesnt make logic sense to me. Some have been able to exhange theirs gotten good replacements.
Anyhow if you have any question, let me know.

I was actually thinking that wifi going out when it's turned off might be on purpose to prolong the crappy battery life.

bsharitt said:
I was actually thinking that wifi going out when it's turned off might be on purpose to prolong the crappy battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not when its turned off. Theres a setting for that to disable wifi when you turn screen off. But thats not what I'm talking about. My wifi disconnects as I'm surfing or downloading from market or a file.

hmm, does it look like it has a weak signal strength or are you sitting at a good connection and it drops all of the sudden?
If it isn't a weak connection, I assume the device is just having a problem with your router settings. Maybe call support to see if they can give you information, but I haven't heard of this issue. What about open networks at coffee shops or the like? Do you have the same issues?
This is my third tablet and this tablet has the best WiFi that I have seen so far, so I don't think it is a problem with the signal strength.

Maybe I have a bad unit but I went to Bestbuy today and the a100 could not connect to their bestbuy router. It says "not in range". All the other ones (galaxys, xooms, acer, asus, HTC flyer all were connected to bestbuy wifi. HTC and samsung were the better ones at full bars. Acer had 2 and asus had 3. I don't recall what the xooms were. But man what a disappointment. The only thing good was that the a100 was the cheapest at $249. They must've brought the price down again.

[email protected] said:
hmm, does it look like it has a weak signal strength or are you sitting at a good connection and it drops all of the sudden?
If it isn't a weak connection, I assume the device is just having a problem with your router settings. Maybe call support to see if they can give you information, but I haven't heard of this issue. What about open networks at coffee shops or the like? Do you have the same issues?
This is my third tablet and this tablet has the best WiFi that I have seen so far, so I don't think it is a problem with the signal strength.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you on 3.2.1 already? Maybe thats the ticket. I'm still on 3.2 and it says I'm up to date when I try to check for new version. If you are on 3.2.1 how did you get it?

aznmode said:
Are you on 3.2.1 already? Maybe thats the ticket. I'm still on 3.2 and it says I'm up to date when I try to check for new version. If you are on 3.2.1 how did you get it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, I do not have the update in my region.

[email protected] said:
Nope, I do not have the update in my region.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok. Updated OP so looks like version number is irrelevant in my case.

Horrible signal in a good signal area

OK so for the past few months my signal had been getting worse and worse. Areas that I use to get full signal in I only get like a bar or two. I had a friend with a stock dinc 2 pulling full signal and I was only getting a bar. Any idea as to what my problem could be?
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA

I don't have a cure but I have been noticing more and more signal loss as well as 1x. Also, data seems to crawl even with full or almost full bars.
Tempted to call Verizon.
Fried has a DINC2 and says his data is slow too most of the time.

Are you running stock rom?
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA

Yep, sounds like a radio issue, although the degrading over time thing actually sounds more like a failing antenna.
Flash another radio, or return to stock, and see how you get on

I'm on the 1111 radio. Should I flash 720?
The bottom of my back cover is all banged up. Would that have anything to do with it?
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA

Xwickedxtrajedyx said:
I'm on the 1111 radio. Should I flash 720?
The bottom of my back cover is all banged up. Would that have anything to do with it?
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you got another back-cover somewhere, even one you could borrow? Here is a shot of my rear cover (I have a DInc2, also). There are two sets of contactors for what I assume are the cellular and WiFi antennas.
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If the bottom contacts link to the cellular antenna, it is entirely probable that the belted-up back cover has compromised the antenna (usually a very thin, conductive 'sheet' attached to the plastic). This would explain the degrading over time.
I'd try flashing another radio first, then start the hunt for a battery cover if no dice

Had this problem before with my extended battery/cover. If you look closely @ the copper lines on the inside of the back cover and can see little cracks, this is what is causing the signal loss. I put a different cover on and my signal returned to normal. Still thinking about a way to restore the other cover so I can use my extended battery again I thought about using a thin coating of CPU thermal paste to repair the connection but haven't tried yet...

woodmaster said:
Had this problem before with my extended battery/cover. If you look closely @ the copper lines on the inside of the back cover and can see little cracks, this is what is causing the signal loss. I put a different cover on and my signal returned to normal. Still thinking about a way to restore the other cover so I can use my extended battery again I thought about using a thin coating of CPU thermal paste to repair the connection but haven't tried yet...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice find mate. A conductive trace pen should do the trick, just connect your tails again

Thx guys ill give it a try and let you know
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA

Tried a new back cover. Didn't seem to help much. I'll try the radio next
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA

Another suggestion I received when I had the problem before was to(very carefully and slightly) bend the pins on the phone out so they contact the back cover more solidly. Also check the pins and copper paint on the cover for cleanliness and clean with a very small amount of rubbing alcohol and a q-tip.

OK signal didn't change with the 722 radio but I had no data. I really think it is the back cover because I believe the antenna is showing on the outside
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA

Well I tried pretty much everything. I guess my only option is to get a new phone.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA

Antennagate on my AT&T SGS3

hi all.
please feel free to unfold your opinions and suggestions.
What i have: rooted stock SGS3 on LH9 ( latest OTA) + Diztronic Matte Black TPU Case found on this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1722606
Environment: I am inside a big hangar not for planes but more like a warehouse, every morning at the exact same place. there is no concrete walls or windows just the hangar structure walls and a big exit door for trucks. i am like 300 yards away from a optimum broadband router on a public street. in NJ if you are a Optimum customer you can connect via wifi up to 5 devices when in reach of routers they installed on public streets.
Issue: when i turn on wifi i have no bars for Optimum connection( it connects successfully but internet is quite impossible at very slow speed. If I take off Diztronic case I immediately get 2 bars on my wifi icon, and the connection is flawless and the speeds for any app are good.
Is this case particularly that bad for my wifi connection?
All cases in general influence the wifi connection/cell modem or just this one?
Or is it how am I holding it? Am I holding it wrong way?
Workaround: every morning I take off my case, read my Twitter, G+ and Flipboard than I put my case back on.:silly:
Thanks

I have no case on mine, but I do notice if I am kinda far from the router and hold phone with my right hand I get a worse wifi signal then when holding with left hand. Cell signal seems unaffected.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Not unheard of. HTC Inspire gps antenna was problematic with some cases

I have the same exact case and my WiFi ranfomly drops on with the diztronic case I brought for only $10 . I brought a new puregear case yesterday and never had WiFi issues since
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

hormosapiens said:
hi all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh hai.
All cases in general influence the wifi connection/cell modem or just this one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All cases affect signal quality to a certain extent, but it's mostly negligible and a worthwhile trade-off for the protection gained. Should be fine as long as you don't use a METAL case, like some geniuses insist on using for a "premium-quality" feel (whatever that's supposed to mean).
Or is it how am I holding it? Am I holding it wrong way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, as corythug mentioned above, and despite the apple joke, you CAN get better reception by holding your phone in certain ways, since the antennas are located in certain spots (as shown in the FCC photo below):
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The #1 thing to do to get better range (for at least WiFi), if you haven't done this already, is to use wireless G instead of wireless N, even though it's "slower" (you won't notice). Wireless-G's 2.4GHz longer wavelengths travel farther & through objects better than 5GHz. I almost always fallback from N to G even in my house. #2 thing to do is to buy a better WiFi router (like the Netgear WNDR3700) that lets you hack it with DDWRT so you can increase the transmit power above legal FCC limits.

zmore said:
Oh hai.
All cases affect signal quality to a certain extent, but it's mostly negligible and a worthwhile trade-off for the protection gained. Should be fine as long as you don't use a METAL case, like some geniuses insist on using for a "premium-quality" feel (whatever that's supposed to mean).
Well, as corythug mentioned above, and despite the apple joke, you CAN get better reception by holding your phone in certain ways, since the antennas are located in certain spots (as shown in the FCC photo below):
The #1 thing to do to get better range (for at least WiFi), if you haven't done this already, is to use wireless G instead of wireless N, even though it's "slower" (you won't notice). Wireless-G's 2.4GHz longer wavelengths travel farther & through objects better than 5GHz. I almost always fallback from N to G even in my house. #2 thing to do is to buy a better WiFi router (like the Netgear WNDR3700) that lets you hack it with DDWRT so you can increase the transmit power above legal FCC limits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I learned a lot.
I will read news every morning at the same spot, with my naked SGS3, holding it certain way.

802.11n also runs on 2.4 Ghz, not just 5 Ghz. Now, the new 802.11AC standard only runs on 5 Ghz, so no 2.4 there.

[Q] Boost Extended 4G!

4G JUST became avail in my area in Brooksville FL!!
However I have to go outside to get signal! is there ANY way I can boost the signal? This is my only hope of fast internet at home.....
I'm on JB Liquid rom with I515.10.V.FF02 / I515.FG02 Radios
I'd appreciate any info!

Dragonsla said:
4G JUST became avail in my area in Brooksville FL!!
However I have to go outside to get signal! is there ANY way I can boost the signal? This is my only hope of fast internet at home.....
I'm on JB Liquid rom with I515.10.V.FR02 / I515.FG02 Radios
I'd appreciate any info!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.repeaterstore.com/4g/products/repeaters/cellphone-mate-verizon-4g-lte-cm700v.php
or something similar, can contact verizon and see what they recommend

Man I wish my city had 4G.. there's an Osprey nest in the tower, migrates sometime in November or December.
-__________________________________-
Force 4G with the *#*#4636#*#* menu, sometimes 4G won't connect if it's too weak, but not so weak that you can't use it for internet.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Woah thanks....I really hope better radios come out so I don't have to shell out the $$ calling verizon tomorrow

http://www.accessorygeeks.com/antenna-booster-sticker.html
$3.99 Just sayin'.

ackliph said:
http://www.accessorygeeks.com/antenna-booster-sticker.html
$3.99 Just sayin'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL i remember those! funny as hell how many people got suckered into that lol
Also radios can only do so much, the absence of signal is always going to be just that. You need to retransmit, no piece of shielding on your phone will change that, that is just a fancy sticker that will if anything lower your signal because it is now blocking it, and without connecting to the radio itself it cant do anythign.

I think it may be a hardware or software defect, because the area is CLEARLY covered by VZ 4G and even outside I can not get signal, I have to walk at least 100'.....flashing stock then calling VZ.....
Wonder if this would help at all, looks like a hoax.....

Dragonsla said:
I think it may be a hardware or software defect, because the area is CLEARLY covered by VZ 4G and even outside I can not get signal, I have to walk at least 100'.....flashing stock then calling VZ.....
Wonder if this would help at all, looks like a hoax.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does this hook up to the antenna port in the back? Giving the antenna a ground plane like the roof of the car should improve reception. It's too bad the back has to come off to hook it up... then again a drill could easily fix that.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Edit: looks like those antenna ports in the back may be fragile. be careful.

Indeed. As per a thread from September, break one of those antenna ports and you won't get signal, GalNex won't revert to internal antennas. Supposedly, just relaying what I heard.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Are you sure you don't live in a giant Faraday cage?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

3. It is COMPLETELY WIRELESS! No cables to attach it to your Cell Phone and all Cell Phones in the vicinity will benefit
so no.
It doesn't seem line this would work.....no wires, no power source.....
And no I do live on a 5 acre lot with a good amount of trees....even out in the open 4G signal is very difficult to find. Maybe its a bad LTE chip
EDIT: Called up verizon and they said I was in an extended area and the tower 0.3 miles from me is 3G and thats why my phone isn't connecting to the 4G tower.... :[ wonder if I can force connect to a certain tower...

*#*#4636#*#* set to LTE only...
But Verizon does that, my city is a 4G city on their website, however as per the map, 0% of city limits is covered with even extended 4G.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Yes, but the thing is, according to their map, I AM IN THE AREA! and less than 450 feet from FULL coverage!
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Even when I walk down to the coverage area its hard to get a signal

Coverage map has not changed one bit but as of December 27th 2012 I have had amazing 4G in my house!! Therefor this thread is no longer really valid. However it makes you wonder why...

[MOD] S3 Wireless Charging Palm Touchstone (Origami technique)

HI all, following the success of my Note 2 Origami Wireless charging mod here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1986016
I now present to you the Origami Wireless Charging mod for the Galaxy S3
The technique is very simple and you only need a Palm Pre wireless receiver and copper tape.
The instructions are similar to for the NOte 2, just look at the above link. The only difference is the alignment of the contacts.
I should not have to elaborate on this as the pictures will show you what I mean.
I am currently using a Spigen SGP Ultra bumper case with this mod without problem.
This mod charges the GS3 around 16% to 17% per hour it is quicker than that on the NOte 2
NFC function is NOT affected as far as I can tell.
Here are a few pics:
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This is how it looks like with just an original Samsung TPU case....

Well, that certainly looks a lot neater than the mess I've got back there.

Were you able to test the Freq of the Magnetic field while charging to see how much of the field is effected by the exposed Copper trailing off from the Coiled Copper in the protective sleeve, make sure the induction wasn't attracted to exposed copper and run that path, maybe bypassing the circuit board in the black sleeve with the Coil....How the Induction is created is the Receive and Transmitting Copper coils have to be of equal size etc....

I tried this tto, and it was a mess. Drained the battery overnight. Musta done something wrong and am going to have to try again someday...

I haven't done this myself, but it seems like you probably have contacts touching each other where it isn't supposed to. make sure none of the copper tapes are touching

HI all, I have tested NFC and I can confirm it blocks NFC, this may be due to the NFC antenna is in the battery and the wireless receiver sits on top of the battery.
Not entirely a loss to me because I can still send files via direct WiFi.

has anyone done this yet ???

Im going to attempt doing this whenever I get a chance. It doesn't look difficult at all and truthfully I could care less about doing NFC when I can easily take the back cover off and still transfer files via NFC regardless.

owl74 said:
HI all, I have tested NFC and I can confirm it blocks NFC, this may be due to the NFC antenna is in the battery and the wireless receiver sits on top of the battery.
Not entirely a loss to me because I can still send files via direct WiFi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure what method you used but I have done this on two devices and both have kept nfc functionality.

Judman said:
I am not sure what method you used but I have done this on two devices and both have kept nfc functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
This actually depends on where you put the coil. I think the nfc antenna is around top half of phone. Easiest way to test is by using nfc tags or a pay pass credit card to help placement of coil height/location.

PatcheZ said:
+1
This actually depends on where you put the coil. I think the nfc antenna is around top half of phone. Easiest way to test is by using nfc tags or a pay pass credit card to help placement of coil height/location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I placed mine smack in the the middle on the phone so it would be centered in landscape and portrait and have had no NFC issues.

Any reason why this wouldn't work with an AOSP ROM. I tried this and got nothing but it could very well need to be redone.

there is no reason this mod will not work on aosp.
check what you did. you probably missed a step or wired it incorrectly.

Figured it out, needed to roll some electrical tape to keep the copper on the contacts.

hi,
i did this mod to my unrooted stock s3.
It works, when i place it on the charger, i got a "bong" and it fharges. But theres no wireless notification.
any idea why?

asmd6230 said:
hi,
i did this mod to my unrooted stock s3.
It works, when i place it on the charger, i got a "bong" and it fharges. But theres no wireless notification.
any idea why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry no clue, but hopefully someone whoi knows more than myself will chime in... does it charge though?

If it is indeed charging then I wouldn't complain at all. I wish I didn't get the pop up saying it's connected to a wireless charging device.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

you should be able to go into your system/media/ folder and replace the connect sound with a blank sound if you want to remove the charging sound.
the pop up is part of samsung's os.. but it just goes away after a few seconds, so i dont have any issues with it. I usually drop mine off onto the charger and go to sleep.

I modded my S3 too, finally it is working.
How fast are your charging-speeds?
mine is increadably bad..
When I keep on the screen, it does not really charge, screen-off it charges, but very slow..

I assume this works with any cyanogenmod/ASOP rom, correct?