Develop Bugs

External Antenna

Anyone ever use one? If so, what do you think of this?
http://bestcelldist.com/htc_thunderbolt_antenna_combo_em_removal.html
Not interest in saving my brain, but in extending my 3G and 4G range.

I'm a little interested as well. For $50, it had better give great reception.

I heard my friend talk about this today. I hope it works.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

I have used them from Wilson Electronics with great results...Don't know about these

Hold the (cell)phone - that one doesn't cover the LTE frequencies. Here's a nice indoor one that covers 700 MHz.
http://bestcelldist.com/htc_thunderbolt_all_bands_8db_panel_indoor.html
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

I would like to see how they are attached to the Thunderbolt. (It says direct connect). There is no illustration of the antenna connection to the phone.

rtompkins3 said:
I would like to see how they are attached to the Thunderbolt. (It says direct connect). There is no illustration of the antenna connection to the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would think that it plus into that jack on the bottom back of the TBolt.
Looks to have a rubber plug in it now.

I thought that was covering a screw

Has anyone tried either of these or any other similar device? I recently moved and now my signal has gone to hell (I'm lucky if I get one bar), so I'm seriously considering one of these.
Any reviews/feedback?

rtompkins3 said:
I thought that was covering a screw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats what ive heard.
i also would like to see how this thing connects..

Are we still unaware as to how this connects to the phone? All we've got is our USB port and our headphone jack... unless there's a secret antennae jack that I'm unaware of?

wgoeken said:
Are we still unaware as to how this connects to the phone? All we've got is our USB port and our headphone jack... unless there's a secret antennae jack that I'm unaware of?
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Click to collapse
I know on the droid and several other phones, there are little Antenna diversity jacks so that you can plug in extended or high-gain antennas (usually underneath the battery covers). I have seen the metal connectors (but not in a standardized form) on the inside of the case that connect to the antenna leads inside the back cover. You could potentially solder some leads from those to a proper antenna connecter that you mount on the back of the phone or inside one of those rubber fitted screw-holes. Then you could plug in and unplug your external antenna. As far as standardized connectors for external antennas, I don't think the T-Bolt has one.

emailed that site. heres what they said:
The is a small plastic cover, about 1/4" in diameter, on the back
of the phone. You may remove, very carefully, with a needle, and
the antenna port will be exposed.
Notice, however, that we recommend using the ExtAntPro™ adapter
with the Thunderbolt, because of the very small antenna port. The
regular adapter, which comes with the antennas, falls off very
easily, although it does still work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they seem to think that cover isnt hiding just a screw, even tho htc says its just a screw. i feel that htc rep might be wrong tho. i might just have to tear my cover off to figure it out once and for all.
edit: ok that htc person is stupid. ITS AN ANTENNA PORT FOR SURE. watch this vid:
http://youtu.be/zdPiT82gWKw?hd=1&t=2m48s pause at about 2:52. youll see its clearly an antenna port with contacts in the circuit board running from it.

gohamstergo said:
emailed that site. heres what they said:
they seem to think that cover isnt hiding just a screw, even tho htc says its just a screw. i feel that htc rep might be wrong tho. i might just have to tear my cover off to figure it out once and for all.
edit: ok that htc person is stupid. ITS AN ANTENNA PORT FOR SURE. watch this vid:
http://youtu.be/zdPiT82gWKw?hd=1&t=2m48s pause at about 2:52. youll see its clearly an antenna port with contacts in the circuit board running from it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, I second that. I had these antennas for a couple years. I never found the antenna connection on the last couple phones I had, so I never even cared to pull the rubber plug, but it is indeed the antenna plug, these antennas work great, special during long drives, or for when I visit relatives who live in the woods, with a very weak signal. Thanks!

nope not covering a screw i double checked

I would never hook up an external antenna to a phone again. I did it once with my old Samsung Epix, and while it improved the signal when I disconnected the antenna I lost all service, so my phone was basically useless after connecting it.

What about a signal repeater, my office uses them and they work great! our corp office is outside of town so weak signal. Get to work and go inside you get full bars - kinda weird when you notice it. They are place on windows on every floor look just like the external antenna but only have a power cord coming off it.

avatar120 said:
What about a signal repeater, my office uses them and they work great! our corp office is outside of town so weak signal. Get to work and go inside you get full bars - kinda weird when you notice it. They are place on windows on every floor look just like the external antenna but only have a power cord coming off it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have one of these at my work as well. Great signal outside, but not so much in the basement of the building. As soon as we moved into that building, getting one of these installed was a top priority of mine. It made a HUGE difference, although mostly for non-VZW!

external antenna
Search U.FL on wikipedia
That appears to be the connector under the rubber plug on a thunderbolt.
I cant find any that just go straight except ipx connectors at rfconnector.com
Does connecting an external antenna affect the internal one at all?

LAMPEY said:
Search U.FL on wikipedia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The TB jack is not a Hirose U.FL. It looks more like a MS-156.

External Antenna Connector

Wilson electronics makes an adapter that will plug into the external antenna jack under the back cover. I tried it, and it worked great... until I disconnected it. Then the internal antenna would no longer work. It's like the act of plugging it in destroyed the phone's ability to use its internal antenna. It would work when I reconnected the external antenna, but when I disconnected it, the phone would only get any signal strength when I was right under a cell tower.
Anyone else try one of their adapters with the Captivate? If so, what were the results?
-nfs
Sent from wherever I was when I sent it.

I had no idea that input jack was there until you said anything. What happens if you switch airplane mode on and off after the disconnect of the adapter?

nappent said:
I had no idea that input jack was there until you said anything. What happens if you switch airplane mode on and off after the disconnect of the adapter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't remember if I tried it, but it was restarted many times. I would think that power cycling the phone would have essentially the same effect.
Sent from wherever I was when I sent it.

I saw this but never had the courage to try it. Did you pull the battery and try the 3 button fix?

photo please?

This should clarify things
TommyZee said:
photo please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the round gold connector at the bottom right of the SIM card. The adapter (FME on the other end) is available here:
http://www.wpsantennas.com/359919-samsung-captivate-galaxy-s-antenna-adapter-cable.aspx
After one BAD experience, I'm not eager to try again. I was sort of hoping that my experience was a fluke and that other people had been more successful.

Why?
capnoob said:
I saw this but never had the courage to try it. Did you pull the battery and try the 3 button fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never occurred to me to do that, since the phone booted and it would work when very near a cell tower.
This struck me as either a defect in manufacture, or a design flaw... either in the phone or in the connector. I suspect it was mechanical in nature, and that once the act of connecting the adapter disconnected the internal antenna, something caused it to stay disconnected.

I wonder if this might have happened?
Read the part under "How To Know If a Cellular Yagi Will Work With Your Phone"
http://www.ehelpfultips.com/how_to_use_cell_phone_yagi_direc.htm

capn1 said:
I wonder if this might have happened?
Read the part under "How To Know If a Cellular Yagi Will Work With Your Phone"
http://www.ehelpfultips.com/how_to_use_cell_phone_yagi_direc.htm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I was using a dual band antenna without an amplifier, so there should not have been too much SWR. I've used this antenna for years with another phone AND an amplifier without problems.
The evidence clearly indicates that phone's transmitter was not burned out due to too much SWR or anything else, because it would still work just fine when reconnected to the external antenna. Ditto for the phone's receiver section; it worked fine whenever it was connected to the external antenna. Once connected, thereafter the signal bars went to zero when it was disconnected. Also, as I mentioned, the phone would still function normally, if I was VERY near a cell tower.
The only conclusion I can make is that the connector was designed to disconnect the internal antenna when an external antenna is connected. Somehow the connector or the electronics failed to ever reconnect it when the external was disconnected.
Sent from wherever I was when I sent it.

try reflashing a modem

It's NOT a firmware problem
I know you guys are trying to help, but it's not a firmware problem. It's a hardware problem. I was just trying to see if anyone else had a similar experience. I just talked with Wilson Electronics, and the guy I spoke with acknowledged that the connector or board can be damaged on the Captivate. He also volunteered that they don't recommend direct connection with that phone. Well, that's kind of odd, since I only learned of the connector by calling them up and asking which one to use with the phone.
Even though I did not buy the adapters from them, I bought them on the recommendation of one of their people, so I have contacted them to get my money back. We'll see; they haven't responded officially yet. I suppose I can contact the vendor, but they were not the ones who told me it would work...
They have another way to inductively connect the phone. The only problem is that my old amplifier won't work for that. I'll have to get a model 801201 instead of my old 812201 which will run another $250 or so, with a cradle and/or velcro attached inductive connector.
comdei said:
try reflashing a modem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Well guess what!!?? You are in luck!!!
Theres something you can do with hardware problems..
CALL SAMSUNG
your phone is under 1 year old. you have a warranty. call them. flash to stock . and get it replaced then

Why don't you try reflashing the modem or rom? People are offering you solutions and you seem stuck on it being a hardware issue. A rom or modem re-flash takes a few mins of your time. Not to start anything but I do support for a living and it bugs the hell out of me when people jump the gun and won't try other solutions.

I am stuck on the evidence as to what the nature of the problem is. Did you read what I posted previously?
Let me tell you a little more. At the time I had the problem, the phone was still on the factory firmware. The phone had never been flashed.
All the available evidence points to a hardware problem. The fact that the phone worked when in close proximity to a cell tower, that as soon as there was any distance between the tower and the phone there were no signal bars, but if I plugged the external antenna in there was immediately good signal...the fact that the connector manufacturer has admitted that their adapter could damage the board... I don't mean to be unapreciative, but I do support, too (a well a writing the software itself), and I've learned to really think about the available information when trying to deduce the nature of a problem, and it seems to me that you are stuck on a conclusion that the evidence doesn't support.
Besides, I am not looking for help here. As I wrote previously, I was trying to find out if anyone has had a similar experience. If my experience was a fluke, then I would have been willing to try connecting the replacement phone. See, the problem has been solved, but I don't want to have it again.
Now that the manufacturer has admitted that their connector could damage the board, I have decided to get a different type of amplifier which allows an inductive connection. That should prevent further problems of this nature. It's an expensive solution, but an antenna with a bi-directional amp is really useful when you are in a remote area with a faint signal. When the signal is too weak for that, it's time to use the ham radio... but that's another topic, and yes, I have been known to take my jeep off road... way way off the road.
nappent said:
Why don't you try reflashing the modem or rom? People are offering you solutions and you seem stuck on it being a hardware issue. A rom or modem re-flash takes a few mins of your time. Not to start anything but I do support for a living and it bugs the hell out of me when people jump the gun and won't try other solutions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from wherever I was when I sent it.

nfs_phone said:
Now that the manufacturer has admitted that their connector could damage the board, I have decided to get a different type of amplifier which allows an inductive connection. That should prevent further problems of this nature. It's an expensive solution, but an antenna with a bi-directional amp is really useful when you are in a remote area with a faint signal. When the signal is too weak for that, it's time to use the ham radio... but that's another topic, and yes, I have been known to take my jeep off road... way way off the road.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So samsung admitted it is a known problem? Are you sending it in for warranty then?

Trusselo said:
So samsung admitted it is a known problem? Are you sending it in for warranty then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was referring to the manufacturer of the adapter, not the phone. Samsung was made aware of the problem when I was trouble-shooting the problem. The tech I was talking to blamed the problem on me for using third party accessories not authorized by Samsung. However, since I had been acting in good faith, he did authorize my sending the phone in for warranty repair. I don't know if they can be counted upon to always do that.
I am left wondering how often this problem happens. I used the antenna connector on the back of my Motorola V3xx thousands of times with no issues. It seems really odd to have just connected the Cappy once and suffered such a problem. One key difference is that I don't think that the V3xx disconnected the internal antenna when you connect the external one.
Sent from wherever I was when I sent it.

I've seen similar behavior when one of my foster kids mistook the antenna for a screw while disassembling a blackberry.
The antenna jack is a "normalizing " jack in that when you plug something in a circuit is disconnected and when you unplug it restores the circuit.
if there was a problem with the adapter and it applied too much pressure to the middle pin then it may not have normalized and you would only get signal if you sat under a tower.
This is exactly what happened with the poor blackberry.
Glad to hear Sammy is covering it with warranty, other wise you would have been the proud owner of the only door wedge that plays angry birds.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Interesting. Not sure I understand what you mean by normalizing nor"middle" pin, but it was pretty clear that the internal antenna was no longer connected. Of course the unit was not entirely useless as a phone, but the requirement of having to always have it connected to an external antenna to get it to work did make it a tad cumbersome to use...
pawadca said:
I've seen similar behavior when one of my foster kids mistook the antenna for a screw while disassembling a blackberry.
The antenna jack is a "normalizing " jack in that when you plug something in a circuit is disconnected and when you unplug it restores the circuit.
if there was a problem with the adapter and it applied too much pressure to the middle pin then it may not have normalized and you would only get signal if you sat under a tower.
This is exactly what happened with the poor blackberry.
Glad to hear Sammy is covering it with warranty, other wise you would have been the proud owner of the only door wedge that plays angry birds.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from wherever I was when I sent it.

I'd agree that it's a hardware problem, it may actually be that the internal antenna is burned out. I had a similar problem with the wifi on my old ipod.
I used an aftermarket charger which shorted something inside the device. Consequently, the battery would not hold a charge for longer than 15 minutes AND the it would not recognize a wifi signal, unless I held the ipod within inches of the router. Similar to what you experience with the cell towers, except on a smaller scale.
Good luck.

Burning out the antenna itself would require the kind of amperage generated by a lightning strike. Much more likely that even in your situation some circuitry connecting your antenna to the phone blew out.
In my case there was no overvoltage, just a mechanical connection. I think something just got bent beyond its ability to bend back from... I'm guessing here, but I can see a bar inside the antenna connector. When the center pin of the adapter is pushed into the connector, it will make contact with that bar (the bar is at the side of the opening at 90 degrees to the center pin of the adapter) and pushes it to the side to some extent. I am not sure, but I think that maybe it was pushed a tiny bit too far, and it wasn't able to spring back to its original position. I am assuming that when it is pushed to the side it causes the connection to the internal antenna to be disconnected and that its contact with the center pin of the adapter is the connection to the antenna. I am further concluding that if it doesn't spring back to its original position, that the internal antenna is never reconnected.
jwolfburg said:
I'd agree that it's a hardware problem, it may actually be that the internal antenna is burned out. I had a similar problem with the wifi on my old ipod.
I used an aftermarket charger which shorted something inside the device. Consequently, the battery would not hold a charge for longer than 15 minutes AND the it would not recognize a wifi signal, unless I held the ipod within inches of the router. Similar to what you experience with the cell towers, except on a smaller scale.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from wherever I was when I sent it.

Antenna ports behind battery cover?

Has anyone else noticed what look like antenna ports behind the battery cover? The battery cover isn't supposed to function as an antenna like the Thunderbolt, is it? Mine definitely doesn't have any contacts.

I believe the NFC antenna is in the battery.

I'm talking about the things labeled G, L1 C2, C1, L2.

Bump, does anyone else see what i'm talking about?

mirkendargen said:
Bump, does anyone else see what i'm talking about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see exactly what your talking about (pretty sure). Could it not be the barometric pressure sensor?

I dont have this...are you LTE?

Confirmed - LTE
My LTE has those antenna ports as well. I suppose you could plug in a laptop antenna and see what happens

I've got them on my lte
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Its possible that they are ports for a wireless charging system that may come out for the nexus. I have noticed more phones are incorporating it in from beginning.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

It does look like port for antenna, I don't think its for wireless charging back.

Those ports are used by the carriers to hook up their test equipment during the phone testing and certification process.

ITGuy11 said:
Those ports are used by the carriers to hook up their test equipment during the phone testing and certification process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is correct those are not really intended to be used as external antenna/amplifier ports. Those of you who want a correct connector it may be found here: wpsantennas.com
WARNING: Those connectors are really fragile and I have had to resolder a new connector after one of mine got stuck 'open' (wpsantennas put up a warning for that adapter).

I'm curious given all the talk of poor signal issues with the GNex... Would it be possible / beneficial to connect to one of these ports and coil / attach something to the battery door? I am certainly not suggesting I go experimenting, but if after research it turns into, buy this adapter, cut here, buy this, solder, attach here... that would awesome. Even a little improvement would make many people happy I think.

I have the GSM version of the gnex and I only have 1 antenna port on the back of my phone.
I've tried connecting a wireless antenna but the connection is too small, the gnex connection is a bit bigger than your standard wireless connector plug.
I'm assuming you need something special to plug into it ')
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

What about the one labled "G"? Is that a GPS hookup? I have the airwave at home and it happened to have a gps antennae in the box. If i recall correctly.... one end of that cable looked like it would connect to this port...
If i were to experiment, could I damage my phone?

btate0121 said:
What about the one labled "G"? Is that a GPS hookup? I have the airwave at home and it happened to have a gps antennae in the box. If i recall correctly.... one end of that cable looked like it would connect to this port...
If i were to experiment, could I damage my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could. I won't try it though.
Beamed from my Grouper.

Gnex connections
Based on my 1 yr. of robotics, I would say (just guessing ) that L1 and L2 stand for Line1(neg.) and Line2(pos.) and G(ground). As to C1 and C2, no idea. All these are probably intended for trained techs and could potentially turn your phone into a paper weight if used incorrectly. Just sayin'

btate0121 said:
What about the one labled "G"? Is that a GPS hookup? I have the airwave at home and it happened to have a gps antennae in the box. If i recall correctly.... one end of that cable looked like it would connect to this port...
If i were to experiment, could I damage my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you attach an Antenna, it will open that port and it will be sick open meaning it won't ever work again without an Antenna. A friend of mine did this to the epic 4g
"best to be fresh"

dreamsforgotten said:
Once you attach an Antenna, it will open that port and it will be sick open meaning it won't ever work again without an Antenna. A friend of mine did this to the epic 4g
"best to be fresh"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read that someone did the same thing with a AT&T SGS2
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

There was a thread around, if the antenna cable's pin diameter is too big, it will force the contacts open.
Beamed from Maguro

antenna booster/ USB antenna/ car booster/ anything exist?

I want a way to boost my cell service when I travel. I drive around a lot, and use my phone soo much, but I often have little to no signal. is there a micro USB antenna? or a way to use the giant 2 ton antenna you're driving around to give you more signal? looking for some way to boost this. ill 'Thank' anyone who can offer any suggestions!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

soraxd said:
I want a way to boost my cell service when I travel. I drive around a lot, and use my phone soo much, but I often have little to no signal. is there a micro USB antenna? or a way to use the giant 2 ton antenna you're driving around to give you more signal? looking for some way to boost this. ill 'Thank' anyone who can offer any suggestions!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Wilson Sleek

If our phones still had external antennae, i'm sure there could possibly be something to use to boost the signal in some way, shape, or form. Unless there is some way for the device being used to be in direct contact with the antenna, it'd basically be about as useless as those stickers you used to be able to get that you stuck to the back of your phone or to the battery in your phone, and somehow they suckered people into thinking that would actually help.

elementaldragon said:
If our phones still had external antennae, i'm sure there could possibly be something to use to boost the signal in some way, shape, or form. Unless there is some way for the device being used to be in direct contact with the antenna, it'd basically be about as useless as those stickers you used to be able to get that you stuck to the back of your phone or to the battery in your phone, and somehow they suckered people into thinking that would actually help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you know plugging headphones into the phone work as an antenna for the FM Radio app? i wonder if a similar solution could be applied via AUX or Micro USB to hardwire into your car. it would depend on how the inside is setup. wonder if i took the phone apart i could solder a wire to it.. lol probably not a DIY project i wanna risk
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Please help to Which antenna belong these pins

Hello guys,
I disassembled my One X today to fix the wifi fault, I fixed it and now the signal strengh is excellent, but when opening it I damaged 2 pins which I don't know to what antenna they belong.. Though I tested my phone after assembling, everything works good (wifi, gps, bluetooth, signal, 3g), so I don't know what are those pins/connectors, here are the said pins circled with red, please help me I need to know
Thanks in advance,
Regards

Could be NFC... Take a bus card, gym card or similar and try to read it.
I saw a pic describing the pins earlier today, lemme find it for you.
Edit: http://db.tt/fsor3NYu
The pic's useless but whatever
Sent from my IceCold One X using xda premium

TToivanen said:
Could be NFC... Take a bus card, gym card or similar and try to read it.
I saw a pic describing the pins earlier today, lemme find it for you.
Edit: http://db.tt/fsor3NYu
The pic's useless but whatever
Sent from my IceCold One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the fast reply, I don't care about NFC I stored the pins and I'll solder them when I'll have time, for now I don't want to reopen it another time

anyone confirms that those pins are for NFC? because NFC is working like it should, but GPS is taking time to lock, and it locks to 6 satellites Max, no way to get more :/ are they GPS pins?

According to my photo, they are not mobile signal ,WiFi or GPS.
What's left then??
And how did you damage them? Totally snapped off or bent a little?

TToivanen said:
According to my photo, they are not mobile signal ,WiFi or GPS.
What's left then??
And how did you damage them? Totally snapped off or bent a little?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I inserted a bit of plastic on the left side, I damaged the pins, they was completely removed! I have them and I can solder them but I don't want to solder anything because I'm willing to sell it to get the One, and scared to damage another thing when soldering..

Might be something to do with the pogo(docking) pins, pictured here

Might be; but there's also a traditional flex cable for the pogo pins.
Sent from my IceCold One X using xda premium