Develop Bugs

[Q] External antenna experience?

Hi, after a few attempts at searching for info about the external antenna on the nexus, I think I finally found something... has anyone tried this part:
http://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/patch-lead-samsung-nexus-s
This is by the same company that makes a Galaxy SII patch lead. I've read all the threads about breaking the internal antenna by using an incorrect connector, but a couple of people mentioned towards the end that they tried this brand and it worked perfectly.
I'd like to try this because when I drive through WI I have very poor / no reception, even though I'm driving down the one corridor (I94/I90/I35) that T-Mobile is supposed to completely cover. Most of the time I can't even get enough signal to send a text. Since google maps can't do routing offline I really would like to boost my signal at least up to 2G all the way through the state, and if I got a good enough signal to stream music that would be even better. Also, it seems like I always hit a snow storm when I go through. I'd rather not be stranded w/o signal if something happened.
Hopefully this + a good (5db or greater) car antenna + a second phone back that I can drill a hole in would make the phone usable on road trips...

I think it's a risk of breaking that port. And besides, what kind of antenna are you going to connect? Isn't roaming offered if you were to NEED cell service? Have you tried flashing other radios from josteink's radio dumps collection? Which radio are you on now?

Don't take the risk, just get the Wilson cradle signal booster. And for maps, you can go into settings and download areas to offline cache.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

bodh said:
I think it's a risk of breaking that port. And besides, what kind of antenna are you going to connect? Isn't roaming offered if you were to NEED cell service? Have you tried flashing other radios from josteink's radio dumps collection? Which radio are you on now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on T-Mobile pre-paid. They claim they have service but it doesn't come through. I've tried a couple of radios but this has been the case with other phones for the past 5 years. They just don't have much / any service. (T-mobile prepaid shows IA as having 2G service but they don't actually let you connect, even though they own the company that owns the towers).
JPBeard21 said:
Don't take the risk, just get the Wilson cradle signal booster. And for maps, you can go into settings and download areas to offline cache.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already have the official car dock so I'd rather not dispose of that. I can't download maps to cover the whole route - 400 - 500 miles - but even if I'm in an area I have downloaded I thought it needed networking to actually do the routing...

ChrisAshton84 said:
I already have the official car dock so I'd rather not dispose of that. I can't download maps to cover the whole route - 400 - 500 miles - but even if I'm in an area I have downloaded I thought it needed networking to actually do the routing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can understand not wanting another dock. I don't have one so its hard to know what kind of solutions would work. Wilson makes many different adapters, antennas and amplifiers, check them out.
With maps, I believe you can download more area depending on level of zoom and I also think navigation would work as long as you start in a coverage area, been a long time since I used it and lost coverage. Not sure about rerouting abilities without coverage or cached maps. I would try to at least cache the areas you know have little to no service. You may be better with an offline solution such as Tom Tom, Navigon, or one of the many other ones. Keep us posted, interested to see what you come up with.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Unexplained weak signal and poor reception on an unlocked i317m, please help!

Hi all, this is my first time posting in these forums.
I've recently purchased a used rogers model i317m galaxy note 2 and used the dialer code so I could use it on Telus.
Since doing so, I have experienced intermittent, unexplainable signal drops, especially going into indoor areas. I have a friend with the same model phone, but Telus stock, and we have compared signal strength over the last two weeks. In a friends basement, he gets full reception on his note 2, while I get nothing.
In dealing with this issue, I have perused these forums for weeks. A variety of threads in the various note 2 forums all point to something fishy going on with galaxy note 2's that have been unlocked with the dialer code, and no conclusive evidence or answers regarding what the problem is, or how it can be fixed. It seems like those threads simply die because people cannot provide an explanation.
I have taken the phone to multiple repair shops, but their answers were all varying and they were more interested in trying to sell me on replacing the main board for $300 than helping me (no idea if it would actually fix anything if it's software related). I originally thought it could be a hardware antenna issue, but looking online and inquiring at the shops, antenna problems are so rare they don't even have stock, and have never been asked to replace one.
I doubt it's a hardware problem, and the other loose threads regarding this issue seem to confirm that it is software related, and only happens to dialer unlocked note 2's. And since I am getting reception (3bars and let outside, 1 bar and no data inside), the antennas do seem to be working.
ive tried a variety of solutions suggested on* the forums, but to no avail.
1) factory reset, no results
2) new sim card, no results
3) flashing a stock Telus rom, changing csc code, nothing
4) flashing new telus radio (even though I know rogers, Telus, sasktel all use the same radio), nothing
5) flashing aws band, made reception worse (maybe)
6) using *#*#2236# code, changing options, nothing
7) calling Telus, explaining the situation, having them make sure everything was fine on their side. Everything checked out and the Telus guy was equally confused by the problem.
8) main Samsung tech support, same issue. The representative was confused as well, and started cruising xda to try to help me!
This has been incredibly frustrating. The signal drop is so bad it basically renders the phone unusable. Right now I'm sitting in a house on the main floor on wifi next to big windows, and I'm getting one bar of reception and no data at all. On my nexus in the same room I was getting full signal.
The only thing I haven't tried is flashing modded baseband radios, but another person with the same problem on xda tried that and it didn't work for them at all.
I think I'm out of options. Planning on selling it to a used store for cheap and buying one fresh from Telus, or ordering an international model so this won't happen again.
Can anyone help?
Thanks so much.
WTF, W. T. F.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app

I had the same problem, reset flash counter to zero and returned it to Samsung for warranty. They fixed it for me. I am on my phone now so i can't link to the thread, but if you Google reset flash counter to zero gn2 xda, you should find the answer. Hope this helps.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app

Thanks. Was it confirmed to be a hardware problem? Will they accept used phones under warranty?
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app

Try flashing this rom and flash your modem/radio before you reboot system. I am using it right now and my signal increased with this stock rom. I am using Ma3 modem with it and works great.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301141
Sent from my l317M

Yes, they told me it hard ware, and yes, it was used and still under warranty. Try contacting Samsung through online chat via their help center.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app

AIDAKU said:
What is that *#*#2236# code?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a hidden menu, that's within the phone. Same way you unlock it by using the hidden menu!
Just my 2¢®
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

eltee38 said:
Hi all, this is my first time posting in these forums.
I've recently purchased a used rogers model i317m galaxy note 2 and used the dialer code so I could use it on Telus.
Since doing so, I have experienced intermittent, unexplainable signal drops, especially going into indoor areas. I have a friend with the same model phone, but Telus stock, and we have compared signal strength over the last two weeks. In a friends basement, he gets full reception on his note 2, while I get nothing.
In dealing with this issue, I have perused these forums for weeks. A variety of threads in the various note 2 forums all point to something fishy going on with galaxy note 2's that have been unlocked with the dialer code, and no conclusive evidence or answers regarding what the problem is, or how it can be fixed. It seems like those threads simply die because people cannot provide an explanation.
I have taken the phone to multiple repair shops, but their answers were all varying and they were more interested in trying to sell me on replacing the main board for $300 than helping me (no idea if it would actually fix anything if it's software related). I originally thought it could be a hardware antenna issue, but looking online and inquiring at the shops, antenna problems are so rare they don't even have stock, and have never been asked to replace one.
I doubt it's a hardware problem, and the other loose threads regarding this issue seem to confirm that it is software related, and only happens to dialer unlocked note 2's. And since I am getting reception (3bars and let outside, 1 bar and no data inside), the antennas do seem to be working.
ive tried a variety of solutions suggested on* the forums, but to no avail.
1) factory reset, no results
2) new sim card, no results
3) flashing a stock Telus rom, changing csc code, nothing
4) flashing new telus radio (even though I know rogers, Telus, sasktel all use the same radio), nothing
5) flashing aws band, made reception worse (maybe)
6) using *#*#2236# code, changing options, nothing
7) calling Telus, explaining the situation, having them make sure everything was fine on their side. Everything checked out and the Telus guy was equally confused by the problem.
8) main Samsung tech support, same issue. The representative was confused as well, and started cruising xda to try to help me!
This has been incredibly frustrating. The signal drop is so bad it basically renders the phone unusable. Right now I'm sitting in a house on the main floor on wifi next to big windows, and I'm getting one bar of reception and no data at all. On my nexus in the same room I was getting full signal.
The only thing I haven't tried is flashing modded baseband radios, but another person with the same problem on xda tried that and it didn't work for them at all.
I think I'm out of options. Planning on selling it to a used store for cheap and buying one fresh from Telus, or ordering an international model so this won't happen again.
Can anyone help?
Thanks so much.
WTF, W. T. F.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you fix this. I have the same problem,

I am having the same problem, how did you get this fixed? Does anyone else have a suggestion?

i'm having the same issue, any luck resolving this problem??

Note 2 bad reception after root and rom 4.4.2
whhw31 said:
i'm having the same issue, any luck resolving this problem??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was having the same problem on my Note 2 i317 and seem to have fixed it with the latest modem i317UCAMH3. It still fluxuates, but now I get a full 5 bars of reception and it lasts much longer. I also downloaded an app call OpenSignal, that seems to help...cannot image exactly why, but when I get low reception, I open this app and watch it jump to at least 2 bars and then I can make a call again (this was before flashing the newer modem), now I just use the app for visual purposes, as the Beanstalk image for reception is hard to see, OpenSignal has nice big green bars that are easy to see. Try the new modem and give it at least 15 minutes to connect, then it seems to stay connected for me...except when it locks and goes to sleep...it still loses reception when that happens, but that is an issue for another day.
Cheers!

[Q] Help: New wifi antenna kills cellular connection

Hi folks,
I jinxed myself. Yesterday I crowed over successfully replacing my M919 S4 wifi antenna, gaining better wifi performance by about one wifi bar around my house. (The thread is here, if anyone is interested) Basically I just felt my wifi reception was weak enough to suggest a problem, and I wanted better wifi coverage when not right next to a wifi router, so I popped for a few bucks to try a replacement antenna. It seemed to do the trick.
I didn't notice until I left home this morning that swapping the wifi antenna killed my cellular connection. No bars, and "No Service" was listed. Huh. At work, with no tools, I did the usual stuff. Remove/replace SIM, pull battery, no joy. At lunch I went and got a screwdriver. Disassembled / reassembled the unit (took off screws and frame, made sure no bent contacts) etc.. No joy. Went to nearby ATT store for new SIM, no joy.
Came home, and on a lark took out the new wifi antenna and put the old one back in. Rebooted, and all was back to normal. Fine cellular service right away, and back to the previously somewhat weak wifi reception.
I don't understand what could cause this series of events. To be clear, here's the part I used:
http://www.esquareparts.com/product/samsung-galaxy-s4-l720-r970-m919-wifi-antenna-flex-cable/
Is the WIFI antenna also part of the cellular system antenna, and is there a failure/defect mode that would explain why this replacement part would kill cellular service while working fine for WIFI?
I'm very confused. I want to get back to stronger wifi reception, WITHOUT killing my cellular...
Help!

Dude your over thinking it, had a feeling you where chasing a ghost but just waited for you to confirm it. Go to your nearest T-Mobile store and let then do there testing diagnostics and get it directly from the horses mouth. Yes, your phone is defective or no, your crazy. Or find someone with exact phone and compare signals.
Pp.

PanchoPlanet said:
Dude your over thinking it, had a feeling you where chasing a ghost but just waited for you to confirm it. Go to your nearest T-Mobile store and let then do there testing diagnostics and get it directly from the horses mouth. Yes, your phone is defective or no, your crazy. Or find someone with exact phone and compare signals.
Pp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been known to overthink things. Kind of my calling-card!
But this wifi thing isn't a ghost at all. Any other wifi device I've used in the last several years has had better wifi reception than this particular S4, including an ATT S4 I used for a couple months last year. And it's not just the "reported wifi bars" (which can vary by ROM)... the thing actually frequently disconnects from wifi when I head down to the basement. And in other wifi locations around town, it's reporting much lower. The replacement wifi antenna fixed that and brought it much closer to normal, no more disconnections. Except, of course, for my cellular connection.
If anyone can help explain why the new wifi antenna would completely kill the cell radio functionality (reversibly, thank gosh!), please pipe in. This is a stumper, for me...
And I don't think the T-mo store would do much for me. I'm using the phone on ATT, and I bought it through Swappa, so T-mo doesn't even have me in their system.
Marc

[Q] Possible issue from hardware swap

Recently I broke the display to my personal Samsung Galaxy S4. My work issued me a work phone which was a verizon Samsung Galaxy S4. I am fairly handy with repairs.
That should be enough preface information. After I switched the screens and reassembled the devices, I've noticed some less than optimal network speeds and connection times. A lot of issues I've never experienced, or have only experienced with very unstable ROMs. This leads me to believe there are hardware differences in the radios that are located in the display portion of the device. I still have data connectivity on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and normal cell coverage (EDGE, 3G, H+, 4G, 4GLTE).
Does anyone here have the expertise to confirm or allay my suspicions that the hardware swap from another manufacturer is causing these issues? If that is the case, do I need to flash a radio fix for a Verizon phone, or would I need a fix essentially custom made for my device? Any opinions are welcome, even if it's just to call me a dumbass for swapping different manufacturer's displays. I would almost agree with you.
TL;DR I swapped a broken T-Mobile display for a working Verizon one on my Galaxy S4, and now I have weird connectivity issues. Thoughts?

You Dumbass!
Lol. :sly:
All kidding aside, the Verizon antenna may have a frequency rating that the t-mobile modem isn't going to recognize.
A Verizon modem sounds like the way to go but it would have to be customized by a super developer.
??? Now that's uncharted territory.
Good luck.
Pp.

Baseband issue

Hello. I have an unlocked i9195 on CM13 official. I currently live in the north of England, and I use the network called giffgaff (O2). I would like to know if any baseband would do or there are specific ones for these circumstances, like os version, location, network. I have bad signal most of the time. LTE does not work 98% of times, WCDMA around 50% and GSM works almost always. Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks for your attention.

i am also on Giffgaff in the midlands. i9195LTE
running TWRP 3.0.3.0 , AOKP official rom 20170202 , remix N v0.6 kernel.
baseband I9195XXUCPI1.tar.MD5 [Vodaphone] latest for this phone ( i believe). from sammobile/firmware ( saw thread here XDA about updating Baseband)

justdlnow said:
Hello. I have an unlocked i9195 on CM13 official. I currently live in the north of England, and I use the network called giffgaff (O2). I would like to know if any baseband would do or there are specific ones for these circumstances, like os version, location, network. I have bad signal most of the time. LTE does not work 98% of times, WCDMA around 50% and GSM works almost always. Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks for your attention.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the latest BTU version of the baseband installed it's from around 2015 been working fine here.
Its probably a coverage issue I recommended trying other carriers to find out which suits your needs best.
I myself am using unlimited data plan on Three, works wonders.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using XDA Labs

justdlnow said:
Hello. I have an unlocked i9195 on CM13 official. I currently live in the north of England, and I use the network called giffgaff (O2). I would like to know if any baseband would do or there are specific ones for these circumstances, like os version, location, network. I have bad signal most of the time. LTE does not work 98% of times, WCDMA around 50% and GSM works almost always. Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks for your attention.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any should work, though generally it's recommended you keep your ROM and baseband to a similar release date, especially if you are having issues. Are you still on the original baseband?
You should be getting good converge on O2 or are you in a remote hilly area or near some other source of interference?
Else it could be hardware eg damaged component or poor grounding of aerial or pcb to phone ground plane. (cleaning contacts and/or tightening screws may help)

IronRoo said:
Any should work, though generally it's recommended you keep your ROM and baseband to a similar release date, especially if you are having issues. Are you still on the original baseband?
You should be getting good converge on O2 or are you in a remote hilly area or near some other source of interference?
Else it could be hardware eg damaged component or poor grounding of aerial or pcb to phone ground plane. (cleaning contacts and/or tightening screws may help)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I am not on the original baseband. I9195XXUCPE1 currently. Regarding the coverage, I checked on their website and the area its pretty well covered for 4G reception, nonetheless I believe there is probably something wrong with the phone itself, I will probably just give up on this phone and spare myself some days of calamity.
Anyways thanks for your reply.

justdlnow said:
No I am not on the original baseband. I9195XXUCPE1 currently. Regarding the coverage, I checked on their website and the area its pretty well covered for 4G reception, nonetheless I believe there is probably something wrong with the phone itself, I will probably just give up on this phone and spare myself some days of calamity.
Anyways thanks for your reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, sounds likely that it is hardware. A quick test you could do is pop the back cover off and connect a small wire to the test connector (at bottom level with the speaker) bypassing the actual antenna, if your signal strength improves then it is proof it is your antenna circuit where the problem is or the contacts.
You can also test by pressing down where the "touch" connectors are., see vid, sometimes it improves reception showing it's a bad connection with contacts.
This is often easily fixed by removing the inner cover & cleaning the contacts or applying a little more pressure to them with a little piece of plastic between them and the cover.
You can see from this video that the antenna are simply a "touch" connection to the main assembly.
about 2mins into the vid
should be a cheap fix at a repair shop if you don't fancy trying it yourself, if this is what it is.