I recently moved into an area with poor AT&T coverage even though their coverage map shows that I'm in "Best" coverage. Almost all of my calls break up and many drop unless I'm outside near a major road, which is obviously inconvenient. Has anyone has success using an external antenna though the port on the back of the phone near the camera lens? I would prefer it to be a solid antenna not a flexible one that hangs down off the phone and of course the smaller the better.
As a side note, I attempted to use BandSwitcher and Edge with 2 bars is the best signal I get in my house and still is a very poor connection. I do not want to purchase an expensive hard wired signal amp and antenna just for home use.
Thanks in advance,
Justin
jbear7 said:
I recently moved into an area with poor AT&T coverage even though their coverage map shows that I'm in "Best" coverage. Almost all of my calls break up and many drop unless I'm outside near a major road, which is obviously inconvenient. Has anyone has success using an external antenna though the port on the back of the phone near the camera lens? I would prefer it to be a solid antenna not a flexible one that hangs down off the phone and of course the smaller the better.
As a side note, I attempted to use BandSwitcher and Edge with 2 bars is the best signal I get in my house and still is a very poor connection. I do not want to purchase an expensive hard wired signal amp and antenna just for home use.
Thanks in advance,
Justin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just an FYI, I bought a RadioShack universal antenna adapter, and it killed my cell phone. PDA still works, but I get no reception at all now. oing to have to send it in for repairs.
i.e. be carefull with external antennas
I did the same thing, bought the Radio Shack antenna, plugged it into my 8525, the phone lost all reception and I had to replace it.
You've been warned!
Hermes external antenna
Search eBay for the ARC Freedom antenna (also need adapter). I bought one and went from 1-2 bars & dropping calls to 3-4 bars and no more dropped calls. I'm not endorsing this product, its just the only one I've come across and so far it works pretty good.
Dr Jay
Related
Recenly moved from a TP2 to the HD2 and am experiencing some antenna (signal) issues that I hadn't with the TP2
I know there are threads about a 'killing grip', but I haven't yet found a solution or at least a partial help.
Holding in RIGHT HAND:
Signal drops by at least 2, usually 3 bars (GPRS)
Holding in LEFT HAND:
Signal drops by 1-2 bars, but not usually lower (GPRS)
I have tried changing grips but unless I hold he phone above the antenna nothing changes, and with this grip its difficult to operate one handed
Wifi is uneffected and I haven't been in a HSDPA area to test that, but I pressume it will be effected similarly.
Has anyone found that using certain cases or full body skins help the situation? or is it simply that our hands are blocking the signal and therefore no case/skin will help?
not aware of any signal issues but I do have my phone in a silicon case that it came with. I'd recommend using a silicon case just for the fact that if you place your phone face down, it keeps the screen up off of the surface thus saving it from getting scratched up.
I am sure most people on here would have noticed that the WiFi signal on the htc amaze is drastically affected by the use of a phone case...
This was a dreaded problem for me up until now...I found a way to boost my WiFi signal without sacrificing protection....
All I did was cut a little piece of aluminium foil and attach it to WiFi antenna located on the inner back panel of the phone.....The antenna is located next to the camera lens....
Once the foil is attached to the antenna, replace the back cover and you should have improved WiFi signal that instant.....Fill free to put on any phone case while surfing the internet at blazing fast speeds using WiFi....
Questions are welcomed if the procedure is not fully understood..
I noticed this when I put a d3o dual case on mine.. can u post pics of what you did?
Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using xda premium.. haha the amaze is at HTC getting a new screen..
I have attached a pic of the foil and its location on the back panel of the phone...
Wifi Signal and Cases
Anyone else try this?
Now that sucks, I bought this phone because of the luxurious look and feel (high class build quality). This is like putting rabbit ears on my 65 inch plasma (Ghetto). Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in (into the projects lol).
Don't forget that no one else knows the foil is there except you... A rabbits ear on a 65inches tv can't be hidden..
darll said:
Don't forget that no one else knows the foil is there except you... A rabbits ear on a 65inches tv can't be hidden..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha so true!
that is pretty ghetto but its hidden so if it works i guess you could consider it hardware hacking
Yeah mine is about 5mbs difference
Sent from my HTC Amaze 4G using xda premium
I have the d30 case and I never had a problem with wifi signal... have you ever thought that it was your internet provider or maybe your router?
iGoOsE76 said:
I have the d30 case and I never had a problem with wifi signal... have you ever thought that it was your internet provider or maybe your router?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps your router is not far from your phone that why... If there are few walls between your phone and router you will notice the problem..
This has nothing to do with internet provider or router..
Try covering the top of your phone when the d30 case is removed and see if your wifi signal drops... If it dosen't then you are too close to your router to notice the problem...
All the fol does is boost your wifi signal .. I have been using it for while and I have consistently got full wifi signal even when there are few walls between my device and the router,,,
Makes a difference, thank you
Bluetooth
I've also notice the same problem with the bluetooth radio. With a gummy cover on (silcone I believe) my moto bluetooth headset SD9-HD doesn't work worth a F*&k but without the cover it's all good.
Which is the BT antenne?
How about cell signal???
This trick reminded me of the old product called cell phone signal booster sticker. Here's a YouTube video http://youtu.be/Elgx7lp7YMc if you are not sure what I'm talking about.
If we can boost cell signal using your method, it would save battery as well (without spending too much money on this sticker). Any thought, guys?
Might be a contact issue, not a "this piece of aluminum foil is a better antenna." I'd posit that the two gold colored contacts are not making a solid electrical connection to the rear cover's antenna contacts and that the aluminum is helping by acting as a shim. But I could be wrong. For those of you with Wi-Fi issues, ever so carefully bend the little gold colored metal contacts on your phone upward to ensure solid contact with the rear of the case.
verkion
verkion said:
Might be a contact issue, not a "this piece of aluminum foil is a better antenna." I'd posit that the two gold colored contacts are not making a solid electrical connection to the rear cover's antenna contacts and that the aluminum is helping by acting as a shim. But I could be wrong. For those of you with Wi-Fi issues, ever so carefully bend the little gold colored metal contacts on your phone upward to ensure solid contact with the rear of the case.
verkion
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the foil also helps the wifi signal retain its strength... Try covering the back of your phone using your hand and you will see that you loose all wireless signal unless you are close to the router..
Try the same procedure with the foil on and you will see that the wireless signal remains strong regardless of position
Wow, this little piece of aluminum actually works. However, it doesn't work 100% for me. My WiFi signal strength fluctuates quite a bit. But at least I can actually stay connected to my WiFi now.
Thanks. This is a great tip
Edit: this also fixed the problem my amaze had when connecting to my router at work. It would always say connected but data would never be exchanged.
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using XDA App
I thought you were punking us. I was hesitant to even try, because I just KNEW this was a joke. But... it really does work!
I have had nothing buy buyers remorse since buying two of these Amaze phones (full retail price at a TMO store) - on a prepaid plan. They give you about 3 nanoseconds to return - and even then charge a $50/phone restocking fee.
Service is very poor in my home - which I knew before I bought. But, I assumed the Wifi calling would circumvent that problem. I was so disappointed with the jitter, stutter, lost packets, and overall piss-poor wifi call quality, that I upgraded my router, and installed a corporate-rated access point. There was some improvement, but nothing that rivaled a good cell call.
Best DL speeds were around 8-9mbps, and very erratic. With the foil, consistently 20mbps! I am completely dumbfounded.
If such poor wifi performance could be remedied by such a simple fix, why on earth does HTC not do this from the get go? It just doesn't make sense.
So, what have you guys done to keep the foil from shifting, or falling out when changing the battery?
OP, I luv you...
hooutoo said:
I've also notice the same problem with the bluetooth radio. With a gummy cover on (silcone I believe) my moto bluetooth headset SD9-HD doesn't work worth a F*&k but without the cover it's all good.
Which is the BT antenne?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my issue too. Maybe it'll work if we know which antenna it is.
I switched from a Focus to the Titan about a week ago. I love the Titan, except it seems to me that the antenna sensitivity is pretty poor. Cases in point:
1. On a call on my Titan at the office, I enter a stairwell in the building, and immediately the call drops. With my Focus, I could walk up and down these stairs all day while on a call and never have the call drop.
2. At home, I get very poor coverage. Last night at home my Titan is telling me that there is no network available. I walk over and pick up my wife's Focus and it is showing AT&T network and two bars! I power cycled my Titan hoping that it might re-lock onto the network, but it continued to tell me that no network was available all evening. I was unable to make or receive any calls last evening.
3. Right now, sitting in my desk at work, my Titan is bouncing between 2-3 bars. My Focus, sitting in the same spot would always show 4-5 bars. When I pick up my Titan, the signal strength display drops to one bar.
I really, really like this phone, but if this is the indication of the signal strength that I can expect, I am going to have to return it. Anyone else having this problem?
OK, I may have answered my own question. After posting, I saw this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18523952&postcount=12
I opened the case on my Titan, contacts looked fine. But when I put the phone back together, I squeezed the case very hard at the bottom, and the signal strength indicator immediately went to four bars. Will monitor and see if this takes care of the problem.
Just received my Titan.
The signal is terrible. Sitting right next to my hd7s, the hd7s gets speeds of around 1mbit/sec while the Titan gets connection errors.
Checked the contacts and they are fine
Everywhere I test, the Titan consistently has a weak signal. This is on att in central NY. I wont even compare it to the signal on my Droid with verizon. I absolutely love the phone, but with the signal problems I'm probably going to be returning it
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
Did you get a new SIM card or are you using your old one. The new micro SIM made a big difference on my Titan. I had a one year old sim from my Focus. My nephew had a 15 month (?) old Sim for an Iphone 3Gs. When I put both in two Titans, mine was had better signal and internet connection. I noticed that Titan uses the micro SIM(saw someone with it), so I got a new micro SIM yesterday. My signal is even better. The internet flies on my phone now.
I'm still using my old sim that I had from the Focus (and earlier). Did you get your micro sim at the AT&T store? I may get one myself.
Tempest790 said:
I'm still using my old sim that I had from the Focus (and earlier). Did you get your micro sim at the AT&T store? I may get one myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I did. Make sure to go to a corporate store. It's free. If you go to a franchise they'll charge $20, I believe.
When I bought my phone online, they sent a new SIM with the phone.
Signal strength and quality seem better since I made my original post. Still not as good as my old Focus, but acceptable.
No issues here! Can text in lifts!
Sent from my TITAN X310e using Board Express
HTC Titan low signal homemade solution
eeichhorn said:
Just received my Titan.
The signal is terrible. Sitting right next to my hd7s, the hd7s gets speeds of around 1mbit/sec while the Titan gets connection errors.
Checked the contacts and they are fine
Everywhere I test, the Titan consistently has a weak signal. This is on att in central NY. I wont even compare it to the signal on my Droid with verizon. I absolutely love the phone, but with the signal problems I'm probably going to be returning it
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there,
After getting my Titan from AT&T, I saw that the signal was much lower than my iPhone 4.
When I got home, I had no service in the house where I had 1 or 2 bars with the iPhone 4.
I checked the contacts, but they where fine, so I started to make test to find witch of the 2 botthom contacts was the positive of the antenna.
With the phone face down, the faar right contact is the ground of the antenna, because it has continuity with the chassis of the phone.
So the left contact is the one to work with.
I then research on the internet for the lenth of a 850mhz antenna, & I found that it is 9 cm.
I then cut a piece of brass shim half a centimeter wide by 9 centimeter long.
I soldered a small hard copper wire thru the left hole of the cover & soldered it to the inside tab of the back cover, making shure that no solder or wire protrude from the contact. Otherwise you will have problems to close the back cover against the phone.
I then made a pin hole thru one end of my brass shim I had previously cut.
I then turned the cover over & pass the brass shim thru the hard copper wire I just soldered on the inside. I used invisible regular tape to secure the brass shim on the back cover & then proceeded to solder the shim with the hard copper wire as close to the back cover possible. I then tested my invention & I have now 2 bars where I had no service before.
Of course, I Had a Hard Cover shell to cover this installation, but the results are fantastic.
You have to be aware that the phone back cover will be altered in case of warranty, but you can get a replacement cover on Ebay for aprox $36.
Do this at your own risk
You can sand this soldering in order to prevent having difficulties putting a protective skin or cover.
I strip of copper can also be used for this homemade antenna.
You can PM me if you need more help for the installation.
I now have a full functioning HTC Titan that I now have learn to cherish.
By the way, the problem that a lots of people are having with slow downloads, is directly related to tha lack of a good antenna on this phone.
Hope this hep some of you out there.
Edited Febuary 2, 2012
I found the real problem with signal issues of the Titan.
I had bought a second HTC Titan & I thought of trying the back cover on my first Titan.
The results are astonishing. The back cover was all that was wrong on my device. With the second Titan I purchased from AT&T on the Web, there is no problem with the sigral.
I have now ordered a new cover from Ebay & will try to get a replacement from HTC for my original one that was defective.
I really think there was a bad batch of those back covers for this Titan & we where the unlucky ones to get them.
If you know someone that has no issues with his Titan, try his back cover on your phone.
Hope this help someone.
Good luck.
Hello everyone. Something that came to my attention today that I wanted to share with everyone was the issue of slow network speeds, including GPS. Since the antenna are attached to the back cover if the camera, if removed and not reattached properly, speeds will take a hit. Make sure the contact points are clean, and also make sure the cover is set properly in place. The slightest shift in the cover creates a bad connection. If this has already been addressed then great, otherwise, just something to consider if your speeds take a hit.
Thanks!
~Siv
Sent from my EVO using XDA
I'm guessing the antennas on the cover are worthless. My signal is the same with the cover removed a with it on.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Is that an antenna or the NFC chip inside the black cover?
yamaford said:
I'm guessing the antennas on the cover are worthless. My signal is the same with the cover removed a with it on.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pull up the debug screen and go to the EVdo data screen and pull the cover off. Watch the signal number.
Sent from my C64 w/Epyx FastLoad cartridge
The following link applies to the One X, but we have the same type of prong connectors. It's possible we have the same type of issue basically:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1688538
Ok I made a thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1710905
I'm pretty sure that's the NFC antenna only not anything for data.
Edit nevermind I was wrong.
Looks to me like all of the antennas are in the plastic back cover. I was playing with it today and could make my signal strength on 3g vary by over 12 db just by squeezing and tapping on the plastic cover. Not an optimum design, in my opinion.
wfrandy said:
Looks to me like all of the antennas are in the plastic back cover. I was playing with it today and could make my signal strength on 3g vary by over 12 db just by squeezing and tapping on the plastic cover. Not an optimum design, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if it would be worthwhile to put drops of solder on contact points (there are something like four-five; you can clearly see them as scratch marks on copper). Maybe people with an unusually bad reception can fix it that way.
nabbed said:
I wonder if it would be worthwhile to put drops of solder on contact points (there are something like four-five; you can clearly see them as scratch marks on copper). Maybe people with an unusually bad reception can fix it that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They look to be gold plated contact points, so I suspect putting solder on them would actually worsen the problem.
for some reason i get better signal than my old evo.
I think you are on to something! I removed and reattached the back cover and all signal issues disappeared including the wifi drops.
Thanks!
Sent from my EVO LTE using XDA
rooterman said:
for some reason i get better signal than my old evo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay guys i have to say it. I have loved Sprint for years. Ever since my LG Rumor!!
But the **** i got going on now is ridiculous. My signal is horrible. complete garbage. I activated my og EVO the other day and its signals were PERFECT at home and at work. Today I re activated my EVO LTE and it just looses 3G connection and I can't send texts half the time.
I got my phone replaced and it still ****.. (pardon my language)
I love Sprint and their business model and what they are doing. I LOVE my HTC EVO LTE but I absolutely can't stand the service!
ideas?
Hey guys and gals, just something I have been curious about for a while. Are there certain materials, or even design/shapes to a building that impede signals? I know people say Wimax sucks indoors, but I'm talking regular data connection (1x/3g).
I can stand outside my office and pull over 1mbps on speedtest. I walk in, go to my desk 20 ft from the door, I'm lucky to pull over 500kbps. Sometimes I even drop to Roaming and get sub 100kbps at peak times. I walk back outside, boom... signal will double in strength.
I just thought it was weird and wondered if there is any particular reason. As an FYI the building does have those greenish colored reflective glass windows. I also work for local government, so I dunno if they have different requirements for the building?
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
I work at a school and my signal is crap inside. The large amounts of metal and concrete used in commercial buildings kill signal similar to a Faraday cage. The effect happens in residential buildings, but isn't as noticeable.
This also kills battery since the phone has to work hard to keep signal.
... with Tapatalk 2
I got my work to install a booster because the signal is so bad inside. The signal out side is okay, but great inside. It's a two story structure and the antenna is upstairs. It should easily do 1500sqft but it does not penetrate between floors well due to thier construction.
Yeah, my building is all concrete and glass mostly. My phone cannot last long and I have to keep a charger at work. With moderate use I'm happy to last until lunch. Maybe one day I'll get a corner office with windows. Lol that might boost my signal!
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
my signal and speeds are **** inside and outside.... effin sprint
raptoro07 said:
I got my work to install a booster because the signal is so bad inside. The signal out side is okay, but great inside. It's a two story structure and the antenna is upstairs. It should easily do 1500sqft but it does not penetrate between floors well due to thier construction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get the booster from?
You lose about 10-15 feet of coverage for every wall the signal has to pass through to get to you.
oohaylima said:
Where did you get the booster from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://powerfulsignal.com/
about $1000-1200 or so.