Signal Issues - resolved!!!! - AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note I717

A quick history - bought a white note on release day, along with speck candyshell case. like with most new phones, had the back off and on several times a day the first few days. broke a few tabs on it, but it lived in its case, no big deal. Well I noticed that data signal in my office was terribly splotchy. I would get signal, drop it, repeat. returned the note after 2 weeks and swapped for another new one.
2nd phone - started with great signal, got worse and worse (also broke a few tabs on the back cover). Well, I was sick of the loose fitting back cover (you could tell even with the case on) so I folded up a receipt and put it between the back of my phone and my case to hold pressure against the back plate.
SIGNAL ISSUES COMPLETELY RESOLVED. I cannot believe how well this phone picks up now. Apparently, the 2 little contact points on the back plate (and the antenna-chip thingy on the backplate) help to aid in signal strength. figured I'd post up to share if anyone has similar issues.
Oh, and I'm kicking myself now because the first phone never had ANY black clipping/crush issues (I started Lost season 1 on Netflix when I got the phone, one episode a night in a pitch black bedroom), and this one has it so bad that you can't even make out dark scenes.

talonted said:
A quick history - bought a white note on release day, along with speck candyshell case. like with most new phones, had the back off and on several times a day the first few days. broke a few tabs on it, but it lived in its case, no big deal. Well I noticed that data signal in my office was terribly splotchy. I would get signal, drop it, repeat. returned the note after 2 weeks and swapped for another new one.
2nd phone - started with great signal, got worse and worse (also broke a few tabs on the back cover). Well, I was sick of the loose fitting back cover (you could tell even with the case on) so I folded up a receipt and put it between the back of my phone and my case to hold pressure against the back plate.
SIGNAL ISSUES COMPLETELY RESOLVED. I cannot believe how well this phone picks up now. Apparently, the 2 little contact points on the back plate (and the antenna-chip thingy on the backplate) help to aid in signal strength. figured I'd post up to share if anyone has similar issues.
Oh, and I'm kicking myself now because the first phone never had ANY black clipping/crush issues (I started Lost season 1 on Netflix when I got the phone, one episode a night in a pitch black bedroom), and this one has it so bad that you can't even make out dark scenes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those contacts you see on the back plate is for NFC not signal Strenth

I know the purpose of the chip in the backplate is for NFC, but it makes a huge difference in signal strength.

talonted said:
I know the purpose of the chip in the backplate is for NFC, but it makes a huge difference in signal strength.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think it has anything to do with the cellular antenna

Related

Casemate barley there

Its really barely there though and super light weight and doesn't interfere with anything
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
When lying back-down, does the case keep the camera lens raised off the table to protect it (and I assume it does not cover it, i.e. there's a cutout)?
Nice to see someone tried out the silver one.
I put up some pics of the black one i got in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1299029&page=3
I like those cases, but they are too nice for me. I would feel bad using it. Bought myself this instead:
http://www.case-mate.com/Samsung-Ga...te-Samsung-Galaxy-S-II-Barely-There-Cases.asp
$14 Shipped http://www.thecellguru.com/Products/33461
Case feels great, it has that matte plastic feel. Slips in and out of pocket perfect too.
I have the Aluminum case and I love the look, but I can really tell it hurts the GPS signal. I might keep it just for when i dress up.
poofyhairguy said:
I have the Aluminum case and I love the look, but I can really tell it hurts the GPS signal. I might keep it just for when i dress up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to hi-jack this thread but I also have the Aluminum and dont have the GPS issues that have been reported. I tried out GPS last night and everything seems to be working fine. The little GPS icon flashes on my notification bar and my navigation keeps what looks like accurate lock on my position, orientation, directions, etc. May I ask how you know your GPS signal is degraded? As for as I know, there is no GPS strength indicator on our phones?
tboooe said:
Not to hi-jack this thread but I also have the Aluminum and dont have the GPS issues that have been reported. I tried out GPS last night and everything seems to be working fine. The little GPS icon flashes on my notification bar and my navigation keeps what looks like accurate lock on my position, orientation, directions, etc. May I ask how you know your GPS signal is degraded? As for as I know, there is no GPS strength indicator on our phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are apps like GPS Status & Toolbox which determine the signal strength of the phone's GPS. I was ready to jump on the Aluminum case but this issue may be a deal-breaker for me. Try measuring your signal with and without the case and see if there's any noticeable difference.
I just sent back my Barely There Brushed Aluminum case. Loved the case, but it definitely screwed with GPS reception. It could hardly get a lock on GPS and Google Maps was failing over to using cell tower location, which is obvious when it happens because it becomes very inaccurate (large circle around your "location") and the GPS indicator flashes for a long time trying to get a lock. Eventually, it would get a lock, but only briefly then go back. Too bad, I liked the look and feel of the case, but I guess totally plastic will be the option for me.
jjsoviet said:
There are apps like GPS Status & Toolbox which determine the signal strength of the phone's GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS Status shows me it locks to fewer sats slower.
Honestly the best place I can tell is in Google Maps. With the case on, the me indicator has a radius as big as my complex. With the case off, there is no radius- just a triangle on me.
I decided to keep the case for when I dress up (it is that fancy), but otherwise I am using a $6 black TPU case.
Same here.I.have used GPS to get to and from w/o any issues Signal is fine as well
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
shoitz said:
I just sent back my Barely There Brushed Aluminum case. Loved the case, but it definitely screwed with GPS reception. It could hardly get a lock on GPS and Google Maps was failing over to using cell tower location, which is obvious when it happens because it becomes very inaccurate (large circle around your "location") and the GPS indicator flashes for a long time trying to get a lock. Eventually, it would get a lock, but only briefly then go back. Too bad, I liked the look and feel of the case, but I guess totally plastic will be the option for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, I just went to radioshack and my gps fails. It can utilize the cell towers to triangulate but that isn't exactly accurate 100% of the time. Oh well I really liked it too.
poofyhairguy said:
I have the Aluminum case and I love the look, but I can really tell it hurts the GPS signal. I might keep it just for when i dress up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same case looks fantastic. I can't see where it affects the signal in anyway. I have even thought it may improve the signal.
Updated list of compatible cases
I updated my list of compatible cases...added seidio
http://www.traemcneely.com/2011/10/...i777-samsung-galaxy-s2-sii-cases-covers-sgs2/
I picked up this case today and I honestly can't tell if it is screwing with my GPS or not. It takes forever to get a lock without the case on, and then it is hit and miss how many satellites it finds and connects to. I ran a couple of tests each with the case on and off and at most with the case on I am finding 1 or 2 less satellites. But my worst off case result is the same as my worst on case result, so like I said, I can't be sure.
Adelaide. said:
I picked up this case today and I honestly can't tell if it is screwing with my GPS or not. It takes forever to get a lock without the case on, and then it is hit and miss how many satellites it finds and connects to. I ran a couple of tests each with the case on and off and at most with the case on I am finding 1 or 2 less satellites. But my worst off case result is the same as my worst on case result, so like I said, I can't be sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here...have you tried the GPS mod that has been floating around? It essentially involves editing a gps.conf file. Supposedly it will help with GPS. I am going to try it this weekend.
No I haven't. I've never actually needed to use GPS so I haven't been too worried about it.

Wifi signal affected by phone case

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.

[Q] Anyone else having antenna sensitivity issues?

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.

WiFi sort of DOA - until I thumped it. Keep it?

Picked up a grey 32GB at Best Buy yesterday. Got home, charged and then connected to my wireless: Netgear WNDR4500. It connected but said I was at -1mbps. Minus? Reset the router, restarted the tablet/computer/dsl gate/etc. Still -1mbps.
I remembered where the antenna was from Anand's teardown so I moderately thumped it with a flick of my finger (like playing paper football with the triangles). As soon as I did BAM! 65mbps! Seriously? Should I keep this thing or take it back?
Savedsol said:
Picked up a grey 32GB at Best Buy yesterday. Got home, charged and then connected to my wireless: Netgear WNDR4500. It connected but said I was at -1mbps. Minus? Reset the router, restarted the tablet/computer/dsl gate/etc. Still -1mbps.
I remembered where the antenna was from Anand's teardown so I moderately thumped it with a flick of my finger (like playing paper football with the triangles). As soon as I did BAM! 65mbps! Seriously? Should I keep this thing or take it back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
might as well keep it...it'll be under warranty if it goes again....and you never know if there's more stock available.
It shouldn't revert again most likely since if the pogo pin antenna thing was stuck in the down position it is now in the up position with no way of being pushed down again.
I concur
Modded by MBOK
I would carefully evaluate the unit to make sure EVERYTHING else works to your satisfaction: audio, haptic feedback, screen quality (not too yellow, good colors, solid text), GPS (to whatever extent it matters to you), microphone, touchscreen, etc.
If everything checks out, then consider keeping it. I'm faced with the same sort of decision myself. I have three sitting in my house that I'm trying to decide between (or return all of them and get a different one entirely, or even just give up):
1. Great screen (excellent temp, great colors, very solid text) except for one stuck pixel, decent haptic feedback, but a vibration from the speakers at full volume, non-functional GPS, weaker wifi.
2. Good screen (a little warmer than #1, colors are good but not as much detail, text decent but not as sharp) but a little light bleed, great GPS (locks quickly to many satellites indoors, as many as 12/14 outdoors), stronger wifi, but broken haptic feedback and stains on the backplate that I can't remove.
3. Horrible screen (whites are a dingy yellow, color is washed out, text is pixellated), non-functional haptic feedback, good audio, good GPS and wifi.
All three are BCs and 0214 hardware builds. #3 is clearly going back, but with #1 and #2 I have to choose between the best screen I've seen on a Prime and the rest that's wrong with it. Not an easy choice--I can see details in images on its screen that I can't see on #2.
My point? As Forrest Gump would say, you never know what you're gonna get. If you return the one you have, you run the risk of getting one with more of a problem.
Barff1984 said:
might as well keep it...it'll be under warranty if it goes again....and you never know if there's more stock available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Peoples warranty experiences with asus have been less than satisfactory, not to mention they make you pay freight.
wynand32 said:
I have three sitting in my house that I'm trying to decide between (or return all of them and get a different one entirely, or even just give up):
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Admittedly off topic but did you buy these all from 1 place? We are clearly in different leagues as I would not have the balls to return three of these to the same vendor not to mention explaining the $1500 in charges to the credit card to compare screen colors to my wife.
Could be the pogo pins... if the SN starts with BC0CK it has bad hardware probably
Last night all was well. It is a BC but I've not heard/read any bad BC stories unlike some bad C stories.

10 cents GPS AND WIFI enhancer (and obligatory beer ;-) IMPROVED DESIGN

READ THIS POST AND POST 74 AND FURTHER
Have you ever seen such quality in the GPS signals and the fixes? (picture 1)
Ever since I got my TFP in early January I have been trying to find a way to enhance the GPS and the Wifi. I read just about all the threads on these subjects and tried every tweak. Even the crazy ones ;-) But because of the form factor I wasn't going to drill holes and put antennas on the back (respect guys, awesome work)
It started with a poster that got flamed straight away. He put a phone on the top right hand corner and got a better GPS. I felt sorry for him because everyone treated him like a retard. Just for the sake of being able to put the flamers in their spot I gave his idea a chance.
And it worked!!! But it was not practical. I can't walk around with a phone pressed against my TFP. But it was a start. Something started happening.
Next came the screwdriver trick. Even better result. Then I discovered the paperclip trick. Again improvement. But still not good enough and certainly not stable. It was difficult to reproduce. It became clear to me that positioning was very critical.
On the Wifi side people started enhancing their signal by placing foil the right Wifi antenna. Then they started using beer cans. It worked for some. But for others it didn't work. Theory was that somehow the Wifi signal got shielded forcing the other Wifi antenna to kick in. Tried it. Worked sometimes and at other moments didn't work. But there was something. And again it became clear to me that positioning was very critical.
Furthermore I started fooling around with grounding to the back plate. It had a dramatic effect on Wifi and GPS. As soon as something touches the back plate the signals die. I got the impression that the Wifi and GPS antenna were to close to each other and with all the RF signals they were screwing each other.
But all together there were things happening. I started documenting exact positions and sizes of the tweaks I was applying. Wifi was reasonable for me as long as I had a good base signal. GPS had my attention. I could get an external GPS, I could tether from my phone, I could buy a map, I could ask directions.
But NO!!!!
I wanted the GPS inside the Prime to get a reasonable fix.
It has cost me a lot of hours of trying, tweaking, adapting, and documenting.
But......
I FOUND THE 10 CENTS SOLUTION!!!
You only need to buy a 1 mm stainless steel cable.
Instructions (also see diagram):
1. First get yourself a beer. And drink it (this is the best part)
2. Then cut yourself a square 15x25 mm from the can (carefull)
3. Stick it in the right place onto the glass
4. Make sure it is isolated with electical tape on the topside
5. Place steel cable across the isolated square (I don’t know if this matters but I used 9,75 mm length = 0,5 x wavelength of GPS)
6. Fix it in place with electrical tape
And ......
ENJOY A GOOD GPS (better than my HTC Sensation)
Up to now this is the best result I can get.
Probably sizes and locations can be optimized.
However my experience is that the cable has to extend outside the plane of the TFP. Either vertical or horizontal. As long as it is inside the confines and flat on the glass of the TFP the signal dies instantly
And the electrical tape on top can be exchanged for something better looking.
Customize it like a sticker of a mouse with the tail being the steel cable.
Or a droid sticker with antenna ears upwards.
Outside and in the car I get a 4 second lock and after 10 seconds 15 sats and 10 locked. Inside has improved but not really good enough.
I have reset the prime before testing, cleared AGPS and Wifi off.
I hope you guys enjoy and appreciate my solution.
And if someone finds a better or more elegant solution please post.
Have fun
Oh I forgot to mention. The trick also works with the paperclip. Use a small paperclip. When straightened the length is 95 mm. Also works. I turned to the steel cable because I wanted something flexible.
very cool.
I currently have a beer can piece myself on my prime
-not as precise as yours, but it improves my wifi
not a beer, but after this j i shall try!
You guys are awesome....I've been looking for this all day..... a reason to drink beer tonight ^_^ oh and a possible gps solution without opening my TFP
Does yours maintain GPS lock while moving at highways speeds?
wynand32 said:
Does yours maintain GPS lock while moving at highways speeds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll test that. Drink beer and going high speed on the autobahn
wynand32 said:
Does yours maintain GPS lock while moving at highways speeds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YEP
Perfect turn by turn navigation.
On the highway about 10 locks and in urban area a minimum of 6 locks.
And all the time average 14 sats in sight.
I have not tried it yet in an area with very tall buildings.
I think the highest buildings during my tests were 6 floors.
If this can be independently verified (and sounds like it can be), then someone could definitely make a little money with this. Not enough to retire on, but a little spending money.
A question: could this be made into something that could clip onto the Prime and so be easily added/removed? While I wouldn't tape anything to my Prime, I'd clip something on it if I were to want GPS to work (which I don't actually, but being speculative here).
wynand32 said:
If this can be independently verified (and sounds like it can be), then someone could definitely make a little money with this. Not enough to retire on, but a little spending money.
A question: could this be made into something that could clip onto the Prime and so be easily added/removed? While I wouldn't tape anything to my Prime, I'd clip something on it if I were to want GPS to work (which I don't actually, but being speculative here).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes can be done.
I have been trying some solutions myself.
But the positioning turned out to be a critical factor.
Had to work that out first.
Wanted to share those results first.
But some sort of minimized and customisable clip on device would be nice.
Either pimped or just simple
I'm thinking you could use a simple clip like we use at home for potato chip bags. Line the inside of one part of the clip with the require metal, add in the wire, and then you could simply clip it on when you need GPS. Those clips aren't particularly strong, either, so no worries about damaging the Prime.
I might give this a shot myself this week, if I get some time.
The 12 Steps to ruin.... and a Hangover
My attempt (not really but could be fun)
1. Drink one can, cut open and place on screen.
Tape was too old. Can kept falling off.
2. Get another can and drink then place on screen again.
New tape stayed on but can didn't work.
3. Get yet another beer. Had a brainstorm idea to try doing the same for Wifi... got another beer.
Drank beers, needed a pee. Wife threw out the empties.
4. Got another two beers. Rang friend to ask if he had a beeter metal cutter....
5. Got two more beers then forgot what I was doing.
6. Glot two more bbers. Needed another pee.... Came back stood on berr cans. They were hiding on the floor.
7. Grot a new crate of beers in from the sheller hic! Drunk clan cut finger with can opener. Oh Eck...
8. Opened nudder bleer. Got drill out and dilled lotsh of oles on can.
Bol*x.... need a pee.
9. Sloped can wid whisky bottle... Poored whiskey on wire... Sh1t.. where da fcuk did wire come ffrommm???
10. Passt hammmmer to schreen. Bloke grass an spong at glue.
11. Glue noo worrrk. Need beeerr. hic!
12. Shud not put fingerss in live lectric shockket!
Fin............. Dont work.
zzzzZZzzZzzzzZzzzzzz
So I guess the prime as a glorified beer coaster wasnt too far off since it can improve signal strength.
hey guys come on.
I'm trying to start a serious thread and now you are turning it into something hilarious.
Well they always say 'keep on smiling'.
Had a great laugh.
Great story.
Let's see if thereś any beer left.
Cheers guys
Jesus.. you couldn't pay me to do this.
BTW, I got better than you without this nasty hack. I have screenshots of 18ft right in my backyard. No tin foil, no duct tape, not guitar/bike wire.
But none of it matters... AS YOU CANT DRIVE AND GET IT TO WORK
Lock-N-Load said:
Jesus.. you couldn't pay me to do this.
BTW, I got better than you without this nasty hack. I have screenshots of 18ft right in my backyard. No tin foil, no duct tape, not guitar/bike wire.
But none of it matters... AS YOU CANT DRIVE AND GET IT TO WORK
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
VVVVVVVV
dingdonggggg said:
YEP
Perfect turn by turn navigation.
On the highway about 10 locks and in urban area a minimum of 6 locks.
And all the time average 14 sats in sight.
I have not tried it yet in an area with very tall buildings.
I think the highest buildings during my tests were 6 floors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually just got 18 ft in my brother's front yard Same place I kept getting nada for a couple weeks. No mods, but not stable either. Soon I'll have external antenna and be done with it
*EDIT: Obviously with data on, but I was getting 1 bird in and out of view with the same setup pre-.15. That is not to say .15 in any way helped this.
**EDIT:
PM'd you
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Buxtahuda,
So what antenna will you be using?
dingdonggggg said:
Have you ever seen such quality in the GPS signals and the fixes? (picture 1)
Ever since I got my TFP in early January I have been trying to find a way to enhance the GPS and the Wifi. I read just about all the threads on these subjects and tried every tweak. Even the crazy ones ;-) But because of the form factor I wasn't going to drill holes and put antennas on the back (respect guys, awesome work)
It started with a poster that got flamed straight away. He put a phone on the top right hand corner and got a better GPS. I felt sorry for him because everyone treated him like a retard. Just for the sake of being able to put the flamers in their spot I gave his idea a chance.
And it worked!!! But it was not practical. I can't walk around with a phone pressed against my TFP. But it was a start. Something started happening.
Next came the screwdriver trick. Even better result. Then I discovered the paperclip trick. Again improvement. But still not good enough and certainly not stable. It was difficult to reproduce. It became clear to me that positioning was very critical.
On the Wifi side people started enhancing their signal by placing foil the right Wifi antenna. Then they started using beer cans. It worked for some. But for others it didn't work. Theory was that somehow the Wifi signal got shielded forcing the other Wifi antenna to kick in. Tried it. Worked sometimes and at other moments didn't work. But there was something. And again it became clear to me that positioning was very critical.
Furthermore I started fooling around with grounding to the back plate. It had a dramatic effect on Wifi and GPS. As soon as something touches the back plate the signals die. I got the impression that the Wifi and GPS antenna were to close to each other and with all the RF signals they were screwing each other.
But all together there were things happening. I started documenting exact positions and sizes of the tweaks I was applying. Wifi was reasonable for me as long as I had a good base signal. GPS had my attention. I could get an external GPS, I could tether from my phone, I could buy a map, I could ask directions.
But NO!!!!
I wanted the GPS inside the Prime to get a reasonable fix.
It has cost me a lot of hours of trying, tweaking, adapting, and documenting.
But......
I FOUND THE 10 CENTS SOLUTION!!!
You only need to buy a 1 mm stainless steel cable.
Instructions (also see diagram):
1. First get yourself a beer. And drink it (this is the best part)
2. Then cut yourself a square 15x25 mm from the can (carefull)
3. Stick it in the right place onto the glass
4. Make sure it is isolated with electical tape on the topside
5. Place steel cable across the isolated square (I don’t know if this matters but I used 9,75 mm length = 0,5 x wavelength of GPS)
6. Fix it in place with electrical tape
And ......
ENJOY A GOOD GPS (better than my HTC Sensation)
Up to now this is the best result I can get.
Probably sizes and locations can be optimized.
However my experience is that the cable has to extend outside the plane of the TFP. Either vertical or horizontal. As long as it is inside the confines and flat on the glass of the TFP the signal dies instantly
And the electrical tape on top can be exchanged for something better looking.
Customize it like a sticker of a mouse with the tail being the steel cable.
Or a droid sticker with antenna ears upwards.
Outside and in the car I get a 4 second lock and after 10 seconds 15 sats and 10 locked. Inside has improved but not really good enough.
I have reset the prime before testing, cleared AGPS and Wifi off.
I hope you guys enjoy and appreciate my solution.
And if someone finds a better or more elegant solution please post.
Have fun
Oh I forgot to mention. The trick also works with the paperclip. Use a small paperclip. When straightened the length is 95 mm. Also works. I turned to the steel cable because I wanted something flexible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like it close to the location for the Easy Wifi Improvement Mod only with the added wire.
PolishPoet said:
Looks like it close to the location for the Easy Wifi Improvement Mod only with the added wire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that's the point.
Kill the primary WiFi (if that's what it does... and I think it does) with the aluminum, then use the wire as a conductor for the GPS signal, just kind of funneling it to the right area for the internal antenna to get a concentrated blast. Per RF theory I've seen around here, the signal then doesn't need a hard line to the antenna, it'll travel that little gap from covered wire to antenna easily.
hey! That crazy asian with the phone on the corner was me! I've been meaning to post my further investigation on this and this is what I did.
1. Bought a Moco case on Amazon for like $12.
2. Put Prime in case.
3. Cut a 5 inch speaker wire. The tiny ones, not monster cable but them average size wire about 22 gauge (?).
4. Place the wire under the case but above the Prime in same location as yours. It stuck out so I bent the end and tucked it into the headphone opening.
5. Went for a drive. I drive a bronco and with the case set up to stand the Prime up, I was able to watch GPS test as I drove. Kept very steady GPS lock with no less than 4 at a time. Tried Google maps with Bluetooth data tethering to my phone to draw map and now I have a 10.1 in screen gps !
I think getting a case (any case) is a good investment for your Prime. It can also very casually and discreetly hide any of these " additions" to your Prime to enhance certain features like those with the foil wifi "mod".
So I didn't get to drink any beer but I sure will not drink scotch out a can!
OMG beard, too funny ...lmao....

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