Database Users

Better 3G and Reception Modification.

I'm only sharing this to give those with intermittent 3G data to improve theirs as well since I had such good success with it. I know it's strange, and if you don't have any issues with your 3G signal quality than there is no purpose in trying this.
To those of you who have done the hardware GPS fix, this is very similar.
There is another metal tab on the opposite side of the phone, it looks exactly like the one you bend up for the GPS fix.
I was having very spotty and slow 3G covereage, so was my fiance. It would just hang when trying to load websites or using the XDA app. The download arrow would take FOREVER before finally lighting up and going somewhere.
So I opened the phones and bent up that other metal tab, assuming it is the antenna for the phone. I have found out, apparently, it is the WiFi contact. But strangely enough, this has had a huge impact on my 3G consistency.
DarkSandz93 said he noticed two more tabs near the bottom of the phone. You might also bend those a bit to make a better contact. I don't have any pictures of them but With some looking you should find them. I can confirm this fix works without bending the ones on the bottom, but it Wouldn't hurt to try as it will only improve the weak contacts.
When I put the phone back together me and my Fiance's phone both have great consistent 3G and reception went up a bar or two.
I've been testing this for two days and it has definitely helped!
***PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN BENDING UP THE TAB, IT MAY BE FRAGILE*** Take it slow, Its almost flat when you start but you need to bend it up a bit to make a good contact with the antenna.
I'm not responsible for any damage you do to your phone.
Thank you AndroidMonkey for the pic.
Labeled is both the GPS on the left and the Antenna on the right. The one on the right in the one I bent up slightly to improve the contact and get better signal.
http://s305.photobucket.com/albums/nn210/imitebewrong/?action=view&current=phone.jpg
DarkSandz93 said he noticed two more tabs near the bottom of the phone. You might also bend those a bit to make a better contact. I don't have any pictures of them but With some looking you should find them. I can confirm this fix works without bending the ones on the bottom, but it Wouldn't hurt to try as it will only improve the weak contacts.
Here is a video of my phone browsing AFTER the mod was performed. Before I could barely surf at all, it would take around 5 minutes to load ANY web page. The download arrow would hardly ever light up. These pages are not cached and are using my 3G connection.
I just want to clarify this fix did not improve my actual download speed (kb/s), but made my connection more reliable and steady. Fixed the hanging and having to reload constantly to try and get a connection.
Also, thank you Plato56, who came up with the original Hardware GPS Fix. I would not have ever tried this if it wasn't for KWKSLVR's thread.

UPDATED: I've tried this in many different areas now and it works great. No more waiting on the download arrow to light up.. kicks on and stays on
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I Thought that was the wifi contact and the cell antenna was on the bottom of the phone.
In any case.. I'll prolly give this a shot since the GPS fix worked so well for me. Instead of trying to bend it up though I think Ill follow the lead of some people in the GPS thread and place a small piece of rubberband under the contact. Dont wana have to solder due to breaking the contract a second time lol.

You might be right. I wasn't 100 percent sure it was the antenna. But In any case it definitely improved my signal quality on two seperate phones.
Please let me know if this works for you!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I'm interested in hearing if anyone else tries it. This sounds very promising!
Sent from my mobile

sorry to go off topic, but is this real? - http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn210/imitebewrong/storm.jpg

Haha yeah that's real. I took that picture I think in 08. That storm produced a tornado that killed a few boyscouts near Omaha nebraska. I was driving to visit a friend in Omaha and I got hit with 80 mph winds while in my car! It was nuts.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I can confirm this, when i did the hardware fix i noticed 2 of the same tabs at the bottom and the one on the left that the OP is talking about so i decided to bend ALL of them up and voila getting pretty good signal ever since

haha *sigh* I guess I'll give it a go! Taking the phone apart is a real B*[email protected]# though. I'll report back when it's done

darksandz93 said:
I can confirm this, when i did the hardware fix i noticed 2 of the same tabs at the bottom and the one on the left that the OP is talking about so i decided to bend ALL of them up and voila getting pretty good signal ever since
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing, I'll post the option of bending the other tabs in the OP. Doesn't hurt to try.

yea sounds good but don't forget to mention in big giant bold letters to take EXTREME caution so as not to snap any of the connections off, don't want anyone coming back here to ***** at everyone because they made a stupid mistake.

darksandz93 said:
yea sounds good but don't forget to mention in big giant bold letters to take EXTREME caution so as not to snap any of the connections off, don't want anyone coming back here to ***** at everyone because they made a stupid mistake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, good point. OP updated.

man i want to try this because i don't have 3g at my place when i'm holding the phone on the bottom. I'm just scared, really scared.

Alright I just tried the hardware fix and I can report that it has not improved my 3g connection dramatically. I'm not sure if I'm under placebo effect but I think it is helping a tiny bit with keeping the connection strong; could be wrong. Report back after some more testing.

I just want to clarify this fix did not improve my actual speed, but made my connection more reliable and steady. before I could barely browse, now i can very consistently go from page to page with no hanging or having to reload many times.

yupp...so the unthinkable ,while having a very heated discussion with girlfriend on instant messenger via computer ,i broke the little copper contact ,,,,
if your as dumb as me (argueing with girlfriend )while bending the little tabs, all hope is not lost i stripped some copper wire out of a phone cord and looped it through the little hole where the copper is attached to the phone twisted it together tight snapped the phone together and did some intense browsing ,seems to be working great

Unless you're using wifi this shouldnt do anything. The tab you are bending is used for wifi only. The tab that is used for cellular is on the bottom.

I tried this, and now my phone is out of commission. Might be a coincidence since I have been doing some modem changes but any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated. I posted in the Vibrant Q&A forum:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=949089

If everything is in place inside the phone and its just the screen you can get it into odin (Plug in USB and hold volume buttons while booting.) and then flash back to stock and warranty the thing. You dont even need to see the screen to do it, your computer should tell you if the phone is connected.
My instructions suck, try these
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=848737

I did this too sometime last month and saw an improvement. I decided to take it a step farther like the a couple guys did in the GPS thread did. All 4 of the contacts now have a small drop of solder on them, filed down to the right height, and I am seeing improvements across the board (nothing dramatic, but more of consistency). I need to file 1 down just a hair more though.

GPS Signal Booster

Was playing with my Vibrant using 'GPS Test Plus' and stumbled onto something. I've always had weak GPS issues like everybody else. By the way I have not done the hardware fix yet. I set my phone down on a metal surface and noticed that I started getting locks within a few seconds. So I played around for a few days and came up with the solution shown in the attached picture. These pictures are from my office at works and letting it sit for 5 minutes without any covers and I couldn't get a lock. Then I popped on the modified factory cover and the modified Case-Mate cover.....and boom.....I get locks in a few seconds. All I've done is add a 1" strip of copper tape along the top inside surface of the cover. at first aluminum foil was used until I refined it a bit. Can't say this will work for everyone...but give it a shot.
Hoopty

Wow. Looks too good to be true.

Can you do a test outside?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

K, I saw what you did, but obviously the phone is facing up when tested,right? It seems the copper tape is acting as a reflector to the GPS signal (since the signal comes from the sky).I would like to know if it would give you the same results if it was facing down to see if the copper tape would in this case block the GPS signal.I'm just curious because in real life when using Navigation the phone (face)will either facing you directly or (if mounted high on the windshield) slightly tilted down.

mrrobc97 said:
K, I saw what you did, but obviously the phone is facing up when tested,right? It seems the copper tape is acting as a reflector to the GPS signal (since the signal comes from the sky).I would like to know if it would give you the same results if it was facing down to see if the copper tape would in this case block the GPS signal.I'm just curious because in real life when using Navigation the phone (face)will either facing you directly or (if mounted high on the windshield) slightly tilted down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tested it at:
0 degrees (facing up)
90 degrees (facing me)
130 degrees (angled down)
and got the same results with each one. In fact the 130 degree test seemed to have the strongest signal. Take a 2" X 2" piece of aluminum foil and fold it in half and stick it in there. This must work on other Vibrant phone too. Come on.....it would only take a couple minutes to test it.
Hoopty

Hoopty-2011 said:
I tested it at:
0 degrees (facing up)
90 degrees (facing me)
130 degrees (angled down)
and got the same results with each one. In fact the 130 degree test seemed to have the strongest signal. Take a 2" X 2" piece of aluminum foil and fold it in half and stick it in there. This must work on other Vibrant phone too. Come on.....it would only take a couple minutes to test it.
Hoopty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool...trust me Im gonna try it and let u know.THX

Have you tried using g maps navigation while driving to a location, my phone always goes nuts while driving to a location rerouting, gps signal lost you know that game...?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

Hoopty-2011 said:
Was playing with my Vibrant using 'GPS Test Plus' and stumbled onto something. I've always had weak GPS issues like everybody else. By the way I have not done the hardware fix yet. I set my phone down on a metal surface and noticed that I started getting locks within a few seconds. So I played around for a few days and came up with the solution shown in the attached picture. These pictures are from my office at works and letting it sit for 5 minutes without any covers and I couldn't get a lock. Then I popped on the modified factory cover and the modified Case-Mate cover.....and boom.....I get locks in a few seconds. All I've done is add a 1" strip of copper tape along the top inside surface of the cover. at first aluminum foil was used until I refined it a bit. Can't say this will work for everyone...but give it a shot.
Hoopty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What type of copper tape?
Are you using both covers on the phone at the same time (two layers of copper tape)?

Have you noticed if this also works for your everyday reception ?

Has anyone else tried this? I will try later today with Aluminum tape since I have no copper tape handy. I guess it should not matter as long as it is metallic.

You still there OP we got some question's for you ^^^

I tried it with aluminium tape but before I even turn on GPS I noticed my wifi signal decreasing so I didnt even go any further. I have excellent GPS right now anyways with Bionix 1.3.1 and Jellette's s.gps.2.zip file that I flashed (7 meter acu.) . I was just curious.
Sent from my Blutiful-Bionix-Powered Vibrant [2ndIINoNe]

leechdweler said:
Have you noticed if this also works for your everyday reception ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im wondering this too lol

Copper is gonna conduct better than aluminum.
If you know the GPS frequency, you could always cut the copper strip to "tune" it to the frequency better.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

mrrobc97 said:
I tried it with aluminium tape but before I even turn on GPS I noticed my wifi signal decreasing so I didnt even go any further. I have excellent GPS right now anyways with Bionix 1.3.1 and Jellette's s.gps.2.zip file that I flashed (7 meter acu.) . I was just curious.
Sent from my Blutiful-Bionix-Powered Vibrant [2ndIINoNe]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't there someone with poor GPS performance that can try this out. All I hear on here is how bad the Vibrant GPS is.......Please.....someone.....test this out. My GPS has never worked this well and it has been several days now. All the testing never showed any effect on WIFI or data signal.
PS: if you have excellent GPS right now this isn't for you.
Hoopty

i've tried it but it doesn't work for me.
i'm on froyo zendroid. but the gps wasn't working before either.
i live in Romania.

Doesn't work for me either. In fact, I can't detect any satellite. My GPS is not great. It picks up satellites with SNR between 30-50 and locks within a minute typically under clear sky but not so well in built up areas. It's VERY sensitive to obstruction. I can't even place my hand under the antenna. So, the extra film of aluminium is more an obstruction than a booster. Wonder if the material matter?

FReQ Z said:
Copper is gonna conduct better than alumimum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just sayin'.
RF tech, 14 years experience.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

FReQ Z said:
Just sayin'.
RF tech, 14 years experience.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you should know that high frequency signals travel on the surface of the conductor. Just saying...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Electrons in general flow on the skin of the conductor, not just high frequency. And high frequency is considered to be 3-30 MHz, not even close to GPS frequencies, which is more in the EHF range.
If the OP shows an improvement in signal strength by using a strip of copper tape in his phone, so be it.
RF is not digital nor analog... RF does what it wants. You have to coax it. In the product my company produces, the RF conductors are copper. The frequency we use is not that far off from the GPS frequency... up in the L-band range.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

Poor Signal after Replacing Digitizer

Originally I had great service 3-4 bars continually, I dropped my S4, got a small crack it, tried to replace just the glass screen and I mistakingly hit the digitizer and had to replace it. I replaced the digitizer and have the phone on, however I am barely able to make any calls now. In the last 6 hours I was able to make 1 successful call. Even wigle wifi where I would usually see ATT at around -103db is showing -110db or not showing the ATT signal at all. Even going down to where I know normally I get -59 db to ATT I am getting no signal or in and out signal.
I have tried to swap out the internal antennas.
What is suggested? I have obviously turned the phone off and on multiple times during the last 6 hours, so something more informative than the basic, please....

Where did you have the digitizer replaced?

Where did I get it from?
I replaced it myself. It was a very simple replacement, but I do not see what role the digitizer would play in the signal?

Just confirmed even being less than 100ft away from a tower. I have no bars, previously I had 5 bars in the same area. It fails to register on ATT as well.... seems something is funky with the radio or antenna. I have swapped out 3 antennas of different length, all giving the same results.
It must be the schematic of this board. It is for sprint, not ATT. Although the PCB has the radio on it, it seems like the bottom of the attachment has 2 separate antenna connectors where as my PCB has one.
Odd. Very Odd! I am going to grab a I-377 one AT&T logo and see if that helps. It is something with antennas because even when I remove the antenna the signal is identical.

denali1231234 said:
Just confirmed even being less than 100ft away from a tower. I have no bars, previously I had 5 bars in the same area. It fails to register on ATT as well.... seems something is funky with the radio or antenna. I have swapped out 3 antennas of different length, all giving the same results.
It must be the schematic of this board. It is for sprint, not ATT. Although the PCB has the radio on it, it seems like the bottom of the attachment has 2 separate antenna connectors where as my PCB has one.
Odd. Very Odd! I am going to grab a I-377 one AT&T logo and see if that helps. It is something with antennas because even when I remove the antenna the signal is identical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need an att one that's why.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Same problem with the GSM version of the Nexus 7. You can use the bezel from the 32 GB WiFi model, but it won't have these special little contacts needed for the radio to work property. You need the AT&T parts. Always get parts specifically for your model number.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

[Q] nexus 7 WiFi problem

As I was walking my nexus 7 slipped out of my hand and fell on the floor. A couple of minutes later I tried to turn on WiFi, but it couldn't get a strong signal. However if I'm close to the router it connects. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

You probably only need to pop the back off, make sure it's not full of grit and fluff, and put it back on again.
Just run your thumbnail around under the back bezel, starting from the middle of a long edge - knives or screwdrivers won't do the plastic any good. Try to avoid touching components and contacts once you have it open. Static won't do the components any good, and fingerprints aren't great on spring contacts.
The cover will easily clip back on with gentle pressure at the edges.

Fuzzra said:
You probably only need to pop the back off, make sure it's not full of grit and fluff, and put it back on again.
Just run your thumbnail around under the back bezel, starting from the middle of a long edge - knives or screwdrivers won't do the plastic any good. Try to avoid touching components and contacts once you have it open. Static won't do the components any good, and fingerprints aren't great on spring contacts.
The cover will easily clip back on with gentle pressure at the edges.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did..but it didn't help :/

kittymoonstah said:
I did..but it didn't help :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I FIXED IT! I FIXED IT! Thanks anyway for trying to help

Out of interest, how did you fix it?
It's always good to put your solution at the end just in case somebody find the thread two years from now and it helps them. Also, I'm terribly nosy and like collecting fixes in my brain.

Fuzzra said:
Out of interest, how did you fix it?
It's always good to put your solution at the end just in case somebody find the thread two years from now and it helps them. Also, I'm terribly nosy and like collecting fixes in my brain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well.. I'll try to explain it. It's rather simple. When you see the nexus 7 without its lid, search for the two little gold raised up thingies that connect with two little plates on the inside of the lid itself. I just raised them a little bit with my finger so that they could have better contact with the plates. Then just close it and voila. Im sorry for not being all technical with you xD

kittymoonstah said:
Well.. I'll try to explain it. It's rather simple. When you see the nexus 7 without its lid, search for the two little gold raised up thingies that connect with two little plates on the inside of the lid itself. I just raised them a little bit with my finger so that they could have better contact with the plates. Then just close it and voila. Im sorry for not being all technical with you xD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Do any of these spring contacts have anything to do with wifi signal strength?
I own 2 first gen nexus7 stock kitkat never rooted... Both suffer from wifi authorization issues and signal drops..
I just grabed one after reading this, its wifi as usual was not connected. I popped the back off and adjusted all the contact springs. I think there was 6 or 8 of them.. Anyway i got wifi connection right away.. A fluke? Or do any of these springs and the back cover effect wifi?

TKG26 said:
Interesting. Do any of these spring contacts have anything to do with wifi signal strength?
I own 2 first gen nexus7 stock kitkat never rooted... Both suffer from wifi authorization issues and signal drops..
I just grabed one after reading this, its wifi as usual was not connected. I popped the back off and adjusted all the contact springs. I think there was 6 or 8 of them.. Anyway i got wifi connection right away.. A fluke? Or do any of these springs and the back cover effect wifi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for this late reply. When I fiddled around with it there were only 2 springs.. :/

No . Problem either way my problem came back.
The fix came from setting up a different security option on the router.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

Swapping Motherboard

Unfortunately I dropped my xt907 (with some serious force) and smashed the screen.It appears that the phone itself is still functioning because lights are flashing, its making notification sounds and when connecting to my computer via USB i can access all my files. Since i dont want to buy a new one and be handcuffed with a locked boot loader I'm going to attempt a repair. Does anyone know if putting my motherboard into another phone (maybe with a bad ESN) will bring my phone back to life? My other thought was to salvage the motherboard, battery and camera and just install them in a brand new LCD screen, digatizer and backing. any feedback would be appreciated!

Just pick one up off Ebay or something and swap the screens... Its rather easy to do in my opinion... I usually grab one that's water damaged...
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app

ezknives said:
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Btw how is KK soak bld hunting getting on?

I wish it was as simple as replacing the screen but the backside got all messed up too. I managed to get the board out but in doing so there was a tiny metal hinge looking thing that broke off the backside of the board next to there the power plug. I'm sure that completes a circuit somewhere so I guess my little project is over. not good.

aviwdoowks said:
Btw how is KK soak bld hunting getting on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ole lady won't let me on the PC to flash back to stock I on the hunt for a recovery flashable unmodified stock ..
PantherVT said:
I wish it was as simple as replacing the screen but the backside got all messed up too. I managed to get the board out but in doing so there was a tiny metal hinge looking thing that broke off the backside of the board next to there the power plug. I'm sure that completes a circuit somewhere so I guess my little project is over. not good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you post a pic...
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app

here are some photos. I have circled the area of the motherboard that was chipped. In motherboard1 the piece that broke off is in the photo as well. In the backing photo I circled the area that may be a contact point to complete a circuit.

Yeah that looks done... It may just be for the wifi but doesn't look like it can be Jimmy rigged ... I was thinking maybe a touch of foil on it but I don't see any tracers to make the connection
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app

Yeah i think some solder and a a little luck would be my only shot. Ill probably just try to buy a used one that someone already unlocked.

That's for the LTE Rx antenna. The motherboard will probably still work, but you will have diminished LTE reception.
That motherboard might still be useful for someone who is using their phone on GSM networks and can't use LTE anyway.
I might be interested in it if you'd be willing to sell it real cheap.

GnatGoSplat said:
That's for the LTE Rx antenna. The motherboard will probably still work, but you will have diminished LTE reception.
That motherboard might still be useful for someone who is using their phone on GSM networks and can't use LTE anyway.
I might be interested in it if you'd be willing to sell it real cheap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the explanation. If I end up selling I'll let you know. Do you think the antenna can be reattached and become fully functional again?

PantherVT said:
Thanks for the explanation. If I end up selling I'll let you know. Do you think the antenna can be reattached and become fully functional again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard to say, but in my opinion, the answer is YES. I don't think you'll have any chance of finding the broken trace, I sure can't see it in that photo and I'm guessing it's not visible. However, I bet one of those tiny components near where it used to be was directly connected to it. You would need either a wiring diagram or trace an undamaged motherboard with the ohms setting of a multimeter to see if any of those components were directly connected to the terminal. You could then probably reform that gold terminal with tweezers, and solder a very, very tiny wire between the solder end of the appropriate component and that terminal and use a good strong epoxy to glue the terminal back down to the board in its correct location. You'd need a really good pencil-tip soldering iron, really steady hands, and good soldering skills to do that kind of micro-soldering.
I'm thinking to part out the RAZR M that I bricked over the weekend. If you're interested, I can test my board to see if any of those nearby components have continuity to the terminal.

Not sure if you're still wanting to fix it, but I pulled my bricked RAZR M apart today and saw this is a pretty easy fix.
That terminal connects directly to the lower of the 2 black SMD components. In fact, I didn't notice before, but in your pic there is still some visible trace connected to it. Should be pretty simple to epoxy the terminal back onto the board and solder a short piece of wire onto the remainder of the trace.

I do want to fix it and will be giving it a try! I'll post the results

PantherVT said:
I do want to fix it and will be giving it a try! I'll post the results
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good Luck.
I made a Mobo Transplant also once.
Got a Broken LCD phone which was damaged before the OTA (that locks our BL)
And took that and swapped it into mines =)
Now i have a good Phone with a Unlocked BL
And sold my old one back out for same price =) Win Win for me.