SuperDroid
New Member
Most definitely X2~~
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External Antenna
- Thread starter Amall
- Start date
If it does turn out to be an antenna jack, that's one more pro for this phone as my replacement for my failing Sony and AT&T...
Can't wait to see the outcome of this and the rooting effort.
e: and to join the crowd, KD8JQS. Funny there are so many hams interested in mobile phones, a lot of the greybeards around here seem to still be convinced 146.52 and the local repeater are all they need on the go.
Can't wait to see the outcome of this and the rooting effort.
e: and to join the crowd, KD8JQS. Funny there are so many hams interested in mobile phones, a lot of the greybeards around here seem to still be convinced 146.52 and the local repeater are all they need on the go.
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SuperDroid
New Member
Seems like someone would be selling an external antenna by now? Like motorola?
Greater range, better signal in fringe areas, etc. You can only do so much with a phone's built-in antenna, especially in this day of smaller phones with more and more hardware packed in. Also, many buildings and the bodies of most cars attenuate cell signals, so simply being able to attach an outside antenna of the same size as the phone's internal one can make a significant difference.
If CARB gets their way and requires the metallic tint on future automobiles, any vehicles so equipped will almost require you to use an external antenna. That doesn't look too likely, but there are still a lot of us who live, work, or drive in areas of low signal where being able to attach an antenna would be useful.
If you have five bars wherever you go, you have no reason to care about external antennas.
Well this place seems to think it's an external antenna jack:
Motorola Droid Specs & Features (Phone Scoop)
I'm not so confident though. Sounds like some people in other forums are saying it's some kind of a test point used in manufacturing, perhaps for testing the radio.
Can anybody make anything of this picture:
http://www.phonewreck.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Droid12.jpg
It seems like there are a few connections like this one (the one in the corner of the mainboard is the one we're talking about). At first this scared me into thinking it must be a testpoint, but on the mainboard you'll see what look like two corresponding female ports. I'm not really sure how these boards fit together, but perhaps antenna signals are passed between boards by these connectors fitting together? If so, then prospects look good that it is an external antenna jack...
Motorola Droid Specs & Features (Phone Scoop)
I'm not so confident though. Sounds like some people in other forums are saying it's some kind of a test point used in manufacturing, perhaps for testing the radio.
Can anybody make anything of this picture:
http://www.phonewreck.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Droid12.jpg
It seems like there are a few connections like this one (the one in the corner of the mainboard is the one we're talking about). At first this scared me into thinking it must be a testpoint, but on the mainboard you'll see what look like two corresponding female ports. I'm not really sure how these boards fit together, but perhaps antenna signals are passed between boards by these connectors fitting together? If so, then prospects look good that it is an external antenna jack...
there's nothing wrong with being a ham radio freak
-.- -... .---- .-. -- .-
... .-- . . - / .. - / .. ... / .- / .-.. --- ... - / .- .-. -
--. --- --- -.. / - .... .. -. --. / -.-- --- ..- / --. ..- -.-- ... / .- .-. . / --- ..- - / - .... . .-. . / .-- . / -. . . -.. / -.-- --- ..- / -.. ..- .-. .. -. --. / -.. .. ... .- ... - . .-. ...
I just used a translator. But my dad just got his cert or license. Whatever it is.
Georgeofjungle52
New Member
I just bought an adapter from swagmaster for my Droid. Item # 270165131694. It is inductive and requires an amp. Going to try it out soon. Can't decide where the best spot to attach it.
Bear in NM
Active Member
George,
I have been playing with all of this amplifier/external antenna stuff for a few years with the older phones, and now with the Droid (which I am concluding does not have an external jack that is easily exploited).
I run Wilson stuff, their old antenna cable connect, and the newer amp with external antenna and internal transponder for the phone. My Wilson is designed for the internal cord and transponder to be mounted behind the seat, so that when the phone is up to your ear, the transponer is just close enough to talk to the phone without frying your brain, and far enough from the external antenna to avoid the feedback loop between the external and internal antennae.
No luck with my phone and the stock set. What I have to do is hold the internal transponder to the back of the phone, and the phone and transponder well to the left side of my Jeep (on speaker to leave my brain cells alone), with the external antenna mounted overhead. The Wilson unit works beautifully, but I had to get a little creative. So I would suggest trying some different combo's, and don't do any permanent solutions till you get the bugs worked out.
Hoping my post might help you troubleshoot any difficulties, and I would love to hear how your solution works.
Craig
I have been playing with all of this amplifier/external antenna stuff for a few years with the older phones, and now with the Droid (which I am concluding does not have an external jack that is easily exploited).
I run Wilson stuff, their old antenna cable connect, and the newer amp with external antenna and internal transponder for the phone. My Wilson is designed for the internal cord and transponder to be mounted behind the seat, so that when the phone is up to your ear, the transponer is just close enough to talk to the phone without frying your brain, and far enough from the external antenna to avoid the feedback loop between the external and internal antennae.
No luck with my phone and the stock set. What I have to do is hold the internal transponder to the back of the phone, and the phone and transponder well to the left side of my Jeep (on speaker to leave my brain cells alone), with the external antenna mounted overhead. The Wilson unit works beautifully, but I had to get a little creative. So I would suggest trying some different combo's, and don't do any permanent solutions till you get the bugs worked out.
Hoping my post might help you troubleshoot any difficulties, and I would love to hear how your solution works.
Craig
Wow, nice work. Can you share some details?
You mention two ports and say the antenna is under the plastic, then later that there are two antennas...
1) The normally exposed port just to the right in the video of where you soldered - do you know what radio that is for or what the port is for? Is that a 3G antenna port?
2) Which radio did you find under the plastic and solder connect to? WiFi? 3G? Bluetooth?
Basically I think a lot of us are just trying to figure out where to connect an external antenna and what connector to use. So far the posts haven't nailed it down, at least for me.
Crystal995
New Member
I email Motorola on this port and this is their reply Regarding your concern, we do not manufacture external antennas. Also, the use of this type of non-Motorola accessories might damage the phone's antenna. Antennas are sensitive electrical components. If the external antenna damages the internal cellular phone antenna, it may reduce the effectiveness of the phone, decrease reception, alter FCC determined guidelines, or void your warranty if damage is done to the phone.
We do not recommend the usage of external antennas directly plugged into the phone. Motorola can not ensure the correct function of a cellular phone antenna after an external antenna has been plugged into the phone. Such is a test point that our technicians use to reflash the phone when the USB port is not working. We can also connect an external antenna, for testing purposes, not to be used in that way by end users. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
We do not recommend the usage of external antennas directly plugged into the phone. Motorola can not ensure the correct function of a cellular phone antenna after an external antenna has been plugged into the phone. Such is a test point that our technicians use to reflash the phone when the USB port is not working. We can also connect an external antenna, for testing purposes, not to be used in that way by end users. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
I'm an engineer and have worked on some transponder modules at my previous job. Generally if there is an internal antenna on a module, there is a also testpoint (or a tap) so you can tap in and test RF output power and perform any RF tests with a cabled RF network instead of having to do it with the antenna.
You can imagine an assembly-line in which the phones enter the 'RF Test' line of production and a cable with the proper connector at the end (GPO, GPPO, etc.) simply is attached to this testpoint, some tests are run, and if it passes, it moves onto the next test (perhaps VSWR test, or otherwise).