OK, so I know i kinda just posted something along the following lines in another forum to try and help someone with a week wifi signal.
but after doing some research through the forums i noticed that it doesn't look like this issue has really been covered before. maybe because everyone has already noticed it,? and I'm the idiot for figuring it out later? or maybe some people dont really notice it, like i didn't at first.
But if you sometimes struggle from a weak wifi signal, you might be able to instantly increase you wifi strength by as much as 2-3 bars by doing 1 simple thing!...
what is this magical wifi booster you may ask?
its simple really, its as simple as watching the placement of your hand's while holding the device,
i know, i know it may be obvious to some of you but to some people like me who may not pay attention to something as simple as that, this information may help a noob or two...
you see the WIFI antenna on the G2X is located at the top of the phone. and by doing a simple experiment you can see the dramatic effect placing your hand near the top does, or even simply just placing your finger on the top which if your like me you probably sometimes do while playing video games, or while trying to hold the phone in one hand while using that secret app you have on your phone while in the bathroom at work... or you know whatever... and such,
but anyhow if you are connected to wifi you can see you WIFI signal drop as much as 2-3 bars just by simply placing your hand in the wrong position. or even from simply placing it on a desk or level surface. there really is an optimal position to hold the phone at the bottom. hope this helped at least someone..
korny647 said:
If anyone struggles from weak WiFi signal, you might be able to instantly increase your signal strength by as much as 2-3 bars by doing one simple thing!
What is this magical Wi-Fi booster you may ask?
It's simple really, just watch the placement of your hand's while holding the device.
You see, the Wi-Fi antenna on the G2X is located at the top of the phone.
(By doing a simple experiment you can see the dramatic effect placing your hand near the top does, placing your finger on the top, or even from simply placing it on a desk or any level surface. You can see your Wi-Fi signal drop as much as 2-3 bars.)
The best optimal position to hold the phone is at the bottom.
Hope this helped at least someone..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to pick on you, but that was pretty painful to read.
This is good information for some, so i've created a cut and dry edition for all to read.
Hope this gets stickied!
Ya I was bored and just typed this up real fast. Guess ill preview it next time!
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA
If your right next to the router it might not have such a dramatic effect. It will just go right through. But if the signal is weekend. By distance, or especially through a wall. It makes a big difference.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA
korny647 said:
If your right next to the router it might not have such a dramatic effect. It will just go right through. But if the signal is weekend. By distance, or especially through a wall. It makes a big difference.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am less than 10 feet away from my router and covering the top made it drop 2 bars.
Good find! Never noticed it before but it might be really useful when you are in those on the edge of connection moments!
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
Yes, similar to cell reception. One can also turn the phone 90°, lay it flat, etc if the signal is weak and see if there is improvement.
Sent from my G2x running AOKP ICS
Tl;dr Don't cover the wi-fi antenna, which is at the top of the phone. You took wayyyyyy too long to say it.
Sent from my amazing LG G2x running Bionix Reloaded v1.4
Klathmon said:
I am less than 10 feet away from my router and covering the top made it drop 2 bars.
Good find! Never noticed it before but it might be really useful when you are in those on the edge of connection moments!
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I wanted to do a quick write up.
But I was bored and I tend to ramble when I'm bored.
So Thnx to who cleaned it up.
" I think mine was funnier tho" if you a actually read thru it... lol :sly:
Sent from my G2X.
Rocking stock CM 7.2.0-RC1
theking_13 said:
Tl;dr Don't cover the wi-fi antenna, which is at the top of the phone. You took wayyyyyy too long to say it.
Yes I agree.
Sent from my amazing LG G2x running Bionix Reloaded v1.4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Yea I noticed I would drop a lot of bars if I was holding the phone sideways and watching a video.
Related
After Froyo leak, the Cappy is now officially an almost perfect phone. GPS works great at stock settings for over 1 week now. I use NDrive GPS app, and I get lock in like 10 secs. Whole trip is accurate to 5-10 feet with no lag. I don't turn on GPS status or anything like that, but I do have to leave it on the dashboard of my car. If I hold it in the passenger's seat or back seat, the antenna doesn't seem to be strong enough to hold accurate lock. Google navigation isn't working accurately for me. I don't know why.
Daily unplug random shut downs now resolved with turning off GPS when charging.
2.2 is fast even at unrooted state.
Android phone functions are just awesome. It's a great PDA and a great phone.
Hope others are experiencing the same. My GPS was mostly unusable when I first got it.
gordec said:
but I do have to leave it on the dashboard of my car. If I hold it in the passenger's seat or back seat, the antenna doesn't seem to be strong enough to hold accurate lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That has been my experience as well. Took it on a 400 mile road trip from Richmond, VA to Mt. Pleasant, SC and it did fantastic as long as it was sitting on my dash, constant lock.
yes Google navigation sucks.
Edit: That was a little harsh.
The truth is it looks awesome. Good job Googies!
But the voice is truly horrible, and the accuracy is useless most of the time.
gordec said:
but I do have to leave it on the dashboard of my car. If I hold it in the passenger's seat or back seat, the antenna doesn't seem to be strong enough to hold accurate lock. Google navigation isn't working accurately for me. I don't know why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 Same goes for me, since I did gsm reset (use with care, will wipe your data) navigation works as long as
the phone is on the dashboard/attached to the windshield and finally I started to enjoy this phone, I'll keep it.
Flashed to cog2b6, works great.
Tap and pinch to zoom is buggy.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Getting rid of mine. GPS on dash, need for lag fix, random shutdowns, all very frustrating for a top of the line phone.
To me it was just unbearable. Ill miss a lot of it but not all of it.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
you'll miss the screen.
so big.
so bright.
pdxrealtor said:
Getting rid of mine. GPS on dash, need for lag fix, random shutdowns, all very frustrating for a top of the line phone.
To me it was just unbearable. Ill miss a lot of it but not all of it.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually side by side to the G2 its not that much of a downgrade.
That's another thing about the captivate- the screen is tinted blue! Others I've read are tinted more yellowish or reddish. But wait- there's a fix for that! Lol.
Honestly I really wanted to like the captivate.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
I agree.. never had to tweak a phone so much to make it usable.
But - with the latest and greatest Cognition the phone is definitely usable. My only complaint is battery life due to the AMOLED screen being a battery hog. Even with it dimmed it eats more battery than a fat kid at a Hostess Twinkies convention.
avgjoegeek said:
I agree.. never had to tweak a phone so much to make it usable.
My only complaint is battery life due to the AMOLED screen being a battery hog. Even with it dimmed it eats more battery than a fat kid at a Hostess Twinkies convention.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not lieing. Yet another issue. Cognition was/is great. Really made the phone what it should be.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
I can't really comment on the GPS much but the phone works fine otherwise. This is in comparison to my previous tilt 2 which locked up several times a day.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
bwolmarans said:
But the voice is truly horrible, and the accuracy is useless most of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I friend "loved" that voice so much I told her I was getting her a droid for Christmas just so she could have that GPS help.
bwolmarans said:
you'll miss the screen.
so big.
so bright.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can go with this (captivate)...or you can go with that (G2)
lol
j/k. i figured bwolmarans would get a kick out of that. i love that commerical too
pdxrealtor, i'm sorry you had so many problems with your captivate, and i hope you're enjoying your G2. i wouldn't say the captivate is perfect, but it's definitely more fun than my old iphone
I got my Cap about two weeks ago. I grabbed the leaked froyo, threw it on with OCLF and this phone is truely a work of art. It has no issues with restarting or any other issue of that sort (current uptime's 4 days, no perf loss). It did have lag issues with eclair but with froyo and oclf, this thing flies. No battery drain issues. No nothing... Not even a blue (or red or yellow) tint, just that halo-creating supersaturation thing.
Gps, havent had much of an issue using it in downtown san francisco with its high rises and me not having a dash that can keep the phone from sliding off when accelerating. But my phone's not a garmin and with everything else it does with great aplumb, having an underperforming gps is okay with me. If i needed a 100% reliable gps for my job or something, id go down to pep boys and get a dedicated gps. In all honesty, if you have a Cap, you can afford a 50 dollar garmin. And if you cant, youre living beyond your means, stop trying to be something your not for the sake of pride and envy, theres more to life than bragging on facebook, etc., etc.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
+1
teh_Gnar said:
I got my Cap about two weeks ago. I grabbed the leaked froyo, threw it on with OCLF and this phone is truely a work of art. It has no issues with restarting or any other issue of that sort (current uptime's 4 days, no perf loss). It did have lag issues with eclair but with froyo and oclf, this thing flies. No battery drain issues. No nothing... Not even a blue (or red or yellow) tint, just that halo-creating supersaturation thing.
Gps, havent had much of an issue using it in downtown san francisco with its high rises and me not having a dash that can keep the phone from sliding off when accelerating. But my phone's not a garmin and with everything else it does with great aplumb, having an underperforming gps is okay with me. If i needed a 100% reliable gps for my job or something, id go down to pep boys and get a dedicated gps. In all honesty, if you have a Cap, you can afford a 50 dollar garmin. And if you cant, youre living beyond your means, stop trying to be something your not for the sake of pride and envy, theres more to life than bragging on facebook, etc., etc.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
HTC death grip on the WiFi connection,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2UKRE2_FSw
There is a problem with the link.
ARC X12 said:
There is a problem with the link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have sent the video to HTC, i'm waiting for their answer for this issue,
I've only noticed this when holding in in an awkward position to purposefully test for this "issue". Its like when people were complaining about the "loose hinge" on the G2, you don't notice it in daily use unless you're looking for it
Ohnoes another "Death Grip" thread... Can't really see how using theese grips is nice usage of the phone. Looks weird but that's my opinion. Don't seek out the problems if you usually avoid them...
Flippy125 said:
I've only noticed this when holding in in an awkward position to purposefully test for this "issue". Its like when people were complaining about the "loose hinge" on the G2, you don't notice it in daily use unless you're looking for it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the test was conducted when I had full signal, next to the router, how about when you have one bar of WiFi signal? we should get instructions from HTC how to hold a phone in the landscape mode.
How to hold the phone in landscape mode? with two fingers?
ARC X12 said:
There is a problem with the link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
link fixed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEP3vP520i4
If I'm near my router, and I grip the entire phone with both hands as tightly as I can, the wifi strength does not change.
Obviously there is some sort of antenna fault at work here, I can only cause attenuation if the signal is weakened (like a few concrete walls inbetween the phone and router, or a great distance away). This is all very confusing to say the least.
lol, everyone should stop squeezing the like a tit
dantes1 said:
link fixed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEP3vP520i4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the exact same grip in this video the most my WiFi would drop is 1 bar if that. So idk I can't replicate the death grip
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
Same problem in the exact same position with mine while I am in my appartment.
Full signal but when I use my phone in landscape mode (the way he holds the phone in the video is exactly how I hold it everyday) I loose signal and I can't browse.
Dwin-d said:
Same problem in the exact same position with mine while I am in my appartment.
Full signal but when I use my phone in landscape mode (the way he holds the phone in the video is exactly how I hold it everyday) I loose signal and I can't browse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we should try at half signal to see , holding in normal position in landscape mode.
let me know how it's yours in this case
I can one up all you chaps, I have hands free death grip. WiFi almost never works at all, which is fun sitting here at work with a weak 2g (edge) signal.
Omg people it is not a problem All phone have this death grip in a way some more than others like the iphone. Geez people Every time a new phone comes out everyone tries they're hardest to find a problem and then blow it way out of proportion like the g2 hinge problem.. *sigh* sorry about the short rant its just like man really most of the phones problems are PICNIC.. k now.. now.. now I'm done
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
Why would someone venture into the Sensation subforum and read a thread about death grip just to rant about threads like these? It's the weekend, don't you have something better to do with your time?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
This stuff is good so that consumers can make an informed choice about purchasing expensive and complicated devices. I keep wanting to buy this phone, so I am glad I can find what my potential experience may be. I thank the community for all their efforts.
Just to make everyone feel better, my DHD also loses some wifi signal if I hold it near the top, left-hand corner (in portrait mode). However, until I started to see lots of threads about the issue on the Sensation (planning to get one) and actually started to look for an issue, it hadn't affected me one bit (in 8 months of having the phone).
Dave
theebest said:
Omg people it is not a problem All phone have this death grip in a way some more than others like the iphone. Geez people Every time a new phone comes out everyone tries they're hardest to find a problem and then blow it way out of proportion like the g2 hinge problem.. *sigh* sorry about the short rant its just like man really most of the phones problems are PICNIC.. k now.. now.. now I'm done
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm not trying to find the problems, you should go online in the landscape mode and then you ca talk, I have a G2 and love it by the way! Show me one phone that it's dropping the signal from full bars to none!
I expect a fully functional phone for $600,
dantes1 said:
i'm not trying to find the problems, you should go online in the landscape mode and then you ca talk, I have a G2 and love it by the way! Show me one phone that it's dropping the signal from full bars to none!
I expect a fully functional phone for $600,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went online on wifi in landskape mode holding the phone with 1 hand on each side. No visual drop on either wifi or phone signal. If i pack the whole back side with 2 hands the wifi drops 1 bar and i'm about 2.5meters below the router with a concrete floor in the way. So i don't really see your problem. If your phone drops from full to zero by holding it in landscape mode u must have a faulty device. Send it back for a fix or possible get a new one.
McT1980 said:
I went online on wifi in landskape mode holding the phone with 1 hand on each side. No visual drop on either wifi or phone signal. If i pack the whole back side with 2 hands the wifi drops 1 bar and i'm about 2.5meters below the router with a concrete floor in the way. So i don't really see your problem. If your phone drops from full to zero by holding it in landscape mode u must have a faulty device. Send it back for a fix or possible get a new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I think some of them have an actual wifi fault which exaggerates the death grip problem.
HI Guys,
Well as the title suggests!!
It started with me holding my sensation, pretty much covering the back of it and my thumbs crossed over at the lower end of the screen, while typing an sms, when I noticed that I would lose signal, and it would actually go away in low signal areas... well.. i thought its the death grip and never gave it much attention...
What i again noticed was that if i pressed the left middle of the screen, it would actually move a bit, giving me the thought that maybe it was losely fit.. so I opened th back cover and pressed the battery in and noticed a very slight fractional gap..
So I put a two layer piece of a double sided tape (obviously kept the out still sealed so that the battery doesnt stick to the cover), on the (now) right of the battery... very slight.. something like 1/2 an inch by 1/4 of an inch size!
Put the cover back, ofcourse the gap was filled.. but now just noticed that the signal doesnt lose as much with the same way of holding and in the same locations.
I know this is not ideal, atleast nothing is visible on our beautiful sensation and all of it is within covers..
Would really appreciate if you guys can test this as well
Cheers!
It's worth a shot Thanks!
lemme know how it goes!
192 views... can some of you check this as well.. will be helpful!!
A picture please?
Seems quite simple.. but it is somehow insulating some areas to give better signal...
Waiting for others to confirm, before going out and buy tape
Sent from my dualcore monster using xda premium app.
ridikolous said:
Waiting for others to confirm, before going out and buy tape
Sent from my dualcore monster using xda premium app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess everyone else is waiting for others to confirm.. LOL...
i too had problems with death grip on mine but it all seems sorted now, not through this method but because of some settings i have changed and now its all working fine =].
at first i was getting 2 bars then straight dead and at random it wud shoot to 4bars for couple of seconds or so then bk to usual 2 bars.
the settings i changed were go to......
settings/wireless &networks/mobile networks/network mode
the default settings were set to "gsm/wcdma auto" i changed from that to "gsm only" and this has seemed to have sorted my signal "deathgrip"
so anyone suffering from signal loss give this a shot and let me know if this method works for any of you.
pompy said:
i too had problems with death grip on mine but it all seems sorted now, not through this method but because of some settings i have changed and now its all working fine =].
at first i was getting 2 bars then straight dead and at random it wud shoot to 4bars for couple of seconds or so then bk to usual 2 bars.
the settings i changed were go to......
settings/wireless &networks/mobile networks/network mode
the default settings were set to "gsm/wcdma auto" i changed from that to "gsm only" and this has seemed to have sorted my signal "deathgrip"
so anyone suffering from signal loss give this a shot and let me know if this method works for any of you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the network thing, it didnt work on GSM only and didnt give a better signal in the wcdma only node, so i reverted it back . ( my network is 850/2100 )
as for the battery voodoo , i'm willing to do this, but please give some more info.. a picture would be perfect. i'm not going to put bits of tape all over the battery..
wow i dont get death grip hmm must be somthing your doing infact if your tryna get death grip you will, so stop looking for it and it wont happen
Dandandroid said:
I tried the network thing, it didnt work on GSM only and didnt give a better signal in the wcdma only node, so i reverted it back . ( my network is 850/2100 )
as for the battery voodoo , i'm willing to do this, but please give some more info.. a picture would be perfect. i'm not going to put bits of tape all over the battery..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Picture is already posted in post # 6.
phonegod said:
wow i dont get death grip hmm must be something your doing infact if your tryna get death grip you will, so stop looking for it and it wont happen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just cause your phone doesn't suffer from deathgrip doesn't mean our's doesn't. we have deathgrip without holding it in a way that would cause deathgrip, i gently hold it in my hand in landscape or gaming method of holding, it loses all of the wifi bars and i'm not even grabbing or squeezing it like a tit like most of the others do.
so yeah we are not trying hard it just so happens to knock it self off easily. so please take this into consideration.
$600 dollar phone, i do not expect it to knock off on me when grabbing it, even the missus don't do that lol
Not kidding.. i really do see a noticeable difference.. and I was always on GSM mode only.. not for the death grip.. but mostly for the battery!!
Pic added in OP
C0NAN said:
Picture is already posted in post # 6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok tried it ..
it actually made it worse ! before i had 2-3 bars now i have 1-2 bars ...
but, maybe your on to somthing. it did change the reception, maybe i didnt put it exactly where u have, or it had different conductivity ( i used a piece of card )
so its worth a try for everyone with signal issues, i recon .
Dandandroid said:
ok tried it ..
it actually made it worse ! before i had 2-3 bars now i have 1-2 bars ...
but, maybe your on to somthing. it did change the reception, maybe i didnt put it exactly where u have, or it had different conductivity ( i used a piece of card )
so its worth a try for everyone with signal issues, i recon .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used a double sided tape, ofcourse with the side on to the cover still covered..
a Card may conduct the reception.. i think we need an insulator...
I rarely noticed the death grip..
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App
prateekgujral said:
I used a double sided tape, ofcourse with the side on to the cover still covered..
a Card may conduct the reception.. i think we need an insulator...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the cardboard should insulate .. it was even folded in half,
but maybe i'll get me some double tape and try it again.
but i do think is more RADIO firmware related..
Dandandroid said:
the cardboard should insulate .. it was even folded in half,
but maybe i'll get me some double tape and try it again.
but i do think is more RADIO firmware related..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.. remember my op, it was mainly to avoid that gap.. so i put 3 layers.. LOL
I don't know about anyone else, but my WiFi signal drops a bit when I cover the top of the phone. Forget that ridiculous grip that was initially shown.. just cover most of the top of the phone (especially the back where the holes are) and you should see the signal drop.
It's important to note that even when the signal drops I can still use the phone. It only bothers me when I'm sitting there staring at the bars.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
So I came across this (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1101066) thread in the DHD forum the other day, and had mixed feelings about it. In theory it makes sense, but in practice it seems kind of scary. Anyway, I've had GPS issues on and off since I got my Inspire, sometimes it would work excellent, sometimes it would kind of work, sometimes it wouldn't work at all. I've tried every software solution I could think of (new radios, gps script, reinstalling locations, wiping EFS partition, etc), and I figured my problem had to be hardware, but I'd never seen a hardware solution offered until I came across this thread. First off I would like to say that I have not tried this fix yet, however I'm inclined to and here's why:
After reading this, I started thinking, "OK, so it's just not getting good enough pressure on the GPS antennae contacts, wonder what would happen if I tried to apply manual pressure?" So I launched GPS Test and watched it find 2 or 3 satellites, but didn't lock after about a minute. So I applied pressure to the battery flash/GPS cover, 1 finger on the top of it 1 finger on the bottom, making sure not to cover the hole. What happened? Immediately it found 9 satellites and locked to 20ft, showing better connections to the satellites than i've EVER seen. I let off the pressure and watched as the signal strength to these satellites dropped intensely, went back to 2 or 3 satellites, and lost the lock. I again applied pressure, got a bunch of satellites back and got an immediate lock.
Before I go about taking my phone apart and trying to fix these contacts from the inside, I wanted to see if applying pressure on the back flash/GPS cover improved anything for anybody else, or if it's just my imagination. Please report back
I havn't had any problems with my gps, but if the problem you are having is what I was having I would be cracking the phone open to fix it...
I dont mind taking things apart
My GPS works, but there's some disconnect between Navigation and the GPS, I sware. If I run Navigation by itself, then I lose signal 2-3 minutes after getting a lock. If I run My Tracks in the background, then it stays locked.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
3 Inspires, no GPS issues at all, but it makes sense and doesn't look difficult at all. Go for it.
Well I tried it. I can't say if it was me applying pressure or me just getting lucky with signal and clear skies...but I locked to 7 very quickly and it found my location with in 20 feet here as well.
Interesting...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
cwhitney24 said:
Well I tried it. I can't say if it was me applying pressure or me just getting lucky with signal and clear skies...but I locked to 7 very quickly and it found my location with in 20 feet here as well.
Interesting...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool deal
not bad and it didnt seem that hard to do, keep checking on it to make sure for the next few days
cwhitney24 said:
Well I tried it. I can't say if it was me applying pressure or me just getting lucky with signal and clear skies...but I locked to 7 very quickly and it found my location with in 20 feet here as well.
Interesting...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um, I just tried applying pressure and got 8 meter lock on inside my house. My GPS usually NEVER locks on, even outside in clear skies. Wtf.
Edit: And now it's working all the time. I love you.
It didn't hurt to apply pressure to the area where you said the gps contacts are. So I opened up gps status in my home. Let it try and find some satellites on its own. Nothing was happening for a few seconds. Then I applied pressure to where the flash is on our phones one finger above the flash and the other below the flash. It then fixes satellites on my phone. And when I let go the fixed satellites dropped and my radius grew. I tried applying again and then it went back and started to drop. So I let go and it went up so I think the contacts are contacting and now I'm just covering up the gps but it seems to work. So now when I want to use gps ill remember this trick.
Thanks
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
I pried out the flash cover and noticed that the antenna contacts on the cover were oxidized except for the part where the corner of the spring contacts landed. I scraped away the oxidation with a sharp object and bent the spring contacts up a little bit to make a firmer connection and I immediately got a boost in GPS reception. I dont' know what metal makes up the antenna in the flash cover but it sounds like oxidation builds back up again after a couple of months. I'll keep an eye on it and post an update.
This is perfect! I just did it, took about ten minutes. After reboot I just locked to under 60ft indoors during Hurricane Irene.
Thanks so much for this, now I can stop reading all these damn gps threads!
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
Another update: just locked to 24ft outside in less than 15 seconds.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
GPS lock
Christ..I dont believe this.. I always have problems with Google Navigation getting satellite lock..and maps is usually like 1500-1600ft +or-... I did the pressure on the spots above and below the flash like you guys said... all of a sudden..boom! GPS lock inside my house..(never happens) and 9 satellites locked..(most I ever saw was 5 before when I was outside in a clear area.)..the GPS nav icon is almost on my house roof!
This issue puts it in perspective how bad the quality is on this device.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Wow can't believe there are this many people confirming this. I'll be adjusting my gps contacts in a a day or two and ill report back. Definitely seems like its gonna help a few of us anyway
signatures annoy me
I have actually noticed the same issues as you were describing. I have pushed on the back and waited and then found the signal got better. Then released the pressure and it got either worse or just stayed the same. Different results every now and then. I have also taken it apart and tried the DHD fixed that your describing and it worked excellent for a little bit then nothing. I'm returning it now to have HTC fix it. Probably the easiest way. Sucks not having a phone but at least they will give me a phone that does everything its supposed to. They were really nice about it too.
eryk4381 said:
I have actually noticed the same issues as you were describing. I have pushed on the back and waited and then found the signal got better. Then released the pressure and it got either worse or just stayed the same. Different results every now and then. I have also taken it apart and tried the DHD fixed that your describing and it worked excellent for a little bit then nothing. I'm returning it now to have HTC fix it. Probably the easiest way. Sucks not having a phone but at least they will give me a phone that does everything its supposed to. They were really nice about it too.
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This is a great thread. I fortunately do not have the issue on my device to where I need to mess with it, but experience tells me living in a somewhat temperate / rainly climate the contacts may oxidize / signal degrades over time. Good to know how to address it...I had an iPhone 3G I took apart at the end of its life. I had noticed the GPS was really sucking toward the end. Sure enough, plain old brown rust was evident on the GPS antenna contacts...
****, I wish I had known about this before I exchanged my Inspire at my AT&T store. I couldn't get GPS lock at all. It was a hassle, and I had all but narrowed it down to hardware, so this really makes sense.
The thread about my particular issues: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1203133
Well my desire s has always has never really had GPS. It really would never connect which always bugged me. I have looked at a few fixes but not really much good with a soldering iron lol... Anyway what I did was take the camera cover off and I locates the GPS connector just under camera. I then took a tiny piece of kitchen foil and placed it under the pin forcing it up slightly. Now when I place the camera cover on it makes a much better connection with the cover and I honestly get satellite signal with a couple of seconds. Anyway I hope this helps someone
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app
Can you please post a picture of it! <3 it would be great because my gps did not worked for a whole year!
:good: I hope this will fix it
I will do it tomorrow for you but still going strong.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app
Very interesting, can't wait to see the pictures. My GPS works but signal is sometimes not good.
Tried this on my brothers phone. And it worked! he gets far better gps signal. And it locks quicker!
You are awesome man! Here... A cigar and beer for you!
Nice, a detailed guide would be good with pics, i also think this might be better in the general section :thumbup: will happily add this to the help thread and get @ben_pyett to add it to the index
“Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” ― John Lennon
jugg1es said:
Nice, a detailed guide would be good with pics, i also think this might be better in the general section :thumbup: will happily add this to the help thread and get @ben_pyett to add it to the index
“Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” ― John Lennon
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I will try to make a thread with pictures and clear instructions of how i did it!. today or tommorow. this also boosted up the wifi signal! :good: And when you are outside. the gps will find around 7/8 satellites in about less than 15 seconds!
BenderBendingRodríguez said:
I will try to make a thread with pictures and clear instructions of how i did it!. today or tommorow. this also boosted up the wifi signal! :good: And when you are outside. the gps will find around 7/8 satellites in about less than 15 seconds!
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sounds good.
but will definately wait for your guide before i try it myself
Some news to this ?
I like DS, but GPS reception is terrible.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42235633
GPS Antenna Fix for desire s. + Wifi boost
"You learn something new every day if you're not careful" - Wilf Lunn
Tnx a lot for this tutorial m8; it really reduce time of getting gps fix!!
Thanks. Worked like a charm. GPS wouldn't fix AT ALL. tried different roms, radios, nothing helped. GPSFix app wouldn't even fix one sat. Now 6 or 7 satellites within 20 seconds. Was about to ditch the phone.
Thanks a lot. Was going crazy f phone really slow or sometimes not locking at all... Only concern by going this was that the cover on back of phone was attached really good to aluframe, so some marks are visible afterwards - but now I got GPS signal. Thumbs up
Sent from my Desire S using xda app-developers app
A similar fix was posted here together with a discussion whether this is the right thing to do or not
HTML:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2311238
do not do this mod to your phone!
Below is what I posted in another topic suggesting the same dodgy bodge of a fix,
P
Hope you will try the likes of agps and forget about this potentially damaging mod
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_htc_wizard View Post
I would be seriously cautious about modding your phone in this way, you can cause damage!!!!
Anyone who knows about transmitters will tell you that a transmitter needs a tuned antenna or it will suffer poor performance at best and damage at worst!
The gps unit although not a transmitter is very close to the other antennas and sticking foil inside your phone on just that antenna could still cause reflection of RF energy from the other units.
modding the antennas in any way of the transmitters within the phone is even more likely to cause damage, adding the foil changes the electrical characteristics of the antenna and what is called "SWR" (standing wave ratio).
When an antenna and feedline do not have matching impedances, some of the electrical energy cannot be transferred from the feedline to the antenna. Energy not transferred to the antenna is reflected back towards the transmitter. It is the interaction of these reflected waves with forward waves which causes standing wave patterns. Reflected power has three main implications in radio transmitters: Radio Frequency (RF) energy losses increase, distortion on transmitter due to reflected power from load and damage to the transmitter can occur.
So, mod your antennas at your peril.
Bending or cleaning the spring contacts that connect to the antennas will do no harm and could actually improve the connection but anything else comes with potential risks.
Steve.