Desperate to know the external antenna connector! - LG Optimus 2x

OK, so far in an attempt to get a better signal in my office, I have bought two different external antenna types to get a signal. I bought them as I wasn't sure what the heck the connector type is. (For those that don't know, there is an external antenna connector directly below the MicroSD slot, covered by a black sticker).
I have bought an MMCX aerial: Does not fit, connector too small
I have bought an Motorola V3i antenna as the connectors look the same: But it's too short to reach into the port on the O2X :-( I cannot find out what this connector type is however!
So... next I was going to try a CRC-9 antenna for it... but it's getting expensive lol. So.. does anyone know for SURE what the connector type is I need please?

I'd think your best bet is to take a close look at the service manual

Downloading. Its the same connector with the tapered insulator as the V3i and the TG01. I just can't find the name of the connector to get something that will fit it!
Right, after looking at the manual, I believe it to be an MS-156 series connector of some description (It's listed at MS-156C). (see page 239 in the service manual). See here for a description: h t t p://www.digikey.com/Web%20Export/Supplier%20Content/Hirose_26/PDF/hirose-MS156C07018W.pdf?redirected=1
It's likely just a test connector, but if I can use it for an external antenna like on the V3i, that would be fantastic.
EDIT: here is a very good reference: h t t p://www.hirose.co.jp/cataloge_hp/e35801678.pdf
The adaptors are massive though as it's intended as a test terminal, which is odd that they made an official external aerial for the Moto V3i with this connector in that case.
The most readily available adaptor is at least £24 euro's from a spanish website. What I might do is order a CRC9 connector, and see if I can file down the ends, to expose the centre wire and get that to fit.

this was really interesting to read (as i'm thinking about doing the same thing)
hope you find a good solution!

I get paid soon, so I'll order the CRC9 pigtail as an experiment to see if I can get it to fit. £24 (Plus whatever they want to deliver to the UK) is a lot to pay for a tiny cable, so if I can find a much cheaper method I'll give it a go
Once I found out the connector was MS-156, you can see loads of posts on different forums of people who have gone through exactly the same process as me lol. Annoyingly, they never update their posts to say what happened

Scougar said:
Annoyingly, they never update their posts to say what happened
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh?
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Scougar said:
I get paid soon, so I'll order the CRC9 pigtail as an experiment to see if I can get it to fit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's been soon
Oh just caught your "O2X - Sold" sig

Related

Help with broken antenna

I managed to break my antenna and now I don't know if I'm missing pieces of it; There is a clear plastic body with a fixed bronze stud and a plastic cap. Is that It? I don't have the phone activated currently so I don't know if the reception will be affected. Does anybody know where to get a replacement?
I drive a Motorcycle to commute to work everyday, and I got one of those GPS holders so I drive around with my device in it to have the MP3 playing, anyway I didn't put it correctly and suddenly @ about 30 MPH I stopped hearing music; My PDA was 150 yards behind.
Anybody know how to post pic's if I don't have a server?
Pictures...
If you send me the pictures, I'll put them online and stick 'em in your message.
You were damn lucky to have only the antenna damaged...
I sent the pictures to your e-mail, Unfortunately not only the antenna got damaged, the aftermarket leather cover that I bought (Krusell) has the edges exposed so that area got scratched also, there's even a crack on top of the earbud connector, but that's minor.
So anybody know where to buy the antenna and covers replacement ?
Am I missing parts for the antenna assembly?
Thanks for your help.
Great forum.
Miguel
Here's the images:
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Yes, it looks like there's stuff missing.
Actually, I ended up breaking my antenna by pulling my XDA out of my pocket so many times by the antenna. Eventually, it just popped off.
Inside is a small spring that apparently acts as an antenna. Once that popped out and got lost, I was unable to recieve any signal from my XDA. I called T-Mobile and RMA'd the phone. My new one works just fine, and I've been careful to go easy on the antenna.
I had the same and found that a cut down spring from a pen (the one that goes arround the ink thing does a good job at replaceing the antenna coil.
Haveing said that I retuned my device as was given a replacement as well

Desktop charger/cradle

Anyone using this cradle: http://www.boxwave.com/news/news_1326.htm
I haven't seen many other options options - only 1 other in fact. The another one I have seen makes you have to physically plug the cable in the side which kind of defeats the purpose.
The new(ish) Boxwave one seems to have to slide on.
I'm in Australia and would have to have it shipped across. Wondering is anyone is using and can give me feedback on what it's like.
For example, I'd like to know how easy it connects/disconnects from the cradle.
Thanks.
Thanks for your post! I am camping in the Swiss Alps this summer and found the perfect accessory for me!
http://www.boxwave.com/products/batteryadapter/index.htm
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heres another one, looks to be a bit smaller in size and cheaper than the one you have seen, on the other hand it doesnt look as nice
http://www.pdahut.com/store/product.php?productid=19868&cat=2082&page=1
kerrance76 said:
heres another one, looks to be a bit smaller in size and cheaper than the one you have seen, on the other hand it doesnt look as nice
http://www.pdahut.com/store/product.php?productid=19868&cat=2082&page=1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks kerrance.... Hadn't seen that one before and looks great. Unfortunately doesn't look like they ship overseas (I'm in Australia).
Box wave looks good, especially the one with the extra battery charger Mite consider this as well, but my problem is I already ordred the crystal case from pdair.com and it would be hassle to remove it from the case everytime I sit it on the cradle :-(
ero69 said:
Thanks kerrance.... Hadn't seen that one before and looks great. Unfortunately doesn't look like they ship overseas (I'm in Australia).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you antwhere near melbourne? dont know if this one needs to have the cable plugged in you cant really see.
http://www.ow.com.au/shop/PDA-Cables-Cradles/HTC-Touch-DUAL-USB-Desktop-Cradle
as for the other one, in their terms and conditions it says
3.2 - Unless otherwise agreed orders are shipped by Royal Mail Special Delivery, Royal Mail Recorded delivery or Royal Mail International Airsure service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i guess they will deliver, there is an email form on the site (help & support => contact us) so you may want to ask them first
kerrance76 said:
Are you antwhere near melbourne? dont know if this one needs to have the cable plugged in you cant really see.
http://www.ow.com.au/shop/PDA-Cables-Cradles/HTC-Touch-DUAL-USB-Desktop-Cradle
Yeah, I live in Melbourne and I have physically seen that one. It has a very short USB cable that needs to be manually connected to the side of the phone. I fail to understand the point of this device (but, maybe it's just me)... I might as well just connect a standard USB cable.
as for the other one, in their terms and conditions it says
so i guess they will deliver, there is an email form on the site (help & support => contact us) so you may want to ask them first
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks... I added to my shopping cart and all I could select was local shipping. I will e-mail to find out for sure.
your not alone i dont see the point myself, you might as well just prop the pda up on a book or something

Reassembled nexus one after replacing the digitizer having bad reception

I recently replaced my digitizer and the housing after letting my precious nexus one fall on some rocks. Everything went relatively smooth but since the replacement the phone has a really really bad reception. I asume i made a mistake during the reassembly but i have no idea where the antennas are. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Kind regards.
Seems like this connection is a little loose, if necessary place a small piece of tape over it if it won't click together. Did the job just fine on mine
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that is the gps antenna right? That one is propperly connected in my device.
I would like to know the location of the cell antenna.
I had the same problem. After I replaced the digitizer I could barley get a wireless signal but everything else worked perfect. I ending up selling it on ebay as a parts phone. Hope you find a solution.
The cell antenna should be at the bottom of the phone because I remember people complaining about how holding the bottom of the phone decreases the signal.
Necromanx said:
that is the gps antenna right? That one is propperly connected in my device.
I would like to know the location of the cell antenna.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah sorry, as the above post said it's under the bottom part of the phone. Something could have been moved in the removal/replacing of the bottom part of the phone, it is awkward to get off.
I would assume it's all the copper colored metal inside the phone that acts as the antenna. mine is similarly plagued, it seems that after taking one apart, it doesn't quite work as well.
i barely touched the copper sheet.
Does anyone knows what this is?
(type "Antenna Flex Cable Ribbon Sticker" in google, i am not allowed to post urls yet )
I didnt saw these parts in my phone

iFixit Teardown - My Analysis

Right, let me start off by saying that I am not a professional, I do not know for certain anything mentioned below, and I do not suggest you whip out the soldering iron and attempt to modify your tablet.
This is my personal analysis of the images of the mainboard which iFixit posted.
I have annotated all of the below images myself, if anyone wishes to 'borrow' these images, please reference this thread.
right with that out of the way... on to the PCB!
this is the top (side first seen when you remove the rear of the tablet) side of the mainboard. I have labelled all the connectors.
the most interesting thing to note here is the connector just next to the square cutout, one which I suspect to be for the rear facing camera which was on the ASUS MeMO 370T which we all suspect this tablet to be.
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when the PCB is flipped, you can see that I have once again, labelled all the connectors.
Note the silkscreen on the board which indicates that this is indeed ASUS' ME370T mainboard
Note also, the missing components around the regulator... possibly to form part of the driver for the LED flash the rear-facing camera once possessed.
Also, there is a header at the bottom of the board for what I believe to be the HDMI port we all so desperately desire!
and finally, this is a cropped image showing the mainboard still in situe. you can see the framework within the square cutout of the board, I believe this to be for the rear-facing camera/ LED flash unit.
Theretically (at least in my mind) it SHOULD be possible to take the HDMI and camera modules from an ASUS ME370T BRANDED tablet and after soldering on the relevant connector, plug in the devices and have two of the three most complained about 'missing features'
perhaps some of the devs on here could take a poke around the firmware and see if there are any drivers/references to a second camera/ HDMI port.
please remember, these images are the property of iFixit and I take no credit for them.
anybody have any other suggestions on what these unpopulated connectors could be for? or anybody have access to the tools to research this further and confirm my suspicions? I would be interested to hear what you guys think!
I don't think it would really be worth the effort and cost to rebuild it, as opposed to just buying a tablet with the features you want already on it. It seems more like a hehe look what I can do thing to show off to all your nerd peeps. lol
How many 7 inch tablets are there with quad cores and 1280x800 HD screens?
Which other ones can we buy?
I don't know of any alternatives. If we can solder an HDMI port onto that connector and make it work somehow... I'm doing that.
I suppose we'll see if it's possible over the coming weeks.
What I take away from this is that the NFC antenna is on the top edge, so two tablets would go head-to-head to communicate. Within about 2 inches...
There is already another thread discussing the iFixit teardown, please continue all further discussion there.

Poetic Nexus 7 Case Mod

I hate dongles. There, I said it. I. Hate. Dongles.
With the OTG capabilities and the enormous (relatively) storage capability of SD cards these days, it seemed that using a dongle with the N7 was inevitable. So I took the plunge and got one. But what to do about strain relief and <sigh> that damned floppy dongle getting in my way all the time?
I added Velcro strips to the case and to the dongle in order to keep it in place and out of my way when I was using it. Two wide strips on the back of the case, and one on the front provide more than adequate anchoring so that the N7 can sit on my desk in landscape mode AND hold the dongle in place and out of the way without a problem. It also keeps the mini USB socket from sustaining any damage from the dongle flopping around.
Here's the photos of what I did and I'm very satisfied with the end result.
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As long as it works for you admittedly otg cables and dongles are not very handy things, I'm sure someone could come up with an all in one solution that matches the base line of the tablet and looks like a short extension of it.
No luck yet but im hopeful
I have send email and a small drawing to a hand full of connector design companies . Asking them about a ribbon like micro usb connector something that would be very slim low profile.. IF i get someone willing to make them . i will start a thread asking for those wanting a low profile usb otg to buy into getting the minimum made. Its like to be about 300 connectors at 25 cents to 1.00 each... There is a unlimited use for such a plug for this and other devices ..
Just thought i would add it as i see the stressful post .. I have a similar thing for my nexus Its ugly tacky and i do not like it .
Nice pics thou
I did something similar to my Poetic case last night., I just used industrial strength velcro, and less of it. Here's a few pics. I'm at work, and in a low light environment, so the pictures aren't great...
Sent from my Nexus 7

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