[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] RDionysus:
My HD2 has been reborn!

Because I was so busy with work, I had been unable to try the procedures nonpaq had so graciously posted a few weeks back. So I remained in terrible suspense as to the ultimate disposition of my HD2, with it very likely that my phone would soon be headed for the garbage bin (more accurately, sold for parts or donated to charity) due to the terminal non-reception issues.

Well, this past weekend I finally did it. And it was a raging success!!!! :):):)

In the OP's original post, he says that when he opened his phone to investigate, one of the antenna contacts was "lower than the other". It turns out that BOTH of my antenna contacts were practically mashed flat! Incredible! It's actually amazing that I got any reception at all.

Anyway, after careful manipulation of both the cellular contacts--and the Wifi/BT contacts for good measure-- I can report that my reception is now magnificent, possibly even better than when the phone was new :D

When I have some more time, I'll also post the illuminating results of the before and after signal benchmarking that I did.

As an aside, while I had the phone open I was musing to myself how it could have gotten like this. Originally I had assumed that dropping the phone (which I actually did more than once:p) was responsible. Now I'm thinking it's possibly more of a "wear and tear" issue. For example, most of us think nothing of cramming electronic devices like cell phones into tight spaces, like a back pocket, book-bag, or briefcase. I'm wondering if, over time, this type of "compression" of the phone case gradually pushes the leads down (which are basically very small and delicate bits of spring-loaded metal) to the point where they are flat enough to no longer make contact with the contact pads on the inside of the HD2's shell. I'm also wondering how many people might be suffering from this problem (and are going crazy because they can't figure out why their signal sucks, no matter what they do!). Hmmm.....

Anyway, nonpaq-- I salute you, mate! If it wasn't for your serendipitous post in the other, original thread, I'm not sure I would have figured it out. In fact, I was planning to open the phone anyway before discovering your post (I had nothing to lose), but without your notes, and especially photos, I'm not sure I would have figured out the crux of the problem. So thanks again!! If you feel like PM'ing me an address, I'd send you a bottle of champagne! The money I was gonna spend on a new phone I can now put toward a new tablet or netbook. :)

P.S.: @nonpaq-- I would recommend that you consider asking the mods to move this thread to the 'General' HD2 forums, since it's clearly a phone-related issue and not specific to Android in any way.

Also, during the procedure I took a number of before and after photos, so in the spirit of generosity that you started and to reach others who may be searching in vain, I'm considering starting a new thread--when time permits-- in the general forums. I will put even more details on the problem and its solution, along with my personal notes and photos of the affected area (with all proper credits to you, of course:))