[Galaxy S II General] vultus:
i9100 GSM loss strength problem

Folks,

I think I solved that problem with a easy procedure ! Work for my, maybe work for others....

I'm noob here yet...So I can't put link,I will try to explain only with words (my english is so-so...sorry for that)

As other in this thread, I made the same mistake: connected wrong RF antena cable in my Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 (VIVO BRAZIL with OFICIAL Jelly Bean 4.1.2....I try to install other rooms, to verify is a software problem, but I realised was a hardware problem) and damage the little RF conector ... so, after that my GSM signal is very poor in most areas I use...except in my work, but I believe is because is a build with 9 floor ....so I think this don't count !

For my lucky, my wife have too a i9100 and in attempt to understand the problem, I disassembly entire these two i9100 e exchange almost parts between the phones.... conclusion: Really is that conector that Dr. Hammer mentioned, unfortunately is virtually impossible to change that if you don't have the properly equipment and experience with micro-soldering...in my case I haven't.

But, like a average brazilian guy, I don't have much money to spend in a new smartphone (I think this is globally for most folks here.. kkkkkk)....I decide to search more deeper to solve this problem.

Even without experience and equipment, I decide to take this conector, I find that correct name, is RF Switch Connector MHC-705.

So, obviously I wouldn't try first in my i9100, afterall... I consider a noob in electronic area.... and even the GSM signal is dead, the device still works perfectly for other purposes (surfing in web, games....) so I get a old LG KP130, who has a similar conector.

The problem is that soldering is in the PCB (motherboard) surface (made by machines or other process tha don't envolved human hands)...so is very trick to take out, but I was able to take out that conector, the problem is it fells apart when I take out from PCB (useless to my i9100) .... moreover, when I tryed soldering a little tiny cable (to emulate what I will do in my i9100), the heat of soldering iron (a normal one, 40w) burns some parts of PCB (even I care to don't touch in PCB surface)...result: the internal antena of Lg KP130 don't work anymore.

So I realise isn't possible to do the same in my i9100....After that, I accepted I was a owner of a "Samsung's Ipod" .....

But, meanwhile I clean the mess,I had idea: Ok, some folks inserted little cables in that conector and work.... I if I could put some solder in that little hole to fill the connecor, will be resolve ?

I got some solder (after melted by soldering iron.... some little fillets of solder has drop in the table during ther process .. I really don't know if the proprerties of melted solder is diferent.. I used solder after has melted by a iron and was cold) and a needle and begin to put in little hole of the connector of my i9100... I pressure a little the needle so put more as I can.... and voilá !! the signal strength UP to 100%.... and after 2 week still that way!!

I travelled to other areas and signal still the same when I don't have this problem.....so I belive I fix that.

The advantage I see in this method compare to the others (Dr.Hammer, the brazilian khazmodan or Argentine hellcore):

- Easily to do: if you have a good eye and hand

- Very cheap: some melted solder and a needle

- Very quickly.: I took about 5 minutos to do all that (subtract the process of KP130)

- No need dismount: only open the back of you phone ant take out the battery for prevention

- Less invasive: Don't change the stetic of device....because ins almost impossible to see the solder in the conector.

Cons:

- You will never could (never is strong in that area, but will very hard to do taht) connect other RF cable in the MHC-705 RF Switch connector again (I think is a good one...kkkkk)

- You need buy a Soldering iron and solder (Here in Brazil is relative cheaper...some like U$ 10)

I can tell too that my friend connected the same wrong cable in her i9300 and get same problem....but for her lucky, the phone still in warranty and the reseller would change the motherboard....maybe he will get in 04/01/13 her phone

I hope that could help others to solve similar problems....

Thanks a lot to all folks in this thread, specially to Dr. Hammer and my compatriot Khazmodan (Khazmodan: here, in Porto Alegre, a local shop charge R$ 150,00 .. about $ 75,00 to do same that Dr. Hammer suggest, but they don't garantee will work... in fact they saw that is possible to bricket my phone too....without refound).

Best regards.