yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] jyan_osu:
That's just funny how some things bother people even though they'll never use it. For me it took me years though to get over things like that.. now I stand back and think, will this ever affect me? No? Then let it go. I guess it's human nature.

Throughout the year of owning the original Transformer, I can't remember more than maybe 1 time that I used the GPS and that was to see if I can.

Right now, I have an old Bluetooth GPS and my phone. I've tethered my Prime to both and this morning I used it this way to drive to work using Copilot. No tethering of data and was very happy with the results. But, I have my phone dock and it's a lot easier to pull out of my pocket and use that as my navigational device than the Prime.. Although I'm sure other folks have different use cases for how they want to use the Prime with a GPS and have legitimate reasons to.

Anyways, I'd use something that's detachable for those times I need that extra antenna. I keep a lot of my Prime peripherals in a bag with the tablet (USB connector, USB to Ethernet, charger,etc.) and pull it out and attach it if need be.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] kemoschwabbie:
Just need a SMA bulkhead connector

In lieu of the whole grommet/wire idea, one could surface mount an SMA female bulkhead connector, solder a direct connection to the internal SMA connection point and then be able to use a wide variety of available SMA antennas.

I like the flat bladed one from the same website called the Pentablade design.

Off topic (be related) does anyone know how long the RMA process is taking here in the US? Mine was fedex'd yesterday to Texas I believe.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] junrider:
Conductive paste.. you brush on the gap where your wire used to be. And when it dries, it'll harden and connect the once severed connection. Much more precise than soldering.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] oremy:
did anyone tried to place conductive paste in between pogopin and the antenna pcb ...?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] snakeybidder:
Youll be surprised how much you need gps. One good reason for gps is google earth, weather updates when abroad. Info on local areas using Mapping software. I used my transformer 1 in amsterdam in my hotel to gain knowledge on things happing in my area etc. When i travelled with my original transformer i used gps with navigon to guide me around and give me info of countries area i was in.

Anyway its beside the point needing it. Im a very particular person and im sure allot of people are like me in this forum. Hell, people wouldnt be opening their £500 primes and thinking of passing wires through earphone sockets etc if they werent.

Everyone to their own please ;)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] jyan_osu:
Oh I understand.. For me though and this is just me, I'm always using the tab either tethered to my phone for the wifi or the hotel's wifi.. or some wifi that it provided close enough location to give me things around me where I am traveling. And I can tether the GPS to the tab now in any case as a work around and use CoPilot.. don't need data to tether gps on my phone to the tab.. Granted that shouldn't be done.

In any case, everyone has their things they want to do and I can understand why some folks want it to work a lot better than it is.

I'm just the type of person that is fine and looks a workaround if I already have the tools on me. And I can understand folks that just want it all in one and work as it should.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Yakandu:
What about that UFL connectors? i mean, i have an old wifi router with UFL conencted antenna, if i wire that antenna to my UFL connector on my prime should i get better signal?

i think its smarter than solderin wires to pogo pin... better connection and no Mods...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ozone777:
Why doesn't ASUS (or a third party company) just create a plastic replacement backing for the Prime?:confused:

Or maybe perforate the back cover, where the antennas are located, with a bunch of tiny holes (kind of like where the speaker is) to allow the signal to get through.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Kailkti:
That might make it easier for dust and anything else to enter. And you know what might happen after that.

$1 gets you a reply
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Because everything but the screen and antenna are attached to it...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Doktaphex:
There are NO Ufl connectors in the prime.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dagrim1:
Ugh, that went wrong... Finally decided to open my prime as well but now a few off the thingies broke off (the plastic ledges/locking thingies).

That sucks, hope I can somehow fix it or atleast the prime will close properly without em. Guess my warranty is gone now though...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dpwhitty11:
If one were to, say, completely remove the HDMI socket (just unsolder the whole thing or just rip it out), things should still work (obviously not the HDMI though) right, right?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Can't say. Probably, but I'm no engineer or anything..
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] monkey10120:
there are no closed circuits so I dont see why not.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dpwhitty11:
That's what I'm thinking... Maybe I can even make it look like it was broken out on accident from some kind of HDMI cable mishap XD

I'll most likely take the dive this weekend, I need to change out my wires for some better, thicker, shorter, and copper ones.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] jcw1234:
Just updated to 9.4.2.13 and it is noticeable better when it comes to holding connection in weak signal areas. Although checking the db results with wifi analyzer didn't seem to improve before and after the upgrade, streaming video did seem to hold better after upgrade. Even better, streaming was good while Bluetooth is enabled which I could never do before from my room using netflix. I think with this latest update the TFP is now stable enough for me not to complain. No need to mod my tablet. Bluetooth audio sync is still a bit off but better.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Erusman:
***Update***

Ok I finished my final mod. I made myself some mini wifi antenna and placed them in my case. The mini wifi antenna are composed of a thin straw surrounded by heat shrink tubing. Capped with a plastic hole plug. Wires that come out of my tablet are inserted in the straw. Heated with lighter and sealed.

The mini wifi antenna I can pull up or down out of my case to extend the WIFI range. I am pulling three bars at more than 50 feet away. Amazing!!

I had to laugh a little because my prime kinda looks like a little android with the antenna stickin out. :D
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
Very cool. You should really try to see what is your maximum range now. The antennaes being able to go up or down based on range is great idea. You have the ultimate modded prime..lol. I like it.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] leppie:
Expect some Chinese replacements soon :)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ozone777:
Not if its configured like the speaker grill is.

Plus you could always cover the holes from the inside with a thin membrane that would keep anything from getting in but still allow a signal to pass through.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
The point is getting your signal-receptor away from the back of the Prime though. Just opening up another hole with no external antenna coming from it would offer pretty much the same results I would think...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] tedr108:
You da man.

You officially have the most functional Prime on the planet.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
I didn't even see this! Lol, I've been watching too many threads and digressing into all the useless bickering with everyone else. Time to re-focus!

Updated Guide/Discussion thread with true final mod from Erusman as well as with my own idea at the very bottom. Cheers and good luck to all!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ozone777:
But what about GPS?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Probably just one straw for both WiFi wires? If I were to do something like this, I'd only really worry about getting one WiFi antenna to the outside, that should be sufficient. I'm just going to leave the Aux going to its provided antenna in the Prime as a kind of actual auxiliary that will only get used if damage falls upon the external, primary antenna.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ryanbmw51:
Just read entire op and have cone to the conclusion that you, sir, are a maniac. Lol. Just crazy!

Thank you for sharing though. You have balls of platinum.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Mike_1968:
Newbie Here...

Been reading this thread for a few days and had a few ideas myself and wanted to play abit. My prime's wifi is working good enough for my stuff at this time but do think it could work better. GPS sucks. Don't think I would ever get much use out of the gps but what the hell lets play.

Came up with a silly little idea. Used a few scraps laying around and ran a small wire out of the prime. My gps gained alot from this. Maybe lucky to get 2 sats but now it giving me 16 in view and 10 in use with 18.2 Accuracy in my house.

Now wondering if I did the same with the wifi if that would help at all.

Had old inkjet printer laying aorund and used the ribbon cable, well a small portion of it. Its thin enought to just slide threw the seam of the glass and metal back without drilling or changing anything. Used copper thread at one end and just slid it over the pogo.

Will have to try it on the wifi and see how that small wire does.

Mike
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rmsingh:
Can anyone confirm that the Xach mod worked for GPS as well? My WiFi is good but GPS sucks when moving.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Laurentwb:
Hello,

I'm considering to try the chime mod.

Could someone tell me what thickness I need to place in there ? Is anold credi card thick enough ?

(tried to find out but 80 pages is too much t find details)

Thank you.

Laurent
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Chemas:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1479664

but...you should probably start at the bottom....
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Erusman:
Thanks man for all the help.

Yes, GPS wire is ran right inside the LEFT WIFI antenna. So I have two wires running in one Antenna.

You could get away only using one antenna and drilling one hole out of prime if you wish. Just run Both the WIFI and GPS wires out one hole. Then customize your own antenna.

You might be able to not drill any holes. IF you never used the Headphones jack you could remove it and use that. OR maybe some sort of HDMI connection plug that uses the connections in an HDMI cable for your WIFI and GPS. (Disconnect copper etching for HDMI connections from PCB) etc. I think the Headphone jack idea is the best. (isn't there 3 connections on it??) Use one for LEFT WIFI, one for RIGHT WIFI, and Ground for GPS.

Thanks for all the great comments on my mod!!

I can't wait to see what others are doing.

GL
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Laurentwb:
Thank you but I think my question was confusing.

In fact I am looking for the thickness of the

lastic piece to put under the antenna to get a better contact between the pongos and the antennas.

:)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Anything you're comfortable with really. Credit card would be too thick IMO, I cut off some tiny edges from a guitar pick and wedged them under the PCB's and even that seems like too much even though I was barely able to handle such small pieces of plastic.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Laurentwb:
Waw ! This has to be really thin !
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Thenits:
Okay so have done some more testing with a u.fl connector with an inserted pin on u9705. I have that working - solid connection. I have it attached via rf coax to a flat wifi (not GPS) antenna - photo attached. Signal is excellent even inside....NOW the kicker...if I get the antenna anywhere even close ...say less than an inch to the prime, GPS signal drops off and it losses lock....quickly. There must be so much noise/interference from the prime that the GPS chipset can not differentiate. I know other posts had eluded to this. I am going to investigate different configurations and placements, but what I have now solidly bypasses the pogopins and eliminates a lot of the prime’s suspect signal path.

As an aside, maybe there are variations in the noise being generated by the primes...hence why some can lock, some can’t etc.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ham67high:
i was wondering if you can do the headphone jack mod and then have some kind of mod that you cant plug into your headphone port to act as a antenna, like a antenna headphone jack. p.s i got my transformer prime the first 2 number of the serial number are C1 and i am having wifi and GPS issues too.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Yes, that's the general idea of the mod to begin with I thought. If you still wish to retain function-able sound through the jack I think you have to introduce some of your own hardware (can anyone collaborate?) to cancel out the noise that it'll make.

Like Erusman commented, you could theoretically route all three of your antenna out through the one headphone jack and sacrifice all usability of it as a headphone jack...

Like you said, this is just more confirmation. Ruins my original over-the-Prime/under-the-skin idea. Reinforces the fact that an external antenna is the only real option, something at least like an inch from the Prime... Or elimination of the backplate. Suppose I'll watch what ASUS does over the next couple of weeks and decide accordingly whether to return and wait, return and swap, or just return outright. If anything, could do a full refund and revisit the product when it's cheap for being such a flop :/
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Jesse6749:
I agree and I am getting ready to pop open my prime ( I have some guite picks and plastic cell phone revoval tools too) and solder some wires and route them internally to create a larger antenna especially for the gps which does not work at all on my Prime. Cause if we wait for Asus it may take forever for them to solve this design flaw in what otherwise is a great tablet.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Erusman:
Hey! yes that is the same results I got when I connected the tycos. That aluminum backplate kills the GPS RF signal from getting in. Glad you are testing things out. Hopefully you can find out a way to make these things work. Only thing I found was to place them away from the backplate. Just like you are doing. Thats why I ultimately just went with the Redneck WIFI antenna. :p

I wonder if there is a way to shield them from the aluminum backplate.(Just thinking here). GL with your mods!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ham67high:
come june when the tf700 comes out then asus will probably use that back cover design for the tf201 owners, under warranty . i hop....
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] pileot:
I noticed the same.... Where did you get the antenna? thats sick!

What about using an ESD bag from like a motherboard to eliminate the interference?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
This is another thing I've been thinking of... Surely there's something just as effective at blocking all the interference as the backplate is at conducing it.

Surely there's some kind of paste or something other than flat-out lead that could completely block signal from the backplate with an antenna on the other side of it. If you could leave the existing antenna working along with these external ones and I think you should be able to get optimal access to signals.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Norcalz71:
so from recent posts, is my understanding correct that the backplate is not necessarily only sheilding the signal from the internal antennae, but rather actually emitting electromagnetic interference to the signal at a short range. Thus, even something like a fractal stick-on antenna stuck to the back might suffer signal degradation due to the interference, despite being outside of the casing?

If so, bummer lol
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Thenits:
Amazon.com : Laptop Notebook Wifi Bluetooth WWAN/EVDO/HSDPA Broadband Internal Antenna
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Truth. That is indeed apparently the case.

I still find it odd I've only experienced the "shock" from my plugged in Prime once. I think something that was/wasn't grounded now is/isn't after taking apart and accidentally changing alignment or something. Seems to me something inside some of these things is going rampant, causing the variations in signal reception and probably pushing some kind of current/signal where it shouldn't.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Norcalz71:
got it. going to have to brush up on my basic knowledge of electronics, but what are the possible sources of an electromagnetic field (assuming thats the issue) being generated by the backplate? Unintentional grounding and/or a short to some circuit? Or possible intentional grounding with unforeseen consequences?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Erusman:
Yes big bummer and bad design choice by Asus. If you ever read up on what blocks WIFI signals you will find aluminum works great. lol. Alot of people in small apartments who have neighbors whos WIFI interferes with theirs will put aluminum mesh up to block the signals. I read about someone in Tokyo actually invented an aluminum and iron partical paint! You can paint a wall and it will block WIFI up to a certain GHZ. Insane isn't it?

Asus placed the WIFI and GPS antenna at the very top 1/4 inch of prime. That area should have been a plastic material.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Norcalz71:
so is the aluminum just a natural shield AND interference generator, or would something have push a current through it to cause the signal degradation seen when the antenna is NEAR the backplate, but not actually physically blocked by it?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
This! ^^^

I don't feel that an external antenna touching it should see as large a loss as something inside its "bowled" interior, especially something that's just near it on the back side... Referring to the ) shape of the case.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Doktaphex:
Well I've been holding off on mentioning this but, surely everyone else has noticed that the exposed area on the backplate that is directly behind the antennae on both sides has some sort of coating. Compared to the rest of the Prime's inner backplate it has a very slight colour and light reflection difference but a huge texture difference and the milling pattern clearly visible on the rest of the inner side of the backplate does not appear here. Instead it is replaced by what I can only describe as brush strokes.

Check out the gallery here for examples and also review all the pics we have and the internals of your own Prime.

Maybe this 'paint' for want of a better word is supposed to be shielding the antennae but not not doing a good enough job.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Erusman:
Aluminum is blocking the signal and causing interference. IF we put the tyco antenna on the back of that aluminum. (Even with the backplate facing the router). The WIFI signal bounces off that backplate.

Something odd about that 1/4 inch area around the prime though. Is that aluminum? Looks like it has something in has something else in its composition. Perhaps that is why ASUS placed the WIFI /GPS in that area.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Erusman:
ROTFL you posted this at same time i did. YES! that 1/4 area has a coating on it or something. Maybe we should spray the back of our primes with a Rubber coating..:D:D
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Doktaphex:
Also this! ^^^

But do you mean the actual surround on the whole of the Prime or the 2 bits that are directly behind the antennae?

I have been musing over this idea for the last couple of hours. :D

EDIT again :D : Has anyone actually tried cutting out a piece of anti-static bag that covers the entire surface area of the prime internally and laying it over the back, leaving holes for the pogos, effectively isolating the 2 halves?

EDIT once more: Actually wouldn't this just connect all components together and cause one huge short. Maybe not such a good idea.

Unless it was sandwiched between two insulators, like 2 pieces of paper.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Thenits:
Doktaphex, you could be correct, but I think the pattern you see is just the milling process on the back curve. There does appear to be a coating, but I think that is lacquer to stop the aluminium oxidizing perhaps. I notice when testing for grounding I have to push quite hard and penetrate the surface layer…this is the same for anywhere on the back case....except for where the foam conducting strips attach to the back case lip and if you notice there is a thin strip that conducts well...no lacquer perhaps? I don't know what can be done to stop interference from within the case but perhaps a grounded shield (yet insulated) that covers the entire area separating the two halves might be worth a try.

I would really like to know if some folk have good unmoded GPS performance (this measure is so subjective…some noobs think that viewing a few satellites is okay etc.) and why the squeezing technique worked for some. Some suggest that it flexed the pcb therefore making better contact for the pogopins. I tried flexing mine this way with it open and there was no deflection at the pogopin end (for the GPS) at all. Perhaps pushing hard enough depressed the pcb so it contacted with the back plate reducing interference??….remember it was on the left side of the pcb....f’d if I know but I wish I had an oscilloscope!

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 PM ----------

Check this out: http://www.gmat.unsw.edu.au/snap/publications/thompson_etal2010a.pdf.

I think I might send these guys an email...and my prime...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Oooh, more advancement! This thread is gold.

I too see the markings: they are absolutely just part of the cutting/lacquering process as stated. I see the exact same marks in different patterns all over the backplate.

And I'd love to try such a shield... Care to elaborate exactly what could be used?

*EDIT: I approve! Lol, if you're willing to go Prime-less
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Thenits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_shielding

thinking of using aluminium foil that is inserted into a plastic page protector...ensure both sides are well covered and insulated...you do not want to short anything to ground that should not be ...the aluminium foil needs to be grounded. Also see what Doktaphex did a few (10?)pages back.

There are however a number of earth points (conductive foam strips) on the prime that are designed to interface with the back of the display...while there seems to be no issue when the prime is apart, i do not know what the longer term impact may be.

also note that threre is a rf shield on the top right of the main pcb....wire mesh material.....funnily enough probably to protect the GPS chipset that is on the other side of the pcb.

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------

RF shielding fabrics: http://www.lessemf.com/fabric.html