yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] chivas228:
hey! That crazy asian with the phone on the corner was me! I've been meaning to post my further investigation on this and this is what I did.

1. Bought a Moco case on Amazon for like $12.

2. Put Prime in case.

3. Cut a 5 inch speaker wire. The tiny ones, not monster cable but them average size wire about 22 gauge (?).

4. Place the wire under the case but above the Prime in same location as yours. It stuck out so I bent the end and tucked it into the headphone opening.

5. Went for a drive. I drive a bronco and with the case set up to stand the Prime up, I was able to watch GPS test as I drove. Kept very steady GPS lock with no less than 4 at a time. Tried Google maps with Bluetooth data tethering to my phone to draw map and now I have a 10.1 in screen gps !

I think getting a case (any case) is a good investment for your Prime. It can also very casually and discreetly hide any of these " additions" to your Prime to enhance certain features like those with the foil wifi "mod".

So I didn't get to drink any beer but I sure will not drink scotch out a can!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] swngdncr:
OMG beard, too funny ...lmao....
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Eddy315west:
Does Beer can brand matter lol ( being sarcastic :-) )
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] robertg9:
Excellent work. Just a couple of questions...

1) What is the battery monitor in the pic....I like it.

2) Is the Transformer shown in the Portrait or landscape mode?

Thanks,

Bob
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
1. Battery monitor widget by 3c (market)

2. Landscape
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] :
Well I saw 2 birds since I got my Prime and that was outside. I tried this and it didn't work' not even one bird. Funny thing is that My TF101 gets 10 birds in the house and when I get my TF201within 5 inches the TF101 starts to lose signals. The best part is I turn off the Wifi on the TF201 and voila! The birds started appearing and I got a lock with 10 birds showing. So obviously the Wifi is interfering.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rdalev:
I think Asus should ship every Prime owner one paper clip and two 1" pieces of duct tape ! One to hold the paper clip in place and one to keep the sd card from self-ejecting !
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] newellj79:
Holy shiz this made me laugh! I second the motion for to ship with two pieces of ducktape!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] :
HAHAHA! Thats funny! But I wonder if the wifi or gps frequencies can be change.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Freestyle72:
Ya swap in another wifi antenna on a different frequency and have someone write a driver for it that we can install. Boom I'd be up for that.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Spidey01:
Anyone tested this on WiFi and noted the positioning? (post link)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] :
I my case with wifi on its still a dud and wifi off it works ok (no gaget added) but since the wifi interferes even with my TF101's gps it would be interesting to see if the dev or Asus can come up with a way to change the frequency or the chanel of the wifi and see if this helps the gps.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] 4squarehi:
Wow this really works! I'm playing with a couple different ideas using a brass shim as that is solderable. I'm using GPS Essentials to track satellites, but I'm looking for the app that is posted so I can make a better comparison (signals, sats, etc). I will let you know what I come up with.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] sly.cooper:
Genius! At the same time I am feeling disappointed. We really were not supposed to do all crazy things for $500 toy :-(. That raises serious questions regarding ASUS's QA and R&D. I wonder how they tested and passed GPS? May be all of them were using aGPS during test ;-). Even with aGPS, GPS tester shows no satellites. Probably R&D and QA guys had lots of beer while doing testing.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rdalev:
Or maybe a Behemoth like Asus simply expected GPS to work, without testing, because of their ego !
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] vdelab:
Hello,

Will definitley try this when I have time...

A question though, as the antenna wire is flexible, did you try to bend it back over the glass and put a tape over it, just so that it does not stick out like this?

Because then, with a black tape, it could become almost acceptable...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
Yep tried it and does not work.

The moment the antenne is up against the glass the signal dies instantly.

What does work is using a paperclip. Not straight and sticking out but bent at an angle of 90 degrees. When you need GPS you swiffle the paperclip so the short end is pointing upward making it perpendicular with the glass (+- 3cm high).

Same signal results
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] andddlay:
Shoot I only have beer in glass bottles :(
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ForeignGadger:
Did anyone do an assessment of the WiFi performance with this fix in place?

Was it enhanced in the same way? You probably wouldn't need Wifi AND GPS on at the same time

If improves that too, (like the foil quick-fix) we might have a winner here.

Like a previous poster, having a good case will almost conceal the fix permanently so it would be good.

FG
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] 4squarehi:
Why did you choose to put the antenna on the right side of the camera?

I found this article at anandtech.com-show-5285-asus-eee-pad-transformer-prime-gps-issue-explained showing the layouts of both Wi-Fi antennas and the location of the GPS receiver. It shows the GPS receiver located to the left of the front facing camera. I don't know how long the WLAN receivers are do the dimensions shown do not describe the exact position of the GPS Rx.

The right edge of the primary WLAN antenna is 26mm from the right edge of the case. Is there a reason you chose 37mm?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] 1lann:
Well it sure did improve my wifi! As for GPS, I still have to test.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
With the dimensions of the foil this location works the best. I just started with an arbitrary size and adapted a little along the way. If I move the foil the signal gets less. As far as I could judge by pictures of opened primes I just put the end of the antenna near the location where the GPS antenna is and the foil in the general area of the Wifi. But maybe it is not optimized yet.

So hereby an open invitation to you guys (and girls) to experiment with the principal.

Change sizes and locations.

Maybe there is an even better and more compact solution.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Vcolassi:
I just picked up another Prime C1 this time appose to my last two C2's. Here are my results with GPS "NOT ON WIFI" Inside on a rainy day.:D

I could care less about GPS on my tab if it works or not let alone have it. But its fun testing. But i understand those who utilize it, in my case i don't. Curious how my stacks up. I got this result in 5-8 secs haven't tested a bunch of times to see if i could get any better. Maybe i will
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] 4squarehi:
I saw a clear spot in the glass about 150mm from the right side of the case. MANY Years ago I had purchased one of those small foil stick on antenna boosters. I found the phone that had it and tried it. Still playing with it, but it works. and easier to attach. The weather here is crappy, 20 mph winds, drizzle, 40 degrees.

View attachment 925385

View attachment 925386
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Ah man, if we could find some stick-on antenna boosters that are shaped like autobot heads!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] k33py:
Had my prime for 4 days now and only ever got 1 sat outside which dropped off very quickly. Just tried a quick fix by following this thread and used some tape to attach a safety pin about an inch and half from top right hand corner. I locked onto 8 sats and saw 14 on screen. I think i need a beer for some further investigation.

Anybody know when tomtom is coming to android lol

HAS ANYBODY TRIED SILVER TAPE ?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Like the rolls of hard duct tape? We sell that here at work, I could try some out this afternoon.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
Unfortunatly the GPS antenna is on the other side of the camera.

And the signal strengths aren't that impressive.

Certainly not strong enough for turn by turn navigation
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
Take screenshot

Just to make life a little easier.

If you want to make a picture of your GPS results or anything else.

Just make a screenshot.

Long press on the recent app button on the bottom tool bar

;-)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
If you have the setting enabled.

If not, you can turn it on under ASUS Customized Setting.

You can also press vol- and power buttons for a few seconds, or use the screenshot key on the keyboard dock.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] osbrook:
It works for Wifi not sure about GPS

I tried the Beer (Aluminium) can trick and steel wire. Suddenly saw lots more WIFI AP but the existing ones did not get any stronger.

Not sure if the GPS wire (mine a was a 9.75mm length of bike brake cable) made any difference. This is much hard to test. I will try again.

It certainly is an opportunity for some one to get a nice 'clip on' made and put up for sale.

Many thanks for the suggestion.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
Just curious?

Did anyone have succes in optimizing the antenna?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] k33py:
Did you manage to try the metal tape.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Thanks for reminding me, I forgot! Lol, I'll take some home on the lunchbreak and give it a go alone and with a paperclip.

*EDIT:

So I had to work on an iPod Touch for my lunch break instead >.>

I'm about to put the tape and paperclip with my Prime so I won't forget them when I leave this afternoon, then I'll get back.

I really haven't tried any of this apart from covering my antennas with CD's when this was mentioned for WiFi only.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] k33py:
with mine it seems to boost the gps lock then if I remove whatever I've attached the signal stays the same. I'm gonna do a road test but sygic does run on my machine(downloaded version). I just got my in car holder off fleebay for £6. What sat nav versions are working on the prime ?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
I use CoPilot USA, if that's what you mean.

I've got the foil tape, have not noticed anything dramatic to any of my signal strengths just holding it to the glass. I'm trying not to actually stick the tape to it yet to avoid pulling off my screen protector.

I'm not seeing any real results yet... I thought I was, but really no.

As far as I can tell from ding's pictures, he's directing signal directly to the pogopin as opposed to the antenna, or so it looks to me. I'm about to go home for the day and I'll try more configurations and actually measuring my piece of foil/tape.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
don`t forget to isolate the foil!!! The paperclip or cable should not make electrical contact with it. Isolate it with electrical tape.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
It is tape, I assumed the adhesive probably wouldn't be the greatest conductor...?

Ok though, I was about to post my results (worse performance) but now I'll hold off a few minutes until I try it with something between the two.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Ok. Sorry for the size of the images, I'll be going back and resizing them, so they should update after a bit. Operating on the EDGE network around here is a true test of patience :o

First test is nothing on my Prime. Keep in mind I keep a screen protector on my Prime, don't know if that matters but I don't see why it would.

Second one is Prime > Guitar String > Foil Tape

Third is Prime > Guitar String > Antistatic Film > Foil Tape

Fourth is Prime > Guitar String > Electric Tape > Antistatic Film > Foil Tape > Electrical Tape for good measure

*EDIT:

If you keep reading you'll see my reply, but every configuration of foil and wire I've tried so far has yielded no real results. I lock on to more satellites at times, but they generally register worse signal and I get decreased accuracy. Still going along though, I'll be testing other wire and actual foil as opposed to my foil tape.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
FIRST YOU PLACE THE FOIL ON THE PRIME!!!

Then you isolate the foil.

Then you place the paperclip / cable over the isolated foil

(See original post)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rmsingh:
I found no significant, consistant improvement in GPS perrormance. I ended up drilling a 1cm hole at the coppertab location. Removed the pogopin and soldered a 15cm piece of antenna wire retrieved from an old dlink router. I'm now able to drive to work with excellent GPS tracking at 110 -120 km/hr. The free nav offline software(Nav Free) sucks though. Downside is I have a piece of wire sticking out of the top of my Prime.:(
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Thought I had lol, I've always been terrible at reading comprehension. But damn it if I don't get a perfect ACT score on grammar >.>

But ok, I'll flip it over and get back. I just wish there was a way without sticking something away from the Prime.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
I'm working on a solution.

Don't know if it will work but if so it is going to be fairly simple and no or less sticking out.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] k33py:
I've been road testing mine today and without the beer can coverage. I just taped an allen key over the glass at different points and recorded the results. I also removed the allen key completely at one point and my signal dropped right off.

View attachment 929771

using allen key at speed.

View attachment 929774

shortly after removing allen key.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] k33py:
I just found a working version of sygic for any one thats looking for it its version 11.2.5
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dhinge:
Great results K33pys. Can you pl attach the image of prime with allen keys attached?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] pileot:
So im unable to get any results using this... whats the basic idea?

Cover the wifi/gps antennas with the aluminum then isolate it and put a wire overtop it? can someone give me some sort of idea of whats supposed to be going on here?

Also, does the metal have to be against the glass screen or can it work with a screen protector?

Does the wire have to be bare or can you use insulated wire (like speaker wire)?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
I think you're just helping the signal achieve a solid path to the antenna really.

As shown by k33pys, you probably don't even need foil or anything.

And insulated should be fine. Screen protector shouldn't hurt signal or anything.

I'm just about to try it reversed around the right way, then I guess I'll try just the guitar string alone.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Blairware:
Software dependancies

EXCELLENT WORK! I appreciate all of these experiments, and the results are certainly impressive. I wanted to bring up one parameter that so far has not been added into the equation. This may be affecting the poster that claimed he got little or no results with these methods.

I am currently back at .14 official software, unrooted, locked bootloader. I am reserving rooting for something that requires it that I simply cannot live without, and giving up 10 remaining months of warranty are not that attractive to me. :p

The reason I rooted, then rolled back to .14 with the method in dev section is simple. At .15 I got some unusual screen static, and some bobbing up & down of the task bar. More important however was a complete loss of GPS functionality. I have, under good conditions , gotten 13 locks while on .14 - Of course it was only for a minute, and quickly lost. See, that's been my primary observation regarding GPS - We can, at times get a reasonable signal, but 30 seconds later it's crap, and visible sats. are nowhere to be seen.

I am going to use something very close to the ops design, but I want to see if I can fashion a plastic clip, sort of like a clothes pin (I happen to have something like I just described in black plastic), spring loaded, and with rounded tips - looks like a plastic pliers or scissors, and if that works to hold the "Enhancer" onto the prime it could avoid the ugly tape that most have had to resort to. Now if I can only FIND the sucker - I can SEE it in my head.... just need to figure out WHERE I put it.

EDIT: Just realised that a simple spring clamp would work just as well, AND could offer the additional advantage of putting a little compression right near the pogo pins, LOL! Certainly wouldn't HURT, but I think plastic vs metal would be best.

But I did want to point out that certain FW versions have had drastic effects on GPS, as witnessed by all the reports of "New update lost all my GPS function" that I am sure everyone who is into this must have seen. For me, ( and this seems to vary widely from user to user - .14 has been the absolute pinnacle of GPS reception results.

EDIT 2: HOLY CRAP! So I suck a cut piece of coat hanger on, just as close to the OPs decribed cable, and check out the numbers... I can usually SEE a 4-6 inside, and as I have said, had as many as 13 locks outside (Typical pehaps 8-9) but never had accuracy better than 45 feet, and only briefly. Typical accuracy is 96 feet, in other words, ****ty. I just got 18 feet outside ( and in about 30 seconds of wait) and 24 feet INSIDE!!! I have never seen anything close to these numbers... Just need an attractive way to mount the wire (No beer can, no plate at all, JUST a piece of coathanger perhaps 5-6 " long, very quickly put together. BEST of all, results were consistent, not dropping off every half minute or so...

THIS has potential - until Asus gives us all the Plastic Trimmed Transformer Pad Ininity back, that is, LOL!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
I just did a quick check.

The foil does make a big difference.

11 sats on my balcony (always bad reception there) with the foil

0 without the foil

The guitar string was a good find.

I was already looking for a more springy sort of material than my steel cable.

Went out this weekend and bought myself some different diameters.

Working now with 0.03 inch

Also good out of the box thinking is working the other way.

Could have been my own idea (should have been, stupid stupid stupid :-)

Working on it now.

Already found a nice way to avoid the tape.

Now I need to minimize the foil.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Blairware:
hmmmmm

Interesting. And strange that it relies on the foil to work for you. My solid piece of (what IS a wire clothes hanger made out of? It looks like anodized steel of some sort? It has a darkish, brassy tone, but it sure isn't brass, may have some type of coating or treatment to prevent rust, they rarely rust indoors, and seem to take a while ouside. I am guessing it is an "Antenna properties booster" since coat hangers ARE the]original "make your own antenna" device! LOL!

Seriously? I think the foil / beer can strip may contribute in some way, at least for some, but my initial results were so astounding (and repeatable) that I had no need to fashion one yet.

I still maintain that there must be SOME hardware differences on Primes. Not because of these tests, as conditions are impossible to duplicate from one persons results to another. I am referring to how different firmware effects different Primes. ESPECIALLY in the case of GPS where an update will fix (or greatly improve, I should say) one persons GPS, and completely bork another. It's difficult to say.

The first guy that figures out a simple "Clip On" GPS antenna will be in a good place to share or sell them to an audience of perhaps 10-20% of Prime owners that actually want the device to utilise all of it's capabilities - even if an "assist device" is required. How many cases were sold in the months right after AntennaGate took place?

For anyone at a loss to find a suitable piece of cable or wire, get a wire coat hanger - clip off a 4"-4.5" piece, and just tape it on with plain old scotch tape, or whatever you have. Simulate the OP's placement, slap a bit o' tape on there & fire it up! I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the results. I sure was.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] dingdonggggg:
I think it probably is a combination of the two.

When I place the end of a long wire on the hotspot I also get a good GPS.

But I am trying to reduce the footprint and minimize all with the best signal. I do want to maintain a portable device without big things attached to it.

A big antenna probably overpowers the wifi influence.

But with a small antenna you have to shield the wifi to reduce its influence.

At least thats what I think.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] k33py:
Will post some pics after my supper. I Got a good run on sygic today with just the allen key. The beer can I tried yesterday with worst results. I drive about 150 - 200 miles a day.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
Still haven't tried the guitar string alone, but with Foil Tape > Electrical Tape > Guitar String > Electrical Tape I still see worse signal than plain Prime.

I wonder if the string I used isn't just too thin or something, it was off the G string of one of my brother's guitars, not too sure of the actual size.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] k33py:
I tried using a thin safety pin with both ends cut off but it didn't help at all. So I went back to my Allen key lol.