yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Antenna fix anyone?

I remember back in the days of Nokia N97, someone came up with an antenna fix by attaching a piece of copper wire (like an extension to the original GPS antenna) and it worked wonders: http://www.symbian-freak.com/tunning/n97gpsfix/nokia_n97_gps_antenna_hack.htm

I also found on xda, someone who tried to do the same with his HTC: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1318892 yielding great results.

Bluetooth GPS is a great alternative but that defeats the purpose of having a GPS enabled phone, plus having to charge both devices is kinda cumbersome. I learnt that with an old phone that I owned (SE Satio), that having to bring an additional GPS dongle and making sure that it's charged all the time is no fun, it can fail you when you need it most.

I'm opening up my phone to see if there's anyway I can introduce a copper wire... but I'm no Electrical Engineer so do not expect me to find anything meaningful :confused: Someone who's more trained in this aspect should have a look for us!
[Android General] Pimpon60:
On the telephone Android One X MTK6577, they replaced the hull for the reception of the GPS.

Maybe the same problem on B92M...
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
I think it's unlikely as b92m's hull is made of thin plastic which doesn't interfere with GPS signal. Anyway, there could also be a problem with the wifi/bluetooth antenna as I realize that the WIFI signal is also relatively weaker than other phones.

Is there a way in android to tune up the power of the integrated chip???
[Android General] gerstavros:
take a good focused high resolution photo of the inside of the phone and i may help
[Android General] danycmoi:
Here is a detailed left high photo B92.

http://pro.photomania.com/photoview3.asp?login=x_x24112012_5OC50&photo=radFAE40.jpg&album=1

Dany
[Android General] gerstavros:
In this area i can't distinguish any antenna. Can't you check in the other side, or in the bottom?
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Thanks for helping. I tried to open it but the screws were too tight. I'll try again after buying another set of higher quality screwdrivers.
[Android General] Pimpon60:
This photo can help you?

http://images3.photomania.com/3577088/1/rad2E994.jpg
[Android General] michaelga67:
hi just received my phone 2day and i was going to try the superoneclick method to root were can i download drivers for this phone for install on my pc
[Android General] gerstavros:
excellent photo. obviously the black cable at the left side

drivers here

root with Root_with_Restore_by_Bin4ry_v17
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Is that the GPS or wifi antenna?
[Android General] gerstavros:
GPS of course, it has not cable for wifi antenna, like almost any phone
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
I remember some phones have both gps and wifi/bluetooth antenna. I just want to be sure, as I want to keep the wifi function and avoid damaging it.

Just bought a new screwdriver set and will be modding it tml. Stay tuned.
[Android General] brpicture:
before possibly wrecking anything...

Just be aware, that tbe antenna cable is connected to a gps jack on the plastic shell (hole on the inner plastic casing near the top left edge of the battery), which means you can connect an antenna if you have one with the proper jack. ??possibly MMCX ?? Since I am also interestested in this mod, I will try it tomorrow(today actually...:) to find a proper antenna and suitable connector.
[Android General] danycmoi:
This connector also exists on Samsung S2

http://www.galaxys2.fr/forum/connecteur-antenne-a-l-arriere-du-s2-t3354.html

To follow...

Danycmoi
[Android General] gerstavros:
the only phone with cable for wifi i ve seen is iphone

most (and all the cheap) phones don't have cable for wifi, only for GPS which is a must

you can find such cable on electronics shops usually, although u can solder it if broken.

For simple modding just solder an extra cable at the end of the existing cable, with care to fit into the phone
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
High Res Pictures

Ok guys, as promised here are some high-res pictures of the phone's innards for your enjoyment:

1. Showing the bottom part of the phone with the antenna still attached

2. Still showing the bottom part of the phone but with the board flipped over, revealing the home button and details of the board

3. Showing the top left corner of the battery where the other end of the antenna is attached to

4. Showing the upper part of the phone, where's the GPS chip?

5. Note the three copper plates circled in yellow, which are connected by their respective gold connectors on the phone. Are these also antennas for WIFI/BT/GSM?

Flickr mirror for the above images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/90837916@N07/sets/72157632182274959

So can we be absolutely sure that the wire is really the GPS antenna? Does extending it help the GPS signal? Thanks for helping!
[Android General] gerstavros:
maybe on the other side of the board, together with the main chipset

These are the connectors for GSM and WiFi antennas that are tapes on the plastic

Surely the cable is for the GPS. By extending it you ll have better signal whatever it is
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Thanks, must be the image hosting I used. Try refreshing it a few times and it should load.
[Android General] gerstavros:
check above, i answered:good:
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Thanks for your reply :good:

I have a few other noob questions if you don't mind:

1. Why does the GPS antenna need to be connected at both ends?

2. If the top part of the phone is where the GPS chip reside, what's at the bottom part of the phone?

3. If I'm going to solder a piece of extra wire to one of both ends, which end would be better? Or both ends must be soldered like the current antenna?
[Android General] gerstavros:
1. I m not sure, i think the one side is the ground

2. The top board of the phone has everything as i saw on pictures, and it's double sided of course. on the bottom board i see microphone, vibrator, home button etc

3. no, cut the cable at the middle, and solder a cable between two edges. make as better soldering as you can, so that cable doesn't have loss
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
3. no, cut the cable at the middle, and solder a cable between two edges. make as better soldering as you can, so that cable doesn't have loss

Great tip! :good::good::good:

I'll try it and let you know if it makes any differences.

---------- Post added at 03:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 AM ----------

Btw, will normal copper wire do the trick? Will it be better if it's thicker wire?
[Android General] gerstavros:
i m sure the existing cable is one thick wire. this is better, if you find one
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Must the wire be insulated? Can we strip the insulation of the wire to improve signal strength?
[Android General] gerstavros:
if you let it with no insulation, it may contact somewhere in the board.
[Android General] michaelga67:
when i double click the rows and click download it says all images are not properly loaded do i wish to download anyway this may cause failure to boot what should i do
[Android General] android_xcuj28:
same was here... i just contiued.. and it works perfectly ^^
[Android General] mortos83:
I've done both the root and the cmw from win, now I would like to know how I could do the same operations on linux? drivers for download? guides? someone knows how to help
[Android General] chalimoja:
files

can anyone do me a huge favour and upload for me the following files from the original B92M ROM:

framework-res.apk

framework.jar

(found in /system/framework folder)

SystemUI.apk

Stk1.apk

Stk2.apk

(found in /system/app folder)
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Ok, accuracy went up to 17m at best and fluctuates between 22-40m under a clear sky. Still not good enough for navigation but quite alot better than original. I used an iron alloy wire instead of copper, could that be an issue? I also used a thick wire that causes the cover to bulge, should I use a thinner wire and coil it around for max length?
[Android General] Börsenkiller:
How to modify the gps antenna

found this instruction to modify the gps antenna:

http:\\

forum.frandroid.com/topic/121901-b92m-47-hd-mt6577-dual-core-1ghz-1go-de-ram-et-12mpx-pour-190e/page__st__720
[Android General] gerstavros:
copper is better of course..I don't have now the device to see, but you could find a way to fit that coiled arround
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Ok, I'll try tomorrow with a copper wire and see if that makes a difference. Whatever it is, I'm liking my phone more now!
[Android General] llinde:
Here they tell the wire is not the GPS antenna, but the GSM antenna and the GPS antenna should be on the top.

Is there anybody really sure what is GPS antenna?

Luit
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Yes, that's correct :o

It makes sense too since there's no reason for the GPS to be so weak with a wire already that long. The small copper patch at the top is really the GPs antenna and that explains why the signal is so weak.
[Android General] llinde:
But that means you actually cut your GSM antenna in 2 pieces and put an extra piece in it.....

Luit
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
No I didn't, I followed the instructions on frandroid. Dany can confirm if it works... as of now they're still trying
[Android General] Börsenkiller:
GPS

Maybe the contact is not accurate.
[Android General] CYberdog11:
Guys, the cable is

never

the GPS antenna. The cable is shielded high frequency connection cable, which is use for connecting the GSM antenna signal between two PCBs. Sometimes it is used for th WLAN antenna signals, but mostly for the GSM.
[Android General] Ogliz:
I followed the instructions on frandroid as well and the gps reception improved significantly. Before it was almost impossible to get a fix, now it just takes 10s or so. The SNR is now for some satellites from 30-35, before all had around 20 max.

I "isolated" the new from the old antenna with some piece of paper.
[Android General] michaelga67:
thanks as someone said earlier in this thread i wish someone with experience would do an youtube vid for this phone it would mean noobs like me could feel more confident as i have never rooted a phone b4 and some times get lost in all these processes but could follow the video hears hoping :fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
[Android General] gerstavros:
root with

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=34415002
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Cool... what's your accuracy like?

I notice that you have taped the wire at the top part of the phone, does that prevent your cover from closing completely? Does it bulge out a little?
[Android General] Ogliz:
At first it was not closing completely, but after some fiddling it is closing perfectly.

For accuracy: see the picture. This was during testing with the "antenna" sticking out at the top. It got a bit worse after bending it down, but I also just tested at the window. So I expect it'll be ok outside. My old LG optimus one has still always ~10db more for each satelite. :)
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
10m! That's amazing!

I can't see that clearly on your picture, is that two thick wires or just several thin ones combined into a bundle?
[Android General] Ogliz:
I used 3 single wires out of a bigger stranded wire from some old power cord. At first I used more, but that did not fit well under the casing.
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Nice!
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Btw I just noticed you mentioned that you isolated the new from the old antenna, what old antenna were you referring to? As far as I know, there's only a small copper plate on the back of the phone as the GPS antenna <-- is this what you were referring to as old antenna?
[Android General] michaelga67:
hi i did driver test in appropriate tab and it said no drivers installed it asks if it would like me too install drivers and when i click of it says no signature present in the subject why is this were do i get these drivers and do i install them on my pc or on my phone
[Android General] Ogliz:
I mean the antenna that is integrated into the plastic cover and connected to the upper contact on the PCB with the small plate. But I think you are referring to the same one.
[Android General] danycmoi:
Ogliz

Hello,

About which small copper plate in the lid speak you, I have no this small copper plate in the lid of my b92.

Can put yourselves a photo.

Thank you

Excuse I for my English

Danycmoi
[Android General] Ogliz:
So I uploaded two pictures.

The upper connector of the PCB connects to the small plate on the (inner) plastic cover. I just used some small piece of paper over the metal plate on the cover to isolate it from the new wire antenna.

One remark: It seems like the lower connecter on the PCB is connected to ground. It maybe was prepared for an antenna with ground plane. Make sure that the two terminals on the PCB are not connected or most likely the GPS will not work at all.
[Android General] micky1067:
Hello together,

nice forum... Sorry for my bad english.

I have a Star b92m since one week. Root and CWM and so I have done.

Only GPS will be nice to solve. ;) I have now soldered the cable to the upper pin in the phone.

Do I need a gps fix ? Or is it enough to change to a other firmware ? I like to flash a new one, but I dont know

which one is the right one. I dont know which memory i have in my phone. 512 MB or 1 GB .. how can i find it ?

greetings

micky
[Android General] Ogliz:
I added a gps.conf with the correct ntp-servers for my country and stuff, but I don't know if it really is needed or not to get a faster fix.

For the memory: There are several apps that report the memory size. I think you should already have the Task Manager installed. That should show you the installed memory on the top.
[Android General] micky1067:
Hi, yes the task manager is installed. The task manger show me total memory 0,95 GB. So is it the 1 GB Version ?

Then I will be very very happy... hehehehe....

And what kind of rom will be good to install ? This one ? DRX B92M Beta 2 ICS 4.04 Basada en DRX 1.7

Can I fix the gps by the engineering mode ?

greetings.
[Android General] Ogliz:
I have the 512MB Version and it shows me 462MB there. So you have the 1GB Version.

For the rest I don't know. :)
[Android General] micky1067:
Thanks for your great help.... So was luck to have the 1GB Version.

micky1067
[Android General] gerstavros:
Does anyone knows if Hapai i9377 (it's like B92m but with 854*480 screen and 8MP camera) has the same problem on GPS?
[Android General] michaelga67:
ok i think i am ready to try this now just a final question or too what is this last stage can some one shine a little more light on it for me [ Done flashing, hit volume up + power to start up CWM and make a backup

1 what is this and is it important do u have to do it while the phone is still connected to your pc or do u remove usb cable first 2 how do i make the back up 3 if i dont what happens will my phone not boot or be rooted sorry for all the questions as this is all new to me i never rooted a phoner b4 and i only looked into this possibility a few days a go and finally will my phone be rooted after this or did i see u have to add something called a su script to your sd card :confused::confused:
[Android General] danycmoi:
B92M 512mo Briké

hello

After Flash CWM-ROOT-B92M with SP_Flash_Tool_v3.1222.00, my B92M 512 Mb, does not start any more.

Impossible to light(to switch on) him(it), screen remains black, totally briké.

I tried system and Roma-backup but that changes nothing

You complete Roma have, make with MTKdroidTools

Thank you

Danycmoi
[Android General] bvb09kingz:
Hi,

I have followed this guide but I didn't get root access.

I also wiped data and did the factory reset but there is no superuser...

What do I have to do now?

And I have another question: What do I need to do to go to the Internet by connecting to my Laptop (in it's function as a Wifi-hotspot) and using his wired-internet-connection? I only got it by Ad-Hoc but it seems that this doesn't work anyway...

Thx,

bvb09kingz
[Android General] gerstavros:
just root using http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1886460
[Android General] piccolo08:
This won't help us to improve performaces of GPS. Iv tried myself this option .The faster fix don't help us to a better navigation. I made test on the road using iGO/Google navigator , it's like a continuous jump on the streets. It's not a continuous navigations. Whitout EPO and A-GPS it's ghard to navigate...fixing above 2 minutes.

Accuracy above 20 meters.
[Android General] llinde:
Did you make this test with a modified antenna?

Luit
[Android General] bvb09kingz:
It says "Xperia phones = Normal mode

Sony Tablet and similar = Special mode" so I should use special mode or normal mode?

Thx!
[Android General] gerstavros:
it fixes fast but then lose the fix?

normal mode
[Android General] bvb09kingz:
I did it but it showed me the message that the system couldn't find some paths - after this it told me that the process was successful and my phone should reboot in 10 seconds - but nothing happened...Than I rebooted my phone on my on and there is no superuser on it and it isn't starting superuser's update when I open the Play Store...
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
That's not possible. Most likely you didn't do it correctly or the soldering wasn't good. Also, check that you have used the right material. I notice that the wire length plays a great part in accuracy, but not sure how long it should be. Accuracy for me improved to 16m on clear sky.

---------- Post added at 11:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:16 PM ----------

Nice one! Does the end of the wire need to be connected to any ground? Also, how long is your wire?

Mine is at least 30cm amd i'm not sure if its affecting my accuracy ~20m
[Android General] Börsenkiller:
@Ogliz

Why you isolated the new from the old? Is the SNR better only with the new one?
[Android General] deanstead2k10:
hi what is best app to test gps thanks in advance
[Android General] gerstavros:
dial *#*#3646633#*#* and select the YGPS
[Android General] Ogliz:
Yes, unfortunately you seem to be right. I have quite good accuracies, around 20m and a quite fast fix, but navigation is somehow not very good and the position is jumping as soon as I start moving. Looks like the GPS chip is just not good on this phone and paired with a bad antenna.

Today I also tried a bit more with different shapes of antennas. With a ~10cm wire sticking out I can even get some SNR of ~45. But its impossible for me to fit in the phone. As soon as I bend and shorten it I can get max. 35. Anyway it will most likely not help with the navigation.

Also I have the impression, that the fix is faster and more stable with the GPS Test App than with all other Apps!?

I
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
Did you flash your phone with the CWM rom or spanish rom? Sounds exactly like mine. Unfortunately, 20m isn't enough for navigation. We need at least 15m (min) or it will jump about. Also, it varies with the nav app you're using (some have larger tolerance and some less); and I'm using Sygic which performs poorly in this area.
[Android General] michaelga67:
can some who has successfully used this confirm that this roots this phone the star b92 as it looks the easiest method from what i can see in the utube video :confused::confused:
[Android General] naetarf:
Procedure to successful use google maps navigation

I am able without any wire to get quit good results with Google Maps GPS: I am using the Spanish Rom 2.beta. I installed Mobileuncle to easy start YGPS.

1.Step I start the google navigation and enter the destination. (--> GPS is searched)

2.Step: I start YGPS and enter full, cold and AGPS restart - after 20 to 30 seconds I get a fix mostly with 7 to 8 satellites.

3.Step I switch to the running google navigation and in most cases the navigation starts instantaneously and works at least in the City quite good (the accuracy as shown by google navigation is between 30 down to 10 meters).

If I only start the google navigation I have to wait quite long to get a fix and have also a lot of jumping and loosing the GPS signal. This seems to me to show that there is also a software problem if YGPS gets so many satellites so fast (even if the strength is below 40).

What do you think?
[Android General] gerstavros:
I 've rooted mine using it
[Android General] u669983:
Yes I have used it as well. it does soft rooting only though but that is good enough.

I have had issues issues using the MTK flash tool with my win7 64 pc in the past . So I want to avoid bricking this excellent phone.
[Android General] llinde:
I have the same feeling when using iGO, somehow YGPS changes anything temporary.

Is there already anybody who figured out what is the easiest and best solution for an antenna mod?

Luit
[Android General] piccolo08:
I make fix using YGPS +EPO+AGPS based on my actual position. Maximum 12 satelites used maximum10, normaly rewach 8-9 sat and use 5-6. Livel of signal...over 20 minimum-to 32-33.
[Android General] jpcmmobile:
I thought the Spanish rom is supposed to solve the AGPS problem? That's exactly what I get on the original rom. YGPS seems to make use of AGPS to get a quick fix but not other apps. YGPS gets a fix using AGPS and caches the data for other apps. That explains the slower fixing time on Google Nav if you don't run YGPS first.

I'm still trying wires of different length and arrangements.

Same as mine. It still jumps about at such accuracy level on Sygic but on Google Nav it's fine.
[Android General] danycmoi:
Tutoriel antenna

Hello

Here is a tutoriel to make one GPS antenna on B92.

Chinese site, but many photos

http://translate.google.fr/translat...m/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=401965&act=url

More a link XDA for the GPS regulations :

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=35289109&postcount=244

Dany
[Android General] michaelga67:
used this method last night and it did indeed work very simple and very fast to do even for a noob like me now my phone has root :victory::victory:thanks to all for there help:good::good: just one more thing perhaps someone can help me with i installed appex launcher to my phone which is very cool and when i got everything looking the way i wanted i lost it again after reboot is there a setting or a way to make appex your default /prefared launcher so i dont loos my settings every time i switch on/off my phone again any help would be great
[Android General] androidia:
I have 2 problems guys and I will appreciate your help. I received my phone from China yesterday and I must say am impressed indeed. Got the 1gb ram version, am having issues rooting the phone, I have flashed permanent root and cmw on the first page and l can enter recovery menu with no issues but the phone is not rooted? Any help is appreciated and secondly gps not locking.
[Android General] gerstavros:
when pressing home button, you see a window for selecting launcher. tick the box down, for making your selection default
[Android General] llinde:
just look here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=33987819&postcount=74

Luit
[Android General] michaelga67:
ok thanks did this still dident work phone starts with phone default launcher then i tried apex settings /advanced settings/set default launcher and selected apex and checked the box when i back out the set default launcher says apex default but again when i restart my phone and check again the settings it says under set default launcher NOT SET SO WHY DOSE IT NOT STICK
[Android General] gerstavros:
very odd:confused: just don't reboot:p
[Android General] michaelga67:
I mean switch on and of my phone not the reboot option sorry if I was not clear
[Android General] gerstavros:
yes it's exactly the same thing. there is no reason to switch off every day a smartphone
[Android General] androidia:
I am wondering if something is wrong with my phone when I put the phone on charger this is no LED light and when I receive messages the phone LED light doesn't light up. There are 2 small light in front of the phone but they didn't do anything. I am wondering if someone can confirm if they have this issue as well? Or is the way the phone is designed?
[Android General] ahmadcentral:
There is no notification or LED light on the phone.

I know i was annoyed as well.