[Q] Vibrant internal cellular antenna swap - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello all, i have a Vibrant. but unfortunately in my area at&t only operates their 3g on the 850band, which the vibrant doesn't support. so ive been stuck on Edge for months now, and getting sick of it.
I was wondering if the internal cellular antenna could be swapped with lets say a samsung captivate. so that it could operate on my local 3g band? (without any horrible software issues).
thanks for replies.

I don't know if this is actually possible, but I wish it was. That way, I would my antenna with the one in the Galaxy S 4G. I guess you'd have to find someone with that type of experience.

As of now im guessing it isn't, been searching everywhere on the net and i dont think its even been attempted on any android phones, I have learned that the cellular antenna housing is in the hump on the bottom of the phone. may disassemble it and take a look.
EDIT::: this is completely possible, however, i cannot find a supplier or place to buy a compatible chip that works on all bands....
ANYONE lemme know where i can. please and thankyou

Related

Anyway to get 3G? AT&T on T-Mobile HD2

Currently got a T-Mobile HD2 and unlocked it, obviously I only got edge. Is there anything I can do (radios/roms etc.) to get 3G working on this phone? If I would have known this before hand I would have never put myself in this situation
Kept reading into it, guess not. Fail.
Sorry but yeah there is no way short of replacing the antenna to get 3g on the T-mobile version. Piece of advice before you ever get another unlocked device is do your homework on it. Ill close this now that you found your answer

[Q] I have looked and looked

I can't find any information on flashing samsung vibrant to cricket. I don't care about a full flash, voice and text is fine for my purposes. I don't care about data or android market or any of that.
I have seriously been NON STOP looking for last 2 days with no luck. I checked the cricket forums and I searched the forums here without any luck. I am an amateur I am not going to lie.
But I have a very good general background in technology and, I have already rooted the phone. I was trying to follow a guide I found but honestly I am not 100% sure that even does what I want it to. QPST samsung vibrant but when I do it I cannot simultaneously connect both the phone and run the software. If software is running first my computer won't recognize the phone as a modem and if the phone is connected first the software freezes and I can't even close it with task manager, I have to reboot comp.
Any help at all would be appreciated. I don't even know if this is the right forum for this question and I am sorry if I put it in the wrong place but this is vexing me.
Does cricket even use sim cards? If they are not a GSM carrier, it would make it impossible to use the vibrant on their network/service
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Cricket is cdma (sprint, Verizon, us cellular type radio, meaning no sim card) and the vibrant is gsm (meaning it uses a sim card).
The vibrant cannot and will not work with cricket.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Well question solved. Definately not the answer I wanted but that can't be helped.
Are there any nationwide carriers that use GSM available similar in price to cricket? I will be looking into this right after posting this question but I figure I might as well see if anyone knows any decent ones they can recommend. Basically, looking for cheapest possible with nationwide coverage.
I just need talk and text. Preferably no activation fee and no cost for sim but I know I am being overly optimistic with that lol. I also know that this forum isn't the place for that so any help is appreciated but I understand if no one has an idea.
PhiTwi said:
Are there any nationwide carriers that use GSM available similar in price to cricket? I will be looking into this right after posting this question but I figure I might as well see if anyone knows any decent ones they can recommend. Basically, looking for cheapest possible with nationwide coverage.
I just need talk and text. Preferably no activation fee and no cost for sim but I know I am being overly optimistic with that lol. I also know that this forum isn't the place for that so any help is appreciated but I understand if no one has an idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is the one that wal-mart sells that you could look into

[Q] Antenna Adapter for International Galaxy S II?

I have T-Mobile and I want to buy the International Samsung Galaxy S II. I understand that the International version does not support T-Mobile's 3g frequency band, and I would be limited to 2g speeds. However, I was wondering if it would be possible to buy an external antenna to be able to use 3g speeds. Or even better, is it possible to replace the internal antenna?
No and No.
DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU WANT TO KILL YOUR GS2.
Sorry for the bold, but despite there being no rhyme or reason for it, I came across a thread which illustrated this fact from multiple people who tried external antennas, and here's what happened. The antenna worked, they thought all was good, then they disconnected the antenna, no signal. EVER again. I guess what happens is when you plug in an external antenna it pushes some contacts apart which breaks contact with the internal antenna permanently (supposedly a few that were very handy with a VERY tiny needle were able to fix it). Don't ask me why Samsung would design it this way while leaving the plugs exposed but that's what I read. Just wanted to make sure you didn't find out the hard way
In other words, the jack is there, and you can find adapters for those jack(s), but you really don't want to, unless you want to ONLY use external antennas for the rest of time (not most people).
EDIT: Whoops, forgot to add the most important part. Antenna has NOTHING to do with the fact that the radio doesn't support t-mo's frequencies. It's like having an antenna designed for HDTVs, and hoping to get hdtv on your standard def tv. Antennas don't "translate", they're all just fancy coathangers.
mwknowles92 said:
I have T-Mobile and I want to buy the International Samsung Galaxy S II. I understand that the International version does not support T-Mobile's 3g frequency band, and I would be limited to 2g speeds. However, I was wondering if it would be possible to buy an external antenna to be able to use 3g speeds. Or even better, is it possible to replace the internal antenna?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"antenna has nothing to do with GSM OR CDMA bands." its the radio chip that does the work.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
Understood, thanks for your help guys. Is there a way to mark this as [Solved] or something?
mwknowles92 said:
Understood, thanks for your help guys. Is there a way to mark this as [Solved] or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Edit your first post to an eye-popping "SOLVED"

[Q] HDC Galaxy SIV 3G?

I've been thinking about getting one of these phones since my previous phone died and I'm looking for a cheap replacement.
This is one of the versions I've found online for it http://android-sale.com/hdc-galaxy-s4.html
One of the main questions I have is whether this phone will work on T-Mobile (USA) 3G or not.
It seems like a cheap and fairly decent (hardware-wise) phone, but it won't do me much good if I'm working off of EDGE.
If anyone would be able to help me figure it out or find another phone that would work with at least 3G, I'd be very thankful!
Thanks!

Help with radio/modem flash for weak signal - Elephone P3000S

Hi All,
I'm new here. Hoping someone can give me some advice/direction on my issue.
Just received two Elephone P3000S phones (one for me, one for gift). I'm in Canada on Koodo network, but don't get 4G because we are pretty rural (west of Ottawa), so we are using WCDMA/HSPA+ 850/1900 MHz.
The P3000S supports the following:
GSM:850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA:850/900/1900/2100(HSDPA), FDD-LTE:800/1800/2100/2600
At home, on our old phones (Samsung Galaxy SIIX), we would get cell signals of -93 dBm or better (not great, but usable). With the P3000S phones in the same location (both of them), the signal is -110 dBm or worse (not usable - not able to make calls or send texts). There are no protective cases on the phones to interfere with signal.
I've tried the the following:
- choosing 3G only and WCDMA only networks and editng APN settings specifically for Koodo
- changing/adding build.prop entries for ro.ril
- posting in Elephone forums - no help
- contacting Elephone - no response
The P3000S is new - just came available mid-December. Elephone has issued one update since then. It did not help my signal problem.
I know this could be a hardware/antenna issue, but since the phone is new, opening it up to tweak/boost the antenna is not really an option - a last resort if I can't sell the phones to someone who is located where they will work.
So, my next step (I think), is to try flashing a new modem, but I have no idea where to start with that to find one that might be compatible with Koodo and the P3000S. I'm willing to try several, but it's very new to me.
Relevant info:
Octacore MTK6592 + MTK6290
Android version: 4.4.2
Baseband: MOLY.LR9.W1423.MD.LWTG.MP.V3.P3
I'd really appreciate any advice.
Thanks in advance.
Anyone have any ideas where I might start?
heath3000 said:
Hi All,
I'm new here. Hoping someone can give me some advice/direction on my issue.
Just received two Elephone P3000S phones (one for me, one for gift). I'm in Canada on Koodo network, but don't get 4G because we are pretty rural (west of Ottawa), so we are using WCDMA/HSPA+ 850/1900 MHz.
The P3000S supports the following:
GSM:850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA:850/900/1900/2100(HSDPA), FDD-LTE:800/1800/2100/2600
At home, on our old phones (Samsung Galaxy SIIX), we would get cell signals of -93 dBm or better (not great, but usable). With the P3000S phones in the same location (both of them), the signal is -110 dBm or worse (not usable - not able to make calls or send texts). There are no protective cases on the phones to interfere with signal.
I've tried the the following:
- choosing 3G only and WCDMA only networks and editng APN settings specifically for Koodo
- changing/adding build.prop entries for ro.ril
- posting in Elephone forums - no help
- contacting Elephone - no response
The P3000S is new - just came available mid-December. Elephone has issued one update since then. It did not help my signal problem.
I know this could be a hardware/antenna issue, but since the phone is new, opening it up to tweak/boost the antenna is not really an option - a last resort if I can't sell the phones to someone who is located where they will work.
So, my next step (I think), is to try flashing a new modem, but I have no idea where to start with that to find one that might be compatible with Koodo and the P3000S. I'm willing to try several, but it's very new to me.
Relevant info:
Octacore MTK6592 + MTK6290
Android version: 4.4.2
Baseband: MOLY.LR9.W1423.MD.LWTG.MP.V3.P3
I'd really appreciate any advice.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, i bought same phone and seems signal is ok. But i am probably not so far from BTS.
It seems your phones has worse antena then phone before, you can not solve this by software (ril mod, baseband etc.). You have to try to solve it by hardware mod, probably extend antena to get higher gain. Under and around NFC antena on back cover is enought space tu use copper foil strips, you can try make unclosed frame with connection on main antena.
Hi MioCZ,
Thanks for your thoughts. So you don't think a different region (i.e. North America) baseband/modem would help at all? The hardware tweak is my last resort - I'm not particularly fond of opening up a new device. And I don't exactly know what to look for as far as NFC antenna or main antenna. Any idea where these are located on this phone?
Again - thanks for your insight.
EDIT: Oh, I see you reference the antenna on the back cover as the NFC antenna. I can try to work with something there without opening up the phone? Or do I need to make a mod to connect the new copper to the main antenna from there? So I guess I need to know where the main antenna is. Is the 4G/LTE antenna the same one used for 3G/WCDMA/UMTS/HSPA? I'm not sure if there are separate ones. If so, the 4G/LTE antenna location is pretty clearly marked.
EDIT AGAIN: I answered my own question by reading up on cell phone antennas. Gotta love Google. So, I'm going to try to rig something up to the main antenna, which I assume is under the section marked "LTE 4G" in the upper right hand corner (when looking at the back of the phone). I'll post my results when I finish.
Engineering mode
You can call *#*#3646633#*# to enter to Engineering mode. It should have antenna test somewhere in menus.
Hi
heath3000 said:
Anyone have any ideas where I might start?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, have you solved the issues on your phone?
I believe this is the same problem that I am facing with coloros. In fact he does not write the correct base band and when he writes, does not connect to the network 3G / 4G or make calls. is a mistake that just found this unit ... which makes the port of ROMs for this device and portability including future versions of android. It is not compatible with any other MTK6592 I know.
lena cui said:
Hi, have you solved the issues on your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, nothing I have tried helped.

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