Antenna out?

[Tymanthius]

In another thread:

Did you know the droid has an external antenna jack? That's VERY exciting, especially on the VZ network!

Where?

 

[Barbara]

In another thread:




Where?

On another forum they say it's inside the battery compartment.

 

[michaelk]

looks to me like inside the battery compatment- top right above the battery- that's either an antenna jack or a windows mobile reset hole- laughing.

 

[CRPercodani]

First of all why is it so "exciting" on VZW's network? Second, having it behind the batt door is a real PITA cuz now your DROID is exposed when you use the external antenna.

 

[michaelk]

First of all why is it so "exciting" on VZW's network? Second, having it behind the batt door is a real PITA cuz now your DROID is exposed when you use the external antenna.

If one cared about an external antenna (not sure in the real world it would have major use for many people)- you could just buy a second battery door for 5 bucks and take out your black and decker drill and create the

 

[colnago]

First of all why is it so "exciting" on VZW's network? Second, having it behind the batt door is a real PITA cuz now your DROID is exposed when you use the external antenna.

Seems like a lot of people are having issues with signal loss and weak signal, especially compared to other smartphones on VZ. This is my first time with VZ and just sitting on my desk, my phone switches from 3G -> 1x, and loses connection all together. I'm in a fairly populated area in the NE, within a 3 mile radius from VZ store, VZ CO, and VZ call center is ~10 miles away. Would I want an external antenna? Only if the extended batter door will make it less obtrusive.

I can move 20ft in my house and download speeds are consistently 1Mb apart. External antenna definately something I would consider, should I keep the phone.

 

[HyperM3]

Seems like a lot of people are having issues with signal loss and weak signal, especially compared to other smartphones on VZ. This is my first time with VZ and just sitting on my desk, my phone switches from 3G -> 1x, and loses connection all together. I'm in a fairly populated area in the NE, within a 3 mile radius from VZ store, VZ CO, and VZ call center is ~10 miles away.

This is my first time on verizon and compared to ATT, my service is terrible. Just like you my signal goes from 1 bar of 3g to 1 bar of 1x to nothing at all then back again. There are several times where I lose internet connection and I have to "retry" throughout a session. Its very annoying. Ive dropped more calls in one week than I did in one year with ATT.

 

[kg6epf]

There are a few situations where this would come in very handy. I was in a meeting yesterday where we went into an office for a presentation where no one had any cell signal. Watched this guy break out an external antenna that looked like a CB radio antennna for a car. He plugged it into his aircard and suddenly has 3 bars of signal.

A great temporary solution for "must have" cell service or tethering.

It may not be for everyone, but that's why I bought the Driod...options!

 

[baddriver]

compared the signal strength to my old LG VX8100, side by side in my house they read identically, -67dbm.

I'm happy with the signal strength in my area.

 

[CRPercodani]

For you 2 guys who are losing signal and switching from 3G to 1x, I would definitely get a replacement DROID. And also I would try a different VZW phone if you have one, or maybe a friend/co-worker's to see if they are having the same issues. I live in Mass and travel from the Greendfield area to Boston and I keep a constant 3G connection across the whole state. Even on some rural routes I get solid 3G, only once have a dropped to 1x and that was on a dirt road that was very very far out. Heck even in the Berkshires I keep a 3G signal.

 

[kg6epf]

For clarification,
My Droid has as good (or better) reception than any phone I've ever had, and I've had a bunch. Not one dropped call on my Droid, and never been anywhere where I had no signal and other people did.

My comment was about being in an structure where no one gets any signal (i.e. basement floor of an office building).

 

[barry99705]

It's not really an external antenna port. They use it at the factory to check the radio for proper function. If it was meant to be used for an antenna, the phone would have a through hole for it. You'll see the same port on most cell phones, though some might not be accessible unless you pull the plastics off.

 

[syntrix]

For clarification,
My Droid has as good (or better) reception than any phone I've ever had, and I've had a bunch. Not one dropped call on my Droid, and never been anywhere where I had no signal and other people did.

My comment was about being in an structure where no one gets any signal (i.e. basement floor of an office building).

This! But if you drive into fringe/rural areas you might have better signal with a booster.

Other phones like current winmo and iphone don't seem to have an external antenna adapter.

Great idea on the second battery cover!

 

[colnago]

For you 2 guys who are losing signal and switching from 3G to 1x, I would definitely get a replacement DROID. And also I would try a different VZW phone if you have one, or maybe a friend/co-worker's to see if they are having the same issues. I live in Mass and travel from the Greendfield area to Boston and I keep a constant 3G connection across the whole state. Even on some rural routes I get solid 3G, only once have a dropped to 1x and that was on a dirt road that was very very far out. Heck even in the Berkshires I keep a 3G signal.

I think its more than 2 guys...there are multiple threads on this issue alone. I'm gonna swap mine tonight or tomorrow. I wanted to wait until the update comes out, just to confirm if its HW/SW/design

Per www.antennasearch.com , here's what my area looks like with a 4mi. radius (Verizon store where I got my DROID well within this radius) :

 

[michaelk]

I think its more than 2 guys...there are multiple threads on this issue alone. I'm gonna swap mine tonight or tomorrow. I wanted to wait until the update comes out, just to confirm if its HW/SW/design...

just another point of reference- I'm getting better service then my 2 recent phones that I can recall- samsung saga - and palm centro. I have a client that is in a fringy area and those other 2 would drop calls in that office. With the droid I'm good to go.

So I'd think there's some oddball thing happening if you get crappy service. bad PRL, bad phone, something like that

 

[colnago]

It's not really an external antenna port. They use it at the factory to check the radio for proper function. If it was meant to be used for an antenna, the phone would have a through hole for it. You'll see the same port on most cell phones, though some might not be accessible unless you pull the plastics off.

FWIW, I was able to claw back a stable 16dBm on my signal with a foot long twist tie stuck in that hole. Download speeds from speedtest.net went from 600k -> 1.2Mb:

http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid/19985-homemade-antenna-breakthrough-3g-1x-switching.html