[Hardware Mod] Increse signal strength

• Thread starternX3NTY
• Start dateAug 9, 2014

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  nX3NTY

  I noticed my signal strength is very poor from day 1, but it is generally on my workplace the signal quality is piss poor so I opened up the phone. For those who want to open it head toiFixit Nexus 5 teardown to open the back cover. It's simple really, if you have a guitar pick you can start opening from 3.5mm jack.
  
  DISCLAIMER: I HELD NO RESPONSIBILITY OF DAMAGED IMPOSED FROM THIS MOD. SOME PEOPLE GET WORSE RESULT THAN WHAT I GET AND POTENTIAL TOTAL SIGNAL LOST.
  IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HARDWARE IN GENERAL I STRONGLY ADVISED TO STAY AWAY FROM DOING THIS MOD.
  
  
  Explanation of risks
  
  
  

  kuroguy said:

  Amateur radio operator/builder here. you can get away with using a random wire lenght for a receive only antenna. doing that with an antenna used for transmitting is a bad idea. if the antenna isn't designed to accept the frequency you are trying to transmit on, the signal will be reflected back from the antenna towards the finals (the transistors used to transmit the signal) and the RF energy is absorbed by them. this usually burns out the finals and I suspect that is what has happened to the cellular transmitters for those of you with no cellular connectivity after making this mod. Don't mess with the antenna, the one that comes with the phone is designed to minimize the standing wave ratio and ensure that the RF signal is transmitted out of the antenna instead of being reflected back at the finals and destroying them.

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  You gonna need a thin wire like the one you found on DC motor engine winding inside, such as pictured below:
  
  

  

  
  
  Next locate the GSM antenna external port, I highlighted in yellow below (image courtesy of iFixit)
  
  

  

  
  
  Next is very simple just put the wires in the holes and put a simple tape to ensure it won't move around. Put the other end of the wires near batteries or something wherever you fancy
  
  

  

  
  
  So that's it, now at work I always gets full signal strength and my phone is noticeably cooler and batteries is anywhere from 10-25% more from the same usage. You can try it as it's very simple.

  Aug 9, 2014View
  14

  K

  kuroguy

  Amateur radio operator/builder here. you can get away with using a random wire lenght for a receive only antenna. doing that with an antenna used for transmitting is a bad idea. if the antenna isn't designed to accept the frequency you are trying to transmit on, the signal will be reflected back from the antenna towards the finals (the transistors used to transmit the signal) and the RF energy is absorbed by them. this usually burns out the finals and I suspect that is what has happened to the cellular transmitters for those of you with no cellular connectivity after making this mod. Don't mess with the antenna, the one that comes with the phone is designed to minimize the standing wave ratio and ensure that the RF signal is transmitted out of the antenna instead of being reflected back at the finals and destroying them.

  Aug 12, 2014View
  6

  

  Citizen_Snips

  They probably bricked their phone. I'm sure there's a reason they never followed up. I'm still not convinced this modification does anything positive. OP hasn't returned since the first 3 pages or so. The half dozen people in this thread that tried this mod all faced issues such as no GSM network even after factory images flash, poor signal strength, etc. Only one person in the thread besides OP claimed that this worked for them and it was only 1 post. Another member even called him out after the fact and they never responded back.
  
  A few engineers as well as a few other people who build or repair radios, electronics, etc have all come in here saying not to do this mod.
  
  The general consensus from this thread is that the mod is dangerous and should not be attempted at all. Everyone who tried it was left with ill effects. Even OP abandoned this thread long ago. Another member even ended up RMA'ing his device under warranty (illegal fraud, by the way) after attempting it. If your signal is that horrible then contact your carrier about a network extender or booster. If those won't help your situation then look into switching carriers.
  
  The thread really offers nothing productive as it has rendered several users phone worse off than before. Not one single person can confirm this worked for them. One person just said so on a forum. Confirmation doesn't work like that. I have 3 left hands. Until I show you I have 3 left hands, why would you ever believe me? You shouldn't. The exact same way you shouldn't believe anyone in this thread had this work for them without proof. Of which there is absolutely NONE.
  
  I'll report the thread again as it offers nothing productive or positive to the community and since discussion of RMA'ing the device under the limited warranty. This is insurance fraud which is illegal and XDA should not support that. I see no reason why this thread is still open or being bumped. For what it's worth, check out the threads one star rating (terrible).
  
  If moderators still do not want to lock this thread, let's just let it die already. Don't do this mod, period. Thread reported.

  Jan 3, 2015View
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  kevev

  As an Electronics Engineer I recommend using insolated wire only. Also do not let the wires touch. They should probably run as far apart as possible. You are defeating the purpose of the antenna by letting them touch. Maybe one short running vertical as shown in pic. And one short running horizontally. The wires should match the wave lengths of the transmission frequency or else you will receive too much interference. It would be good if someone could give us a correct calculated lengths.
  
  Disclaimer: I have not performed this mod.
  
  Sent from my Nexus 5

  Aug 11, 2014View
  5

  

  Citizen_Snips

  magicriggs said:

  So what's the consensus on this, I've been eyeing the thread and if it works I need to do it cause at my house I get weak signal even though I know for a fact others are getting full bar.

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  Click to collapse

  
  Be very cautious. Everyone besides OP who tried is having issues with poor signal after trying this mod. I'm not willing to do this myself, because like I said on page 1... There was a similar mod for GNex except once the external antenna was used, the internal antenna was rendered completely useless. You couldn't go back from it. I asked if he got signal if he removed the wire and he said yes, but we can't be sure about that. He hasn't been back to the thread since. Maybe he just assumed it would work? Who knows though.
  
  I still have 2 Galaxy Nexuses. I tried the mod on one roughly 2 years ago and it can't get a signal anymore no matter what I try. Even with external plugged in.
  
  Try the mod at your own discretion. Just know you can put your phone in airplane mode, permanently. If your signal is that bad everywhere you go, give it a try if you're feeling risky. Otherwise I really wouldn't advise it.
  
  Also, this voids your warranty, completely. Unlocking your bootloader is fine on a nexus. Hell you can even send it for repairs with a custom ROM. Those 'mods' will not void your warranty, but this hardware mod will. If you need to RMA the device after attempting this (maybe because of this..), you're out of luck.

  Aug 11, 2014View