Magician Radio issue

[bkortleven]

Hi,

I recently had a Magician shipped which seemed fine the first day of use, but at the end of the day, the gsm radio icon showed me a no reception, or 'service unavailable' message...

Now, after upgrading the Rom's (several used) and Radio update to the latest one (1.13 as far as I can see), I don't have any reception or 'service' at all...
The gsm radio always shows the '!' marker...

Anyone any idea where to look?
Loose cable, loose or bad antenna, software/rom issue?

Any ideas are welcome!

This device will be my test-unit for xanadux, but I want to make sure it's functional before testing stuff and debugging things that will never work because of a hardware or firmware issue...

Thanks guys!
Great work, super forum!

[mariner_heart]

this is clearly a hardare malfunction. your device may not be identifying the sim card.

[bkortleven]

thanks for the quick response, but I don't think it's the SIM-slot that is causing me troubles... The SIM card can be read without any problem, and the pin code is asked and aknowledged by the phone. Once in a while I get coverage, but it always looks like 1 bar maximum, while my Trinity is lying next to it, same operator, and all 5bars of coverage notification are there, so it's not that I'm in a dead zone or black spot where there's no cell coverage at all.

I checked the upper back part (after removing the plastic casing top) and checked where the antenna is connected. Once, while holding and pushing onto the metal part that looks like the antenna extension, I got (just for 5 seconds that is) a connection, and signal level of 1-2 bars, but that dropped and stopped after a few seconds already...

I think it's a connection issue of some kind, internal antenna or the connection to it, but I'm not that keen on taking the unit apart to find out it's not that easy to sort the issue out...

Any help, info, ... can help...

Thanks!

[mariner_heart]

the metal plate just below the top-backside plastic panel acts like the antenna.On top side of it there are two legs which connect to the mainboard.try cleaning the two spots on mainboard and the contacts of antenna.
well, i can say this because i solved this problem once this way.
good luck.

[bkortleven]

Well, I tried what you mentioned: scratched and cleaned the squares on the pcb, straightened the connecting metal parts from the back plate, cleaned all contacts: no solution...

Any other ideas?
Possibly a sort of switch which makes the device choose between internal or external antenna? What external antenna might fit?

Thanks guys!

[bkortleven]

Well,

I got my hands on a 'broken' I-mate Jam (got stuck between the car door, screen is totally broken, pcb is fine) and replaced the antenna block: FULL RECEPTION...
at least, for half an hour.. after that: reception dropped, and again left me with the "!" mentioning "no service"

I tried switching the pcb's but for some odd reason, the screen didn't come up good... The backlight didn't turn on and the screen was all striped and smeared...
Is there a difference in pcb versions, connectors, screens?
I thought Magcian = Magician, but now I'm thinking there are different models around there...

Bon... so I'm looking for a pcb of a Qtek S100 now... to switch that one with mine, and see if that helps...
really strange the reception was 'perfect' for about an hour, I even succeeded in making calls with it! No jitter, no drops, perfect reception, and then: BONK, over with it... nothing left...

Any ideas on this one, or any ideas on how to get the I-mate's pcb working in my Qtek?

Thanks guys for the info and help!