Black Aluminium Excalibur Case kills signal

[RoachX]

Having heard about the screen cracking problems and just generally wanting to protect my new excalibur I searched the Net for a good case.

I found several online stores and ebay sellers carrying a Black Aluminum Case, i even found it on amazon and the reviews looked pretty good.

The case is pretty much identical to this one (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Aluminium-Case-HTC-S620-T-Mobile-Dash-Dopod-C720W-Black_W0QQitemZ290068096619QQihZ019QQcategoryZ2033 6QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em118Q2el1247), maybe some of you have tried it.

I really like the way Case protects the screen and the phone in general while allowing access to all the keys, and it doesn't look half bad if a little bulky.

Unfortunately the belt clip fell apart after just 2 days use though thats not such a deal breaker but I have also just realized that the case decreases my signal strength, in some situations by 3 bars. That i cannot live with, it sort of ruins the point of having a hard accessible case if you have to keep on taking your phone out of it every time you want to make a call.

This is the most active Excalibur forum i have found (and stuff you guys develop is awesome) and i was just wondering if you guys could recommend a good affordable case. I have found a black plastic case and a lot of leather/cloth ones but after this bad experience i would like to see what you guys have to say first.

Thanks

[jdoggraz]

Just use a rubber case, seems to do the job for me and they are fairly cheap on ebay.

[jacknmary]

For Fathers Day, I got a black/silver carbon fiber case... looks damn sexy with the black wallpaper on Kavanas ROM. No signal probs at all.

[outerdepth]

Dude, I am dead serious about my phone looking sweet. I can tell you do too, hence the aluminum case. So, here's what you do, go back to ebay and get one of those antenna boosters. It's a freakin strip you put on your battery or something, it's toilet paper thin. It takes up no space. Try it. It might help, and then you wouldn't have to sacrifice the cool case. It's worth a shot.

Plus, unless you have extensively tested this theory. I doubt that your case is making your signal quality go down. Since the signal is transmitted so far away and makes it through so many metallic and non-metallic obstacles, yet your phone picks it up. Now, it does all of that, and you think that a 20th of an inch of aliminum is going to stop the signal. Maybe, but I would try something else before trashing the case. Just an opinion. Hope this helps. :cool:
Having heard about the screen cracking problems and just generally wanting to protect my new excalibur I searched the Net for a good case.

I found several online stores and ebay sellers carrying a Black Aluminum Case, i even found it on amazon and the reviews looked pretty good.

The case is pretty much identical to this one (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Aluminium-Case-HTC-S620-T-Mobile-Dash-Dopod-C720W-Black_W0QQitemZ290068096619QQihZ019QQcategoryZ2033 6QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em118Q2el1247), maybe some of you have tried it.

I really like the way Case protects the screen and the phone in general while allowing access to all the keys, and it doesn't look half bad if a little bulky.

Unfortunately the belt clip fell apart after just 2 days use though thats not such a deal breaker but I have also just realized that the case decreases my signal strength, in some situations by 3 bars. That i cannot live with, it sort of ruins the point of having a hard accessible case if you have to keep on taking your phone out of it every time you want to make a call.

This is the most active Excalibur forum i have found (and stuff you guys develop is awesome) and i was just wondering if you guys could recommend a good affordable case. I have found a black plastic case and a lot of leather/cloth ones but after this bad experience i would like to see what you guys have to say first.

Thanks

[jacknmary]

Since the signal is transmitted so far away and makes it through so many metallic and non-metallic obstacles, yet your phone picks it up. Now, it does all of that, and you think that a 20th of an inch of aliminum is going to stop the signal.

Exceptional point!

[Fatalo86]

I have a black aluminum case as well... my signal is just fine...:p

[RoachX]

Plus, unless you have extensively tested this theory. I doubt that your case is making your signal quality go down. Since the signal is transmitted so far away and makes it through so many metallic and non-metallic obstacles, yet your phone picks it up. Now, it does all of that, and you think that a 20th of an inch of aliminum is going to stop the signal. Maybe, but I would try something else before trashing the case. Just an opinion. Hope this helps. :cool:


I have tried it out in numerous situations, there are of course some situations where i get full bars with the case or with out but there are many (including my home) where with the case i will get 1 -2 bars and seconds after taking it out of the case the signal will go up by 2 or 3 bars. Put in the case, wait a couple of seconds and again the down to 1 - 2 bars. I didn't think a thin sheet of aluminium would effect the signal either, maybe its the lining or even the finish on the case.

Don't those signal boosters eat up the battery?

[RoachX]

For Fathers Day, I got a black/silver carbon fiber case... looks damn sexy with the black wallpaper on Kavanas ROM. No signal probs at all.

You wouldn't happen to have any links to that product?

[jacknmary]

Im sorry...I bought it at the local mall. A phone accessory vendor had it. cost me 20, and I'd be happy to pick one up for you if you wanted to paypal the cash.

Ill post a pic soon...

[NRGZ28]

Exceptional point!

Yes.. it sounds good! But, not a very educated point that's for sure... hehe :)

[NRGZ28]

Dude, I am dead serious about my phone looking sweet. I can tell you do too, hence the aluminum case. So, here's what you do, go back to ebay and get one of those antenna boosters. It's a freakin strip you put on your battery or something, it's toilet paper thin. It takes up no space. Try it. It might help, and then you wouldn't have to sacrifice the cool case. It's worth a shot.

Plus, unless you have extensively tested this theory. I doubt that your case is making your signal quality go down. Since the signal is transmitted so far away and makes it through so many metallic and non-metallic obstacles, yet your phone picks it up. Now, it does all of that, and you think that a 20th of an inch of aliminum is going to stop the signal. Maybe, but I would try something else before trashing the case. Just an opinion. Hope this helps. :cool:

The battery booster idea... yeah. Not happening. Unless you engineer a way to actually improve the phone's internal "antenna" with that sticker (because that's all it is), it's not going to improve anything, but maybe make your battery door wobble less. :D

The way cell phones transmit their signals is a little different... Our phones don't emit radiowaves with a lot of power. The receiving towers have very high gain amplifiers that amplify these incoming signal VERY much in order to make them usable, and send them out to our phones at a very high power. If our phones emitted with the same wattage, we'd probably have brain cancer in a month. That's why it's important to look at SAR values when shopping for a phone. Our Excaliburs aren't too bad in that category...

You'll notice that ALL mettalic phones have a plastic panel SOMEWHERE on the case. The Iphone for example... black plastic at the bottom. The LG Shine which is all stainless steel, has a plastic cap at the top. These areas is where the antenna "array" is mounted. Why ? Because a mettalic case around it will effectively BLOCK the signal. Our Excalibur's antenna is at the top of phone, so make that area is clear of metallic obstructions in order to get a good signal :)

Oh and a piece of 1/20 inch aluminum will definitely STOP the signal IF it covers the phone all the way around. It acts like a cage for it. This is why when you open up a phone, you'll see these metal panels over the various radio chips on the phone's motherboard. They're put there to block radio interferance. Now if his case has holes in it, that's where the signal gets in , to the antenna. If those "holes" arent strategically placed, it will make radio waves not reach the antenna at full power, thus making his signal bars drop... :)

[pudgedaddy]

hmmmm.... i use a metal case that completely covers my phone (top included) and i have absolutely no loss in signal strength.... There are currently two types of metal cases for the HTC Excalibur (excluding colors) with minor diffferences between the two:
this one: http://www.pdair.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=10100000_900000_11000048&products_id=5295#thumb , which the top is left open and the edging around the keys are weird (i've owned this one and it sucks cuz your phone has a tendency to slide around)
and this one: http://www.ids.hk/item_detail.asp?Category=O2_PDA_Xda_cosmo_&ItemName=Innopocket_Metal_Case_Bk_for_O2_Xda_cosmo/T-Mobile&itemID=40D714A9-0AFE-473B-A1D7-6346E7A8AF39 , this is the one i own ( albeit not from that site ) the entire top is covered. and the edging around the keys is a lot better.
Specifically all these cases sell with tag names: Monaco Aluminum Case, Metal Case, Metal Deluxe Case. and Innopocket Metal Case.
The one titled Innopocket Metal Case is the one you're going to want to get. It fits the phone better. and is better constructed.

[GJSmith3rd]

I have the exact case posted in the opening thread (Monaco with open top). The Dash can move around a little but I am comfortable with this because it helps with screen adjustment depending on your angle of use. I never use the belt clip. I just orient it a certain way and use the original Dash belt holder (extra protection). I like the cool feel of the aluminum vs. the rubbery feel of the Dash. Also unlike the Dash, the aluminum case has little feet to better release sound and help with cooling when lying flat.

In any case I get great signals with or without the case in my area. But I have a friend that has like two levels of screens and mesh on the windows and doors. Kind of like the stuff high tech companies put on the windows to prevent signal theft of computer processors and such. If I open the case inside my signal strength does increase. But I don't complain because many cant even get a signal inside. So I guess it's true that under some circumstances, even the open top aluminum case impedes signal strength.

[xciton]

... and you think that a 20th of an inch of aliminum is going to stop the signal. Maybe, but I would try something else before trashing the case. Just an opinion. Hope this helps. :cool:

Guess you've never thought of how a coaxial cable works (Cable TV). The shield on that cable is much smaller than 1/20th in. and it seems to do a pretty good job of keeping foreign signals out.

[kidnamedAlbert]

For Fathers Day, I got a black/silver carbon fiber case... looks damn sexy with the black wallpaper on Kavanas ROM. No signal probs at all.
oh wow i had an exact case for my dash when i had it

[RoachX]

hmmmm.... i use a metal case that completely covers my phone (top included) and i have absolutely no loss in signal strength.... There are currently two types of metal cases for the HTC Excalibur (excluding colors) with minor diffferences between the two:
this one: http://www.pdair.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=10100000_900000_11000048&products_id=5295#thumb , which the top is left open and the edging around the keys are weird (i've owned this one and it sucks cuz your phone has a tendency to slide around)
and this one: http://www.ids.hk/item_detail.asp?Category=O2_PDA_Xda_cosmo_&ItemName=Innopocket_Metal_Case_Bk_for_O2_Xda_cosmo/T-Mobile&itemID=40D714A9-0AFE-473B-A1D7-6346E7A8AF39 , this is the one i own ( albeit not from that site ) the entire top is covered. and the edging around the keys is a lot better.
Specifically all these cases sell with tag names: Monaco Aluminum Case, Metal Case, Metal Deluxe Case. and Innopocket Metal Case.
The one titled Innopocket Metal Case is the one you're going to want to get. It fits the phone better. and is better constructed.

The case i have is identical to your first link except the back of my case has less holes (top right of the back). I wonder if making some holes in the same area would help.

How do you find the belt clip for the case you bought? Is it hardy enough for regular use?

Thanks

[pudgedaddy]

The case i have is identical to your first link except the back of my case has less holes (top right of the back). I wonder if making some holes in the same area would help.

How do you find the belt clip for the case you bought? Is it hardy enough for regular use?

Thanks

Did your case not come with a belt clip? Heck i'd give you 2 two i have if you were down the street from me. I don't use them. Not that i hate the reliability, but i'm very skiddish having "my baby" left out in the open to get lost. But if you're didnt come with one, chances are it would work with any variation. The back of both cases i posted have a screw hole in the miggle of the back of it that a metal nub screws into. Thats what lock onto the clip when its on your belt. Without that screw hole or metal nub, you're dead in the water

[RoachX]

Oh it came with a clip, and said clip fell apart after a days use :-(. I'm looking at the version of the case you have the clip mechanism looks different.

[outerdepth]

Well, it would seem that if I want to get a response out of someone, all I should do is say something slightly objectionable, MAN.

A simple no, I don't think that's how it works could have done the job. It's cool I have thick skin. LOL!

I do wanna add, though, that metals do not possess the exact same properties across the board. What I mean is, iron and aluminum are both metals, but aluminum is not magnetic because it is not a ferrous metal such as iron or one of its alloys, steel. I do want to add also, that I understand the radio chip concept and the metal cage placed around it to keep interference out. This does not mean that the chip cage is made of aluminum. I am not saying that it is, but I doubt it. Isn't aluminum used as an antenna for radios? Just saying, you think if it makes a good radio antenna or tv antenna, that it would make a good cellular radio antenna.The battery booster idea... yeah. Not happening. Unless you engineer a way to actually improve the phone's internal "antenna" with that sticker (because that's all it is), it's not going to improve anything, but maybe make your battery door wobble less. :D

The way cell phones transmit their signals is a little different... Our phones don't emit radiowaves with a lot of power. The receiving towers have very high gain amplifiers that amplify these incoming signal VERY much in order to make them usable, and send them out to our phones at a very high power. If our phones emitted with the same wattage, we'd probably have brain cancer in a month. That's why it's important to look at SAR values when shopping for a phone. Our Excaliburs aren't too bad in that category...

You'll notice that ALL mettalic phones have a plastic panel SOMEWHERE on the case. The Iphone for example... black plastic at the bottom. The LG Shine which is all stainless steel, has a plastic cap at the top. These areas is where the antenna "array" is mounted. Why ? Because a mettalic case around it will effectively BLOCK the signal. Our Excalibur's antenna is at the top of phone, so make that area is clear of metallic obstructions in order to get a good signal :)

Oh and a piece of 1/20 inch aluminum will definitely STOP the signal IF it covers the phone all the way around. It acts like a cage for it. This is why when you open up a phone, you'll see these metal panels over the various radio chips on the phone's motherboard. They're put there to block radio interferance. Now if his case has holes in it, that's where the signal gets in , to the antenna. If those "holes" arent strategically placed, it will make radio waves not reach the antenna at full power, thus making his signal bars drop... :)

Also, I wasn't expecting this kind of a reponse out of you, xticon, oops, xciton. Wow, very insightful. Could you please explain to me the purpose of this "shield" as far as the coaxial cable is concerned. I always thought it was there as a ground or to create a potential difference for the signal. Guess, I am wrong. Could and would you please clarify, since I appear to be retarded. Thanks, buddy!
Guess you've never thought of how a coaxial cable works (Cable TV). The shield on that cable is much smaller than 1/20th in. and it seems to do a pretty good job of keeping foreign signals out.

[GJSmith3rd]

Belt clips attached to the phone always break or come apart somehow. I'm with Pudgedaddy, I would never leave my baby dangling over the edge like that. LOL

[Bupahs]

Guess you've never thought of how a coaxial cable works (Cable TV). The shield on that cable is much smaller than 1/20th in. and it seems to do a pretty good job of keeping foreign signals out.

LOL, thats cute. Umm... ever wonder why it is called Coaxial? That "shield" is simply there to create a "tunnel" to guide the signal down the cable. The field is generated by the copper core and the wrap (sometimes aluminum, sometimes copper brades). The aluminum is a conductor, it does not "keep out" external interferance.. the electromagnetic field generated between the two conductors does that.

Most homes have more aluminum on them then any phone cover will, its called Siding, drain spouts and the like, not to mention rebar in the concrete, wire mesh in stucco and a host of other cell signal destroyeers. Soooo how do you get any singal at all? because your cell phone is programmed to seek out the strongest signal, it does this thousand of times a minute.

anyway. I use the black aluminum hard case (got off ebay) and have never had any sort of signal issues.

[jdoggraz]

I use a case and I never seem to have problems with the signal strength.

[spikey911]

LOL, thats cute. Umm... ever wonder why it is called Coaxial? That "shield" is simply there to create a "tunnel" to guide the signal down the cable. The field is generated by the copper core and the wrap (sometimes aluminum, sometimes copper brades). The aluminum is a conductor, it does not "keep out" external interferance.. the electromagnetic field generated between the two conductors does that.

Most homes have more aluminum on them then any phone cover will, its called Siding, drain spouts and the like, not to mention rebar in the concrete, wire mesh in stucco and a host of other cell signal destroyeers. Soooo how do you get any singal at all? because your cell phone is programmed to seek out the strongest signal, it does this thousand of times a minute.

anyway. I use the black aluminum hard case (got off ebay) and have never had any sort of signal issues.



LoL...blind leading the blind...

I won't get into coaxial cable issue, but this theory is completely wrong also..

Anyway, it is entirely possible for a metal case to interfere with the signal. This is called SWR.
The higher the SWR the more the signal loss.

Some materials the signal can penetrate more effectively through, some not.

The higher the frequency, the closer the signal is to light wave, and the more it can be blocked by solid objects.

The case in question is obviously bouncing some of the signal back, causing higher SWR and thus lowering the signal..

The antenna is tuned to a specific frequency range, and using metal cases can interfere with the operation.

[outerdepth]

Apparently I am not the only scientist in the bunch, here. I tried to explain this in a follow up post. I am glad you agreed. Shield my butt. If it was a shield,then why would we put the insulation on it. I mean if it's shielded right. Thanks again for backing me up. I knew somebody else here would have the sense to listen to some reason. Apparently you are smart guy.

Later on bro. Have a good one.:cool:
LOL, thats cute. Umm... ever wonder why it is called Coaxial? That "shield" is simply there to create a "tunnel" to guide the signal down the cable. The field is generated by the copper core and the wrap (sometimes aluminum, sometimes copper brades). The aluminum is a conductor, it does not "keep out" external interferance.. the electromagnetic field generated between the two conductors does that.

Most homes have more aluminum on them then any phone cover will, its called Siding, drain spouts and the like, not to mention rebar in the concrete, wire mesh in stucco and a host of other cell signal destroyeers. Soooo how do you get any singal at all? because your cell phone is programmed to seek out the strongest signal, it does this thousand of times a minute.

anyway. I use the black aluminum hard case (got off ebay) and have never had any sort of signal issues.

[dinscurge]

yeah id try rubber or plastic leather whatever but if u really like the alluminum one u could mate them (id be very digressing though ud have to pull phne appart and find the antenna/antenna wire and solder on a wire then bolt it to the case thad stop the signal blocking should increase signal strength in some case with the bigger antenna and all but i wouldnt sudgest this inless u eally liked the case)

[dinscurge]

LOL, thats cute. Umm... ever wonder why it is called Coaxial? That "shield" is simply there to create a "tunnel" to guide the signal down the cable. The field is generated by the copper core and the wrap (sometimes aluminum, sometimes copper brades). The aluminum is a conductor, it does not "keep out" external interferance.. the electromagnetic field generated between the two conductors does that.

Most homes have more aluminum on them then any phone cover will, its called Siding, drain spouts and the like, not to mention rebar in the concrete, wire mesh in stucco and a host of other cell signal destroyeers. Soooo how do you get any singal at all? because your cell phone is programmed to seek out the strongest signal, it does this thousand of times a minute.

anyway. I use the black aluminum hard case (got off ebay) and have never had any sort of signal issues.



not to be a jerk or whtever the coaxial is just to keep out the elctromagnetic interfeence of running long wires by crisscrossing and around other ellectrical equipment e.g. eletrical interference also stops leakage of signal so it stops the eminent feedback it would cause from the signal that close to speaer and amp and everything else....:o

[Bupahs]

Unbelievable! All this debate over Coaxial, and how many of you actually bothered to look it up? Education is a wonderful thing ---> Coaxial (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable)

As far as SWR (Standing Wave Ratios) and cell phones. Not really an issue. Cell phones have built in antenna, SWR relates to the variation in the voltage along the length of the transmission line from the transceiver to the antenna, an external factor such as a case will have very little effect. The only time it would matter is if you are using a "hard line" to an external antenna.. something I have not seen in years.. most people use a glass mount repeater.

Oh well.. the debate will no doubt go on.. :)