HW Question: Purpose of tape on Tilt internal antenna cover (and effect on GPS)

[GuyIncognito]

Hi All,

Does the tape on the internal antenna cover have a functional purpose ?
It is the labelled tape on this component:

link (http://cnn.cn/shop/tytn-iitilt-antenna-cover-p-2483.html?language=jp)

I assume "yes" because why else would they spend the $0.04 putting it there?

I ask because over the last two years, I've replaced the internal speaker and my LCD display. Everything works fine now, with the exception that the GPS has ceased working. It turns out that as part of my early curiosity and fumbling around, I pealed off the tape then re-applied it and there is a break in it now. Is the tape an RF shield or an antenna of some sort (i.e. is there a conductor in it), or is it just inert electrical tape ? Does it affect GPS reception? If it is inert, why is it there ?

At any rate, I've tried all the conventional solutions to GPS problems, including
the usual suspects: QuickGPS, turning off AGPS, hard-reset, clear view of sky


trying different radios and ROMs--probably 6 different radios and 4 different ROMs in different combinations


the HTC GPS Tool


throwing my phone against a wall*

I've searched this site and the entire net regarding the antenna cover & tape and haven't found anything ... Any insight ?

Thanks,

Guy

*haven't tried this option yet

Currently running (but have tried 6 Radios and 4 ROMs including OEM ROMs)
HARDSPL 3.29
ROM Version: 65Series WWE 04/30/09 (Phoenix III: Phx3.1.21815)
RAdio: 1.70.19.09
Protocol: 25.83.40.02H

[avidday]

I just set my tilt up exactly like yours and the gps didn't work by default. In each gps program I had to change it to use COM4 instead of the intermediate driver or default setup. Now all my GPS stuff works.

[Teej53214]

I would try what is mentioned above.. I have a LG Incite that was having the same problem... instead of a com port in the "External GPS Settings", under the GPS Program Port, it was set to "GPD7" instead of "Com4".. I changed that setting and it immediatly fixed the problem... Let us know if that works for you... My GPS went out on my tilt yesteday... and nothign fixed it except for a hard reset.. now it works fine again... Hopefully you won;t ahve to do that... Also, on a side note, I am using TomTom 7.45, as that one seems to work best with my Tilt without having to run any "Extra" programs to get the GPS to work....

[Flying Kiwi]

I ask because over the last two years, I've replaced the internal speaker and my LCD display. Everything works fine now, with the exception that the GPS has ceased working.
<snip>
Currently running (but have tried 6 Radios and 4 ROMs including OEM ROMs)
HARDSPL 3.29
ROM Version: 65Series WWE 04/30/09 (Phoenix III: Phx3.1.21815)
RAdio: 1.70.19.09
Protocol: 25.83.40.02HIf you've not tried GPS since upgrading to WM 6.1 then welcome to the effects of WM 6.1 ROMs (at least the HTC ones which take ages by comparison to get a satelite lock). The WM 6.0 HTC ROMs with early 1.27.xx.xx series radios seem to initialise the GPS circuitry with much more power resulting in better GPS performance so try a WM 6.0 ROM/Radio/SPL setup. If GPS still doesn't work as it should then yes the tape is relevant. Personally I'd get HTC to fit the new tape and see what diffrence it makes - I suspect it'll make a difference.

[GuyIncognito]

Guys,

I just wanted to post an update to the thread. I doubt this is a general solution to GPS problems, but it may help some folks who have the specific situation I had.

For my specific case, replacing the antenna cover plate fixed my problem: GPS had not worked for 6 months (OS sees the GPS device, but 0 satellites under all conditions), and it is now operational after replacing the cover. The GPS had ceased working after I replaced the speaker and LCD display. When replacing those items, I had partially destroyed the tape covering the internal GPS antennas.

So, to answer the questions in my original post,
1. Replacing the cover (link in post # 1) now gets me a fix, with 5-7 satellites in the open. This is at least as good as it was one year ago before I disassembled my device with wreckless abandon.
2. Further, I did some "destructive testing" of the cover I replaced, and the copper colored conductors on the bottom of the antenna cover are in fact attached to the "tape," so I infer that the tape is conductive and/or functions as an antenna, since those conductors make contact with the copper posts on the motherboard.

I will do more testing with time-to-fix and useage conditions, but for now I'm pleasantly surprised.

Note:
* I have not changed my ROM or radio since I originally posted, so the above results are "ceteris paribus" ...
* In the preceding 6 months, GPS has not worked on 20+ different combinations of ROM & radio, including WM6.0 ROMs...

Guy

[nerdtaco]

If you've not tried GPS since upgrading to WM 6.1 then welcome to the effects of WM 6.1 ROMs (at least the HTC ones which take ages by comparison to get a satelite lock).


I had that problem until yesterday when I switched to hard SPL 3.56 from 3.29. I can now get a GPS fix in under a minute.