GPS Antenna Hardware Hack only 2 seconds to fix GPS status ;)

TylerDurben · Oct 25, 2011

This thread is only interesting for technical gifted people, because you can brick your device !!!
I would like to share a GPS Antenna Hardware Hack i found here "http://www.androidpit.de/de/android/forum/thread/435065/HTC-Desire-HD-Hast-du-GPS-Probleme-mit-deinem-DHD"into the internet some time ago.
I tryed allot of fixing apps and software modifications but nothing works realy good for daily work with gps so i started to soldering a cable (0,8mm) to the GPS Antenna contacts (have a look to the picture)
after the assembly and a new start I had after 10sec sat-fix from 5-6 satellites in the room!!!
Outside I have sat-fix within 2 sec

Here some steps how to do, but be carefull you will lose the warranty of your device

1. open the device like in the youtube video described (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qm_z65LA8k)
2. solder a cable to the antenna contacts like the picture shows

3. assembly the device ... reboot and have fun

Big THX goes to pooganes for sharing his idea on Andropit

ROM: CoreDroid DHD V8.2 RC8
Phone: HTC Desire HD
Android Version: Android 2.3.4
Build No: 1.45.401.2
Sense Version: 3.0
Kernel: 2.6.35.14 - Lord Clockan V4 CFS (with Killersloth UV Scripts)
Radio: 12.62.60.27U_26.13.04.19_M

ceyo14 · Oct 25, 2011

So phones don't really have an antenna?

Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium

TylerDurben · Oct 25, 2011

ceyo14 said:
So phones don't really have an antenna?

Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium

of cause it had a antenna, but the oryginal antenna doesnt works realy good
i had no gps fix without my cable here and after soldering the cable i had a satfix within 2 seconds outside

joooe · Oct 25, 2011

Great mod!
Yep, GPS is probably the biggest problem in the DHD.
In my case, I usually get fast fixes in GPS Status, but then CoPilot or Sygic take forever to pick up the signal

The solution seems to leave GPS Status opened in the background and then opening the gps program.

Other times, rarely though, not even GPS Status can get sat fixes.

I'll be trying other radio versions. But it's annoying stuff.

Sadly, I'm not very good with soldering.

TylerDurben · Oct 25, 2011

joooe said:
Great mod!
Yep, GPS is probably the biggest problem in the DHD.
In my case, I usually get fast fixes in GPS Status, but then CoPilot or Sygic take forever to pick up the signal

The solution seems to leave GPS Status opened in the background and then opening the gps program.

Other times, rarely though, not even GPS Status can get sat fixes.

I'll be trying other radio versions. But it's annoying stuff.

Sadly, I'm not very good with soldering.

with my hardwarehack u can delete faster fix and every other gps fix apps, i tested something around 10 fix aps and mods but nothing works realy good for me.
after soldering the cable to the device it works like my garmin gps system

and hey u dont need to be a soldering good, have a look to the contacts and think about it

joooe · Oct 25, 2011

If I could find a way of isolating only the pins while soldering, that would protect the motherboard from any mistake I make. Like a piece of aluminum foil with two little holes in it or something.
Hmmmm... Might try that.
Thanks!
By the way, what kind of cable did you use? Anything special?

TylerDurben · Oct 25, 2011

joooe said:
If I could find a way of isolating only the pins while soldering, that would protect the motherboard from any mistake I make. Like a piece of aluminum foil with two little holes in it or something.
Hmmmm... Might try that.
Thanks!
By the way, what kind of cable did you use? Anything special?

nothing special , i used 0,8mm copper cable that i had from an old headset

misterblue31 · Oct 25, 2011

Hi, I had the idea of this set several months ago. It works fine but the signal quality is not as good as an original antenna that works well.
After 2 months of use, I bought a new GPS antenna DHD and I withdrew my cord.
The signal with the original HTC antenna is better (available on Ebay).

My Fr Tutorial

(april 2011)

TUN_SD · Oct 25, 2011

thats a nice mod, but really dangerous for non technichal used people.

but really interessting!!

joooe · Oct 26, 2011

Ok, tried this yesterday.
No soldering though, as I was scared to ruin the phone.
Grabbed a 3 cm cable from a 12v car leds and just hooked them up to the 2 pins, just twisting a little so they don't come off.
At first the results where not much different. Opened it again, rewired them and voilá.
It's like magic. Just got close to my window and bang!, less then 5 seconds.
I even wiped the phone and installed the rom again and still works!

By the way, I looked at the contacts of the cover itself and tried to rub a little bit with a screwdriver to remove possible rust. Bad news.
Most certainly, the gps problem lies with these contacts. They are too thin!
When I tried to rub a little, I started to see the plastic underneath!!!

So, maybe, the little dark dots we see in them are just the plastic showing up due to use. That's why gps doesn't work as it should.

ivolol · Oct 26, 2011

joooe said:
Ok, tried this yesterday.
No soldering though, as I was scared to ruin the phone.
Grabbed a 3 cm cable from a 12v car leds and just hooked them up to the 2 pins, just twisting a little so they don't come off.
At first the results where not much different. Opened it again, rewired them and voilá.
It's like magic. Just got close to my window and bang!, less then 5 seconds.
I even wiped the phone and installed the rom again and still works!

By the way, I looked at the contacts of the cover itself and tried to rub a little bit with a screwdriver to remove possible rust. Bad news.
Most certainly, the gps problem lies with these contacts. They are too thin!
When I tried to rub a little, I started to see the plastic underneath!!!

So, maybe, the little dark dots we see in them are just the plastic showing up due to use. That's why gps doesn't work as it should.

The GPS chip will store satellite location data (in itself) even through a ROM wipe, afaik. So once you get a fix once, it will usually be much faster to lock thereafter (for a day or two, in the same location). You can use GPS Status to wipe the GPS chip's data to get a true cold fixes for testing.

joooe · Oct 26, 2011

I don't remember if I wiped the gps data with Gps Status.
Going to try it now.

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

Reseted the A-GPS data, didn't even dowloaded an updated one (my monthly data plan is over for this month) and I can confirm that the lock showed up in less than 10 secs, both in GPS Status and CoPilot.
I'm indoors, on the second floor, with big windows. Phone was left against the window glass.

Brilliant stuff.

TylerDurben · Oct 26, 2011

joooe said:
I don't remember if I wiped the gps data with Gps Status.
Going to try it now.

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

Reseted the A-GPS data, didn't even dowloaded an updated one (my monthly data plan is over for this month) and I can confirm that the lock showed up in less than 10 secs, both in GPS Status and CoPilot.
I'm indoors, on the second floor, with big windows. Phone was left against the window glass.

Brilliant stuff.

Congratulation

Overloaded · Oct 26, 2011

Damn, your too late

Took my phone apart a few weeks ago to pimp it

But don't want to take that thing of again because it's a pain in the ass.

joooe · Oct 26, 2011

Overloaded said:
Damn, your too late

Took my phone apart a few weeks ago to pimp it

But don't want to take that thing of again because it's a pain in the ass.

Not really. Use a small customized tool, slightly bent at the tip and insert it carefully through the battery compartment, aiming at the cover. Just a little effort will do. The cover will pop up sligthly, just enough for you to put your nail in it.

s0litaire · Oct 26, 2011

Wonder how easy it would be to get 2 of the small ipex connectors and make a small cable yourself?

would be a lot safer then soldering it...

laserb3ak · Oct 28, 2011

Firstly this "hack" takes longer than 2 seconds...

Secondly a large majority of GPS reception issues in DHD are related to bad contact between phone and antenna.

So check this connection before voiding your warrenty.

otherwise thanks for the info.

moh8021 · Oct 28, 2011

so i tried this, and i had to solder the contacts on the antena to have contact with wire and little doohickey thing that pops out of the motherboard, it works better but its not that big of a difference sure i get 3 more satellite locks, unless you guys are using a patch, which i don't know about, plus sometimes it takes more than 10 second to find satellite, are you guys using a patch??

BurnQuiST · Oct 29, 2011

Big thanks. My GPS works again and faster than ever !

dazultra2000 · Oct 31, 2011

This is really handy as I have bent my contacts up so much now that they have snapped through weakness, which means I get NO signal at all. I was thinking about trying to replace them with small springs or something a bit clever like that, but this idea is even better!

Thanks for the idea

GPS Antenna Hardware Hack only 2 seconds to fix GPS status ;)

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Inactive Recognized Themer

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Top Liked Posts