GT-I9195: Where is the GPS antenna/connector?

jdr_85

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2017
71
19
0
Hi,
I have an old s4mini (LTE) which I have been using as car and bike GPS for many yrs. The GPS was always great but last autumn it stopped working. I put it in the drawer and have been using my old ASUS Z00ED since then which has a better performance, a larger screen and a perfectly working GPS.
Still, the ASUS is way too big to use it as bike GPS while the s4mini's size is perfect, so I want to revive it.

Currently, the phone sees some satellites (with a very bad signal strength or SNR or whatever it is) but is unable to use them, even after trying to get a fix for a long time. The screenshot was taken on my balcony outside where my other phones easily get > 10 sats fix. I am quite sure this is a hardware problem as there was no software update before the problem occured. The phone then was on the latest official LOS 14.1, now I have test installed AOKP 2019-10-25 with no change. It may be a corrosion problem as the phone lay in the mud and rain for an hour after a severe car accident, but after cleaning it, it had worked for 2,5 years without any issues...

So now my question: Where is the s4mini's GPS connector and antenna? I would like to try and fix these. I have a second s4mini with cracked screen which could serve as a spare parts donator.
 

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Godapol

Member
Jun 27, 2016
16
1
0
Take a look at this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sOKKoxu3L4&t=275s

At about 2:40 and 9:15 this guy explaines the location. Maybe skip ahead a few seconds.

I had also an bad GPS receiption and I "cleaned" with a screwdriver the part at 2:40 in the video. Afterwards it was shiny again. Also I "cleaned" the part (of clips) on the board and I did also lift up the board a bit and put a piece of paper behind it so (I was hoping) I get an better connection between those two parts. I am pretening that that helped.
 
Last edited:

jdr_85

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2017
71
19
0
Take a look at this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sOKKoxu3L4&t=275s

At about 2:40 and 9:15 this guy explaines the location. Maybe skip ahead a few seconds.

I had also an bad GPS receiption and I "cleaned" with a screwdriver the part at 2:40 in the video. Afterwards it was shiny again. Also I "cleaned" the part (of clips) on the board and I did also lift up the board a bit and put a piece of paper behind it so (I was hoping) I get an better connection between those two parts. I am pretening that that helped.
Thanks, at the moment I have it back working. I'm afraid the problem was more due to the GPS rollover than due to the antenna.