vB Easy Archive - Making the most out of your MMR-60 (with SE M600i)

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Making the most out of your MMR-60 (with SE M600i)
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Posted by: meow_mix

M600i with MMR-60 Antenna - how to optimize.

Background

The MMR-60 is a fine FM transmitter for the SE series phones equipped with the Fast Port connector. However, like most consumer grade FM transmitters, they perform poorly in real life usage. This is due to the low wattage, and hidden/no antenna architecture of most of these types of products. Fortunately, with a few tools, it is possible to make the MMR-60 quite usable by drastically lengthening the antenna. This is a guide on how to modify your stock MMR-60 adding an external antenna so that it's broadcast can work at it's intended peek efficiency.

I first got the antenna from a post in another from that briefly described the possibility retrofitting such thing. Since there aren't very much solid information in the net regarding to the MMR-60 FM transmitter and the M600i, here's my contribution to the community.

Disclaimer

The information in this guide will void your warranty, on your MMR-60 unit, and quite possibly your phone too. The only thing I will guarantee is that this procedure will release the magic smoke in your phone, MMR-60 unit, and every electronic devices in it's 10 foot radius. In plain english, your phone and MMR-60 unit will be a very expensive brick that might even burn your house down. Follow these directions at your own risk. You've been warned.

What you will need:

* MMR-60 FM transmitter
* SE mobile device - In my case, it is a SE M600i firmware level R9A002
* Wire cutter / stripper.
* Precision screw driver size 3/64" - flat blade
* Soldering Iron - I will assume you should already know how to use one. If not, do NOT proceed any further. You will only end up damaging your equipment.
* Solder - Silver bearing tends to yield cleaner results
* Surehold "Plastic Surgery" glue - Your mileage may very, but this glue seem to work extremely well with this type of plastic. "Krazy Glue" often yield poor results with plastics.
* Small Rubber Band (not pictured)
* Thin copper wire 2 feet with transparent plastic coating. - This will be your new extended antenna. Choose one that is thin enough so wont have to drill holes.
* Anti-Static wrist strap (not pictured)
* (optional) Shrink tube (not pictured)

Procedure:

0) Ground yourself by wearing your Anti-Static strap and attach it to a grounding source, and power on your soldering iron.

1) Make sure your MMR-60 Unit is disconnected and it is by itself.

2) The casing consist of 3 shell layers. bottom (black) , center (orange), and top (silver). Pry carefully from the back of the unit near one of the connector legs between the bottom and center layer. This will break the glue that binds the unit together. Don't worry if the top comes off, you can snap it back on later.

3) After opening the shell, remove the circuit board from from the shell and flip the board bottom side up.

4) Locate the heavy black wire in the bottom side of the circuit board. Once located, use your wire stripper to remove approximately 1/4 cm of the protective coating from the edge.

5) Do the same with your copper wire, but only at one end. If you have shrink tubing, you should also know what to do with it at this point. Solder the two open ends together.

6) Replace the circuit board back into the bottom shell, with your antenna wire to drape over the lower right hand corner. (orientation is with the Fast Port connector facing away from you, and the original antenna in the bottom position pointing to your right)

7) put a drop of glue in on the edge of each sides of the bottom case with the exception of the side that has the Fast Port connector.

8) Replace the center and the top shell over the bottom case, and wrap the rubberband around the unit horizontally across the big "W". This will help to hold everything together until the glue sets.

End

Notes:

*I've place the unit through a spectrum analyzer. The transmit power is in the micro watts. Any interference can easily over power the transmission. Make sure you find a station that is really clear from surrounding frequencies.

* The 3 LED in the unit consumes more power than actuarial FM transmitter. It might look nice, but turning off the LED will greatly extend your battery life.

* I'm rather disappointed that this unit, unlike prototype pictures does NOT have a piggy back connector for power or other devices. But since this device barely consumes any power, it is not a big issue. But it would have been nice if it did had a piggy Fast Port slot. This would have also opened up the possibility of a much more graceful approach to an external antenna.

* Viewing from the spectrum analyzer, your best audio result that will create the highest frequency modulation is to use the equalizer settings to "Loudness" and 80% - 90% volume.

* You will not be able to make out going call using voice commands from your bluetooth headset. However, you can receive calls, and your music will mute.

* Incoming calls will only beep on your phone, and ring in your bluetooth headset while the MMR-60 is in use. No ring tones will be heard.

* There is no off switch. This unit will transmit as soon as it's plugged in. So physically remove it when you're not actually using it

* There is no such thing as right antenna length. The rule of thumb for this type of FM radio is simply the longer the better. This is also why recent phones with no external antenna does not tend to hold on to signals very well. People like the esthetics of an antenna less device but it does sacrifice signal quality. In essence the longer you stretch your antenna, the more efficient the transmission becomes. I've only coiled it up for manageability, and it does hinder the transmission.

* In case you're wondering, that round thing that reads "Walkman" on the top of the photo is the tin the MMR-60 comes in. You probably wont be able to fit it back into the tin after this modification.

* The sound quality is good, but it'll probably drive an audiophile nuts. But that's given since this -s just an FM transmitter.

* Yes, I still recommend buying this device, but I'd recommend having it modded.

* Yes, I can do the modification for you for a fee if you do not feel comfortable applying this procedure yourself. Please PM me here in howardforum. However there is no guarantees, warranty, refunds, credits, etc of any sorts. This service is AS-IS.

Posted by: j w*

Wow, no one has yet to reply in this thread. Anyways, awesome work and a nice walkthrough XD!

Posted by: meow_mix

Thank you.. I guess it's also possible that the MMR-60 fm transmitter is largely unknown to most people. I was compelled to write this since it was hardly usable right out of the box. There were hardly any real conversations about it on the net, much less reviews. Since all these newer phones are very much capable of being a low-end "ipod replacer", Im sure there are others who would try to achieve the same thing, and end up getting some what frustrated. No sense for everyone else to re-invent the wheel.

Posted by: deny2

I wonder if I wind a few turns of thin insulated wire insde the transmitter case I'll get the same effect, has anyone tried this?

Posted by: meow_mix

if you have the wire running around the perimeter of the casing it will help a little. However simple laws physics dictates that the sheer length of an antenna is the only way to increase the broadcast efficiency. The longer it extends, the better. In other words, if you want performance, you can't get around not having an antenna poking out. This is as described above as the reason why most antenna-less mobile phones and devices has horrible reception. esthetics over practicality.

Posted by: faibs

anyone want to do this for me?
ill pay.
i have the mmr60

Posted by: meow_mix

the task is pretty simple, but I can do this for you if you want.
You'd probably want to PM me with your contact information if you're interested.

Posted by: lionelvas

Hey this site claims that the mmr60 is compatable to the m600/608 so why this mod is needed???
http://www.eoutlet.co.uk/ProductDet...x?productID=832

Posted by: _LawmaN_

Quote:

Originally Posted by lionelvas

Hey this site claims that the mmr60 is compatable to the m600/608 so why this mod is needed???
http://www.eoutlet.co.uk/ProductDet...x?productID=832

i think its so the fm transmitter puts out a stronger signal for your radio to pick it up. Making the sound clearer.

Posted by: meow_mix

lionelvas,
Please RTFM before embarassing yourself.

Posted by: lionelvas

hey dude (meow Mix) u may be n expert in all this stuff, but some r new to this technical stuff, there is nothing to get embarassed to ask a question, well thats how u learn stuff.

Posted by: meow_mix

First off, This is not a matter of being in experinced, or what not. It is a matter of being lackadaisical since you've missed the entire point completely. I've spent a lot of time writing this documentation which clearly explains in plain english in every details including why this procedure is recommended. It just annoys me that people do not comprehensively read the document before asking a question which is meticulously described. Tell me, did you even read the first two paragraph of the documentation carefully?

Lastly, although the general demographic of this forum is predominately 'dudes'. Sadly, I must inform you that you're talking to one....

Posted by: snipchild

Thank you for this documentation. I've sent you a PM.

Posted by: k0872

Is it possible to solder a small 3.5 female jack socket cable to the black antenna wire and then when you need to boost the antenna length you just plug in the jack to jack.