vB Easy Archive - external antenna breaks my 8900

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external antenna breaks my 8900
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Posted by: bizzz11

I've gone through 4 different 8900's and all with the same problems.

Every time I plug in my external antenna, the internal antenna stops picking up a signal.

It basically goes from full signal to zero and nothing I do brings back the internal antenna signal.

I have to have the external antenna at home to grab a signal, but I sure don't want to lug it around any time I have to use my phone.

Anyone else notice this problem? I'm going to take it in tomorrow for the fifth phone switchout, however, this time I'm taking my external antenna with me to test it out in front of the techs.

This is getting really annoying.

Posted by: SL83

I'm pretty sure I remember reading on these very forums that you SHOULD NOT use an external antenna because it breaks the phone.

Do a search, maybe you're in luck and I'm wrong.

Posted by: bizzz11

well I talked with the verizon tech today. Turns out the f-type hole in the back of the phone isn't for an external antenna, but is used to put the phone into test mode. I guess when it goes into test mode, it behaves exactly like it normally does, but the internal antenna stops working.

Never mind that all the external antenna sites sell that type of f-adapter for the 8900, and there's nothing in any of the documentaion about NOT plugging in an antenna into that port. You would think that would be a major point they would want to emphasize, seeing how it totally borks the phone up and it makes it useless.

The verizon guy also called audiovox, and apparently there is an external antenna made for the 8900, but the guy from audiovox didn't know a model number, where it connected or where to buy one.

Needless to say I'm pretty fed up with audiovox at this point. I guess I'll hit some of the major cell phone stores in the area and see if I can find an antenna for this phone.