vB Easy Archive - External Antenna for TM150 from T-mobile

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External Antenna for TM150 from T-mobile
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Posted by: agaurav

Hi, I recently got a Sharp TM150 from T-mobile in Andover, MA. Unfortunately, it does not work well in my apartment and there is a weak signal only near a window. I can barely manage a "broken-voice" conversation.

T-mobile says that my 15-day trial period is over, they don't recommend any external antenna and service contract doesn't guarantee service insider buildings.

I google'd to see that there are quite a few external antenna like Wilson Dual-Band Magnetic Mount and Trucker mount etc. that may improve the signal reception. One needs to connect them to the small RF connector at the back of phone near the antenna.

Question: Has anyone used any such external antenna to improve TM150 reception from T-mobile or for that matter any provider (in Europe)?

Secondly, some people reported on the web that pulling the external antenna cable out of the phone made their phone lose the internal antenna!! It just wouldn't work again. This problem was reported for Motorola, Nokia and Audiovox phones but not for Sharp TM150. I am concerned nevertheless.

Any pointers, advice will be appreciate. Thanks in advance,
Gaurav

Posted by: MediaGuru

Using an external antenna like those found on the web (I found one for the TM150 here http://www.alternativewireless.com/...ccessories.html) might improve the reception from the fact that the antenna will have a higher gain than the one on the phone and you can place it near the window. I haven't tried it myself; I think I'd find it a hassle to have a cable connected to the phone all the time.
The plastic cover over the port is just a costmetic dust cover and removing it doesn't disconnect the internal antenna.

Posted by: agaurav

Oops. I didn't present the problem very well. I wasn't refering to the dust-cover. The problem people reported is that if you once use an external antenna then the internal antenna stops working. Look at:
howardforums.comt160068.html

The phone effectively becomes un-usable without the external antenna.

I don't mind the cable since I have no other option. I can hardly talk in my apartment so will have to settle for something like this other than paying an early termination fee to T-mobile and getting a Verizon CDMA.

Thanks!
Gaurav

Posted by: MediaGuru

I've personally had no problem with the TM150 (or any phone I've come across - I test loads of them). But I guess from reading those posts, some phones have a (poorly designed?) switch that doesn't re-engage when the cable is pulled out again. Of course, it could also be the external antenna's plug design could damage the connector or bend something so watch out.

Posted by: agaurav

I got a new Wilson Magnetic Mount antenna and adapter to connect it to my Sharp TM-150 phone. But it doesn't work. Connecting the external antenna to the phone neither improves performance nor degrades it.

The signal strength remains the same. How is this possible? It appears as if the external antenna adapter is not making any physical contact with the RF connector at the back of the phone. What to do?? Any ideas? I got the stuff new off ebay and there is no return policy only exchanges.

Gaurav

Posted by: nsx280ps

spending all the $$ on an external antenna, you could get urself another phone with good reputable RF...

I have a T150 also and the reception is quite bad... it wont get a signal when my other phones have 2-3 bars