I was a Nextel customer sometime back. I still have several Nextels that use for Direct Talk. I am considering buying more and I want to get some that have the best range. I know the i325 and i325IS had good range because of the fixed antenna. Does anybody here happen to know what other Nextels have a fixed antenna and have good range?
You can put a fixed antenna on i355 and i275. It also fits other phones(i305,i265,)but no direct talk on those. The i315 I am not 100% but I think that has direct talk and the antenna will fit. You used to be able to order the antenna from Motorola if you search old threads you can find part # and where to order.
I didn't find the rubber antenna to make much of a difference. A good battery is most important. A old battery may take a charge but might not have the the amps when you key the mic for the phone to put out good. Candy bar style phones also put out better than flip phones.
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I have used it a good bit with i580's but only a few times with a little distance. 1 phone in a wood structure with a metal roof and the other on the other side of dense woods they worked up to about a mile. Both in dense woods about 2 miles. On job sites ( mostly cemant plants) we didn't have any problems from in metal structure to quarries which probably spanned 1/2 a mile a way . Other uses have been in new construction commercial buildings or from the inside of walkin coolers that sealed metal cans to outer buildings
You can put a fixed antenna on i355 and i275. It also fits other phones(i305,i265,)but no direct talk on those. The i315 I am not 100% but I think that has direct talk and the antenna will fit. You used to be able to order the antenna from Motorola if you search old threads you can find part # and where to order.
I didn't find the rubber antenna to make much of a difference. A good battery is most important. A old battery may take a charge but might not have the the amps when you key the mic for the phone to put out good. Candy bar style phones also put out better than flip phones.
If your phone is not meant for the fixed antenna installing one may not improve anything. As a matter of fact it will hurt your reception because the antenna height has to do with tuning the radio signal to match the antenna.
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I had a i325 and a i355 they both work slightly better with a fixed antenna but its hardly any difference. Isn't the fixed antenna the same height as a extended stock i355 antenna?
Thank you for the reply. I have been considering some of those. What kind of range do you get? Can you talk 1 mile unit to unit or not that far?
Trees, buildings, obstructions make it harder for long range. In general yo can easily get 1 mile. If it's flat, no obstructions the range can be longer.
But antenna height is determined by the wave length of the radio. Motorola tunes the antenna for that model for the best reception. Adding a longer antenna can actually hinder your reception rather than helping. A while back there were a few posters that claimed the rubber duckie antenna from the i325is helped their i305, that's bologna tried it, added nothing. I'm not saying it hurt but it added nothing plus you lost the collapsible antenna which is smaller.
My family and I will be going on a cruise later this month, so I will bring along the Nextels that I have. None of mine have longer fixed antennas. All of mine are collapsible/retractable. I guess I don't know how far they will work on the ship, but I guess I will find out!
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Originally Posted by 455olds
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