Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

**Note, for those having problems viewing pics, I will upload the pics to INSTRUCTABLES when I make a project for it and update the material used for the Antenna.

Ok, I have done projects like this in the past with PDAs and USB WiFi Adapters.

I find that my connection to my nearest router only gives me on average 15-25% connection.

So, I took my N810 apart and over doubled my signal, it's now at about 35-50%

First, remove the battery panel and pry off the top panel.

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/75/75/...4FPdyjl_th.jpg

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/74/174...4GBsMTW_th.jpg

That little gold metal part is your antenna "connector" that contacts the mainboard WiFi PAD to the antenna strip hidden in the back.

Then pry apart the black plastic part that holds the speakers and your pathetic WiFi antenna.

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/62/762...4ewiBTh_th.jpg

Look at the green plastic coated metal strip, there is your "antenna".

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/96/96/...4RlhMol_th.jpg

Take a scribe or a sharp object and scrape away the plastic coating on each end.

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/96/96/...4XIaIte_th.jpg

Then I soldered a small strip of copper solder wick to each bare end and super glued the ends down in the corners.

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/75/75/...4dPvwep_th.jpg

Put it back together and enjoy the increased signal strength.

Future update "might" be to add an EXTERNAL connector or PIGTAIL for a removable antenna.

**UPDATE**
I have successfully modded the N810 and now my signal has jumped from an average of 60% to no less than 100% from where I usually access the router from, and I can attach an external antenna or "cantenna" for longer range.

At the moment, I am playing around with either adding a 90 degree connector OR a pigtail out the left side (I have to get a working pigtail).

I took apart the N810 just like before and removed the material I used to enhanced the antenna.
Then I drilled 5 holes to accommodate the adapter.

The middle pin on the adapter comes into contact with the "floating" pin that contacts the motherboard in the N810.

Even without the adapter pushed in or an antenna attached, my signal has increased significantly. Not sure why yet.

I went from having a quality of about 65% and a signal of -63 to -77dBm to a quality of 85-100% and a signal of -38 to -44dBm

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4461/1001217c.th.jpg

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9295/1001218j.th.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3069/1001219b.th.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6508/1001220g.th.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3970/1001222z.th.jpg

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Can you post these images somewhere I can actually view them properly? If you send them to me directly (email, perhaps), I'll gladly host them out of my pleco.org server (no bandwidth limit for me! yay!). WebShots is just a terrible place to put them if I don't have flash or if I disabled flash with NoScript.

Thanks!

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Looking to the third picture I see more space on the right side of "that thing"... maybe it is possible to get a 5/8 wave (or even a 3/4 wave) antenna inside the device...

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

What happens when you try to view them? I can see them fine.

Tim

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

"Looking to the third picture I see more space on the right side of "that thing"... maybe it is possible to get a 5/8 wave (or even a 3/4 wave) antenna inside the device..."

Saw that, but decided not to shave plastic off the middle divider, YET....
Maybe a future mod, or if you do it, let us know how well it works.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

I have an N800, so I guess there are some differences...
I wish I had access to some CNC machining tools... I would rebuild the N800 case to fit one thing or two (a bigger battery and an antenna connector are on top of the list and dreaming costs nothing) :D

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

I extended the "antenna" across to the other side and the strength dropped considerably

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

I'd be interested in extending the antenna outside of the case and using it with a parabolic antenna (like that kitchen strainer hack dealie). It's sometimes hard to catch even the public wifi here in downtown--definitely harder inside even against the windows.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

That's because the receiving circuitry is tuned for a 1/4 wave, so you would probably need to add an inductor to compensate the new antenna parasitic capacity... and it could be hard to get the right value :(

And even the medium you're using is not exactly perfect for an antenna... try a solid copper wire instead of that ;)

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

You see this:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8...FlashBlock.jpg

I'm sure that like me, danramos does not want to have to enable the Flash for that page just to see the images. I don't activate scripts I either am not sure about or find annoying.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

jhperez2009 is correct, precisely. It may be paranoid--but it's provably well founded security-mindedness that makes me block all scripts and plugins unless I know and trust the site I go to--and even then, I NEVER permit third party scripts or plugins unless I'm absolutely sure about it.

Thanks for posting the image, too!

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Yeah, I can't view them either. It keeps telling me I gotta sign up. As far as signal strength, I've never really had any problems with mine. Guess I'm just lucky.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Ah, ok. I'm looking at them on my Mac, so...

Tim

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Gmgfarrand, how is your project about the external connector going?

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Any ideas on how to increase strength or externalize it on an N800? (I don't want to open my N800 up unless I know it can be done and what to do.)

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

where did you get the copper solder wick-or can you use solid copper wire-say 1mm thick

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Copper DEsoldering wick is available at any store carrying electronics repair materials. Fry's carries it, Lowe's and Home Depot might, Radio Shack used to and may still.

To get the same effect, you would have to use multiple strands of light gauge wire.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

gmgfarrand, do you have any data on how long the wick should be? Do you get a greater increase if you double the length of the wick and fold it within the same side of the cubby? Or is just the length of the cubby optimum?

Sorry, I come from a background of satellite communications, where the shape of the antenna matters as much as the size.

--vr

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Anybody? :P

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

In a nutshell: purchase the male coax adapter you will need. Drill a hole somewhere in your tablet that will accomodate it. Solder the antenna leads to the adapter tabs (I would keep the old antenna as is). Screw on an auxilliary antenna. Done. :D

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Has anybody tried a cantenna with a NIT?

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

sounds logical, but have you tried this? would a tv rabbit ear antenna work with it ?

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Have not tried it, and a TV antenna like that *might* work but I do know the fitting sizes are different-- you would need an adapter. But keep in mind antennas are typically tuned for certain frequencies, so you're usually better off sticking to the proper one.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

what sort of antenna would you recommend? what about a string of copper desoldering wire?

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

The soldered solution mentioned in this thread simply beefs up the existing antenna-- I would not recommend that as an external solution.

For those considering this sort of surgery, I would recommend a typical router antenna. Linksys and other companies sell them; I bought mine at Best Buy. Not sure where to get the male threaded adapter for the tablet case though.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

2danramos
this hack and disassemble the n810 seems a bit sketchy to me
here are some suggestions
1 now that you know where to antenna is on the tablet you can hold the antenna at the focal point of a wok, steamer or any thing parabolic. point
2 you can use the same principal with a yagi. tear out the element of a yagi next to reflector and position the antenna/tablet where it was removed. point
3 strip 1/2 wavlength of coax cable and attach it 1/4 wavelength away and parallel to the antenna. attach the other end of the cable to your super antenna of choose. point
4 try using the usb on the go and a wifi dongle/antenna and don't forget to point


I challenge anyone to improve on these suggestions.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

That is easy but it becomes hard to use the tablet, and you'll have to be in front of the parabolic concentrator blocking the signal. So, not practical.
Unofortunately yagis are extremely sensitive to geometry, and over that, all the metal mass the tablet has. Won't work at all.
I don't visualize what are you proposing here. Could you explain? (a drawing would be ideal)
That's not the point of this thread. Furthermore, usb dongles are problematic to get working at best, particularly without a powered usb hub
From my point of view, the ideal sollution would be to get an additional back cover from nokia to play with and put there a connector for an external antenna. Probably expensive or impossible to get that part :(

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

not necessarily. i've seen n810 replacement parts like front plates and keyboard parts for sale on the web by 3rd party vendors.

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

2danramos I found this thread on the usb dongle http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=28884
2maacruz I'm just throwing ideas out there. 3 would be an antenna receiving connected to the coax that is in proximity of the nokia antenna. Is that as clear as mud.
question: does the hardware hack improve the gps reception or does that use a different antenna? there is an gps antenna hack for the n97

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Many of those expect bulk purchases though...

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

this one apparently doesn't: http://www.cellphone-repair-shop.com...ts.php?cat=554 ever heard of them?

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Nice find!

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

and a stylus only for merely $20!:eek:

Re: Increase WiFi Strength!!
 

Ok guys, new pics and results!