VisorCentral.com - Minstrel S Antenna

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VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Communications (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=20)
-- Minstrel S Antenna (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=10235)

Posted by Brooklyn on 12-20-2000 02:26 PM:

I notice the antenna screws off the Minstrel S modem. And I was wondering if anyone knows of, or has tried using any other type off antenna to increase the signal strength?

[Edited by Brooklyn on 12-20-2000 at 09:35 AM]

Posted by mxgian on 12-20-2000 08:16 PM:

check the archives

there were discussions about this a few weeks back, the antennae from my samsung 3500 phone will fit the minstrel, so it looks like a standard antennae size.

check with local phone places and get back?

Posted by valodya on 12-20-2000 10:53 PM:

I've used, well, um, a big hunk of aluminum foil, rolled it up and stuck it in the hole. It did wonders for reception in my apartment, so a bigger antenna definately helps, but tin foil is a less than satisfactory solution in the long run . So, I'd also be interested in finding some kind of antenna replacement.

Posted by EricG on 01-02-2001 11:58 PM:

thanks for the aluminum foil idea.. Solved one of the problems I was having,, Any luck finding a "real" replacement antenna yet?

-Eric

Posted by krelvin on 01-03-2001 07:36 AM:

Foil was a major improvement...

I will try just about anything... attaching a small piece of foil to the existing antenna, made such a dramatic difference in signal, I can't wait to get to work where I've not been able to get any signal in my office yet at all and try it.

I have been wondering for a couple weeks if a different antenna would make it better and the foil proved it can make a difference.

I am a bit worried though about the foil causing a problem with the modem (wrong wavelength) and it really looks stupid on top of a piece of equiment that so far has cost more than $799 for the Unit and the Modem (anyone get their first $100 rebate back yet?)...

I've fired off a question to Omnisky to see if they have such an option. The Modem manufacture would most likely be a better place to ask though I think...

__________________
Kevin Reed
TNET Services
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Posted by EricG on 01-03-2001 04:10 PM:

Yes it looks stupid, but it works! My wife just laughs when she sees it!

I read in another post somewhere that the antenna connector may be similar to a Samsung 3500 cell phone.. I'm going to look around and see if this is true.

Initially (before the foil) I thought I had a defective modem.

-Eric

Posted by valodya on 01-03-2001 09:07 PM:

And here I thought aluminum foil was a really silly idea... Glad it helped. I haven't found a better solution, but the happy thing for me is, I don't need it. Strangely,reception in my neighborhood went from really iffy to pretty good. The first week and a half, I *might* have gotten reception if I stood by the window, hence the tin foil. All of a sudden, I had no problem getting connected. I could even get solid reception in my bedroom (surfing in bed, woohoo!), when previously I couldn't get any signal at all. So what is it? Did they build a new tower? Fix a busted one? Sunspots? Whatever it is, I hope it stays fixed. Good luck on your antenna hunt. Post your solution if you find one. I might still need it some day.

Posted by rdinterm on 01-04-2001 01:58 AM:

Strengely enough, I also have noticed a tremendous improvement in the OmniSky signal. Not sure if is what they did with a tower...I live West of Washington DC, signal was OK until about a week ago...then it was very strong.
I am in Richmond, VA tonight, and was able to get a good signal even inside some buildings.

__________________
Ray
m505

Posted by dredhead on 01-04-2001 10:07 PM:

Re: Foil was a major improvement...

quote:
Originally posted by krelvin

I am a bit worried though about the foil causing a problem with the modem (wrong wavelength)

I used to sell Ericsson cellphones back when Northern California first got digital. The early ones had long whip antennas that were ugly but functional. A whole bunch of my customers saw the little nub available for the analog phones, and bought it for their digitals. Three months later I started getting the first of a flood of phones with burnt-out tranceivers. Turns out the analog nub was the wrong length and was causing some sort of weird harmonic RF thingie that was bad juju for the phone.

That was long ago. I wonder if it's still an issue.

__________________
...the patron saint of the easily amused...

Posted by Brooklyn on 01-04-2001 11:03 PM:

A friend of mine let me use the antenna from her Samsungs phone on my Minstrel S modem, which I must say it fit like a glove and looked pretty cool. The signal did improve very noticeably. I browsed around with this antenna attached for a couple of hours and had no problems. I guess any antenna that fits the Samsung SCH-3500 will fit the modem. Remember this is a retractable antenna and you will not be able to close it when attached to the modem. I also saw a couple of flexible antennas on the Internet that can be used on the SCH-3500 that should fit the Minstrel.

Posted by chrisfoster on 01-05-2001 03:07 AM:

I placed my soda can next to my Visor today, but I didn't see much improvement.

Posted by Brooklyn on 01-05-2001 11:05 AM:

chrisfoster,
Make sure there is no Vodka in the soda' otherwise it wont work.

Posted by swendor on 01-05-2001 12:08 PM:

I'm curious to know which model Visor you all are using with the Minstrel S. I had a non optimized DX and tried to use my cell phone antenna to improve reception but it didn't perform any better. I got a signal late at night, 1-3am, but that was probably due to less interference in the air. Because the next morning I got nothing.

I didn't notice any real improvement until I got my optimized DX yesterday. Now I get a stable signal from anywhere inside my condo, with only a few drop-offs when I go to the back of the house. I do all this with the original stub antenna.

Posted by EricG on 01-05-2001 04:14 PM:

I have a Prism. I only noticed poor performance when I am in my apartment. Otherwise the stub works fine. I think the issues with my poor performace is probably due to many factors, one being distance from the nearest cell tower (from what I can tell it's kinda far away), I live on the first floor of a two family home, the house used to have gas lighting, and has forced hot air, so I am sure there is lots of metal around me, and there are other large homes close togther on this street.. I am going to try to locate a replacment Smasung 3500 antenna and try it out. (hopefully they will put up a cell tower closer to my home soon)

-Eric

Posted by krelvin on 01-05-2001 06:10 PM:

OmniSky's Reponse

I send a message to [email protected] and got back a reply...

quote:
At this time we offer one different antenna that for the any of the modems. You can purchase a different antenna from a parts store, however we don't support any dismantling of the modem itself.

Thinking that by parts store, they had a place on their website called that, I didn't find one. So I called support and was told that they currently are not allowed to say anything about using replacement antenna's for the unit, If someone asks.

I told her that I just got a message from support today talking about it and she went to talk to her sup's. She came back and said that the other antenna doesn't make a difference.

I told her that Foil did, but it looked kind of stupid. She seemed suprised that it made a difference which I told her was a dramatic difference.

Will have to look into the Samsung Antennas mentioned above to check it out.

I like the modem a lot, when I have a signal. But the signal is too weak in the couple places that I really want to use the unit and foil does make it work perfectly there.

__________________
Kevin Reed
TNET Services
<IMG src=http://www.tnet.com/images/flag_az.gif>

Posted by dpdamour on 01-05-2001 09:16 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by krelvin
I called support and was told that they currently are not allowed to say anything about using replacement antenna's for the unit, If someone asks.

I would imagine that it has to do with a signal skipping into another cell area and causing inteference. The host cell system probably has guidelines and penalties if the radio transcievers cause problems for others.

quote:
Originally posted by krelvin
I told her that Foil did, but it looked kind of stupid. She seemed suprised that it made a difference which I told her was a dramatic difference.

I like the modem a lot, when I have a signal. But the signal is too weak in the couple places that I really want to use the unit and foil does make it work perfectly there.

The foil and better antenna would probably improve the signal only in poor signal areas. In good signal areas it would probably do little or may even cause problems for the Minstrel by providing too strong a signal.

I haven't had the opportunity to use the O/M in downtown Phoenix or in any of the big buildings but I think they would cause the signal to be weaker than in the open areas.

=Dave=

__________________
I do NOT look wierd! I just look ... "different".

Posted by adfleisher on 01-05-2001 10:22 PM:

I found the answer!!!

Hey, my wife came home with these cheesy looking "antenna boosters" that she saw at Best Buy for use with cell phones. She attached one to her Eriksson 588 (it goes under the battery, and it's paper thin), and I'll be damned if she didn't go from 2 bars to 5 on her signal strength. I tried puting one on the back side of the Minstrel (inside the springboard slot when modem is inserted), and I now have full signal strength even in remote areas out here in Oregon. I highly recomend anyone having issues to try this instead of the tin foil on their antennas.

Drew

__________________
"Whoever said bigger isn't better...Lied!"

Posted by mxgian on 01-05-2001 10:29 PM:

adfleisher,

Which brand and model did she pick up? I've always been skeptical of those from the start, but it seemed to have worked for you!

Minh

Posted by Brooklyn on 01-05-2001 11:17 PM:

Now I'm pretty pissed. I tried my Minstrel S with a longer antenna on my wife�s optimized Visor Deluxe and got a full green signal bar (� with the stub antenna). When I tried it with my Prism in the same area I could only get � of the bar (� bar with stub antenna). I guess whatever optimizing they are doing to the Visor Deluxe they should do to the Prism. I also read the Platinum gets an even better signal. By the way I found a compatible antenna at Radio Shack for $3.99

Posted by EricG on 01-06-2001 03:54 AM:

Brooklyn - What was the Radio Shack antenna? Do you have a part number? Is it a cell phone antenna or a "generic" cordless phone one? I looked but couldn't find anything that looked like it would work.

adfleisher - She got the booster at best buy? Can you describe it? I am guessing it was found where they sell the cell phones?

Thanks.

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