T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone

[jeffharding]

I am trying to find parts for my pocket pc phone. I need an antenna extension that fits under the antenna cover/stylus holder. It seems like a basic piece of hardware for cellular phones, but i can't find one anywhere. I tried talking with T-mobile, but they had no idea. I was trying to get in touch with Microsoft, but you know how that is. Is there a hardware store or something online that could supply me with this 'antenna cap'? Thanks.

[hudsonsmith]

Try the manufacturer of the phone.

[WebHead]

You might try T-Mobile again, but be sure to ask for their tech support department. The customer care reps usually don't know about stuff like that.

As far as MS knowing,.. doubtful. Any chance of a make/model for that device? I could ask one of my peeps over at Cingular/ATT to see if they know.

One last thing,.. if it's reception you are trying to improve,.. I wouldn't even bother. It more than likely won't make any difference. Especially on a pocketpc device. They already draw so much power as it is,.. you'll have no battery life left if you boost the antenna power. For better reception, the only answer is to switch to a different carrier.

[jeffharding]

You might try T-Mobile again, but be sure to ask for their tech support department. The customer care reps usually don't know about stuff like that.

As far as MS knowing,.. doubtful. Any chance of a make/model for that device? I could ask one of my peeps over at Cingular/ATT to see if they know.

One last thing,.. if it's reception you are trying to improve,.. I wouldn't even bother. It more than likely won't make any difference. Especially on a pocketpc device. They already draw so much power as it is,.. you'll have no battery life left if you boost the antenna power. For better reception, the only answer is to switch to a different carrier.

I do believe that T-Mobile is the manufacturer or outsources to someone else. Thats why it is difficult to find parts for it. All cell phone searches really dont have T-Mobile as a mfr like motorola or samsung. I do think that adding this piece will help though. WHen i take the cap off and put a piece of metal (like the stylus or paper clip) against the existing antenna, it does boost the signal significantly. its worth a try i guess, this part can be more than $1 maybe. Its just a metal butt-end that pops right on to the antenna. I wish i had a picture to show you.

I do think i will go back to T-mobile., but this does seem like a piece that i could find for any GPRS cell phone module. Any online hardware stores that sell those parts? I tried Digikey, but it is too hard to search for it there. Thanks again.

[Shalafi]

Jeff,

T-mobile, Cingular/AT&T Wireless/Verizon etc.. are simply cellular service providers. None of them actually make anything except money from selling their services. The manufacturers of cell phones would be companies like Nokia, Samsung, LG, Kyocera, Sony/Ericson, etc.. The carriers buy their phones from these people, put a little sticker on it and sell it with their name glued to it.

I would advise that you look for a cellular phone accessories store. Microsoft will be of zero use to you here. One that I like (other's opinions may vary) is Expansys - www.expansys-usa.com . They are UK based but that is their USA site. They have a tremendous variety of accessories at great prices. Ive had nothing but good experiences with them personally.

On a last note, I am a T-mobile user also. While I like them as a company about 1000x more than Cingular, they do pale in comparison with Cingular as their coverage goes. Cingular covers almost everywhere in the states, where T-mobile is mainly covering cities on major interstates (which works just fine for me). However, T-mobile has MUCH better pricing. I pay $65 a month for 1000 anytime/anywhere minutes, unlimited GPRS internet (with all the bells and whistles), and a few other little add-ons. I have a Nokia 9500 Communicator (absolutely incredible device btw) and for these same services using Cingular, it would cost me over $160 a month. In addition to costing more, I would also get Cingular's notoriously terrible service. *shudders* I have had nothing but bad experiences with them, whereas my experiences with T-mobile have never been anything but positive.

HTH
Shal

[Shalafi]

You might try T-Mobile again, but be sure to ask for their tech support department. The customer care reps usually don't know about stuff like that.

As far as MS knowing,.. doubtful. Any chance of a make/model for that device? I could ask one of my peeps over at Cingular/ATT to see if they know.

One last thing,.. if it's reception you are trying to improve,.. I wouldn't even bother. It more than likely won't make any difference. Especially on a pocketpc device. They already draw so much power as it is,.. you'll have no battery life left if you boost the antenna power. For better reception, the only answer is to switch to a different carrier.

Using a passive gain device will do nothing to affect battery life. Its the same concept as using a reflector behind a light bulb to focus the light in a particular direction. This will not decrease the battery life of a flashlight whatsoever. The only way battery life would be affected is if an active device like an amplification circuit were to be installed, which I know to be banned by the FCC, and I know of nobody that sells something like this on the open market (in the US at least). The FCC would crush them like a bug for trying to exceed the maximum power output allowed by law. I can only imagine that most other countries have similar laws regulating this.

Shal

[jeffharding]

I will probably be better off going to a electronic hardware store like a glorified radio shack. its just a butt end to an antenna. in my previous job, i used to work with wireless devices, where we would take a cell phone module and put it into a box and do wireless routing. I just dont remember where my boss would get the modules from. he had antennas everywhere. too bad i dont work there anymore

[WebHead]

I think I know the answer to your poor signal. I remember the pocket pc we used to sell was 1900MHz in the U.S. and 900MHz internationally. Now, you have to be within line of sight of the cell tower to get a good signal from a 1900MHz band. Because of this, they rolled out the 850MHz band on throughout most of the GSM towers. 850 has less voice clarity, but a larger coverage radius which equals less dropped calls.

So here's what I'm saying,.. if your pocketpc device only supports 1900MHz, then you will ALWAYS get dropped calls often. Nothing you can do about that. Check and see if it does 850 also.

Also,.. sometimes people buy these international tri-band phones on ebay to save a buck,.. but what happens is that they get 1900/900/1800 (still missing the 850 band). You can get a U.S. tri-band device also, but it should be 1900/850/900 or 1800 to work well over here. Most carriers here sell quad band devices now.