Antenna for 6340i

I have lousy reception at my house with my 6340i. If I go outside it is
better but not good. I keep Cingular because of the calling plan that I
have and I travel a great deal.
So - is there an antenna or booster that I can connect that will actually
work and not cost an arm and a ear? I checked www.smoothtalker.com and
found their prices to be outrageous.
Thanks in advance.
Shelley

---

› See More: Antenna for 6340i

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 4 Dec 2003 16:14:36
-0500, "Carp" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I have lousy reception at my house with my 6340i. If I go outside it is
>better but not good. I keep Cingular because of the calling plan that I
>have and I travel a great deal.
>So - is there an antenna or booster that I can connect that will actually
>work and not cost an arm and a ear? I checked www.smoothtalker.com and
>found their prices to be outrageous.

* Andrew Corporation (EAC-50 Repeater Kit, Model ASPM1850-50,
<http://www.antenna.com/repeaters/eac50_pcs.html>, 440-349-8647)

* CellAntenna Corporation (CAE50 SOHO Repeater Package,
<http://www.cellantenna.com/repeater/CAE50new.htm>, 877-998-2628)

* Wilson Electronics (BD800AM-B / BD800AM-B50,
<http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/amps/wcamps.htm>, 800-204-4104)

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

Have you tried forcing a TDMA connection instead of your default GSM?

"Carp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have lousy reception at my house with my 6340i. If I go outside it is
> better but not good. I keep Cingular because of the calling plan that I
> have and I travel a great deal.
> So - is there an antenna or booster that I can connect that will actually
> work and not cost an arm and a ear? I checked www.smoothtalker.com and
> found their prices to be outrageous.
> Thanks in advance.
> Shelley
>
>

The little rubber plug on the back of your phone covers an antenna port.
There are adapters that let you connect nearly any cell phone antenna, or
you can pick up a small mag-mount antenna that may do the trick. As for
boosters, don't bother. Any passive system does little or nothing and active
systems cost more than you want to spend (probably). The antenna adapters
are the same ones used on the older 5100/6100/7100, so you may find a used
one really cheap or free.

Mark
"Carp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have lousy reception at my house with my 6340i. If I go outside it is
> better but not good. I keep Cingular because of the calling plan that I
> have and I travel a great deal.
> So - is there an antenna or booster that I can connect that will actually
> work and not cost an arm and a ear? I checked www.smoothtalker.com and
> found their prices to be outrageous.
> Thanks in advance.
> Shelley
>
>


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.542 / Virus Database: 336 - Release Date: 11/18/2003

The Wilson "trucker" style dual-band antenna has great reviews and the specs
(db gain) are good. Do some Googling to find it.

I picked up a very small (and cheap) magnetic mount antenna when I was in a
bind, and I'll even use it at the house. If you get one of these magnetic
antennas, stick it to something metal (cookie sheet maybe) and get it
outside your building or in the attic if you have enough cable.

Radio Shack had started to sell a new one a few months ago that sticks with
suction cups to the inside of a window (car or home). Also get the Nokia to
TNC adapter, also avaiable at Radio Shack, and give that a try.




"Mark W. Oots" <mark_ctc@(delete this)ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The little rubber plug on the back of your phone covers an antenna port.
> There are adapters that let you connect nearly any cell phone antenna, or
> you can pick up a small mag-mount antenna that may do the trick. As for
> boosters, don't bother. Any passive system does little or nothing and
active
> systems cost more than you want to spend (probably). The antenna adapters
> are the same ones used on the older 5100/6100/7100, so you may find a used
> one really cheap or free.
>
> Mark
> "Carp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I have lousy reception at my house with my 6340i. If I go outside it is
> > better but not good. I keep Cingular because of the calling plan that I
> > have and I travel a great deal.
> > So - is there an antenna or booster that I can connect that will
actually
> > work and not cost an arm and a ear? I checked www.smoothtalker.com and
> > found their prices to be outrageous.
> > Thanks in advance.
> > Shelley
> >
> >
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.542 / Virus Database: 336 - Release Date: 11/18/2003
>
>

Mark W. Oots wrote:
> Any passive system does little or nothing and active
> systems cost more than you want to spend (probably).

My passive repeater work extremely well.

18 dBd gain double bowtie arrays on chimney feeding a 12 dBd
colinear in hall closet with 30 feet of 3/8" Andres Heliax.

Many truck stops also carry these. Look to spend $50-$60 for the antenna
and another $10-$15 for the adapter (which can be hard to find)
"Hi There" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The Wilson "trucker" style dual-band antenna has great reviews and the
specs
> (db gain) are good. Do some Googling to find it.
>
> I picked up a very small (and cheap) magnetic mount antenna when I was in
a
> bind, and I'll even use it at the house. If you get one of these magnetic
> antennas, stick it to something metal (cookie sheet maybe) and get it
> outside your building or in the attic if you have enough cable.
>
> Radio Shack had started to sell a new one a few months ago that sticks
with
> suction cups to the inside of a window (car or home). Also get the Nokia
to
> TNC adapter, also avaiable at Radio Shack, and give that a try.
>
>
>
>
> "Mark W. Oots" <mark_ctc@(delete this)ameritech.net> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > The little rubber plug on the back of your phone covers an antenna port.
> > There are adapters that let you connect nearly any cell phone antenna,
or
> > you can pick up a small mag-mount antenna that may do the trick. As for
> > boosters, don't bother. Any passive system does little or nothing and
> active
> > systems cost more than you want to spend (probably). The antenna
adapters
> > are the same ones used on the older 5100/6100/7100, so you may find a
used
> > one really cheap or free.
> >
> > Mark
> > "Carp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > I have lousy reception at my house with my 6340i. If I go outside it
is
> > > better but not good. I keep Cingular because of the calling plan that
I
> > > have and I travel a great deal.
> > > So - is there an antenna or booster that I can connect that will
> actually
> > > work and not cost an arm and a ear? I checked www.smoothtalker.com
and
> > > found their prices to be outrageous.
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > > Shelley
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.542 / Virus Database: 336 - Release Date: 11/18/2003
> >
> >
>
>

"JRW" <no_addy@no_.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Mark W. Oots wrote:
> > Any passive system does little or nothing and active
> > systems cost more than you want to spend (probably).
>
> My passive repeater work extremely well.
>
> 18 dBd gain double bowtie arrays on chimney feeding a 12 dBd
> colinear in hall closet with 30 feet of 3/8" Andres Heliax.
>

I guess I should have known that a radio guy besides myself was lurking
here. I should have qualified it by saying "the typical passive systems that
sell on TV for $19.95 don't work...." I'm currently working on trying to get
coverage in an underground limestone mine....260ft below the surface. First
try was antennas with Radiax....bi-directional amps work better, but turn a
corner and it's gone....Still trying.....The place already has radios that
work down there (multiple repeaters, voting receivers, diversity antenna
system). I keep trying to convince the bosses that it's the only place they
can hide and if I get the phones to work, they can never hide, but........At
least they pay for each generation of experimentation.

Mark




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.547 / Virus Database: 340 - Release Date: 12/2/2003

no i have not and i would have no idea how to do it - please tell me how

Mark W. Oots wrote:
> "JRW" <no_addy@no_.com> wrote in message
>>My passive repeater work extremely well.
>>
>>18 dBd gain double bowtie arrays on chimney feeding a 12 dBd
>>colinear in hall closet with 30 feet of 3/8" Andres Heliax.
>>
>
>
> I guess I should have known that a radio guy besides myself was lurking
> here. I should have qualified it by saying "the typical passive systems that
> sell on TV for $19.95 don't work...." I'm currently working on trying to get
> coverage in an underground limestone mine....260ft below the surface. First
> try was antennas with Radiax....bi-directional amps work better, but turn a
> corner and it's gone....Still trying.....The place already has radios that
> work down there (multiple repeaters, voting receivers, diversity antenna
> system).

Have you tried a 12 dBd Yagi pointed down the "hallways"...or for better
broadband, an LPDA?

On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 16:20:49 -0800, "dirty rat 753"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Have you tried forcing a TDMA connection instead of your default GSM?

You can't force nothin' on a 6340i. You get what's available and
preferred.

>"Carp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I have lousy reception at my house with my 6340i. If I go outside it is
>> better but not good. I keep Cingular because of the calling plan that I
>> have and I travel a great deal.
>> So - is there an antenna or booster that I can connect that will actually
>> work and not cost an arm and a ear? I checked www.smoothtalker.com and
>> found their prices to be outrageous.
>> Thanks in advance.
>> Shelley
>>
>>
>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To send an email reply send to
GSMthemobilestandard ( yahoo.com

Group Special Mobile wrote:

> On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 16:20:49 -0800, "dirty rat 753"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Have you tried forcing a TDMA connection instead of your default GSM?
>
>
> You can't force nothin' on a 6340i. You get what's available and
> preferred.


Actually, that's not entirely true. I'm aware of a couple of Cingular
folks that force their 6340i handsets into TDMA only mode by using the
Field Test menu (geek mode). One day I may get bold enough to learn how
to do this myself.

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sat, 06 Dec 2003 13:03:14 -0600, Jer
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Group Special Mobile wrote:

>> You can't force nothin' on a 6340i. You get what's available and
>> preferred.
>
>Actually, that's not entirely true. I'm aware of a couple of Cingular
>folks that force their 6340i handsets into TDMA only mode by using the
>Field Test menu (geek mode).

Or so they say. (Internet claims are cheap.)

>One day I may get bold enough to learn how
>to do this myself.

Let us know how you do.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

John Navas wrote:

> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Sat, 06 Dec 2003 13:03:14 -0600, Jer
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Group Special Mobile wrote:
>
>
>>>You can't force nothin' on a 6340i. You get what's available and
>>>preferred.
>>
>>Actually, that's not entirely true. I'm aware of a couple of Cingular
>>folks that force their 6340i handsets into TDMA only mode by using the
>>Field Test menu (geek mode).
>
>
> Or so they say. (Internet claims are cheap.)

I've actually seen them do this. They feverishly punch buttons for a
few moments and then start smiling.

>
>
>>One day I may get bold enough to learn how
>>to do this myself.
>
>
> Let us know how you do.


I'll jump back in here and post what works.


--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

Chip wrote:

> They are setting the Cell Barr screen (01-13) to REVERSE and then power
> cycling the handset. The handset will no longer register with an active
> public GSM network (unless served by a site that is also "barred"). The
> 6340i then looks for a TDMA network. Once registered on a TDMA network, the
> handset may periodically re-scan for GSM and fail. This re-scanning activity
> could be perceived as a minor annoyance. Frequency of re-scanning will
> depend on whether the serving TDMA network is home, preferred, neutral etc.
>
> "Cell barring" is a feature of all GSM network infrastructure, and can be
> conditioned on both handsets and sites. It is intended for use by
> engineering folks to test sites that are not yet integrated into the
> network. When a cell is barred, a handset is then set to "reverse" the
> barred status, in order to enable access and testing. Handsets normally need
> to be flashed with test software, or used with a test sim. In the case of
> the 6340i, this feature is included in the field test menus that can be
> unlocked from the keypad.
>
> It is a crude "hack". Use at your own risk...
>
>


Since I'm neither crude nor a hack, and assuming your description above
is an accurate characterisation of the procedure they're using, I'll
confirm before getting risky.

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur