External Antenna Connection

Question

Level 1

14 points

External Antenna Connection

I am a traveling salesman doing lots of work on the open road all across the country. I currently use a Treo650 snapped into a charging cradle with an external antenna connector and a signal amplifier with a magnetic antenna on the roof of the vehicle. The setup is very effective and has improved my driving safety dramatically. I am eager to switch to an iPhone for many reasons, but cannot do it unless I can get reception in the middle of "No Where, USA" with my amplifier.

Question 1: Which pins on the 30 pin connector are for an external antenna connection?

Question 2: If none of them are connected from the factory, then does anyone know how to change the iPhone's connections internally to accomplish the task?

Question 3: If Question 2 is not feasible, then does anyone know if an iPhone cradle is being designed with a built in "shoe" to accomplish the same task as the Wilson SignalBoost Universal Connector? This type of "shoe" would automatically make contact with the antenna section when the iPhone is plugged into the cradle without the use of duct tape or velcro.

Thanks.

Posted on Aug 27, 2007 3:04 PM

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Answer 1

rkkeller

Level 1

137 points

Aug 28, 2007 12:04 PM in response to Texas iBook

From what I know you cant.

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Answer 2

Aug 28, 2007 12:41 PM in response to Texas iBook

as far as i know it is the same as the ipod. it should be able to be done with a little creativity and some working knowledge of the iphone but after spending 600$ on something do your really want to void its warrantee?

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Answer 3

mikeab

Level 2

255 points

Aug 28, 2007 2:00 PM in response to bikerdudepost

Check out this thread from just a few days ago.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5202496&#5202496

mikeab 🙂

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Answer 4

Texas iBook Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 28, 2007 4:46 PM in response to mikeab

The thread mentioned doesn't answer my question and I reviewed it prior to my submission. I have been using a Wilson adapter, amplifier, and antenna for years with my Treo650 in a THB Bury Comfort Plus cradle with great success.

The Wilson Universal Adapter (not contact) velcroed onto the iPhone gave marginal results - the data suggests direct contact is required. Again, I am seeking an iPhone cradle solution (permanent installation), not a bunch of velcro, duct tape, and wires running everywhere.

Thanks.

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Answer 5

Aug 28, 2007 5:03 PM in response to Texas iBook

That other thread is the ONLY thing out there right now for the iPhone, there are no other solutions. There are barely any fm-transmitter solutions at this point.

Things like the external antennas and such are not usually done by the phone manufacturers, but by third party distributors. The 3rd party distributors got zero information from Apple prior to the iPhone release except for the size of the unit and types of connectors it uses -- hence, all that is really out there right now are thirty different brands of cases, and a few extra chargers.

Apple won't be creating anything like this on their own, so you are sort of up to looking at other distributors -- companies like pocketsolutions.com and mobileplanet.com sometimes create these sorts of things, although right now they have very little available. You might have better luck with one of them as far as requesting they develop something.

You should also take a look at the website everythingIphone.com to see what people there are coming up with.

The external antenna/dock sounds like a good add-on for a lot of people, so one of the companies might be interested in your feedback to them.

But for now, there isn't anything.

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Answer 6

Derald

Level 1

69 points

Aug 28, 2007 5:59 PM in response to Texas iBook

Take a look at this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=21845 60&CatId=1739
I have an extender for my house from these people. Mine works very well and I always have 5 bars in my home now. I previously had 1-2. A friend of mine has an auto extender similar to the above. It has a roof antenna and two small inside antennas. It works with dc power. I got into his vehicle with my old mororola v3 on a ranch ten miles off the highway. I could make calls from his vehicle . My phone had always been useless on this ranch. The phone connected wirelessly to the antenna. I tried to call him tonight to see if the one at Tiger Direct was the one he has, but, he is not at home. Try to Google: wireless cell phone extender or something similar.

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Answer 7

Texas iBook Author

Level 1

14 points

Sep 10, 2007 8:38 AM in response to Derald

Thanks. An extender is the direction I may have to go. I was trying to stay hard-wired.

I know someone will come out with an inductive antenna mounted in a cradle sometime. It's just too early in the game since Apple was close-lipped on the design.

I'm marking this as closed.

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