2018-06-16 at 7:01 PM UTC
Been using my phone for my internet connection ( use an app that makes it a Wifi hotspot ). Worked well except I have to keep the phone way across the building where it gets a strong 4G signal, because If I keep it next to me where my computer is it only gets a couple bars and I get poor speeds. This sucks because I never hear the phone ring or beep for messages.
I need a new phone and a new laptop, so I was wondering if anyone knows good models that have accessible antenna ports ( like the little SMA coaxial connector or something). Then I could install an outdoor/rooftop antenna and bring the antenna cable right to my desk.
2018-06-16 at 7:12 PM UTC
Which carrier are you using?
2018-06-16 at 7:16 PM UTC
T Mobez, willing to switch or add a second carrier for one of the devices but I have had a great experience on their network using pretty heavy amounts of data. Signal just doesn't penetrate far into this building too well.
2018-06-16 at 7:27 PM UTC
most cheap phones does have a micro coaxial connector inside them. those that do not have two stripe of metal pin that touch the antennas terminals.
2018-06-16 at 7:53 PM UTC
signal booster, yeh maybe thats what i should get. it's kind of funny to me that the "round about" way of making something work is the simplest.
to me it is more logical to plug an antenna into the device, rather than add a device and have two antennas and "repeat" the signals.
Do laptops not have expansion ports anymore? Some of em used to have PCMCIA slots for add on cards.
2018-06-17 at 6:32 PM UTC
aldra
JIDF Controlled Opposition
Originally posted by apt
Everything is moving to USB-C/Thunderbolt, you have to buy a high end business workstation laptop to even get a PCIe expansion slot these days
the thunderbolt spec is insanely insecure
also op, if you open your laptop you'll see that the internal antenna is literally just two wires running around the frame of the laptop and snapped into the wlan/4G cards. it's very easy to solder or jumper an external antenna onto the card.
If it's a cheap laptop and you're not too concerned about damaging it, you could easily drill a hole in the body and wire in a Yagi or something. If you're a bit more proficient, you could make a plug and socket for it (unless it's one of those ultracompact laptops, there's not much space in there for modding anything).
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2018-06-17 at 6:36 PM UTC
I'd be scared to do it myself. Interested in the Thinkpad T or P series, I would be thrilled to have a professional looking antenna connector out the side, wired to the cellular card.
2018-06-17 at 6:55 PM UTC
joerell
African Astronaut
[twine our circinate supersymmetry]
Wifi tethering is probably your best bet to simplify things. For example buy a MotoG6 phone for around $240 and install the Clock Work Mod tethering App with no root needed. Then all you require is a fast data plan and you can either use a LT or small 7" Tab to travel with. Simple is better...more complicated just makes things harder.
2018-06-17 at 7:12 PM UTC
joerell
African Astronaut
[twine our circinate supersymmetry]
I know, but his phone is fucked also...so if he's buying a new one no sense staying with TM. He has to check what provider in his area has the best signal or where he travels and it still may be TM considering his unit is faulty. I doubt it...yet still possible.