Cell Phones with RF antenna ports/adapters

Maureen

While most modern mobile broadband modems (aircards) tend to have external antenna ports, cell phones and PDAs unfortunately do NOT often have antenna ports - or if they do, they may be hidden under a battery cover or plastic inlay. Worse yet, neither the carriers nor the manufacturers make it easy to find out if a phone has an antenna port, or where it might be on the phone.

This forum thread will discuss which phones have antenna ports, where the ports are, and which antenna adapter they use.

For a list of CURRENTLY AVAILABLE phones from Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T that have antenna ports (along with their location and which adapter they use), CLICK HERE. That article will be continually updated as Sprint/Verizon/AT&T release new phones or if we find new adapters for existing phones.

If you have an older phone that is NOT on that list that has an antenna port, please add it here! Make sure you note which adapter cable you are using, and where the port is.

Maureen · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

Below is a list of the CURRENTLY AVAILABLE (as of 9/3/09) phones/PDAs from Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T that have antenna ports, as well as where they are and which adapter they use (remember that "under battery cover" means you'll have to either remove the battery cover or drill/punch a hole in it to connect an antenna, and "under plastic/chrome inlay" means you'll have to remove a piece of plastic/chrome to access the port):

Verizon:

* LG Dare - under battery cover (359919)
* LG Versa - under battery cover (359919)
* LG Chocolate 3 - under battery cover (359919)
* LG vx8360 - under battery cover (359919)
* LG EnV2 - under "2.0 Megapixels" plastic inlay next to camera lens on back (359919)
* Motorola W755 - back port (352019)
* Motorola VU204 - under battery cover (352019)
* Palm Centro (690) - back port (WA-1037)
* Samsung Flipshot U900 - under battery cover (359919)
* Motorola Aventure V750 - under battery cover (352015)
* LG vx7100 Glance - under battery cover (359919)

Sprint:

* Palm Centro - back port (WA-1037)
* Samsung Ace - under chrome inlay by camera (359921)
* Motorola VE20 - under battery cover (WA-1003)

AT&T:

* Samsung A237 - under battery cover (359919)
* Samsung A637 - under battery cover (359919)
* Samsung A737 - under plastic inlay at back of phone (359921)
* Samsung Eternity A867 - under battery cover (359921)
* Samsung A777 - under plastic inlay at back of phone (359921)
* Samsung Propel A767 - under plastic inlay at back of phone (359921)
* Samsung Blackjack II SGH-i617 - under battery cover (359921)
* Samsung Impression A877 - under battery cover (359921)
* Samsung Epix i907 - under battery cover (359921)
* LG Vu CU920 - back port (359921)

As new phones are released (or new adapter cables), we will update this thread as well as this article on EVDOinfo: http://evdoinfo.com/phoneantennas

Maureen · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject:

There are, of course, lots of OLDER phones that have antenna ports, too - let's not forget about those! Here are just a FEW "older but still popular" phones that have antenna ports:

Sprint/Verizon Treo 755p - back port (358505)
Sprint/Verizon Treo 750 - back port (358505)
Verizon LG Voyager - under chrome inlay surrounding camera (359919)
Verizon LG vx8800 Venus - under battery cover (359919)
Verizon SCH u-550 - under battery cover (359919)
Verizon LG vx8350 - port on side of phone, easily accessible (359919)
Verizon Samsung Glyde - under battery cover (359921)
Verizon Samsung Gleam - under battery cover (359921)
Verizon LG Venus - under battery cover (359919)

Add yours, too!

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject:

Sprint HTC Mogul
Verizon VX6800

Both are widely available on Ebay and are RevA / WiFi as well. Good value.
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Maureen · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm Post subject:

Good ones, Jim - here's the location and antenna adapter for those two:

Sprint HTC Mogul/Verizon VX6800 - port on back of phone (359909)

Maureen · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject:

Here's another popular "old" phone:

Verizon Alias u740 (NOT the new Alias2) - under battery cover (359921)

vik1066 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 07 Dec 2009 Posts: 5

available lists is highly appreciable
must be helpful for taking out decision

forreal775 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 2 Location: PA

I see the rf port for the samsung a877 Impression is located behind the battery door. However it is not apparent really where it is after you take the door off. Where is it? South of the battery under what looks like a small punchout? Or North of the battery and East of the sim card under the small plastic square? I dont want to go poking and prodding around until I know the exact location of this thing. Would be nice if the manufacturer provide technical hardware manual for this stuff - some of us need access to make the things work at all - way out in the country and at a disadvantage here.
Thanks to anyone who replies.

jaredfly · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:39 pm Post subject:

I have the impression phone too. I have just started looking for the port on the back. So far haven't seen anything. There is some small screws holding on a cover plate right below the camera lens ?? i think i better Google it lol. Let me know if you find it.

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject:

Be very careful of what you are poking around with. The antenna ports on many devices are there for internal testing only - not a consumer enabled port. If it is not documented / supported, don't mess with it - you can easily brick it. Been there - done that.
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forreal775 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 2 Location: PA

I found the rf port under the small plastic square east of the sim card and north of the battery. Its just a small piece of sticky plastic that pulls off with your fingernail. I understand that the port is usable on this phone for the attachment of cable to antenna. I am now trying to determine if an antenna will help me. I get 1-2 bars right at my window but lose it within an inch of the window and the phone is unusable in the house. How do you determine if an antenna will work.

Michael · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:52 am Post subject:

Typically, if the antenna port is underneath the battery and you have to drill a hole in your battery door to use it - that isn't going to be the best idea (however, there will be those that chime in that will report it works fine).

Most antenna ports are revealed by removing a "rubber stopper" with a fingernail and those are usable and will not cause any issues at all.
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jaredfly · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:53 am Post subject:

If you have a antenna and you plug it in, Your bars should go up one would think. I will look at my phone and report back.

jaredfly · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 9:08 am Post subject:

Yes it works, I have no service in my house at all with my impression. It sometimes works out in my garage if i stand next to the window. Well i used my window mount antenna for my UM175 and just held the connector on with my hand. It took about 30 seconds and i had 2 bars of service. I will be ordering the correct fitting i need shortly. "359921" what i have and the one i need look very close to the same.