mobile phones with external antenna points?

[Mick-Kelly]

So what is the deal now if you want to install a phone n the fourby on a semi permenant basis? I am nt interest in the patch leads but i do want a mobile with an external antenna point. Do they exist anymore or do i have to trawl fleabay?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

AFAIK there are no longer any phones with external antennae connections. Most phones use blue tooth which I hate.

I already had a phone kit in the RRc but when I couldn't find a new phone to suit went to purchasing second hand ones of the same model off ebay.

I also found that you could buy new kits for the old phones if you searched ebay UK. Ended getting a new kit and the correct phone holder for about $30 delivered to au.

Diana

[p38arover]

If you are with Telstra and want a good but basic Blue Tick Next G phone, look around for a Samsung C5220. They have an external antenna socket. I use this phone on trips and paid about $60 for it - new.

http://cdn.cbsi.com.au/story_media/339295780/samsung-c5220_2.jpg

I don't know if the later Samsungs have the socket.

[Radz]

The ZTE T165 which is sold by Telstra has an external aerial jack. I don't know whether there is a car cradle install kit available, a visit to a Telstra agent would sort out whether car kits are about or not.

If car kits are not available put a external aerial on the bullbar or similar and use a patch lead.

I'm afraid that most phone makers have forgotten about those whom wish to use phones in remote poor signal areas.

[Basil135]

These days, you don't NEED to actually plug the antenna into the phone.

You can get a specific cradle to suit most of the newer phone types, and have an external antenna, be it a flush glass mount or a gutter mount.

They work the same way as your electric toothbrush. There are 2 coils that match up, and although there is no PHYSICAL connection, they do work.

I have just priced a new hands-free kit for the Disco to match my Samsung Galaxy 2. It came in at around $600.

Find a specialist hands free installer, and have a chat to them.

You CAN have a new phone AND and external antenna.

[rick130]

These days, you don't NEED to actually plug the antenna into the phone.

You can get a specific cradle to suit most of the newer phone types, and have an external antenna, be it a flush glass mount or a gutter mount.

They work the same way as your electric toothbrush. There are 2 coils that match up, and although there is no PHYSICAL connection, they do work.

[snip]

According to those that supposedly know, an induction loop doesn't work near as well as a direct connection.

I too would love a new phone with an external connection as I live and work where signals are dodgy and already have a 6db gain antenna on the bull bar.

[LSBob]

I got a Samsung from Telstra a couple of years ago specifically for the external aerial. Only disadvantage is once the phone is plugged in to the patch lead if it is unplugged it will not pick up much using its inbuilt antenna, so another el cheapo mobile a is used for local calls..
I could not find a suitable mount for the Disco 1, most have a solid back where the patch lead goes in the phone, a supplier just said leave it loose on the console. Blue Tooth is used to answer it so it is hands free.

[p38arover]

Only disadvantage is once the phone is plugged in to the patch lead if it is unplugged it will not pick up much using its inbuilt antenna, so another el cheapo mobile a is used for local calls...

I'm not quite sure what this means. Does it disconnect the internal aerial and will not receive calls unless plugged into the external antenna?

[Nick S]

My iPhone4 uses a Bury cradle that is connected to a 9db antenna on the bull bar. I've had the antenna for years and it just pugs into the cradle wiring, used it with the last 3 phones and it makes a big difference in the bush
Nick

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

My iPhone4 uses a Bury cradle that is connected to a 9db antenna on the bull bar. I've had the antenna for years and it just pugs into the cradle wiring, used it with the last 3 phones and it makes a big difference in the bush
Nick

Yeah Burys are pretty speccy gear. My mobile audio guy that fits out our road trains generally quotes and installs a Bury for these.
The only problem with iPhones and some other PDA type phones is the lack of a physical antenna connection so a proximity pad on the cradle is used and subsequently a few dB is also lost. No matter how high a gain antenna you use, you will never recover it.

Andrew


Using Capitals, the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse or helping your uncle jack off a horse...

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I had heard, but don't know if its true, that the magnetic effects of the proximity pads shroten the life of the screen on the phone. Hence my want for the physical antenna connection.

Does anyone know the facts about the proximity pads?

Diana

[awabbit6]

We use a Telstra T100 phone when we are camping.
Brand New TELSTRA ZTE T100 Next G Blue Tick - Unlocked | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Brand-New-TELSTRA-ZTE-T100-Next-G-Blue-Tick-Unlocked-/110787351348?pt=AU_Mobile_Phones&hash=item19cb70d334#ht_1762wt_1396)

It is a blue tick phone with an antenna jack on the back. The phone sits in a generic cradle (from Supercheap) and the cable (Patch Lead for Telstra T100 (http://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/patch-lead-telstra-t100)) plugs in the back and is connected to a 6.5dB antenna on the bull bar.

I use a bluetooth headset to make calls and if internet access is required we can connect a laptop or smartphone to the T100 via bluetooth.

[goingbush]

Most of the ZTE phones still have external antenna port, for this reason its my phone of choice. None of the others offer an external antenna any more. Proximity pads are not much chop. When bush camping I stick an antenna onto of a 5meter pole gives me an extra 25klm range over the horizon from a nextg tower. for modem hookup ect.
ZTE Australia > Products > Mobile Phones (http://www.zte.com.au/telstra/mobile-phones.htm)

[cewilson]

I've used the Telstra country phones for a few years now. They are a direct connection via the phone kit. The initial price is high (unless you go through e-bay), however with the aerial mounted on the bullbar is is fantastic.

The best way of putting it is when the phone is down on 1 bar left, by connecting it to the aerial that jumps it back up the 3 or 4 bars of reception. My phone consistently gets reception where the missus' next g didn't.

I think it's worth it if you spend a lot of time on the fringe areas, otherwise it probably isn't.


Cheers
Chris

[Utemad]

The current Telstra NextG phones that have an antenna connection are the Samsung C5220 as said above and the ZTE T95. You can still get the T100 in some shops and Coles had them for $25 each a few weeks ago. They are all prepaid and all blue tick.

Also the Samsung Galaxy S and S2 both have external antenna ports if you remove the battery cover or drill a corresponding hole in the cover from what I've been told.

Patch leads can be effective but are no where near as good as a plug in. Especially if that patch lead is just the pad on a lead type.

[SWH]

Members,

I have a D4 MY11 2.7.

I have an iphone4 which I currently use via blue tooth, because I connect my ipod classic to the car via the cable.

Does this mean that my phone is not getting the benefit of the car's external aerial because it is not physically connected to the car?

[Irish]

Hello, I have a Nokia 8120C in my '93 Disco 1 V8. It's installed with a Nokia car kit for specific to this phone.
Two reasons why I bought it;

1) it has the Telstra blue tick for country range.

2) is has an external antenna port. (not a coupling)

I run a ZCG 61/2 db antenna on the bull bar.

All up about $400 to fit around 3 ish years ago.

It has performed well (touch wood) all around the bush.

If you can be bothered the range os service seems to amtch teh Telstra maps well. (Even out bush, Tibborburra, Broken Hill, NE South Aust etc).


I hope this helps, George.

[sdt463]

Telstra have just released a new smart phone with wi-fi and a proper external aerial socket. its called a Telstra Active Touch and sells for about $288.00 in the Telstra dealers that I was in today.:D
From what I read in several posts last night the socket under the cover on the Samsung Galaxy is only for factory testing and is very easily damaged.:(
Dave

[Reads90]

My iPhone4 uses a Bury cradle that is connected to a 9db antenna on the bull bar. I've had the antenna for years and it just pugs into the cradle wiring, used it with the last 3 phones and it makes a big difference in the bush
Nick

That is what I have with my iPhone 4s too
Works great and I have a Bluetooth Nokia car kit which it works with in the 110 too. In fact I have the same set up in the 90 and the RRC. (BTW the Bluetooth Nokia car kits work great with any Bluetooth phone and can get the really cheap on eBay )
I found a dick smith closing down selling the Areils for $5 each so I bought all they had.

[Utemad]

Other than the Samsung C5220 and any ZTE phones, what are some good phones with external antenna ports?

I'm not after a smart phone or even a new phone. I should have gotten a C5220 when Telstra was still selling them. Haven't seen them advertised for a few months.
We have a few ZTE phones at work and after a few months they always have the colour rubbed off and generally look very used very quickly. So not interested in paying my own money for one.

Any ideas?

[goingbush]

here you go, new old stock.

BRAND NEW SAMSUNG c5220 Mobile Phone NEXT G BLUE TICK Flip Phone W / PATCH LEAD | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BRAND-NEW-SAMSUNG-c5220-Mobile-Phone-NEXT-G-BLUE-TICK-Flip-Phone-W-PATCH-LEAD-/200718015276?pt=AU_Mobile_Phones&hash=item2ebbb9db2c)

grab it while you can, thanks to the Android proliferation they won't last long.

you will be hard pressed to find any new phone now exept for some ZTE models that have a patch lead connection.

Even the ones Ive checked out that appear to have a plug inside which 'need a hole drilling in the cover' don't actually have the socket soldered onto the PCB.

[Utemad]

Telstra were selling them for $59 then you'd be up for about $25 for a patch lead. Ouch.

I looked at Mum's Samsung S2 and the the port I had read about is very small and fragile looking. Don't think it would last long in day to day use. Definitely for testing only.