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Bluetooth Range Modification


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Posted by Sirhackalot
This will work with any bluetooth adapter that has an external antenna .PLEASE DO AT YOUR OWN RISK.
MY ADAPTER


[Tools Needed]

Prying tool
Soldering iron (30 Watts)
Solder (electronics 60% tin/ 40% lead, rosin core)
Desoldering braid
Wire strippers
Wire cutters
Razor blade (Optional)

Steps Overview:

1. Open the case on the USB dongle adapter

2. Remove the electronics

3. Remove antenna

4. Remove excess solder

5. Strip the cable outer covering

6. Trim back the shield

7. Tin cable shield

8. Strip cable inner covering

9. Solder cable shield to pad

10. Solder core conductor through hole

11. Clip off extra lead

12. Put it back together - Done!

STEP 1 Open The Case

Use the prying tool to pry apart the case along the seam. You should hear cracking sounds as the case splits apart. Pry apart case on both long edges and the rear of the module as needed. The case will split completely in two.




Step 2: Remove the electronics

Carefully remove the electronics module, it should not be mounted or glued to the case so removal should be very easy. Optionally, place it on the case as a soldering platform.



Step 3: Remove the antenna

Note: Perform all soldering tasks quickly to avoid overheating the electronics on the circuit board. If you have not completed your soldering task in less than 1 minute, stop and allow the module to cool for at least 5 minutes. Then try again!

Using a soldering iron, heat up the solder holding down the shield and antenna feed and gently pull the antenna cable away from the circuit board. Soldering iron should be set to about 30 watts (higher heat wattage may damage the circuit board, lower may not heat evenly.)






Step 4: Remove excess solder

Use your soldering iron and desoldering braid to remove excess solder from the antenna mounting pad. Also, ensure solder is removed from the antenna feed “thru-hole” in the circuit board. This will allow you to feed the line through the hole in Step 7.



Step 5: Strip the cable outer insulator

If necessary, square off the end of the antenna cable by cutting directly across the cable. Use wire strippers to strip off about ½ to ¾ of an inch (1 to 1.5 cm) of the outer rubber layer of the cable.





Use the USB module as a measurement guide.



Step 6: Trim back the outer shield.

Now cut away and remove only the outer shield to cover the distance from the edge of the circuit board to the feed thru-hole. Strippers, a razor blade, or scissors may be used to remove all metallic materials from extended past the shield pad on the circuit board (see photo).




Step 7: Tin the shield

Apply a small amount of solder to the copper shield. This will stiffen the shield and make it easier to solder to the circuit board later.

Hint: Heat up the opposite side of the cable from where you apply solder. The solder should magically flow towards the iron and coat the shield braid.

Note: Do not overheat the cable to prevent damage to the clear plastic insulator



Step 8: Strip cable end and insert into thru-hole

Strip the end of the cable using wire strippers or a razor blade. And insert exposed wire into thru-hole.

Note: Ensure that there are no excess cable strands or metal filaments between the shield pad and the thru-hole opening.



Step 9: Solder the shield to the shield pad

Bend the cable with the feed in place and solder the shield down onto the shield pad





Allow the solder to cool and gently tug on the cable to ensure a solid connection.

Step 10: Solder the core conductor

Flip over the module and solder the core to the circuit board.







Step 11: Clip off extra lead

Clip the excess wire sticking through the circuit board.



Step 12: Put it back together!

Now reassemble the USB module ensuring the antenna lead feeds through the existing hole in the case.

Note: You can use glue, tape, or a tie strap to keep the case firmly reassembled.



Your finished product should look like one of these…



Congratulations on your new Bluetooth adapter! This mod will give you the flexibility to increase the distance of your Bluetooth applications.





Posted by themarques
Ok it all sounds good but what range can you get with you "extension ariel"?

Posted by gbrooks3
Great mod! it looks like a real nice and tidy job as well. think i will give this a go when my dongle arrives, have you encountered any problems yet?

Posted by Sirhackalot
@ themarques well you can get out side if you not in a valley just flat ground you can get over 200 yards i have tested it out side i had my laptop inside but upstairs and i went out side and i live by a golf course and i asked a nearby golfer looked like a pro how far you think it is here to my house and he said 120 yards or 100 yards but it look and it look like just 100yards but that is only because the device was upstairs. If it was down stairs it would have had trouble...and this was prooved because i put a 3gp video and i took kite.3gp and browsed my exachanged folde via blusetooth on my k700i and recived it successfully but i think if the laptop was out side it could go even further i will show you my house. It is all concrete and i use to struggle making a connection with an old crappy adapter that would only connect like 5 ft because of the thick concrete walls.
@ gbrooks3 No but just remember not to make a mistake and let the soldering lead touch any other circuts or it will kill or malfunction the adapter.
_________________
Sony Ericsson For Life
Prould Owner OF
T68i p800
T226 K700

[ This Message was edited by: Sirhackalot on 2004-11-16 22:43 ]

Posted by kimcheeboi
Also check this thread out.

Posted by 7wcsnurka
good job..

Posted by sorac
i'm amazed.. you've done a very good job..

shame i have got one without an external antena.. but my reaches for up to 100 metres which is anyway up to 300 yards..

Posted by DarkWolfX
What? I don´t understand, do u mean K700 can transfer files from over 100 yards!?
If yes, I thought K700´s BT was only 10meters?

Posted by kimcheeboi
the new antenna should increase the ragne at which you can connect with your cell phone cause it will ampilify the signals coming from the k700.

Posted by toins
@ sorac,

100 meters is just under 110 yards!
Maybe you ment feet? 100 meters is almost 330 feet.

Posted by Davo_169
this device is alot cleaner and efficient than using solder braid
for under 10 bucks. it just sucks the melted solder right out of basically anything



Posted by jago25_98
I read that the range will only go as far as the device with the shortest range; i.e. 10 metres.

I've tested my 100m range linksys (unmodded) and it goes about 10m with my P800.



Posted by Sirhackalot
@ jago25_98 nooooo...........this is it. The bluetoth device is dooing all the work...The device is making a big boost in the distance then when you stepp away from the devive like 100ft when you try to connect the k700i thinks its a regular nearby devics.... so the bluetooth modded deviceis making the search signal and the k700i is in range of the bluetooth devices modded range,.........


SRRY I WAS IN A HORRY I AM GOT TO GO CYA PPL


Posted by Oco
Nice pics, great job, congrat


Posted by HiGiNS
Hey I logged in but still can not see the photos .Whats the problem.


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