[Steve.Horvat]

Hi All,
I was wondering if there is and if it is possible to have an external antenna for the car.
Some of the places I go don't have very good coverage and would like to improve it if possible
I have Bluetooth Parrot hands free car kit if it has any relavence.

Regards,
Steve

[tobyw]

As far as I know, the Pearl doesn't have an external antenna connection so you can't just plug one into it. I have seen kits that have a holster and have a 'pad' underneath which is attached to an external aerial. I've no experience with them so they might not be very good!

I have a Parrot kit as well and the solution I adopt is to put the phone on the dashboard.

[blakeatl]

What about those antennas that are on the bmw cars? I've seen them for sale online. Shouldn't that work for what he wants?

[itsmrdavid]

Originally Posted by tobyw

As far as I know, the Pearl doesn't have an external antenna connection so you can't just plug one into it....

Well, I just disassembled mine recently (near death experience - WATER!!) and there is what appears to be an RF connector on the circuit board - right in the RF circuit going to the antenna.

Pop off the bottom cover (be VERY CAREFUL not to damage your existing antenna - it's a flexible printed circuit just under this cover) and you'll see a little hole to the left of the cover-release and metal charging pads.
That looks an awful lot like the plugs on other phones that "officially" have an antenna plug.

Makes me wonder.....
Can't find anything on google about it.

[Pearl8100user]

We run the THB Bury carkits.

The phone holder that can brought seperate has inductive pickup build in.

I believe we have purchased them from Treo Accessories - Blackberry Accessories - Blackberry Case, Blackberry Bluetooth, Blackberry Charger, Blackberry Battery - Fommy.com

They work very well.

Mark

[PhillyGuy]

I am using the following:

Wilson SinglaBoost Cell Phone Booster | Improve Cellular Reception In Cars and Trucks

I use it in my home office (horrible cell reception on all bands). It boosts the signal from about -95 dB to about -80 dB. The only bad part is having it tethered to the BB. They just came out with an inexpensive wireless repeater/booster for the home/office.

[johnling]

This one does not work miracles but it will improve a bad signal. Mine is in the closet as I have not needed it for a while. I had one spot where I did not get a signal and this allowed me a strong enough signal to remain connected in that area.


Universal External Antenna and cellphone accessories at cellphoneshop

I can reccommend it as a cheap alternative.