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Help with Troublesome antenna issue note 10+

Phone was barely dropped and had sporadic antenna connection. Sometimes it would show full signal but had no actual connectivity. Would work then not work. Replaced antenna cable and charging port board but still no luck. Does anyone know how to troubleshoot antenna or is there a connection im not seeing? Basically need to know where the connection starts and ends and where to look besides charging board and antenna sub flex that goes from that board to motherboard.

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Hi @mikejoyce41293

Try using a different GSM band exclusively, either 3G or 4G or even using a SIM card from another carrier (if possible) that uses a different signalling frequency and check if that alters anything.

If it works OK on some frequencies or bands but not others, follow the relevant flowchart (see manual below) for the band or frequency that doesn't work properly.

Reason I suggest this is, looking at the troubleshooting flowcharts from the service manual for the phone, (start at p.39/48), there seems to be only a few common factors that would affect all bands (and frequencies), i.e. the charge port board (which you have already replaced), the flex cable that connects to it and then as best as I can find there are two ICs that seem to be used for all bands and frequencies, U1514 and UCP5000.

U1514 is shown on p.3/48 and UCP5000 is shown on p.6/48 of the manual.

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I tried a different SIM, albeit from same carrier and nothing. Although I felt like I saw a bar or two appear for a second. Then I tried to switch networks but it actually won't switch networks, probably because of the SIM? I feel like I should have been able to at least switch from global to lte but nope doesn't want to. I know the physical aspect of the antenna is woven throughout the frame and there is no physical damage there so idk. I am stumped on this one.

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@mikejoyce41293

Is the phone locked to a carrier? That might be why a different SIM won't work.

Perhaps carefully inspect the board shown on p.3 of the manual especially around the U15xx and F15xx components as they're the ones associated with signal reception and transmission

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It's unlocked phone on Verizon. I'm thinking it's definitely on the board, possibly at the cable connection from SUB ribbon. It's weird because this happened on a previous phone as well and changing charging port board fixed it for a while then it ended up being spotty as well. Must be common thing on these phones but there isn't a lot of TSB's on this really. Now there is absolutely no signal. I'm guessing broken solder joint on motherboard at that SUB connection. I can get a used Motherboard cheap but don't want to add too much into the repair. I'm going to look there and will update what I find.

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Mike Joyce crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
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