[tenpinmogul]

I'm a tinkerer so don't mind trying to make something when I'm able before I go out and buy one, especially if there's a chance it won't do any good. And if I break something, then that's my fault. I do try to take it easy on the external antenna plug when I use it, so hopefully won't have any problems with that.

I have tried 2 different antennas, one 6.2 inches and the other 3.1 inches in length, each having a coil bent into them that was 5 turns. At first the 3.1 inch antenna seemed to be helping, I was getting 1 - 2 bars instead of 0 - 1 bars. But then a few hours later I went back to messing with it and was unable to repeat this, my signal stayed at 0 EV bars sometimes bouncing to 1 then back to 0. So I don't know if the antenna really did anything or if it was just a random case of the atmosphere being more cooperative. The one thing I haven't tried yet with my antennas is to add a ground plane of some sort, I might try that today. If that doesn't do anything, I will probably give up and just live with it as it is.