Thanks for that tip, Anthony, but that is a bit bulkier and more expensive than a twist-tie. Also, harder to take along for areas with a weak signal, although it is something I have considered for general reception improvement in our definitely "cell-resistant" house for all the family's phones (at least for Verizon - my AT&T work phone has much better signal strength indication most of the time).
Now that I have updated the 2nd phone to WM 6.1, I am finding the same problem, BUT it seemed to occur after I stuck the twist-tie in the antenna socket - always looking for that last bit of "boost". It seems as though I get the expected signal boost, but then the phone becomes "dependent" on the twist-tie for any kind of reception, even in previously 4-bar signal areas.
I had read a post on another forum somewhere that I did not pay much attention to at the time, but now I think it is relevant. The poster seemed to think that there is an internal switch that detects when an external antenna is attached, and disables the internal one, but should switch back when the external one is detached. I am wondering if my twist-tie is making that a one-way process, and I really should only use one of the antennas from someone like Wilson specifically for the xv6900/Touch to make that sensor switch work properly BOTH ways. Here is an example of such an antenna adapter:
http://www.wpsantennas.com/wa-1039-h...ptercable.aspx
It looks much like the one I got for my xv6700 (huge boost for reception in the house - cost about $30 from an eBay dealer). BTW, the xv6700 also works a bit better with the twist-tie PLUS it reverts immediately to the internal when I pull out the twist-tie.
FWIW,
r