HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Damage

[nim6us]

I'm looking at getting this 32GB Transformer Prime, the auction is about to end. The only issue is the casing is damaged and said it was intentional:

"Intentional minor dents in casing on the top to improve wifi and GPS by forcing push pins to make contact with grounding plate".

Everything else seems legit about the deal, I just want to make sure this is real. I couldn't find anything on Google about it so it make me double leery. Thoughts?

 

[Devinator]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

I wouldn't go for it. If they say the damage was intentional, it's still damage. If it were to have problems down the line, they are going to ignore you, lol.

 

[lt thistle]

I would also have to say stay away from it, you don't know what kind of problems this my cause in the future.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Va1ha11a]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

Yeah, seems to me they are trying to capitalize on the prime's reputation for poor wifi. Not worth the risk IMO.

 

[Devinator]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

Before I tried anything crazy like that, I would have tried to return it if I was really not happy with the WiFi. That just seems like a poor decision.

Also, just because they say it was intentional, doesn't mean that they didn't drop something heavy on it and are just claiming that now.

 

[nim6us]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

Well I ended up buying it. The guy had the receipts, he spent well over $600 on it 2 months ago and I got it for $325. With all the money I saved I can put it into a sweet case! The screen and the rest of it is flawless, the battery life is amazing. I really got a sweetheart of a deal! Guess we'll never know about the mystery damage. :-X

 

[Kmcferrin]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

Well I ended up buying it. The guy had the receipts, he spent well over $600 on it 2 months ago and I got it for $325. With all the money I saved I can put it into a sweet case! The screen and the rest of it is flawless, the battery life is amazing. I really got a sweetheart of a deal! Guess we'll never know about the mystery damage. :-X

Asks for advice, gets advice from multiple sources saying "don't do it", does it anyway.

OK then.

When it comes in, please let us know if you have any reception issues.

 

[nim6us]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

Yeah I already got it. It was one of those, going going gone deals I had to know fast. The only reply I actually got was the first one. The guy selling it was a cop, so I figured I was safe. Karma kinda owed me, it's been screwing me hard lately. So I was REALLY stoked when I got there and saw how great a deal it was. Again I don't know for sure about the damage, but it was just cosmetic on the back. In the case it won't even be seen. I'm glad I went through with it. I've been bucking the whole tablet trend. However I'm in IT, so it's I needed to have a tablet to help my clients.. obviously. At least that's how I justified it to the wife

 

[lt thistle]

I hope it works out for ya, I really enjoy mine. This is also my first go into the tablet world and other than simi poor wifi I don't think this tablet could be any better for me.

Sent from my HTC Incredible 2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[nim6us]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

Not to raise the dead, but I stumbled across this article. Turns out the crimping in the case was a legit flaw caused intentionally to try and remedy the issue, guess you can trust a stranger now and again

GPS and WiFi problems

On December 30, 2011, news started to emerge that hardware problems exist in the Transformer Prime with its GPS and WiFi ability. It was suggested in user forums that the problem is a result of the spun aluminium back panel effectively blocking GPS signals, poorly contacting Pogo pin connectors causing further signal loss, and in at least some units, faulty printed circuit boards.[15] The former issue was later corroborated by Asus themselves in a response letter discussing the issue. Asus responded by saying "The ASUS Transformer Prime is made from a metallic unibody design, so the material may affect the performance of the GPS when receiving signals from satellites" they went on to say "this product is not a professional GPS device". Most notably, they then proceeded to remove the GPS ability from the official list of Transformer Prime specs on their US website. ASUS now offers a free GPS dongle shipped to all customers who purchased the Transformer Prime, saying it "may help improve signal reception and optimize the user experience" available until 31 July 2012 (PST).[16][17] On 13 January 2012 ASUS started working on issues relating to bluetooth and Wi-Fi Co-existence that caused drop in Wifi throughput or, in rare cases, complete loss of Wi-Fi signal. As on 31-May-2012 no permanent fix has been found this although several attempts have been made by ASUS in the form of Firmware upgrades and new antennae for users who sent their tablets to be serviced.[18]

 

[Kmcferrin]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

Yeah, we all knew that it had GPS and Wifi issues. That's about as well documented as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. I just haven't heard of anyone trying to/being able to fix it by damaging the case, and the article that you posted from doesn't appear to mention that as a possible fix either.

 

[nim6us]

Re: HELP: Need A Pro Quick Answer WiFi/GPS Improvment Via Case Da

@Kmcferrin

My original question:


I'm looking at getting this 32GB Transformer Prime, the auction is about to end. The only issue is the casing is damaged and said it was intentional:

"Intentional minor dents in casing on the top to improve wifi and GPS by forcing push pins to make contact with grounding plate".

Excerpt from the article I mentioned in my previous post:

"..the problem is a result of the spun aluminium back panel effectively blocking GPS signals, poorly contacting Pogo pin connectors causing further signal loss, and in at least some units, faulty printed circuit boards."

That seems to corroborate his story for the intentional damage, no where in this thread is that suggested. Thanks for being a SHlTHEAD about it though, really helps this thread and makes a massive contribution to the topic at hand. Why do I get the feeling to bring us this little nugget of knowledge somewhere there's an unmanned McDonald's drive-thru station window just beckoning your return?