Radxa 3w Android how to switch to external wifi antenna

#1

Radxa 3w Android
Does anyone know how to switch to an external wifi antenna on Android OS with this development board?
in Debian, switching is done using rsetup
and in Android, it is not clear how to switch to an external Wi-Fi antenna

#2

Hello everyone! I will describe what stage I am at, maybe someone will need it, but I am not at the final stage yet
Tech support by mail recommended to rebuild the Android image with dts, which includes an antenna.
For some reason they did not post a separate image with an external antenna included, since their product is associated as wireless.
Link to DTS:
https://github.com/radxa-pkg/radxa-overlays/blob/main/arch/arm64/boot/dts/rockchip/overlays/radxa-zero3-external-antenna.dts
In the sources I put this file in:
kernel/arch/arm64/boot/dts

The most interesting thing: building an Android image
We take as a basis the instructions at the link:

https://docs.radxa.com/en/zero/zero3/other-os/android/lowlevel-development

There are a number of errors in this instruction:

  1. The correct command:
    repo init -u https://github.com/radxa/manifests.git -b Android11_Radxa_rk12 -m rockchip-r-release.xml

  2. The docker has python version 3.5 installed
    However, the repo requires version 3.6. In 3.5 it won’t work, because the code doesn’t fit, I had to install version 3.6 and run it with commands different from the example in the tutorial, for example

python3.6 /usr/local/bin/repo init -u https://github.com/radxa/manifests.git -b Android11_Radxa_rk12 -m rockchip-r-release.xml

python3.6 /usr/local/bin/repo sync -d --no-tags -j4

  1. The compilation process stopped with an error
    to eliminate this,
    I compile with a commented line (I don’t know how correct this is, but tech support said yes)
    common_local_tidy_flags := -warnings-as-errors=clang-analyzer-security*,cert-*
    in the file
    external/usb_modeswitch/usb_dongle/Android.mk

And most importantly, for compiling Android I recommend RAM greater than 64 GB
18 CPU vCores
And at least 512 free SSD space, preferably NVMe
Because I have encountered several times that there is not enough RAM, not enough disk space and the compilation was interrupted.
At the moment I have not yet compiled an image, I am constantly encountering problems, if something else appears, I will add

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Zero 3W Camera 8M doesn’t work
#3

Hi Viktor,
I have to start saying that I have not a solution for you.
Actually I am in your very same situation.
Since the first day I’ve installed Android on my Zero 3W I had problem with wifi. It appears like the wifi signal is really poor (even at 2 meters distance) and this prevents Android to connect automatic to my wifi. This is really annoying because evry time after a reboot I have to connect manually…
Anyway I thought to solve this problem with an external antenna but it from your post here I found out that it doesn’t work without an Android rebuild.
I will try to solve it on my way but if you arrive to a solution first, please post it here.

#4

At the moment I managed to build an image WITHOUT dts from the source codes and run it,
Now I’m trying to figure out how to correctly configure the makefiles and build scripts so that this dts file is correctly compiled and launched.
I can’t find a good step-by-step instruction for android on the Internet.

#5

As a result, Radxa tech support sent me an update file for Android with an activated external antenna and now the signal in Android is much better

#6

you can also build your own image, in the attachment you need to replace the file in the directory
kernel/arch/arm64/boot/dts/rockchiprk3566-radxa-zero3.zip (15.4 KB)

1 Like
#7

Greetings,
I read the subject, I am very unfamiliar with these issues, but I want to install an android on my radxa zero 3w. I would be very happy if you share the most up-to-date android image file you have. thanks

#8

Original Image

Update where external wifi antenna is enabled (Installed over the existing one)
https://mega.nz/file/Qj5zCYCQ#We27FOyQDs2p1MMmzuRL1m-TGjtPL037w_L4jTHaDE4

The main image and update are installed using (Update via the update tab)
RKDevTool

2 Likes
#9

Thank you very much, it worked. Wifi is fine too. So how can I install google market.

1 Like
#10

Hello,
Can an expert friend prepare an Android TV Image for Radxa Zero 3W?

Which other devices’ firmware files compatible with our device can be thrown.

Thank you,