The little ring around the headphone port came off...

[grifta67]

Hey everyone!

I had been having some headphone problems where almost anything I plugged in just wouldn't stay seated. It would either completely come out or I would only get one channel of sound. I was elated today to find out that it was from the silliest of reasons... pocket lint!

Using a paper clip, I removed a couple gobs of lint from my headphone port and now my headphone jacks all fit perfectly. The issue is that while doing this, I managed to pull off the small grey ring that sits at the top of the port. It had an a metallic-sort of backing to it but I can't seem to figure out what it's purpose was. My headphones all work fine without this piece being there, so I don't think it's anything essential, but I'm still curious.

So, anyone know what that little grey ring is??

Thanks!
-Sean

 

[iRob213]

Is that not the litmus, water damage test strip possibly?

 

[sparkyms]

It's an antenna.

 

[grifta67]

iRob, nah I believe that is deeper down in the headphone port.

Sparky, any idea what sort of antenna? Phone calls, wifi and GPS all work fine since it came off.

 

[sparkyms]

Cell antenna, but the chrome around the phone is also used for that so it shouldn't effect it too much.

 

[alphaod]

Cell antenna, but the chrome around the phone is also used for that so it shouldn't effect it too much.

You have no idea what you're talking about; the antenna is traced on the motherboard.

 

[Kahnyl]

"iPhone 3G delivers UMTS, HSDPA, GSM, Wi-Fi, EDGE, GPS, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR in one compact device — using only two antennas. Clever iPhone engineering integrates those antennas into a few unexpected places: the metal ring around the camera, the audio jack, the metal screen bezel, and the iPhone circuitry itself."

http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/wireless.html

Doesn't get any more specific than that.