Tunable external antenna by using data connector of portable devices

A method and apparatus for operating a tunable accessory connected to a portable communications device. The method includes detecting, using an electronic processor, that a network signal is below a threshold and connecting, using a first switch connected to the electronic processor and a data connector port of a portable communications device, data signals received from the data connector port to radio frequency frontend. The method also includes determining, using an accessory electronic processor of the tunable accessory, a radio frequency band requirement of the portable communications device and tuning, using a matching tuning network controller of the tunable accessory, an external antenna of the tunable accessory. The method further includes connecting, using a second switch connected to the accessory electronic processor, a data connector output to the data connector port to external antenna signals received from the matching tuning network controller.