Vodofone USB Air card type ... K 4505 - I'm confused ?

[rolexboy]

I hope you guys here may be able to help me, where I live 3G has just been put into operation , so I bought a Vodofone USB Air card type ... K 4505 and managed to get it working on my computer successfully , I now find my problem is that I seem to live in a low signal area, so I though I would buy an external roof antenna ( directional Yagi ) to hopefully boot the signal a bit , the external antenna arrived ok, then I asked the company who sold me the antenna if they had the antenna patch lead to connect the K 4505 to the external antenna , they said yes and sent me one in the post . My problem is the patch lead does not fit into the small external antenna connection hole on the K 4505 , it just wont go in, here a few shots ..



http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00634.jpg


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00647.jpg


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00638.jpg


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00636.jpg


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00645.jpg


Ive spent hours searching for the correct patch lead but it seems there are many on sale that some times look like the one ive all ready been sold , so can some one please advise which patch lead ( plug type ) is the correct one for my K 4505.


Many Thanks - William

[ginggs]

Ive spent hours searching for the correct patch lead but it seems there are many on sale that some times look like the one ive all ready been sold , so can some one please advise which patch lead ( plug type ) is the correct one for my K 4505.
Can you tell if your K4505 is manufactured by Huawei or ZTE?
If it is made by Huawei then you need a CRC-9 to SMA pigtail.

I think you may have been sold a ZTE connector.

[rolexboy]

Can you tell if your K4505 is manufactured by Huawei or ZTE?
If it is made by Huawei then you need a CRC-9 to SMA pigtail.

I think you may have been sold a ZTE connector.


Hi and thanks for the advice , the K4505 is made by Huawei

The thing I'm confused about is there seems to be different CRC-9 plugs ...

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/2011-09-30_1725.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/2011-09-30_1727.jpg



William

[sajunky]

You need the same as for E160G. Not sure what connector you have on the cable side. Better (as ginggs said) ask your supplier to take it back and send you the right one for your modem and antenna cable.

[ajax]

Unfortunately the external connector on the Huawei K4505 is pretty much useless. It seems to function the same as the Cell C E1820.A friend of mine had a K4505. He eventually sold it and got a E367.

[ginggs]

Unfortunately the external connector on the Huawei K4505 is pretty much useless. It seems to function the same as the Cell C E1820.A friend of mine had a K4505. He eventually sold it and got a E367.
That would probably be because the Vodafone K4505 made by Huawei is just a rebranded E1820.

[rolexboy]

Thanks every one for the advice, so it looks like Ive wasted my money , I should have done a bit of research first to find out that although my K4505 has an external antenna connection, it can't be used , I feel Gutted now :(

The supplier won't refund my money as I asked for a modem with an external antenna connection , which is exactly what I received .

The 3 G SIM I am using has the frequency of 900 Mhz , but now I'm not too sure what to try next :(


It begs the question why advertise the unit can be used with an external antenna when its not true .

[ajax]

You could try just putting the modem in a window to improve signal, but you must be careful with USB extensions (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/302233-USB-Modem-Power-Issues-USB-Extensions?highlight=USB+power).
Also for improving signal maybe have a look here (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/309927-DIY-and-tech-ideas?highlight=USB+extensions) and here (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/302601-Dirt-cheap-home-DIY-corner-reflector-gives-12-dB-stronger-signal?highlight=USB+extensions)

[rolexboy]

You could try just putting the modem in a window to improve signal, but you must be careful with USB extensions (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/302233-USB-Modem-Power-Issues-USB-Extensions?highlight=USB+power).
Also for improving signal maybe have a look here (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/309927-DIY-and-tech-ideas?highlight=USB+extensions) and here (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/302601-Dirt-cheap-home-DIY-corner-reflector-gives-12-dB-stronger-signal?highlight=USB+extensions)


Many Thanks for the advice,its appreciated . I'm going to give a few things a try . As Ive all ready bought and installed the external roof antenna :( , can any one please tell me if there is an USB AIrcard ( 900 Mhz ) that in fact works well with an external antenna , May be a long shot I know .

[Jola]

I tried the Sierra Aircard 307, was not impressed. It worked with Cell C, but disconnected a lot. It may have been defective, though.

IMO you should get a Huawei E367.

[rolexboy]

I tried the Sierra Aircard 307, was not impressed. It worked with Cell C, but disconnected a lot. It may have been defective, though.

IMO you should get a Huawei E367.


Sadly I think the E367 only uses 2100mhz on 3G , and in my area 3G is only available on 900 Mhz.

[ginggs]

Sadly I think the E367 only uses 2100mhz on 3G , and in my area 3G is only available on 900 Mhz.
The E367 we get in South Africa can does UMTS 2100 and UMTS 900.

Don't give up hope on the K4505 just yet though. You should be able to have the pigtail replaced with one of the correct type.

There is a lengthy discussion thread on the E1820's external connector here (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/276198).

See this post (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/276198?p=6766782#post6766782) and the one following.
Using the external antenna connector on the stock E1820 firmware I see improvements provided that the main antenna on the modem and the antenna on the external connector "see" the same tower.
Using the MIMO firmware (which you may already have, if your modem "connects" at 28Mbps you do) I see improvements even if the antenna modem and the antenna on the external connector "see" different towers.

[sajunky]

Now after above explanation you know that everything went wrong. Modem is a wrong choice, if sold together with antenna, you have a strong case for complain and full refund. Pigtail doesn't match modem too. You yould check model of the antenna as well.

Request a proper modem for a job and pigtail. Opinion on this matter are confirmed by many.

[rolexboy]

Now after above explanation you know that everything went wrong. Modem is a wrong choice, if sold together with antenna, you have a strong case for complain and full refund. Pigtail doesn't match modem too. You yould check model of the antenna as well.

Request a proper modem for a job and pigtail. Opinion on this matter are confirmed by many.


Ive been in touch with the company who sold me the modem and pigtail together (small local on line internet company ) and out lined my problems , as far as they are concerned the K4505 can be used with an external antenna and the pigtail cable they supplied is correct ( I cannot even get the pigtail plug to go through the small hole in the side of the modems case ) , they commented that may be I'm not pushing the pigtail plug hard enough . I asked if they can exchange the modem and pigtail for another make / model , or a refund - not possible.


So it looks like Ive made a mistake in not researching the K4505 first , so I'm now going to check out what I can to improve things , when I connect the K4505 to my computer ( Mac ) I get on screen this ....



http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/2011-10-01_1925.jpg


I can see a signal bar indicator ( shown by arrow ) and when the modems working on 3G on the house ground floor , It shows 1 - 2 bars ( some times fluctuating ) ,

So I took my laptop up onto the house roof and checked the signal bars ( holding the laptop right next to the external antenna ) the signal was showing 3 bars ( no fluctuating ) .

Is there any other way to check the signal strength that would be more helpful in some way ? and is the signal strength bars a good guide , does say 3 bars being shown equate to a solid signal connection ?

is there any way I can see the RSSI / dBm ?


I looked at the link kindly supplied by ajax for a DIY corner reflector , and may be this type of thing could help .


So a big thanks to all for your assistance , its much appreciated - I live and learn :o



Just seen this :)


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/2011-10-01_2158.png


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/2011-10-01_2159.png

[sajunky]

There are sites like hellopeter.com to place complain. You are a wise to not force a plug. If the plug is right, it goes very easy. From pictures there is no way to tell you whether plug is right or wrong. There are many variations with similar look. So place complain and let them deal with the matter.

As for signal strenght, download mdma.

[rolexboy]

There are sites like hellopeter.com to place complain. You are a wise to not force a plug. If the plug is right, it goes very easy. From pictures there is no way to tell you whether plug is right or wrong. There are many variations with similar look. So place complain and let them deal with the matter.

As for signal strenght, download mdma.


Thanks for the info, I'm going to take a look and see what to do next , I'm resigned to having to keep the modem and pigtail, but its a lesson learnt :(

Thanks for all your help , its much appreciated .

[rfkiki]

I think you should keep contact with the original supplier to make up your loss .:;)
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00636.jpg is the MCX connector I think.but it seems that it is CRC9.It can not be clear by pic.You could measure the diameter connector you have ,and I have the CRC9 connector and MCX connector at hand ,I could confirm it.

[Jola]

Sadly I think the E367 only uses 2100mhz on 3G , and in my area 3G is only available on 900 Mhz.

I bought an 8ta E367, it supports 900MHz UMTS and works very well with Cell C.

It has an external antenna connector and it is a CRC9 - and it works !

[rolexboy]

I though it only right to post back how ive got on with my Vodafone K4505 , after getting some great advice here , I purchased the following


An external roof antenna ...

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/skitched-20111031-194208.jpg


A small lead to connect the external antenna to Vodafone K4505......

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/skitched-20111031-193949.jpg


The small lead fitted into the K4505 external socket well , and I adjusted the position of the external roof antenna until I found the best position.


Next I purchased one of these couplers ...


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/skitched-20111031-193604.jpg


and connected it to the external roof antenna .


next I purchased one of these .....


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/UnitekY-260.jpg



and made my self a parabolic dish antenna .......


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00790-1.jpg




Out of the Three ways above trying to get the best results , the home made parabolic dish and using a USB extension cable , and mounting the modem directly on the dish , has so far proved to be the best , with this result ....


http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq232/Filesaver1/DSC00799-1.jpg


I live right on the 3G footprint edge , so the result was not too bad , and as this is my first time ever using a USB 3G air card , I'm still learning .

I'm now wondering if there's any further way to try and better the results, may be a larger parabolic dish. One thing I must say is, ive really enjoyed trying to obtain the best results and with out the extensive information on this forum , I would have got no where .


Regards - rb

[sajunky]

Nice. Be careful with USB extension. Use USB 2.0 self-powered hub and plug the modem directly to the hub. Then data cable between hub and computer can be long. It needs extending power cable between hub power supply and the hub.

And think about water damage to the modem and hub!!!

[rolexboy]

sajunky, thanks for the advice its really appreciated :)




Cheers - rb