2TB Anytime data

Anyone knows if the ZTE MF286C modems has an option that needs to be checked to enable the external antennas? I can't find anything in the admin pages.

I connected up the XPOL-6 and can't see any improvement in signal. In fact without the antenna the signal was -93 dBm and that dropped to -98 with the antenna connected and pointed in the best direction. The speeds dropped by half.
Without antenna, -93 dBm: 40 Mbps down, 19 Mbps up and 26ms ping
With antenna, -98 dBm: 25 Mbps down, 5.9 up and 32ms ping

This was with the antenna indoors. Wouldn't you expect to see at least some more gain even if it's indoors?

I'll only get to trying it out on the roof over the weekend since I'll need someone to assist. Seems I'm missing something.
 
Crusader said:
Anyone knows if the ZTE MF286C modems has an option that needs to be checked to enable the external antennas? I can't find anything in the admin pages.

I connected up the XPOL-6 and can't see any improvement in signal. In fact without the antenna the signal was -93 dBm and that dropped to -98 with the antenna connected and pointed in the best direction. The speeds dropped by half.
Without antenna, -93 dBm: 40 Mbps down, 19 Mbps up and 26ms ping
With antenna, -98 dBm: 25 Mbps down, 5.9 up and 32ms ping

This was with the antenna indoors. Wouldn't you expect to see at least some more gain even if it's indoors?

I'll only get to trying it out on the roof over the weekend since I'll need someone to assist. Seems I'm missing something.
Click to expand...
The B618 65d Def has an option to select which antenna is being used. Internal external or both
 
Went through every setting page available on the ZTE and nothing.

Will test more over weekend, but so far modem works better without the external antenna. Whole thing might be a bust.
 
Crusader said:
Went through every setting page available on the ZTE and nothing.

Will test more over weekend, but so far modem works better without the external antenna. Whole thing might be a bust.
Click to expand...
Replace router
 
Crusader said:
Anyone knows if the ZTE MF286C modems has an option that needs to be checked to enable the external antennas? I can't find anything in the admin pages.

I connected up the XPOL-6 and can't see any improvement in signal. In fact without the antenna the signal was -93 dBm and that dropped to -98 with the antenna connected and pointed in the best direction. The speeds dropped by half.
Without antenna, -93 dBm: 40 Mbps down, 19 Mbps up and 26ms ping
With antenna, -98 dBm: 25 Mbps down, 5.9 up and 32ms ping

This was with the antenna indoors. Wouldn't you expect to see at least some more gain even if it's indoors?

I'll only get to trying it out on the roof over the weekend since I'll need someone to assist. Seems I'm missing something.
Click to expand...
AFAIK, the ZTE will automatically switch to using the external (similar to the auto setting on Huawei routers). If the signal is worse after connecting the antenna it may not be in the best position. Connecting an antenna won't automatically improve the signal. Your antenna is uni-directional, so direction and orientation play a big part.
 
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Still going strong!
13207636485.png

Only 180 gb left :D
 
B-127 said:
AFAIK, the ZTE will automatically switch to using the external (similar to the auto setting on Huawei routers). If the signal is worse after connecting the antenna it may not be in the best position. Connecting an antenna won't automatically improve the signal. Your antenna is uni-directional, so direction and orientation play a big part.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely going to try more positioning options but will need to wait till I can get someone to help me with the testing on the roof. My acrophobia and heights don't mix too well.
 
My Rain connection has been rapidly falling apart and left me stranded again today for work... one day too many. I ran out to Telkom and got the 2TB month to month added in to my account and hauled out my old Telkom B525-65a.

I haven't signal hunted yet, since all I needed was to get online and do a client upgrade. I'm pretty pleased already for just putting the B525 wherever was easiest at the time. 60Mbps down, 20Mbps up. Uplink doesn't saturate the connection like it's been doing with Rain lately. Uplink is the important factor for me since I'm always pushing files up the line. Based on that alone I've already cancelled the Rain subscription because it was becoming unusable for that type of usage (whilst taking the whole house offline because I dared to upload a 40MB file :D).

That said, a couple of questions...
How much more speed could I reasonably expect out of the B525 without antennas (signal stats below, and they look quite good already)?
What sort of international latency do you see on gaming? I fired up PUBG and got about 220ms. Typically, I used to get 185-200ms on Rain. It's hardly even disappointing, more of a curiosity question.

RSRQ
-6.0dB
RSRP
-76dBm
RSSI
>=-51dBm
SINR
23dB
 
evilspinach said:
How much more speed could I reasonably expect out of the B525 without antennas (signal stats below, and they look quite good already)?
What sort of international latency do you see on gaming? I fired up PUBG and got about 220ms. Typically, I used to get 185-200ms on Rain. It's hardly even disappointing, more of a curiosity question.
Click to expand...
Nice signal stats. I get around 30 Mbps upload on band 3 with similar stats. Band 40 is where I get the 200 Mbps download, but if I lock to band 40, I only get 10 Mbps upload. Keeping it on auto lets it switch to band 3 for upload. A while back I managed to get 165 - 180 ms on Fortnite, I havent played in a while though.
 
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Thanks @B-127

I did try play with the bands and saw no real improvement in download, went back to auto for the upload perk. Also did a quick run around the house and seems I dropped it in a fairly good spot when I got home, it's back there for now :) 70 down, 21 up.
 
Okay, managed to do a very ghetto temporary pole mount on a long pole so I don't need to be on the roof. It's about the same height as the lowest part of our roof.

Signal is -85 dBm (up from -103 dBm without antenna) with antenna pointed in direction with best signal (it aligns with direction of where I think the tower is too).
12:30 on Saturday 28 May
Fast.com
Without antenna: 36 Mbs down, 2 Mbs up, ping 37ms
With antenna: 45 Mbs down, 20 Mbs up. Ping 30 ms

MyBB with antenna
Ping: 39ms
Download: 39.09Mbps
Upload: 22.07Mbps

Speed test are chowing through the data bundle. Any zero rated ones for Telkom?

Would the tilt of antenna also be important to adjust? I have it horizontal, and with it up on the pole can't easily adjust to test if I can get something a bit better. Worth the hassle?

Sadly it looks like 45Mbs is pretty much best speed our tower can offer.
 
Last edited:
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Crusader said:
Okay, managed to do a very ghetto temporary pole mount on a long pole so I don't need to be on the roof. It's about the same height as the lowest part of our roof.

Signal is -85 dBm (up from -103 dBm without antenna) with antenna pointed in direction with best signal (it aligns with direction of where I think the tower is too).
12:30 on Saturday 28 May
Fast.com
Without antenna: 36 Mbs down, 2 Mbs up, ping 37ms
With antenna: 45 Mbs down, 20 Mbs up. Ping 30 ms

MyBB with antenna
Ping: 39ms
Download: 39.09Mbps
Upload: 22.07Mbps

Speed test are chowing through the data bundle. Any zero rated ones for Telkom?

Would the tilt of antenna also be important to adjust? I have it horizontal, and with it up on the pole can't easily adjust to test if I can get something a bit better. Worth the hassle?

Sadly it looks like 45Mbs is pretty much best speed our tower can offer.
Click to expand...
You have 2tb about to roll the prorate amount to next month do you really need a zero rated one?

Anyway I dont think there are unfortunately
 
Snyper564 said:
You have 2tb about to roll the prorate amount to next month do you really need a zero rated one?

Anyway I dont think there are unfortunately
Click to expand...
I'm not on the 2TB deal yet. This is all prep to see if it would be worth it for me.

What's the correct APN details for Telkom? This was a router from Afrihost someone wanted to sell. The profile name is "Afrihost Fixed LTE" and APN set to "internet". Is there anything I need to change or any other setting which could affect speeds?
 

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