Amp review.

[Newb-lite]

Hey

On friday last week i installed an amplifier/booster into my neotel system.
The one i am using is : Wilson Electronics 812201 Direct Connect Amplifier GSM/TDMA Dual Band 800/1900 MHz.

Installation was simple and easy. Currently i have a 10 meter cable running from my yagi to the amplifier , and a 3 meter cable from the amp to the phone. ( im on prime). The 3 meter cable was supplied with the amplifier , and is a really thin skinny looking little thing.

Obviously this setup can still be improved , by shortenning the cables as possible as well as improving cable quality.

However , the results have been pretty decent. My rssi before the amp was 84-86 and my download speed averaged around 100 - 150 kilobytes / sec
After amp : rssi = 72-74 , and d/l speed = 150 - 200 kb/sec.

my line seems more stable as it was running non-stop over the weekend , with no drops.(that i know of )


these amps arent cheap to import , and i know of none sold here , but it does look like they might be able to help guys struggling with coverage.

EDIT: Also ... we tested at a friend who has an rssi of 82 BUT gets download speeds of 200 + ... the booster improved his rssi , but did nothing else for him ... So if you already have decent speeds etc ... this booster will do nothing for you.

 

[Ice2Cool]

Thanks newb for that review - I think im definately going to get one now. Was hoping of getting rid of my yagi and getting a 15" window mounted antenna!

Are you on neoflex or prime?

 

[agentrfr]

EDIT: Also ... we tested at a friend who has an rssi of 82 BUT gets download speeds of 200 + ... the booster improved his rssi , but did nothing else for him ... So if you already have decent speeds etc ... this booster will do nothing for you.

True, it won't increase dl speed !!!BUT!!!
it will give you a better con to the tower. When the towers become loaded with people, it will give higer priority to people with better signals. So, if the tower becomes busy, with an amp you should keep high speeds constant because your more important than the non-amp people ^_^

By the way, can you link us to the site where you purchased it from?


http://www.wantitall.co.za/ViewProd...=pricechck_ppc&AdGroup=ppc&Keyword=B000O8RT02

Maybe that one?

 

[agentrfr]

One more thing. The power supply for the amp. Did you buy the specific one for it? If you did can you check on the plug for what amperage it is (I have a bunch of spare ones lying around the house).

Thanks

 

[Newb-lite]

Are you on neoflex or prime?

Im on prime.

The power supply for the amp.

I got me one from builders warehouse. Standard 12 volt variable jobby ... cost me 60 bux.

can you link us to the site where you purchased it from?

It was wantitall ... heres the direct link to the one i got.

http://www.wantitall.co.za/Wilson-E...r-GSM-TDMA-Dual-Band-800-1900-MHz__B000O8RT02

I am pretty damn sure there is a cheaper , and easier way to get this amp , and others , but i was not in the mood to find it hehe

 

[medicnick83]

I've been told this is illegal... can anyone confirm this?!?

I'm not trying to cause kark or anything, I'm all for anything that helps fix our signal issues - but I've been told this is illegal and maybe someone can confirm this.

 

[Ice2Cool]

Theyre not - thats why the ampage is so low so that they dont broadcast beyond a few meters.

Wilson is FCC certified so if its good enough for them im sure its good enough for us.

 

[Ice2Cool]

I should also mention that you get direct connect amps that dont broadcast but instead conenct directly to your modem.

 

[Newb-lite]

what this thing mostly does , is boost an incomming signal ... much like a tv antenna booster will do for you on a tv.

You cant boost what you dont have ... thus you must have signal to better it.

So if you have great signal right at your antenna but not so good at your modem/unit , this device nullifies the cable loss. It takes the signal it receives and just makes it strong enough to negate what long cables will do.

thats how i see it anyways.

 

[Ice2Cool]

hows things going newb? that booster still working for u?

 

[Newb-lite]

hey there

been a while since ive been here , but yes .. the booster still works happily. I need to re-allign my antenna a little , and also swop out some worn cabling , but alls still good.

I have experienced a slight drop in performance ... im on 100 kb/s stable now. But this might be due to needing to move my antenna or the gunky cables.

 

[Style]

any updates on the amp? I have one too but mine doesnt seem to be performing to the standards its supposed to. it might have been faulty coming from the suppliers and I will be getting it tested soon. hows your performance these days with it and what antenna do u have connected to it?