Boosting Signal Strength with Poynting

[SparkySpider]

Hi there,

I have a friend near Malmesbury with a very poor 3G signal and she desperately needs to be able to do her work on the Internet. Internet is even unrelaible on GPRS.

We purcahsed a directional 3G antenna from Poynting Direct, but only seem to get a 3 to 5% better signal in the best direction, leaving the 3G connection at +/- 18% strength (very poor to poor).

Modem is a Huwaai E172 USB Stick Modem. There is a sock that fits over the USB stick to "connect" it to the aerial.

How can we get the connection better?

1. Do you get some kind of electronic 3G signal amplifier?

2. Should we raise the aerial higher?

3. There is an cable extension on the Poynting antennae. Could this affect it severely?

4. Is there a more powerful modem that we can use for her Desktop?

5. Is there a modem that we can use for her desktop that can have a physical electric contact to the antenna (rather than the sock). Will this help?

6. The Cell Id of the nearest tower seems to be 20822. Any ideas where I can find the GPS coordinates of this tower so that I can set up the antennae to point directly to it (Using Google Earth) and make sure it misses any trees, houses, walls, etc.

Please advise,

Really need help urgently

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Monkey D Luffy]

Hi there,

How can we get the connection better?

1. Do you get some kind of electronic 3G signal amplifier?

2. Should we raise the aerial higher?

3. There is an cable extension on the Poynting antennae. Could this affect it severely?

4. Is there a more powerful modem that we can use for her Desktop?

5. Is there a modem that we can use for her desktop that can have a physical electric contact to the antenna (rather than the sock). Will this help?

6. The Cell Id of the nearest tower seems to be 20822. Any ideas where I can find the GPS coordinates of this tower so that I can set up the antennae to point directly to it (Using Google Earth) and make sure it misses any trees, houses, walls, etc.

Please advise,

Really need help urgently

Thanks,

Mark

1. Yes you do get a 3G signal amplifier, but unfortunately you can't buy these yourself, has to be installed by your ISP(vodacom, mtn etc)

2. Raising the antenna higher is an option if you know where the tower is situated. I suggest you contact your ISP to get more details on where the tower is because you also need to keep the radius between you and the tower in consideration as well as penetration which play a big role in your reception. You'll get satisfactory performance from 3G within a max radius of 5km(this is debatable considering penetration etc) Anything between 5 - 7km then a yagi antenna might work, above 9km your then need a 3G cell extender(considering your area, trees, hills, penetration etc)

3. The extension your attach to the antenna is necessary because that's what broadcasting the amplified signal. So you need to attach the USB modem onto that extension(ADPT adapter/Pigtail) to get better signal, also you need to make sure that the cable lenght between the antenna and the extension does not exceed a max of 15m, cause the longer the cable the more dBm(signal strenght) lost. Remember a stand alone yagi antenna only inprove signal with 11dBm, the longer that cable the less dBm you'll receive. Also make sure that the antenna in the USB modem face the same direction as the extension's antenna. The USB modem's antenna is the end of the stick(not the usb input side) and the extension is also the end.

4. In the case of her using a desktop computer, check her USB ports, is it USB 2.0 or 1.0, because USB 2.0 is recommend to ensure max power supply to the modem.

5.Well the data card for example will get a extension that will plug directly into the data card. But for USB modem, not as far as i now, you only get the type that you have.

6. Contact customer care ask them to log a fault for 3G coverage, they normally send it to Radio Planning which will be able to assist you properly!

Hope this help!

 

[nuyork]

Is there an adapter for the Huawei E172???

I'm not aware of any that have been made. I'm not sure if Poynting are working on a sock or adapter for the E172.

I believe they have got an adapter for the Novatel MC950D USB stick (ADPT-025), haven't seen one yet though.

 

[SparkySpider]

Is there an adapter for the Huawei E172???

I'm not aware of any that have been made. I'm not sure if Poynting are working on a sock or adapter for the E172.

I believe they have got an adapter for the Novatel MC950D USB stick (ADPT-025), haven't seen one yet though.

Yes, Poynting have a sock that fits the E172, but I've only been able to get a 3-5% increase using the sock.

By this, do you mean that the antenna can physically connect (via copper) to the USB. I have a feeling this will make a big difference.

 

[SparkySpider]

Apparently, an electronic signal booster / amplifier can be installed by Vodacom with a R 25 000 price tag on it!

 

[SparkySpider]

Yes, Poynting have a sock that fits the E172, but I've only been able to get a 3-5% increase using the sock.

By this, do you mean that the antenna can physically connect (via copper) to the USB. I have a feeling this will make a big difference.

It's also a sock.

 

[ajax]

Best is to get a modem with an external connector and then connect the antenna to this connector using the correct cable/pigtail. Poynting can make this up for you.

You will lose about 1dB or more per meter of cable. So if you bought a Yagi, then a 10 m cable will kill all the gain the antenna may have given you. Keep in mind though that if the antenna is mounted outside, it's mere location will already give a much better signal than inside.

If you need something stable then maybe a 3G router is a better option. This way you could i.e. install the antenna outside on the roof and with a 2 meter cable connect to the router that's installed just inside the roof near the antenna. Then connect wirelessly from the laptop/desktop to the router using standard 802.11 technology or better yet, an ethernet cable. This way you can get the best signal out of the antenna.

 

[SparkySpider]

Best is to get a modem with an external connector and then connect the antenna to this connector using the correct cable/pigtail. Poynting can make this up for you.

You will lose about 1dB or more per meter of cable. So if you bought a Yagi, then a 10 m cable will kill all the gain the antenna may have given you. Keep in mind though that if the antenna is mounted outside, it's mere location will already give a much better signal than inside.

If you need something stable then maybe a 3G router is a better option. This way you could i.e. install the antenna outside on the roof and with a 2 meter cable connect to the router that's installed just inside the roof near the antenna. Then connect wirelessly from the laptop/desktop to the router using standard 802.11 technology or better yet, an ethernet cable. This way you can get the best signal out of the antenna.

That's brilliant. If I can find one of those super strong PCMCIA 3G Data Cards and one of those old 3G Routers, I can kill the extension cable and put the router upstairs, right next to the aerial. The router already has a physical copper connector, meaning that we can probably gain close to 12dBi. Taking it right up to 88 to 90. Should be ok then.

 

[morkhans]

That's brilliant. If I can find one of those super strong PCMCIA 3G Data Cards and one of those old 3G Routers, I can kill the extension cable and put the router upstairs, right next to the aerial. The router already has a physical copper connector, meaning that we can probably gain close to 12dBi. Taking it right up to 88 to 90. Should be ok then.

Poynting now also make an outdoor weatherproof router called the ePoynt

 

[vodacom3g]

You will lose about 1dB or more per meter of cable. So if you bought a Yagi, then a 10 m cable will kill all the gain the antenna may have given you. Keep in mind though that if the antenna is mounted outside, it's mere location will already give a much better signal than inside.

About 8dB's gain, just moving outdoors.

The 3G Router in the ceiling works well.

Saw an "outdoor version" the other day with a farmer who mounted a 3G router in a weatherproof box on top of a hill with solar / battery power and two high gain antennas, one 3G pointing toward the tower and another high-gain wi-fi one, pointing down toward his house.

Very cool!

 

[SparkySpider]

Price Tag a Little Ouchy

Poynting now also make an outdoor weatherproof router called the ePoynt

The R 5000 aspect hurts a little though - but it looks like a good solution.

 

[SparkySpider]

About 8dB's gain, just moving outdoors.

The 3G Router in the ceiling works well.

Saw an "outdoor version" the other day with a farmer who mounted a 3G router in a weatherproof box on top of a hill with solar / battery power and two high gain antennas, one 3G pointing toward the tower and another high-gain wi-fi one, pointing down toward his house.

Very cool!

V3G, do you know...

1. How one can connect a 3G USB stick to a hub/ethernet without expensive hardware - we already have the 3G stick?
2. If Vodacom would be willing to assist us in swapping out the brand new 3G USB stick for the older PCMCIA cards and an old router? Who do we contact?
3. If maybe we could get a very long USB extension and just mount the 3G stick in the roof with a long USB cable downstairs?

Your advice would be much appreciated

 

[morkhans]

V3G, do you know...

1. How one can connect a 3G USB stick to a hub/ethernet without expensive hardware - we already have the 3G stick?
2. If Vodacom would be willing to assist us in swapping out the brand new 3G USB stick for the older PCMCIA cards and an old router? Who do we contact?
3. If maybe we could get a very long USB extension and just mount the 3G stick in the roof with a long USB cable downstairs?

Your advice would be much appreciated

1) There are routers from Billion and Draytek that will take USB sticks.
2) Can't help you there.
3) There have been reports of people using 5m USB cables to some good effect.

 

[threegee]

You can try what I did. First of all find where your nearest tower is situated, do this by driving around and finding it. Then find some landmarks in that area. Then find your home on Google Earth and find the tower location on google earth using those landmarks, pick landmarks which will be easily recognisable from above.

Get a bearing and point your antenna in that direction. The more accurately you point your antenna the better signal you will have, a few degrees can make a big difference. I am approximately 7km from the tower and have an "almost" full strength signal and it's been this way for nearly 3 years now.

Hope that helps.

 

[morkhans]

The R 5000 aspect hurts a little though - but it looks like a good solution.

It does hurt a bit, but if you had to add up:
3G Modem
Router
Antenna

You are very close to R5000.

 

[nuyork]

Is there an adapter for the Huawei E172???

I'm not aware of any that have been made. I'm not sure if Poynting are working on a sock or adapter for the E172.

I believe they have got an adapter for the Novatel MC950D USB stick (ADPT-025), haven't seen one yet though.

Well according to their website, the ADPT-025 will work with the Huawei E172 modem.

http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=ADPT-025

Ordering one of these to test it out.

 

[morkhans]

If you don't have an antenna already and can't attach something to your outer walls (I live in a complex for instance), check out the Window Mount Antenna. I have been playing with one and it made a huge difference when attached to my E630. It went from -101 dBm to -67 dBm. You still need a pigtail or coupler in addition to the antenna.

 

[sahopeful]

If you don't have an antenna already and can't attach something to your outer walls (I live in a complex for instance), check out the Window Mount Antenna. I have been playing with one and it made a huge difference when attached to my E630. It went from -101 dBm to -67 dBm. You still need a pigtail or coupler in addition to the antenna.

[not contribuing to the conversation, but just for interest sake] How did you measure this power?

 

[morkhans]

[not contribuing to the conversation, but just for interest sake] How did you measure this power?

Good old MDMA (sticky in the MTN forum)

 

[sahopeful]

Good old MDMA (sticky in the MTN forum)

Ok kewl. I'm a RF engineer, and just curious to see you use those units as I don't often see them. 40dB is alot of gain, so I don't completely believe those numbers, though for just an indicator sake, it seems alright. It's interesting to see this thread start again after so many months. I'm interested in this topic as well, as my sister lives a bit far out. Just trying to find some time before I get to fix that.