Anyone using the extrernal Antennaes from Poynting and the like? What kind of distance are you from the towers and are you able to receive 3G? Reason being, a user has moved out of town where he had 3G before. He is approx 9Km from town so only receives GPRS, any way of boosting his signal?
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External Antennae, Ranges
- Thread starter mavx
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ajax
Executive Member
It depends a lot on the terrain. If it is line of sight (LOS) to a tower the rule is you lose 6 dB of signal (equivalent to approxmimately 1 bar on a Nokia phone AFAIK) every time you double the distance to the tower.
If there are hills inbetween you lose a lot more.
V3g, what do the radio guys say? What is the maximum distance for which they have achieved a 3G connection and what equipment was involved?
If it was me, a quick test that I would do to see if it is feasible to try an external antenna is to stand on the roof and set the phone to use 3G only. If I get any signal, an external antenna will probably solve the problem. If I get no signal it is difficult to say.
This of course excludes any cell breathing (weaker signal when lots of users are downloading at the same time)
Maybe then test the signal during peak times.
If there are hills inbetween you lose a lot more.
V3g, what do the radio guys say? What is the maximum distance for which they have achieved a 3G connection and what equipment was involved?
If it was me, a quick test that I would do to see if it is feasible to try an external antenna is to stand on the roof and set the phone to use 3G only. If I get any signal, an external antenna will probably solve the problem. If I get no signal it is difficult to say.
This of course excludes any cell breathing (weaker signal when lots of users are downloading at the same time)
Maybe then test the signal during peak times.
Well he's in the Free State so hopefully the LOS will be pretty good. I think I'm going to try and get in touch with Poynting and see if they have any idea on their best achievements distance wise with a 3G antennae. In the meantime he's going to send me his location on the 3G coverage map...
grubsner
Well-Known Member
I'm currently using the standard Vodafone external antenna and is located 4.2 km from the 3G base station and getting constant 2 bars signal sometimes 1 bar during peak periods. I'm getting constant 380 kb+ downloads even with 1 bar 3G signal. I'm assuming the ext antenna i'm using has no more that 2 dB gain.
Using ajax's equation a 7 db Gain antenna should give you 2 bars (6 db loss for double the distance and 1 dB for cable attentuation)
The best way would be to test!
Using ajax's equation a 7 db Gain antenna should give you 2 bars (6 db loss for double the distance and 1 dB for cable attentuation)
The best way would be to test!
ajax
Executive Member
grubsner said:
...if you put it in the same place as the previous antenna yes. If the previous antenna is indoors the 7dB one outdoors could easily give you 20 dB or 4 bars extra due to cutting out the building's attenuation
Thanks so far guys, spoke to a rep at Poynting, she reckons 35km for 3G! Although I think this might be only be GPRS signal... I'm waiting for some info to come through on e-mail. Grubsner, could I ask you a favour, if you could guestimate using the Vodacom coverage map how far you are from the "green" zones? Theres a scale there 
Surely an external antennae might be able to at least boost the signal a further 4km ?
PS: must say the map is looking much better and easier to use!
Surely an external antennae might be able to at least boost the signal a further 4km ?PS: must say the map is looking much better and easier to use!
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vodacom3g
Vodacom Representative
Let me ask the radio guys to comment.
35 kilometres sounds a bit radical. 9Km might be do-able with an external antenna with 15dB gain (7dB for the antenna + 8 dB for being mounted outdoors), but I'm no expert.
35 kilometres sounds a bit radical. 9Km might be do-able with an external antenna with 15dB gain (7dB for the antenna + 8 dB for being mounted outdoors), but I'm no expert.
grubsner
Well-Known Member
mavx,
I'm no way near the green zone! I think the green zone is mathematically simulated with no external antenna assuming attenuation if used indoors. Without the external antenna I only get GPRS.
Best way is to test with the real thing!
I'm no way near the green zone! I think the green zone is mathematically simulated with no external antenna assuming attenuation if used indoors. Without the external antenna I only get GPRS.
Best way is to test with the real thing!
vodacom3g said:
A 35km radius (maybe more) is possible with GSM 900 on flat terrain in a rural area.
I suggest that you guys tell V3G in which area you are located so that his radio guys can provide a coverage answer. Note the 3G cell size also changes dynamically as a function of interference. If you are on the edge of a 3G cell you may loose coverage during a busy period as the cell shrinks and if there are no adjacent cells.
Maybe V3G can also tell us when Vodacom plans to offer interactive coverage maps like their UK parent. Check out the interactive maps at:
- Vodafone
- O2
Try a UK postal code that you know or "SL4 4SW".
Cheers.
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