Help with reception

[elephant]

So I went out and bought the 2gb cell c stick.
Webpages time out.
Downloads crash.
Im living in a Flat on the 2nd story.

Any idea how to improve reception?
Right now its plugged into my rig like a flashdrive.
Maybe dangle out of window with usb extension cable? :wtf:

Telkom doesn't even know that my building exists. ETA : 4-6mths.



Refused to post thread till the 4th reload.
Btw im somewhere between Arcadia and Hatfield.
Not even the cell c website loaded properly.
Oh and I do fall under the coverage map.

 

[w1z4rd]

Get an external antenna. We sell them for around 500 bucks

 

[elephant]

Um its a flashdrive stick thing.
How do i connect it to an antenna?
oh and I`m broke now so I doubt I can afford an antenna.

Oh and can I share it between 2 pc`s?
Ad Hoc?
Switch?
Ethernet with crossover?

 

[w1z4rd]

Um its a flashdrive stick thing.
How do i connect it to an antenna?
oh and I`m broke now so I doubt I can afford an antenna.

Yeah, you get antennas that velcro onto them.

 

[elephant]

Yeah, you get antennas that velcro onto them.

:wtf: I`l try dangle out/near of the window then decide.

 

[Synaesthesia]

First check how good your reception is in dBi - it may just be issues with Cell C and not your antenna. Lots of issues around gauteng with disconnects etc.

 

[elephant]

RSSI : -87dBm
I need to dangle it nearby or external antenna I think.
Goes between HSPA and WCDM or something.

 

[Madhawk]

Try a USB extension cable, or first place the pc closest to the window.

If you can't get good signal there, no use spending money on a cable.

Before my tower was upgraded, I used a 3m Belkin (R99 Makro) extension cable connected directly to my E1820.

The E1820 was cable tied to the window where my signal was the best.

My RSSI was -91dBm then. The best I could get at the time.

P.S. The Belkin USB cable doesn't work with my router. It's only good to connect the dongle directly to your pc/laptop.

Try also placing your speedstick in different USB ports.

 

[Viva]

I recently was in a similar position - my reception only improved a little a few days ago. I did a lot of searching, so here are a few links:

A thread about my 3G situation - MyBroadband Forums
DIY Signal Booster Antenna for Data Connections - MyBroadband Forums
3G Directional Antenna - MyBroadband Forums
DIY Corner Reflector - MyBroadband Forums
DIY and tech ideas - MyBroadband Forums
3G Bundle Special - Uniterm Direct

Hope this helps!

 

[RichardG]

I recently was in a similar position - my reception only improved a little a few days ago. I did a lot of searching, so here are a few links:
3G Bundle Special - Uniterm Direct

Thank you - going to purchase that first thing next week.

 

[elephant]

Thx
Usb 3.0 port helps?
Right now its -81dBm
Worst was -111dBm

 

[Viva]

I'm not sure about USB 3.0. As the dongle is a USB 2.0 device, the USB port will probably just "downgrade" to USB 2.0 specifications.

-81dBm is not bad at all. Using my corner reflector, I'm lucky to get -89dBm, and my speeds are still decent (2 Mbps)

 

[themba990]

Thank you - going to purchase that first thing next week.

That does look like a good deal.