Huawei B683 + Poytning antenna does nothing for speed!

[noolkop]

I need some help from the gurus out there please.

I've got the B683 router with an MTN sim and the high gain antenna from Poytning. I know that the antenna is working because when I move it around the RSSI changes, and when pointing at the tower I get -37 dBm. That's HUGE from what I've seen in other posts. However, my speed is still no better than maybe 1.5 mbps. Which is more or less what it was before I got the antenna.

Does that make sense? I'm a total n00b, so the settings in the setup page of the B683 mean pretty much nothing to me, but is is alo impossible to find any sort of manual that explains any of it. There are some videos on YouTube but that's a Nigerian guy setting it up for Nigeria, and I'm in SA.

Help please?

 

[ajax]

Your speed issue is quite likely NOT related to signal strength. I speak under correction but AFAIK anything stronger than -65 dBm (i.e. absolute values lower than this) can be considered excellent.

You should speak to MTN and log a query on your tower.

 

[_dB_]

In the settings page there is an option to switch antenna between internal/external. Check that its set to external.

 

[noolkop]

Your speed issue is quite likely NOT related to signal strength. I speak under correction but AFAIK anything stronger than -65 dBm (i.e. absolute values lower than this) can be considered excellent.

You should speak to MTN and log a query on your tower.

Thanks so much for your reply. I'll try that

 

[noolkop]

Thanks, but I did do this. I know it works because as I move the antenna around(360 degrees) I get better or worse signal depending on where it is pointing. When it points directly at the tower the RSSI is the lowest, so I am pretty sure the antenna is doing it's job. It must be something else.

 

[chrisc]

A stronger signal via the antenna does not equate to faster speed. All it does it ensure you do not get disconnected so often. What it will do is help you keep connected if the signal becomes weak, and without the antenna you would have been disconnected. If without the antenna you have more then 50% signal strength, then the antenna is wasted.

In my house, without the antenna connected I was getting 18% to 24% signal. With it connected (via an inductive coupler as it works better than the plug) the signal was between 55% and 78%. I also found that there were 2 transmitters I could use and the closer one gave the best signal with the aerial.

Poor speed is due to tower congestion

 

[noolkop]

A stronger signal via the antenna does not equate to faster speed. All it does it ensure you do not get disconnected so often. What it will do is help you keep connected if the signal becomes weak, and without the antenna you would have been disconnected. If without the antenna you have more then 50% signal strength, then the antenna is wasted.

In my house, without the antenna connected I was getting 18% to 24% signal. With it connected (via an inductive coupler as it works better than the plug) the signal was between 55% and 78%. I also found that there were 2 transmitters I could use and the closer one gave the best signal with the aerial.

Poor speed is due to tower congestion

Ok, thanks. My wife is on Vodacom and has her PC set up elsewhere in the house. She gets speeds of 3-4 mbs using a normal 3G modem that plugs into the USB port and which is NOT connected to the antenna. Does this correspond to what you said here re the tower being congested? I am on MTN.

 

[Kloofvreter]

Ok, thanks. My wife is on Vodacom and has her PC set up elsewhere in the house. She gets speeds of 3-4 mbs using a normal 3G modem that plugs into the USB port and which is NOT connected to the antenna. Does this correspond to what you said here re the tower being congested? I am on MTN.

This is exactly what it sounds like.

 

[ginggs]

Ok, thanks. My wife is on Vodacom and has her PC set up elsewhere in the house. She gets speeds of 3-4 mbs using a normal 3G modem that plugs into the USB port and which is NOT connected to the antenna. Does this correspond to what you said here re the tower being congested? I am on MTN.

You should be able to verify this by putting her Vodacom SIM into your router and checking what speeds you get.

 

[noolkop]

You should be able to verify this by putting her Vodacom SIM into your router and checking what speeds you get.

Thank you, I'll try that. Problem is there is no Vodacom tower close to us as far as I know, so where can I get a map of the tower locations to help me point the antenna in that direction? Any ideas please?

 

[Jab]

Thank you, I'll try that. Problem is there is no Vodacom tower close to us as far as I know, so where can I get a map of the tower locations to help me point the antenna in that direction? Any ideas please?

Send a PM to VodacomData with your coordinates and they'll send you your closest tower's location.

 

[sajunky]

and when pointing at the tower I get -37 dBm.

Are you sure about above number? I am asking because:
a) it is outside range specified by standard, so generally no device should report such a number,
b) to strong signal can saturate receivers, in such case increasing signal strenght is not necommended.

 

[noolkop]

Are you sure about above number? I am asking because:
a) it is outside range specified by standard, so generally no device should report such a number,
b) to strong signal can saturate receivers, in such case increasing signal strenght is not necommended.

I'm pretty sure it is right, yes. There are three indicators
Ec\Io = -4.5 dBm
RSSI = -37 dBm
RSCP = -36 dBm

None of this means anything to me, but I did a search and found that RSSI is supposed to indicate signal strength.

What does it mean when you say "saturate receivers" please?

 

[sajunky]

(For those who don't know what SNR field in MDMA means, it is pair of numbers - probably RSCP and Ec\Io)
@noolkop: Dunno, I wish I had B683 myself... Are you sure these numbers are about 3G connection (not WiFi connection)?
What is RSSI if you disable external and enable internal antenna?

Saturate receivers, no much worry, just slower transfer rates, but assuming these numbers are connect, you should start worry about radiation exposure for yourself, your family and neighbours. It is 20dB stronger I ever had close to the tower!!!

 

[noolkop]

Thanks for the reply.

I am not sure whether these numbers are about 3G vs WiFi at all. I'm really, REALLY clueless.

The B683 is a wireless router, and after setting it up I can see Wireless Network on my Network connections screen. I can connect to that Network, or I can just use the LAN which connects to the same router, but via Ethernet cable. I normally do the second option becuase I think that stuff that is physically connected must surely be more stable than others. So it is definitely possible that I am looking at WiFi numbers here.

If I take the antenna off, then the RSSI is about -57 dBm.

There is an MTN tower about 200m from my house. At least I THINK it is an MTN tower since it has an MTN sticker on the bottom. Thing is, MTN has no rep on mybroadband(that I could find) so I can't confirm because they refuse to give me any data over the phone.

I'm sure I must be able to get better transfer rates, but I don't know where to begin. All I can do is ask you clever people to help me figure out what to eliminate.

 

[sajunky]

You are right that Ethernet cable gives more stable connection. If you disable WiFi on the router (just for testing or permanently if no other device require connection), then sure, above RSSI applies to 3G tower.
I think ajax highlighted the most critical thing. If you increase RSSI above certain level, it doesn't help any further as your RSSI at current level (without external antenna) is already optimum.

Is it directional antenna, isn't? If you want to investigate further, directional external antenna can help under condition that signal level is brought down to optimum level as per ajax post and problem is not with tower. It looks crazy, but this way directional antenna helps eliminate multiple signal path, giving clean signal at optimum level.
I think Poynting is selling reductors, you can just plug between antenna connector and router. But think if you spend more money and later find it is a tower problem.....

 

[noolkop]

Send a PM to VodacomData with your coordinates and they'll send you your closest tower's location.

OK, I did this and there is basically no difference. I still only get 1.3 mbps with the Vodacom SIM. Took it upstairs, plugged it into her 3G modem(not connected to the antenna) and bam! there the speed is 3.8mbps. Can it be the settings on the router, maybe?

 

[noolkop]

Wow, that's a mouthful. Let me try to eliminate the tower as a problem first, then. Thanks fro your help