Peon
Expert Member
And how stable is that connection?
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DTBA
Executive Member
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on main tower fine. Surrounding tower !@$*(!*$. Only tower that might have fibre back-haul the other all have +ping lower speeds
giepie.delport
Active Member
I fully agree!
The consumer-based equipment is fine for normal home users, if it doesn't work, "have you tried turning it off and back on again...."
But for more serious setups, where a IT company manages the equipment, a solid enterprise level router is the only way
giepie.delport
Active Member
We are based in Limpopo (Hoedspruit), and provide services to companies and lodges in the Greater Kruger.
We only have 2x Wireless ISPs in the area, and they simply can't cover everyone. That leaves us with 2x options, LTE or Starlink...
At my one client (very deep in the Kruger) I had to build a repeater site. I'm running the following equipment:
- 2TB Telkom LTE (via Afrihost) - using a LHG LTE -> This is used as a failover
- Letaba Wireless Internet - 30dBi dish with Mikrotik NetMetal -> This is one of the primary connections (for staff)
- MTN Pure LTE (via Afrihost) - using a MR600 router and external antenna -> This is the primary connection (for guests and admin staff)
- Ready for Starlink
The issue is that the stupid TP Link router often hangs and needs to be power cycled (the same happens with ZTE routers). Luckily I can power cycle the router remotely, by logging in via one of the backup links.
If MTN could provide me with a 2-4TB capped solution, I would take it and use on the LHG!
But now I'm stuck with a crappy consumer router inside a plastic box mounted on a tower
Peon
Expert Member
I setup similar sites as well solar powered etc,etc. That MR600 I schedule a daily reboot which helped alot.
The point is exactly, either WISP's in the area which are also unreliable and Starlink.
The point is exactly, either WISP's in the area which are also unreliable and Starlink.
giepie.delport
Active Member
I think we're on exactly the same page
I also do the daily reboots
Another issue we have is heat.... Mikrotik devices are rated to work up to 100'C, but these consumer routers starts falling over at 30'C....
It's difficult to put a fan in a box mounted to a pole, but seems that would be my next step.
PS, I heard a whisper that Afrihost is in dealings with Starlink. Does anyone here have more information? (more specifically a rough time-frame of when we could get Afrihost Starlink)
Peon
Expert Member
Yeah ZTE & Reyee can learn from MT on this one.I think we're on exactly the same page
I also do the daily reboots
Another issue we have is heat.... Mikrotik devices are rated to work up to 100'C, but these consumer routers starts falling over at 30'C....
It's difficult to put a fan in a box mounted to a pole, but seems that would be my next step.
PS, I heard a whisper that Afrihost is in dealings with Starlink. Does anyone here have more information? (more specifically a rough time-frame of when we could get Afrihost Starlink)
Yeah Afrihost, you guys know about ZTE G5 range and external antenna situation right?
giepie.delport
Active Member
I had to import TS9->SMA connectors for the ZTE routers. They arrived this morning, so I'll be testing them soon.
The MR600 routers were easy enough, but with the ZTE routers you need to change a setting to enable the external antennas.
Peon
Expert Member
TS9 you can get from Scoop and Poynting Direct.
Essentially dont bother plugging external antenna into these new G5 range.
Essentially dont bother plugging external antenna into these new G5 range.
giepie.delport
Active Member
Scoop didn't have stock, and anyone else I asked just frowned
So I ordered online and had to wait like 3 weeks
Did you have issues with using external antennae? I plan to use a mANT, so the router can be indoors and the antenna outdoors
Peon
Expert Member
Yeah this new ZTE range dont get any advantage in using a external antenna. The db levels are precisely the same as built-in antennas.Scoop didn't have stock, and anyone else I asked just frowned
So I ordered online and had to wait like 3 weeks
Did you have issues with using external antennae? I plan to use a mANT, so the router can be indoors and the antenna outdoors
I would rather recommend using Poynting external antennas connected to the routers for LTE.
giepie.delport
Active Member
Thats not great news :0
The ZTE routers have uFL connectors on the inside. One could disconnect the internal antennae and connect uFL->SMA pigtails. That way the software can't force you to use the internal antennae
Voldemort
Death eater
After having stress tested the GT5S I have to concur, not exactly much of a gain noted visually on my stats board (Ok, SINR improved by 4-5), BUT there was a 30mb/s odd improvement in the speeds, couldn't have been a fluke, I ran 5 tests, all with the same average results. That said, this didn't make a great deal of sense to me at the time
Peon
Expert Member
Yeah it is disappointing.After having stress tested the GT5S I have to concur, not exactly much of a gain noted visually on my stats board (Ok, SINR improved by 4-5), BUT there was a 30mb/s odd improvement in the speeds, couldn't have been a fluke, I ran 5 tests, all with the same average results. That said, this didn't make a great deal of sense to me at the time
giepie.delport
Active Member
After having stress tested the GT5S I have to concur, not exactly much of a gain noted visually on my stats board (Ok, SINR improved by 4-5), BUT there was a 30mb/s odd improvement in the speeds, couldn't have been a fluke, I ran 5 tests, all with the same average results. That said, this didn't make a great deal of sense to me at the time
Did you the use external antenna ports or did you install uFL pigtails?
I'm getting real concerned as I have to install the external antenna early next week. I already have a ZTE router installed at the client, but we're hardly getting 10mbps. Also, the router keeps overheating, so the idea is to place it in the solar room (air-conditioned) and install the mANT outside.
An LHG would've been so much easier
Plaasjapie
Well-Known Member
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- Messages
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Have you managed to get your ZTE router working with better LTE signal/speeds using external antennas Giepie ? I have just ordered external antennas for my new 5G ZTE router and hoping not to have wasted money ! Also live in rural area 5km away from tower. Up to now have used Mikrotik's R11e-LTE6 with pre-paid data with great speeds, but it's getting expensive to buy more data regularly !Did you the use external antenna ports or did you install uFL pigtails?
I'm getting real concerned as I have to install the external antenna early next week. I already have a ZTE router installed at the client, but we're hardly getting 10mbps. Also, the router keeps overheating, so the idea is to place it in the solar room (air-conditioned) and install the mANT outside.
An LHG would've been so much easier
Voldemort
Death eater
Well, provided the site isn't completely obscured, it stands to reason that an external antenna would work.
giepie.delport
Active Member
Hey there
I was not successful in using the external antenna option...let me explain
Whilst waiting for the extended antenna to arrive, I installed the ZTE router on the pole, inside an IP65 enclosure. It worked OK, but wasn't ideal.
When the antennas arrived, I moved the router to the client's metal server enclosure (one of those outdoor ones sold by Scoop). From the router I ran 2x 5m cables to the outdoor antenna.....
I then configured the ZTE to use the external antenna, but couldn't get ANY signal! (Not on any of the 4x signal levels)
Moved the router outside, got signal on both built-in and external signals.
Turns out, the ZTE router is not using the external connectors AT ALL, and is simply lying about the signal levels.
So I ended up placing the router inside the ABS IP65 enclosure again, which has been working well since I did it.
Up to now I haven't found a better solution. 5x of my clients now have routers mounted inside ABS boxes outside.
Plaasjapie
Well-Known Member
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Some reported above not much of a dB gain with external antennas, and another have said you have to set software for the router to use the external antenna ports for it to work, hence my question. What dB external antennas have you used in your tests ? Omni or directional ? How far from tower were you ?
Voldemort
Death eater
I handle metro areas nowadays, but I used to cover from Thabazimbi to Piet Retief. I went to many farms in my 22 years with the company, with antennas being a preferred means of fixing issues.
What are you looking to achieve, 5G or LTE? 5G is available in some rural areas via the 800Mhz frequency, and in such a case I would go with the Bolton Crossbow, I use this at home, as my nearest serving site is just under 2kms away, coverage issues:
