Phoenix .net 18dB antenna - reviews?

[Deviant]

Hi all,

I am thinking of getting one of these: High Gain 18dBi iBurst Antenna

Has anyone got/had one of these and can share their impressions with me? I'd like to put it up myself rather than pay R450 installation, how easy is it to get the direction right? I'm guessing you could just use utTraceStar or something in a trial-and-error fashion?

 

[guest2013-1]

Getting the direction right is pretty easy, not like you're installing a satelite dish. The 18dbi is fairly good, if you have a good signal already, it will definately boost the stability of your connection to the tower.

However, having said that. International bandwidth and Tower stability is always an issue with wireless providers and you might find, even if you run an ethernet cable FROM the physical tower to your place, that you will be plagued with packet loss and instability and times when you need your connection the most.

(they usually blame something like birds farting in the direction of their towers causing disturbance in the force... get used to that)

 

[FireFLi]

rofl

 

[dijaba]

We install these antennas at most of our clients, and they work really well with i-Burst. They are also very easy to set-up. As long as you know where the tower is situated. Only thing is, it is a directional antenna and doesn't always garuantee that a signal boost will be seen.

 

[guest2013-1]

BTB, you can find out where the towers are by looking at the coverage maps on their site, so no stressing about where it is. Even if you don't know, just turn around (360 degrees) and take some time to see where you should be pointing it at.

If you're out a few degrees it doesn't matter, like I said, you not installing a satelite dish. Oh, and sometimes pointing it away from the tower gives you the best signal boost, don't ask me why, I might just tell a lie.