It works!
For anyone using a datacard in a low-signal area, I have just gone the antenna route -- and it works!
Pricey, but worth it, is my initial verdict.
Using the Dashboard software with a Novatel card on three networks I managed in each case to see a one-bar improvement on the signal-strength meter (which in my case rarely hit three bars, and sometimes dropped to two). That may not seem like much, but running the simple speed test (
http://212.19.68.252/speed.html) showed I had DOUBLED my GPRS download speed, on average (I live in the bush, where 3G and HSDPA can only ever remain wet dreams....).
Anyone else going this route needs to be sure of a couple of things though:
1) Use only the special data (3G, GPRS etc.) antenna (from Poynting or IT outlets); a standard so-called 'Yagi' antenna is only designed for cellular voice, not data; it is worse than useless for data, as I found when I tried;
2) These dual-band data antennas are very directional; for best reception you need to point them at the relevant mast with reasonable accuracy, including getting the tilt right if you are higher or lower than the mast;
3) Don't get one with a longer cable than you need; one techie I quizzed noted that you lose up to 1 dB (of the listed 11 dB gain) for every metre of cable. The shortest cable which comes with the unit is 7 metres.
4) Don't attempt to use one of the generic 'pigtail' patchcords which attempts to fit all datacards by using a stick-on pad instead of the correct plug; again, said to be worse than useless. Get the specific pigtail which connects the antenna correctly and securely to your specific proprietary datacard antenna socket (costs another coupla hundred, alas).
Sign up with Google
