The difference an Antenna makes

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by ALP</i>
<br />Dean, Gps co-ords will be great.. ( I will just have to find a GPS).

Maybe this is off the mark, but the way I see this there is no use in installing an antenna if your unit does not connect on its own. Antennae will do wonders if you have a signal but is seemingly a waist if your unit does not connect on its own..

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No, you may be able to connect with an antenna, whilst you might not without it. It is dependant on a lot of factors, the return signal etc. Using a directional antenna might get you connected simply because it concentrates the signal towards the tower, rather than just sending it out 360 degrees such as the modem's builtin omnidirectional antenna does.

What you do need to check though, is that your modem, and account etc is all functioning, probably from some site where you can just normally connect.

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OMG!!! the cantenna ACTUALLY works!!!

bought a tin of pringles tonite... *crunch* *crunch* *crunch* [:D]... and zapped the can over my modem's antenna - got a WOPPING 8% increase in signal strength! from 14% to 22%!!!!

un-be-liev-a-ble!!! [^]

don't know if it's just my imagination, but the connection is actually faster! might just be wishfull thinking! :)

woot! [:D]

if all else fails... influence with hammer
 
I have the same situation.. 14% no can then 22% with can. Its a coffee can (not smooth edged) and has just a rudimentary hols in with the antenna going through. Its a low budget solution of a low budget idea but it gives me 8% for now [:D]
 
I even took a square piece of foil about 8cmx8cm and pierced a hole in the middle. This was to shield the "hole" in the side of the can. Anyway, with no can and the foil tilted up kinda like a small satellite dish pointed in the direction I get my signal from - I saw that the signal went from 11/12 to about 16/17. Incredible for a little piece of foil. Even on an exponential scale that makes a 20dB antenna expensive in comparison.. yes yes I know it doesnt work like that [:p]
 
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by noone</i>
<br />best bet is to drive to a tower with a laptop and test from there?

surely some of you have thought about this option to make sure so this topic can die already!?
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I did exactly that about 2 months ago. Drove to the Mintek tower expecting the signal to improve significantly... when parked in the road almost next to the building strangely enough it dropped to zero. Very strange... Didn't have time to do a ping test... traffic backing up behind me and all... A bit further away I got a signal strength of 49% if I remember correctly.
 
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If you're too close to the building/tower, the signal will overshoot you, hence the reason why you get no signal...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Yes, you must try to get right in front of 1 of the antenna panels on the tower. Their signal beams are quite directive - right underneath won't work. If memory serves, ProAsm said there are 3 antennas on the tower each pointing in different directions, i.e. 0, 120 and 240 degrees. So if you are at angle 60 degrees for example, your signal will be weaker.
Try not to get TOO close now (a few meters), you might blow the front end (receiver) of your modem! [:p]

Ajax
 
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by ajax</i>
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Try not to get TOO close now (a few meters), you might blow the front end (receiver) of your modem! [:p]

Ajax
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And your brain might get cooked [;)]

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