The Huawei E5186 LTE-A discussion thread

[paazoka]

No worries - Hello and welcome !
Out of interest - Where are you located ?



I understand you to mean that you want to force your E5186 to use an external antenna (actually two of them) instead of the built-in internal patch antennas - is that right ?

I can't give a completely conclusive answer for the E5186 (because I don't have one yet!), however, I strongly suspect that the issues around using external antennas on the E5186 LTE-A modem/router will be much the same as on the B593s-601. Hopefully one of the E5186 users on this thread will also comment.

If the antenna detection on the E5186 is the same as on the B593, then there are two basic ways to "force" the device to use external antennas instead of the built-in ones :

Method 1
If the router has it, use the "force external antennas" feature. (I guess the fact that you are asking this question suggests that it doesn't ... which would be a bad thing).
On the B593s-601, this feature is on the "System / Antenna Settings" page and you choose from "Auto" (automatic detection), "Built-in" or "External". Once selected, you can verify the actual setting in use at the bottom of the "Home / Overview" page. Using the "External" setting forces the router to switch to the external antenna ports even if the signal is poor, or if the attached antenna is not detected, or even if there is no antenna connected at all.
Hopefully one of the E5186 owners will confirm if the E5186 has this same option (come in, MtnUser !).


Method 2
If the E5186 firmware doesn't have the "force external" feature, then you need to make sure that the external antennas will always be detected. To do this, you need to ensure that when the modem/router device "looks into" each of the antenna cables, it sees a "low" DC resistance (≤1200Ω on the B593). There are three ways to achieve this, from the easiest to the most difficult:

1. Use an antenna that presents a short-circuit (0Ω) for DC. For example, all of the Poynting antennas shown here have that characteristic.
2. If your antenna doesn't have a "DC short" characteristic (or low enough DC resistance), you could introduce a surge-protection device that exhibits a DC short into each antenna feed cable. Be aware that there are two types of surge protectors, the "gas tube" type, and the "quarter-wave short" type. Only the latter type typically has a "DC short" characteristic.
3. Introduce a device that has a "low" DC resistance (try 1200Ω or less) in parallel with each antenna path. There are a couple of ways of doing this, but it has to be done without messing up the RF characteristics of the antenna and hence these methods are probably beyond the reach of most casual users.

You can check out this post for a video that shows how the antenna detection works on the B593s-601. Also have a look through that same thread as a lot of what is said there will also be applicable to the E5186 and LTE-A.

Good luck, and please come back let us know whether you have success!

hello thank u for the Explanation but the e5861 didnot have System / Antenna Settings
like the b593 i have b593 and i know how to but it to external antenna
i will try to see the video

 

[paazoka]

by the way i have anntena the flat antenna like the photo

tride it on e5186 but idont know it didnt work
now i PURCHASED from amazon TP-Link Antenna Grid 2.4GHz 24dBi
i will try it on the both rauters b593 and e5186

 

[jcheek]

by the way i have anntena the flat antenna like the photo

tride it on e5186 but idont know it didnt work

Those are the flat whip antennas that come with some of the B593 models. Maybe they come with the E5186 too - I'm not sure.
When you say they "didn't work" - what didn't work ? Were they not detected, or did they just not perform very well ?
Apart from the 'signal bars" displayed on the front panel of the E5186, use the signal parameters displayed on the "Wireless status" page of your E5186 to get a better idea of what your signal strength and quality is. On the B593, that page looks like this :

now i PURCHASED from amazon TP-Link Antenna Grid 2.4GHz 24dBi
i will try it on the both rauters b593 and e5186

That antenna is not specifically intended for LTE / LTE-A, but for long-range point-to-point Wireless LAN (WLAN) links at 2.4GHz. Except under very specific circumstances, it's highly unlikely that that TP-Link WLAN antenna will work for LTE / LTE-A.
Besides which, you need two antennas (or a dual-element antenna) to get proper performance from an LTE / LTE-A system.

Have a look at the videos in this post (especially this one) to get an idea of what you need in an LTE / LTE-A antenna system.

 

[paazoka]

Thank u my brather for the explanation look to the bag of e5861 nothing there

http://imgur.com/Ux8sXq4

The flat antenna not work cause it didn't see any changes in the lamp still tow lamp

The tp-link antenna we use it in Gulf and Saudi Arabia
We don't have let coverage only in city we use it to catch the signal from 15 km lte signal
Only need this cable for b593 and e5861

http://imgur.com/GwOGBng

 

[paazoka]

When I received the antenna I will till u what happened with me

 

[sajunky]

Only need this cable for b593 and e5861

http://imgur.com/GwOGBng

I don't think you need splitter. It will only reduce strenght by 3dB, no benefits. Just connect external antenna to the port marked 'A' or '1' only.

 

[jcheek]

That antenna[/B][/URL] is not specifically intended for LTE / LTE-A, but for long-range point-to-point Wireless LAN (WLAN) links at 2.4GHz. Except under very specific circumstances, it's highly unlikely that that TP-Link WLAN antenna will work for LTE / LTE-A.
Besides which, you need two antennas (or a dual-element antenna) to get proper performance from an LTE / LTE-A system.

The tp-link antenna we use it in Gulf and Saudi Arabia.
We don't have lte coverage only in city we use it to catch the signal from 15 km lte signal.

Okay, so what you are trying to do is unusual and qualifies as "very specific" !

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Okay, so it looks like there are no signal parameters on the Web interface for the E5186 (they are on the B593s-601)
Edit: Seems you have to employ some trickery to get them displayed. See here. (Thanks, MtnUser!)

You could try using the smartphone app for the E5186 to get this info :

... it has an app for the phone and with the hillink api you get this info also:
pci = 92
cell_id = 2818050
rsrq = -3dB
rsrp = -75dBm
rssi = -51dBm
sinr = 15dB
mode = 7

Edit1: Get the app here
Edit2: Seems the app doesn't give you that signal info. See here. (Thanks, MtnUser!)
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The flat antenna not work cause it didn't see any changes in the lamp still two lamp

Trying to connect to an LTE base station 15km away is quite ambitious I am quite surprised that you get even two bars of signal with the internal antennas or the flat whip antennas!
To get better signal, you will need a powerful external antenna system that operates in the correct frequency band for the LTE network you are trying to connect to.

Even though it is far away (15km), do you have good line-of-sight to the LTE base station ?

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Some things for you to be aware of, and to check :

1. What frequency is the LTE network you are trying to connect to, operating ? All the components used (antennas, cables and router) must be rated to work at that frequency. Two things to note here :
   • That TP-Link parabolic dish will only give full gain (24dBi) in a very narrow band around 2.4GHz. Unless your LTE signal is also in that band, you won't get the full 24dBi gain.
   • What version of the E5186 (and B593) do you have ? Different versions support LTE in different frequency bands (see here and here).
2. Referring specifically to your B593 : What version of the B593 do you have ? A B593s-601, or a B593u-12 / B593-u-91 etc ?
   (The picture you showed is of a B593u-91, but I don't know if you have the exact same device, or if that is just an example) :
   
   Only the B593s-601 has the firmware feature to force the use of an external antenna.
   On the 'u-12 and 'u-91 versions, the B593 has to be able to detect the external antenna (through a low DC resistance) in order to switch to it and use it (this is the same problem as you have with the E5186, I think).
3. If you still plan to use the TP-Link WLAN parabolic dish with a B593u-12/u-91, or with your E5186, then you will need to make sure the signal path has low DC resistance in order for the antenna to be detected. The datasheet for that antenna specifies the RF impedance (50Ω), but it does not mention DC resistance. I suspect it may have an open-circuit DC characteristic, which will mean it will not be detected.

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Only need this cable for b593 and e5861:

Some comments on this scheme:

1. Unless it is a proper matching network (a balun), using a 2-way splitter like this may give impedance matching problems. It may also be that when the E5186/B593 transmits back to the base station on one port, the transmitted signal will be fed directly into the other port, which is not good.
2. Feeding the same received signal (from one antenna) into both antenna ports will not give any benefit for LTE. You would probably do just as well feeding the signal from the antenna into one port.
3. Considering what you are trying to do (especially with one antenna), you will probably not get much benefit by using the E5186 (LTE-A). The B593s-601 ("plain" LTE only) might be a better choice since it is a multi-band device and has the "force external antenna" firmware option.

Bearing in mind that you get two bars of signal (?) already, you might do better with a purpose-specific dual external antenna system like the Poynting LPDA-0092 shown here, which will work for any LTE frequency between 700 and 3000MHz and has a DC Short to ensure that the B593 / E5186 will detect it. The gain is not nearly as high as 24dBi, but then as explained above, you may not get that full gain when using the TP-Link WLAN parabolic dish anyway.

 

[sajunky]

Bearing in mind that you get two bars of signal (?) already, you might do better with a purpose-specific dual external antenna system like the Poynting LPDA-0092 shown here,

You didn't resist from posting marketing crap.
Nope, the guy is 15km from the tower, evey microvolt counts, it is why high gain grid antenna. And yes, only one B593 port can transmit signal.

 

[paazoka]

Hello my brother all the photo not mine piked theme from enternet the hilink app I used it from while there is no info that u talked about it I'm sorry about my bad English my best regards

 

[Alacrity]

You could try using the smartphone app for the E5186 to get this info :
pci = 92
cell_id = 2818050
rsrq = -3dB
rsrp = -75dBm
rssi = -51dBm
sinr = 15dB
mode = 7

jcheek, the app does not give that info but the API does. Here is an example for the above output:
http://192.168.8.1/api/device/signal

IE does not work properly but you can "view source" and then the info is visible.

 

[jcheek]

jcheek, the app does not give that info but the API does. Here is an example for the above output:
http://192.168.8.1/api/device/signal

IE does not work properly but you can "view source" and then the info is visible.

Aah, OK. Thanks, MtnUser!

So (if I understand correctly) there's no page on the standard E5186 'Web interface that will display the signal stats, but manually navigating to "http://<E5186_IP_address>/api/device/signal" will get you that signal stats display. Right ?
So in paazoka's case it would be http://192.168.8.1/api/device/signal, exactly as you posted.

Are the signal stats rendered correctly when viewing the API in Chrome ?

 

[Alacrity]

Are the signal stats rendered correctly when viewing the API in Chrome ?

On the iPhone/iPad it renders correctly but haven't tried it on Chrome.

 

[Alacrity]

More info on the API at https://blog.hqcodeshop.fi/archives/259-Huawei-E5186-AJAX-API.html

 

[jcheek]

More info on the API at https://blog.hqcodeshop.fi/archives/259-Huawei-E5186-AJAX-API.html

That's great info, thanks!

 

[Leadership4Good]

New user of the LTE-A 5861 Router with Poynting XPOL-0002

Hi All,

I was very encouraged by the insight obtained in this discussion forum so far - as I am very much a novice in this domain, it was very helpful. (Thank you to all concerned).

I recently bought a LTE-A router, through Telkom Mobile with great expectation for "Super fast" internet. However, after a day with the router I was advised to get the additional antennas to get "real LTE speed". I then bought the Poynting XPOL-0002 and I am hopeful that it will help.

However, I have some important concerns regarding the upload speed and stability. I did a test through speedtest and I was getting downloads of anything between 15Mbs an 50Mbs (later in the day), with uploads of 0.2 to 1.0 respectively. When doing a test with my cell phone I was getting a fairly consistent 20-25Mbs DL and 10-15Mbs UL. It seems that with the "super fast" Router I struggle to match my cell phone data speeds. I do a lot of video conferencing and working from home and find that I struggle with Skype and resort to using my cell phone as it is more "reliable" (but costly).

SO what are the possible "root causes"?
- Antenna placement (direction) and "push settings". I understand that the 5861 does not allow for this?
- Location? I live in Midstream and I understand that we are supposed to have LTE-A coverage?
- Internal set-up (Router location in the house?)

Feeling rather frustrated......

Any advise and suggestions would be most welcome.

Thank you

 

[Alacrity]

I then bought the Poynting XPOL-0002 and I am hopeful that it will help.

The XPOL-0002 does NOT cover the 2300MHz band Telkom LTE uses. The XPOL-0006 or LPDA-0092 should be used.

And be 100% sure you are pointing to the best tower. I have access to two towers but the best one is not the one with the strongest signal.

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Planning on getting a data contract from Telkom after they sort my account out. (It's been a good couple of months and still no progress with getting them to cancel my non working copper line and stop invoicing)

Once that is sorted, I wonder how long til they replace the B593 that they bundle with the data contracts with the E5186?
I should probably hold out for that.

Although my account probably won't even be sorted by then...

 

[jcheek]

I then bought the Poynting XPOL-0002 and I am hopeful that it will help.

The XPOL-0002 does NOT cover the 2300MHz band Telkom LTE uses. The XPOL-0006 or LPDA-0092 should be used.

Leadership4Good, if you bought your "XPOL-0002" recently (say, within the last 6 months), then it is more than likely a "-V2" version, which is absolutely fine for Telkom TDD LTE at 2300MHz.
There was a previous "-V1" model that was not optimal for use in that band, but I think all XPOL-0002 stock that Poynting sells now is automatically "-V2" stock.
Double-check the nameplate on your XPOL-0002 to make sure.

[If you're interested, you can read up a bit on the technical background to the XPOL-0002 -V1/-V2 change in this post].

 

[Alacrity]

I wonder how long til they replace the B593 that they bundle with the data contracts with the E5186?
I should probably hold out for that.

They now have such contracts Interactive Brochure page 3

 

[PsYTraNc3]

They now have such contracts Interactive Brochure page 3

Unfortunately only on LTE-A which is not available in my area...
Also only on the 50GB package which is overkill for my data usage.