Easy way to improve your LTE and 5G connection

South African households at the edge of LTE and 5G coverage who find their connection underperforming could benefit from an external antenna to boost their signal strength.

With 5G coverage expanding in South Africa, the latest generation of cellular data technology is becoming more accessible to customers in the country.

However, many homes and businesses still fall outside the 5G footprints of Rain, MTN, Vodacom, and Telkom.

MyBroadband contacted mobile network operator Rain for its views on outside antennas, as it previously provided customers far from masts with external routers.

Rain explained that the need for exterior antennas has decreased as its coverage footprint increased.

“While external antennas typically boost signal reception for users situated far from a tower, Rain exclusively provides its service in areas where customers are anticipated to receive service,” the operator said.

Unfortunately, those outside its advertised coverage footprint cannot buy a Rain service.

“Rain has developed its own router, the101, to ensure an optimal balance between performance and convenience,” the operator explained.

“The101 5G smart router is designed to improve both 5G reception and the indoor Wi-Fi experience,” it continued.

“By enhancing indoor Wi-Fi, the router can be positioned in the ideal location for 5G reception, eliminating the need for external antennas or routers, which can be cumbersome and require installation.”

However, there are exceptions where Rain will still offer an external router.

“In specific scenarios where signal attenuation arises due to distinctive environmental conditions, Rain identifies the impacted customers and may offer an external router if it is deemed beneficial in enhancing the customer’s performance,” it said.

Telkom has done the same as Rain, removing its outdoor router and antenna option as its 5G footprint has expanded.

For places without 5G coverage from Rain and others, it is likely that LTE coverage will be available, as South Africa’s population coverage for the technology is around 99%.

However, in more rural areas, the signal is often unavailable outside towns and away from main roads.

Those in urban areas may also find that they have poor indoor signal.

This is where antennas can help. These let your LTE or 5G router receive more distant signals than it would otherwise be able to.

Where signal strength or quality is diminished, it can also improve the performance and stability of your connection.

There are two main types of antennas — directional and omnidirectional — which differ based on how they receive a signal.

Directional antennas only receive a strong signal in a narrow cone, which is best for places far from the nearest mast.

In contrast, omnidirectional antennas can receive a moderate signal from many or all directions.

Each type of antenna has several benefits and drawbacks. For instance, although directional antennas can pick up more distant signals, they are more difficult to install, have a narrow band, and can usually only connect to a single mast.

On the other hand, omnidirectional antennas offer 360-degree coverage, receive signals from multiple masts, and are easier to install. However, they can’t pick up signals from as far away as the directional variants.

LTE and 5G also benefit from multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which can multiply the capacity of a wireless link using multiple receiving and transmitting antennas.

It is important to note that while many mobile broadband routers support an antenna connection, this isn’t true for all models.

Therefore, if you require an external antenna to improve your connection, it is important to check with your router manufacturer that the model supports such an extension.

There are several options for external antennas in South Africa, with renowned local antenna designer Poynting among the most prominent.

Four external antennas or antenna kits suitable for either 4G, 5G, or both are summarised below.

Poynting XPOL-1-5G — R1,200 (Bob Shop / Inteto Connect)

The XPOL-1-5G is Poynting’s second-generation cross-polarised cellular band antenna, featuring 2×2 LTE MIMO capability.

It is designed to work with 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks across a wide frequency range from 617 MHz to 3800 MHz.

It offers a peak gain of 4dBi across bands.

Poynting XPOL-2-5G — R3,550.00 (Bob Shop / Inteto Connect)

The XPOL-2-5G is Poynting’s third-generation cross-polarised cellular band antenna, featuring 2×2 LTE MIMO capability.

The antenna enclosure looks similar to the second-generation one but has been completely redesigned on the inside.

Poynting also said it used advanced metamaterial technology, using Artificial Magnetic Conductors and a new registered/patent pending radiator configuration.

The company said this is proving to yield exceptional improvements in bandwidth and gain.

This antenna offers 11dBi gain.

Space TV Connect 5G antenna with installation kit — R1,549 (Takealot)

Space TV’s 4G/LTE and 5G-ready omnidirectional MIMO antenna covers a wide frequency range and promises 6dBi gain.

Bolton Technical WilsonPro A500 Signal Booster Kit for Homes — R9,649–R12,850

Bolton Technical sells a range of signal booster kits with varying outdoor and indoor antennas.

Prices vary based on the antennas you choose, with directional and omnidirectional options available.

The most expensive option includes its Long Ranger Parabolic antenna and panel wall-mount indoor antenna.

These kits are specifically for 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE networks.