I have an external Arial that was installed to improve my neotel signal reception - now that I have the speedstick (the 7.2Mbps setup), is it feasible to try for a connection between the 2 so that I can also taste the +- 5Mbps speeds - it seems I might be in a slightly less red spot - only showing on speedtest.net +- 2.5Mbps.
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Neotel Arial and Cell C Speedstick - can it be linked?
- Thread starter Network1
- Start date
Sorry to high-jack your thread, but I would like to know if I can use the iBurst Omni antenna with the black Cell C USB dongle?
Obviously I would need the right pigtail to connect the antenna to the the USB Speedstick.
Obviously I would need the right pigtail to connect the antenna to the the USB Speedstick.
The neotel antenna should have a significant gain in the 900Mhz frequency so you should definitely try it out! The optimized position of your antenna will also give you improvements.
You're right, thanks for the reply. http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/pK-...tional-antenna-with-5m-cable-and-adapter.aspx
Thanks for the perspective - how do I link the arial cable to the speedstick??
ajax
Executive Member
What antena is it? Any links?
I believe it is this one they came to install - http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/pK-YAGI-NEO/NEOTEL-Antenna-Kit.aspx.
On this page - http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/pADPT-026/Adapter-cable-for-all-USB-Modems---SMAf.aspx, it states that when 3G arrives the frequency band shifts to 1990MHz-2150MHz. If your antenna cannot do this you will not get good 3G. It seem like my arial operates in the 900MHz spectrum, so will it then be worthwhile??
ajax
Executive Member
You could try just sticking the modem with cable ties onto the folded dipole (the flat vertical surface of the antenna about 1/4 of the way from the pole). But then you can't mount outdoors...
Cell C uses frequencies for 3G around 930 MHz. That antenna is spec'ed for 824 to 894 MHz. There might be a few dB's mismatch loss at 930 MHz. You could ask Poynting to confirm.
I see on Poynting that they do sell adapters - I will chat to them. It would have been nice to have had confirmation from somebody that the R285 for an adapter will be worthwhile...
It is a good bet that you should have some gain in the Cell C frequency range, however, you could always get a refund on the adapter if it does not work out for you.
Terencek
Expert Member
Your mileage may vary.... I recently wasted my money on one of those Poynting generic modem couplers connected to my roof antenna. As soon as I slipped it over either of my two USB dongles, the signal actually DEGRADED! So there's no guarantee this works effectively in every situation.
I am going to retry a solution proposed in an earlier thread, of using an old satellite dish to reflect the signal from our tower to the USB modem mounted where the LNB should be -- maybe that helps.
But could I ask for clarification on the suggestion above of actually laying the modem along the data antenna (in my case, suspended inside a thatched roof)? Mine is the Poynting LPDA-A0044. If you visualise the one-metre-long antenna with its two horizontal 'spines' which hold the vertical 'prongs', where exactly should the modem be taped or cable-tied please for optimum reception?
I am going to retry a solution proposed in an earlier thread, of using an old satellite dish to reflect the signal from our tower to the USB modem mounted where the LNB should be -- maybe that helps.
But could I ask for clarification on the suggestion above of actually laying the modem along the data antenna (in my case, suspended inside a thatched roof)? Mine is the Poynting LPDA-A0044. If you visualise the one-metre-long antenna with its two horizontal 'spines' which hold the vertical 'prongs', where exactly should the modem be taped or cable-tied please for optimum reception?
ajax
Executive Member
Was the antenna pointing into the direction of a tower? If not, then it explains what you observed.
Will probably not work very well. Normally the dstv dish is operated with a directive antenna (horn) that “looks” solely at the dish. The modem’s antenna is omni.
The frequency spec is for 824 to 1000 MHz and then for 1700 to 2100 MHz. Therefore you see the jump in the dipole length about 1/3 from the front of the antenna where the band effectively changes from the low to high. You want to try to place the modem over the dipole that is radiating at 930 MHz.
A guestimate would be as follows: 930 MHz is about halfway into the low frequency band, so then try any of the longer group dipoles that is about halfway away from the “jump”.
Spoke to the company - very helpful. My RSSI various between -67 and -77. Therefor the verdict is that the external arial will not significantly improve my download speed. It the RSSI was -90 to -100, it would have been more value adding. Any thoughts?
ajax
Executive Member
Yes, I've had 6 mbits/sec with a -83 dBm signal.
Is my download speed of between 2.4 and 2.8 a result then of the base station congestion?
ajax
Executive Member
Possibly, or it could be lack of backhaul capacity. That 6 mbits@-83dBm I got was at work at around 9 am. With a -70dBm signal at home I can only manage 4.5 mbit so far, and that would be around 6 am.
Terencek
Expert Member
Um, yes of course the antenna is pointing at the nearest (and in fact only) tower!
On the third query about where to position the USB dongle on the data antenna, I should mention that we don't have Cell C on 900 MHz here; what I am trying to optimise is getting Cell C's GPRS/EDGE signal which is piggybacked off the Vodacom tower. 2100 MHz perhaps? This being the case, roughly where along the main spine should the dongle be taped for best results? Thanks!