External antenna discussions

ginggs

ginggs

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Thread for collecting information on which antennae work at 900MHz and which don't.
Also for tips on alignment, how to connect the antenna to your modem (inductive couplers, pigtails, etc), how to locate your closest base stations.
 
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Please help me! i have purchased the Uniterm external antenna to improve my s$%^t performance of my Black speedstick. But even trying all mounting positions for the adaptor for the modem did not help. Still no improvement whatsoever!!!! The Antenna has been mounted outside about 2mtrs off the ground and pointing in the general direction of the Base station. There is absolutely no diff to the signal, with or without the external antenna. I cancelled ny s&*&t telkom service for an even worse piece of junk and even worse service from Cell-C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
hugos said:
Please help me! i have purchased the Uniterm external antenna to improve my s$%^t performance of my Black speedstick. But even trying all mounting positions for the adaptor for the modem did not help. Still no improvement whatsoever!!!! The Antenna has been mounted outside about 2mtrs off the ground and pointing in the general direction of the Base station. There is absolutely no diff to the signal, with or without the external antenna. I cancelled ny s&*&t telkom service for an even worse piece of junk and even worse service from Cell-C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

You're going to have to provide more info than the above. What is your location? What equipment are you using? Antenna model, modem/router model, cable length, dialler (Cell C dash, MDMA or other) signal with/without antenna, antenna coupler model if any, and anything else that's maybe relevant. Maybe a pic or two as well.

Mods should move this to a new thread I think.
 
ajax said:
You're going to have to provide more info than the above. What is your location? What equipment are you using? Antenna model, modem/router model, cable length, dialler (Cell C dash, MDMA or other) signal with/without antenna, antenna coupler model if any, and anything else that's maybe relevant. Maybe a pic or two as well.
Click to expand...

I think it is particularly important to find out how the antenna is connected to the modem. I've had an issue with the latest Uniterm antenna whereby I couldn't get it to work very well with an inductive coupler. But it worked fine with a direct connection.
 
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hugos said:
Please help me! i have purchased the Uniterm external antenna to improve my s$%^t performance of my Black speedstick. But even trying all mounting positions for the adaptor for the modem did not help.
Click to expand...

I think you are talking about this package?

I too bought this Uniterm antenna to improve the Vodacom signal in my suburb. (For my brother's iPhone 4) I didn't see a difference.

That day my usual Cell C tower (RSSI -51 dBm) was down, so I was connecting to a different tower.(RSSI -89 dBm)

My brother went on the roof with a 2m aluminium pole and we pointed the antenna different directions to see if I could improve signal. (Used MDMA, waited 1 minute, changed directions at 10 degrees each time)

I didn't see a difference. So I borrowed my antenna to RichardG for him to test it. He says that there was an improvement while on the ground.

He said that he would mount it on the roof during the weekend and report back. I still haven't heard from him. Maybe he will give you tips when he sees your post.

I'll PM him.
 
hugos said:
Please help me! i have purchased the Uniterm external antenna to improve my s$%^t performance of my Black speedstick. But even trying all mounting positions for the adaptor for the modem did not help. Still no improvement whatsoever!!!! The Antenna has been mounted outside about 2mtrs off the ground and pointing in the general direction of the Base station. There is absolutely no diff to the signal, with or without the external antenna. I cancelled ny s&*&t telkom service for an even worse piece of junk and even worse service from Cell-C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

@Madhawk lent me his Uniterm External Antenna and coupler - I can assure you the product actually works at first I thought I received plastic toys but gosh was I impressed when I could actually improve my rssi/dBm by margins of 12+ on the ground went out to buy a pole 2m mounted the antenna and gosh I was impressed to actually see more improvements and faster speedtest but now days my area is getting degraded too many users on sometimes during the weekend and my RSSI/dBm decreases before using the ANTENNA from Uniterm my RSS/dBm were between -87 after using it on the ground it improved from -75 / -71 and after mounting the antenna my RSSI levels are standing at around -68 but also depends on the load of base station - last night my service was pretty bad, my recommenddation for you @hugos is to send a PM to the REP with your address and he can give you rough idea where your tower is - also give him the CELL ID of the tower but it wont work gave my one to lars and apparently i was connecting to Kensignton other side of the world but now I have another CELL ID - so probably i was connecting that side of the world.


First thing is First, to get the best dBm/rssi try facing the antenna in a direction and see the your rssi/dBm levels wait approx about 1minute or so for the RSSI/dBm to updated - once updated rotate your antenna in the direction of the base station - what I would also recommend jot down the CELL ID and drive around in your area until you notice your RSSI in the region of -55 / - 61 or so.. then use google maps and jot down the location where you found it - trust me many towers in my area are deceiving with so many providers you could think that tower could belong to CELL C but belongs to MTN,8TA,Vodacom or CELL C EDGE..

How I used the coupler very simple took sticky tape and the dongle and stick them together - try without the coupler.
 
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Thanks Richard for the feedback.

Can you run a speedtest for us. One with the coupler attached to the antenna and one without.

Then post the results here. I wanna to see how much of a difference the antenna makes in DL speeds.

Thanks...
 
MarthinusSwart said:
My speed stick is working great lately, think they upgraded the tower near me
Click to expand...

More and More areas are being switched on - I am still waiting for CELL C to be a sport and get a mast to face me noticed on their other base station they did install mast in my direction but no glory to connect to that base station.


Madhawk said:
Thanks Richard for the feedback.

Can you run a speedtest for us. One with the coupler attached to the antenna and one without.

Then post the results here. I wanna to see how much of a difference the antenna makes in DL speeds.

Thanks...
Click to expand...

@madhawk will do tomorrow but I can happily say between 10megs - 15megs when not congested but when congested forget about it dude 8meg or so. Sunday was the worst night ever - the difference you notice when testing speedtest but didn't try downloading anything yet still beginning of the month and have enough data cards to play with closer to end of the month.

Sites load supersonic don't even have to wait for loading loading loading. Just click on submit and bang the post get submitted.

Thank you to @madhawk for loaning his device to me will run more test over the weekend and try face to different towers - but what i DID NOTICE if you face the antenna in the wrong direction your RSSI level goes down drastically in the region of 11-15 or more.
 
RichardG said:
More and More areas are being switched on - I am still waiting for CELL C to be a sport and get a mast to face me noticed on their other base station they did install mast in my direction but no glory to connect to that base station.



@madhawk will do tomorrow but I can happily say between 10megs - 15megs when not congested but when congested forget about it dude 8meg or so. Sunday was the worst night ever - the difference you notice when testing speedtest but didn't try downloading anything yet still beginning of the month and have enough data cards to play with closer to end of the month.

Sites load supersonic don't even have to wait for loading loading loading. Just click on submit and bang the post get submitted.

Thank you to @madhawk for loaning his device to me will run more test over the weekend and try face to different towers - but what i DID NOTICE if you face the antenna in the wrong direction your RSSI level goes down drastically in the region of 11-15 or more.
Click to expand...

8 meg is good enough!
 
Is anybody using any antenna with black dongle which can be inside the house? If yes, does it make any difference and which one is it? I cant have an external one becuase antennas are not allowed in our complex.
 
kotesh said:
Is anybody using any antenna with black dongle which can be inside the house? If yes, does it make any difference and which one is it? I cant have an external one becuase antennas are not allowed in our complex.
Click to expand...


I tried didn't improve anything unless I was outside in the clear sky facing the antenna where the tower is located - ask body corporate if they will allow it if you own the place.

It's a pity though if it were possible many folks would buy - do what madhawk does place the dongle hanging by the window with sticky tape
 
RichardG said:
I tried didn't improve anything unless I was outside in the clear sky facing the antenna where the tower is located - ask body corporate if they will allow it if you own the place.

It's a pity though if it were possible many folks would buy - do what madhawk does place the dongle hanging by the window with sticky tape
Click to expand...

Would antenna help if my signal strenght is good but just no throughput ????
 
RichardG said:
I tried didn't improve anything unless I was outside in the clear sky facing the antenna where the tower is located - ask body corporate if they will allow it if you own the place.

It's a pity though if it were possible many folks would buy - do what madhawk does place the dongle hanging by the window with sticky tape
Click to expand...
Thanks Richard. Even if I own it they dont allow. Only place they allow is on the roof i.e around 40 metres to PC. I can not stick the modem because sometime the signal is better when the modem is far from window and sometimes it is better when it is close to window. Some times i dont get throughput even though i am connected.
I just move the modem and then it works.
 
Torgo,

Pm me, you can have mine for a bargain, i am in the Centurion area.
 
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