High Gain External Antennas now available

V

vodacom3g

Vodacom Representative
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Poynting, the manufacturers of the high-gain external antennas are now making the units available directly to you guys.

They have a 7dB and a 11dB unit, best to get the correct prices from them.

Contact details are as follows:

Louie van Wezel
Poynting Antennas
Tel: +27(0)11 262-5155
Fax: +27(0)11 262-5156
e-mail: [email protected]
www.poynting.co.za
 
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Attached pics of the 2 options:

LPDA-A0020:

This medium gain wideband directional antenna covers the GSM 900, GSM1800 / UMTS and WLAN2400 bands. Its configuration is suitable for various cellular telephone systems as well as the 2.4 GHz ISM band.

Features:
Broadband
Covers various international cellular bands
Compact and suitable for indoor and outdoor applications

Product Code: LPDA-A0020
Electrical:
Gain (max.) 7.5dBi
Gain (min. over band) 7.0dBi
Frequency 800 - 2500 MHz
VSWR(typical) <2.0:1
Front to back ratio (F/B Ratio) >20 dB
Feed power handling 10 W
Nominal input impedance 50 Ohm
H-plane 3dB beamwidth at 800 MHz 64º
H-plane 3dB beamwidth at 1900 MHz 72º
Connector SMA(f)
Polarisation Linear (Vertical or Horizontal)

Mechanical:
Feed mounting Pole or wall mount
Dimensions (l x w x h) 317 mm x 240 mm x 57 mm
Weight 630g (including bracket)


LPDA-A0021

Product Code:

LPDA-A0021 50 cm HDF195 with SMA(m) connector
LPDA-A0021-01 7 m HDF195 with SMA(m) connector

Electrical:

Gain (max) 11 dBi
Gain (min over band) 10.5dBi
VSWR < 2.5:1
Front to Back Ratio (F/B Ratio) > 20 dB (nominal)
Feed power handling 10 W
Input impedance 50 Ohm (nominal)
Polarisation Vertical


Mounting Pole or wall mount
Dimensions (l x w x h) 1010 mm x 200 mm x 50 mm
Weight 0.5 kg (including bracket)
 
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OffTopic: Hey, how come you can add pictures and I can not? Unfair!

OnTopic: Can't you get indicated pricing please, and post it here?
 
You must know the right people :)

I asked ic and rpm a while ago if I can post relevant attachments and they graciously gave me a (very limited) capability. I can only post a jpeg of max 19K!

I think the 11dBi is around R900 and the 7dBi about R500, but best to ask Poynting.
 
finally!!! :)

but I'm in Cape Town, looks like they are in Joburg :(

also, are either of these the same one as what Biometrics has?
 
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ic said:
I assume these antennas will work with HSDPA [since HSDPA is 3G on steroids, and the frequency doesn't change]?I think biometrics has the 1st one - the 7dBi...biometrics?
Click to expand...

Yes, they should work with HSDPA, and yes I believe it's the 7dB one biometrics have on his mast.
 
fingers121 said:
I have the 7dB antennae, and it works fine for me... Would assume that the 11dB is more for those guys/girls who have little or no coverage whatsoever?
Click to expand...

Ja, I would recommend the 7dBi first. The improvement one gets just from moving an antenna from indoors to outdoors can easily (might be more I think) be in the range of 5 to 10 dB at 3G frequencies which is 1 to 2 bars extra. Then add the fact that the antenna has 7dB gain and you are looking at 12-17 dB improvement in signal (3-4 bars extra). Plus the signal will be more stable i.e. not susceptible to people moving around in the room (think about tv bunny ears on a weak signal how the picture can vary when you move around in the proximity)
The above assumes that the outdoor antenna is directed into the direction of the strongest signal.

A quick experiment if you've got a 3G phone to see how an outdoor antenna will help is to place it more or less in the position where the outdoor antenna will be mounted outside. Preferably don't hold it as your hand absorbs some of the signal. Then add 1 to 2 bars to the signal you get outdoors for the gain of the Poynting antenna. Better even if you can monitor the dB's with a 6680 with Celltrack loaded.
 
ajax said:
The improvement one gets just from moving an antenna from indoors to outdoors can easily (might be more I think) be in the range of 5 to 10 dB at 3G frequencies which is 1 to 2 bars extra. Then add the fact that the antenna has 7dB gain and you are looking at 12-17 dB improvement in signal (3-4 bars extra).
Click to expand...

15dB gain moving outdoors is not uncommon. Add antenna gain to this.
 
vodacom3g said:
I'm sure they courier. Maybe give them a shout.

Cyberbob, if you want to test before you buy, I can let you have my own 7dBi unit.
Click to expand...

thanx v3g ... that would be great!!! would I have to do the installation myself (when buying) ? That could be a prob ... as I have know idea how to go about doing that, and where to point it :p

Any idea how long the cable is, that goes from the antenna to the 3G card itself? I've currently got an old laptop setup (with linux) that acts as a router for the rest of my network ... but at the moment, it has to stand right next to the window :p ... and I'd much rather put it somewhere else :)
 
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If you're going to install yourself, I'd suggest trail and error, i.e. the way you used to set up your TV antenna.

Maybe we can convince a forumite (biometrics?) to write us a small app that show signal levels in realtime...to assist setting up.

It comes with quite a long cable, so it should be fine in your case.You're going to need a mounting point outside your house and a way to route the cable inside.

PM me with an e-mail and phone number and we can get together.

(I'll 'rent' my unit for a beer a day...:D )
 
So these are directional antennas, that means you would point them to your nearest Vodacom base, is that right?

I'm a newbie to antenna types :)

I would prefer to have a magnetic mount one for the car though, but a directional one, one that works for 3G as well as WLAN.
I want to point it to the nearest Vodacom base station whereever I am at the time, or point it at my WLAN access point that's otherwise too far away and has a too weak signal.
It should work fine indoors as well as outdoors(obstructions, walls), if that's possible and if that doesn't affect the range it has outdoors?

What would be the right antenna to use for that purpose?
 
The antennas are really designed for a fixed installation, but you should be able to make a portable mount for them. It would probably work better for the 7dB unit as it's not as long as the 11dB unit and also would not be so sensitive to direction.

The frequency range spans up to 2.5GHz, so it should cover WiFi, but that's just an educated guess. Best bet would be to check with Poynting direct or use a dedicated WiFi antenna.

The antenna provides a certain amount of gain, indoors or outdoors. But, at these frequencies, you get a substantial loss of signal just by moving indoors, normally more than what the antenna can make up.

So the best bet is always an external, fixed installation.

Using it in a car is quite intriguing. Need to ask: Why? :)

Your biggest problem will be to find the correct direction to point the antenna.
 
vodacom3g said:
The antenna provides a certain amount of gain, indoors or outdoors. But, at these frequencies, you get a substantial loss of signal just by moving indoors, normally more than what the antenna can make up.

So the best bet is always an external, fixed installation.

Using it in a car is quite intriguing. Need to ask: Why? :)

Your biggest problem will be to find the correct direction to point the antenna.
Click to expand...

If I'm at home, I am fine (ADSL), if I want broadband while I'm out, I'm usually in the car.
I can't use an external fixed installation, beause I am moving house frequently, and also see myself moving frequently in the coming years. I don't seem to ever be longer at one location than 4 - 8 weeks due to moving house, moving countries, travel, I want something portable that I can put outside the window, put onto the car or just (probably best) on the top of my head :)
I also prefer to carry just one antenna, not two, especially while flying, travelling.
 
@V3G ... I'm using that antenna ... and according to my Signal Meter, It's improved from average of 15 to average of 24 ... but the performance "increase" is marginal :p

So not sure if it's signal strengh I'm struggling with or signal quality :(
 
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