Mobile repeaters and modems

It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home... I'd be interested to hear from anyone experienced with
these in terms of what to look for and what to look out for.
(interference or attention from the ACMA is highly unlikely here).
I haven't even googled them yet so I know bugger all at the moment

Ditto for 4G modems, any advice appreciated. Cheers.

 

[Blue Peeler]

Jeßus wrote:

It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home... I'd be interested to hear from anyone experienced with
these in terms of what to look for and what to look out for.
(interference or attention from the ACMA is highly unlikely here).
I haven't even googled them yet so I know bugger all at the moment

Ditto for 4G modems, any advice appreciated. Cheers.

A friend of mine has offices in a North Cairns Apartment building which
for some bizarre reason has really crap phone reception. After
complaining long and loud to Telstra the sales droid pointed him to a
site where a repeater/signal enhancer could be purchased. My friend put
in in the roof of the apartment and reports now that he has usable 4G
where previously he could not even get a 4G signal. If you need to know
cost/brand etc. let me know and I'll enquire.

 

[Phil Allison]

Jeßus wrote:

It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...

** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??


https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313



....... Phil

 

[Clocky]

On 7/06/2017 12:59 PM, Phil Allison wrote:

Jeßus wrote:


It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??


https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313

That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.

 

[Phil Allison]

Clocky wrote:

---------------

It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??


https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313


That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.

** With 7db of omni-directional gain AND being sited outside and up high giving another 10dB or so - its gotta be a big move in the right direction.

High gain Yagis are available with WAYYYY more.

The installed antenna in a mobile works mainly with the benefit of magic.



..... Phil

 

[Xeno]

On 7/06/2017 7:41 PM, Clocky wrote:

On 7/06/2017 12:59 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
Jeßus wrote:


It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??



https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313



That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.

An omnidirectional *receiving antenna* is no good. The gain is not great
and is quite overstated in most cases. When you know the direction of
the signal origin, then what you really need is the highest gain in a
single direction. For reception, you should use the highest gain antenna
available and that would be either a Panel, Yagi or Dish. The other
point, and it is related, is that you need to keep the flylead as short
as possible. The coax, at those frequencies, burns up gain like you
wouldn't believe so you are really restricted on flylead length. That
then means that you need to get your repeater hardware as close coupled
to the antenna as possible.

http://comset.com.au/directional-antennas-3g4g4gx-c-75_77/

If you're only wanting internet access from the 4G network, and really
don't care about voice, then this might serve the need.

http://comset.com.au/outdoor-lte-routers-c-74/cm695tw-4g-wifi-router-p-211.html

It can be mounted outside and the connection to the house made with
ethernet or Wifi.

--

Xeno

 

[Phil Allison]

Xeno wrote:

** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??



https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313



That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.

An omnidirectional *receiving antenna* is no good.

** Total bullshit.

The gain is not great and is quite overstated in most cases.

** Bollocks.

When you know the direction of the signal origin,

** Not certain, with cell towers going on and off.

then what you really need is the highest gain in a
single direction.

** I did mention that.

You have missed the BIG issue.

Outdoor, high sited antenna V indoor, mobile phone, invisible INDOOR antenna.

Got the faintest idea how many dB that is at 4G ???

No you don't




...... Phil

 

[Computer Nerd Kev]

Clocky <notgonn@happen.com> wrote:

On 7/06/2017 12:59 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
Je?us wrote:


It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??


https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313


That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.

I had good results with a DIY "cantenna" (made from an old aluminium
cooking pot rather than a can) design mounted on the roof. Quick to
build, at least after you've fussed about for a week looking for a
suitable "can".

I can try to find the measurements I used if anyone's interested.

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#

 

On 7 Jun 2017 02:59:18 GMT, "Blue Peeler" <woof@barque.org> wrote:

Jeßus wrote:

It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home... I'd be interested to hear from anyone experienced with
these in terms of what to look for and what to look out for.
(interference or attention from the ACMA is highly unlikely here).
I haven't even googled them yet so I know bugger all at the moment

Ditto for 4G modems, any advice appreciated. Cheers.

A friend of mine has offices in a North Cairns Apartment building which
for some bizarre reason has really crap phone reception. After
complaining long and loud to Telstra the sales droid pointed him to a
site where a repeater/signal enhancer could be purchased. My friend put
in in the roof of the apartment and reports now that he has usable 4G
where previously he could not even get a 4G signal. If you need to know
cost/brand etc. let me know and I'll enquire.

Thanks BP, I've been doing some research since posting and I think I'm
better off avoiding telstra altogether and just sort this out for
myself.

 

[Clocky]

On 9/06/2017 7:02 AM, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

Clocky <notgonn@happen.com> wrote:
On 7/06/2017 12:59 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
Je?us wrote:


It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??


https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313


That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.

I had good results with a DIY "cantenna" (made from an old aluminium
cooking pot rather than a can) design mounted on the roof. Quick to
build, at least after you've fussed about for a week looking for a
suitable "can".

I can try to find the measurements I used if anyone's interested.

Even just elevation can help greatly. I had no useable wifi signal in
the garage on my laptop so I hooked two three meter USB extension cables
together and mounted the USB wifi dongle inside a capped PVC pipe to the
highest point of the roof at the rear of the shed.

Not only is my wifi signal now great, it picks up about 5 others.

 

On Tue, 6 Jun 2017 21:59:13 -0700 (PDT), Phil Allison
<pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

Jeßus wrote:


It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

I can now just manage to get 1 bar at the highest point on my property
Phil.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??

https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313

I haven't, and in all probability an outdoor antenna would do the
trick but I would prefer a solution that doesn't involve keeping an
external antenna connected to the phone. Thanks, I'll keep this in
mind as a last resort, that antenna is surprisingly cheap...

 

On Wed, 7 Jun 2017 04:03:11 -0700 (PDT), Phil Allison
<pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

Clocky wrote:

---------------


It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??


https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313


That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.



** With 7db of omni-directional gain AND being sited outside and up high giving another 10dB or so - its gotta be a big move in the right direction.

High gain Yagis are available with WAYYYY more.

If I go for an external antenna I might as well go for a yagi, since
the likelihood of being in range of any future towers is zero here at
home.

 

On Thu, 8 Jun 2017 23:02:47 +0000 (UTC), not@telling.you.invalid
(Computer Nerd Kev) wrote:

Clocky <notgonn@happen.com> wrote:
On 7/06/2017 12:59 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
Je?us wrote:


It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...



** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.

Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??


https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313


That was going to be my suggestion also. Haven't tried them myself but I
have heard about others having good results with them.

I had good results with a DIY "cantenna" (made from an old aluminium
cooking pot rather than a can) design mounted on the roof. Quick to
build, at least after you've fussed about for a week looking for a
suitable "can".

I can try to find the measurements I used if anyone's interested.

I still have my wifi cantenna I built back in 2003

 

[Clifford Heath]

On 09/06/17 11:13, Je�us wrote:

On Tue, 6 Jun 2017 21:59:13 -0700 (PDT), Phil Allison
pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

Jeßus wrote:
It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...
** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.
I can now just manage to get 1 bar at the highest point on my property
Phil.
Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??
https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313

I haven't, and in all probability an outdoor antenna would do the
trick but I would prefer a solution that doesn't involve keeping an
external antenna connected to the phone. Thanks, I'll keep this in
mind as a last resort, that antenna is surprisingly cheap...

If your metal roof is the problem (or even if it's not), an external
antenna linked passively to an internal antenna can work. No need
to power anything or to connect it to your phone.

Aka "passive repeater".

Clifford Heath.

 

On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:18:25 +1000, Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net>
wrote:

On 09/06/17 11:13, Je?us wrote:
On Tue, 6 Jun 2017 21:59:13 -0700 (PDT), Phil Allison
pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

Jeßus wrote:
It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...
** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.
I can now just manage to get 1 bar at the highest point on my property
Phil.
Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??
https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313

I haven't, and in all probability an outdoor antenna would do the
trick but I would prefer a solution that doesn't involve keeping an
external antenna connected to the phone. Thanks, I'll keep this in
mind as a last resort, that antenna is surprisingly cheap...

If your metal roof is the problem (or even if it's not), an external
antenna linked passively to an internal antenna can work. No need
to power anything or to connect it to your phone.

Aka "passive repeater".

Thanks Clifford, I am considering trying a passive repeater before
trying a normal repeater. Just trying to source a couple of 4GX
antennas locally in case it doesn't work and I can return them.

 

On Sun, 11 Jun 2017 07:49:51 +1000, Jeßus <j@j.net> wrote:

On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:18:25 +1000, Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net
wrote:

On 09/06/17 11:13, Je?us wrote:
On Tue, 6 Jun 2017 21:59:13 -0700 (PDT), Phil Allison
pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

Jeßus wrote:
It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...
** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.
I can now just manage to get 1 bar at the highest point on my property
Phil.
Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??
https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313

I haven't, and in all probability an outdoor antenna would do the
trick but I would prefer a solution that doesn't involve keeping an
external antenna connected to the phone. Thanks, I'll keep this in
mind as a last resort, that antenna is surprisingly cheap...

If your metal roof is the problem (or even if it's not), an external
antenna linked passively to an internal antenna can work. No need
to power anything or to connect it to your phone.

Aka "passive repeater".

Thanks Clifford, I am considering trying a passive repeater before
trying a normal repeater. Just trying to source a couple of 4GX
antennas locally in case it doesn't work and I can return them.

Okay, so the passive repeater was essentially a failure. A very slight
improvement but not enough. I ended up getting a Cel-Fi with yagi
which is working great.

 

[Clifford Heath]

On 29/06/17 12:22, Je�us wrote:

On Sun, 11 Jun 2017 07:49:51 +1000, Jeßus <j@j.net> wrote:

On Fri, 9 Jun 2017 14:18:25 +1000, Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net
wrote:

On 09/06/17 11:13, Je?us wrote:
On Tue, 6 Jun 2017 21:59:13 -0700 (PDT), Phil Allison
pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

Jeßus wrote:
It's just possible that with a 4G mobile repeater, I may get a signal
at home...
** You need a usable signal or a repeater is no help.
I can now just manage to get 1 bar at the highest point on my property
Phil.
Have you tried an outdoor antenna ??
https://www.jaycar.com.au/omni-directional-mast-antenna-3g-4g-cellular/p/AR3313

I haven't, and in all probability an outdoor antenna would do the
trick but I would prefer a solution that doesn't involve keeping an
external antenna connected to the phone. Thanks, I'll keep this in
mind as a last resort, that antenna is surprisingly cheap...

If your metal roof is the problem (or even if it's not), an external
antenna linked passively to an internal antenna can work. No need
to power anything or to connect it to your phone.

Aka "passive repeater".

Thanks Clifford, I am considering trying a passive repeater before
trying a normal repeater. Just trying to source a couple of 4GX
antennas locally in case it doesn't work and I can return them.

Okay, so the passive repeater was essentially a failure. A very slight
improvement but not enough.

Bad luck for you. Are you sure you aimed them well?
The small yagi's might be matched, but have high radiation
resistance; panel antennae are how mobile towers solve that.

I ended up getting a Cel-Fi with yagi
which is working great.

Glad you got a solution anyhow!

Clifford Heath.