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How do I boost my wireless signal inside the house (3 NBS)???

  • 24-06-2010 11:28am
    #1
    ToadVine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 659 ✭✭✭


    I'm on the NBS with 3 in the wilds of South Kildare.

    I was having big problems with low speeds and no signal etc, until 3 engineers installed an external antenna and Coiler repeater. Now I have speeds of 2 or 3 mbps (at least some of the time anyway!).

    I'm using the Huawei ES830 mi-fi dongle, but the signal seems to be very weak and has trouble transmitting a signal between the bedroom and the office in the next room. There is no signal whatsoever downstairs.

    So I was wondering if it was possible to boost the mi-fi signal somehow? I'd love to be able to get internet downstairs and have good signal between different rooms.

    Thanks in advance ...


Comments

  • #2
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    no.


  • #3
    ToadVine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 659 ✭✭✭ToadVine


    watty wrote: »
    no.

    Really?

    There is no additional hardware (like a more powerful wi-fi modem) that will put a wireless signal all through my house?

    The Huawei is very weak.


  • #4
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    The Mifi is not a suitable home Wifi device. It is designed to be used on the go, in close proximity to the connected (mobile) devices. You cannot improve the signal.

    Get a proper home Wifi router with 3G modem support. Something like this. There are others, some cheaper, some more expensive.

    You still won't be guaranteed a signal throughout the house. All depends on the make up of the walls, floors, etc, and the quality of the router.


  • #5
    jay93
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,323 ✭✭✭jay93


    the mifi device has very bad wifi range so there is no way to boost the signal


  • #6
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Is it this repeater ??

    http://www.coiler.com.tw/products_umts_repeaters.asp#4


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  • #7
    ToadVine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 659 ✭✭✭ToadVine


    Sponge Bob wrote: »
    Is it this repeater ??

    http://www.coiler.com.tw/products_umts_repeaters.asp#4

    Yes ... thats the exact one.

    Why you asking?


  • #8
    ToadVine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 659 ✭✭✭ToadVine


    jor el wrote: »
    The Mifi is not a suitable home Wifi device. It is designed to be used on the go, in close proximity to the connected (mobile) devices. You cannot improve the signal.

    Get a proper home Wifi router with 3G modem support. Something like this. There are others, some cheaper, some more expensive.

    You still won't be guaranteed a signal throughout the house. All depends on the make up of the walls, floors, etc, and the quality of the router.

    Will this work with my current set-up?

    Does it replace the Huwaei mi-fi dongle?


  • #9
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    It should amplify the 3g signal in and out and enable the MiFi to pick up a better signal inside the house. Your current 3 signal is too weak to penetrate the walls and the repeater and external aerial boost it for you.

    Had you tried the Nextivity before with no luck ??


  • #10
    Dr. Nick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,434 ✭✭✭Dr. Nick


    Sponge Bob wrote: »
    Is it this repeater ??

    http://www.coiler.com.tw/products_umts_repeaters.asp#4

    Excuse my ignorance but how do repeaters work? Do you just plug them in where you have the best signal? Do they work with routers like the dovado I have?


  • #11
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    ToadVine wrote: »
    Will this work with my current set-up?

    Does it replace the Huwaei mi-fi dongle?

    It has no built in modem, so you still need to connect a compatable modem to it.
    Dr. Nick wrote: »
    Excuse my ignorance but how do repeaters work? Do you just plug them in where you have the best signal? Do they work with routers like the dovado I have?

    A 3G repeater boosts the 3G signal. I has nothing to do with routers, won't help with it at all, and does nothing to the Wifi signal.

    From what the OP said, it's the Wifi signal he is having problems with. This has nothing to do with a 3G repeater, and that won't help. You need to be sure first if the problem is the 3G signal reception, or the Wifi reception. Then you can decide what you need.


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  • #12
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    The repeater must be provided by your own carrier, technically/legally it is part of their network even though it is installed in your home :)


  • #13
    Dr. Nick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,434 ✭✭✭Dr. Nick


    jor el wrote: »
    It has no built in modem, so you still need to connect a compatable modem to it.



    A 3G repeater boosts the 3G signal. I has nothing to do with routers, won't help with it at all, and does nothing to the Wifi signal.

    From what the OP said, it's the Wifi signal he is having problems with. This has nothing to do with a 3G repeater, and that won't help. You need to be sure first if the problem is the 3G signal reception, or the Wifi reception. Then you can decide what you need.

    My problem is mostly with vodafone phone, reception is pap in the house. My 3 b/band is good as long as I dont have drops (which were v. bad a couple of weeks ago but have improved).
    However my dongle MUST be outside upstairs on the window ledge, connected to the dovado router obviously. wifi's not a problem in the house. So Im just wondering:

    a) How can I improve the vodafone (phone) signal within the house
    b) Can I avoid the 'out the window' dongle situation with the same solution?


  • #14
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    You can only improve indoor Vodafone signal with a vodafone supplied repeater.

    You can only improve indoor 3 signal with a 3 supplied repeater.

    One 1/2 of a Mobile phone repeater (for voice or data, they are the same) is actually a minaturised basestation, so must be allocated its 5MHz channel by the operator. Each operator has a different three channels out of the total 12 down + 12 up 3G channels in Ireland.

    It's also illegal to move such a repeater to a different location as then it would have a 2/3rd chance of conflicting with the operator's channel plan.


  • #15
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Vodafone do not supply repeaters at all and 3 only supply them in NBS ( eg rural) areas

    If everyone gets a repeater we are all no better off anyway. Noise is a zero sum game you see. :D


  • #16
    Dr. Nick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,434 ✭✭✭Dr. Nick


    Ok, thanks lads.

    Is there a small outdoor aerial (to fit an the window cill) I could connect to the dovado router? If so, where would it connect?


  • #17
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Only to the USB modem. If the USB modem hasn't got an aerial connector, find a modem that has.

    Since the frequency is 2100Mhz and the aerial cable is skinny, you can't have more than a very few metres without loosing too much TX and RX signal.

    So.. The other options are:
    2m quality USB cable to put USB modem in waterproof bag or box with cable coming out hole at bottom.
    OR
    Switch off WiFi on Dovado and put whole Dovado via extension ethernet and DC cord in a larger plastic box outside and add indoor ethernet switch (less than 100m ethernet cable to dovado) and WiFi point. Some ethernet routers allow disabling of Router and DHCP so they become a 4 port switch + WiFi point.


  • #18
    Dr. Nick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,434 ✭✭✭Dr. Nick


    Thanks Watty, I've just noticed that my E122 has an aerial connector, thought it was just a slot for memory. So any recommenedations for an aerial which would sit on my widow cill? something like this maybe:
    http://www.panorama.co.uk/shop/antennas/md2009-5-crc9.html


  • #19
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Maybe

    Though:
    1) it's not high gain.
    2) Check with them that the adaptor actually matches your modem. There are very many incompatible aerial connectors. Almost as if it's like old CB microphone plugs where the Maker would simply chose ANY connector as long as it would actually work and was currently cheapest.
    3) It's expensive. These are like maybe $10 in HongKong / Tiawan, because it's just a piece of wire (maybe an extra two days postage than UK and below the €20 limit. If you buy outside EU, make sure you have a invoice printed off from the email for Revenue).
    4) Better to go for a Directional Aerial. Will cost about €50


    Make sure any aerial is for 2100MHz band. Europe is all 2100MHz, but other world regions use other bands for 3G.

    Avoid a multiband aerial as they have poorer gain.


    It would seem to be an CRC9 connector, check other sites!
    http://www.panorama.co.uk/shop/antennas/c74-fp-015-crc9.html


    I'd call this one a high gain antenna.
    http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/3g-high-gain-directional-antenna-crc9-connection-p18962.htm

    Anything with a whip / stick or Omni-directional is "ordinary gain". With a directional one, it does have to point at correct mast. The signal bars should help with alignment if you make small changes and wait a minute.

    Here is similar on eBay.
    http://cgi.ebay.ie/3G-UMTS-17dBi-antenna-10M-cavo-HUAWEI-E156G-E160-E169-/370397634104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Accessori_per_Cellulari&hash=item563d6b5e38

    dBi is about 2.2dB less than a perfect dipole. So 17dBi is actually 14.8 dBd

    dBi gain compared to a theoretical & hypotheical Isotropic omni directional Aerial
    dBd gain compared to a perfect Dipole. Real dipoles can be close to 0dBd.


    A built in aerial in a modem is -2 to -6dBd or worse. (or 0dBi to -4dbi approx) and slightly directional.

    NOTE
    "Professional" applications use an N-Connector. Domestic uses an FME connector. If there is a choice, get aerial panel with FME and then a "pigtail" adaptor for FME to CRC-9

    If you want to put modem downstairs and aerial panel on a Chimney then you use N-Connectors on aerial and cable and use either RG213 (fat) or LMR400 (fatter, but longer run) and then either N to FME adaptor or ideally a second RG58 pigtail/patch cord (esp. with LMR400 as it's very stiff) with N-connector for main cable and FME connector for pigtail to modem.

    Making sure sex is correct on all connectors.

    The easiest is to just use FME on aerial and screw panel to wall beside window with clear view of mast. Do NOT kink cable sharply or compress it in a frame. You may need to drill a hole. Don't damage double glazing units!


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