Will any type of Antenna work for Mobile broadband?

Metalhead Jay

Or do I need to seek out one specially designed for it?

I have a huge old Tv Antenna on the roof. If I take the cable wire running from this antenna and use a splitter to connect it to the wire coming from the USB Mobile modem...Will I get a strong signal if it's pointed directly at the closest cell tower?

I'm going with Alltel because of their unlimited usage plan and the fact that one of their cell towers is only 7 miles away. I know that I'll get a really strong signal and speeds to begin with but I'm wondering if it would be possible to boost it a little more with this huge antenna I have on the roof? Would it work? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and I love the forums here!

Jay
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Metalhead Jay

Metalhead Jay · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Any takers?
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Metalhead Jay

ko4qc · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 117

TV antenna is receive only...not used for transmit...waaaaay off in frequency also....you have much to learn and I dont mean that in a derogatory or condescending tone.....

ko4qc · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 117

Forgot to directly answer your question...NO it will not work and it will fry your modem in a short while..

Baylink · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:01 am Post subject:

And, to provide some actual *information* ;-)

You can generally use for reception any old thing that's laying around, the larger the better, though you can get much further with a properly designed and tuned antenna, even on receive.

On transmit, though, you do pretty much *need* an antenna that's tuned for the wavelength of the transmitter you're using. Old time CBers will remember the "SWR Meter": it measured the "standing waves" of power bouncing back from the antenna *into the transmitter output*. If you don't keep that number quite low, it will indeed, as my esteemed amateur radio colleague notes, fry the output of your transmitter -- all the while not giving you much transmit signal.

So yeah, if you feel the need to buy an external antenna, buy one matched for the job. You don't have a lot of power or receiver sensitivity to throw around to begin with; it's false economy to waste it on a non-purpose-built antenna.

Oh, and if you decide to put your purpose built antenna up on that pole, plan on using *much* larger coax than that which generally ships with such antennas.

Metalhead Jay · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject:

Ok, totally understood. What antenna will give me the best possible speed that's under $50 bucks? Inside or outside. And yes, I am new to "mobile broadband".
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Metalhead Jay

ko4qc · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 117

[quote="Metalhead Jay"]Ok, totally understood. What antenna will give me the best possible speed that's under $50 bucks? Inside or outside. And yes, I am new to "mobile broadband".[/quote]

If I read your OP correctly,you dont even have the service yet...I suggest you get set up and take it a step at a time..who knows,you may not even need an external antenna...when you get to the upper signal limits,you enter an area of 'diminishing returns'...keep us posted and have fun learning...:>)

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

poke around on my website Jay, many of your questions can be answered there: http://evdotips.blogspot.com/
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evdo-tips.com

Baylink · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:49 pm Post subject:

Yeah, you're gonna find that if you live in a metro area, and you *don't* live in a steel building, you'll probably get decent speed to begin with.

Remember: if you get a USB modem, you can get some extra indoor altitude *with a USB extension cable*, which is ever so much cheaper than Really Small Coax.