What amp/antenna is right for me

Clocks · EVDO Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 4

* What is the best RSSI value you could find indoors, at the location you want to use EVDO?

85-107db

* At the location of best signal indoors, what were your speedtest.net results?

124 ping
.34 down
.16 up

* What is best signal immediately outside and around your house?

83-102db

* At the location where you found the best signal outdoors, what were your speedtest.net results?

110 ping
.64 down
.16 up

* How far do you have to drive to find stable/reliable -80 signal?

A mile

* When you found -80 signal, what were your speedtest.net results?

97 ping
.86 down
.60 up

* What's between you and that -80 signal? Trees? Elevation?

Trees

* Assuming you need to mount an antenna outside your home/office, how much antenna cable will you
need to get from the antenna to the device? Remember, the shorter the better! Longer lengths may
require the use of a dual-band direct-connect 3watt amp to benefit from the antenna.

Maybe 50'

* Do you need to provide better signal to just one device or multiple devices?

Yes

* Does each device you want to provide gain to have a jack to accept an antenna adapter cable?

No (a mifi and a blackberry storm)

3Gstore · EVDO Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 3171

since you have a BB storm, its safe to guess you are on verizon network, right?

you'll want to consider this high-gain, dual-band yagi antenna:

http://3gstore.com/dualbandyagi

and use this 20ft cable to get it higher up in the air:

http://3gstore.com/951104

since the yagi is directional, it will take some patience on your part to find best signal.

since neither the storm or mifi have rf jacks for a direct connection, i'll recommend the SoHo repeater and panel antenna for indoors:

http://3gstore.com/801245

http://3gstore.com/301135

you'll need a second 951104 cable to go between SoHo amp and indoor panel, and you'll want to provide enough physical separation between the two antennas such that green lights on SoHo amp indicate no feedback/oscillation.

Clocks · EVDO Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 4

Thank you for the details.

Since that is a $600+ investment, what (if anything) would be the next-best step down from that setup, in terms of price?

3Gstore · EVDO Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 3171