My blood is boiling. Please help. I am not the sharpest tool

darkserpant · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 7

I live deep in the woods on top of a small mountain. I have verizion usb modem(um175) for me to get internet service. I usually get about 1 or 2 bars in the house but apparently it isnt enough, cause I get dropped every 10 minutes or so. I am ready to purchase a booster antenna or amplifier but I was hoping you guys could tell me what I need cause I would like not to have to purchase a expensive amplifier if I can get away with a antenna. i will try and give you guys as much information as I can. Im not sure what you need to help me decide what I can get away with. I looked up my address in antennasearch.com to see what towers are near me. I think there is a tower that shows in Hamlin. Which is about 1.5 miles from my home. Then again maybe I read it wrong. Here is my address for you guys to see for yourselves and help me out if you can. 1085 meckville rd. Fredericksburg,Pa. Now remember I live deep in the woods if that matters at all. Here are some numbers I got off of my modem for you guys too. I am not sure what you need or where to find them on my modem. I am very computer illeterate. Tx rate-0 Tx rate max-3.54 Tx bytes-5.5kb Rx rate-0 Rxrate max-29.49 Rx Bytes 18.0kb If these numbers dont help you please tell me what you need and where to find them. I just need for somebody to tell me what kind of signal booster I need and I will buy it. I thank you guys so much for your help. Chris

mclass55 · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 131

Your tower is the second tower on the map "Cellco Partnership" about 2.3 miles away. I will leave the antenna choice up to someone who knows more than I do.

Maureen · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:39 pm Post subject:

darkserpant, before buying anything, we highly recommend doing a site survey so that you can make sure you're buying the right equipment - and so that you can understand what to expect from the equipment.

first, check out this article and determine how to find your RSSI (scroll down in the article to see screenshots of where to find your RSSI): Will an Antenna Help Me?

Once you know where to find your RSSI, do some quick testing and let us know the answers to the following questions:

1) What is your RSSI inside?

2) What are your speedtest.net results at that location?

3) What is the best RSSI you can find outside?

4) At that location outside with the best RSSI, what are your speedtest.net results?

5) If the signal outside isn't significantly better than it is inside, walk/drive in the direction of better signal until you find a solid -80 signal. At that location, what are your speedtest.net results? How far away is that -80 signal?

Let us know the answers to these questions (you can post them here, or email us, or call us at 866-3GSTORE) and we'll help you pick out the right gear!

darkserpant · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 7

Man, thanks alot for the help. I will do all that tonight. I will post as soon as I have some results. Again thanks.

LARRYG · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:45 am Post subject:

ditto.. answers were helpful to some "lurkers" also. thanks.

darkserpant · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 7

Ok. I got some readings for you guys. i am going to try and explain myself the best I can. I took readings inside the house at a couple places which didnt really change. I took readings outside and all around the perimeter of my house and took readings at the bottom of my driveway since I live on top of a small mountain. Inside my house I got Im not sure what rssi number you need. I have to readings 1 is a evdo reading and the other is 1xrtt reading. so I will give you both of them. Inside my home I get evdo-100 and rxttt-91. Now let me tell you this I would constantly loose the evdo signal. It usually says no service. It says no service more times than it gives me a reading. My download speed is .014 mb download and upload is .09 mb Anyway those are my inside readings. Outside there is really no significant change in any of the readings. Now I said I live on top of a small mountain. The closest tower to me is I have to go down the other side of the mountain from my house and up another mountain and then down again to get to the direction of the closest tower to me. I walked a 1/4 mile in all directions from my home and no real change to the readings. I drove in the direction of the tower and my readings did increase the closer to the tower. When the tower was insight of me I was gettin evdo-79 1xrtt-78 download 1.07 md upload.41 mb. I dont know if this helps or maybe I can use it but I have one of those old tv antennas on top of my roof. Is there a way where I could use that to get better signal and if so how? Ok so I got readings for you guys can you please point me in the right direction if I should get a antenna booster or amplifier booster or maybe they wont help at all and I am crap out of luck. Or maybe my house antenna can help me. I really really apreciate all your help. I await your next suggestions and I wont be buying anything till I hear from you guys. thanks a million. Please hurry with suggestions I cant stand this slow connection any more.
Chris

SixGuns · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 4

I may not be the Sharpest Tool in the Box..But I always make the Cut..

Maureen · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:11 am Post subject:

First, no, a TV antenna will not help you - you need a cellular antenna to help cellular signal.

how far away was that -79 signal, and what was in between you and it?

darkserpant · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 7

It was about 1 -1.5 miles to that signal and there was a small mountain in between.

Maureen · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 5:55 pm Post subject:

If you know where the tower is and you're sure there is only one tower serving you, I'd recommend this dual-band Yagi.

If you don't know where the tower is and don't want to rely on the "trial-and-error" method to figure it out (that is, installing the Yagi antenna and continuing to tweak it and check your RSSI until you've got it pointed in the best possible direction), you can go with an Omni External Antenna.

Since the signal is a mile or so away, and you didn't notice any difference in signal at a quarter mile, you may also want the direct connect amplifier for the BEST possible chance of accessing that signal.

3Gstore has a 14-day return policy on all of those items, so if it doesn't work out, you're covered! Read more here.

LARRYG · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject:

Pinging Maureen...................

the thought occurred - do we assume that all cell towers propagate equally?

are they "directional"? Do they have different flavors of strength depending on the tower config? How about bandwidth? Are some towers big and strong and can handles lots and lots of simultaneous connections and others can only handle a few calls at a time?

If would seem that if towers are not all the same - that individual tower specs could drive the decision as to what kind of antenna/repeater to get - no?

can you shed any more on this issue?

thanks!

Maureen · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:05 pm Post subject:

Yes, different towers might provide different levels of service - some towers might not be equipped to handle as many users, etc. Performance can also fluctuate based on how many users are connected to the tower at a given time (because we're all sharing the service).

This is why a directional antenna is usually only a good idea if you know where the tower is and you know that it is the only one serving you.

If there's more than one tower serving you, you're usually better off with an omnidirectional antenna that can "search" for signal 360 degrees.

LARRYG · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:05 pm Post subject:

thanks much

if you get an omni - and there is than one tower.. I assume your modem/route and the towers will get sorted out as to who services and who does not or some such..

darkserpant · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Posts: 7

Mareen, thank you for your help. I am going to take your advice and buy the omni external antenna and the direct connect amplifier. How excatly do they get hooked up with each other. I am just wondering if it comes with everything I need or if I need to buy anything else. It starts at the antenna and then goes into the supplied cable then into the power amp. Then what connects the amp to mu usb um175 modem? thanks

Maureen · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject:

you'll have everything you need if you click the links I provided above.

Here's how it will connect:

omni antenna w/ attached 12' cable --> amplifier --> 6' cable (included with amp) --> adapter cable --> UM175

Let us know how it works out!!!