Will an external antenna help?

Semi75 · EVDO Junkie Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 230

I just signed up for the Sprint evdo package today and after getting it home I found out the bad news, I am in a 1xRTT zone at the fringe of the EVDO coverage area. It looked like I was going to squeeze in per their map but it didn't work out. I do have 5 bars from the Tower I can see from my house though Sad

After switching the modem to EVDO service only I was not able to connect at all. I took the laptop for a short drive and got a nice connection and was frankly amazed at how weel it worked. Three speed tests were all above 1mbit dload, 110-120 up and w/ ping in the 230-260 range. Frankly exactly what I have been wqanting for the 6 years I have been stuck on dial up.

On the ride home my laptop stayed connected and with 1 little bar until I finally took it in the house and it lost connection on the EVDO.

Since no one is able to say whether this pretty tower I see every day will carry me a signal anytime soon I need to know if it's worth the trouble in installing an antenna in my situation. The other tower with EVDO I'm guessing it 8-9 miles away and I can get a 2-3 bar connection about 1.5 miles east, a full 5 bars in about 4.5-5 miles east.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Michael · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:54 pm Post subject:

You are not going to get the results you want with just a table top internal booster antenna. I would think if you are that far away, you would try one of the following:

- Internal booster antenna & Signal Amplifier

or

- External Antenna (Yagi) + Signal Amplifier.

FYI, last year before EVDO came to my house. I was around 3 miles away and I didn't get it with a booster antenna, BUT I did with a signal amplifier and indoor booster antenna.
_________________
EVDO :: EVDO News :: EVDO Antennas :: Buy Verizon :: Buy Sprint :: EVDO Amplifier

Semi75 · EVDO Junkie Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 230

Thanks for the reply. I certainly don't mid trying or looking into these things at all but was unsure if it was even worth it. I guess I have basically a little less than 2 weeks to come up with a good solution or cancel. I was very please with the service a little closer to town and it was more than I hope for frankly, now only to see if I can get it here.

Reccomend any paticular type of signal amp?

WPSANTENNAS-MATT · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:38 pm Post subject:

You are going to want to be sure you have a 1900 Mhz amplifier and a 1900 Mhz yagi antenna. The amplifiers that are available from Wilson and Digital antenna are CDMA compliant and are dual band 800 and 1900 Mhz.

If you are confident in staying with Sprint I would recommend a 1900 Mhz single band high gain yagi antenna. Wilson, Cushcraft and Digital Antenna all make good quality single band 1900 units.

I did not see on your post a listing of the card make and model that you purchased, but hopefully it is one with an antenna port.

My suggestion is to start with the yagi antenna and no amplifier first as you can always add it if needed. I am saying this because of the notes from your ride home and the fact that you lost service as you entered the home.

Matt

Semi75 · EVDO Junkie Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 230

I did neglect to mention that I cannot reconnect via EVDO at all again now. It seems that once I had the signal connected it would stay connected even though extremly weak and near useless until I went inside.

I am using the Merlin S620 by Novatel.

Semi75 · EVDO Junkie Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 230

Thanks for the help guys. I decided to let my common sense and my wife's nagging get the better of me though and wait a few months and see what sprint decides to do about turning other towers on. I would hate to waste the money on external antennas and amps and it still now work. If only I had 1-2 bars of EVDO service consistently I would glady take the leap of faith but I'm more afraid of being out the cash for the equipment and stuck in the contract for the 1xrtt service that is inferior to other data plans in my area considering limited coverage while travelling.

Now if only they would turn on service to that last tower I need Razz

I think though if they expand in the future I will still go with an external antenna to a router just to make sure everything is set up and stays consistent. I still can't get over how technology has changed in the last few years and something like this is available and so close, I was very impressed.