More factors to performance than just signal strength?

thebordella · EVDO User Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 26

Hi,

I live in a fringe coverage area, particularly because my house is blocked by a large hill and thick trees. I have been able to receive EVDO (Verizon) service using the Wilson Trucker omni antenna stuck out onto the roof through a skylight, but have been experimenting to improve performance.

With the Wilson antenna planted on the roof (about 2/3 up the roofline), I can pull a BroadbandAccess Rev A signal of around -99 to -100. Throughput downstream is about 500kbps, but upstream is very bad, under 25kbps. Web browsing offer suffers from hesitation.

In an attempt to achieve greater height, I added a 5 foot section of broomhandle to the equation.

Now, my signal is actually weaker -- between -102 and -106 -- BUT my performance is BETTER!

With the extra 5 feet, my download speed is about the same, but upload speed has jumped up to over 100kbps, and web browsing is extremely snappy. I also notice that the 1xRTT signal strength has improved, even though the EVDO strength has worsened. (But this setup is maintaining an EVDO connection.)

It seems like there are more factors that determine performance than just EVDO RSSI alone. Can anyone shed light on this?

I'm confident that because of my situation, more elevation is better. I am going to try a 28 foot pole next. However, this will require a cable extension, and I realize that the gains might be offset by the cable loss. The only way to find out will be to try.

Still, I would like to hear any technical information on why performance might increase even when EVDO RSSI itself has weakened. What other factors are in play? Interference at the lower elevation?

thanks!

meteoro · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

Yes, multiple factors, signal strength, signal quality, and loading.

meteoro · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

Oooh forgot to add one very critical factor, PN dominance.
The more sites you see, or are tied to, the lower the speed. In order to maximize throughput speed, you need to have at significant dominant PN.

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Ask Harry Potter about broomsticks...