What is your dBm?

mykelala01 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 20

Ok right now I have an average of 88 to 81 dBm? With 2 to 3 bars of signal. What is the ideal dBm to get most of the connection? Im planning to get an external antenna will I benefit on it or its just a waste of money?

xrayman · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject:

A reading someplace in the -70s should get you a better connection. Generally the closer you can get to -60 the better. At some point you will not be gaining much quality or speed by trying to improve the signal more. What are your speed tests showing with the signal levels in the -80s? Can you take a laptop outside and up on your roof to test the signal before you order the antenna?

vpnavy · EVDO User Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 88

I found that whether I get 4 bars (-81) or 5 bars (-71) my speed remains almost constant. I just feel better getting 5 bars Laughing

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1127

I'm getting -61 a hundred yards or so from a tower hosting a large bird's nest. Maybe it's the bird?

fordrhs41 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 87

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:30 pm Post subject:

I have -76 dBm, no external antenna, Franklin CDU680, one mile from tower in very heavy tree's. Speed is good up/down. My personal best was sitting under the tower at -48 dBm Laughing

xrayman · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject:

mykelala01 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 20

Llama · EVDO Junkie Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 179

I am getting ~ -77dBm with omni + booster (connected with 50' of LMR400). I typically get around 1000kbps down and 550-600kbps up.

FWIW, my dad lives on my farm, but higher on a ridgeline and gets the same dBm, but has an omni with no amp. His download speeds are moderately higher, but his uploads are MUCH slower (100-200kbps), so I am guessing the amp is the reason?
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--Larry

freightliner · EVDO User Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 61

I get ~ -80dBm-84dBm with omni+booster with 3-4 bars. Speeds are 800kb off peak and 500kb peak with uploads always in the neighborhood of 180kb.

Our phones show about 1-2 bars EVDO.
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Further...

xrayman · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

SatFree · EVDO Newbie Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 8

Well I have a real puzzle. I am trying out Verizon and have the omni antenna with amp in the attic. My speeds are erratic - anywhere from 200kb/s to 700kb/s. Sometimes it just freezes. However, with antenna booster out the window with no amp, I get between 900 and 1100kb/s. No freezes. Can't figure out what is causing this. Signal with attic set up is about -72. Signal with window setup is about -82.

I also have Sprint, which I can only receive with the omni and amp in the attic. Signal is between -93 and -96. Speed is between 600-700kb/s. I am out of range for Sprint so they told me that I can cancel anytime without penalty. That is why I am trying Verizon, although I am worried about the 5 gig per month limit. I may call Verizon to see if they will waive this limit as they do not offer dsl in my area and I have 3 of their cellphones.

xrayman · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject:

SatFree
You could try using a directional antenna with the Sprint setup. A grid parabola as talked about in the thread below and in many other threads on this forum has a gain of around 23 dBi at PCS frequencies and is low cost at around $50. You should see an improvement in signal and a possible speed increase. It would work better if you could mount it on top of your roof. It may also help with your Verizon erratic speeds. It would lock you into using just a single tower. If Verizon is using PCS frequencies in your area.
http://www.evdoforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=7145&highlight=grid+parabola

h3brewing · EVDO Newbie Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 8 Location: KC, MO

I am down to -63 dbm now. Thats after quite a bit of tuning and testing with my direcway dish antenna. I have seen it as low as -60 but it stays pretty constant -63 to -74 depending on how windy it is outside. My router now says signal is excellent instead of poor to good like it used to say.

doomass · EVDO User Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

I started out with a 95dbm that used a magnet antennae stuck to the frig I got from Verizon.
Ordered a Wilson trucker from 3gstore and got it down to 85dbm mounted just be low my deck on metal fence post.
Decided to mount it on top of my house with 3 15ft sections of wilson rg58 and gettin a 70dbm rev A signal. I just ordered a Wilson Amp 311201.Is that a pretty good amp?
My sppeds are prety much about 480 down and 200 up.
mms is about 330.

Thanks and this is a super forum of info!!!