Another 'almost have signal' post...recommendations needed.

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:43 am Post subject:

hmm..interesting concept there Jack. I bet I could get a couple of long usb cables and tether the modem to a balloon. That would clear the tree's. Wind might be a problem though.. Laughing

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evdo-tips.com

coolraptor · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject:

EVDOnonLOser-great story! Perhaps I will have simular results Very Happy

i got the UM150 today and 10 feet of usb cable, iam gonna first try holding the modem on the side of my house on the roof where i sometimes get 1bar digital on my phone and see what happends.
If the modem picks it up then perhaps i wont need to scale one of the pine trees and mount some antenna/encloser setup Confused

maybe i'd be able to get away with a big antenna/repeater on the side of the house that way.

EvdoNonLOSuser · EVDO User Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 30 Location: PNW

Jim, I used a military grade mast. It has 44" sections. I wanted to go higher, but I did it alone and that was as high as I could handle. I am using guy wires attached to a ring on the mast. I still need to get lightning protection installed.

EvdoNonLOSuser · EVDO User Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 30 Location: PNW

Coolraptor, thx. I left a lot out of my story. Like all the time I spent surveying different areas of the property. The first time I mounted the antenna, I mounted it to a tall douglas fir tree. But the signal seemed a few db better when I got away from the tree. I would like to run a power line up the hill. Only because I would love to put a ptz camera up there. But I need to figure how much line, what size of line, and the power requirements to see if it is even possible. If I can get high up enough, I know the Upload speeds will be in the 300's.

coolraptor · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:46 am Post subject:

Yeah i bet you got alot of time in fine tuning everything.
I spent some time climbing all over my roof on my house, storage building, garage, few trees, etc you get the picture-with my cell phone trying to get a rough idea of where to start with an antenna.
The only place I can get digital on my phone is not the highest point on my roof but a few feet lower by my window, so i may start there.
Can get analog up to 3bars in that location and 1bar almost everywere else on my property.

Probably dumb question, does having a analog signal mean anything at all or am i looking for a digital signal only? lol

coolraptor · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:24 pm Post subject:

Hey guys quick update.
I have my UM150 Sitting by my window where my cell phone sometimes gets 1bar digital via a USB extension cable and I have a working internet connection.
According to Alltels software I have 1bar, sometimes up to 2.
My RSSI is 98dbm on 1xRTT and 101dmb for 1xEVDO.

My speeds as shown on speedtest.net is 518kb/s download and 125kb/s upload with a 296ms ping.

Its loads faster than my dialup and the connection is stable.
Obviously now i have no problem in purchasing a antenna/repeater setup for a stronger signal since I know its possible to get service out here with nothing more than a UM150 and a few feet of USB extension cable.

Iam going to send some e-mails out now. I figure 3gstore might be able to suggest a good setup now that i can tell them that i do have service even without the antenna or repeater.

Thanks for the help guys and if you have any suggestions just post a reply!
Aaron

karlyn · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:07 am Post subject:

Very cool, raptor! Looks like you have a real nice starting point for service with an antenna and maybe an amp.