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gixxer
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 6
Location: New Glarus, WI
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 Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: satellite dish as antenna? |
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I know this topic has been bludgeoned to death but the search tool on this site is of no help when everyone labels their individual threads differently.
I've googled many sites on this subject and read many different ways of doing it, making a Biquad antenna from copper, etc. but none of them tell you if you can use RG-6 cable from the dish back to the PC Card/Router or if you have to use RG-58 because nothing else will work?
I have the following: 1- WRT54G3G-ST, 1 - PX-500 and 1 - WildBlue satellite dish with a RG-6 run from outside the house to inside. I would like to use the dish as an external antenna by building a Biquad antenna for it and attaching it to the PX-500 card.
Can I use the existing RG-6 cable run I have or do I need to use RG-58? And where can I buy a pig tale/dongle that will connect from the PX-500 to the RG-6/RG-58 cable? |
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Torrey
Site Admin
Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 216
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Your WildBlue satellite isn't going to work as an antenna for an aircard, as wildblue satellites don't operate both ways on the 1900Mhz (1.9Ghz) frequency. Here are the frequencies that satellite uses:
| Quote: | RF Frequencies
Transmit 29.5 to 30.0 GHz
Receive 19.7 to 20.2 GHz
IF Frequencies
Transmit 1.8 to 2.3 GHz
Receive 1.0 to 1.5 GHz
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I would suggest going with a Yagi directional antennna & 3-watt amplifier if you really want to get the very best signal quality. If you will be running more than 10 feet of extension cable, you will need to use the amp to prevent signal loss as you lose 2.2 dB per 10 feet of RG-58 on the 1900Mhz frequency. LMR-400 cable is a better option with longer cable runs as it only loses 0.7 dB per 10 ft on the 1900Mhz frequency.
All of these products can be purchased from
3Gstore.com after all...they are the EVDO Experts  |
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gixxer
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 6
Location: New Glarus, WI
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Forgive my stupidity but what difference does the type of dish matter other than perhaps the shape of the dish? What allows a 'Primestar' dish to work with a Biquad antenna versus the WildBlue dish? |
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gixxer
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 6
Location: New Glarus, WI
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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| What if I ran a CAT5e or 6 cable run to the dish and had only a very short piece of coax? |
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Torrey
Site Admin
Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 216
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| gixxer wrote: | | Forgive my stupidity but what difference does the type of dish matter other than perhaps the shape of the dish? What allows a 'Primestar' dish to work with a Biquad antenna versus the WildBlue dish? |
Because they are setup to use a specific range of frequencies...if they weren't then there would be all kinds of interference. Very similar to your AM/FM radio which allows you to specify a certain frequency or station within the AM or FM band (frequency range).
Here is a chart of all the frequencies regulated by the FCC in the US: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf
hmmm...this is starting to sound too familiar, feel as if I have had this conversation before  Well I'm assuming you're refering to having the router/aircard outside in a waterproof compartment with the cat5 cable connected to that? Yes, this is a solution...but I wouldn't recommend it, as I don't imagine that constructing a water-proof container for the MBR1000 with a CAT5 & electrical cord running into it would be a very easy or wise task. But then again, I'm not a carpenter  |
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gixxer
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 6
Location: New Glarus, WI
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| If only the WRT54G3G-ST were 802.3af compliant I would use a PoE switch or Power Injector on the other end with a X-over cable, if only. |
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Torrey
Site Admin
Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 216
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| gixxer wrote: | | If only the WRT54G3G-ST were 802.3af compliant I would use a PoE switch or Power Injector on the other end with a X-over cable, if only. |
No EVDO router supports Power Over Ethernet, actually...I don't think any consumer (DSL/Cable) router supports it either. Just a basic PoE 8-port switch would cost $400... |
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gixxer
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 6
Location: New Glarus, WI
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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The reason for the external antenna is that I, like many others, currently receive a 'Very Poor' signal but my neighbor receives 'Excellent' signal.
The cell tower is approx. 6 miles from my house over some hills and valleys and trees. |
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gixxer
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 6
Location: New Glarus, WI
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Torrey wrote: | | gixxer wrote: | | If only the WRT54G3G-ST were 802.3af compliant I would use a PoE switch or Power Injector on the other end with a X-over cable, if only. |
No EVDO router supports Power Over Ethernet, actually...I don't think any consumer (DSL/Cable) router supports it either. Just a basic PoE 8-port switch would cost $400... |
I have a Cisco 1131AG WAP and until yesterday I had it plugged into a Linksys DSL/Cable Router w/4-port switch using a Cisco Power Injector and it worked great! The Linksys website says that there is no special configuration required to the router, just plug it in and go and it works. Now, yesterday I installed a Cisco 2924M-XL and that is not 802.3af compliant so I'm back to using the power cord on the 1131AG. It amazes me that a $50 router/switch from BestBuy is 802.3af but a big CAT 2900 series is not. |
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