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New Alltel EVDO user

 
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bmillham
EVDO Newbie


Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Rixeyville, VA
PostPosted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:20 pm    Post subject: New Alltel EVDO user Reply with quote
Hi all,
I've been looking though this forum for a while, learning everything I can about EVDO, and have taken the plunge into EVDO.

We currently have HughesNet, but last Thursday, we were struck by lightning. It took out our Hughes modem, and several other things... So, since Alltel showed that we were in an EVDO area, we decided to give it a try.

I picked up an UM150. Inside the house, we get no signal (which I expected). I strapped the modem to a 8 foot pole, used a USB extension cable, and was able to connect. It's not a very strong signal, but at 8 foot, it's not over the height of the roof. RSSI was -112, and speedtest.net results were 642/29 300ms RevA. Not great speeds, but very promising.

I went for a drive, and about .45 miles (as the crow flys), I got RSSI -83 812/285 and 711/403 200ms RevA.

With the help of 3gstore.com, I chose the Omni antenna and booster. They came today, so as soon as I get home from work, I'll get it going.

I'm going to try without the booster first. If RSSI and speeds are to low, I'll then try the booster.

I have a question about the Omni antenna. I assume that the mounting bracket should be grounded?

I'll post the results here. Hopefully from home!

And thank you, 3gstore.com for the help in choosing the antenna!

Brian
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keninaz
EVDO Newbie


Joined: 25 Dec 2007
Posts: 9
PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you are using the external antenna with the skirt on it no, it does not need a ground plane as that skirt is it.
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bmillham
EVDO Newbie


Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Rixeyville, VA
PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
keninaz wrote:
If you are using the external antenna with the skirt on it no, it does not need a ground plane as that skirt is it.

Thanks, that's what I thought.
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karlyn
EVDO Junkie


Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 377
Location: Lynchburg, VA
PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The antenna needs a ground plane for reception -- those spikes on the omni act as such. But the ground plane doesn't ground the antenna (there's no path to ground for lightning). So yes, you'll want to ground the bracket if you can. I had a lightning strike last year and can commiserate.
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whyzeman
EVDO Heavy User


Joined: 14 Dec 2007
Posts: 103
PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
A ground plane and an electrical ground are two different things. If what you're asking if the mounted omni needs to be grounded, if your home is prone to lightning strikes (most houses that are surrounded by trees are not), then grounding the antenna by running a piece of copper from the antenna directly into the ground would definitely be helpful.

Ground planes are required on your behalf if you're using a magmount antenna as the metal surface serves as a physical part of the antenna's functionality. If you're using an antenna with the little rods pointing out of it, then that serves as the plane. But, "ground plane" has nothing to do with lightning or electricity.
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bmillham
EVDO Newbie


Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Rixeyville, VA
PostPosted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
whyzeman wrote:
A ground plane and an electrical ground are two different things. If what you're asking if the mounted omni needs to be grounded, if your home is prone to lightning strikes (most houses that are surrounded by trees are not), then grounding the antenna by running a piece of copper from the antenna directly into the ground would definitely be helpful.

Ground planes are required on your behalf if you're using a magmount antenna as the metal surface serves as a physical part of the antenna's functionality. If you're using an antenna with the little rods pointing out of it, then that serves as the plane. But, "ground plane" has nothing to do with lightning or electricity.


Thanks for the explanation. Our house is surrounded by trees (one less since the lightning struck Sad ) If I do decide to stay with EVDO, the antenna bracket will be grounded, and there will be a lightning suppressor in the coax.

(BTW, when the lightning struck the tree, a feeler came into the house a few seconds after. My step-mother saw it come through the living room and hit the wood stove. That's when a UPS and DirecTV receiver got fried.)

Right now, EVDO isn't looking promising. Even with the Omni and 3 watt booster, we are not getting a very good connection. I'm going to mount the antenna to a 20 foot pole, and stick that in the back of the pickup and drive around the property find the best signal. I was able to get a RSSI of -83 about 1/2 mile away, at the top of a hill. The tower is about 4 miles away.

Wish me luck tomorrow! Laughing
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