External aerial for Vodafone 3G

lukin

I am looking into getting Vodafone 3G but after looking at the coverage map on their site (http://www.vodafone.ie/roaming/domestic/network/index.jsp) I am pretty certain I am outside the coverage areas by about a mile or two.
I read a reply to a post here (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055068243&referrerid=&highlight=mediasat which said that "If your not in a 3G area an external aerial might get you a signal.".
However the external aerials I have seen only work with a datacard. This way of accessing the 3G network is not as good as the using the broadband modem as the speed is not comparable. Also it is more expensive.
You cannot attach an aerial to the broadband modem as far as I know.
Is this correct?

watty

If it has a small round hole, then it takes an aerial.

You can have a PCMCIA card, USB module or phone as a modem. All these come in 2 or 3 speeds. If it is HSDPA compatible rather than plain 3G, then it does full speed. In fact if your PC /Laptop has only USB 1.1 a PCMCIA / PCcard should be faster. No doubt PC Express cards will be along soon.

The phone as a 3G modem is usually limited to 384k.

There are "Datacards" (PCMCIA/PCcard) that go just the same speed as a USB 2.0 modem

lukin

watty wrote:

If it has a small round hole, then it takes an aerial.

You can have a PCMCIA card, USB module or phone as a modem. All these come in 2 or 3 speeds. If it is HSDPA compatible rather than plain 3G, then it does full speed. In fact if your PC /Laptop has only USB 1.1 a PCMCIA / PCcard should be faster. No doubt PC Express cards will be along soon.

The phone as a 3G modem is usually limited to 384k.

There are "Datacards" (PCMCIA/PCcard) that go just the same speed as a USB 2.0 modem

I'd have to see the modem before I'd commit to buying it so, and that the aerial is going to reach the transmitter. Do you know what kind of range those aerials have?

godskitchen

You can not have an antenna with the modem, it uses the USB cable as its aerial and there is nothing you can really do to improve signal.

As for the external antennas, i have one that is connecting to a mast 7 miles away.

watty

It's a built in aerial, not the USB cable.
You can get different gains of aerial.
You need RG213 or better very very thick coax and then mini-cable tail to modem.
Most of the USB modems simply don't have exernal socket to save cost.

lukin

godskitchen wrote:

You can not have an antenna with the modem, it uses the USB cable as its aerial and there is nothing you can really do to improve signal.

As for the external antennas, i have one that is connecting to a mast 7 miles away.

Are you using Vodafone 3G? Is that with a data card or USB modem?

niallb

godskitchen wrote:

As for the external antennas, i have one that is connecting to a mast 7 miles away.

I have a card with the included external antenna, and it's getting me 3G at just over 10 miles.
I've confirmed with Vodafone which mast I'm connecting to and they're a bit amazed,
but it's a quiet area.
If you've a lot of users around, you'll only get a fraction of that distance.

You won't be able to confirm it'll work for you before buying it.
Mine only works in one tiny location in the house, and it's only 3G
in an area half the size of a window pane. The best thing about the antenna
is probably that you can stick it to a window where the signal is bound to be better.
3G doesn't work so well indoors!

Just get one, see if it works, and if it doesn't, bring it back.

Three took one back for me no problem after two weeks, cost me €14
for half a month's rental. Full refund on the card and everything else.

lukin

I called into Vodafone and they told me you can't connect an aerial to the modem, if you are out of coverage there's nothing they can do to improve it on the user's side.
The sim card goes into the modem which is €100 and then you pay €40 per month. There's a 14-day no quibble returns policy.

niallb

lukin wrote:

... if you are out of coverage there's nothing they can do to improve it on the user's side...

Yes there is!
Your mileage may vary though. (Mine approached 10)

This setup made it much easier to lock on to the 3G signal,
but isn't going to improve your upstream connection as much.
I moved my SIM to a Nokia 6680 and got better signal strength.
Since then I've moved to a PCMCIA card with an external antenna.
Every few months the signal gets poorer as more users come onboard.
My biggest advantage is that there are not many ordinary phone users on 3G out this way.

lukin

niallb wrote:

Yes there is!
Your mileage may vary though. (Mine approached 10)

This setup made it much easier to lock on to the 3G signal,
but isn't going to improve your upstream connection as much.
I moved my SIM to a Nokia 6680 and got better signal strength.
Since then I've moved to a PCMCIA card with an external antenna.
Every few months the signal gets poorer as more users come onboard.
My biggest advantage is that there are not many ordinary phone users on 3G out this way.

Jeez, you've got the modem acting as an LNB on your dish!Didn't know that would work. What kind of dish is that? The only dish I have is a crappy skyDSL one that I have no use for.
Just a couple of things;
"I moved my SIM to a Nokia 6680 and got better signal strength."
I though the modem works without a mobile?
"Since then I've moved to a PCMCIA card with an external antenna"
Why would you do that?I thought the PCMCIA card is not as good as the modem? That's what Vodafone told me anyway.
Looking at your photos I don't think that set up would work for me as I don't have a window in my attic and the modem can't be exposed to weather obviously.

niallb

Just a couple of things;
"I moved my SIM to a Nokia 6680 and got better signal strength."
I though the modem works without a mobile?

I took the SIM out of the modem and put it in the Nokia instead.
It gives better reception.

"Since then I've moved to a PCMCIA card with an external antenna"
Why would you do that?
I thought the PCMCIA card is not as good as the modem?
That's what Vodafone told me anyway.

Not as good for what?!?
Vodafone are giving you their standard answer.
Sure, the PCMCIA card is not as good in the sense that it has a lower maximum speed.
It's also older and cheaper - not good for Vodafone! That's all.
It'll be much better when you're in a HSDPA area,
so if you lived in their office, they'd be right (and you'd probably have DSL) !
The PCMCIA cards have an antenna connector on them,
so for long distance links, they're obviously better.
Even the included antenna improves things a lot,
and you can get huge antennas if you're truly desperate.
If you've a problem getting a connection in the first place,
they're much more versatile.

Looking at your photos I don't think that set up would work for me as I don't have a window in my attic and the modem can't be exposed to weather obviously.

That's a ground floor room up near the ceiling, not an attic.
The modem can't be exposed, but it can be sealed in a plastic lunchbox
if that's your only option - it's powered over USB which makes it even more convenient.

I repeat though, I used this setup mostly to locate the best spot.
If you're anywhere nearby, you're welcome to borrow the test kit
to help find your best spot.

lukin

niallb wrote:

I took the SIM out of the modem and put it in the Nokia instead.
It gives better reception.

Not as good for what?!?
Vodafone are giving you their standard answer.
Sure, the PCMCIA card is not as good in the sense that it has a lower maximum speed.
It's also older and cheaper - not good for Vodafone! That's all.
It'll be much better when you're in a HSDPA area,
so if you lived in their office, they'd be right (and you'd probably have DSL) !
The PCMCIA cards have an antenna connector on them,
so for long distance links, they're obviously better.

The wan in the shop said the PCMCIA card they supply only works with one type of antenna (their one).

niallb wrote:

That's a ground floor room up near the ceiling, not an attic.
The modem can't be exposed, but it can be sealed in a plastic lunchbox
if that's your only option

Sorry, my mistake. The lunchbox is an idea alright

niallb wrote:

I repeat though, I used this setup mostly to locate the best spot.
If you're anywhere nearby, you're welcome to borrow the test kit
to help find your best spot.

Thanks for the offer but I'm a bit too far away from Meath (North-west County Cork).

niallb

lukin wrote:

The wan in the shop said the PCMCIA card they supply only works with one type of antenna (their one).

Untrue.
What she meant to say was that she could only sell you one type.

Urban Weigl

lukin wrote:

I'd have to see the modem before I'd commit to buying it so, and that the aerial is going to reach the transmitter. Do you know what kind of range those aerials have?

Generally up to 20 miles, it really depends on the type of aerial and geography though. Like if there's a huge hill in the way, it doesn't matter how big the aerial is, you still won't get any signal!