Need help with 5G external antenna set up please

loxleylozenge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 12:36:30 GMT

Hi,

I have run out of ideas and hope someone might be able to help please! I recently signed up to EE's 5G home broadband and received the (Zyxel) Smart 5G Hub. As I expected I could only get 4G inside the house so I decided to buy an external antenna, I went with the Panorama 4x4 MiMo Omnidirectional antenna, DWMM4-6-60-5SP. I also bought a set of SMA to TS9 adapters from Amazon. I installed the antenna high up on my roof (it sits directly on to the face of the chimney using the 4 screws provided, no pole mount but it has a nice unobstructed view without any tall buildings to block line of sight). I plugged everything up, flipped the switch over to external antenna and checked the signal only to find its still on a (rather slow) 4G connection, comparable to what I was getting inside the house using the routers internal antennas.

I tried a few troubleshooting ideas such as switching around the antenna cables to different ports but still no change (I probably havent tried every combination, only half a dozen or so).

As this didnt make a difference I went back up on the roof and took the antenna off the chimney, I then held it up and faced it in various different directions, each time I checked the router settings to see if 5G came up even as a weak signal but it never changed from 4G.

I know there is a good 5G signal in my area as my phone can see 4 bars of 5G when I'm outside. The antenna claims to be omnidirectional I was hoping that pointing it in approximately the right direction to my nearest 5G mast would be enough but obviously not (or perhaps I didnt keep it still long enough?). I had looked on cellmaper.net before the install and it seems that there a couple of 5G masts I could connect to, the closest one being approximately 1 mile north. I installed the antenna facing in that approximate direction.

I am completely out of ideas so if anyone has any suggestions on other things I could try it would be much appreciated! Worst case I can call in the professionals to check the set up but I I was hoping I could do this by myself. Thanks.

Re: Need help with 5G external antenna set up please

Christopher_G — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 15:02:11 GMT

Hi @loxleylozenge

It sounds like you have tried everything that I would recommend. We have some fantastically technical users here in the community, so hopefully they'll be along soon to offer you some help or advice.

Chris

topic Need help with 5G external antenna set up please in Mobile Broadband

Need help with 5G external antenna set up please

Re: Need help with 5G external antenna set up please