5gee router which antenna

[simonharryharri]

Can someone point me in the direction of the best Antenna for the 5gee router I got delivered today, EE tell me they don't sell one to go with it?!

[wcavanagh]

Yep, this thing is strange, im just annoyed that my little iPhone can pull over 240Mb, yet with this best I can get so far is 100Mb

[EssexBoyEE]

As said before my theory on these Ports is that 2 of them are for 3.5ghz Only (Band 78 5G which you won't get without a 4G Connection) the other 2 are for 4G Bands (to pull the Signal in on for 4G in poor Signals areas so as to use the 4G as an anchor for the 5G NSA. The same 4G Ports will also potential cover 5G Band n28 (700mhz) as well as EE's Re Farmed 4G to 5G in the future.

EE currently Installing a fair amount of n28 on the Network and refarming 4G Bands to n1, n3 and n7.

It's a very confusing situation not helped by EE with any available information on the Ports, sadly untill I can get my hands on one these Routers and slap it on the Bench to test the Ports I am unable to confirm my thoughts.

[wcavanagh]

So strange that no information is out and about.

So what is the iPhone 13 able to do that this router cant? 

[BoltonSailor]

I think it's 4x4 MIMO.   I bought a big 4x4 antenna on this assumption (supported by there being 4 ports on the back of the router) but I fear the ports are serving different purposes as EssexBoy says.

[EssexBoyEE]

The Router is a good LTE CAT spec, if I was to hazard a guess the iPhone is pulling in good CA and 4X4 MiMo.

[wcavanagh]

So depending what I have signal wise in the area I may never do more than the 100 odd.

Will be doing more tests tomorrow to see what is going on.  Weather permitting.... Scotland 🙂

[S1GAR]

i only have a 2x2 antenna but I personally found it was trial and error with the connectors on the rear.

I did also think the port furthest away from the int/ext switch was port one (the top one) doh!!!! i only had 2 cables coming from my antenna so used a sma to ts9 splitter and put one into 1&3 and the other in 2&4. this gave the best speeds but, like essex boy has pointed out, this may not be doing anything. i then went on the roof, armed with a compass, and my phone (connected to the router for speed tests) knowing the direction of the phone masts in my area and tried all the directions until I got the best speeds.

I have not actually done a benchmark test outside between my router and my phone as of yet but will do this weekend. I have a static caravan so i am assuming it acts like a faraday cage as the phone is shocking inside with the router (without external antenna connected) being marginally better. I will benchmark what the phone does outside this weekend. I will also try removing the ts9 splitters and using 2 ports on the back.

also the problem of the cable weight damaging the port. as a crude fix, could you not use the angled connectors and tape the flylead, or cable, to the router using duct tape or something? i know its crude but will take some, if not all, of the cable weight?

[wcavanagh]

Hi Everyone,

Done some testing today, as it is raining loads, I just did some port testing.

Found something very weird.  I have two 2x2 antennas pointing at different towers, for testing.

So using just one the best speed I could get was 102Mb using ports, 1 and 4  (assuming port 1 is by switch) as per photo.

I tired all other combinations, all worked but had between 60 - 80 Mb.

So then I connected the 2nd 2x2 antenna to ports 2 and 3 as per photo below...

 

Now I am seeing 158Mb the best I have seen from this device.  Now when it stops raining I will point both antenna's at the same tower, as tower 1 gives faster speeds, I wonder if I will get closer to the 200Mb I see on the iPhone?

Excuse the hot melt glue, I used this to secure the weak TS9 connectors, they are rock solid now, after seeing peoples issues 🙂

[wcavanagh]

Network name:EE
Network type:5G
RSRP:-112 dBm
RSSI:-100 dBm
Band:B3+B1+B3

[EssexBoyEE]

@wcavanagh what was the Cell ID for the good speeds and the Site that gave you 3 x CA.

Im having a quick look at your Area Now.

Slightly confused do you have 2 x 2x2 MiMo antennas now or just the one.