5gee router which antenna

simonharryharri · ‎01-03-2022

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?!

EssexBoyEE · ‎08-04-2022

@Adman1 as said earlier in this thread Ive never played with this Router in question, but it has an Ethernet Port so you do have options to extend the WiFi, personally Im not a fan of extending WiFi, Wifi Repeaters etc but if your going down the Cabled Ethernet extension route, with a decent Cable and Installation then that is the way to go.

I thought you had bought an external 5G Aerial for your set up, that's really the way to go, rather than placing the Router around the House for best Signal and Speed, put the Router where your going to need and use it most, then should you do need to extend WiFi work outwards from the main Router.

On the external 5G Antenna side, try and avoid Wall mounting it, get it up as high as possible on a Pole Mast or something ideally with a 360 degree view and away from other Aerials and other obstacles.

BoltonSailor · ‎08-04-2022

I now have the 5GEE router connected to my ASUS mesh wifi. There's an ethernet connection from the router to one node and the other node (downstairs) is connected wirelessly. Connectivity is good all around the house.

Barz91 · ‎02-05-2022

Hi there,

hopefully you or someone here can help me out.

I received the 2021 EE 5G router which has 4 TS9 antenna ports at the back.

ee sent TSG to come install an antenna which they did.

the antenna they installed is the

Panorama WMM8G-7-38-5SP

which I believe is a 2x2 Mimo antenna

The antenna comes with SME connectors and they didn’t supply time with any SME to TS9 adapters.

I managed to order the adapters and I saw the 1 in to 2 adapter (1 SME to 2 TS9 adapter x2) which I purshased also.

upon recieving the adapters I played about with them both and currently using the 1 in to 2 adapters.

The way I plugged the connectors in is as follows:

- the first cable with two ends I plugged in to the top 2 ports on the router 1st and 2nd port

- the second cable with two ends I plugged in to 3rd and 4th port.

currently the best speeds I have achieved but sometimes lower depending on time of day is:

Ping 15-25

Download 300mbs

Upload 65mbs

before connecting the antenna I would get lower speeds and higher ping

I have a few questions as follows:

1. Should I be using the 1 in to 2 adapters and will they have any long term effects on the router or if I used something else would it be better. If they are okay to use does the order in which I plug them in to the router matter.
2. Did TSG use the correct antenna as the way they suggest to use the antenna is only using the top 2 ports with normal SME to TS9 adapter in any order.
3. If a 4x4 antenna would be more beneficial, how much better would it perform, what are the benefits and what antenna would be best (I live in Hackney Wick, East London)
4. If I bought another 2x2 antenna to use the bottom two ports so all 4 ports are used up would that be a suitable solution that will perform just as good as one 4x4 antenna. (I already have one which was supplied to me through EE free of charge which is the reason I’m asking this as it will be cheaper for me to just buy another 2x2 antenna)

5. If I did buy another 2x2 would I face both antennas in the same direction or would I point the second one to a weaker mast available about 60 degrees to the left of the first antenna already installed.
6. Can these router and antennas connect to 2 masts at the same time and draw better speeds and a more stable connection. if they cannot what will happen ?

7. Is there any benefit to a second antenna facing the other mast for example if one mast site went down would the second antenna be able to keep me connected as it’s facing a different mast site.

I have attached a few photos of the antenna how it’s been set up and the router itself with and the different connectors I mentioned above.

sorry for such a lengthy question on a older thread but it seemed like this is one of the best threads talking about the same sort of issue.

EE and TSG don’t really have a clue about their own products or anything technical and ever time I’ve phoned they’ve not know any of the answers to the questions above.

I look forward to hearing back from you guys and thanks for taking the time to read my post.

Regards

Barz

EssexBoyEE · ‎02-05-2022

Hi @Barz91 I will await for your images to be approved, have a re read on your lengthy queries (nothing wrong with that, glad to see you've done your homework) and post up my own thoughts later.

Regards Chris.

BoltonSailor · ‎03-05-2022

Thanks for posting this. An interesting update. For a start, I would say you are achieving amazing speeds and I am envious! A couple of comments from me which I admit don't clarify, and add to the confusion owing to the lack of knowledge by EE and TSG on their own products:

- you said you connected one pair to port 1 and 2, and another pair to ports 3 and 4, however your picture shows one pair going to 1 and 3 and another to 2 and 4, which I believe is the right way (as advised by EssexBoy)

- TSG insist on connecting this antenna to ports 1 and 2 (they obviously don't provide the adaptors you have), however you will achieve (as I did) far better speeds on connecting to ports 3 and 4. The last TSG to engineer to visit me confirmed this (and said he was sick of telling TSG there were wrong!) His view was that the top two ports are 4G and the bottom two are 5G, but wasn't certain. The absence of any documentation on this router is really frustrating.

- On thinking the four ports enabled 4x4 MIMO connection, I purchased and installed a 4x4 antenna, but am achieving only slightly better speeds than the panorama antenna provided by TSG.

- The confusion over what the 4 ports on the router actually do is intensely frustrating compounded by evidence pointing one way, and then your results showing a fantastic performance (although that may also be due to your distance from the mast.)

I've got to the point of being reluctantly happy with my c150Mb speeds with a 5/5 signal, which is miles better than the 25Mb I get over FTTC, but I watch this thread with interest as I'm certain there is a way of getting more!

Barz91 · ‎03-05-2022

Hi there,

sorry I just realised you are correct I did install 1-3 and 2-4 by mistake but that’s what’s been giving me them speeds.

as I have no clue what the 4 ports do it’s interesting to hear that the tsg engineer has said the bottom 2 ports are for 5g.

when I get home I will change the port pattern to 1-2 and 3-4 and see if it makes a difference.

mill also remove the dual 1 to 2 adapters and try the single ones to see if that makes a difference also.

hopefully @EssexBoyEE can come back with a solution or some clarification for us all as this is shocking from EE and TSG as they can’t give a unanimous answer for any technical queries.

BoltonSailor · ‎03-05-2022

I think this will be a useful experiment. I would just check the speed before you change anything as I'm finding speeds vary considerably during the course of the day. Gut feel to me suggests that the router enables 4x4 MIMO and the 1,3 2,4 connection is correct, however this does not really explain why ports 3 and 4 (when connecting two leads only) work so much better than 1 and 2. Greater minds than mine might know.

EssexBoyEE · ‎03-05-2022

@Barz91 lets get the important stuff out of the way first..... 1st Picture, Router sitting on the Box, is that a Real Rolex in the Box, if so whats it doing sitting on the Window seal. 🙂

EssexBoyEE · ‎03-05-2022

@Barz91 wrote -

Hi there,

hopefully you or someone here can help me out.

I received the 2021 EE 5G router which has 4 TS9 antenna ports at the back.

ee sent TSG to come install an antenna which they did.

the antenna they installed is the

Panorama WMM8G-7-38-5SP which I believe is a 2x2 Mimo antenna

Correct, 2x2 Mimo Directional 4/5G Antenna

The antenna comes with SME connectors and they didn’t supply time with any SME to TS9 adapters.

A bit naughtly realy, in my book they should have supplied the correct parts in order to complete the Job.

Nice to see the Installer went to the trouble of Pole Mounting the Antenna above the Roof Line rather than just slapping on the Side of the Wall.

I managed to order the adapters and I saw the 1 in to 2 adapter (1 SME to 2 TS9 adapter x2) which I purshased also.

Hopefully the Adapters are good quality ones (Spec DC to 6Ghz) and not some cheap Chinese make.

upon recieving the adapters I played about with them both and currently using the 1 in to 2 adapters.

Do NOT use Any 1 in to 2 Cable adapter or Coax Splitters for any Antenna or Aerial that is designed for Transmission purposes, unless its a specific Phasing Harness that is Designed, Supplied or Recommended by the Equipment Manufacturer.

The way I plugged the connectors in is as follows:

- the first cable with two ends I plugged in to the top 2 ports on the router 1st and 2nd port

- the second cable with two ends I plugged in to 3rd and 4th port.

See Above, just plug in the 2 x Antenna Connecters into 2 of the Ports of the Router either 1 & 2 or 3 & 4, again do NOT use splitters.

currently the best speeds I have achieved but sometimes lower depending on time of day is:

Ping 15-25

Download 300mbs

Upload 65mbs

before connecting the antenna I would get lower speeds and higher ping

I have a few questions as follows:

1. Should I be using the 1 in to 2 adapters and will they have any long term effects on the router or if I used something else would it be better. If they are okay to use does the order in which I plug them in to the router matter.

Dont use them, see above.

2. Did TSG use the correct antenna as the way they suggest to use the antenna is only using the top 2 ports with normal SME to TS9 adapter in any order.

They use Panorama Antennas, which is what they are probably supplied with by EE, sadly though the fitted a 2x2 Mimo Antenna on what we believe is a Router with 4x4 Mimo inputs.

3. If a 4x4 antenna would be more beneficial, how much better would it perform, what are the benefits and what antenna would be best (I live in Hackney Wick, East London)

Theoretically 2x2 Mimo gives close to 200% Speed (x2) over normal, 4x4 Mimo gives close 400% Speed (x4) over normal, doesnt always work this way in practice though.

4. If I bought another 2x2 antenna to use the bottom two ports so all 4 ports are used up would that be a suitable solution that will perform just as good as one 4x4 antenna. (I already have one which was supplied to me through EE free of charge which is the reason I’m asking this as it will be cheaper for me to just buy another 2x2 antenna)

Yes, 2 lots of 2x2 Mimo Antenna (of simular Specs) will or should perform the same as a 4x4 Mimo Antenna, try and get a bit of spacing between them as well.

5. If I did buy another 2x2 would I face both antennas in the same direction or would I point the second one to a weaker mast available about 60 degrees to the left of the first anttenna.enna already installed.

In pratice pointing in the same direction, but have a play with it, as MiMo can sometimes perform better if the Second MiMo Signal (or in the Case of 4x4 Mimo) Second and Fourth MiMo Signals gets reflected of another external source.

6. Can these router and antennas connect to 2 masts at the same time and draw better speeds and a more stable connection. if they cannot what will happen ?

Great Question, using Multiple Masts, in theory LTE allows this, in practice the Networks tend to only use the Mast that the Device is Registered on, and for Carrier Aggregation, although again in LTE the CA can come from another Mast.

5G NSA currently works like this, in the early Days of 5G NSA Roll Out, you will probably fine the 5G Signal is only on few selected 4G Masts (5G NSA sits on top of the 4G Network) so typically 1 5G Signal to every 3 or 4 4G Masts, its then grouped together to allow 4 and 5G Coverage, so yes your 4G Signal could be coming from Mast A and your 5G Signal from Mast B.

7. Is there any benefit to a second antenna facing the other mast for example if one mast site went down would the second antenna be able to keep me connected as it’s facing a different mast site.

Pointing Directional Antennas in deferent Directions for Network Fullback is a bit overkill your better off using True Omni Directional Antennas instead.

I have attached a few photos of the antenna how it’s been set up and the router itself with and the different connectors I mentioned above.

sorry for such a lengthy question on a older thread but it seemed like this is one of the best threads talking about the same sort of issue.

EE and TSG don’t really have a clue about their own products or anything technical and ever time I’ve phoned they’ve not know any of the answers to the questions above.

In all fairness to Face to Face Installers, there probably just Contractors and are only as good as the Info, Parts, Stock and Tools that they are given or have at there disposal. I would agree though, that EE need to sort out this business of supplying and fitting a 2x2 MiMo Antenna on there own 5G Router which is believed to be a true 4x4 MiMo Router with 4x Antenna Connecters, especially when Panorama do actually make a 4x4 Mimo External Antenna.

I look forward to hearing back from you guys and thanks for taking the time to read my post.

Regards

Barz

Barz91 · ‎04-05-2022

No @EssexBoyEE deffo fake watches 👀