FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
A lot of
information (and there's a lot about cellular phone antennas)
can sometimes be too much information. Many times selecting the
right antenna is a bit of a guessing game. There are so many variables
that, unless you hire a wireless engineer to visit your exact
location, it's difficult to determine what is going to work best
in all of the locations you live, work and travel. Be sure and
read our Antenna Advice section.
Many times
just selecting an antenna that is convenient for the way you plan
to use it (hidden, portable, magmount on your car, glass mount,
pole mount etc.) works just fine. Most customers use the few tips
we have here and select an antenna that works for them on the
first try. A few customers have tried several options before finding
something that works for them while others are in locations that
nothing will help. We have provided this information to help you
make an educated guess on what type of antenna might work for
you.
Nextel / iDen specific frequencies.
Can I improve my signal without
connecting an external antenna to my phone?
Unfortunately there is little we've found that you can attach
to your phone other than an external antenna or power booster
to provide signal improvement. One wireless option is the Wilson
Repeater/Amplifier.
What's
the difference between 0db (unity), 3db, 5db gain?
0 dBd gain antenna radiates more energy higher in the vertical
plane to reach radio communication sites that are located in higher
places. Therefore they are more useful in mountainous and metropolitan
areas with tall buildings. A 3 dBd gain antenna is the compromise
in suburban and general settings. A 5 dBd gain antenna radiates
more energy toward the horizon compared to the 0 and 3 dBd antennas
to reach radio communication sites that are further apart and
less obstructed. Therefore they are best used in deserts, plains,
flatlands, and open farm areas.
Omni directional Antennas
My digital
phone shows 1 or 2 bars but I still can't make a call. Why?
On digital networks, a
stronger signal is required to make a connection. A weak signal
that may have enabled you to connect with an analog phone (although
with poorer sound quality), may not be enough to enable a digital
phone to connect at all. Although the phone shows some signal,
it isn't strong enough to make a connection.
I have a Tri-Mode / dual band
phone. Which antenna is right for me?
You can get a dual band antenna that will cover all 3 modes (analog,
digital cellular and digital pcs) or, as mentioned above, focus
on where you're having reception problems. First find out what
network your phone is actually using in your city by calling your
service provider. Just ask if you're in a 800MHz range area or
1900MHz range area. The dual band antenna is a good all around
antenna covering 800MHz and 1900MHz ranges but if you're in a
rural area, your area is not on a 1900MHz Digital PCS network
or you do a lot of traveling, we would recommend the 5db
gain Single Band Cellular antenna.
I have a new XXXX phone. What
antenna should I get?
First, contact your wireless service provider to find out what
network your area is actually covered by (800MHz Analog, 800MHZ
Digital, 1900MHz Digital, GSM). Although a phone may be capable
of working on multiple networks, you want to determine what network
you're actually using. If you're in a 800MHz range area (analog
or cellular) you need a single
band cellular antenna. If you're in a 1900MHz range area,
you'll need a dual band antenna.
Once you have this information, look through your options above.
I can sometimes make a call but
at other times I cannot connect at all. What do you recommend?
You might just need a little help. Try a small
antenna. Search for your phone's make and model (using the
menu on the left) to see if one of these kits are available for
your phone.
I live in a rural area and have
to travel a mile or two from home to be able to make a call on
my phone, will an antenna help?
An antenna might help. If you're in an area with large hills
or mountains, it's most likely nothing will help. But if the terrain
is flatter, we would recommend a 5db
single band antenna or a Yagi
antenna. The 5db is easier much easier to set up than the
Yagi and most people get great results with one. Analog phone
and service is your best bet in rural until more digital towers
are installed. You might also consider a cellular
signal power booster.
I used to be able to make calls
with my old phone from home but now I can't make any with my new
phone.
If you're old phone was an analog phone, the signal strength
did not have to be as strong to make a call. With the newer digital
phones, the sound quality is better but the signal has to be stronger
for your call to go through.
I want something portable that
will improve my signal strength and I can use in my home or office.
Try the MicroMag. Search for your phone's make and model (using
the menu on the left) to see if one of these kits are available
for your phone.
I want an antenna that I can
hide. What do you recommend?
The Wilson
Stealth is used by many of our customers that want to add
an antenna but want to make it the least visible.
What do you recommend for GSM
phones such as my Nokia 5190?
GSM (1900MHz range) service is relatively new here in the
US but used widely in other countries. Unfortunately, unless your
phone has and analog option (analog module), you won't be able
to roam very far since GSM towers are not too widespread yet.
Our customers have had success extending their range with dual
band antennas such as the Wilson
and Larsen dual
band antennas.
How do I connect an external
antenna to my phone?
You can connect most phones to an external antenna by using an
installable hands free kit that comes with an external antenna
adapter. You can also purchase an external
antenna adapter that allows you to connect the antenna directly
to your phone. Some phones have an external antenna port. Other
phones require that you remove your fixed antenna and insert an
external antenna adapter to that port. Still other phones have
no way to connect an external antenna to it at all. Read
more on connecting a cell phone antenna here...
Reception is poor inside my home
or office. Can I use an antenna made to mounted on a car?
Yes, most cellular and digital antennas are manufactured for use
on cars and trucks. The metal in a car or truck body acts a ground
plane for the antenna. To get the most from your antenna, you
should supply a ground surface if using the antenna away from
the vehicle. Many of our customers have had good success using
these car antennas inside their home without a ground plane but
we recommend providing a ground plane such as putting the antenna
on top of a piece of metal (about 8 inches x 8 inches would be
fine) and placing outside or near a window. (Note: Due to different
building construction, not everyone can
get reception improvement from placement of the antenna inside.)
We also carry antennas with
a built in ground plane such as Wilson's
Trucker Cellular Antenna which can be mounted on a pole outside your
home or office.
I'm in a basement with no windows
and no signal. What are my options?
Some of our customers have seen increases in signal strength by
just connecting an antenna to their phones and placing the antenna
as high as possible. We would recommend getting it as close to
the outside as possible without adding to the cable length. (Note:
Due to different building construction, not everyone can get reception
improvement from placement of the antenna inside.)
I need an antenna with a 100
foot cable?
Adding to the cable length will greatly reduce the signal getting
to your phone. As a general guide, you'll lose about .1db gain
for each additional foot of cable with analog networks and .15db
gain in digital. You'll also lose about .1db gain for each additional
connector you use.
Can
I install a glass mount antenna myself?
Since glass mount antennas are glued to your cars glass (making
them a non returnable item) and
the antennas cable is a little harder to run inconspicuously through
the car's interior, we highly recommend professional installation
of glass mount antennas. You also need to consider window features
that can block your signal such as tinting, defroster wires, and
passivated glass (glass impregnated with tiny metal particles
that render the glass incapable of coupling RF between the inside
and outside couplers).
How can
I tell if the glass on my vehicle is suitable for on-glass antennas?
First, look near a corner of a window for words that mean "sun",
relate to sun, or refer to ultraviolet or other forms of radiation.
If you find terms like "Soft-Ray", "EZE-Cool", "Solar-Coat", "Solar-Cool"
or similar terms, your glass is probably passivated and won’t
work with on-glass antennas. If you want to be 100% certain, and
you don’t find helpful words on the glass, ask a 2-way or cellular
shop technician to test your glass with a capacitance meter.
How does a glass mount antenna
attach to the glass?
One portion of the antenna is glued to the outside of the glass
and another is glued right behind it on the inside of the glass.
The signal is transferred through the glass.
Since the glass mount antenna
has to transfer the signal through the glass, does that mean it
is not as powerful as the magnetic mount antenna?
No, the glass antennas are rated passing the signal through the
glass.
I have window tint on my rear
window. Will this interfere with the antenna?
If metal is used to tint the glass, it will interfere. Many professional
installers will cut off a piece of the tint so that it does not
interfere with the antenna.
What
do you recommed for home and/or office use?
We do have
a variety of antennas available for improving reception at home
or in your office. Our most popular antennas for home/office use
are:
- 3db
Wilson dual band magmount. This vehicle antenna can also be
used in a fixed location by placing it outside a window on some
type of metal plate or object. It has 10 feet of cable and is
1 foot tall. You will have some extra signal loss with an extension
and the maximum extension we recommend on this antenna is 10 feet.
- 5db
Wilson dual band trucker mirror mount. This antenna can be
mounted on a pole or bolted onto the side of your house. Because
it has a built-in ground plane, it does not have to be mounted
on anything metal. In some cases, the trucker mirror mount antenna
outperforms the 3db magmount because of its design. The trucker
mirror mount antenna is 36" tall and has 10.5 feet of cable.
You can also use the same 10 foot extension mentioned above. We
also have 15 foot extension. If you want to run the cable longer
than 15 feet, you would need one of our pricier 9913 cables for
20 feet. This cable is very thick and much lower loss.
- The
Wilson Directional Yagi Antenna is compatible with 800 Mhz
frequency towers only. You would have to check with your service
provider to verify the frequency of the network in the area you
want to use the antenna. Other cable lengths are available including
30, 50 and 100 foot lengths. However, the cable used for those
longer lengths is lower loss and significantly more expensive.
(If you are accessing 1900 MHz towers, we do have a directional
panel antenna that is compatible with 1900 MHz towers.
Please note
that you will need an external
antenna adapter to connect any of these antennas to your phone.
There are
also power boosters and
wireless amplifiers. The power boosters run around $350 with
the necessary antenna and adapter. The wireless amplifiers start
around $550, but are only compatible with 800 MHz towers at this
time. You also need a good signal outside in order to use the
wireless amplifiers/repeaters.
You can find more information
about our external antennas on our website under the
following link: http://alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/index.html
In summary, most customers
successfully use the 3db dual band magmount for
reception improvement. In cases where that does not offer the
improvement needed,
the trucker mirror mount usually solves the problem. The yagi
and power boosters
are for more remote areas where a regular antenna just does not
give the
improvement needed.
General
Information
External
Antennas connected to portable cell phones, (AMPS, E-AMPS, CDMA,
TDMA, GSM, PCS) greatly increase signal output, or propagation
to the cell site tower. The improvements in signal pattern, strength,
and effective range can be dramatic. Using an external antenna
adapter will allow connection to any external antenna. The portable
phone can be connected to an antenna on top of the car, SUV or
even a filing cabinet at the office. Or connect to a marine antenna
up 20 feet on the boat. Or connect to a directional
Yagi antenna outside the home or factory to beam to a distant cell
site. Plus, battery power is extended and radiation is kept away
from the user. Below, in various paragraphs are the details wanted
by users so they can also improve their antenna performance.
ANTENNA
PERFORMANCE WITH STANDARD ANTENNA
Most phones on the market today may have a very well
designed antenna on top of them but they are usually performing
with a gain of -3 to as much as -15, that's negative 3 to 15 dBd
using a dipole or quarter wave as rough reference point. The lower
number could be the phone as a stand alone item and the highest
negative numbers come when the phone is in your hand and one inch
from your head. Not to mention the radiation pattern which is
far from omni-directional, PLUS the polarization is not vertical,
which is what the cell site prefers. And don't forget, on top
of all that you may be inside a metal roofed car!
As we can see, signal propagation off the top of a portable phone
can be pretty bad. Fortunately though most users are working well
with on-phone antennas because of the supreme cellular coverage
enjoyed in the US and some other highly developed countries. Today,
cell sites are covering the land and providing a nice blanket
of signal coverage. BUT, there are lots of exceptions to this
good coverage.
CELLULAR/PCS COVERAGE
AREAS
Today, the super coverage is in analog cellular signals. Even
some of the most remote rural locations are covered. Digital cellular
is second best and gaining fast but has a long way to go in the
rural areas. Then there is PCS which is mostly in highly populated
areas or along well traveled roads between these areas. Then you
add in the multitude of newer competitors in Digital cell and
PCS and you end up with very spotty coverage. Plenty of weak signals
for thousands of users.
EXTERNAL ANTENNAS: ADVANTAGES
The antenna placed away from the phone and in the clear will provide
enough performance to increase usable distance between 2 and 50
miles. Small 3" tall magnetic (0dB gain) antennas are at the low
end of this distance estimate and 8-element Yagi directional (10dBd)
can be at the high end. See the Yagi Antenna tech
info page for more info on those. While the Yagi or Panel
antennas are for fixed locations and provide terrific gain in
one direction, the popular external antenna is a magnetic based
or glass mounted antenna on the car. This type will be address
here.
We would never really state an exact distance increase because
it is all very dependent on conditions that are changing constantly.
For example cell-site tower distance, site antenna height, design,
type of terrain and placement and efficiency of the external antenna.
We can safely say that, the external antenna will provide a vertically
polarized, omni-directional signal at 0 (zero or unity) gain up
to 7dBi (5dBd) which will be a noticeable and effective signal
increase. Depending on the phone and what antenna is used outside
the car, signal improvement should be on the order of 6 to 20dB
less approximately 1 dB for cable losses to the antenna. This
equals, anywhere from triple to 5 times the power (on the horizon)
that was being radiated by the phone-top antenna!
EXTERNAL ANTENNAS: AUXILIARY ADVANTAGES
Use of an external antenna will keep the signal radiation away
from you. Instead of radiation 1" from your head (ruining the
signal pattern) you will be sending your signal out to where it
works best. This also addresses the safety concerns of radiation
so close to the head.
Use of the external antenna can greatly increase battery life!
Your phone has 7 output power steps. It is instructed by the cell
site how much power to put out between approximately 1/20th of
a watt to the full power 6/10ths of a watt. If you are using the
external antenna in a moderate to good signal coverage area, your
phone will power down because of the increased antenna efficiency.
EXTERNAL ANTENNAS: CONNECTIONS
The best way to get the signal out of the portable phones is by
using the manufacturer's "Car Kit" or "Hands Free" kit selecting
the model with RF out or RF interface for antennas. Sometimes
the RF version costs substantially more or is not offered, or
the user wants total freedom instead of placing the phone in a
cradle or holder. AlternativeWireless.com carries cables (external
antenna adapters) which can connect directly to the phone. These
cables, approx. 8" - 24" thin cable where one end plugs into
the phone's antenna and the other end provides a popular coaxial
connector (TNC, FME, Mini-UHF are examples) receptacle to allow
a thicker, lower loss cable going to the cellular antenna, to
be connected. The thinner 1/8" (RG-174) cable near the phone allows
free movement and is not as restrictive as the 3/16" (RG-58) cable
supplied with most antennas.
EXTERNAL ANTENNAS: AVAILABLE CONNECTIONS
Some phones have the tiny "coaxial" jack as part of the multi-pin
connector block inside the bottom of the phone. Our connector
will plug into that and use only the coaxial pin while the other
pins are blank and not used. In this case you would not be able
to connect another one there to access audio, charging or data
pins. For some phones we offer a combination charging/antenna
plug as a unit. But remember, external antenna usually means longer
battery life due to lower RF output in moderate to good coverage
areas.
The other type of output on phones places the RF jack all alone
usually on the back near the top but it can be on the bottom or
side near the bottom. This stand-alone RF jack will not interfere
with the multi-pin at the bottom.
Read
our Cell Phone Antenna & Booster Recommendations Page
for more information on the cellular phone antenna that's right
for your situation.
Read
Me: Attaching an external antenna to your cell phone
|
Help me improve my cell signal 
