I'm helping my parents (who live pretty off grid) set up some sort of internet access. I'm sure this group will have much better ideas than what I have so far come up with, but here is what I was thinking:
They get very mediocre signal from Verizon, and no other cell service. If their phone is positioned in the perfect spot, they can get about 2 bars of LTE.
There is a tower that is being partially blocked by a hillside, so we could probably increase cell strength at their house with an antenna up in a tree. (There are 3 towers all about 3.5-5.5 miles away, bands are (2, 4, 66 for the closest) (2, 4, 5, 13 second closest) (2, 5, 13, 66 farthest))
So my thought was, use an antenna, relay a stronger signal to an old phone (Galaxy s8+) with a Visible SIM card, tether that to a GL-iNet router, change the TTL to try and bypass hotspot speeds, and see if that works. (Also have a VPN)
At a location right now with 2 bars LTE, I am still getting between 5-10mbps with the tether, even though the phone is registering 25Mbps or so.
Any changes you would make to this system, or would you use something completely different?
Figuring Out Best Options for Off-Grid Internet
- Didneywhorl
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Re: Figuring Out Best Options for Off-Grid Internet
I would do away with "relay to an old phone". I assume you would use a booster system. The booster will "work", and will help to use the phone for calls. If you want full data capability, though, the booster limits you to a single antenna and typically a single frequency band. AKA: B66 only, or B4 only, and no real swapping between.
You can do the exact same thing by hooking a similar, or better, antenna that the booster uses directly to a cellular modem.
Visible is very easy to use in a cellular modem/router setup. I have made tutorials on it here.
I would go with the following, nothing crazy high end:
Antenna, 2x2 MIMO: https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/wifi-a ... o-antenna/
Modem: https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... 2-modem-2/
Router for the modem: https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/lte-routers/wg3526-p/
Adapters needed:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/pcie-m-2/mini-p ... card-slot/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
Cables are the tricky part. Boosters use high power to get away with long crappy quality cables. In the case of using an antenna directly to a modem you will need 50Ohm Coax rated for the length. If you want it up real high, I would go with LMR400 (you'll need 2 cables for this setup):
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/antenna- ... a-30-feet/
OR
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/antenna- ... a-50-feet/
If you want to mount the antenna over 50' away from a sheltered position, then I recommend mounting the router and modem inside an enclosure (There is a 2x2 MIMO antenna that is also an enclosure) so that you eliminate antenna cabling and only use a single outdoor rated LAN cable and power it over 48V POE. The WG3526-P from The Wireless Haven is 48V POE power capable.
Ask me and I can build you out a parts list for almost anything.
You can do the exact same thing by hooking a similar, or better, antenna that the booster uses directly to a cellular modem.
Visible is very easy to use in a cellular modem/router setup. I have made tutorials on it here.
I would go with the following, nothing crazy high end:
Antenna, 2x2 MIMO: https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/wifi-a ... o-antenna/
Modem: https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... 2-modem-2/
Router for the modem: https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/lte-routers/wg3526-p/
Adapters needed:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/pcie-m-2/mini-p ... card-slot/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
Cables are the tricky part. Boosters use high power to get away with long crappy quality cables. In the case of using an antenna directly to a modem you will need 50Ohm Coax rated for the length. If you want it up real high, I would go with LMR400 (you'll need 2 cables for this setup):
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/antenna- ... a-30-feet/
OR
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/antenna- ... a-50-feet/
If you want to mount the antenna over 50' away from a sheltered position, then I recommend mounting the router and modem inside an enclosure (There is a 2x2 MIMO antenna that is also an enclosure) so that you eliminate antenna cabling and only use a single outdoor rated LAN cable and power it over 48V POE. The WG3526-P from The Wireless Haven is 48V POE power capable.
Ask me and I can build you out a parts list for almost anything.