Wireless Joint

I have 2 Wilson directional antennas. No signal inside my home. Would the best thing to try is mount them outside in an "X" configuration, aim close to tower, and hook up to the antenna connections on my GL-X750V2 ?

Yes,
Do you get a signal outside at all?

Cell phone gets a usable signal outside. Use booster inside. Live in metal building. -91 to -95db inside with booster on. 2.4 miles to tower

boosters do not support mimo the x configuration your talking about. The routers we use here do but boosters only support one channel aka single feed antenna

dbshelton wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 6:49 pm Cell phone gets a usable signal outside. Use booster inside. Live in metal building. -91 to -95db inside with booster on. 2.4 miles to tower

Should be good to go then. Put those antennas outside pointing toward desired tower plugged straight to modem. No booster. Fine to use booster for phones.

gscheb wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 7:14 am IMG_20190928_154720429_HDR.jpg
Should be good to go then. Put those antennas outside pointing toward desired tower plugged straight to modem. No booster. Fine to use booster for phones.

Absolutely right, and honestly matches my setup 100%. I have 3 antennas. One dedicated to the booster which is used ONLY for phone calls. The other 2 are mounted like the above picture and fed directly into my router and this is used for internet. 2 independant systems.

The nice thing about this setup is on a very basic level each system has some redundancy to the other. The internet side could make calls using wifi calling if needed and the booster could give full internet to your phone if needed.

I will give it a try this weekend. How far apart?
I do have an omnidirectional antenna for the booster.
Thanks

if your using an omni on the booster do you know where the actual tower is located that your using/want to use? The antennas in the pictre are directional meaning just like the name implies you kinda have to aim them at the tower you want. Omni directionals have less range but pick up signal from all directions.

Also I am not sure you would need to consult someone in here smarter then me but an omni antenna in the same path as your 2 directional could mess with the signal I BELIEVE, causing interference. Again let someone smarter then me reply to that aspect. My personal setup uses 3 directional antennas and since they all point at the same tower there is no interference between them.

As far as your actual question though so long as they are angled like in the picture not far, mine are probably only a foot apart vertically, again much like in the picture.

I have used the booster with one of the directional antennas and Cell Tower Locator app to locate the tower I want to aim the antennas for the modem. It is 2.4 miles away and a pretty good signal.
I was thinking about mounting the booster antenna about 40' away on another mast.

Make sure these antennas you are using are 50 ohm. Allot of booster antennas are 75 ohm.

All of my antennas are 50 ohm. Got the 2 antennas mounted and aimed as best I could. Haven't decided on an ISP yet. Is it possible to use the booster and cell phone on 1 of the antennas in the X configuration to check the aiming?

Usually have service. Then look at your signal strength on a phone or tablet as you turn antenna.

Should I combine the 2 cables or just test only 1 antenna?

Want two antennas, two wires, each one going to its own antenna port on it. Sometimes it not uncommon for one antenna to get a higher gain than the other slightly. Sometimes it can be helpful to make sure that one with a slight higher gain goes to the main antenna port.
This is not something you have to check. Only if you are in a fringe area and having troubles with speed you can try to flop them.

I have the antennas set up and have been fine tuning aim with my router.
Is there such thing as a best celluar antenna?

dbshelton wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 7:15 am I have the antennas set up and have been fine tuning aim with my router.
Is there such thing as a best celluar antenna?

Not really. Each situating is different. Depending on Carrier, Bands available, distance from tower, landscape of the land and etc. If you provide that kind of info maybe some could suggest something to the situation. No guarantees though. But far as one antenna all the time the best it just don't exist.

I second gscheb. The antenna could be touted as the most powerful antenna on the market, but get outperformed by a lesser antenna due to the complex nuances of the location they are installed.

Unfortunately finding the absolute best antenna answer is to test every single one in every possible spot at your specific location.


But! I do have to say, I'm loving this one: https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/cellul ... connector/

I was looking at that one on The Wireless Haven. I wonder how much better would that be than the 2 Wilsons I have now?

Give is some specs. Carrier? Bands? Current signal strength?

dbshelton wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 9:12 am I was looking at that one on The Wireless Haven. I wonder how much better would that be than the 2 Wilsons I have now?

Gain increase of about 4-6dBi and a single antenna to aim versus two. Also if you are aiming through trees, the flat panel antenna design usually fares a little better than the LPDA. It's no panacea but it's a good antenna.

dbshelton wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:10 am I have used the booster with one of the directional antennas and Cell Tower Locator app to locate the tower I want to aim the antennas for the modem. It is 2.4 miles away and a pretty good signal.
I was thinking about mounting the booster antenna about 40' away on another mast.

Just remember the longer your cable the more signal loss you will have. Always try and keep cable length as short as possible. If you do need to add longer cables use at least lmr-200 and even better choice lmr-400 cables.

I did try connecting through the booster a while back just to see what happened. Horrible results! Modem wouldn't even connect. So I went right back to the 2 Wilson Antennas.
Today: 6AM 41 Dn 5 Up Band 5 CSQ 24 SS 77% RSSI -65
6PM 5 Dn 5 Up Band 5 CSQ 23 SS 74% RSSI -67

Since your stats lok to be rougly the same and your on the same band:
sounds like either major congestion on that tower at night or if your on visible you might be being throttled. 5 meg cap is what happens when your throttled on visible

Didneywhorl wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 3:50 pm Gain increase of about 4-6dBi and a single antenna to aim versus two. Also if you are aiming through trees, the flat panel antenna design usually fares a little better than the LPDA. It's no panacea but it's a good antenna.

I went ahead and ordered one. If nothing else I like the packaging better as far as mounting.
Should this mount diagonal on 45 degrees?
I don't think I am being throttled now but how can I tell for sure?
I am on Visible. Have done about all I can do to make things better.

Think there are other bands to connect to? That would help. Band 5 isn't the fasted band for sure. What category modem do you have?

looks like he was pulling 40 meg down on band 5 early in the morning, I assume he would be ok with that but at night he was down to 5 meg down with roughly the same stats

Band 5 has been the best overall. According to cell tower app that tower has 2 4 5 13 and 66
2 sucks and 13 sucks never connected to 4 or 66
CAT 6 EPO6-A modem.

66 is typically a wider band then most (20 mhz) in a lot of places
i would give 66 a try for grins you may find you like it better

dbshelton wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 6:19 pm I went ahead and ordered one. If nothing else I like the packaging better as far as mounting.
Should this mount diagonal on 45 degrees?
I don't think I am being throttled now but how can I tell for sure?
I am on Visible. Have done about all I can do to make things better.

Yeah, I would mount it so that the antenna looks like a diamond. You can play with which corner to point up.

Throttle on Visible? If you run a speed test and it spikes up then comes back down to about 5Mbps, you're being throttled.

Adm1jtg wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 8:24 pm 66 is typically a wider band then most (20 mhz) in a lot of places
i would give 66 a try for grins you may find you like it better

Not sure how to specify a band yet. Above my pay grade.

Didneywhorl wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 8:30 pm Yeah, I would mount it so that the antenna looks like a diamond. You can play with which corner to point up.

Throttle on Visible? If you run a speed test and it spikes up then comes back down to about 5Mbps, you're being throttled.

Usually starts low and builds up a little.

The method for a quectel modem in a router running goldenorb/wifix/rooter to set to band 66:

go to modem/miscellanious
in the AT Command terminal area in the AT-command field type the following:
AT+QCFG="band",0,20000000000000000,1
hit the send command button
then go to system/reboot and hit the perform reboot button
wait for your router to reconnect and your done its now locked to band 66

Once your done testing if you want to just go back to the way it was before all this:

go back to the modem/miscellanous tab
type the following command into the at-command area
AT+QCFG="band",0,42000000003300185a,1
click the send command button
go back to system/reboot
and click the perform reboot button
wait for the router to reconnect and your back

Thanks for the info.
B66 4.02 Dn .13 Up
I will try again tomorrow morning

At 5AM 5.1Dn 1Up B66 locked
After unlocking band: 5.1Dn 5.2Up B13 CSQ 24 SS 74% RSSI 65
OK in phone
Back in modem 51.8Dn 5.5Up B5

Seems I have been splitting my problems into 2 threads. Now what to do.

OK so band 66 would be a faster band if you had decent connection to it. If you look at your signal strength for it more than likely is very bad. So if you get another antenna want to try those other bands again.

What I am thinking is I have such a crappy signal/connection I need to try new antenna and placement also.
Also, is there a good list of AT commands for the EPO6-A to try band locking?

Did you say you are using visible?

gscheb wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 7:29 am Did you say you are using visible?

Yes

dbshelton wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 7:22 am What I am thinking is I have such a crappy signal/connection I need to try new antenna and placement also.
Also, is there a good list of AT commands for the EPO6-A to try band locking?

Thought I had linked this before... must be in a different thread

Thos covers almost all the basics of at commands


Enter the following AT commands, and write down your original band values before changing anything.

AT+QNWINFO < Current band in use
AT+QCFG=”Band” < Current bands config
AT+CSQ < Check signal strength


To configure single LTE bands or combinations, use the following AT Commands:

Band# - AT Command
2
AT+QCFG="band",0,2,1
4
AT+QCFG="band",0,8,1
5
AT+QCFG="band",0,10,1
2+4
AT+QCFG="band",0,a,1
2+4+5
AT+QCFG="band",0,1a,1
12
AT+QCFG="band",0,800,1
2+4+12
AT+QCFG="band",0,80a,1
2+4+5+12
AT+QCFG="band",0,81a,1
2+12
AT+QCFG="band",0,802,1
4+12
AT+QCFG="band",0,808,1
5+12
AT+QCFG="band",0,810,1

All bands:
AT+QCFG="band",0,42000000003300185a,1

All bands for the EP06-E specifically:
AT+QCFG="band",8d0,1a1880800d5,0

Or use the default value you have written down earlier for your particular modem.
On some modems you have to use this command format:
AT+QCFG="band",2e0,<band_value>,0

Band_value - Band#
1 - LTE BC1
2 - LTE BC2
4 - LTE BC3
8 - LTE BC4
10 - LTE BC5
20 - LTE BC6
40 - LTE BC7
80 - LTE BC8
100 - LTE BC9
200 - LTE BC10
400 - LTE BC11
800 - LTE BC12
1000 - LTE BC13
2000 - LTE BC14
10000 - LTE BC17
20000 - LTE BC18
40000 - LTE BC19
80000 - LTE BC20
100000 - LTE BC21
1000000 - LTE BC25
2000000 - LTE BC26
8000000 - LTE BC28
100000000 - LTE BC33
200000000 - LTE BC34
400000000 - LTE BC35
800000000 - LTE BC36
1000000000 - LTE BC37
2000000000 - LTE BC38
4000000000 - LTE BC39
8000000000 - LTE BC40
10000000000 - LTE BC41
20000000000 - LTE BC42
40000000000 - LTE BC43
20000000000000000 - LTE BC66
400000000000000000 - LTE BC71

For specific band combinations, simply add the hex values together using a hex calculator.
For example: Band 2 (2) + Band 12 (800), therefore the summ in (x) = 802
Or use a band calculator posted in the forum.
These changes take affect without requiring a reset or reboot.
You will have to wait about 5-10 seconds for the switch to occur.


Here are some more useful commands:

Modem Status
AT+qnetdevstatus
AT+QNETDEVSTATUS
AT+QCAINFO < CA Info


Change scan mode
AT+QCFG="nwscanmode",0,1 < Scan all modes
AT+QCFG="nwscanmode",1,1 < GSM only
AT+QCFG="nwscanmode",2,1 < WCDMA only
AT+QCFG="nwscanmode",3,1 < 4G-LTE only


Set Connection Modes
AT+QCFG="usbnet",0 - QMI/PPP/Default
AT+QCFG="usbnet",1 - ECM
AT+QCFG="usbnet",2 - MBIM


Factory reset
AT&F
AT&F1
AT+CFUN=1

AT+CFUN=0 - Turn off modem

Source link:https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?t=674

The only command I really use that isnt in the above is:
AT+QENG="servingcell"

This will put out a huge string of stuff that shows most of the values of your signal. The main reason I use this one is the second to last value in the string (my last value is always a -) is the SINR a reading that is not shown on my modem status page

Here is a couple Verizon groups. Also the excel file to make your own

2+5
AT+QCFG="band",0,12,1

2+4+5+66
AT+QCFG="band",0,2000000000000001a

All bands:
AT+QCFG="band",0,42000000003300185a,1

Thanks, that will give me something else to play with.
Today 6AM: 5Dn 5Up B5

dbshelton wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:21 am Thanks, that will give me something else to play with.
Today 6AM: 5Dn 5Up B5

That sounds like the Visible hotspot cap to me. Not a antenna issue

I would agree
What happens if you pop that sim back in the phone you activated on and run a speed test
Do you break 5 meg down?

Adm1jtg wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:53 am I would agree
What happens if you pop that sim back in the phone you activated on and run a speed test
Do you break 5 meg down?

Yes it does

I just changed THAT number back to original and 13.6Dn and 3Up on B5 on Modem
So, I guess I am wasting my time and money.

On phone 1.6 Dn 1.0Up B5

From what I seen on tethered phone set up it takes a TTL 66 or higher along with VPN. Been just using 88 just because. But haven't tried on a modem yet though. Need someone to test that out please. Try this below and put VPN on client device. (item using wifi)
Like said before free warp cloudflare works.
Please let us know if this works.

Now I am completely lost.
I will have to look up what a client device is and start from there.
Thanks for trying to help.

dbshelton wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:18 pm Now I am completely lost.
I will have to look up what a client device is and start from there.
Thanks for trying to help.

I just mean the device receiving wifi. Like if you are using a tablet. It is receiving wifi data so it is a client device. Or if you use a Roku to get wifi data it is a client device.
So set your TTL to 88 like it shows in custom rules. And use a VPN on a client device and test your speeds. And let us know if it works please

I did find out I have no idea how to install a VPN in Linux. I think it's getting close for me to box all this crap up and throw it into the closet and forget about all this. Hughesnet doesn't look so bad after all. Plug it in and it works.

dbshelton wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:31 pm I did find out I have no idea how to install a VPN in Linux. I think it's getting close for me to box all this crap up and throw it into the closet and forget about all this. Hughesnet doesn't look so bad after all. Plug it in and it works.

You could just test the vpn cloudflare app on your phone. That would be the easiest way to see if it works at all. This issue with Visible just started recently. AT&T currently working without issues for now.

gscheb wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:54 pm From what I seen on tethered phone set up it takes a TTL 66 or higher along with VPN. Been just using 88 just because. But haven't tried on a modem yet though. Need someone to test that out please. Try this below and put VPN on client device. (item using wifi)
Like said before free warp cloudflare works.
Please let us know if this works.

Code: Select all

#start TTL rules
iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o wwan0 -j TTL --ttl-set 88
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i wwan0 -j TTL --ttl-set 88
ip6tables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -o wwan0 -j HL --hl-set 88
ip6tables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i wwan0 -j HL --hl-set 88
#end TTL rules

I have not had issues with modem using the original settings you provided the other day (custom rules 64/64, TTL set to 65). If I see the speeds slow down today, I will give this one a try. Am I only setting the custom rules? I don't see an option for 88 in the TTL settings.

gscheb wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:38 pm I just mean the device receiving wifi. Like if you are using a tablet. It is receiving wifi data so it is a client device. Or if you use a Roku to get wifi data it is a client device.
So set your TTL to 88 like it shows in custom rules. And use a VPN on a client device and test your speeds. And let us know if it works please

So, I can install the VPN on my other phone and speed test through the WIFIX wireless connection?
Still haven't found "custom rules" place to add the commands you suggested. I don't think they are AT commands. I apologize for my ignorance. I am sure all of y'all are getting sick of me asking dumb questions. If you are, just ignore me and I will stop.

network/firewall then across the top custom rules.
Paste all that stuff in there. I would assume overwriting whats already there as it sppears he is changing values from default

Could also try just setting the TTL to 88 as well and see what happens. This is a unproven method method. It just works for my tethered phone.

How can I know if I am testing my phone's cell internet connection or the Wifi connection on speed testing?

Sorry, double post

dbshelton wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 7:36 am How can I know if I am testing my phone's cell internet connection or the Wifi connection on speed testing?

Turn the phone on airplane mode, then only turn on Wifi.

Added Custom rules
Computer 9Dn 5Up locked on B5
Phone Wifi with VPN 8Dn

Computer 11Dn 4Up locked on B66

I will leave it there for a while. When my new antenna comes in I will re test.
Bought an antenna rotator fpr testing. When I find best signal I will remove rotator and mount permanent.
Then I will use it on my cell signal amp.

It it better to go thru trees 75' away or go thru trees 500' away?

dbshelton wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 7:16 pm Added Custom rules
Computer 9Dn 5Up locked on B5
Phone Wifi with VPN 8Dn

Computer 11Dn 4Up locked on B66

I will leave it there for a while. When my new antenna comes in I will re test.
Bought an antenna rotator fpr testing. When I find best signal I will remove rotator and mount permanent.
Then I will use it on my cell signal amp.

It it better to go thru trees 75' away or go thru trees 500' away?

So you started getting past the 5 down and up cap now? Did you make the changes? Us a VPN?

Would also get better results if you used more bands then just one band. Set to only one band don't get any carrier aggregation.

Yes, made the suggested changes. Tried 2,4,5,66 bands together
VPN on phone. Don't know how to get it on the computer.
11Dn 3.5Up on computer. No VPN

Earlier had B66 and B66 CA. Isn't that the same?

dbshelton wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:01 pm Yes, made the suggested changes. Tried 2,4,5,66 bands together
VPN on phone. Don't know how to get it on the computer.
11Dn 3.5Up on computer. No VPN

I have an older lenovo laptop computer and it works fine with out vpn for some reason. Here is a link to get cloudflare warp for computers.
https://developers.cloudflare.com/warp- ... g-up/linux

5:30AM 21Dn 3.1Up B66

dbshelton wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:03 pm Earlier had B66 and B66 CA. Isn't that the same?

It can do that. See the store link it shows all the combinations for carrier aggregation.
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... i-e-modem/

I use the b66 with ca to b66 as my main setup. I have my bands locked to 66 only. What the CAA part does is as follows:
The initial connection to band 66 in my setup is either 20mhz or 10 mhz seems to depend on something on the tower side that I cannot control. The CAA kicks in when the tower deems nessessry and brings the total available bandwidth to 30mhz

Adm1jtg wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 10:50 am I use the b66 with ca to b66 as my main setup. I have my bands locked to 66 only. What the CAA part does is as follows:
The initial connection to band 66 in my setup is either 20mhz or 10 mhz seems to depend on something on the tower side that I cannot control. The CAA kicks in when the tower deems nessessry and brings the total available bandwidth to 30mhz

How can I do that?

I also got my new antenna from The Wireless Haven today so weather permitting here in Texas I have something else to play with this weekend.

CA is determined by the tower as to when and if its implemented. The modem has specific combinations thats are allowed for CA. My modem EP06-A allows CA of 66 to 66 so I simply locked my band to 66 only.

Mind you this solution is customized to my setup. Band 66 may not be the best band in your area.

The concept is find the best performing band in your area. If you have some poor performing bands you can exclude them and leave all the decently performing bands, this will allow your router/tower to pick the band from your "pool" of good bands.

Unfortunately in my case there is really only one good band (66) so my pool is a pool of one. I am just lucky 66 supports CA to itself.

5:00AM 5Dn 4Up B66 (Some bands locked out)
Unlocked bands: 17.5Dn 10.5Up B13.
27Dn 8Up B13 CSQ 25

If I do get slowed again, what do I use to test for antenna aiming?

For aiming what I do is lock to a single band, doesn't really matter which and then when on the roof with my phone I access the router interface via WiFi on my phone. I watch signal strength rscp rssi and and rsrp as I turn the antenna until I get the best values. You could probably just look at signal strength and lock the antenna in position when you get the strongest signal possible, I just overthink everything

Also remember, slowing could be caused heavy network usage. which you can not do much about. I get 40meg in morning and sometimes as low as 8 at night.

Did you order new antennas?

gscheb wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 11:32 am Did you order new antennas?

From The Wireless Haven
700-2700MHz HIGH POWER 15dBi 2x MIMO Cellular 5G 4G LTE Directional Antenna (+45°/-45°) N Female Connectors

dbshelton wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 1:45 pm From The Wireless Haven
700-2700MHz HIGH POWER 15dBi 2x MIMO Cellular 5G 4G LTE Directional Antenna (+45°/-45°) N Female Connectors

Have you installed these new antennas?

Not yet. Probably will tomorrow. Not sure where I am going to put it yet. I really don't think the current location is best.

dbshelton wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 8:05 pm Not yet. Probably will tomorrow. Not sure where I am going to put it yet. I really don't think the current location is best.

I think the basic rule of thumb is to put it on one edge of the roof and don't aim across your roof. Always aim away from the house.

I went ahead ant put up the new antenna with my new RCA rotator in the same location that I was using. Did my aiming in the middle of the day (1:00-3:00PM Probably not ideal) but ended up in virtually the same position as my old setup. Locked on B66 my best was 21.12Dn 1.79Up (1st location ) 12.04Dn 1.42Up ( later at same location) B66/B66 usually best
This morning at 5:00 AM 24.36 Dn 1.94Up Still locked on B66.
Unlocked bands, rebooted, tested 48.61Dn 2.12Up Band2
Tested more times 60.37Dn 10.49Up B5/B66 Best Ever!!
Testing at 6 AM: 52.52Dn 10.69Up B5/B66
It seems a lot of times the speed test starts on B5 and goes to B5/B66 during the test.