Looking for advice and thoughts on this antenna.

[DaleNix]

https://boltontechnical.com/bolton-tech ... l-antenna/
https://www.signalboosters.com/bolton-t ... l-antenna/

What are everyone’s thoughts on this antenna from Bolton Technical?

7D7BDC19-2506-4F5E-A2AB-D6A7C704AE73.png

1CEEC37B-7443-45DE-A096-845884440015.jpeg

It is very expensive at $300, but the marketing makes me want to believe it’s the greatest thing on the planet and worth every penny.
https://youtu.be/TEDEF-Kqhn4
Then I realize it is just marketing after all and I would be much better off ask some of the pros on this site. You guys have already done the hard work and put in so much time and energy into this I figure someone here would have an opinion and prevent me from reinventing the wheel. Thank you in advance!

[swwifty]

It looks like its only a single polarization, which means its pretty much useless for 4G/LTE applications. You really want to have two antennas with 4G to use MIMO, not just a single pole (Single pole will work, but you'll get half the download speeds, and no diversity in signal quality).

Additionally, I have a hard time believing this antenna really supports that wide of a frequency range (bandwith). Parabolic antennas are shaped very specifically for a narrow frequency range typically (in my experience).

IMO, it would be worth getting specific band antennas first, rather than this, and MUCH cheaper.

[DaleNix]

I have read all the antenna threads here, and I'm sorry in advance if I ask questions that have been answered or discussed here. Am I correct in my understanding that dual Yagi style antenna seem to be the winner once dialed in correctly?
This is my elevation profile for my base tower (100' Rohn) to closest Verizon tower (3.6 Miles, 665' tower)

GEarth-BaseTower-to-Verizon.JPG

[swwifty]

I have read all the antenna threads here. Am I correct in to believe dual Yagi style antenna seem to be the winner once dialed in correctly.

It's very highly dependent upon a lot of variables. For example.

1. What bands are available in your area?

2. What is the terrain / foliage like around where you live?

Almost always it's better to use carrier aggregation, and not lock to one specific band. Yagis are very narrow bandwith, and would really only allow for one specific band.

I don't recommend them, unless you really know what you're doing, and trying to accomplish.

[DaleNix]

This is my elevation profile for my base tower (100' Rohn) to closest Verizon tower (3.6 Miles, 665' tower)

GEarth-BaseTower-to-Verizon.JPG

Current setup with mofi 4500 two 5dbi panel antenna's (75Ohm, RG6) Bands avaliable in my area are 13 and 2.

IMG_0215.jpeg

CA.JPG

cell scan.JPG

speed test.JPG

Actual Download Speed of 1gig test file.

test file.JPG

[swwifty]

a few things i'm thinking:

1. can you run a at!gstatus? at command, to get some more signal stats? that will help me make a suggestion.

2. what 5dbi antennas are those you are running? You might be able to swap those for some slightly higher gain ones that are still wide bandwith (700mhz - 2700mhz) and increase signal strength and subsequent performance.

3. Is that download screenshot megabytes or megabits? If that's megabytes then thats about 30 megabits, which is not bad, and more in line what I'd suspect you'd get with that level of RSRP signal. Also, for what its worth, the google speed test is garbage. I recommend fast.com of speedtest.net. Better yet, use them both, for a good average.

Also, I spotted a nice nanostation

What is that used for? I have a couple on my property that I use, love them.

[DaleNix]

a few things i'm thinking:

1. can you run a at!gstatus? at command, to get some more signal stats? that will help me make a suggestion.

2. what 5dbi antennas are those you are running? You might be able to swap those for some slightly higher gain ones that are still wide bandwith (700mhz - 2700mhz) and increase signal strength and subsequent performance.

3. Is that download screenshot megabytes or megabits? If that's megabytes then thats about 30 megabits, which is not bad, and more in line what I'd suspect you'd get with that level of RSRP signal. Also, for what its worth, the google speed test is garbage. I recommend fast.com of speedtest.net. Better yet, use them both, for a good average.

Also, I spotted a nice nanostation

What is that used for? I have a couple on my property that I use, love them.

1. I hate to be that guy but I have searched the forum and internet and I can not for the life of me figure out how to run the at!gstatus on the mofi 4500 firmware.

SYSTEM
-DIAGNOSTICS:

gstatus2.JPG

get the same for DEFAULT, ttyUSB0,ttyUSB1,ttyUSB2

ttyUSB3 give me this:

gstatus3.JPG

I do have PuTty and can access the router but I do not know how to run the at!gstatus? command in that terminal, I am googling now.

2. I had two WEBoost 4g home devices originally and used the panels antennas from those devices when I decided that setup was not getting the results I was looking for and decided to try the MOFI4500 (prior to finding this forum and store). So to answer the question the 75ohm panels are standard issue with the Wilson WEBoost 4G home line.

3. GOOD EYE! The nano station provides WIFI from my barn (antenna location) to my house. Before we decided to move to this location and build a house, we found this foreclosure property with 2 non operational poultry houses and 80 acres of land. We tore down one poultry house and saved the other to convert to a barn/workshop to house our horses and livestock and for me to work out of. All of my equipment is in a "server/tack room" that was built inside the barn and climate controlled to provide internet throughout the barn and to an office area for me while I was working on the farm. I had to build a network and provide wifi throughout the barn due to the metal roof blocking all cell signal from inside the barn. My only hope of internet was LTE cell service due to the rual location! Frustrating considering FIBER is located 6 miles away! I did contact the fiber owner but couldn't afford the 6 mile run to the location.
This was quite a project considering the length of the old poultry house,40'Wx500'L! So instead of moving everything that was already in place when we decided to start building I added the nano station to beam service into the house.

4. The screenshot of the DUMMY file download was Megabytes per second. Thanks for the info on google speed test a new speed test screen is below:

fast com.JPG

sppedtest net.JPG

My dad passed 5 years ago we decided to start constuction at this location which is 1225' as the crow fly's from my moms house. Thats what started this new project so I could provide her home with internet access as well, on my 100' tower now have the panels from the previos photos and my MOFI4500 with a Verizon sim from my old AllTel grandfathered unlimited data plan providing my barn and home, and will be building a RasPi 3 and EM7565 with ATT&T (moms service) MIMO to supply my moms house.

location.JPG

This is my network diagram everything listed on the mom's house side is yet to be installed. I really want to dial in the signals and speed before starting that build. The tower I am aiming at for the Verizon network is capable of 100Megabits/10Megabytes per second I have verify this from my truck approx 1600' from tower top. I can also physically see this tower from my tower with clear LOS in the evening. AT&T will be entirely different beast later.

NETWORK DIAG.JPG

Verizon-ATT.JPG

[DaleNix]

a few things i'm thinking:

1. can you run a at!gstatus? at command, to get some more signal stats? that will help me make a suggestion.

MODEM DETAILS
Module is Using: /dev/ttyUSB2 symlinked to: /dev/modem


0:[AT!GSTATUS?]
1:[!GSTATUS:]
2:[Current Time: 101758 Temperature: 41]
3:[Reset Counter: 3 Mode: ONLINE]
4:[System mode: LTE PS state: Attached]
5:[LTE band: B4 LTE bw: 20 MHz]
6:[LTE Rx chan: 2050 LTE Tx chan: 20050]
7:[LTE CA state: NOT ASSIGNED]
8:[EMM state: Registered Normal Service]
9:[RRC state: RRC Connected]
10:[IMS reg state: No Srv IMS mode: Normal]
11:[PCC RxM RSSI: -87 RSRP (dBm): -112]
12:[PCC RxD RSSI: -88 RSRP (dBm): -112]
13:[Tx Power: -- TAC: B97D (47485)]
14:[RSRQ (dB): -8.4 Cell ID: 02D5F016 (47575062)]
15:[SINR (dB): 11.2]
16:[OK]


0:[ATi3]
1:[Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated]
2:[Model: MC7455]
3:[Revision: SWI9X30C_02.30.01.01 r7792 CARMD-EV-FRMWR2 2018/07/13 02:24:52]
4:[MEID: A000009052B3B0]
5:[ESN: 12814954077, 80E42E5D]
6:[IMEI: 359072064598820]
7:[IMEI SV: 16]
8:[FSN: LQ907790320210]
9:[+GCAP: +CGSM]
10:[OK]


#--------- CARRIER ID START ------------

Carrier ID: 311480

#--------- CARRIERID END ------------

0:[AT+CGDCONT?]
1:[+CGDCONT: 1,"IP","vzwinternet","0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
2:[+CGDCONT: 2,"IPV4V6","vzwadmin","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
3:[+CGDCONT: 3,"IP","vzwinternet","0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
4:[+CGDCONT: 4,"IPV4V6","vzwapp","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
5:[+CGDCONT: 5,"IPV4V6","vzw800","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
6:[+CGDCONT: 6,"IPV4V6","vzwclass6","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
7:[OK]


0:[AT+CSQ]
1:[+CSQ: 15,99]
2:[OK]


0:[AT+rscp?]
1:[+RSCP:]
2:[OK]


0:[AT+ecio?]
1:[+ECIO: NOT IMPLEMENTED]
2:[OK]


0:[AT!GETRAT?]
1:[!GETRAT: NOT IMPLEMENTED]
2:[OK]


0:[AT!getband?]
1:[!GETBAND: B4]
2:[OK]


0:[AT*cnti=1]
1:[*CNTI: 1,LTE]
2:[OK]


0:[AT+COPS=3,0;+COPS?]
1:[+COPS: 0,0,"Verizon Wireless",7]
2:[OK]


0:[AT+COPS=3,2; +COPS?]
1:[+COPS: 0,2,"311480",7]
2:[OK]


0:[AT+CREG=2; +CREG?]
1:[+CREG: 2,3]
2:[OK]


LAC: CELL ID:


0:[AT+CGREG=2; +CGREG?]
1:[+CGREG: 2,1,"FFFE","2D5F016",7]
2:[OK]


0:[AT+CGATT?]
1:[+CGATT: 1]
2:[OK]


#--------- ROAMING INFO ------------

0:[AT^SYSCONFIG?]
1:[^SYSCONFIG: 2,0,1,2]
2:[OK]


0:[AT^SYSINFO]
1:[^SYSINFO: 2,2,0,9,1]
2:[OK]


#--------- END ROAMING INFO ------------

Pin Lock
0:[AT+CMEE=1;+CPIN?]
1:[+CPIN: READY]
2:[OK]


Network Lock
0:[AT+CLCK="PN",2]
1:[+CLCK: 0]
2:[OK]


#--------- START SIERRA DIAG ------------

0:[ATi3]
1:[Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated]
2:[Model: MC7455]
3:[Revision: SWI9X30C_02.30.01.01 r7792 CARMD-EV-FRMWR2 2018/07/13 02:24:52]
4:[MEID: A000009052B3B0]
5:[ESN: 12814954077, 80E42E5D]
6:[IMEI: 359072064598820]
7:[IMEI SV: 16]
8:[FSN: LQ907790320210]
9:[+GCAP: +CGSM]
10:[OK]
#---------------------- i3 ---------------
0:[AT!image?]
1:[TYPE SLOT STATUS LRU FAILURES UNIQUE_ID BUILD_ID]
2:[FW 1 GOOD 2 0 0 ?_? 02.24.05.06_?]
3:[FW 2 GOOD 1 0 0 ?_? 02.24.03.00_?]
4:[FW 3 GOOD 3 0 0 ?_? 02.30.01.01_?]
5:[FW 4 EMPTY 0 0 0]
6:[Max FW images: 4]
7:[Active FW image is at slot 3]
8:[TYPE SLOT STATUS LRU FAILURES UNIQUE_ID BUILD_ID]
9:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 002.027_000 02.24.05.06_ATT]
10:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 001.005_000 02.24.05.06_BELL]
11:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 002.026_000 02.24.05.06_GENERIC]
12:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 001.005_000 02.24.05.06_ROGERS]
13:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 002.022_000 02.24.03.00_SPRINT]
14:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 001.005_000 02.24.05.06_TELUS]
15:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 000.003_000 02.24.05.06_US-Cellular]
16:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 002.052_000 02.30.01.01_VERIZON]
17:[PRI FF GOOD 0 0 0 001.001_000 02.24.03.00_VODAFONE]
18:[Max PRI images: 50]
19:[OK]
#---------------------- !image? ---------------
0:[AT!impref?]
1:[!IMPREF:]
2:[preferred fw version: 02.30.01.01]
3:[preferred carrier name: VERIZON]
4:[preferred config name: VERIZON_002.052_000]
5:[current fw version: 02.30.01.01]
6:[current carrier name: VERIZON]
7:[current config name: VERIZON_002.052_000]
8:[OK]
#---------------------- !impref? ---------------
0:[AT+cgdcont?]
1:[+CGDCONT: 1,"IP","vzwinternet","0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
2:[+CGDCONT: 2,"IPV4V6","vzwadmin","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
3:[+CGDCONT: 3,"IP","vzwinternet","0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
4:[+CGDCONT: 4,"IPV4V6","vzwapp","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
5:[+CGDCONT: 5,"IPV4V6","vzw800","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
6:[+CGDCONT: 6,"IPV4V6","vzwclass6","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0]
7:[OK]
#---------------------- +cgdcont? ---------------
0:[AT!selrat?]
1:[!SELRAT: 00, Automatic]
2:[OK]
#---------------------- !selrat? ---------------
0:[AT!band?]
1:[Index, Name, GW Band Mask L Band Mask TDS Band Mask]
2:[00, All bands, 0002000007C00000 000000000000101A 0000000000000000]
3:[OK]
#---------------------- !band? ---------------
0:[AT+cpin?]
1:[+CPIN: READY]
2:[OK]
#---------------------- +cpin? ---------------
#--------- END SIERRA DIAG ------------

#--------- START CUSTOM ------------

0:[AT!CUSTOM?]
1:[!CUSTOM:]
2:[GPSENABLE 0x01]
3:[GPSLPM 0x01]
4:[IPV6ENABLE 0x01]
5:[SIMLPM 0x02]
6:[USBSERIALENABLE 0x01]
7:[OK]
#---------------------- !CUSTOM? ---------------
#--------- END CUSTOM ------------

If that is the AT!GSTATUS? info, for anyone using a MOFI 4500 click the network tab, MOFI Internal Modem then on the page that comes up click the "open modem details" link at the top right.

gstatus.JPG

[swwifty]

Sorry for the delayed response, super busy right now. Lots of info to digest here, but got a few ideas.

1. If you have literally clear LOS to the tower, why is your signal so weak? I'd expect a much stronger RSSI value, and higher SINR. Are there any obstructions in the way?

2. You might need some better antennas (higher gain). Also, you mentioned these are 75 ohm panels, are your cables also 75 ohms? if they mis-match that can cause issues.

3. Are you positive the speed limitations isn't on the nanostation? I've found with the nanostations I use, they do not handle any interference well (I can help you troubleshoot this some if needed) Are you doing your speed tests directly ethernet connected to your 4G modem? Reason I ask is your speeds seem to be very inconsistent which makes me think wifi interference on the nanostation bridges. It could be interference from your neighbor, or even yourself from the inside APs if they are on the same channels.

4. What is your reasoning behind setting up another 4G connection for your mom's house? why not just use yours and connect your mom's house to yours and call it a day? This is exactly what I do on my property.

[DaleNix]

Sorry for the delayed response, super busy right now. Lots of info to digest here, but got a few ideas.

Don't apologize I totally understand! You don't owe me anything you are helping free of charge and I appreciate it! I understand busy its spring time here on my farm so I completely understand!

1. If you have literally clear LOS to the tower, why is your signal so weak? I'd expect a much stronger RSSI value, and higher SINR. Are there any obstructions in the way?

I will try to get a photo this evening to give you a bit of an idea. My drone is down right now (waiting on parts) i can get some much better views when its back up.

2. You might need some better antennas (higher gain). Also, you mentioned these are 75 ohm panels, are your cables also 75 ohms? if they mis-match that can cause issues.

Yes right now my cabling is all RG6(different color for ID) but same. I'm not sure if the MOFI is 75Ohm or 50Ohm or if it matters at that end, so this could be an issue as well?
I will say I know for a fact I have major losses with LONG (100+ foot) run of RG6. I plan to change my setup to something like you have with everything as close to the antenna as possible and run CAT6 from the router/raspi/MOFI4500 to USG/Switch once I figure out the "BEST" antenna possible for my setup. This will help with the loss I have now in cabling. I am definitely interesting in better antennas not sure what that is though....Recommendations welcome!

3. Are you positive the speed limitations isn't on the nanostation? I've found with the nanostations I use, they do not handle any interference well (I can help you troubleshoot this some if needed) Are you doing your speed tests directly ethernet connected to your 4G modem? Reason I ask is your speeds seem to be very inconsistent which makes me think wifi interference on the nanostation bridges. It could be interference from your neighbor, or even yourself from the inside APs if they are on the same channels.

Speed test and all testing I am running now and sending screens from is directly from the MOFI before and switches/nano stations/USG/any other hardware.

4. What is your reasoning behind setting up another 4G connection for your mom's house? why not just use yours and connect your mom's house to yours and call it a day? This is exactly what I do on my property.

Its 2 fold,

First is greed and desire to get the max speed possible at my location due to the fact I am HEAVY user and also have 2 daughters that really love there devices and NETFLIX/YouTube and a lot of homework is done online.
My mom's usage will be Netflix, Skype and live Webinars to cut down travel in the future for her job. So I personally feel, and please correct me if I wrong, she will need her own service that is not "bogged down" with my family's usage.

Second I am Interested in bonding or load balancing the two different providers for faster connection later if it will help everyone.

Once we get this figured out I would love to pick your brain about building raspberry pi router. I really admire your build and want to do something like this once I get antennas and signal dialed in. Thanks again for all your help!

[swwifty]

Sorry again for the super delayed response.

The cable length is FOR SURE the issue here. I suspect that if you get the modem/router closer with some LMR-400 cable, you will see a significant increase in speed. See the attached screenshot of cable losses for RG-6.

I would move the modem closer, and not change anything else first.

Screen Shot 2019-04-11 at 4.39.31 PM.png

If you want, ping me directly via DM. I'm happy to take this conversation offline so I can provide you feed back about your setup a little more quickly.

[swwifty]

Just thought I'd add that more than likely if you shorten this cable, your RSSI values will go from about -88 to about -70 which is almost a 100 times stronger signal.

[DaleNix]

Been raining non stop last few days, as soon as I get a sunny day I’m going to try to come up with a solution. I really like your setup!

CE9424D2-DACD-46E6-A020-E25D97B23F52.jpeg

https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=123
I don’t want to just thow some stuff together I want a long term build with an exterior enclosure and run CAT6a (have it on hand) for the long runs.

[Svenhah]

The forum has been moved to a newer, faster, better server, and the forum software has been updated as well.

Hopefully this will result in a better experience for everyone, but in the coming days we may encounter some issues due to this major change.

As always, if you do encounter any problems, or have any questions, please do share these with us, and we will try to resolve any issues and help with any difficulties or new features.

[xdavidx]

The forum has been moved to a newer, faster, better server, and the forum software has been updated as well.

Hopefully this will result in a better experience for everyone, but in the coming days we may encounter some issues due to this major change.

As always, if you do encounter any problems, or have any questions, please do share these with us, and we will try to resolve any issues and help with any difficulties or new features.

I think this may have gotten put in this thread instead of in the announcements area by accident?