Want faster data? It's not all about signal
We frequently receive calls where people want faster data through their 4G router. Whilst we love selling antennas sometimes we'd rather advise the customer an antenna is not going to help much. Why would we do that?
Data throughput relies on many factors, signal strength, tower features, congestion in the network, antenna orientation amongst others.
If you've got 3 - 4 bars of 4G it's unlikely that you'll see improvement by increasing signal strength, BUT an external antenna using "MIMO" (Multiple IN Multiple OUT technology, can double speeds compared to a single antenna. How does that work?
Essentially instead of having ALL the traffic carried on one signal, 2 signals are used. These signals have an orientation to the tower. Usually we see antennas designed to receive a signal in vertical plane, ie. the elements of the antenna are up and down. With MIMO the antennas are oriented differently, one 45 degrees to the left of vertical, and one 45 degrees to the right of vertical. Here's an example from our range:
So yes, even if you have a good signal you can still double your speeds. What can you expect in speeds?
This is so much a function of the tower you are connecting to. If the tower is congested no amount of signal improvement is going to help. This is often seen where your speeds vary throughout the day, and are particularly good at "off peak" times. Another indication is that your uplink speed is faster than your downlink speed. In these situations perhaps consider a different provider!
Yep - our antennas will get you better speeds in low signal areas, but first check and see if your tower is showing signs of congestion.
Glad to hear that MIMO did the trick! It’s not all about signal strength – MIMO and CA can make a huge difference.
https://boostersformobiles.com.au/pages/wifi-vs-3g-4g-and-how-to-get-the-best-data-speeds
Wow, that’s a great result! Very impressive indeed. Sometimes it’s not just signal strength but signal quality and channels in use. Indeed – MIMO is the way to go!
Hi Tommy, we do have a paid “Desktop Signal Survey” service that tells you all about the towers in your area and what service you can expect. Whilst there is a fee for this, we’re more than happy to discuss your possibilities by phone. Just give us a call and we’ll run through it with you – all at no cost!
how do I check if my nearest tower is congested im in post code 3462 and about 4 k from it
40mb/sec using a single LPDA (dwr-921 modem) on vodafone 4G to 95mb/sec using 2 x LPDA MIMO. Doubled the speed without any noticeable increase in signal strength. Very pleased with the outcome. Go MIMO!