Broadband External Antenna for Wireless. Next G

i await the answers with bated breath as i wish to set up somthing similar in my caravan

steve

I recommend trying it without first... my Samsung SGH-A701 seems to work pretty well without an aerial... I'm not sure about what benefit the aerial would give.

Phil, as I understand the Telstra antenna you should be able to buy one for $30 that is the standard one. I guess the installer may like to fit a broomstick type but that requires a patch lead to the Next G modem. Just as a guide the broomstick I have for the LG car kit we have. It lifts the sgnal strength pretty well but could get pretty quick speeds from my office last week just from the window ledge.

Have a look here at Whirlpool Site Link for information (well discussion) on external antennas

Looks like you can get a high gain Yagi antenna for that price on eBay or this broomstick landed for $108 Site Link

The broomstick can give you better range, you could use the same one for your phone too assuming you had one of those. You can use your phone for the modem but for goodness sake buy a Data Pack by phoning to buy it. Ph 125 111

Go the "broomstick" solution, its a high gain antenna and onmi directional. My data card on my laptop has a "hole" for the external antenna, all I needed was an adapter cable from the antenna plug to the modem and away I went. I bought this from the local Telstra shop.
If you are in good coverage areas the diference is not noticable as you have decent coverage anyway but if you are on the edge of good coverage the difference is similar to going from dial up speeds to broadband. The external antenna negates all the loss from being in the car.
Check out Telstra.com maps and you can see the areas of marginal coverage.
Stay away from yagi solution unless for a permanet solution as this antenna is directional and you need to know where to point it.

Hi

Thanks for your quick responses.

I will investigate the broomstick option as I want to try to log onto broadband while camping on a slow trip around OZ. I realize that there are many places where I will be completely out of range but what I want is a reasonable response if I am on the edge of a transmission area and I cannot do what I want for the want of an antenna.

Once again, thank you

Cheers
Phil

What sort of rates are people paying for using Wireless Broadband. I downloaded 2 mb on my laptop using the mobile phone as a modem and it cost me $85! (that was about 18 months ago)

check out this graphic for coverage difference from gsm cdma and Next G
bottom picture of 3 messages

If you are using the Maxon data devices on NextG or if your device has an SMA connection then visit Maxon at www.maxon.com.au and check out their new full range of antennas. Very comprehensive range provided your device supports the connector.

Muddy

A friend tried the data speeds in a marginal area. He got approx 50k with no extrernal antenna, 500k with a paddle pop stick sized antenna and 1.5m with a yagi. Yagi is directional so only really useful in a permanent location.
WES components has plenty of Next G accessories including antennas.
from Marty.

I've been using the High Powered Magnetic Base (60cm) external antenna from Maxon for a couple of years now (CDMA Broadband) - it has a 4m cable.
Being portable - I mount it on the roof of the camper, roof of the camp kitchen, car, tree - what ever tall thing is around me - I'm sure I'll never sit in the one place and use it.

Maxon's website is pretty ordinary, their good to deal with over the phone and quick to deliver orders. Maxon also have a forum somewhere at their site - where you might see the occasional reply from their tech support.

Telstra are no help at all.

Also - as i mentioned in a thread last week. All CDMA broadband Telstra customers will automatically be supplied with Next G hardware for free (if there still on contract) - Well so they have informed me.

disclaimer : I'm not affiliated with Maxon or Telstra.

Hi, I got the USB card Next G Broadband last month from Telstra. It has access for an external antenna. I use a 3db gain magnetic base antenna inside my home ( marginal country area), it virtually doubles the signal indoors. I also can attach to my CDMA 6db gain antenna mounted on my 'cruiser. I bought 2 external antennas from RFI through Telstra at Tamworth country music festival. The small one has no gain just allows better positioning, the larger about 20 cm high has 3 db gain. They came together and cost $50.

Cheers

Hi All

Once again thanks for your advice.

I am now encouraged to do my homework armed with all the info provided.

Cheers and happy and safe 4wding

Phil

The antenna is most worth it, it will be the difference between reception and none at times. I tested it offshore last week 120KM's on an Island and got reception where Telstra said I wouldn't..! Their coverage maps aren't always accurate, anyhow the antennas are worth it. You can get magnetic based portable types or whip mount type antennas or glass mount etc. Here are some examples on Ebay.. Don't forget your patch lead to suit whatever phone you buy or have.

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