Today it is quite difficult to imagine your life without the Internet. Every day people use it to communicate with friends, study or work. Not everyone has access to a stable network connection. Therefore, some people have to boost the signal using an antenna to make the Internet work better. This device can be purchased at a specialized store or made independently. It is worth noting that a DIY antenna created for the Internet is in no way inferior to a purchased one.
Modem antenna - the best device for signal amplification
Is it possible to make an antenna for 3G and 4G yourself?
Some people think that it is impossible to make an Internet amplifier at home. Such people believe that for this you need to be well versed in physics and radio engineering.
In fact, even a person with scant technical knowledge and without special practical skills can make an antenna on their own to improve network reception. However, despite this, you will still have to familiarize yourself in advance with the step-by-step instructions for making such receivers and the features of their operation.
Video
DIY digital TV antenna
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Control panels
What is a homemade receiver?
An antenna is a special device that can be used to greatly enhance the signal reception level on the modem. Depending on the installation method, they can be divided into two main categories:
- Rooms. Compact device for indoor use. It is equipped with a powerful amplifier to receive even the weakest signal.
- Street. Most often they are placed on the roof of the house. The size is several times larger than indoor ones.
Important! You can make both indoor and outdoor receivers yourself. The main thing is to have a diagram of the device.
How to determine what pigtail is needed?
On the antenna wire side, these are usually F or SMA sockets; the modem uses CRC9 or TS9 type sockets for connection.
Antenna connectors are not universal, due to the fact that each manufacturer of mobile devices puts connectors on their products that are structurally different from competitors, as a result, it turns out that each device requires its own special adapter.
Their main differences are:
Note! Huawei uses mainly the CRC9 connector in its mobile devices, while Novatel Wireless uses mainly the TS9 connector.
The connectors on the antenna wire side also come in different types. This can be F and FME models. For type F connection, an F adapter is screwed onto the cable side.
The CRC9-F antenna adapter is suitable for all modems and routers in which the pigtail connector for a 4g modem is connected to the device port with a CRC-9 tip. F is the designation of the connector on the other end of the adapter for connecting to the antenna wire.
The TS9 FME adapter has a TS9 connector on the side connecting to the modem, and an FME connector on the side connecting to the radio antenna.
Homemade receiver options
Before making a means to improve the signal, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of homemade questionnaires.
With copper winding
Copper wire - often used when creating homemade receivers.
This is a budget option, which is the easiest to make yourself from improvised means. The device must be equipped with a long reflector, since the quality of signal reception depends on it.
Another important detail that should not be forgotten is copper wire. It is wound over the mast. It is recommended to use wire with a diameter of 2-3 millimeters.
From wire
This option also uses copper wire. It is bent at an angle of 45 degrees to end up with a diamond-shaped design. It is then attached to a wooden or metal frame and connected to an amplifier. Such a design is capable of picking up a signal at a distance of 20-30 km from the tower.
Modification without feeder
Most purchased antennas for the Internet and television are equipped with a special feeder. However, it is not necessary to use it. Devices that are not equipped with it operate at a frequency of 300 Hz.
Modifications without a feeder must be made with copper or aluminum winding. It is placed on a mast with a diameter of 23-25 mm.
Double core
Reflectors - help to strengthen the signal.
This model is most often used for installation outdoors. Its operating frequency is about 400 Hz. It differs from other modifications by the presence of a diamond vibrator. The design also contains several metal gratings 30-40 cm long.
Important! To make the signal better and more stable, reflectors must be installed in models with a double core.
Vertically polarized and braided
If configured correctly, such a panel antenna will be able to output 300 Hz. As in the previous version, special vibrators and metal grids are used here, which help improve signal reception. An aluminum winding is installed on the mast.
There are also side racks that are tilted at 45 degrees.
Vertical polarization without braid
This modification is suitable for modems that operate at a frequency of no more than 200 Hz. The structure consists of side metal posts and an aluminum plate. It is customary to connect it to the modem with a special two-wire cable.
Antenna Kharchenko
This is a universal device that is capable of operating in the frequency range from 450 to 900 MHz. The structure is made of copper wire with a diameter of 4 mm. It must be bent in such a way that the result is a figure eight. It is attached to an aluminum plate. The device is connected to the modem with a cable that can withstand a resistance of 50 ohms.
Log-periodic
Kharchenko's modification is the most popular homemade antenna.
This device is considered a high-frequency receiver. It receives a signal in only one direction, but at the same time picks up a wide range of frequencies.
The design consists of several metal tubes that are located parallel to each other. The longest tubes are located at the base. The shortest ones are on the edge.
Crimping RP-SMA connector
the RP-SMA male connector .
We put a heat shrink tube and a crimp sleeve on the H155 cable.
To prevent the screen braid from shorting onto the central core, you need to trim its ends a little. To do this, spread the braid on two sides and trim the ends with scissors.
Straighten the screen braid and foil.
Place the socket part, which is included in the RP-SMA male connector kit, onto the central core.
Crimp the nesting part with pliers.
Check that you have crimped the socket part well and that it is firmly attached to the center core.
Insert the female part into the connector and place the shield braid on the connector body.
Place the crimp sleeve that was put on the cable at the very beginning onto the braid and crimp the sleeve with pliers.
Place the heat shrink tubing onto the crimp sleeve and heat shrink it using a lighter.
The second pigtail connector is ready. If there are traces of soot on the heat shrink tube after using the lighter, wipe it off with a napkin or rag.
Now we have a finished pigtail.
Next you need to check the quality of the pigtail. A tester will help us with this; it needs to be set to ringing mode.
Let's check that the central core and braid are not shorted. Touch the probes to the central core plug and the connector body. The tester should not beep.
Now let's check that the connectors are connected to each other. Touch the probes to the body of one and the second connector. The tester should beep.
Touch the probes to the plug of one connector and the female part of the second connector. The tester should beep.
Next, connect one end of the pigtail to a Wi-Fi router or Wi-Fi adapter.
We connect the second end of the pigtail to an external antenna.
Source
DIY making
Before you make your own antenna for mobile Internet, you need to figure out how to do it correctly.
Device and optimal dimensions
Many people believe that the dimensions of the antenna do not affect anything, but this is far from the case. In fact, the level of signal amplification largely depends on the size. Therefore, the device should be made larger. Recommended width and length are about 30 cm.
Important! If you need a compact antenna, you can use Kharchenko’s biquadratic drawing. It is ideal for receiving mobile Internet for your phone.
Vibrator requirements
It is recommended to make it from large copper or aluminum. An ordinary solid rod or tube is used as the body of the vibrator. If you don’t have copper or aluminum at hand, you can make a device from the “whiskers” from a Polish antenna.
The diameter must be at least 4 mm. In this case, it will be possible to achieve a stable signal without interruptions.
Cable selection
The connection cable should not be too thick.
Particular attention should be paid to the cable that will connect the antenna. It is recommended to use cables with low resistance, about 55 ohms. They do not emit interference and do not degrade signal quality. The wires used must be equipped with an F female-CRC9 connector.
Specifics of the reflector design
The reflector is a panel whose surface is covered with foil. The basic requirements for reflectors are as follows:
- they should be slightly larger than the antenna;
- distance to the vibrator - at least 30 mm;
- the structure is slightly bent near the central part.
Important! Reflectors should only be made from metal.
The principle of operation of a pigtail for a modem
Routers must have a special connector to connect it to the pigtail.
Disadvantages of this connection method:
It is rarely connected directly to the antenna cable, since the 4G modem is a small device and the best way to connect it is through the appropriate adapter.
The antenna wire is hard and has a diameter of 7 to 10 mm, which will not allow inserting a plug for a 4g modem, so you have to use a short adapter made of soft wire - a pigtail.
Note! The function of the cable adapter is to provide a flexible connection between the USB modem and the radio antenna, the wire of which is usually thick and rigid.
Creation process and verification
The antenna manufacturing process consists of several sequential steps:
- Determine the perimeter of the antenna square. For a regular 4G modem this is 140-145 mm.
- Creation of the "eight". It is better to make it from copper rods. The length of each side of the created structure should not be less than 30 mm.
- Connecting the cable. It is soldered to the ends of the antenna. A USB connector for the modem is attached to the second end of the cable.
- Installation of a reflector with a vibrator. They are placed in .
The assembled structure must be attached to the rack. Its height depends on where the receiver will be installed.
Additional Information! To check that the assembled device really works, it is connected to the modem. If the signal improves, then everything was done correctly.
Connection and signal transmission options
USB connector - often used when connecting an antenna to a modem
After creating a receiver, some people encounter difficulties connecting it. The devices must be connected using connectors that are suitable for the modem. USB is most often used, as it is the most popular modern connector.
Send data wirelessly
Instead of connecting the receiver to the modem with a cable, you can transfer data wirelessly. To do this, two electrodes 40-50 mm long are connected to the device. After they are soldered to the structure, they are moved apart. After this, you can check whether the wireless Internet will work on your tablet or smartphone.
N-type connector crimping
Let's start crimping the N-type male .
We take the H155 cable and put a heat shrink tube and a crimp sleeve on it.
To prevent the screen braid from shorting onto the central core, you need to trim its ends a little. To do this, spread the braid on two sides and trim the ends with scissors.
Straighten the screen braid and foil.
Place the pin that is included with the N-type male connector onto the central core.
Crimp the pin with pliers.
Check that you have crimped the plug well and that it is firmly attached to the center core.
Insert the plug into the connector, and place the shield braid on the connector body.
Place the crimp sleeve that you put on the cable at the very beginning onto the braid and crimp the sleeve with pliers.
Place the heat shrink tubing onto the crimp sleeve and heat shrink it using a lighter.
One pigtail connector is ready. If there are traces of soot on the heat shrink tube after using the lighter, wipe it off with a napkin or rag.
What does the transmission speed depend on?
The speed of data transfer in the mobile operator's network depends on many different factors.
Basically these are well known to everyone:
- distance to operator tower;
- relief features. If there are hills and ravines, then the signal quality and speed decrease;
- network congestion. The more it is loaded, the lower the speed of surfing the Internet;
- various emissions from electronic devices and devices that jam data transmission;
- a large number of crossed frequencies on the ground, which also work as jammers;
- some features in the operation of the operator’s equipment and other factors.
Important! The 3G mobile standard is capable of transmitting data at a high enough speed for watching movies online, making video calls and other entertainment on the Internet. However, if the network is busy and the data transfer speed is reduced, then it is not always possible to take advantage of all the capabilities of this technology.
Another important condition that affects Internet speed is whether the subscriber is on the move or accessing the Internet indoors. In motion, the speed is much lower than in static conditions.
Quality indicators of the Network:
- Dropped calls. It is measured as a percentage of the number of successful calls (now operators are fighting to improve performance by hundredths of a percent; in rural areas there are more of them than average, because the stations are farther apart, in the city there are much fewer);
- Unnatural voice (“metallic”) or poor audibility;
- Loaded network (also calculated as a percentage of the ratio of call requests to successful calls. It should be no more than 2%, but in fact there are less of them - thousandths of a percent).
Signal search
So, you are out of town and want to provide yourself with communications. Climb to the roof, attic, or highest point near the house or location you want. If your phone can catch the network, but at the limit (or unstable), you have every chance to improve the situation by using an external antenna. If the distance to the station is less than 30 km, and the network is not available, also try using an antenna. In the latter case, try to negotiate with the sellers to return the antenna if the experiment fails.
If the signal, although very weak, was still caught, dial any city number to check. If during a conversation, audibility is normal and the interlocutor does not complain about the loss of parts of your speech, then the energy of both lines (UL and DL) is balanced and you can use a standard antenna tuned to the middle frequency between the receiving and transmitting frequencies. If the interlocutor disappears from time to time, it is necessary to “strengthen” the downward direction from the base station to your phone. It might be worth looking for a phone with better sensitivity. But if it is difficult to hear you, you should strengthen the direction from your phone to the base station. Already at this stage it is clear that when choosing the type of antenna and its parameters, it is advisable to take into account the operator’s data and reception conditions.
In areas of poor reception, interference (noise) is often observed between channels with the same and adjacent frequencies. Unfortunately, the frequency resource allocated to GSM 900 operators in Russia is limited, which is why frequencies from different base stations with the same or neighboring signal strengths are often “visible” in areas of poor reception. Such frequencies create mutual interference that interferes with communication, and at certain signal levels communication becomes completely impossible. If a strong signal from the base station is recorded on the phone screen, but it is not possible to establish a connection, or if it is possible, but speech disappears all the time, then you are faced with “strangers”. It is not always possible to “force” a phone to select a different frequency, but a special function of Nokia phones - Netmonitor - allows you to do this.
I encountered a similar problem at my dacha, which is separated from a large city by a fairly open space. The phone received adjacent frequency channels with levels of 70 dB, 73 dB and 72 dB, but the quality of communication left much to be desired. The only thing that saved me was the forced selection of another frequency channel with a lower level - 80 dB. However, with a limited frequency resource, even frequency rescheduling of the network does not always help. However, if your phone does not have Netmonitor, you can use an external directional antenna with a good radiation pattern. All that remains is to make the right choice.
