D.I.Y T-Stick mobile broadband signal boost

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › D.I.Y T-Stick mobile broadband signal boost

PuffingMad

19 posts

Geek

#90230 16-Sep-2011 21:44

Hi All
New here so i thought i would share my DIY mod for better BW
I recently purchased a ZTE MF 181 T-Stick as i live in an area that only dialup is available through the land line which was to painful to use.
Unfortunately i live in a area ware xt coverage was also classed as poor luckaly my house is quite high up so i was able to get reception on 1 to 2 bars giving me some ware from 20% to 25% signal strength and dl speeds of about 3to 400 kbps not quite as good as i would of hoped
i went and brought a 5 meter active usb extension cable did some tests around the house and found an area of better reception duct taped the modem to the window what a diffrence signal of 32 % to 46% on and dl speeds of 500 to 1000mbps

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/blog7cfe33c7b452c6ecff7d44b3e4596d96.jpg

Knowing i could do better than this found an old large pan lid vary parabolic in shape added this to the equation

much better signal 50% to 62% and dl speeds of 1.1mbps tp 2 mbps on a good day

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/blogea866182e3d9cc1f438fdf9133d50690.jpg

major improvement hope this might help others whos reception is ant as great as it could be

regards

Steve

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19 posts

Geek

#522161 16-Sep-2011 21:45

sorry the pictures didnt come up as i thought they would

Bold

36 posts

Geek

#528108 1-Oct-2011 23:10

Nice work!

Is the tstick attached to the pan lid in any way, or is it just placed behind it?

I also live rurally with XT broadband and fairly average reception.. Been thinking about spending the $250 for external antenna for a while, but maybe something similar would do the trick :)

BerG

61 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#528163 2-Oct-2011 09:23

Nice idea. I have mine wrapped in a plastic bag and attached to my TV Aerial on the roof with a 10 metre extension.

Need to find myself a pan lid!

shrub

790 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 272

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#528174 2-Oct-2011 10:11

do a search for wokfi you might have better luck

PuffingMad

19 posts

Geek

#528180 2-Oct-2011 10:32

ive just got the t-stick stuck to the window and the pan lid hanging behind it seems to give the best results

PuffingMad

19 posts

Geek

#528183 2-Oct-2011 10:37

and the pan lid behind dish

hope this helps

steve

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BerG

61 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#529587 5-Oct-2011 13:59

Actually having some trouble with mine.

Random cutting out with full reception. Cuts out whenever I try to upload? ie as soon as I start uploading a video to youtube the internet disconnects. Also doing a speed test, at the 'upload' stage it cuts out.

Removing the extension cable and plugging the t-stick straight into the computer fixes the issue.

Is a 10 metre extension too long? Or is it just that its a poor quality cable from trademe?

BarTender

3629 posts

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#529590 5-Oct-2011 14:05

BerG: Actually having some trouble with mine.

Random cutting out with full reception. Cuts out whenever I try to upload? ie as soon as I start uploading a video to youtube the internet disconnects. Also doing a speed test, at the 'upload' stage it cuts out.

Removing the extension cable and plugging the t-stick straight into the computer fixes the issue.

Is a 10 metre extension too long? Or is it just that its a poor quality cable from trademe?

Could be :)... Why don't you use a USB Access Point and use WIFI from there? Or perhaps a in-line mains powered USB hub that you plug the TStick into near where the device needs to sit, then run the extension cord from there into your PC.

wellygary

8810 posts

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+1 received by user: 5287

#529597 5-Oct-2011 14:39

You can probably get some more out of your setup by locating a cheap Wok and placing the t-stick at the focal point.

Your current set up probably has the t-stick too close to the surface of the pan to be right on the focal point of maximum signal

have a look at some of these for inspiration.
http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/

PuffingMad

19 posts

Geek

#529706 5-Oct-2011 17:13

BerG: Actually having some trouble with mine.

Random cutting out with full reception. Cuts out whenever I try to upload? ie as soon as I start uploading a video to youtube the internet disconnects. Also doing a speed test, at the 'upload' stage it cuts out.

Removing the extension cable and plugging the t-stick straight into the computer fixes the issue.

Is a 10 metre extension too long? Or is it just that its a poor quality cable from trademe?

I use a active USB cable of 5 meters i was told that 5 meters was the max for a t stick without it being active my cable is seen as a USB hub by my PC you can get 10 meter active cables just Google it
ive not had any problems with my t stick cutting out or dropping signal

PuffingMad

19 posts

Geek

#529709 5-Oct-2011 17:18

wellygary: You can probably get some more out of your setup by locating a cheap Wok and placing the t-stick at the focal point.

Your current set up probably has the t-stick too close to the surface of the pan to be right on the focal point of maximum signal

have a look at some of these for inspiration.
http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/

My setup is fine ive tried the pan at all distances from t stick i get my best results with the pan close and im having no problems im getting speeds in excess of 1.5 Mb not a problem

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

BerG

61 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#529731 5-Oct-2011 18:20

BarTender:
BerG: Actually having some trouble with mine.

Random cutting out with full reception. Cuts out whenever I try to upload? ie as soon as I start uploading a video to youtube the internet disconnects. Also doing a speed test, at the 'upload' stage it cuts out.

Removing the extension cable and plugging the t-stick straight into the computer fixes the issue.

Is a 10 metre extension too long? Or is it just that its a poor quality cable from trademe?

Could be :)... Why don't you use a USB Access Point and use WIFI from there? Or perhaps a in-line mains powered USB hub that you plug the TStick into near where the device needs to sit, then run the extension cord from there into your PC.

I did buy a 3G wireless router so I could plug the USB modem into that and have it spit out Wifi- but I cant figure out how to set the damn thing up! As per this thread: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=66&TopicId=89828

They do have an 0800 number, but wont let me call from my mobile and I dont have a landline so just havn't gotten around to it :(

PuffingMad:
BerG: Actually having some trouble with mine.

Random cutting out with full reception. Cuts out whenever I try to upload? ie as soon as I start uploading a video to youtube the internet disconnects. Also doing a speed test, at the 'upload' stage it cuts out.

Removing the extension cable and plugging the t-stick straight into the computer fixes the issue.

Is a 10 metre extension too long? Or is it just that its a poor quality cable from trademe?

I use a active USB cable of 5 meters i was told that 5 meters was the max for a t stick without it being active my cable is seen as a USB hub by my PC you can get 10 meter active cables just Google it
ive not had any problems with my t stick cutting out or dropping signal

Ahh cheers I didn't know that!

This one should do the trick then? http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/cables-adaptors/usb/auction-412548574.htm

I really need to just get that damn 3G wireless router going...

PuffingMad

19 posts

Geek

#529740 5-Oct-2011 18:48

Hi BerG
That cable looks fine to me and a good price i payed $39 for a 5 meter one from dick smith

BarTender

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#529754 5-Oct-2011 19:28

BerG: I did buy a 3G wireless router so I could plug the USB modem into that and have it spit out Wifi- but I cant figure out how to set the damn thing up! As per this thread: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=66&TopicId=89828

They do have an 0800 number, but wont let me call from my mobile and I dont have a landline so just havn't gotten around to it :(

Did you try the suggestion of downloading the latest TP-Link firmware from the web site, then browsing to the admin interface on the router, uploading the firmware to there (preferably using a wired connection rather than wireless to do the upgrade), waiting for the router to reboot... Then logging back in and doing the 3G config in there?

Normally all you need to do is in the router set "internet.telecom.co.nz" as the APN, and you're away. The Telecom Connection Manager is only used if you are plugging the USB stick into your PC, not into the router. Since the router will be doing all the dialing.

BerG

61 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#529773 5-Oct-2011 20:22

Yeah tried that. I have uploaded the latest firmware and also installed the MF636 config file from here: http://www.tp-link.co.nz/support/3g/

I'm only guessing that its an MF636, are you able to tell?

This is all I get....'identifying' for a while before it fails and tells me to upload the config file :(

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