Vodem Stick Signal Booster. How to make one.

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodem Stick Signal Booster. How to make one.

BR8705

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Wannabe Geek

#63042 19-Jun-2010 17:26

I've seen YouTube videos on How to boost your Cell phone with a Cantenna (Tin can signal receiver). I want to boost the signal to my vodem stick. But there are no external antenna ports on my vodem stick. So I am thinking of dismantling it and soldering in an external antenna port. What does the internal areal look like?

Can I buy a signal booster of the shelf? Currently I'm using my wife's largest pot on it's side like a reciever dish supported with two rolled up towels. It's pointing to the Vodafone tower (out of sight) and it makes some improvement. I hang the vodem stick from the top with insulation tape so it is hanging in the center of the pot as a feed head on a dish receiver.

I sometimes have one bar here where the vodem stick sits in my router (on my home network). The signal drops off repeatedly and I often get little more than dial-up speed for my NZ$70 a month. I must improve this.

Suggestions please?

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#343273 19-Jun-2010 17:45

Which Vodem model do you have?
Why not just use a USB cable to elevate it? Taking it apart will probably void your warranty.

nzbnw

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#343274 19-Jun-2010 17:48

Where about's are you? Do you know if you're device is connected to a 2100MHz or 900MHz 3G site?

nzbnw

richms

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#343307 19-Jun-2010 20:16

Considered trying just doing the wok thing and seeing how it goes?

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#343310 19-Jun-2010 20:24

The simplest and best option is to buy a device with an aerial input and use a proper aerial with it. This will deliver measurable results.

BR8705

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Wannabe Geek

#343325 19-Jun-2010 21:59

Yes I currently use a pot, not a wok, and with significant results. But the signal is better 20 meters away, outside the building. So, I want to run a wire from the vodem stick to the wok or cantenna outside the building. I want to capture the signal where it is best then channel the signal by wire it to the vodem stick 20 meters in the building.

This is what I want ..

Vodafone NZ only have the one kind. With no external areal port. What other kind is available? Vodafone only seem to have vodem sticks without external areal ports.

sbiddle

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#343382 20-Jun-2010 08:26

There are plenty of devices out there that have external aerial connections. You'll just have to do your research.

quickymart

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#343410 20-Jun-2010 11:07

Here's a device that has an external antenna slot, which would work on Vodafone (the 889 version):

http://www.sierrawireless.com/productsandservices/AirCard/USBModems/Compass_888_889.aspx

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#343485 20-Jun-2010 16:52

Hi Hank,

I install Fixed Mobile Broadband solutions for my rural customers. This would certainly solve your issue. Where abouts do you live?

Send me a PM (email) if you would like some more info.

Fraser

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
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Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

nzbnw

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#343498 20-Jun-2010 17:58

Have you thought about a different service provider?

If thats an option to you, see if you are in Telecom XT coverage @ http://www.telecom.co.nz/coverage

Telecom are also offering 30 day's Risk Free (i.e. you can return the T-Stick if you're not happy with the service within 30 days, no questions asked).

http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/special-offers/risk-free

Just a suggestion.

nzbnw

BR8705

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#343507 20-Jun-2010 18:56

I good suggestion. I tested Telecom modem sticks before I got into this 2 year contract with Vodafone. I have better reception with Vodafone so I chose them. Now I hope to improve it.

I accidentally extended my pot into a dish-shape using clothes pegs and alu-foil with some more improvement. I'm still looking for ways to improve it as it's not fixed.

BR8705

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#343511 20-Jun-2010 19:20

quickymart: Here's a device that has an external antenna slot, which would work on Vodafone (the 889 version):

http://www.sierrawireless.com/productsandservices/AirCard/USBModems/Compass_888_889.aspx

OK. This would cost me another NZD$300 and would replace my Vodem stick from vodafone, correct? And I could use the external areal port? Right?

BR8705

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#343531 20-Jun-2010 20:37

Has anyone had any success with one of these? It's not mine.

Or use a cantenna with a vodem stick?
H

sbiddle

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#343537 20-Jun-2010 20:45

Many of these ideas work well for WiFi but once you get past the novelty factor can perform far worse than a properly designed aerial.

Phaedrus

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Master Geek

#343546 20-Jun-2010 21:20

The reason you would use a WOK and not a POT is that a wok conforms roughly to a parabolic shape, thus it will have a focal point where the RF can concentrate. This is where you'd place your Vodem, T-stick or whatever. A pot is incapable of this focusing requirement, it may act as a reflector of sorts and could perhaps raise the signal by 3db or so but certainly not in the region of the 15db plus you'd expect from a dish (or good-sized wok).

This brings one to the size issue, like other things in life (or so I'm told

) bigger is better. If you're looking at 900mhz then to get reasonable gain you'll need to use a lot larger dish/wok than you would for the same gain at 2.4Ghz wi-fi frequencies. A satellite dish of some sort could be easily pressed into service, a 1.2m or larger would be good but you may get reasonable results with something smaller.

If you were to flog the next-door neighbours sky dish to further your signal then you need to be aware that they are typically an off-centre fed dish. If you place the Vodem at or around the area where the LNB usually sits you'll need to tilt the dish forward signficantly (assuming you've put the arm at the bottom) to aim it correctly. In the example shown above you'll see the dish is in fact tilted upwards (in this case the arm's at the top) in order to correctly aim it for a terrestrial signal.

A reflector of sorts placed around .2 of a wavelength out from the vodem would also assist with the dish idea.

Incidentaly don't forget standard USB devices should not use a cable length greater than 5m, you could try using a repeater cable if you needed to extend it further but they can be a bit variable in operation.

Cheers, P.

BR8705

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#343630 21-Jun-2010 08:40

That's most helpful. Thanks. I'll try this.

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