Sponsored Links

Trying to setup up Home Internet on a rural 4G connection

Generally, I would tend to agree but for some reason, my upload on laptop using gigabit ethernet port sucks whereas on my phone it's great, download speeds are comparable on both devices. 10 Mbps vs 125 Mbps for upload in case you were wondering:-)
 
A good wi-fi connection can arguably beat 1gb ethernet. I connect my PC to my ZTE MC801A with an Asus PCE ACE-88 wi-fi card which is theoretically capable of 2100mb/s. Using 5ghz wi-fi it can easily keep up with my current 5G connection and there is no discernable difference when connected via ethernet.
 
A good wi-fi connection can arguably beat 1gb ethernet. I connect my PC to my ZTE MC801A with an Asus PCE ACE-88 wi-fi card which is theoretically capable of 2100mb/s. Using 5ghz wi-fi it can easily keep up with my current 5G connection and there is no discernable difference when connected via ethernet.
Screenshot_20220531-134241_Settings.webp

Indeedy eccles, I marvel at my Tab S8 Ultras WiFi connection to the old Cpe Pro 2. (WiFi 6)
 
A good wi-fi connection can arguably beat 1gb ethernet. I connect my PC to my ZTE MC801A with an Asus PCE ACE-88 wi-fi card which is theoretically capable of 2100mb/s. Using 5ghz wi-fi it can easily keep up with my current 5G connection and there is no discernable difference when connected via ethernet.
But Wi-Fi is half duplex, not full duplex.
 
But Wi-Fi is half duplex, not full duplex.
True but at these speeds does it really make much if any difference? I haven't seen any differences at 300-500mb/s 5G. Ethernet would top out before the 1 gig theoretical limit, and possibly before the 2100mb/s wi-fi operating at half-duplex.
 
Sponsored Links
My girlfriends house is in the middle of no where. She currently has ADSL from BT max download 8Mbps and upload of 500Kbps.

Gigaclear are building out to them, but they have been waiting for ages and the current estimate is Q2 of 2023.

A simpler set up is Starlink - on top of a common - top of hill - good visibiltiy of sky - few trees around. No contract. Expensive. But might be stomached until fibre is available.

So looking at setting up a 4G connection. Unfortunately with a phone on VF or EE - is band 20? 800Mhz. 2 to 3 Mbps. Same using 4G router - I have a TP Link Archer MR600. 3G is actually better at 5Mbps.

However, she lives on a small holding with a barn and stables with power on. So there is the possibility of locating the router and antenna in an out building where there is a better reception and have a wireless ethernet link back to the main house.

So been doing some testing of signal with just the router, and finding out where the cell towers and found a good location. I have bought a 4G poynting directional antenna. Some brief testing in this location - got down max of 39.9.
Anyone able to offer any advice on how to proceed? Or general advice on setting up 4G connection? I have built a stand (well bike maintenance stand) with the antenna mounted on and am looking to do some more testing (was previously holding the air). Also looking to see if can get the antenna up higher.

Thanks in advance
uknowiama, this is Pieter Prinsloo, Technical Support Engineer, Poynting Antennas; if you give me a heads-up on the model Poynting Antenna you bought, I can give you a run-down on setting it up for maximum performance, kind regards.
 
uknowiama, this is Pieter Prinsloo, Technical Support Engineer, Poynting Antennas; if you give me a heads-up on the model Poynting Antenna you bought, I can give you a run-down on setting it up for maximum performance, kind regards.
Thanks. Sent you a chat.
Looking at load balancing solutions to use both ADSL and 4G. Not so as far as 1 connection sends patch down two different ISPs / bonded connections. Just First 3 connections go 4G and 4th connection goes ADSL - something like that. Will have to draw up a kit list soon and start getting this built.
 
To add to this - seems powerline adaptors - using electrical wiring for Ethernet might work from testing. Save setting up wireless bridge.
 
Thought I would provide an update on this - hopefully put together a proof of concept for test this afternoon / evening.
I have bought an
TPLINK ER605 - To peforming load balancing and failover between existing 8mbps ADSL line and 4G connection.
TP Link 2.4Ghz Wireless Bridge to get from Out building to house.
Some pre-made ethernet cables 20m and 5m.
So will see if wireless bridge is the way to go or stick with powerline adapters.
 
Update - Installed
So have installed this and pointed the antenna the best I could. Antenna is on a 5Kg rated J pole off the barn. Went for 5kg as also mounted Radio Access point on behind on same pole pointing to the house. TP Link CPE 210.

Another CPE210 is mounted in the house and run back to the office. Where it connects to ER605 Load Balancing VPN Router. Connected to that I have an AP for wireless clients. There is a couple of wired ports.

Attached some screenshots. Not massive speed. Only option at the property is ADSL which gives 8Mbps down at a push 900Kbps up. So seeing Downloads avg 15Mbps and Upload avg 10Mbps - Seen peaks of 24Mbps down and 22 Mbps up.

So I believe the RSRP is deemed Excellent at more than -80 dBm, the RSRQ is seen as good at less than -10dB it was -12dB then but when I secured the antenna it was -9dB. Band 20.
Of note this was a slightly new and high position so I did experiment with my EE sim to see what was possible. The outcome still better on Lebara / VF. I could get Band 3 and was able to CA Band 3 and 20. But the signal values were so low the data speeds were lower than 20 on Lebara, so stuck with that.
 

Attachments

  • Image(4).webp
    Image(4).webp
    48 KB · Views: 86
  • Image(3).webp
    Image(3).webp
    32.9 KB · Views: 81
Sponsored Links
Please excuse poor image editing but cell mast locations from cell mapper.net. Maybe some more testing of EE locations?

Maybe try and get a lock on that EE mast with bands 3 and 20?
Which Vodafone Mast have you pointed the directional antenna at?
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6026)
  2. BT (3639)
  3. Politics (2721)
  4. Business (2439)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2146)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1901)
  10. 4G (1816)
  11. Virgin Media (1764)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1407)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules