Will an Antenna Help You? Find Out BEFORE You Buy!
3Gstore sells a wide variety of signal-boosting devices and setups for all kinds of wireless devices, but one of the most common questions we hear at 3Gstore is "how do I know if one of your antennas or amplifiers will help my situation?" The answer to that question lies in the type of performance you're currently getting from your device, whether better signal is available nearby, and whether improving the signal results in better performance. By accurately identifying what your current signal strength is and by doing a few simple tests in and around the area where your signal is weak, you will be able to predict whether an antenna or amplifier will improve your device's performance before you order expensive equipment.
The testing we recommend in order to determine whether signal-boosting equipment is appropriate for you is called a "site survey" and involves comparing your signal strength and performance in a few different locations. Doing a site survey is easy - all you need to know is how to find your RSSI and how to do a speedtest!
Begin by clicking the "Finding RSSI" tab above to learn where to find your RSSI!
What is RSSI?
While doing a site survey, you'll want to use RSSI instead of the "signal bars" or "percentages" you're probably familiar with. RSSI, or "Received Signal Strength Indicator", is simply a numerical representation of your signal strength that is much more accurate than the bars or percentages. It shows up as a negative number, and closer to zero is better: -90 is better than -100, and so on. A -80 is a good target signal: with a solid -80 RSSI, you are most likely getting the best performance that the tower you're connected to can provide.
View the screenshots below to learn how to find your RSSI, and then click the "speedtests" tab above to learn more about the second part of a site survey, the performance testing!
How to find your RSSI
If you are using a Sprint, Verizon, AT&T or Alltel 3G device, you can easily find your RSSI in your connection manager software OR in Apple's WWAN drop-down menu in OSX - use the screenshots below to help guide you. If you are using your modem with a Cradlepoint router, you may be able to see the RSSI in the router's web admin (depending on the modem you're using and which firmware version you have installed - read more about viewing RSSI with a Cradlepoint router here); if you can't see RSSI within the web admin you'll need to connect your modem directly to your computer and run the connection manager software.
Verizon:
VZAccess Manager, OS X:
Hover your mouse over the signal bars to view RSSI as a "tooltip"
VZAccess Manager, Windows:
Hover your mouse over the signal bars to view RSSI as a "tooltip"
VZAccess Manager - Alternative:
sometimes VZAM will not show RSSI as a "tooltip". You can also find it by selecting "About VZAccess Manager" from the "Help" menu
MiFi 2200:
While logged into the MiFi's web admin, navigate to the Advanced > Diagnostics section and then click on the "Modem Status" button in middle of the page (click image for larger view)
Sprint:
SmartView - Current Version:
From the "Tools" menu, select "Mobile Info", then select the "Network" tab. (click image for larger view)
SmartView - Previous Version:
Older versions of Smartview display RSSI right beneath the signal bars
SmartView - Older Version:
In this version, hover your mouse over the signal bars to view RSSI as a "tooltip"
MiFi 2200:
Unfortunately, the Sprint web admin doesn't show RSSI... but 3Gstore has decided to let the Sprint MiFi community in on a "secret" that we discovered. Once you are logged in to Sprint MiFi web admin, navigate to this URL: http://192.168.1.1/modemstatus.html and you will be presented with your MiFi's RSSI info
Alltel:
QuickLinkMobile, Windows:
From the "Help" menu, select "About"
QuickLinkMobile, Mac:
From the "Help" menu, select "About"
AT&T:
AT&T Connection Manager:
RSSI is displayed right below the signal bars
Cricket:
Cricket Connection Manager:
open the connection manager and hold "Control + D" on your keyboard. Enter "##ftm*" for the password (without the quotes) and hit GO. This will bring up "Field Test Mode" and RSSI will be displayed
Apple WWAN Users:
If you are using Apple's WWAN support to connect to the 3G network, hold down the Option Key while in the WWAN drop-down menu:
How to find your RSSI on your phones/PDA
Finding your RSSI on a phone or PDA can be a little tricky, since different manufacturers display it differently than others. View this chart for directions on finding RSSI on many past and current cell phone models.
Doing a Speedtest - 3G Modems
The other part of a site survey for a mobile broadband device is the speedtest - remember, what we're trying to determine is whether better signal is available in your area, and whether your speeds increase when the signal increases. This is important because improving signal does NOT always result in better performance. If the problems you're experiencing aren't caused by weak signal (issues with the tower itself, network problems, etc) or if you're already getting the best speeds your tower can provide, then an antenna or amplifier is not going to improve your performance.
To do a speedtest, you can go to www.speedtest.net; simply select a location somewhat near you on the map that appears on the main page, click "begin test", and in about a minute you'll be presented with your upload and download speeds!
This is what you'll see at www.speedtest.net
once the test is complete, your download and upload speeds will be displayed in an easy-to-read box.
Performance Testing - Phones/PDAs
If you're using an iPhone or a PDA you can do a speedtest just like an aircard user (either in your phone's web browser or with speedtest's app), but if you don't have a data-capable phone, you'll have to use more subjective techniques to analyze performance during your site survey. If you can't use spedtests, simply note your phone's general performance at each location that you're testing - are you hearing a lot of static on calls, do your calls get dropped, etc. This will at least allow you to compare whether your phone performs better in some locations than others.
You're ready to do a site survey now! Click the "Do a Site Survey" tab above to see how!
Doing a Site Survey - 3G Modems
Now that you know how to find your RSSI and how to do a speedtest, you are ready to do your site survey! Answer the below questions and then select the "Interpret the Results" tab above to analyze your site survey results and determine what equipment (if any) is appropriate for you! If you're not sure where to find your RSSI, click the "Finding RSSI" tab above for instructions and screenshots; if you don't know how to do a speedtest, click the "Speedtests" tab above for more info.
- What is the best RSSI value you could find indoors, at the location you use your aircard?
- At that location, what are your speedtest.net results?
- What is the best RSSI immediately outside and around the building?
- At the location where you found the best signal outdoors, what are your speedtest.net results?
- If the signal outside your house is not significantly better than it is inside, consider walking/driving in the direction of better signal until you find a -80 signal. At that location, what are your speedtest.net results?
- What's between you and that -80 signal? Trees? Elevation?
- Does your aircard have an antenna jack to directly connect an antenna? (not sure? view Where is My Antenna Jack?)
Doing a Site Survey - Phones/PDAs
Doing a Site Survey with your phone will be a little different than testing with your 3G modem. Answer the below questions and then select the "Interpret the Results" tab above to analyze your site survey results and determine what equipment (if any) is appropriate for you!
- What is the best RSSI value you could find indoors, at the location you want to use your phone?
- At that location, what is your performance like? (if you're using an iPhone or a PDA you can do a speedtest just like an aircard user, but if you don't have a data-capable phone you'll have to use more subjective techniques to analyze performance - are you hearing a lot of static on calls, do your calls get dropped, etc)
- What is the best RSSI you can find immediately outside and around the building? Make a call to ensure the RSSI is being updated.
- At that location, what is your performance like?
- If the signal outside your house is not significantly better than it is inside, consider walking/driving in the direction of better signal until you find a -80 signal. What is your performance like at that location?
- What's between you and that -80 signal? Trees? Elevation?
- Does your phone/PDA have an antenna jack to directly connect an antenna? (not sure? start here: Does My Phone have an Antenna Jack?)
When your site survey is complete, click the "Interpret the Results" tab above to analyze your results and determine what equipment is appropriate for you!
Interpreting Site Survey Results
Once your site survey is complete, we need to analyze the results to determine if an antenna or amplifer will be helpful. The following basic rules will apply for most situations*:
- If significantly better signal is available immediately outside, and the speedtest results outside were also significantly better, an indoor or outdoor antenna will likely help.
- If signal and performance are only slightly better immediately outside, but significantly better signal and performance is available nearby, an antenna mounted on the exterior of your home/office will likely help (if the better signal is over a block or so away, you may also need an amplifier).
- If better signal is not available anywhere nearby, an antenna or amplifier is unlikely to help you.
- If better signal is available outside or nearby, but your speedtest results are the same as what you see indoors, an antenna or amplifier is unlikely to help you (because the problem is not signal-related; this kind of result would indicate that the speeds you're seeing are the best speeds the tower can provide.)
- If your starting signal is -80dBm or better, it is unlikely that an antenna or amplifier will help you much, if at all (you may be able to improve your signal, but you are most likely already getting the best possible performance the tower can offer).
What do YOUR site survey results tell you?
Below are some hypothetical site survey results and recommendations - select the one that is most similar to your results to get a general idea of what equipment (if any) you may want to consider*:
- Site Survey Results: -85 to -95dBm inside, -80 (or better) immediately outside, speeds improved significantly outside.
- Recommendation: Indoor or outdoor antenna.
- Site Survey Results: -95 to -100dBm inside, -80 (or better) immediately outside, speeds improved significantly outside.
- Recommendation: Outdoor/external antenna.
- Site Survey Results: -95 to -100dBm inside, -85 to -95 immediately outside, -80 within 1/4 mile, speeds improved outside and improved even more at the -80 site.
- Recommendation: Outdoor/external antenna, amplifier might be needed.
- Site Survey Results: -100 or worse inside, -90 to -95 immediately outside, -80 within 1 mile, speeds improved outside and improved even more at the -80 site.
- Recommendation: Outdoor/external antenna and amplifier.
- Site Survey Results: -110 or worse inside, -100 or worse immediately outside, -80 signal is over 1 mile away, speeds improved outside and improved even more at the -80 site.
- Recommendation: Outdoor/external antenna (Yagi/directional antenna if you can find out where the tower is and have a clear line of sight) and amplifier.
- Site Survey Results: -110 or worse inside, no improvement outside, have to go at least 1/4 mile to see ANY signal improvement, -80 signal is several miles away, speeds improved significantly at the -80 site.
- Recommendation: Yagi/directional antenna (if you know where the tower is and have a clear line of sight) and amplifier will likely give you the best hope of improving your situation significantly, although even that may be a long shot.
- Site Survey Results: -80 or better inside.
- Recommendation: Most likely, you are already getting the best speeds the tower serving you can provide - meaning an antenna or amplifier will likely not do anything for your performance. If you'd like to confirm this, find a spot where you get even better signal and do another speedtest - if your speeds do improve significantly, you may want to try an indoor or outdoor antenna.
- Site Survey Results: Signal improves outside or nearby, but the speedtest results are pretty much the same everywhere you tested.
- Recommendation: Since the speeds do not increase along with the signal, an antenna will not help you. The problem may be on the carrier's side (overloaded tower, poorly equipped tower, etc) or you may already be getting the maximum performance the tower can provide.
*DISCLAIMER: It is very important to understand that these guidelines and hypothetical recommendations may not apply to every situation, and your results may vary. Because there are so many factors that effect cellular signal strength and performance, we CANNOT guarantee that signal boosting equipment will help you.
Need help deciding which equipment is right for you? Contact 3Gstore with your site survey results, and we'll be happy to assist!
RSSI & Site Survey FAQ's
Below are the answers to some commonly asked RSSI/Site Survey-related questions:
- Why do you want me to do a Site Survey?
- Doing a site survey will help you determine whether an antenna or amplifier will help you draw in better signal and if your performance will actually improve as a result. For a more detailed explanation, see this blog post.
- Do I have to find my RSSI? Can I do the site survey with "signal bars" or "percentages"?
- RSSI is a much more accurate representation of your signal strength than bars or percentages. However, if your carrier's connection manager software does not have a way to view RSSI (click the "Finding RSSI" tab above for screenshots/instructions for most US carriers) or you cannot find out how to display RSSI on your phone/PDA, doing the site survey with bars/percentages will still be better than nothing!
- Do I have to do the speedtests?
- Performing the speedtests at each location that you're testing is very important, as it allows you to compare the way your performance changes when signal changes. Typically, better signal results in better speeds, but not always - for example, if the problem is with the tower itself and not with your signal strength; also, if your starting signal is already very good you may already be getting the best speeds your tower can provide and improving the signal any further would not help with speeds. Doing the speedtests allow you to determine whether improving your signal will result in better speeds.
- I use my aircard in a desktop computer - how can I do the site survey?
- If you're using your aircard in a desktop computer, obviously doing a full site survey is likely not practical (unless you want to cart your desktop outside and around town!). In this case, obtain as much information as you can and we will help you make a "best guess" about whether an antenna will help you. If you have a phone with the same carrier as your aircard, you can use your phone to determine if better signal is available outside or nearby.
- I'm looking for an antenna for traveling - do I still need to do a site survey?
- No, doing a site survey is only helpful if you are trying to boost the signal in one location and can do the testing to confirm whether an antenna will help you. Travelers can simply select an antenna to help them get better signal wherever they roam.
- How much will an antenna improve my signal?
- This depends on how poor your signal is to begin with, and whether better signal is available nearby. There is no set percentage or number of dB's that an antenna can be guaranteed to boost your signal. Complete the site survey and contact 3Gstore to discuss what you can expect from an antenna.
- What if I'm not sure where my device's antenna port is?
- Check this resource to see where your device's antenna port is. If you can't find your device on that list, contact 3Gstore to find out if your device has a port.
- What if the device I want to boost signal to doesn't have an antenna port?
- If your device doesn't have an antenna port, you can use either a wireless repeater or an antenna with a passive antenna adapter (typically you will also need a direct-connect amplifier with a passive adapter) to boost your signal. You should still complete the site survey to determine whether one of these options will help you.
- What if I want to boost the signal to more than one device?
- You can boost the signal to more than one device simultaneously using a wireless repeater. You should still complete the site survey to determine whether a repeater will help you (if you're hoping to boost the signal to devices on different carriers - i.e. a Sprint aircard and Verizon cell phone - do the site survey for each device).
More questions? Need help? Contact 3Gstore, and we'll be happy to assist!
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