External Internet Aerial

Gregs1 · Member

External Internet Aerial

Olley46 · Guru

This is what I use for Internet,I have a bracket on My TV antenna where this aerial fits so it is in the air,the patch lead screws onto the antenna lead and then plug into the modem,this antenna can be used for a telephone as well if you have an external antenna jack on your phone.

Lance C

ballast2 · Guru

G'day Olley46. I have seen something like you explained. May I ask a couple of Questions? Hope so as here goes. 1, Is your Tv antenna a wind up type of fitted as you require it? 2 If a wind up does it add much extra load to winding unit. I wanted to fit one to my wind up Tv antenna but was told that the extra weight would damage the gearing.

Cheers Jack.

laurieoz · Senior Member

This is how I mounted my aerial to the TV antenna.
Have not problems winding it up
Follow the lubrication of the wind up gears in the manual

LUBRICATION
(Done 3-4 times annually)
STEP 1:
To lubricate the elevating gear, apply a
liberal amount of silicone spray lubricant to the
elevating gear with the lift in the down position (see
illustration). Run the lift up and down to distribute the
lubricant over gears.
STEP 2:
Two times yearly, or in the event rotating the
antenna becomes difficult, normal operation can be
restored by lubricating the bearing surface between
the rotating gear housing and the base plate. Any
silicone lubricant spray
may be used. Elevate
antenna and remove plastic plug from rotating gear
housing as shown. Spray lubricant into hole and
around edges of gear housing. Rotate gear housing
until lubricant coats bearing surfaces and antenna
rotates freely.

GerryP · Veteran Member

I have done exactly the same. The antenna is attached to the top of the Winegard with the cable down into an overhead cupboard where the modem sits permanently powered. It works well and is very convenient. I've not had any issues with the winding mechanism at all.

Hylife · Guru

Don't know what those antennas are but the AREN'T mobile network antenna, wrong size. Though perhaps sold as a mobile antenna they look more like WiFi antenna.

Such an omni-directional antenna will have little benefit on the cellular networks unless you are already very close to a tower and it is only the metal box of your van that is attenuating your signal.

The data part of the mobile network is dependant on the carrier's equipment near your location and generation level of your phone/modem (2G, 3G or 4G) and could be 850, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 or 3500 Mhz and the wave lengths are way shorter than those antenna.

For good reception at those frequencies you need a Yagi design that you point in the general direction of the nearest tower.

I have installed many of these for outer urban and country businesses that have been unable to get any other sort of broadband.

Here is a web site I buy mine from and has pictures of what they look like http://telcoantennas.com.au/site/rfi-12dbi-3g-4g-lte-yagi-antenna

ballast2 · Guru

G'day. And thank you laurieoz and GerryP. My van is a poptop. When you ran your cables did they follow the same track as other cables and did it cause any interference with other? Do you use a wireless modem. I am thinking of running the cable alongside the Tv run and putting the modem under the Tv. At the moment I have a plug in dongle but if it all works going wireless. Cheers

GerryP · Veteran Member

Hi hylife, they are indeed tuned to the telstra frequencies you list and from my experience, make a very significant improvement in fringe areas. They suit both the telstra wifi modems as well as suitably equipped mobile phones.

Yes, a yagi is better, but it is directional, so you need to know where to face it. Telstra modems nowadays generally have 2 inputs to suit a Mimo type antenna, so that is another option as well and also probably better than a single omni-directional. But,as I say, what I have has certainly improved reception, especially since mounting it up high above our TV antenna.

ballast2 · Guru

G/day Hylife. I have what appears to be the same Antenna fitted to my tug and it boosts the range of both my not so smart mobile and computer. It works great but I do not want to sit in the car to do what needs to be done. Cheers

sandsmere · Guru

Gregs1 wrote:
Hi all,
Can anyone fill me in on getting and setting up an External Internet Aerial on my Caravan. I have seen others have done this but thought I would get your experience before I tackle the task.
Look forward to any replies.
Happy Travels,
Greg

We have a portable aerial Greg. It has a magnet on the bottom and a long cord that plugs into the wifi or mobile phone.

I usually put it on the roof of the LC. Definitely makes a difference in remote areas.

Storage isn't a problem. It takes up very little room in any spare corner in the van.

Hylife · Guru

GerryP wrote:
Hi hylife, they are indeed tuned to the telstra frequencies

Without knowing what frequency the local phone tower is, hanging a short peice of wire would do just as good as those antenna.

At 2100mhz a quarter wavelength whip would be 3.5cm long

There is no way that a single whip antenna can be tuned to more than one frequency.

Your mobile phone and/or mobile dongle are multiple frequency devices with multiple antenna printed on the circuit board.

GerryP · Veteran Member

What I have is a typical 'broom stick' antenna at 7dbi. It supports GSM, 3G and 4G networks and is optimised for 3G 850/900. It supports frequencies from 700 to 2600 MHz although granted, gain will vary depending upon frequency, but there is a gain.

It is definitely better than "a piece of wire" and from my own experience, serves to boost my signal, especially in fringe areas. The added benefit of having it mounted quite high, also makes a difference.

Gregs1 · Member

Thankyou for that Jerry, much appreciated. I have ordered one and should have it any day now. Thankyou all. Greg

laurieoz · Senior Member

I am camped now - my "Boom stick" antenna is getting a good signal for the internet. No good without connected to the "broom Stick"
I am not sure about the technical details as hylife talks about but it works for me.
I had one on my old van and now have a similar one on my new van

PeterD · Guru

Hylife wrote:
There is no way that a single whip antenna can be tuned to more than one frequency.

That's why those antennas enclosed in a radome (plastic pipe) have multiple antennas in them. The other thing about using an external antenna is you get it elevated and outside. This more than makes up for the loss in the cable.