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Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 3:58 pm
by robonova
I have a WE826-T2 with EM7565 and I recently purchase this MIMO antenna
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NB ... UTF8&psc=1
and when I hook it up to my signal gets better but my download speeds go to about 1 or 2 mbs vs ~20 with the 6 inch antennas attached directly to it. I have it on a 50 ft run of coax. Is that the reason? If so how long of a run can I have and still get good performance? Thanks

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 7:07 pm
by optymyze
Yep, the coax run is the most likely situation for signal loss. Coax is analog and thus gets signal attenuation relatively quickly. Instead, what you should do is get the router right next to the antenna, put the router in modem/bridge mode and run a ethernet cable from the antennas and router inside to another router (or wireless access point which does not do extra routing).

This will likely fix your problem :)

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:01 pm
by Didneywhorl
Exactly what kind of cables are you using? 50' is very long, but are you using antenna cables or TV cables? Different coax cable types have different resistances.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:04 pm
by robonova
I'm a ham. These are good antenna cables.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:33 pm
by optymyze
Even if they are good cables, the coax is going to lose signal relatively quickly compared to a digital signal.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:44 pm
by robonova
Ham radios are analog as well. It must be be because of the very high frequencies of LTE signals.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:45 pm
by Didneywhorl
I don't doubt they are good cables, HAMs are nuts over thems cables, but my question isn't answered. ;)

Also, how are you pointing them? How did you tune the pointing?

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:50 pm
by robonova
They are 50 ohm cables. I'm just pointingbthe antenna toward the different towers. I live a mile from 3 of them.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:52 pm
by Didneywhorl
Assuming your using 50 Ohm cables that are atleast LMR400 level youd be losing about 3-4 dbi on your 50 foot run. Plus losses on an extra connector, though minimal.

Add that to the fact that you MAY be mis-aligning your directional antennas, while the rubber omnis may be scavenging signal reflection in a way we cant see.

Pure guesses here.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:53 pm
by Didneywhorl
Huge difference between using LMR100 and LMR400. HUGE. Which kind of 50 Ohm cables may be your crux. Pointing to a tower 3, or more, miles away is picky work. Read: Pain in the ass sometimes. :)

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:58 pm
by robonova
What I don't understand is that it shows a much better signal it goes from -110 to around -90. But the downloads speeds drop from 20s or 30s to 1 to 3 mbs.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:01 pm
by Didneywhorl
Hmmm. Maybe your connecting to a tower that is different and it is MAJOR congested. Look at your Cell tower info and ensure your testing on the same tower on both types of antennas. Could simply be tower congestion.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:02 pm
by Didneywhorl
Modem->Network Info-> Cell yadda yadda dadda

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:05 pm
by robonova
I was switching back and forth between the new antenna connectors and then putting on the 6 inch antennas.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:07 pm
by robonova
Also. I was plugged directly into the router with ethernet

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 7:57 am
by Didneywhorl
Yeah, I would check the cell site info when your testing and make sure you are connecting to the same cell towers.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:51 am
by robonova
Yes, it was all the same. I literally was doing a speed test, unscrewing the external antenna and screwing it the 6 inch antennas and doing the speed test again and then reverse the process to confirm that it was an antenna issue.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:11 am
by Didneywhorl
Hmmmm.

Could you post the text from

Code: Select all

at!gstatus?
...while testing each antenna?
Maybe there's a fine detail were missing.

That's where I would start digging. There has to be something goofy. There's no reason your signal and speeds should go down if all is generally well.

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:00 pm
by terryjett
robonova wrote: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:51 am Yes, it was all the same. I literally was doing a speed test, unscrewing the external antenna and screwing it the 6 inch antennas and doing the speed test again and then reverse the process to confirm that it was an antenna issue.
Throw my 2 cents in: Unscrewing external antenna and reconnecting another antenna does not ensure you will stay on same channel and/or tower.

Do what @Didneywhorl is suggesting.

Hook up one set of antennas up, let the unit settle in few minutes, run a speed test in browser and while it is running, quickly run

Code: Select all

at!gstatus?
Do the same for other set of antennas.

Post both results here.

Quickly removing antennas and reconnecting other set will not get you anywhere:)

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:55 pm
by robonova
This isn't making any sense. The other day when I was testing this I just turned if off and haven't touched it till just now again. I turned it on with the external antenna and today the signal is lower but the download speeds are higher. Can outside temps effect this antenna? The other day it warm and today its cooler. Here is the gstatus today:

Code: Select all

!GSTATUS: 
Current Time:  373		Temperature: 38
Reset Counter: 1		Mode:        ONLINE         
System mode:   LTE        	PS state:    Attached     
LTE band:      B66    		LTE bw:      20 MHz  
LTE Rx chan:   0		LTE Tx chan: 132322
LTE SSC1 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC2 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC3 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC4 state:NOT ASSIGNED
EMM state:     Registered     	Normal Service 
RRC state:     RRC Connected  
IMS reg state: No Srv  		

PCC RxM RSSI:  -75		PCC RxM RSRP:  -112
PCC RxD RSSI:  -74		PCC RxD RSRP:  -110
Tx Power:      17		TAC:         7c81 (31873)
RSRQ (dB):     -11.8		Cell ID:     00f7e302 (16245506)
SINR (dB):      3.2

OK

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:05 pm
by optymyze
Didneywhorl wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:53 pm Huge difference between using LMR100 and LMR400. HUGE. Which kind of 50 Ohm cables may be your crux. Pointing to a tower 3, or more, miles away is picky work. Read: Pain in the ass sometimes. :)
Yep! I'm pointing at one 14 miles away :lol:

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:54 pm
by Didneywhorl
robonova wrote: Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:55 pm This isn't making any sense. The other day when I was testing this I just turned if off and haven't touched it till just now again. I turned it on with the external antenna and today the signal is lower but the download speeds are higher. Can outside temps effect this antenna? The other day it warm and today its cooler. Here is the gstatus today:

Code: Select all

!GSTATUS: 
Current Time:  373		Temperature: 38
Reset Counter: 1		Mode:        ONLINE         
System mode:   LTE        	PS state:    Attached     
LTE band:      B66    		LTE bw:      20 MHz  
LTE Rx chan:   0		LTE Tx chan: 132322
LTE SSC1 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC2 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC3 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC4 state:NOT ASSIGNED
EMM state:     Registered     	Normal Service 
RRC state:     RRC Connected  
IMS reg state: No Srv  		

PCC RxM RSSI:  -75		PCC RxM RSRP:  -112
PCC RxD RSSI:  -74		PCC RxD RSRP:  -110
Tx Power:      17		TAC:         7c81 (31873)
RSRQ (dB):     -11.8		Cell ID:     00f7e302 (16245506)
SINR (dB):      3.2

OK
No I dont think temps really affect the signals.

Now, can you give us the at!gstatus? during download with the other antennas attached?

Re: Better signal but horrible download speeds

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 10:41 pm
by terryjett
robonova wrote: Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:55 pm This isn't making any sense. The other day when I was testing this I just turned if off and haven't touched it till just now again. I turned it on with the external antenna and today the signal is lower but the download speeds are higher. Can outside temps effect this antenna? The other day it warm and today its cooler. Here is the gstatus today:

Code: Select all

!GSTATUS: 
Current Time:  373		Temperature: 38
Reset Counter: 1		Mode:        ONLINE         
System mode:   LTE        	PS state:    Attached     
LTE band:      B66    		LTE bw:      20 MHz  
LTE Rx chan:   0		LTE Tx chan: 132322
LTE SSC1 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC2 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC3 state:NOT ASSIGNED
LTE SSC4 state:NOT ASSIGNED
EMM state:     Registered     	Normal Service 
RRC state:     RRC Connected  
IMS reg state: No Srv  		

PCC RxM RSSI:  -75		PCC RxM RSRP:  -112
PCC RxD RSSI:  -74		PCC RxD RSRP:  -110
Tx Power:      17		TAC:         7c81 (31873)
RSRQ (dB):     -11.8		Cell ID:     00f7e302 (16245506)
SINR (dB):      3.2

OK
Makes some sense to me if you were just "quickly" swapping antennas. It is best to let unit settle in, then take readings. Even when I am aiming antennas, I always wait 10-15 minutes, take readings and rotate a bit.

At certain times water in the air can effect signals. Not just rain, clouds (in the mountains for instance) and humidity too "can" effect signals. But I am placing my bet on the quickly unscrewing antennas ...