It is now the middle of spring, which means that the summer season will soon begin. However, for many, going to the dacha is like being on a desert island: nature is all around and... not a hint of cellular communication. And you can forget about the Internet altogether.

This happens quite often in the vastness of our country, but, fortunately, it is not fatal. Any local telecommunications company will be happy to relieve you of information hunger “for just some” 50,000-100,000 rubles! Do you think such spending is unreasonable? Me too, because they can be reduced by more than 10 times! Cellular communication and Internet amplifiers for a summer residence cost around 3,000-15,000 rubles, but you can easily select and install them yourself.

Types of amplifiers

Devices for cellular communications (GSM) are called GSM repeaters or repeaters. More precisely, this is not one device, but a complex of equipment consisting of:

• A directional external antenna that picks up the base station signal.
• Coaxial cable for connecting the antenna to the signal amplifier.
• The amplifier itself.
• Amplifier power supply.
• Internal omnidirectional antenna.

An external antenna is placed outside the house in the place of best visibility of the operator's base station. The amplifier is mounted on the wall indoors and the internal and external antennas are connected to it.

Devices for strengthening the 3G/4G Internet signal consist of one or two modules. One of the parts of two-module amplifiers works to receive a signal, the second - to create a coverage area inside the house. Both parts are connected by a cable. The receiving module, like the GSM repeater antenna, is located outdoors; coverage module with a connected USB modem - in the room.

Single-module amplifiers are conventionally divided into 2 types - internal (for use indoors, more precisely, on a table) and external. The internal ones are a kind of screen that protects the USB modem connected to them from interference, ensuring that it only receives a signal from the base station. Such devices operate in wide frequency ranges, but their gain is not very high.

An outdoor amplifier is essentially an antenna, which is also installed on the street in the best visibility area of ​​the station. A cable is attached to the antenna, the second end of which is inserted into the USB modem socket, and the modem itself is connected to a computer or router. Such devices amplify the signal 1.5-2 times better than internal ones, but, as a rule, they work in a narrower range.

In addition, all such devices reduce the level of radiation from modems and phones (the lower the signal, the stronger it is) and reduce the energy consumption of their batteries.

How to choose equipment

Before buying a GSM repeater and mobile Internet amplifier, carefully study their characteristics. There are no devices that are suitable for absolutely everyone, because the conditions in which you will use them are absolutely unique. What works well for your neighbor may not work at all for you and vice versa.

So, when choosing equipment, you should first look at:

• Range of supported frequencies. Most Russian cellular operators operate according to GSM 900, CDMA and UMTS (3G) standards, which is what domestic repeater manufacturers are focusing on. And if your operator broadcasts on GSM 1800 (in particular, this range is used by Tele 2 in many regions), a device without its support will be useless to you. The same applies to 3G/4G communications.
• The distance of your dacha from the nearest base station. This can be found out by calling local operators or determined using programs that show their location on the map. Here are 3 examples of such applications for Android: Antennas , NetworkCellInfoLite , OpenSignal Cards 3G/ 4G/Wi-fi communications . The closer to home the tower is, the better reception quality you can achieve. You may not consider stations located further than 10-15 km. If your operator's tower is relatively far away, you can either buy a SIM card from another company for your summer residence, or choose a more powerful one. In general, the power of any device for a country house should be at least 100 mW.

• The operator signal level in the area of ​​the planned antenna installation must be at least one bar. This is easy to determine using a mobile phone with a SIM card or a laptop with a connected 3G/4G modem and a program to control this modem. Or, for example, utilities Mobile Data Monitoring Application(MDMA), which shows more accurate results and supports almost all models of 3G modems. You will need the same tools to configure the antenna and select the location of the amplifier in the house.

• Area of ​​the house, wall material. This is important when choosing the power of the internal amplifier and the “range” of its antennas. For a house with more than 2 rooms and brick walls, the gain of the internal antenna should be at least 3-5 dB.
• The number of subscribers who will be online at the same time. The majority of GSM repeaters support up to 4-6 simultaneous connections.

What else is advisable to pay attention to when choosing an amplifier:

• If you have never manually configured such equipment, choose devices that control the amplification system automatically.
• The cable connecting the outdoor and indoor modules or the antenna and the modem should not be excessively long. The shorter it is, the better the signal. The optimal cable length is up to 5-6 meters, but if the manufacturer has equipped the device with a longer one, then its capabilities allow this.
• Some manufacturers indicate on the box that the included cable has a resistance of 50 Ohms, and this is supposedly its advantage. In fact, this is pure marketing. The signal loss of 50-ohm and 75-ohm cables is almost the same, but the latter costs much less.
• The equipment package must contain all the necessary adapters, in particular, those with a CRC9 connector for connecting to a USB modem.

• You should not buy GSM repeaters whose internal antenna is inseparable from the device body. This will not allow you to install both in different places in the house and will not make it possible to create a sufficient coverage area.
• When choosing a store, give preference to the one where they will agree to exchange or accept back the purchased equipment if it does not suit you.

How to install an amplifier

Installation of GSM repeaters and external antennas of Internet amplifiers usually does not present any difficulties, especially since almost all of them are equipped with installation and configuration instructions. The most difficult thing you may encounter is the need to climb onto the roof, since the higher the antenna, the less interference there is.

The outdoor antenna should be pointed towards the base station. The optimal location for the repeater and internal antennas is determined experimentally - based on the signal level on the phone, but they must be no closer than 3 meters to the external antenna.

It is better to use single-module desktop 3G/4G amplifiers near the window on the side of the tower. The device should be turned so that the modem is facing towards it.

Examples of GSM repeaters and 3G/4G Internet amplifiers for country houses

Internet amplifier REMO Connect 3.0

R EMO Connect 3.0 is a typical representative of a desktop Internet amplifier with support for all major standards, manufactured in our country at the REMO electromechanical plant in Saratov. Compatible with 2G/3G/4G USB modems. Operates over a wide frequency range.

How to use it: insert the modem into the USB port located in the middle bottom of the amplifier module. We connect the cable to the second USB connector and connect it to the computer.

Technical characteristics of REMO Connect 3.0

• Supported communication standards: GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+, LTE 800/LTE 2700, WiMAX.
• Operating frequencies: 800-6000 MHz.
• Gain: 7-9 dB.
• Cable length: 3 m.
• Dimensions and weight: 243x190x25 mm, 0.5 kg.
• Case material: impact-resistant plastic.
• Placement: indoors at home.

The cost of REMO Connect 3.0 in Russian stores starts from 990 rubles.

There is a similar model without a USB cable that connects to a computer via Wi-Fi - REMO Connect 3.5. It costs about 1000 rubles more.

Internet amplifier REMO Orange-2600 Plus

R EMO Orange-2600 Plus is a two-module device for increasing the 4G coverage area (more precisely, part of this range), created by the same manufacturer as the previous one. Provides reliable reception within a radius of 5 meters from the modem.

Can be used to recharge mobile gadgets via a USB port. It has LED indicators “Normal” and “Alarm” on the body, which serve to determine the correct choice of the distance between the modules.

SpecificationsRemoOrange-2600Plus

• Supported communication standards: LTE 2600 FDD Band7/Band38.
• Operating frequencies: 2500-2700 MHz.
• Maximum coverage area: 75 m2.
• Module gain: reception – 45 dB, coverage – 25 dB.
• USB modem support: 4G.
• Modem port type: USB Am.
• Cable type and length: RG-58A/U, 10 m.
• Power supply: 12 V.
• Dimensions and weight of modules: reception – 240x240x60 mm, 1 kg, covering – 180x80x50 mm, 0.5 kg.
• Case material: plastic.
• Placement: indoor and outdoor.

The cost of REMO Orange-2600 Plus starts from 8,100 rubles.

GSM repeater Nikrans MA300

The Nikrans MA300 repeater is designed to improve the quality of cellular communications mainly in rural areas, but not only in it. Designed for a room up to 300 m2.

The manufacturer guarantees stable operation of the equipment in the networks of MTS, Tele 2, Beeline, Megafon, Smarts, Rostelecom and Tattelecom operators.

Technical characteristics of Nikrans MA300

• Supported GSM signal frequency: 900 mHz.
• Maximum coverage area – 300 m2.
• Module gain: reception – 65 dB, coverage – 60 dB.
• Cable length: external – 15 m, internal – 5 m.
• Dimensions and weight: 296x159x101 mm, 0.5 kg.

The cost of the Nikrans MA300 kit is approximately 14,100 rubles.

GSM repeater Locus MOBI-900 COUNTRY

L ocus MOBI-900 COUNTRY is also designed for rural areas, holiday villages and other places with difficult communication conditions. It is easy to install and is designed for untrained users.

Technical characteristics of Locus MOBI-900 COUNTRY

• Supported communication standards: GPRS/EDGE.
• Supported GSM signal frequency: 890-915/935-960 mHz.
• Maximum coverage area – 100 m2.
• Module gain: reception – 40 dB, coverage – 30 dB.
• Maximum number of subscribers in communication mode: 6.
• Power: 5 V.
• Dimensions and weight: 375x173x156 mm, 1.15 kg.

The cost of Locus MOBI-900 COUNTRY starts from 5060 rubles.

Outdoor antenna REMO Ultra 3G\4G

R EMO Ultra 3G\4G – external antenna connected directly to the 3G/4G modem. Boosts the signal up to 18 dB. Supports Wi-Fi.

Cable, adapter, mounting brackets and other necessary parts are included in the kit.

Technical characteristics of REMO Ultra 3G\4G

• Supported communication standards: UMTS-2100, LTE, Wi-Fi.
• Operating frequencies: 1800-2700 mHz.
• Gain: 12-18 dB.
• Antenna directivity: unidirectional.
• Support for USB modems: 3G, 4G.
• Cable length: 5 m, included FME – CRC9 adapter for connecting a modem.
• Material: aluminum.

A set of Ultra 3G\4G equipment in Russian stores sells for about 2,000 rubles.

External antenna Delta L/1700-2800

Delta L/1700-2800 supports a variety of communication standards, including Wi-Fi. Like the previous device, it connects directly to the modem.

Technical characteristics of Delta L/1700-2800

• Supported communication standards: GPRS/EDGE, CDMA/HSDPA/ HSUPA /HSPA+, LTE, WiMAX, Wi-Fi.
• Operating frequencies: 1700-2800 MHz.
• Gain: 12-14 dBi.
• Antenna directivity: unidirectional.
• Support for USB modems: 3G, 4G.
• Cable length: 6-10 m.
• Dimensions and weight: 750x200x83 mm, 04-06 kg.
• Case material: plastic, metal.
• Placement: outdoor.

The cost of Delta L/1700-2800 is approximately 1400 rubles.

You can increase the stability of the mobile Internet using antennas. They are installed outside the house - on a facade or pole with a loose attachment - in the direction of the nearest operator base station and connected to the router. We'll tell you more about how to make a good Internet signal at your dacha using an antenna in the article.

In what cases is it necessary to amplify the signal?

If the Internet connection is unstable or the data transfer speed is slow, first of all, you need to check the signal level. This option is displayed in the modem settings. To measure the signal level on your mobile phone, you should download a special application. A suitable one can be found in the Play Market or App Store by searching for “Network signal info”. The signal strength will be shown in decibels. An indicator ranging from -50 to -80 is considered normal. If the indicator is from -90 to -100, the signal is weak. You can use the amplifier with a reading of -80.

How can an antenna help?

A weak signal means that the subscriber cannot use the Internet: the connection is unstable and the data transfer speed is very low. The antenna solves this problem.

An amplifier is a link between a cellular network operator station and a mobile phone or USB modem. It receives a signal from the operator’s station, amplifies it and transmits it through a cable to a modem or Wi-Fi router.

In this way, you can strengthen not only the Internet connection, but also the cellular signal throughout the entire area. However, the antenna will only be useful if it is installed correctly. It is important to accurately determine the location of the nearest station and point the device in the direction of the signal source.

How to strengthen Internet reception at the dacha: the principle of operation of the antenna

The amplifier consists of an antenna and an intermediary - a modem or Wi-Fi router that supports the connection of USB modems. To strengthen the cellular signal throughout the house, an additional indoor antenna is used. The cost of an amplifier kit depends on the equipment that is included in it, and starts from a thousand rubles. The connection diagram is as follows: the antenna is connected to a 3/4G modem, which, in turn, connects to a Wi-Fi router.

How to choose an Internet signal amplifier for your dacha

First you need to decide on the power of the antenna. To describe it, the concept of gain is used. It is measured in decibels (dB). The higher the coefficient, the weaker the signal from the operator’s station the device can amplify. However, along with the number of decibels in the characteristics, the cost of the equipment also increases.

Mainly two types of antennas are used to amplify the signal:

• Wave channel (Yagi). It consists of an active and a number of passive vibrators, which are located parallel to each other on a traverse. The device has a high directional coefficient.
• Panel sector antenna. This is a compact monolithic amplifier. The characteristics are similar to the wave channel, but as an additional advantage - protection from precipitation.

You can improve the quality of the Internet at your dacha using either a wave channel or a panel antenna. Most often, the choice of subscribers is determined not by the technical characteristics, but by the cost of the device.

When choosing equipment, you should pay attention to the connector for which the antenna is made. Standard modems are adapted for the CRC9 connector.

What other equipment is needed?

• USB modem with SIM card slot. It is not possible to boost the signal directly on a computer or smartphone; the subscriber needs additional equipment. This is a USB modem. It is connected to the antenna directly using a cable.
• Wi-Fi router. If you need to indirectly connect a device to a modem - as is the case with phones or tablet computers - you can add a router to the network that distributes a signal via Wi-Fi. The main condition is the presence of a connector for connecting a USB modem. There are models of Wi-Fi routers with slots for SIM cards.

You can improve both the Internet at your dacha and the cellular signal. If it is picked up unevenly in different parts of the house, repeaters are used. Such devices consist of two modules. The first module is a receiver, which is installed in the part of the house where the cellular signal is strongest. It picks up the signal and improves it. The second module is the emitter. Its task is to repeat the signal received from the receiver, distributing it to those parts of the house where the connection is poor. The repeater does not require an additional SIM card or other components.

How to strengthen the Internet on a phone at the dacha

To get stable Internet on your phone, without routers and modems, you can use transmitters. They amplify the signal from cell towers and distribute it to all devices in the house. Such kits include two antennas - an external one, which is installed outdoors, and an internal one, for placement indoors. The operating principle of the transmitter is quite simple: the subscriber attaches an external antenna towards the operator’s station, setting the required location according to the indicators on the antenna display. After this, the second part of the kit is installed indoors. When the installation is completed, the 3G Internet speed will increase. Antennas can both improve cellular signal reception and increase Internet speed at the dacha.

If you live in an area where there is no signal from mobile operators, appreciate the benefits. With its help, you will get high-speed and fairly stable Internet - problems with the signal rarely arise, only due to heavy rainfall or wind.

Every person needs access to the Internet for work, study or for their personal needs. The mobile phone does not always pick up the Internet. Not everyone knows how to boost the 3G signal of a smartphone.

In cities where there are a large number of cellular operators, it is a priority that there should be no “dead zones” for the Internet. In reality, everything is different: a person, moving around the area, periodically falls into them. This is due to architecture, the building material from which houses are built, and metal structures. The reasons for poor internet include the presence of a lot of industrial interference.

To protect your smartphone from mechanical damage, they sell different cases. If there are metal inserts inside the protection, this affects the quality of the received 3g and 4g signal.

When the user travels outside the city, a 3g signal booster will be required for the smartphone, where the Internet speed is sharp or absent.

Almost all people use 3g or 4g internet, which is offered by mobile operators. It provides access to networks anywhere, unlike a wi-fi network. But due to overloaded communication lines, the Internet speed drops to the 2g level. Even if the phone is on a tariff with a good speed of 3g or 4g, it guarantees that the speed will not slow down.

Two solutions will help improve smartphone reception - software and using devices purchased or made independently. Each method has its advantages. With an integrated approach to increasing the speed of your Internet connection, the user will achieve the fastest possible signal.

Software settings

Sometimes people are dissatisfied with the speed of the Internet on their mobile phone. Everyone knows that the speed and quality of the Internet connection depend on the operator, the chosen tariff and the coverage area. But not everyone knows that you can boost the signal on your smartphone using the InternetSpeedMaster application. The program optimizes the phone's performance by changing system files. It is easy to strengthen the antenna on a smartphone using the application, but you must have root rights; if the phone is rooted, the installation will take 2 minutes.

Setting up a program to boost 3g and 4g

How to configure the InternetSpeedMaster program to boost 3g and 4g signals:

1. log into the application and grant superuser rights;
2. if the device is rooted, enter ApplyPatch and reboot. The Internet signal booster on your smartphone will work;
3. if the user does not have superuser rights, enter ImproveInternetConnection, then reboot the device.

This method does not work on all devices, so it is recommended to first get root rights to be sure to increase the 3G signal on your smartphone.

If the user wants to return the old settings, it is recommended to enter the menu, click “Restore”, confirm your actions by selecting the “OK” button.

Hardware improvement

You can strengthen the cellular signal on your smartphone by purchasing additional devices in specialized stores - a repeater and various types of antennas. Such devices significantly enhance the signal coming from the operator. In this situation, no manipulations with the device files are required.

All devices connected to the 3g or 4g Internet within the antenna coverage area increase download speed. To strengthen the 3G signal for a smartphone with your own hands in a country house or in an apartment, you need to take steps that will allow the operator’s signal to reach as quickly as possible.

Nowadays, many people work directly on the Internet; they do not necessarily have to sit in an office to conduct their business. Many problems are solved through the network, so it is extremely important that a high-quality Internet signal is available absolutely everywhere. If the dacha is located far enough from the city, plus the tower is not located nearby, then you can’t hope for high-quality Internet. But what to do in this case, not go to the country? Build a tower near you? Everything is much simpler: you just need to make an Internet signal amplifier for your dacha yourself.

A little theory

Before you find out how to make the best Internet signal booster for your dacha, you need to understand a little what 3G and 4G are, and also what can cause a bad signal.

Not so long ago, many summer residents used satellite Internet, but this technology has almost completely outlived its usefulness, but now the vast majority of people use it, which provides very good speed for comfortable work on the network. Today in Russia there are three communication formats - 2G, 3G and 4G. As reported a little earlier, in 2 years, in 2020, the most modern format will appear - 5G.

To understand how the classification of communication formats differs, you need to know the following:

• 2G, also known as EDGE, is the slowest mobile Internet, its speed does not exceed 40 Kb/s, and today it is practically not used anywhere.
• 3G is the first high-speed Internet, thanks to which you can surf pages very comfortably. The speed of this communication format does not exceed 800 Kb/s.
• 4G is the fastest mobile Internet in Russia today, its speed is 2-5 Mb/s.
• 5G - since the implementation of this format has not yet occurred, it is quite difficult to say exact numbers, but the approximate speed should be about 1 Gb/s.

These statistics are approximate, because theoretically the speed can increase at each point, it all depends on the operator’s throughput.

Mobile Internet signal amplifier for a summer residence

Each person can personally enhance the signal quality of a 4G modem, which can be purchased at any mobile phone store of the selected operator. To use the Internet through such a modem, you need a computer or laptop. But you should also take into account the factor of connection stability; if the operator is not able to maintain an uninterrupted signal (even at low speed), then it is rational to simply change it. Otherwise, the user will still receive a poor-quality Internet connection.

There are several possible options for how to strengthen the signal. The most popular are:

1. Extend the USB cable through which the modem is connected to the computer or laptop. Thanks to this, the modem can be placed somewhere higher or even taken outside, and the quality of communication will significantly improve.
2. UTP extender for 3 or 4G modem. A regular USB extension cable is unable to work properly if the cord length exceeds 4 meters. In this case, the extension cord can have a high-quality connection to the computer at a distance of up to 20 meters. Therefore, the modem can even be taken to the roof of the house.
3. Purchase a special Internet signal amplifier. Not the cheapest way, because the cost of a complete set will cost about 2800 rubles. ($50), however, the end result is really worth the money.
4. Make a special antenna with your own hands that will improve the quality of communication.
5. Change operator. At first glance, such a banal procedure may turn out to be the most effective.
6. Select the “3G Only” or “4G Only” mode.

We’ve sorted out the main methods for improving Internet connection, now we’ll talk about each of them in more detail.

Extend the modem via USB cable

To improve the quality of the signal, you should understand that this is a wave that spreads unevenly in different parts of the house. This means that you first need to determine where the signal is strongest and most stable. This will require a little time and patience, when this place is determined, you should proceed to the next step.

Almost all modems display the dBm value, which is what you should pay attention to. If this value is less than 70, the signal is simply excellent and this is where it is best to place an Internet access point. When the signal level is within 70-80 dBm - an average indicator, if there is no better indicator in the house, then you will not notice any strong discomfort when surfing pages. But when the dBm value is more than 100, the signal is very weak.

In practice, it is known that the strongest signal exists near windows and closer to the ceiling. It is best to place the modem somewhere near the roof. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about the device. All modems are not afraid of wind, rain and frost, but it is not advisable to expose the device where there is a lot of sunlight.

So, if the location has been determined, now you need to go to the store and simply purchase a USB extension cable of the required length. It is important to remember that if it is more than 4 meters long, then this procedure loses all meaning, the signal quality will again be poor.

UTP extender

If four meters of an extension cable is not enough to seriously improve the signal quality, then you should purchase a special UTP extension cable. Such a device can qualitatively extend the modem up to 20 meters. Therefore, if the access point needs to be placed on the roof, this is exactly what you need.

The extension cord consists of three parts:

1. A USB port that plugs into a laptop or computer.
2. The port where the modem is connected.
3. UTP cable that connects two ports. You can use a classic UTP-5E cable.

But if 20 meters of cable is not enough for you, then in this case you should purchase a more expensive one. High-quality information transmission will be stable at a distance of up to 50 meters.

for the dacha

Often in stores you can see special antennas that are designed to amplify the signal. They are purchased along with the required amount of cable; the antenna should be installed on the roof of the house.

The difficulty of installation is that one person cannot do it. Before installing the antenna, you should choose its exact direction, in which direction there will be the highest quality signal. The process goes something like this: one person slowly turns the Internet signal amplifier for the dacha, and the second on the computer looks at the dBm frequency and where the value will be the lowest, in this direction the device should be mounted.

The antenna itself is connected to the modem, and the modem, via a cable, is connected to the computer. It is also worth noting that the modem must be no further than two meters from the signal amplifier, otherwise there will be no result. There are also some other connection difficulties. Not all modems have antenna outputs, and those that do are of insufficient quality, so it is likely that you will have to resolder the input yourself. If you don’t know how to do this, then it’s better to take the modem to craftsmen who have soldered dozens of such devices.

This method is very complex and expensive; moreover, the antenna must be grounded. However, in some cases it is the antenna that becomes the savior. If the tower is located far enough (more than 10 km), then this is the only correct solution.

DIY signal booster antenna

You can use a homemade antenna not only at the dacha, but also on a hike; it’s quite simple to make. You need to wind copper wire onto the USB modem; it’s quite difficult to say how many turns you need, but there should be quite a few of them. The most wire should be wound where the SIM card is located. At the end of the wire you need to make a small screen from an ordinary tin can, and if you have an unnecessary CD, then it is generally ideal for a homemade antenna. Such a simple Internet signal amplifier for a summer residence can improve the quality of communication by up to 20%, which is a very good indicator.

The second version of a homemade antenna

There is also a stationary version of the antenna. Two diamond shapes should be made from fairly thick copper wire. In appearance, the antenna should resemble an unrounded figure eight. A regular antenna cable should be soldered to the joints of the diamonds, and the other end of the cable should be wrapped around the modem, as indicated in the previous example. Mount the antenna with the modem on the roof of the house or place it out the window, and connect the modem to the computer using a USB or UTP extension cable.

Changing operator

The quality of the Internet signal directly depends on the proximity of the towers located and the quality of the equipment. Therefore, before tinkering with anything, you should try to simply change the operator, sometimes this is the simplest and most effective method of strengthening the signal.

Users' opinions

But what do they say about what it really is - the best Internet signal amplifier for a summer residence, user reviews? Of all the methods described above, people most often prefer conventional extension cords. In most cases, they are the ones who help solve the problem. Also, many people respond well to the antennas they purchased. As for homemade devices, opinions are divided here. DIY antennas have helped some, while others complain that there was no signal improvement at all. However, we should not forget that people could simply not follow the instructions or simply do something incorrectly.

For city residents, the topic of poor internet may not be relevant, but in rural areas this is often a big problem. Not everyone has a landline telephone, and even if they do, it’s unlikely that the local PBX will provide you with such a miracle as ADSL. In regional centers, of course, this is easier, but what if you live about 20 kilometers from it? Then all hope is for 3G modems, there are no more options.

There's just one problem - 3G signal can be received confidently only in the line of sight from the station. At a distance of 15-20 kilometers, the connection becomes oh so unstable... It’s not just 3G, even regular GPRS fails, and there’s nothing to say about the speed of the Internet - God forbid, if you check your email, let alone websites for 10 minutes or more are loaded if the connection is not interrupted... In short, it’s just a headache, where can I do freelancing? A vital question arises - how to strengthen the signal of a 3g modem?

I had a situation where there was no connection at all. At first I had a modem from Beeline, because at least it caught something a little. Of course, the speed of 40-60 kbit cannot be called speed now, but it was more or less stable. Our MTS was unstable, and Megafon practically did not work at all. So we had a Beeline modem hanging from the ceiling, as is usually the case. How many nerves, the bastard, he devoured...

Then we bought a netbook - it’s somehow inconvenient for two people to work on one computer. I had to purchase a second modem. This time I bought an MTS - it worked, although it didn’t always work, but in rare moments when I managed to get 3G, it showed amazing agility (out of habit). So we suffered with two modems, moreover, we paid 450 rubles per month for one, and 350 for the other. For such and such a connection, damn it.

Of course, I was looking for ways to strengthen the 3G modem signal. I climbed onto the roof - there 3G signal caught, and disappeared below. It is useless to use a USB extension cable of this length - the resistance of a long wire leads to the fact that either the signal does not improve, or the modem does not have enough power and it is no longer detected by the computer. On my 5-meter extension cable, the MTS modem was not detected at all.

I also made all sorts of bells and whistles for modems, which can be found on various sites. I can’t show you photos, because all this junk didn’t help me and I threw it away a long time ago. The only thing I will say is that there is a diagram of a loop antenna on the Internet that can really help, but I didn’t want to solder the wires to the modem - this way you can completely “finish” it. And I couldn’t find any suitable copper wire, so I didn’t try this antenna. Later you will understand why it can help, but, of course, my option is better.

In general, I came to the following conclusions:

1. You need to catch the signal higher, where you can’t climb with a modem.
2. You need to make or buy a special antenna for the 3G range, and all these homemade tins on the windows are complete nonsense.
3. You need a special cable in which the signal is lost minimally (or it may not reach you at all along a long cable).

In the end, I decided not to suffer and buy a good, normal antenna. Of course, I didn’t find anything like that in the store... Although you can look in the city, of course. I just ordered it on the Anteks online store website. This is not an advertisement, just showing where I bought it. It cost about 1,700 rubles then, but now, of course, the price is different. Although there are cheaper ones to choose from, but with lower gain, I chose the one with the maximum - 17 dB, because the nearest tower is about 20 km away, and the signal is very bad. Their set is called “ Set No. 4" I’ll show you what it includes next.

What is an antenna?

Of course, its main part is itself antenna. I admit, I thought it would be smaller... You can see it in the photo. The kit includes everything you need for mounting on a mast or wall, by the way. I took an iron water pipe that was lying around and it fit just right.

By the way, the kit also includes cable. By default there is 10 meters of RK-50 cable. When placing an order, you can choose a different length - at least 20 meters, and a different brand of cable. I didn’t bother with this - 10 meters was enough for me with a reserve. The cable is immediately connected to the antenna and there is no need to do anything there. This is what the whole kit looks like:

You can also order different adapter for connecting the antenna and modem. For example, if the modem has a connector for connecting an antenna, you can order the appropriate adapter. I didn't have such a connector, so I chose a universal adapter. By the way, it is also included in the kit by default - if you don’t choose another one, then they will put this one. Looking at the photo on the site, I somehow doubted that such an unreliable, contactless connection method would improve my Internet. I was wrong - it works very well.

The entire installation is very simple. The hardest part is securing the antenna. This must be done as high as possible, but without fanaticism - so that the wind does not knock you down or lightning strikes you. It must be directed strictly to the station. If the exact direction is unknown, then you can direct it approximately, and then correct it using the “sticks” of the signal level. You just need to remember that this signal level on the screen does not change instantly, so they act like this: turn it a little, wait until the level is updated, turn it again... But before that, of course, you need to connect the antenna to the modem, otherwise I was in a bit of a hurry.

It's quite simple - open the adapter and put the modem in there USB extender. You don’t need to take a long extension cord – as long as it’s enough from the computer to the adapter. On the contrary, the shorter all these wires, the less signal loss. So, the modem is inserted inside, between the metal petals, and the extension cord connector is inserted into the slot for it. And that’s it, close the lid, tighten the screws, and you don’t have to go in there anymore.

This is where the entire installation ends, in principle. All that remains is to connect the modem to the computer and see whether the 3G signal has improved or not. I'll give you my example.

How to boost a 3G modem signal to 7 Mbit - speed test

To take screenshots, I took the modem out of the adapter and hung it on a regular USB extension cable in its original place - on the window. Is this a familiar picture? This is the connection I have without an antenna, with a modem from MTS, model ZTE MF 192 - far from the best. This is what I tried to check the connection speed on the Speedtest.net website:

At first there was a slight movement, there was a 2G signal and one “stick”, then they disappeared. The speed test result is here:

To be honest, I didn’t think it would be measured at all, because during the measurement process the connection almost completely disappeared, so the Connect Manager program froze. It usually freezes if the connection is lost for some reason.

Well, the following pictures were taken with the antenna. Here signal level:

And here is the result of the speed measurement:

By the way, my modem is 7.2 Mbit, so it worked at the limit of its capabilities, and you can’t expect more from it. Of course, such a speed of reception does not always happen. Usually it stays stable within 5-7 Mbit, sometimes drops to 2-3 Mbit. In the evening, for example, the speed is lower than during the day. And it's best from morning until lunch. Be that as it may, I don’t measure it, in general. Online video works on two computers at the same time, for example, at any time, so the speed is enough for me. At the same time, I now have one modem, connected to router, and he is already distributing the Internet to WiFi on two computers at once. By the way, I ordered the router together with the antenna, in one package. This made it possible to abandon the Beeline modem and save 450 rubles per month. But on MTS I switched to a more expensive tariff, where there are no limits at all, and I still got savings. Well, at least you don’t need to think about these limits - you wanted to, downloaded something, or watched a movie, not counting the megabytes...

By the way, here’s an example of the process of downloading the first movie you come across, using Internet Download Master– the fastest “downloader” that I always use. It doesn’t spend a lot of time switching threads and sending requests, but stubbornly “gnaws” on the file all the time.

I deliberately waited until the file was halfway downloaded so that I could easily estimate the time. As you can see, the entire file, weighing almost 400 MB, was downloaded in about 7 minutes. In fact, he finished it faster than I saved this drawing.

Maybe this will seem slow to some, but before I couldn’t download even 10 MB normally; constant connection interruptions made it a pain. By the way, in the figure the speed is in kilobytes, not in kilobits, so I converted it to kilobits and it turned out to be about 7 Mbits.

Well, perhaps that’s all about how to strengthen the signal of a 3G modem. Maybe this article will be useful to someone. I just want to say that the antenna will help perfectly in the area of ​​​​uncertain reception, where 3G signal that is, it is absent, or weak. Well, where it never existed in the first place, don’t blame me – no antennas will help.

This, of course, is not the only way to strengthen the signal of a 3G modem in an unstable area. They adapt, for example, satellite dishes, also with good results, but this is for those who like to tinker.