Monday, February 06, 2012
   
Text Size
Login

Complete Small Office - Home Office Phone System

Tuesday, February 09 2010 08:26

Outdoor Mounting Solution for CLEAR WiMAX Users With Low Signal Quality

Rate this item
(2 votes)

HTC Supersonic with WiMAX

Ok... so adding a sixty foot tower to try an get a better 4G wireless signal is a bit much. We don't do that, but...AusTex VoIP has come up with a method of mounting the the CLEAR WiMAX indoor modem outside. For those struggling with a weak signal from CLEAR's 4G wireless internet service using the residential modem, this could be key to getting a strong enough signal to once again enyoy your internet browsing experience.

Because CLEAR does not have an external antenna or CPE (customer premise equipment) for outdoor use, we decided to take the indoor modem and find a way to mount it outdoors. We've heard of CLEAR users trying to do this themselves, but it does present several problems that AusTex VoIP has overcome. There are users placing the modem in the attic, under the eaves in zip lock bags, and even stranger attempts at getting a decent signal.

Our solution involves placing the home modem in a weatherproof enclosure, getting power and ethernet to that enclosure, and then running the cables back to a location that works best for you. At the indoor location, we will add a wall mount that allows you to plug your power adapter and ethernet cable right into the outlet. This install is very clean, and very professional. The outdoor mount is placed on the side of the house closest to your primary CLEAR antenna (base station), and can be fine tuned inside the enclosure for reception of the strongest signal available.

This process is intended for those that would really like to increase their CLEAR WiMAX signal strength indoors. Maybe your signal has never been that good at your location, or your combination of stucco and energy efficient windows is doing a great job of blocking the signal. Whatever the reason, AusTex VoIP can can work with you to get a better signal.

Below, are the results of a recent outdoor mounting. This person has only "Fast Home" which limits the download speed to 3.0 Mbs. The CINR (carrier to interference plus noise ratio) strength is what drives the number of lights on the modem. Anything above 19 will generally get you 5 lights on the modem. The CINR is a measusre of signal strength with noise calculations factored in for an overall signal effectiveness. A CINR of less than 12 is not going to allow for a great internet experience, and would not allow for use of CLEAR Voice.

By mounting outside:

-- Lights went from 2-3 to 5 full time.
-- RSSI went from -73 to -63
-- CINR went from 8 to 25
-- speedtests (speedtest.net) have consistently been at or greater than 3 megs down, which is my plan

For more details on this unique offering from AusTex VoIP, give us a call at (512) 600-0990.

 

Last modified on Wednesday, February 10 2010 09:10

Add comment


Login Form