Current setup:
Small remote office
3 computers, 1 server, 1 printer
CradlePoint MBR1200 Firmware 1.7.2
(2) Two Sierra Wireless AirCard 250U modems
Office is located at Cobblerock between Gold Camp Drive and Prospect Park Drive facing North, in Rancho Cordova, CA
Nearest towers:
Cascade_ID______Cell_No____Dist.______Dist._____Di st.________Cell
__________________________(km)______(miles)___(fee t)_______Dir.
FN04XC011_______70________0.2_______0.2_______812_ ________NE
SF73XC553_______273_______1.7_______1.1_______5,66 6_______NE
SF73XC511_______231_______2_________1.3_______6,69 0_______SE
FN04XC010_______69________2.3_______1.4_______7,55 5_______SW
FN40XC004_______5_________2.7_______1.7_______8,76 5_______NW
Modem Info:
We are getting 100% signal on 3g but it's speeds vary widely thru the day. Some days a laptop not connected to the CradlePoint but to a separate U600 gets a bar of 4g and is blazing faster but the signal often gets lost and it's back to 3g.
Fromt time to time the user with the U600 is using in the desktop. We changed the metrics so it uses it as a gateway still access to the LAN. He claims the one U600 (3g or 4g) is faster than the CradlePoint and the two 250U's connected via a Ethernet cable to a Linksys 24 port switch with just one user. The switch is not the issue because we used the switch on the back of the CradlePoint as well with no difference.
We did an indoor survey for the best location of the CradlePoint. We used a Sprint phone and a laptop and a U600, to get an average of results. The dbm's were from low -80's to mid -90's.
After the survey inside the office was completed we placed the CradlePoint in the best location with the lowest dBm’s. Currently the two 250U's are directly on the back of the router. There are two Belkin USB extension cables built with RF and EMI/RFI shielding which haven’t been put to use. The USB's are going to be taped to the window with an elevation of about 5'8" (12" from top of frame and 2'+ away from fluorescent lights). It should be done tomorrow.
There seems no variation in different elevations in dbm or speed. The window is the farthest away from any electronic equipment and the closest to the nearest Sprint tower FN04XC011. No difference with lights off.
On the laptop with the 600U we noticed in the Sprint Smart View the signal (dbm) would raise when actually pulling pages down off the web and during downloads to 101. Don’t know if it’s a software glitch or something related to hardware. After the page was done loading it'd go back to it's previous value.
I'd like to add an antenna. I’d like to go 4g all the way.
What is the right antenna for me?
Is there any configuration changes I can make with the current hardware to improve performance?
Is roof best way to go?
What about lightning?
Should I go for 3g or 4g?
Will any antenna do both?
Is it a good idea to have an antenna that does 3g and 4g?
I saw a few products that may work namely the Sprint 250U Broadband Modem Antenna by Sierra. I’m not familiar and need help making a decision.
Background:
There is only T1 service available and it's still around $378+. There used to be DSL but AT&T changed the rules about the distance from the CO. The only available DSL in the area was grandfathered. New DSL accounts or a new CO aren’t going to happen. It was DSL 144/144.
A few years ago when the office had more personnel we had flex T1. The circuit was split 768 data and the rest of the bandwidth for voice. It was an excellent product. We changed to a full T1 when things got really busy and wrapped into our voice services.
During the down turn we negotiated out of the contract and got 3 POTS and one Sprint wireless card. Recently the office went from one to three people and one field tech who frequents the office a few hours a week. We are only there till December but one of the new users requires a bit more bandwidth to more efficient by decreasing delays in dispatching and data entry. The user requires either VPN or a remote connection to access dispatching thru our accounting/CRM. Either way it’s too slow some parts of the day. On the other end its 3.0Mb Bonded T1 Flex solution which never sees 50% utilization. The phones aren’t very busy now-a-days so it’s not on the hosting end.
Thanks,
ShortChop
P.S. Sorry if posted in wrong section
Small remote office
3 computers, 1 server, 1 printer
CradlePoint MBR1200 Firmware 1.7.2
(2) Two Sierra Wireless AirCard 250U modems
Office is located at Cobblerock between Gold Camp Drive and Prospect Park Drive facing North, in Rancho Cordova, CA
Nearest towers:
Cascade_ID______Cell_No____Dist.______Dist._____Di st.________Cell
__________________________(km)______(miles)___(fee t)_______Dir.
FN04XC011_______70________0.2_______0.2_______812_ ________NE
SF73XC553_______273_______1.7_______1.1_______5,66 6_______NE
SF73XC511_______231_______2_________1.3_______6,69 0_______SE
FN04XC010_______69________2.3_______1.4_______7,55 5_______SW
FN40XC004_______5_________2.7_______1.7_______8,76 5_______NW
Modem Info:
Modem Diagnostics
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless
Product: 250U - 4G
Modem Firmware Version: 5.2.2061050032
Center Frequency (kHz): 330062500
CINR (dB): 9
Base Station ID (BSID): XXXXXXXXXXXX
Calibration Status: Calibrated
MAC Address: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Signal Strength (%): 33
Signal Strength (dBm): -87
Physical Port USB1
Connection Status: offline
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated
Product: Sierra Wireless Device
Carrier Status: UP
ESN/IMEI: XXXXXXXX
Connection Type: CDMA
PRL Version: 1115
Service Display: 1xEV-DO,1X
Signal Strength (%): 100
Signal Strength (dBm): -73 +
Physical Port USB1
Connection Status: Connected
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless
Product: 250U - 4G
Modem Firmware Version: 5.2.2061050032
Center Frequency (kHz): 330062500
CINR (dB): 6
Base Station ID (BSID): XXXXXXXXXXXX
Calibration Status: Calibrated
MAC Address: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Signal Strength (%): 31
Signal Strength (dBm): -89
Physical Port USB2
Connection Status: offline
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated
Product: Sierra Wireless Device
Carrier Status: UP
ESN/IMEI: XXXXXXXX
Connection Type: CDMA
PRL Version: 60764
Service Display: 1xEV-DO,1X
Signal Strength (%): 100
Signal Strength (dBm): -76
Physical Port USB2
Connection Status: Connected
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless
Product: 250U - 4G
Modem Firmware Version: 5.2.2061050032
Center Frequency (kHz): 330062500
CINR (dB): 9
Base Station ID (BSID): XXXXXXXXXXXX
Calibration Status: Calibrated
MAC Address: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Signal Strength (%): 33
Signal Strength (dBm): -87
Physical Port USB1
Connection Status: offline
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated
Product: Sierra Wireless Device
Carrier Status: UP
ESN/IMEI: XXXXXXXX
Connection Type: CDMA
PRL Version: 1115
Service Display: 1xEV-DO,1X
Signal Strength (%): 100
Signal Strength (dBm): -73 +
Physical Port USB1
Connection Status: Connected
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless
Product: 250U - 4G
Modem Firmware Version: 5.2.2061050032
Center Frequency (kHz): 330062500
CINR (dB): 6
Base Station ID (BSID): XXXXXXXXXXXX
Calibration Status: Calibrated
MAC Address: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Signal Strength (%): 31
Signal Strength (dBm): -89
Physical Port USB2
Connection Status: offline
Name Value
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated
Product: Sierra Wireless Device
Carrier Status: UP
ESN/IMEI: XXXXXXXX
Connection Type: CDMA
PRL Version: 60764
Service Display: 1xEV-DO,1X
Signal Strength (%): 100
Signal Strength (dBm): -76
Physical Port USB2
Connection Status: Connected
Fromt time to time the user with the U600 is using in the desktop. We changed the metrics so it uses it as a gateway still access to the LAN. He claims the one U600 (3g or 4g) is faster than the CradlePoint and the two 250U's connected via a Ethernet cable to a Linksys 24 port switch with just one user. The switch is not the issue because we used the switch on the back of the CradlePoint as well with no difference.
We did an indoor survey for the best location of the CradlePoint. We used a Sprint phone and a laptop and a U600, to get an average of results. The dbm's were from low -80's to mid -90's.
After the survey inside the office was completed we placed the CradlePoint in the best location with the lowest dBm’s. Currently the two 250U's are directly on the back of the router. There are two Belkin USB extension cables built with RF and EMI/RFI shielding which haven’t been put to use. The USB's are going to be taped to the window with an elevation of about 5'8" (12" from top of frame and 2'+ away from fluorescent lights). It should be done tomorrow.
There seems no variation in different elevations in dbm or speed. The window is the farthest away from any electronic equipment and the closest to the nearest Sprint tower FN04XC011. No difference with lights off.
On the laptop with the 600U we noticed in the Sprint Smart View the signal (dbm) would raise when actually pulling pages down off the web and during downloads to 101. Don’t know if it’s a software glitch or something related to hardware. After the page was done loading it'd go back to it's previous value.
I'd like to add an antenna. I’d like to go 4g all the way.
What is the right antenna for me?
Is there any configuration changes I can make with the current hardware to improve performance?
Is roof best way to go?
What about lightning?
Should I go for 3g or 4g?
Will any antenna do both?
Is it a good idea to have an antenna that does 3g and 4g?
I saw a few products that may work namely the Sprint 250U Broadband Modem Antenna by Sierra. I’m not familiar and need help making a decision.
Background:
There is only T1 service available and it's still around $378+. There used to be DSL but AT&T changed the rules about the distance from the CO. The only available DSL in the area was grandfathered. New DSL accounts or a new CO aren’t going to happen. It was DSL 144/144.
A few years ago when the office had more personnel we had flex T1. The circuit was split 768 data and the rest of the bandwidth for voice. It was an excellent product. We changed to a full T1 when things got really busy and wrapped into our voice services.
During the down turn we negotiated out of the contract and got 3 POTS and one Sprint wireless card. Recently the office went from one to three people and one field tech who frequents the office a few hours a week. We are only there till December but one of the new users requires a bit more bandwidth to more efficient by decreasing delays in dispatching and data entry. The user requires either VPN or a remote connection to access dispatching thru our accounting/CRM. Either way it’s too slow some parts of the day. On the other end its 3.0Mb Bonded T1 Flex solution which never sees 50% utilization. The phones aren’t very busy now-a-days so it’s not on the hosting end.
Thanks,
ShortChop
P.S. Sorry if posted in wrong section
Comment