CLEAR modem WIXB-175

[gapon]

Hi, Please help me boost signal, I have 2 bar at my modem. Modem does not have any extermar conectors< maybe some one have solution how boost signal< maybe this modem has conectors inside.
I will apriciate for any idea.
Thanks

[Petro5]

outdoor external antenna for Clear series G modem

The Clear Series G modem (Gemtek WIXB-175) does NOT have an external antenna port. To attach an external antenna to this you would need to open up the case and remove the PCB antenna leads that go to the internal printed antennas and attach a pigtail/cable leading to an external antenna. You would then need to drill a hose through the case to pass through the pigtail. Needless to say that opening the case voids the warranty of the modem.

If you own this modem and understand the risks and want to go ahead with this you would need:

1) U.FL to N-Female Pigtail
2) Low Loss LMR-400 cable - Select cable with N-Male/N-Male ends.
3) WiMax outdoor 16dBi directional panel antenna. This is our most popular outdoor antenna but you may find other WiMax antennas here: http://www.rfwel.com/4g-data/wimax-a...wimax_antennas

Optional Items:
If you will mount this outdoors above any other lightning surge protectors we strongly recommend a lightning surge device. You would then need:
A) Lightning protection: http://www.rfwel.com/4g-data/wimax-antennas.php#2500mhz_wimax_antennas
B) 2ft jumper cable to allow convenient mounting of lightning protector.

For best performance you should use two external antennas but here’s an article on when one antenna could work just fine: http://www.rfwel.com/forums/content....s-Two-Antennas

If you can switch to the Clear 4G USB modem then since this has external antenna ports you can get an external antenna here: http://www.rfwel.com/shop/?target=pr...roduct_id=1935. We also have a universal passive antenna coupler for other USB modems that don't have external antenna ports but we recommend using the USB modem that does.

Hope this helps.

[gapon]

u have usb modem, but I dont have any bars when using usb modem, when i using home modem i have 2-3 bars. if I add antena to usb modem is it will be better then my home modem, any advice?
Thanks

[thuor]

Yes. Assuming you have the Clear 4G mobile USB modem.

[max]

Petro and thuor, thank you for your suggestions.

I live right on the edge of Clear's 4G coverage and would like to try your recommendation. I'm able to get a 4G connection now to but reliability and speeds are low.

Do you know if this has been done successfully before?

I'm not sure how hard it will be to get the pigtail soldered on right. I've been doing soldering for fun since I was a kid and worked in an electronics lab for a while but I've never done any RF work. Do you think I'd be able to get it right?
If not, do you have any recommendations who I should turn to?

Thanks, Max

[thuor]

Yes it has. You don't need to solder anything with the Series-G modem. It already has antenna posts so all you need to do is disconnect the external antenna(s) and connect the pigtail/cable for the external antenna.

Disconnect where circled with red in pic below.



IMPORTANT NOTE:
------------------

• If you are only connecting one antenna use the primary antenna port and leave the other connected so it can use the internal antenna for secondary.
• The U.FL pigtail is NOT designed for constant removal and re-insertion. They spec it to about 100 cycles but it could be much less.

[max]

Oh, that's even better!

Outside, on my deck, I'm getting 10 to 13 CINR and -80 to -77 RSSI with the Sierra USB antenna. No reception inside the house. My house is surrounded by trees with leaves on them so I'm planning to put the antenna above tree level.

I saw you posted an article on the front to help decide whether to get one or two antennas. I'll read up on that and get back if I have more questions.

[max]

After reading the article I decided to go with a two antenna setup for my application and ordered the parts for it. Thanks for your advice so far. I'll report back once I have everthing installed or if I run into issues.

[max]

primary port

Yes it has. You don't need to solder anything with the Series-G modem. It already has antenna posts so all you need to do is disconnect the external antenna(s) and connect the pigtail/cable for the external antenna.

Disconnect where circled with red in pic below.



IMPORTANT NOTE:
------------------

• If you are only connecting one antenna use the primary antenna port and leave the other connected so it can use the internal antenna for secondary.
• The U.FL pigtail is NOT designed for constant removal and re-insertion. They spec it to about 100 cycles but it could be much less.

I'm trying to hook up my external antennas and I'd like to start with the directional one. Once that works I'll hook up the second one. I'm not sure, though, which one is the primary port, i.e. whether I should hook up my directional antenna to the upper or the lower port on the modem. Do you have advice on that?

Thank you!

[thuor]

Here is a more detailed image. Primary antenna is on J2 post. But don't worry if you get it wrong you will notice a significant drop in downlink speed vs when you swap it to the other one. Leave the secondary antenna connected to the internal antennas.

[zytrahus]

does the WIXBR-177 have the same PCB?

[thuor]

The PCB is different but it has the same U.FL antenna connector interface to the printed antenna.

[max]

thanks -- working great

Just wanted to report back -- I've had my two antenna setup now for a while and it has been working great. I'm getting 5 bars on the modem and 6MB/s download speed, plenty good for watching HD movies on netflix. Before hooking up the external antennas I got 2 bars at best.
I don't have a line of sight to the tower because of trees in beetween and it took me a while to figure out its exact location. I had to drive over there and get a GPS reading, then print out a map and play with a protractor and a compass for a bit to figure out where to aim the directional antenna. I mounted it on a pole just above the trees and since then the signal has been strong and reliable even in wind and rain.

Thanks again for your support and advice!

Now on to the next project, a dual-band bidirectional amplifier for cell phone coverage...

[thuor]

Glad to hear it's working great for you. Thanks for the update!

[hey]

what??

what exactly did you purchase for the g series to gain that performance?