Yagi Or Mag Mount ?

[fl00d_pr0z]

Okay, signal at my home is really bad and at my new beach place it's low. I'm researching antenna's but I could use some help. I don't know exactly what antenna would serve me better.
A Mag Mount: http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=37
Or The Yagi: http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=313

Any help at all would be great.

[radiofreq]

A Yagi style antenna will ALWAYS give you higher gain than a standard vertical mag-mount.

As long as you know where the tower is, and you can point the antenna to it without too much of a problem, I would suggest the Yagi.

I use several Yagi type for my commercial repeaters/communications radios. Huge benefit to use these with minimal power out/in (i.e. PCS phone).

[fl00d_pr0z]

The mag mount antenna is claiming 10-15 DB gain, the yagi only 13... At home, I know where the tower is, at the beach I don't. Would it be hard to just turn it till I acquired a good signal ?

[radiofreq]

Mag mount may claim 10-15dB, but thats with optimal conditions (i.e. a perfect ground plane under the antenna itself). Don't get me wrong...the mag-mount would probably improve the signal, you just have to determine which one would be benificial.

Would it be hard to just turn it till I acquired a good signal ?
It may become time consuming, but not hard per se.

How far are the towers approximately? What kind of signal do you get at each place?

[fl00d_pr0z]

At my home I'm exactly 2.4 miles from the Sprint tower. I get 1 bar inside my home and 1 outside (Outside has a slightly higher Db rating). At the beach, I have about 2 bars of signal, not sure how far the tower is or what direction it's in, yet.

Edit: Found the tower according to the tower map, not far at all. Prob about the same distance.

[radiofreq]

I don't think you'd really need the Yagi, then. You'd probably be okay sticking the mag-mount on the roof (close to the gutters). Just make sure you put it on the side facing the tower (obviously). Make some sort of ground plane for the antenna and place it on top of it.

You should get enough signal out of it to be fine.

[macaddiict]

Does the phone not work as it is currently? My phone seems to do just fine with no bars, just the little tower icon... is the Treo more needy?

[fl00d_pr0z]

Yeah, it works. Not well, but it's enough signal at times to use.

[fl00d_pr0z]

One last question: Is it necessary to get an amplifier to use with the antenna. Like http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2
Or, would it help a great bit to warrant the purchase of one ?

[radiofreq]

Yeah, it works. Not well, but it's enough signal at times to use.

In that case, I would say that the mag-mount would give you enough usable signal to carry on a decent call without too much hassle (keep in mind, it will probably never be perfect. I live less than 1/2 mile from a Sprint tower and have experienced call problems)

One last question: Is it necessary to get an amplifier to use with the antenna. Like http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.as...EWPROD&ProdID=2
Or, would it help a great bit to warrant the purchase of one ?

I don't think I would spend that kind of money just yet. Start with the cheapest first. Get the mag-mount and try it out. With your type of signal reception, as you described, the antenna set-up like I described earlier will probably do you just fine.

---radio

[fl00d_pr0z]

Okay, thanks for your time. Hope this works.

[radiofreq]

Okay, thanks for your time. Hope this works.


Not a problem. Let me know if it works. If not, we can go from there

BTW, here is a great FAQ on ground planes for mag-mounts:

http://cellular-amplifier.com/antennas/groundplane.html

[Moose48]

Okay, signal at my home is really bad and at my new beach place it's low. I'm researching antenna's but I could use some help. I don't know exactly what antenna would serve me better.
A Mag Mount: http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=37
Or The Yagi: http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=313

Any help at all would be great.

Have you looked at a product called Wireless Extender. I saw it at Fry's Electronics. It is also on the web.

[Moose48]

Have you tried a product called Wireless Extender? I saw it on the web and it is for sale at Fry's Electronics as well.

[fl00d_pr0z]

No I haven't. I just searched and all I came up with were Wireless G Extenders.

[Moose48]

No I haven't. I just searched and all I came up with were Wireless G Extenders.

go to www.wirelessextenders.com
I just went there, so it works. Looks like they have some upgrades similiar to the other antennas you are looking at. Hope it helps.

[fl00d_pr0z]

Oh Yeah, I actually did see that before. Thanks :D

[Moose48]

I just checked the site www.wirelessextenders.com. Looks like they have some higher gain upgrade antennas as well. Hope this helps.

[Moose48]

check out www.wirelessextenders.com It works, I was just there. They also have some upgrade antennas like you were asking about.

[fl00d_pr0z]

Thanks again, I'm gonna start off simple and see how far that gets me first. LoL

[Bumble]

Has anyone tried one of these out?

http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=34

When i drive along, theres a few spots that i lose my signal, and didn't know if this mini glass mount would actually help.

[fl00d_pr0z]

Well, I got my antenna today. Although, I thought I ordered the adapter for my Treo at the same time, I noticed I didn't. So I must wait a few more days before I'm able to use it.

I had a question about the ground plane thing ( http://cellular-amplifier.com/antennas/groundplane.html ). It states that the antenna should have 12" all around ? I was hoping I could place it toward the back of my car's roof to minimize the wire showing. And if it doesn't have 12" all around, I assume that would just reduce the gain ?

[fl00d_pr0z]

Humm, where's radiofreq when ya need em... :D

[radiofreq]

Well, I got my antenna today. Although, I thought I ordered the adapter for my Treo at the same time, I noticed I didn't. So I must wait a few more days before I'm able to use it.

I had a question about the ground plane thing ( http://cellular-amplifier.com/antennas/groundplane.html ). It states that the antenna should have 12" all around ? I was hoping I could place it toward the back of my car's roof to minimize the wire showing. And if it doesn't have 12" all around, I assume that would just reduce the gain ?

Sorry, I needed a "personal health day" away from the net. :wavey:

In your last paragraph, yes, you are 100% correct. It shouldn't reduce your performance that much.

[fl00d_pr0z]

Ah hope you're okay.

I ended up putting it on my trunk and running the cable through the back of my seat to the front consol. Now, lets hope the CD Radio place at the beach has the adapter I need :lmao:
Thanks again, I'll let ya know what kind of improvement I get.

[rfzenyen]

I saw Wireless Extenders repeater at Fry's Electronic as well. A friend of mine bought one and he says it works great. You get a complete kit for just $299.