Good *base* antenna for use with `cellular modem'

[Halfpint]

I got one of those Cricket modems for Chirstmas and while it works I am only able to 2 - 2½ `bars' `worth?' of reception in my house. (And... Yes, I *have* tried all sorts of different placements.) Anyone have a line on a decent `base' type antenna with attached coax and connector (Looks like the same type of connector my mag-mount GPS antenna uses.) that could be fairly easy to mount along side an existing 1½" mast or on the side of a house?

 

[Halfpint]

Oh, yeah... Here is a picture of the `example' connector (On the cable from my GPS Antenna) sitting on top of a dime. The center connector is a single pin rather than what my somewhat shaky picture seems to show.

 

[rfradioconsult]

You need to determine which cellular "band" that Cricket is using in your area. Most of their markets utilize the 1900 MHz PCS band as opposed to the 869-894 MHz celluar band. The distinction between cellular and PCS has become blurred in the last several years and the celllur handsets can operate on either band seamlessly.

If you do need an antenna for 1900 MHz you will need some serious low-loss coax and N connectors with short runs.

 

[902]

Most, if not all of Cricket's own system is deployed in the AWS band 1710–1755 subscriber "input" frequency range and 2110–2170 base "output" frequency range. They are marketing "tri-band" devices which have roaming agreements with other carriers in the regular PCS (1900) and traditional cellular (870) bands. You'd probably need to speak with a knowledgeable person in Cricket (maybe easier said than done, as I doubt storefront sales people are the right resource for this conversation) for their recommendations on base antennas and feedline.

 

[lowerrollin]

check out wilson's antenna and aircard adapters at Cell Phone Antennas and Cell Phone Boosters at Wilson Electronics I have a mobile trucker style antenna set up on a pole outside facing the tower, and receive 2-3 more bars on average. They come with adapters that fit your manuf. aircard or phone.
hope this helps

 

[Halfpint]

THANKS!

Now I have a lot more than just a tad bit of info as to what/where to look! I am kinda afraid that I *might* be operating this new `toy' down in the lower of it's possible ranges, unfortunately. (The reasoning being that if I am online for more than just a `quick burst' to pick up `mail' or some other quicky `project' I end up somehow wiping out the signal from my wireless weather station's ISS to the consoles. [The weather station is a Davis Vantage Pro2+ system.] Since we use the data from the WS for both farming and home automation control losing large chunks of the data can sometimes *really* mess thing up even with assorted `backups' in place. [Whilst it probably might? not be too bad during the winter time months I am worried about what could happen during the late spring/summer/early fall time. Either irrigation systems don't run when they are supposed to or a furnace comes on when AC or venting is actually called for. Yikes!])

I *really* do not want to go back to dial-up now that I've *finally* gotten to have some `speed' available! (Yeah, yeah... I expect that I'll hear that it *shouldn't* be causing my problems. But, being good ol' Joe Btfsplk [Look up `Lil Abner & Dogpatch.] like I seem to be at times, I want to do whatever I can do to at least be able to say I tried. {GRIMACE!})

Again... THANKS guys!