External directional antenna for 5G-NSA on FWA510

Options
bejb
bejb Posts: 15  Freshman Member
First Comment Friend Collector First Anniversary
edited January 2024 in Mobile Broadband

I have a FWA510 that is currently using its internal aerial. The service connects to an O2 transmitter about 1.2 miles away, with clear line of sight - but through my double glazed window. I'm getting about 20-35Mb/s up and 15-20Mb/s down (much better than the alternative BT ADSL). The Air app says I'm connection with 5G-NSA with RSRP -97dBm, SINR 24dB, RSRQ -9dB.

I think I could probably get a better (faster & more reliable) signal & speed if I connected an external 5G antenna. I also live in Northumberland National Park, so there may be objections if I used a large external antenna - so I'm considering the Bluespot mini 5G. This is only 5G (3135MHz - 4038MHz, 2x2 MIMO) and so does not pick up 4G.

I'm anxious that 4G is needed for 5G-NSA.

However, I get the feeling that the FWA510 only accepts 5G frequencies through the external antennae connectors - not 4G. And also that, even if the switch is switched to External Antennae, the internal antennae are still used to pick up 4G. So it feels as though putting an external 5G-only directional antenna should work and improve my signal to the router.

Does anyone any any thoughts on this, and how best to fit an external antenna onto a FWA510 to improve the 5G-NSA connection?

I did find the post (below) that suggests this is right for the 5101, but there doesn't seem to be an documentation in the 510 manual on fitting an external antenna:-

'The external antenna ports are only for frequencies higher than 3500 MHz, and the internal antennas are used for other frequencies (lower than 3500 MHz e.g. 2600 MHz and below) when external antennas are connected and with the switch on EXT position; when the switch is on INT position, internal antennas are used for all the ranges of frequency.

When the switch is on EXT position without any external antenna connected, the router works only on 4G/3G/UMTS modes (5G signal could still be received but at a very low level by the external antenna circuit; they made tests: 5G signal with the switch on INT RSRP = -65 dBm, 5G signal with the switch on EXT no external antenna connected RSRP = -90 dBm).'

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/11861/external-antenna-on-a-nr5101-router
«1

All Replies

  • bejb
    bejb Posts: 15  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector First Anniversary

    OK, so I tested switching the Ext Ant switch, without any external antenna attached. My theory was that the router would lose the 5G connection but fall back to 4G, still using the internal antennae.

    However, that's wrong. The router lost its connection entirely. So switching the Ext Ant switch appears to disable the internal antennae and rely entirely on the external.

    So I guess an external antenna that works with 5G but not 4G would not be able to provide 5G-NSA.

    To a degree this does help explain things bit. I was unsure when the previous post talked about 'external antenna ports are only for frequencies higher than 3500 MHz'. A lot of the providers use frequencies below 3500MHz for 5G (eg 3400MHz), and so this suggests the external antennae would not work with them.

    I wish there was more documentation to support the use of the external antennae with the FWA510.

  • Dr_Elmer
    Dr_Elmer Posts: 11  Freshman Member
    First Comment
    IMG_2557.png

    I have connected an 2x2 Poynting xpol-2-V3 directional antenna to my FWA510. I get this strange results. Without the external antenna, the signal was -103 dbm. After connecting the antenna it improved to ca -86 dbm but after a while it goes back to -103. What could be the problem?

  • Dr_Elmer
    Dr_Elmer Posts: 11  Freshman Member
    First Comment
    IMG_2559.png

    It went back to this..

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,816  Guru Member
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate

    Hi @Dr_Elmer

    May I know if you have switch INT/EXT antenna switch to EXT?

    image.png

    If so, may I know if the directional antenna is fixed? Where do you place the directional antenna? Outdoor or indoor?

    Zyxel Melen


  • Dr_Elmer
    Dr_Elmer Posts: 11  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    Good question, yes I placed the antenna outdoors on the roof. Then I circled the antenna until I got the best signal (up to -83 from -103). In Sweden they just removed all information on were mobile masts are due to the current situation. I fixed the antenna and ensured that the ext switch was selected. The strange thing is that after a while the signal went down to -103 again. I checked all connections, switched back to int and then back to ext again. Then it jumped back up to -83 for a while. But then down to -102 again. I only use two of the external contacts since the antenna is a 2x2. From the Poynting I have a 5 meter LMR200 N-male to SMA-male and then an adapter to the TS9s on the Nebula.

    I seems that the antenna is not locking into the best band/signal/mast and changes to a worse option after a while. What can I do to troubleshoot?

    thanks for all help

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,816  Guru Member
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate

    Hi @Dr_Elmer

    Please help to collect the cellular information when the signal is -83 and is -103. We want to compare the difference between these two statuses. The cellular info should be like this.

    image.png
    Zyxel Melen


  • Dr_Elmer
    Dr_Elmer Posts: 11  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    Module Information   

    IMEI 351503890094673Module SW Version MP1V120XS.2133.01.B1SIM Status   

    SIM Card Status AvailableIMSI 240084709204822ICCID 89460850007000428587PIN Protection DisablePIN Remaining Attempts 3IP Passthrough Status   

    IP Passthrough Enable DisableIP Passthrough Mode DynamicCellular Status   

    Cellular Status UpData Roaming DisableOperator Telenor SEPLMN 24008NR-NSA Information   

    MCC 240MNC 08Physical Cell ID 664RFCN 156510Band N28RSRP -86RSRQ -14SINR -1  

    Service Information  

    Access Technology NR5G-NSA Band B3

  • Dr_Elmer
    Dr_Elmer Posts: 11  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    This is the details when the cellular signal is -103 dmb

  • Dr_Elmer
    Dr_Elmer Posts: 11  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    Here after a remote reboot at -93


    Module Information   

    IMEI 351503890094673Module SW Version MP1V120XS.2133.01.B1SIM Status   

    SIM Card Status AvailableIMSI 240084709204822ICCID 89460850007000428587PIN Protection DisablePIN Remaining Attempts 3IP Passthrough Status   

    IP Passthrough Enable DisableIP Passthrough Mode DynamicCellular Status   

    Cellular Status UpData Roaming DisableOperator Telenor SEPLMN 24008NR-NSA Information   

    MCC 240MNC 08Physical Cell ID 9RFCN 422930Band N1RSRP -102RSRQ -12SINR 3  

    Service Information  

    Access Technology NR5G-NSA Band B8RSSI -83

  • Dr_Elmer
    Dr_Elmer Posts: 11  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    Between -95 to -97

Categories

Consumer Product Help Center

EnglishTiếng ViệtРусскийไทย中文（台灣）