Guide to boosting your Zonerider Hotspot coverage
Guide to boosting your Zonerider Hotspot coverage
Please take a moment to read the Quick Guide for setting up your Zonerider wireless network.
Once your network is setup you can begin to add on different connections to boost your signal and reach more end users.With little effort and the right equipment, you will find it fairly easy to increase your cover as much as 1.5 kilometres. thats enough to cover a small villlage, or a large hotel complex.
Generally speaking, to achieve maximum distance and speed performance
largely depends on the power level of the internal wireless chipset for your device. This is measured in MW; 200MW being the maximum
legally allowed. With that said whatever equipment you are using can be boosted with simply antenna design.
Let’s start by analyzing
your antenna connecter. Some access points have detachable antennas and for
now we will focus on these, as APs with fixed antennas are not going to come
off, although It can be possible to use a soldering iron, if you are experienced
enough.
If you are using a SOFT Access Point or Soft Radio then this will apply to the detachable connector point that is presented by the Mini PCI, PCI or PCMCIA card.
Here are sample antennae connecters typically located on the top or the back of your access points or wireless client card.
SMASKT-CHASSIS
NSKT-CHASSIS
Higher-end Access Points usually have a larger N-type connector like this, which
is useful, because you will not require a pigtail.
SMAPLG
The hard part is getting the right cable and plug for the right AP Chassis
connecter. At best we suggest you join the Zonemaster forum, refer to the
appendix at the end of this paper or contact the AP
manufacturer who will gladly offer help in sourcing the right connecters.
If you are just looking to boost the signal, purchase a high gain Access Point or A high gain antenna, though no more that 5dbi, the signal will be enough, otherwise it will flatten out.
If you are working with a regular AP use a pigtail to connect onto a LMR cable. LMR cables and pigtails leak signal, so it is important to place the AP as close to the antenna as possible. If you plan on installing the antenna on your roof, run the Ethernet cable (cat5) from your PC and fix the AP in the loft or your attic then run the LMR onto the roof. NEVER make a hole in your roof for the LMR, but feed it under the gutter structure.
If you can get an outdoor THEMA certified enclosure, it’s worth the effort, and you can run the Ethernet CAT5 straight into the AP
Example pigtails
 The fatter end usually connects to a large antenna base or LMR cable connecter while the thinner end connects to the Access Point's antenna connector or a PCMCIA card. |
 Close up view of pigtail end which connects to a PCMCIA card that supports pigtail connections |
A solid mechanical
installation of the antenna is the base of a quality network. An outdoor mounted
antenna is exposed to extreme weather conditions. Metal brackets oxidise,
and vibrations will loosen connections. Therefore, the mechanical connection
between the antenna and its carrier needs to be solid. Use locktite on screws.
The connector between the cable and the antenna needs to be sealed with threading
tape. Corrosion on the connector will cause signal losses due to changing
impedance of the connection.
Outside mounted antennas are lightning-strike sensitive. Lightning strikes
always are common at highest and smallest point, typically an antenna. The
antenna cable will then conduct the enormous amount of energy towards the
equipment. If no lightning arrestor is placed in-between the antenna cable
the bridge unit will be damaged, or worse, set on fire. Therefore, always
use a lightning arrestor.
Never mount an antenna though the roof, only on the roof Keep the antenna
cable as much as possible out doors The cable shield needs to be grounded
on the highest possible point, and at the point of entering the building.
Place a surge protector on the antenna connection at the bridge, and also
on the power supply of the wireless device.
Indoor Antennas come in all shape and sizes, if you have no preference where the signal goes, then the Omnidirectional or Omni is for you.
If you are looking to direct the signal, where there are more potential end users, then go for a Directional.
Same goes for outdoor antennas.
Omni
Directional
We hope that this has helped and if you have any suggestions in how we can improve this guide please contact us