Getting Signal with Vodafone K3520 External Aerial Setup

[slow_boat]

Noticed others here are having problems with poor reception on their usb dongles like I was. I could find a little 3G signal if I hung the dongle outside as high as possible. I cant get normal broadband as I dont have a phone line.

Your thinking the Huawei doesn't have an external aerial connector right? Wrong, if you open the case via the 2 little screws on the side of the PCB there is a gold connector. I beleive the K3520 is actually a repackaged E169i or something that is sold to other markets.

The setup cost about £45 excluding the dongle. The aerial has a 3m lead, and I am using a 5m usb extension. The aerial works on both GSM and 3G, it has a magnet base to stick on cars/boats etc, i've resorted to a roses tin lid! I simply melted a hole in the case with a hot screwdriver in the right place to gain access to the aerial plug.

With this setup I am getting 3 times the download speeds (45kb/s to 150kb/s) and I always get 3G now even in bad weather. I get -89dbm / 40% signal acording to MWconn compared to 15%. If your getting patchy covereage this setup might help you. I can now stream perfectly from youtube.

I've attached some pictures of my setup.....

Matt

[slow_boat]

[slow_boat]

Also have a look here http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/ to see where the transmitters are near you, it may help you locate better reception.

[2knees]

Like your approach I will be looking @ this.

nice 1

[slow_boat]

I've upgraged my system with a vigsys vd-30 now and it works great! So good I have no desire for ADSL at all.

The vigsys vd-30 is a docking station for your broadband dongle, it has a Wifi transmitter and a network cable socket, and it allows many computers to use the same dongle. You do need an adapter for your dongle if its got a normal usb socket, as the docking station has a tiny USB plug like a camera or something. Also you cant use USB repeater extension leads between the dongle and the docking station.

The connection from my wired PC is quicker than ever before, while the wifi laptop is abit slower but much better than no 3G as before, that keeps her quiet(and off my PC)!

[antenna1]

I got a external umts antenna i put mine on the roof with 10m of cable run i do not use a mag mount type i got mine on the proper mounting brackets looks well tidy i can max out the vodafone network

[slow_boat]

What make of aerial have you got, fancy showing me any pictures?

I had to get back on the roof as the superglue I used under the magnet had broke so I have cable tied it down instead.

I'm thinking of upgrading to a bigger more permenent aerial, whats yours like?

[Knapweed]

Hi folks

I've just signed up because I'm interested in this thread and would like to join in and contribute.

Firstly, I've opened a Voda K3565/Huawei E160x dongle and found a similar connector - see jpg at bottom of post.

I've been looking around the Internet for info on aerials and connectors etc. and have found the following that might be useful to people here:

A good thread on a South African forum:

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=72189

A link from the same site with an applet to monitor signal strength:

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...106#post756106

A link to a UK supplier of 3G aerials (no connection and doubtless there are many others):

http://www.solwise.co.uk/3g-intro.htm

A quick question from me; could the OP tell me where he got his Huawei aerial coupler from?

Cheers for now - K

[slow_boat]

Looks like you've been doing some research.

Heres a good peice of software, its called mwconn and it lets you search for base stations and gives you the cell numbers etc. Tells you the strenght of all your local transmitters
http://www.mwconn.com

Good luck, I'm still using my 3G/UMTS broadband, have done for about 12 months now and think its great.

[theGR8Rgood]

For info on Mobile Broadband, Mobile Internet Access, Wi-Fi / WiFi, using an External Antenna / Aerial in a Caravan or Anywhere please read article at :

http://www.caravantalk.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=24822

Andy (TheGR8Rgood)

[Digger Driver]

Brilliant!
I picked up on this thread yesterday but i have the black T-Mobile webstick!
I already had the aerial in my shed and miles of cable but the T-Mobile USB stick didn't have an aerial connector so i soldered the inner core directly to the stick aeriel (theres a good solder point already there) and just rested the outer core against the ally chassis and taped it all back together!
It doesn't look the part but i'm now getting full HSDPA signal, download speeds of over 1.5MBPS and averaging about 600KBPS.
Before i was lucky if i got 35KBPS and the connection kept dropping!
Top class fix mate!
Thank you!

[Irvin]

Slow Boat,

I'm new to all this stuff so could you pass on some of your wisdom?

I have a Voda K3565. I'm concerned that the internal socket would have been designed for test use so won't be up to un-plugging - re-plugging. What are your thoughts?

Also, is the socket a standard Huawei? I am thinking of making an adaptor / port saver in any case. Finally, is SMA the most common antenna connector?

Cheers!

Irvin

[theGR8Rgood]

Today I invested in a Vodafone K3565 (aka Huawei E160X) dongle+SIM. I actually only needed the Vodafone PAYG SIM to use on a Huawei E169 dongle that I had already bought downunder last year, but buying a SIM-ONLY was not an available option, or so I was told. The £39 paid for this dongle+SIM includes £15 worth of PAYG. You currently only get 1GB of PAYG for £15 with Vodafone, but with Vodafone this apparently lasts indefinitely until you have used the 1GB allocation, and any unused usage certainly shouldn't expire 30 days after activation date, as I think it does with all the PAYG offers of the other service-providers. I will now have Vodafone as a standby option in case my normal service-provider has no coverage at a particular location.

Although the Vodafone K3565 (Huawei E160X) dongle supposedly doesn't have a connection for an external antenna, it actually does have the same Huawei CRC9 connector as the Huawei E169 dongle, but this is hidden under the plastic casing... WHY, I have absolutely no idea!!

I have modified the plastic casing with a mini hacksaw as described in the earlier post at http://www.3g.co.uk/3GForum/showthread.php?t=91044 and have just had a great 45 minute Vodafone PAYG video-call with Big Sis in Cape Town to test it out, using the external antenna setup described at http://www.caravantalk.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=24822.

Skype video-call concurrent bandwidth usage averages only about 150kbps upload and 100kbps download.

The Huawei CRC9 connector as used in a Huawei E169 / E160X dongle is called a 'Huawei 3G Plug' at SOLWISE such as in PIG-HUAWEI-SMAS-30 at http://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-cable.htm#PIGTAILS

I have tested that I can also use the Vodafone SIM in the E169 dongle, but am currently unable to use the T-Mobile SIM in the E160X dongle, as this dongle is blocked to anything other than Vodafone! Does anyone perhaps know where I can get an unblocking code for the Vodafone K3565 (aka Huawei E160X) dongle?

Happy Mobile Skype-ing,
Andy

[darmok]

hi i have the same k3520 and have managed to seperate the 2 halves, i was going to ask did yours come apart easy.? is part of the unit glued in or something because i am having trouble prise-ing it out of the casing...dont want to break it..

can i ask where you got the antenna 3m one from for this dongle.

cheers..darmok

[slow_boat]

The case is a bit delicate to take apart, it has little plastic pins that you have to force out but not break them. It comes mostly apart then hangs on by a tiny bit and you get scared of breaking it.

The socket onboard the dongle is pretty delicate, but I have personally had more problems with the "crc9" plug as its very thin and if you pull the lead by accident the aerail comes out and bends the plug, but it bends back ok. I have solved this by taping the dongle to a peice of wood, and i've taped the crc9 lead in place to the wood so the whole unit is one. Definately keep it out of the way of kids or clumsy people.

My aerial is a wilson 301104 and can be bought off ebay for about £14 including postage with a 3m lead. But you need to buy an FME to CRC9 pigtail lead to connect it to the dongle.

[martinn12005]

What is the mini adpater called to connect onto the k3520

Where can I find one. I already have a antenna that I purchased for the e220, just need to change the adapter.

[slow_boat]

Originally Posted by slow_boat

My aerial is a wilson 301104 and can be bought off ebay for about £14 including postage with a 3m lead. But you need to buy an FME to CRC9 pigtail lead to connect it to the dongle.

Depends what aerial you have, mine uses a crc9 (dongle) to fme (aerial) pigtail.

But you should be able to figure it out, theres enough links on this page to get anyone on the right track.

http://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-cable.htm#PIGTAILS
http://www.panorama.co.uk/shop/3g_ca...169/index.html

The k3520 is really a E169 in fancy dress for vodafone.

[slow_boat]

I'm thinking of buying one of these for my new house but I will only be able to connect to the transmitter I point it at:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Wilson-Cel...3A1%7C294%3A50

[jljesman]

Dear All,

Just a quick note from an antenna manufacturer. Be careful when you select the antenna that you wish to use on 3 fronts.

1. Operational Frequencies - In the UK 3G / mobile broadband / UMTS operates on 2100Mhz (2.1Ghz - 2100-2170MHz). Your antenna must operate at this frequency in order to boost your 3G data rates. Desirable fall back frequencies are 900MHz (890-960MHz) and 1800MHz (1710-1880MHz) which will ensure 3G fallback if 2.1Ghz is not acheivable. Look for a VSWR of less that 2:1 accross these bands to minimise mismatch losses. Gain at any of these frequencies is a plus but bear in mind that the states gain of the antenna will not normally count the cable length and type being used and gain is lost through cable attenuation.

2. Cable - If you are using more than 2 metres of cable look for at least RG58 (5mm) cable which will give an attenuation of about 0.5dB per metre at 900MHz and 0.8dB per metre at 2100MHz. RG174 (2.8mm cable) can exhibit loss characteristics of up to 1.5dB per metre at 2100MHz and 1dB per metre at 900MHz so you can loose up to a whopping 15dB down 10 metres of RG174 cable! If you are only using a 1/4 wave antenna with 2dBi of gain then the cable losses may well cancel out the benefit of the antenna ( although mounting an antenna high up and outside will normally help a bit!).

3. Connector - Always make sure that you select the right connector for your modem (especially if you have taken it apart to get to it!). Panorama antennas provides a strap on adapter for modems which dont have an external antenna connector. This adapter introduces about 2dB of loss into the RF chain and so I recommend only using it with higher gain antennas. However if you dont have an antenna connector on your modem and you dont want to open it up it is your best bet.

http://www.panorama-antennas.com/sho...mate_help.html


And now for the plug im afraid. Panorama antennas offers a range of 3G antennas complete with low loss cables and adapters. They also have a list of modems and required adapters.

Good luck all!

[slow_boat]

Originally Posted by jljesman

1. Operational Frequencies - In the UK 3G / mobile broadband / UMTS operates on 2100Mhz (2.1Ghz - 2100-2170MHz). Your antenna must operate at this frequency in order to boost your 3G data rates. Desirable fall back frequencies are 900MHz (890-960MHz) and 1800MHz (1710-1880MHz) which will ensure 3G fallback if 2.1Ghz is not acheivable.

Good bit of info that, I've been trying to work out which block they actually use because from all my searching I couldn't work out if Voda was using 1944.9 - 1959.7 MHz or 2134.9 - 2149.7 MHz for the 3G/UMTS stuff.

These look pretty sweet for the money and I'm awaiting the postie to bring mine!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3G-Yagi-Beam-1...d=p3286.c0.m14

But seeing as my new house is 50m from a transmitter that acording to the ofcom site http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/frame_map.htm is:-

Name of Operator 3
Station Type Macrocell
Height of Antenna 10.35 Metres
Frequency Range 2100 MHz
Transmitter Power 25.8 dBW
Maximum licensed power 32 dBW
Type of Transmission UMTS

I will no longer be part of the Vodafone section on this forum, nor should I be stuck for signal! But my setup has provided me with great results and I have to thank the Panaroma people for my crc9 connector/adapter. Thanks!

Even though I could get adsl broadband in my new house, I will be sticking with the 3G/UMTS access as its fantastic, but I will be installing a proper yagi type aerial on the roof as I'm planning on staying their for a while (seeing as i've bought this house!). Also I will be shifting to "Three" as i'm next to the transmitter and they offer 15gb for £15. Bargain!! Unfortunately the Three dongle will be staying in the box as it is neither supported by my Router, nor does it support an external aerial (failure!!), but the sim will work in my voda dongle anyway.

So the moral of this story? Before you go buying any 3G dongle etc, use the ofcom sitefinder as it may save you loads hassle!

[inhouseuk]

Originally Posted by slow_boat

but I will be installing a proper yagi type aerial on the roof as I'm planning on staying their for a while (seeing as i've bought this house!). Also I will be shifting to "Three" as i'm next to the transmitter.

Using an external antenna that close to the base station could actually give you worse results than just using the dongle itself. The receiver gain on the dongle is normally set appropriately for the internal antenna. The extra signal from the external antenna could easily overload the input stages on the receiver, causing clipping of the waveform and data errors.

[slow_boat]

That makes sense. I'm going to measure the signal strength before I do anything else after your useful post. Thanks.

[slow_boat]

I'm now surfing on my new "three" connection and its blisteringly fast.

Speed Down 3370.30 Kbps ( 3.3 Mbps )
Speed Up 279.53 Kbps ( 0.3 Mbps )

Just downloaded a driver from ati and hit 350kbps!!

15gb a month for £15, 24 month contract though

I am using my vodafone K3520 usb dongle with the three simcard as my router (vigsys vd30) isn't compatable with the ZTE MF627. Now I have proper signal without an external aerial my router has stopped crashing too.

[agroves06]

Originally Posted by antenna1

I got a external umts antenna i put mine on the roof with 10m of cable run i do not use a mag mount type i got mine on the proper mounting brackets looks well tidy i can max out the vodafone network

what sort of antenna and cable are you useing mate, have you got an amplifier as well? thicker the cable the better say 5mm stuff i was told.

[agroves06]

Originally Posted by slow_boat

I'm now surfing on my new "three" connection and its blisteringly fast.

Speed Down 3370.30 Kbps ( 3.3 Mbps )
Speed Up 279.53 Kbps ( 0.3 Mbps )

Just downloaded a driver from ati and hit 350kbps!!

15gb a month for £15, 24 month contract though

I am using my vodafone K3520 usb dongle with the three simcard as my router (vigsys vd30) isn't compatable with the ZTE MF627. Now I have proper signal without an external aerial my router has stopped crashing too.

was the driver for the k3520 or will it help any dongle?