Home Labs Stories Increase your range by adding an outside antenna to your indoor gateway

INCREASE YOUR RANGE BY ADDING AN OUTSIDE ANTENNA TO YOUR INDOOR GATEWAY

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ABOUT THIS STORY


Posted on Nov. 29, 2016



Beginner
4 Hours

Introduction

Introduction

The antenna and cable

Measurements

Mounting and extending the antenna

Lightning protection

Open issues

Introduction


Some operator grade gateways come in an outdoor casing and they are suitable for roof mounting. This is great for coverage. Others, like the kickstarter gateway, are meant to be used indoor. Placing a gateway indoor with an indoor antenna will decrease the coverage significantly. But there is a hybrid form and that is connecting an external antenna to your indoor gateway. In general this will easily double the range of you kickstarter gateway compared to just placing it in your living room with a small pen-size antenna.