Improving reception on a 3G dongle

[d000hg]

I have one of those O2 USB broadband dongles for my laptop; sadly where I am working right now the signal is just on the verge of usable... just on the wrong side, where I can connect and load a page about one time in 5

My dongle has the ability to plug in an aerial and a little research suggests one can buy a small aerial which either plugs in or one which simply wraps around the dongle and 'magically' sends the signal through.

Anyone got good experiences with any particular models? It needs to be small enough to go on my desk easily, and ideally not expensive. Do the dongles use some standard size socket?

Thanks in advance.

[PRC1964]

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects...te2/index.html

I've no idea if it works, but even if it doesn't it should keep your co-workers from ever coming near you.

[pmeswani]

I have one of those O2 USB broadband dongles for my laptop; sadly where I am working right now the signal is just on the verge of usable... just on the wrong side, where I can connect and load a page about one time in 5

My dongle has the ability to plug in an aerial and a little research suggests one can buy a small aerial which either plugs in or one which simply wraps around the dongle and 'magically' sends the signal through.

Anyone got good experiences with any particular models? It needs to be small enough to go on my desk easily, and ideally not expensive. Do the dongles use some standard size socket?

Thanks in advance.

I had a similar problem when I was in Edinburgh. My solution was to get a USB extension cable and to dangle the adaptor outside the window in hope that nobody would nick it.

[d000hg]

I had a similar problem when I was in Edinburgh. My solution was to get a USB extension cable and to dangle the adaptor outside the window in hope that nobody would nick it.

Sadly my desk isn't next to the window. A cable might just buy a little more flexibility, I found the items I was looking at today on ebay though, anyone used something like those?

[Tingles]

I use a long USB cable to connect it to my laptop - I get a much better signal than when it's directly connected.

[Coalman]

I use a long USB cable to connect it to my laptop - I get a much better signal than when it's directly connected.

WHS

Try this first.

[Paddy]

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects...te2/index.html

I've no idea if it works, but even if it doesn't it should keep your co-workers from ever coming near you.

I don’t think that will work well apart from that it is ridiculously expensive. With some stiff copper wire and solder you could make one. (connections available at Maplin) A better design would be to use a tin-can or cheap stainless steal thermos flask from Tesco and a halve wave antenna fixed inside. I will see if there are specs on Internet for one.

I get the same problem with 3G. It’s very patchy outside London. I tend to use a long good quality USB cable and find the best place for the dongle.

When I used the laptop in the car, at one time Mr Plod came and accused me of “stealing the Internet”. I had to explain to him about 3G. FFS.

[Moscow Mule]

When I used the laptop in the car, at one time Mr Plod came and accused me of “stealing the Internet”. I had to explain to him about 3G. FFS.

I'd love to have seen that conversation

[xchaotic]

I don’t think that will work well apart from that it is ridiculously expensive. With some stiff copper wire and solder you could make one. (connections available at Maplin) A better design would be to use a tin-can or cheap stainless steal thermos flask from Tesco and a halve wave antenna fixed inside. I will see if there are specs on Internet for one.

I get the same problem with 3G. It’s very patchy outside London. I tend to use a long good quality USB cable and find the best place for the dongle.

Yagi antennae DO work, but the gain is directional, so if you don't point your antenna in the right direction, you might get a worse signal than with a standard omni.

Depending on how exactly does your environment look like, you may now order a femtocell to boost signal around your location, but you need broadband to send the data back and forth, so you might as well use that boradband then, at least in my view.