Coax cable question

[TheMan419]

As many of us are rural getting good high speed Internet is an issue.

I have an account with ubifi a cellular internet provider.

In an effort to get better performance I have ordered an external antenna for the modem/router.

I also ordered a length of ultra low loss coax.

My dumb question of the day.... can I just cut it and use the same ends and connectors and crimping tool for the coax that carries my satellite tv signal?

This is the cable on order. The 50 foot length should be well more than sufficient. I also figure shortening the length of the cable would be good too.

Wilson Electronics 50 ft. Black WILSON-400 Ultra Low Loss Coax Cable (N-Male to NMale) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018PVVBS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Aho5Db6NM43FD

 

[Ford850]

It says it has type N connectors. Here's a link to the same brand connectors too:
Amazon.com: Wilson Electronics N Male Crimp Connector for Wilson4 / LMR4 / 9913 / RG8U Cable: Home Audio & Theater

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

You will have to use the same type coax fitting that the external antenna and modem input jack use.

 

[LittleBill21]

keep the modem with the router, and just use a roll of cat 5, why take the db loss?

then get something like this (currently on sale) to get the wifi into the house

Amazon.com: TP-Link | N3 WiFi Range Extender | Up to 3Mbps | WiFi Extender, Repeater, Wifi Signal Booster, Access Point | Easy Set-Up | External Antennas & Compact Designed Internet Booster (TL-WA855RE): Computers & Accessories

 

[kcflhrc]

keep the modem with the router, and just use a roll of cat 5, why take the db loss?

then get something like this (currently on sale) to get the wifi into the house

Amazon.com: TP-Link | N3 WiFi Range Extender | Up to 3Mbps | WiFi Extender, Repeater, Wifi Signal Booster, Access Point | Easy Set-Up | External Antennas & Compact Designed Internet Booster (TL-WA855RE): Computers & Accessories

Those extenders are absolute junk and also have nothing to do with what he is trying to do.

 

[LittleBill21]

Those extenders are absolute junk and also have nothing to do with what he is trying to do.

i know exactly what he is trying to do, and those extenders work well when having normal expectations.

 

[kcflhrc]

Those extenders are absolute junk and also have nothing to do with what he is trying to do.

i know exactly what he is trying to do, and those extenders work well when having normal expectations.

He is trying to improve his cellular signal, that extender does nothing of the sort and yes they are junk and they also use bandwidth off of your wifi network to communicate back to the modem. His problem is not wifi but his problem is the cellular signal to the modem. If your wifi coverage is sub par then get a mesh system.

 

[LittleBill21]

yes he is trying to increase cellular signal by using coax to extend the router i assume back somewhere in the house, coax has a db loss. if he keeps the antenna connection short and keeps the modem close, this db loss will be reduced. if the router he is using is his main wifi, then he might not get signal in the rest of the house, thus the point of the repeater.

repeaters work fine with low bandwidth applications, considering its cellular, its a none issue. and if the bandwidth usage is so HIGH, then he can get a dual band unit and remove the penalty.

 

[Industrial Toys]

There are huge losses at those frequencies in coax. It has to be special teflon stuff, with the right connectors. Even Telcos are putting their transcievers atop their towers to avoid the losses.

 

[dlctcg]

The OP states he is using the Coax to connect an External Antenna.... not to move the router to a different location.

I have an account with ubifi a cellular internet provider.

In an effort to get better performance I have ordered an external antenna for the modem/router.

I also ordered a length of ultra low loss coax.

My dumb question of the day.... can I just cut it and use the same ends and connectors and crimping tool for the coax that carries my satellite tv signal?

Ok, it's not a dumb question... a couple of things:

Your crimper might work if it can do "Type N" connectors; many cable & satellite systems use "Type F" connectors on RG6 Coax which is a 75 Ohm system. If your crimper / compression tool does ONLY "Type F" then it will NOT work.

Also make sure you check your modem/router to see if it is 50 Ohm or 75 Ohm... you want all the other components (antenna, coax cable, connectors, etc) to match that Ohm rating. So if the modem/router is 50 Ohm use all 50 Ohm components.

You don't want to mix & match 50 Ohm & 75 Ohm components in the same system if possible. Mismatching 50 and 75 Ohm components in a system creates standing waves; which can relate to approx 5% of the signal being lost every time it is done.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Best, just to go with 1-7/8" Andrews Heliax. lol I have some Connectors terminated in Type N if you pay the shipping.

 

[k0ua]

As many of us are rural getting good high speed Internet is an issue.

I have an account with ubifi a cellular internet provider.

In an effort to get better performance I have ordered an external antenna for the modem/router.

I also ordered a length of ultra low loss coax.

My dumb question of the day.... can I just cut it and use the same ends and connectors and crimping tool for the coax that carries my satellite tv signal?

This is the cable on order. The 50 foot length should be well more than sufficient. I also figure shortening the length of the cable would be good too.

Wilson Electronics 50 ft. Black WILSON-400 Ultra Low Loss Coax Cable (N-Male to NMale) Amazon.com: Wilson Electronics 5 ft. Black WILSON-4 Ultra Low Loss Coax Cable (N-Male to NMale)

The answer to your questions are NO, and NO.

You cannot use your RG6 type connectors, and you cannot use your RG6 type tool. And exactly how much did you want to cut off? Why not order the length you need instead of investing in the proper tools and connectors. Also there are no specifications given for this cable. I would not trust it at all. I would order from a reputable vendor of LMR-400.

Cable Configurator - Free Shipping on Most Orders Over $99 at DX Engineering

Select the 400Max which is dx engineerings house brand of LMR-400 low loss cable. select the male N connectors for A and B ends if that is what you need, and select the actual length you need. run junk wire to measure the actual length you need and measure that wire.

 

[kcflhrc]

I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. The OP asks a question about connecting an external antenna to his modem and yet he gets responses that have nothing to do with this.

 

[kennyd]

I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. The OP asks a question about connecting an external antenna to his modem and yet he gets responses that have nothing to do with this.

Welcome to TBN

 

[TheMan419]

I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. The OP asks a question about connecting an external antenna to his modem and yet he gets responses that have nothing to do with this.

Try being the OP. Good stuff in this thread but boy lots of other posts.....

 

[dlctcg]

Try being the OP. Good stuff in this thread but boy lots of other posts.....

TheMan419....

Read my post (#10) - First make sure you are checking the Ohm impedance (either 50 Ohm or 75 Ohm) for your modem / router being you already have that.. also check its connector type, then make sure all your components (antenna, cable & connectors) you are purchasing are the same. You want it all to be the same...

Again as for tooling & connectors: You don't state what tooling you have the type of connectors or cable that you are using for your satellite system; 99% of it is RG 6 with Type F connectors (but I have seen things) , so........ Your crimper might work if it can do "Type N" connectors; some tools have interchangeable die sets. If your crimper / compression tool does ONLY "Type F" then it will NOT work.


K0ua's post (# 12) is also 100% correct - If you only have a RG6 "Type F" tool it will not work with the "Type N" connectors. 50 Ohm cable & "Type N" connectors are not compatible with the RG 6 "type F" connector tools..

 

[TheMan419]

TheMan419....

Read my post (#10) - First make sure you are checking the Ohm impedance (either 50 Ohm or 75 Ohm) for your modem / router being you already have that.. also check its connector type, then make sure all your components (antenna, cable & connectors) you are purchasing are the same. You want it all to be the same...

Again as for tooling & connectors: You don't state what tooling you have the type of connectors or cable that you are using for your satellite system; 99% of it is RG 6 with Type F connectors (but I have seen things) , so........ Your crimper might work if it can do "Type N" connectors; some tools have interchangeable die sets. If your crimper / compression tool does ONLY "Type F" then it will NOT work.


K0ua's post (# 12) is also 100% correct - If you only have a RG6 "Type F" tool it will not work with the "Type N" connectors. 50 Ohm cable & "Type N" connectors are not compatible with the RG 6 "type F" connector tools..

Yes everything is 75 ohm. The mofi, antenna, and cable are all being used by lots of ppl in the rv community for rural use.

Crimping tools I don稚 have. I have a friend who has about every tool imaginable. So just thinking cutting the cable I can make the interior hook up look nicer. That would make the wife happier. But it is not a deal breaker.

If my one friend does not have the right crimping tool I will likely just pass the cable through and caulk the **** out of the opening to seal it.

Of course that assumes the rest of the gear works before we drill holes.

 

[dlctcg]

TheMan419 - The cable you linked in your first post is 50 Ohm Cable with the 50 Ohm "Type N" connector.... I'm a Wilson authorized installer...

Wilson Electronics 50 ft. Black WILSON-400 Ultra Low Loss Coax Cable (N-Male to NMale) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018PVVBS..._Aho5Db6NM43FD

Mismatching 50 and 75 Ohm components in a system creates standing waves; which can relate to approx 5% of the signal being lost every time it is done.

How long of a run do you need to make to the external antenna location?

Which MoFi Router are you using?

 

[TheMan419]

TheMan419 - The cable you linked in your first post is 50 Ohm Cable with the 50 Ohm "Type N" connector.... I'm a Wilson authorized installer...

Wilson Electronics 50 ft. Black WILSON-400 Ultra Low Loss Coax Cable (N-Male to NMale) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018PVVBS..._Aho5Db6NM43FD

Mismatching 50 and 75 Ohm components in a system creates standing waves; which can relate to approx 5% of the signal being lost every time it is done.

How long of a run do you need to make to the external antenna location?

Which MoFi Router are you using?

Sorry I mis read. 50 ohm.

Wilson Electronics Wideband Directional Antenna 700-2700 MHz, 50 Ohm (314411) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J14YEHQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_saK5DbFKKZGS1

That is the antenna.

Mofi 4500 4gxelte v2.

Cable run is ~30 feet.

Currently the mofi sits in the window ledge. Pointing in direction of tower. Right outside the window is a short pole. I値l attach the antenna to the pole.

Currently getting speeds of 3-10 down and 1-3 up. If I take my phone and stand out by the pole and disconnect from the mofi I get speeds of 20 down or higher. Much more stable connection as well.

Will I see much improvement if I get a second antenna?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[TheMan419]

ok so update. All the parts arrived. OF course this time of year in Northern Indiana it is dark out at like noon. So I hooked the antenna up to the MoFi. I just opened the window and stuck the antenna out and pointed it in the general direction of the tower. Speeds went from 3mb up to 10mb up. Ping time went from 180ms to 60ms.

This weekends project will be to mount the antenna on the pole and point it more accurately to the tower.

It will be interesting because the closest tower is NE of my location. There is a tower SE as well, but it is almost a half mile further away than the NE tower. It seems to have better speeds though. I pointed the antenna in that direction and it the upload speed really jumped.

So it will take some tweaking.

Also the MoFi has two antenna connections so not sure if adding another antenna will provide a big boost or not, but we may be doing that as well.