Frequently
Asked Questions - Antennas
For additional help, please call 1-866-294-1660
or send an email to tech@wilsonelectronics.com
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| Does my Magnet-Mount
antenna need to be mounted vertically or can I mount it horizontally? |
Cell tower antennas are mounted vertically, so
the Magnet Mount Antenna and all of the other whip-type antennas
will give the best performance when mounted vertically. When
both antennas are in the same orientation, they are polarized.
Polarized antennas transmit and receive signals with the most
efficiency.
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| How do I tune a Yagi antenna? |
Point the main center beam of the Yagi in the general direction
of the cell tower. Make sure the radials are pointing up and
down. Connect the antenna to a cell phone in TEST MODE. Pan
the Yagi left and right in 10 degree increments until you get
the best signal strength reading from the phone. In most cases,
you want a signal as strong as you can get. Signal strength
is measured in negative decibels so a signal strength of -85
is stronger than -99. When you are panning the antenna, be
sure to let go of the antenna or it may give inaccurate readings.
Lock the antenna down at the position where you get the best
signal strength.
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| Can I paint an antenna? |
Wilson antennas can be painted as long as the
paint does not contain metal flakes (metallic paint). The metal
particles would change and disrupt the antenna's signal transmission
characteristics. |
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| Can I use the signal strength bars on
my phone to tune my Yagi antenna? |
Yes. However, tuning accuracy will be limited and more difficult
than with a cell phone in TEST MODE. If your cell phone does
not have a test mode, the signal strength bars may be the only
way to tune your Yagi. Bear in mind that signal bars are more
a marketing tool than a true signal-strength indicator. |
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| On a glass-mount antenna, what is the temperature
range the glass should be for installation? |
The Very High Bond (VHB) tape used on the Glass-Mount
Antenna is produced by 3M Corporation and will provide good
adhesion to a clean, flat glass surface. When you attach the
antenna, the glass should be about 70 degrees F. After the adhesive
has set up (about 24 hours), extreme temperatures will not affect
it. |
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| Can I use a Low-Profile antenna inside
my car on the dash to obtain a better signal? |
The Low-Profile antenna would give you some signal
increase on your dash compared to your cell phone alone inside
your vehicle; however an antenna with a higher gain that mounts
outside your vehicle (such as the Trucker, Glass-Mount, Magnet-Mount
or NMO Mount) would give you better performance. |
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| Will my Magnet-Mount Antenna work if
I place it on a non-metal surface? |
A MagnetMount antenna must be placed on a
ferrous metal (iron or steel) for it to work properly. If
the magnet on the antenna base sticks to a surface, the surface
is made of iron or steel and the antenna will work. |
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| The cable on the antenna on my vehicle
is not long enough. Can I add 30 feet of cable? |
All of the mobile antennas have a gain of about
5 dB. If you add 30 feet of a low-loss cable such as RG-58,
the cable loss would be greater than the antenna gain resulting
in a net loss of signal strength. If you must add more than
20 feet of cable, use a lower-loss cable, such as a 9913 equivalent. |
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| Why do I have to install the outside
and inside antenna so far apart? |
Each antenna on a wireless amplifier system has a signal pattern.
To achieve the greatest coverage area possible, each signal
pattern should not reach the other antenna. This would cause
the amplifier to oscillate (feedback) and reduce the performance
of the amplifier. The antennas on a 50 dB amplifier must be
separated by at least 40 feet. The antennas on a 60 dB amplifier
must be separated by at least 75 feet. A roof or wall will help
with separation. |
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| Does the Yagi antenna need to be grounded? |
The Yagi does not need to be grounded. However,
we recommend a Lightning Surge Protector in all building installations.
The Lightning Surge Protector will ground the antenna and prevent
an electrical surge from damaging your amplifier. |
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| What is the range of the inside antenna? |
The range or distance you can be from an inside
antenna depends on the strength of the signal coming from the
cell tower and the output of the amplifier. The stronger your
signal is, the greater the range will be. Range is not determined
by the antenna. |
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| Can I install a antenna upside down? |
Yes. The signal pattern for the omni-directional antennas
(such as the Trucker, Low Profile, Magnet or Glass Mount) will
work well as long as the antenna is vertical (pointing up or
down). However, they lose much of their effectiveness if they
are mounted sideways or at an angle. |
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| Can I hold my Yagi antenna to point it
in different directions while attempting to tune it to a cell
tower? |
When you hold or touch a Yagi or any antenna
with exposed metal surfaces, your body alters and distorts
the signal and changes the antenna's performance. With a Yagi,
Wilson recommends that you temporarily mount the antenna while
tuning. It is important that you let go of the antenna when
you are taking a signal strength reading or the reading will
be inaccurate. |
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| Can I use a Yagi antenna on my RV? |
Yes. Since the Yagi is directional, you would
need to re-tune it at each new location. |
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| Can I place my Magnet Mount Antenna on
top of my refrigerator? |
Yes, as long as the outside of the refrigerator
is made of a metal to which the magnet will stick. The Magnet
Mount Antenna should provide better performance than the cell
phone antenna alone. However, placing the antenna outside will
allow it to collect as much signal as possible. |
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| Can I use a Trucker antenna on my house? |
Yes. Although designed for mobile use, a Trucker
antenna will provide the same signal improvement if mounted
on a stationary structure. However, we recommend a Yagi antenna
for all building installations. A Yagi has more gain and can
compensate for signal loss through the cable. The Yagi is
directional and can reduce the chances of oscillation. It
also has the ability to tune out interfering signals by pointing
away from them. |
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| Where should I place the inside antenna
on an In-Building Wireless amplifier system? |
Place the inside antenna in the area where you
need service the most. Keep the inside antenna out of contact
with metal objects and away from electronic devices and electrical
wiring. Some situations may require more than one antenna. Remember
to keep the minimum separation between the inside and outside
antenna. |
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| Will your antennas work on GSM? |
Wilson antennas will work with all cell phone
technologies including AMPS, CDMA, GSM, TDMA, iDEN, EDGE, 1xEV-DO,
GPRS and the latest 3G HSDPA. |
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| Do Wilson antennas work on digital signals
or on analog signals? |
All Wilson antennas work on both digital and
analog signals. |
