Hey all,
I have a few 2.4GHz MIMO nodes. One with a sector and two without good antennas, simple tiny screw on . Ideally they would all be be onmi. These devices are Ubiquiti Rocket M2. I don't have the budget for three $150 antennas, but I'm also curious about why those are so expensive. If they are really worth that, maybe it is worth getting one and then two cheaper ones. I'm also curious if there is anything wrong with getting two single channel antennas and then somehow physically cross polarizing them. Mostly, just curious what other people are doing. One of these nodes is a portable node that will be a local relay to any other nodes in the area to be deployed at an event, with a DTD connection to a 5GHz node (LHGXL) to connect to a larger network. One is the main one that I use in my house for day to day mucking about. And I'm not even sure how or why I ended up with the other one.
I'm surprised with the poor performance I'm getting with the sector antenna in my house. I know it is too much antenna, and obviously the directionality is far too much for my use case, especially in the vertical plane. I'm hoping for good connection thru a few walls and up a floor. Turning the power way down didn't help.
For the portable node, the sector would probably do well, but I don't want to commit to having that node at the edge of the coverage area. A bit more flexibility would be ideal, in case for example, the perfect location for the node is at the middle of the coverage area.
Maybe I get one good sector and one good omni and then switch them out as needed?
Sorry for the rambling, but I'm very curious to hear everyone's opinions.
I have a few 2.4GHz MIMO nodes. One with a sector and two without good antennas, simple tiny screw on . Ideally they would all be be onmi. These devices are Ubiquiti Rocket M2. I don't have the budget for three $150 antennas, but I'm also curious about why those are so expensive. If they are really worth that, maybe it is worth getting one and then two cheaper ones. I'm also curious if there is anything wrong with getting two single channel antennas and then somehow physically cross polarizing them. Mostly, just curious what other people are doing. One of these nodes is a portable node that will be a local relay to any other nodes in the area to be deployed at an event, with a DTD connection to a 5GHz node (LHGXL) to connect to a larger network. One is the main one that I use in my house for day to day mucking about. And I'm not even sure how or why I ended up with the other one.
I'm surprised with the poor performance I'm getting with the sector antenna in my house. I know it is too much antenna, and obviously the directionality is far too much for my use case, especially in the vertical plane. I'm hoping for good connection thru a few walls and up a floor. Turning the power way down didn't help.
For the portable node, the sector would probably do well, but I don't want to commit to having that node at the edge of the coverage area. A bit more flexibility would be ideal, in case for example, the perfect location for the node is at the middle of the coverage area.
Maybe I get one good sector and one good omni and then switch them out as needed?
Sorry for the rambling, but I'm very curious to hear everyone's opinions.
If you were to drop a portable relay node in the to service a 5000sq ft site, with a 2.4GHz node on a tripod that goes up to maybe 8' high, what antenna would you recommend for a Rocket M2. Assume the 'back haul' is coming in on 5GHz and need not be serviced by this antenna.
If the answer is the expensive one (AMO-2G10 or AMO-2G13) that is ok. I just want to be sure I'm not missing a less expensive option that is in vogue with the group.
I couldn't for the life of me tell you what, when, or where, but I know I heard on a podcast probably 5 years ago, about a municipality, I believe in the bay area, that has some portable nodes deployed in shipping containers or something of the sort that have a back haul link on 5GHz and then support local services. I don't recall any more details than that, but if those nodes have a 2.4GHz node on them, I'd be curious what antenna was selected for that application.
Separately, if anyone has any insights into what is going on inside that antenna, physically or electrically, I'd be curious to learn more on the topic. Heck, I'm a ham. Maybe I can make something.
5000 sq. ft. ~= 80 ft diameter circle.
A $20 off the shelf home Wi-Fi router would cover this area.
Connect the Wi-Fi router to the LAN port of the 'backhaul' device.
I'm asking for recommendations on general purpose, weatherized, 2.4GHz omni antennas for Rocket M2 devices (that I already own).
The application is to be used in various scenarios, at home, in the field, probably at our field day site, to support a command tent at a public service event, etc. I'm not going to have a unique node for each site shape / size / use case. I'm trying to build at least one 2.4GHz omni node that will cover as many of those use cases as possible. I can turn down power if needed.
I'm asking if the expensive Ubiquiti omni antennas are the best choice / worth the money, if there are alternates out there, or if I should just go with something cheap, like the 2x Mikrotik ACOMNIRPSMA, can I make my own, or something else I haven't considered.
I already have one sector antenna (AM-2G15-120) and have already identified that that isn't meeting my needs.
Thanks for the help.
"...especially in the vertical plane.
I'm hoping for good connection thru a few walls and up a floor.
Turning the power way down didn't help."
"I can turn down power if needed."
None of the antennas you mentioned support vertical coverage.
All concentrate the signal in the horizontal plane.
"I'm not going to have a unique node for each site shape / size / use case. "
Ergo, your hopes of one portable station working in all your examples may not be realized.
I noticed that you mentioned turning down the power...twice.
What was this action supposed to do?
Chuck
That might work for you.
Orv W6BI
https://mikrotik.com/product/ACOMNIRPSMA