LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Kaja — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 06:45:45 GMT

Hi,

you probably get a blind spot, due to your surroundings, urban cities makes it more difficult for the signal.

Open windows.
You can try NB-IoT, with Vodaphone.
Yes, you can try with the external antenna.

Best regards,
Kaja

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Zeedel — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 10:10:30 GMT

Hi Kaja,

Just wondered whether you've had a chance to look into my enquiry and can advise whether an external antenna is the way to go? This is what I seem to have identified as suitable - https://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/MXHS83QE3000/490-4982-ND/1775923/?itemSeq=341481648 and www.digikey.co.uk/.../, could you kindly confirm?

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Zeedel — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 15:01:01 GMT

I live in London, and am not too far from the nearest base station (o2). I am on the ground floor, and there is a block of apartments (4 stories) next to mine, and this makes regular mobile signals patchy for everyone also on the ground floor. However, mobile reception is ok in my 'home office', though LTE-M signal (also on o2's network) only gets picked up by the DK when I go to the window.

When by the window, RSRQ,RSRP pairs shift slightly as below

1,22
1,17
6,17
6,22
8,16

I have also attached a screenshot of the LTE Link Monitor.

Ta.

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Kaja — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 14:14:28 GMT

Okay,

do you know if your far away from a base station?

Best regards,
Kaja

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Zeedel — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 13:28:06 GMT

Thanks for picking this Kaja, I think it's version 0.9.0. The label at the back reads:

PCA10090

0.9.0

2019.20

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Kaja — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 13:13:41 GMT

Hi,

what DK version are you using?

Best regards,
Kaja

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Zeedel — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:44:27 GMT

Hi Kenneth,

Thanks for getting back. I think the external antenna option would suit best. However, I am a newbie would appreciate if you can guide me. Am I correct that the antenna would plug into the J1 connector on the board? And are there any that you can recommend / suggest? Lastly, how would I disable the onboard antenna once I have the external one connected?

Ta.

RE: LTE-M Signal Boosting for nRF9160 DK

Kenneth — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:22:59 GMT

Hi,

I think the options you have are:

- try with a different carrier?
- try with an external antenna?
- get a long USB cable?
- remote desktop to a PC placed closer to where there is good reception?

Best regards,
Kenneth