Yagi antenna

[tove]

Has anyone out there any experience of using a yagi antenna/aerial to get a better phone signal? Better still in a position to say how it would compare to using a high gain whip.

Input very much appreciated!

[MikeV]

I did use one for a while but TBH it was a bit fiddly to align with the nearest phone mast. I used to use it with a data card inside the laptop and about 5 metres of cable out of the window. I only bothered to get it out of the cupboard if the mag-mount aerial I usually used failed to get a reliable signal. Since I've switched to a MiFi I've had so few places where signal strength on '3' has been an issue that I sold it on eBay.

 

I guess if you're in a fixed location and your signal strength is very marginal it would make a difference.

 

You don't say if this is for voice or data. If data, don't assume a better signal will get you a greater data speed. I find they are rarely related. I've had places where the signal strength was quite weak but had excellent data connection and visa versa.

[Chalky]

 

You don't say if this is for voice or data. If data, don't assume a better signal will get you a greater data speed. I find they are rarely related. I've had places where the signal strength was quite weak but had excellent data connection and visa versa.

 

I did a lot of testing on this a few years ago. Exactly what we found - there is no connection between signal strength and connection speed.

[tove]

Thanks very much for the feedback. One of the problems is technology is changing so fast at the moment it's really hard to know which way to go...