I am using a yagi antenna plus booster to bring in a signal to my Ericsson W35 (Turbo Hub on Bell network) at my cottage. This is working with the current set-up - the signal is weak (zero bars on the W35) but stable and gives me goood voice quality and acceptable but variable data speeds.
What's odd is that the antenna gets best signal pointing opposite from the expected direction. I can't get a lock with the antenna pointing towards the tower. I'd like to understand why with a view to getting a better signal.
The closest tower in ENE for the cottage. The cottage is rectangular and the roof line is east-west. The antenna is on a pole on the east wall near the NE corner. I'd expect the yagi to get the best signal pointing ENE, but it gets the best signal pointing W of WSW (across the roof). The roof is metal and slopes northward. I also get a better signal when the antenna is lower - about equal to the peak of the roof
My guess is that the roof is acting as a big reflector. There is nothing W or SW that could bounce the signal like that, and there's a huge coverage hole west of my location, so there's no way I'm picking up another tower that way. What I don't understand is why the antenna can't get a lock when pointing towards the tower? If my roof can bounce enough signal back to the antenna, I'd think the antenna should be able to get a signal pointing to the source.
The roof is flat, but with ridges every 8 inches or so. It's also not aligned to reflect well - roof slopes N, tower is ENE, so I'd think the signal would bounce of to the NW. But the ridges could give a good angle back to the antenna - but they are narrow, so how much could they reflect?
Is it possible that the signal is weak on that corner (NE) of the building, but stronger as you move W? Should I try putting the antenna at the middle of the N wall - the roof is relecting something so try to get the antenna into the line the roof is catching?
I could try to get the antenna higher. The terrain would suggest that would be a good idea. But the roof is catching signal, or so it would appear.
I appreciate any helpful thoughts/suggestions.
What's odd is that the antenna gets best signal pointing opposite from the expected direction. I can't get a lock with the antenna pointing towards the tower. I'd like to understand why with a view to getting a better signal.
The closest tower in ENE for the cottage. The cottage is rectangular and the roof line is east-west. The antenna is on a pole on the east wall near the NE corner. I'd expect the yagi to get the best signal pointing ENE, but it gets the best signal pointing W of WSW (across the roof). The roof is metal and slopes northward. I also get a better signal when the antenna is lower - about equal to the peak of the roof
My guess is that the roof is acting as a big reflector. There is nothing W or SW that could bounce the signal like that, and there's a huge coverage hole west of my location, so there's no way I'm picking up another tower that way. What I don't understand is why the antenna can't get a lock when pointing towards the tower? If my roof can bounce enough signal back to the antenna, I'd think the antenna should be able to get a signal pointing to the source.
The roof is flat, but with ridges every 8 inches or so. It's also not aligned to reflect well - roof slopes N, tower is ENE, so I'd think the signal would bounce of to the NW. But the ridges could give a good angle back to the antenna - but they are narrow, so how much could they reflect?
Is it possible that the signal is weak on that corner (NE) of the building, but stronger as you move W? Should I try putting the antenna at the middle of the N wall - the roof is relecting something so try to get the antenna into the line the roof is catching?
I could try to get the antenna higher. The terrain would suggest that would be a good idea. But the roof is catching signal, or so it would appear.
I appreciate any helpful thoughts/suggestions.
