How to Boost your 3G Mobile Broadband Signal

High Gain 3G Antenna

One of the great things about Mobile Broadband is that you can go online anywhere you like – but you can almost guarantee that the place you need it the most is the place where signal is at its weakest.

While 3G coverage is getting stronger with all networks, there will still be blackspots where it drops out, or you can only pick up a 2G signal. Thankfully, a couple of solutions are now available to try and get round these signal issues. If you don’t have a dongle yet and are looking for the network with the strongest 3G signal, then the OFCOM website has just published updated coverage maps (as of 31/12/08) that allow you to view the 3G coverage by network.

There are now two different types of antenna available:

Clip Antenna: This Antenna is designed to be a portable solution that clips onto the screen on your laptop or sits on your desk. It is omni-directional, which means that it will pick up signals from all directions.
High Gain 3G Directional Antenna: This is a much more powerful signal booster than the clip antenna and is ideal for people who have real problems with 3G reception. They are directional, which means that you will need to point this towards your network’s transmitter in order for it to improve the signal. The High Gain antenna when positioned correctly will make a significant difference to the signal you receive and can be wall mounted as a permanent fixture.

Both antenna’s can make a big difference to the signal you receive. simply clip on to the top of your laptop screen, and then either plug into, or wrap around your or and depending on the Dongle or Data Card that you’re using, the connection method will vary. Some will have an ariel connection that will plug straight into the dongle, and others will take a Universal “strap on” connection. Antennas are available for Dongles and Data Cards made by all of the main manufacturers for all of the UK networks. To find your dongle on the mobile fun site you can either browse by network or the make of your modem.

To help you find the right antenna for your dongle, you can now check the 3G Antenna Compatibility chart or to view all available antennas head over to the Mobile Broadband section of the site, and then choose your device – either a USB Dongle or a Data Card. You’ll need to know the model number of your dongle, but this should be printed on a label on the underneath of your Dongle or Data Card.

Identifying your Dongle

Set up is quick and simple:

Clip the Antenna onto the screen of your laptop or mount it in the desk stand (if included). The High Gain Directional Antenna needs to be mounted on the deskstand, or fixed to the wall (bracket included)

Clip 3G Antenna to screen

Next you’ll need to connect the antenna to the adapter cable. If your dongle has an antenna connection, carefully connect the end of the cable to your dongle. The Clip Antenna includes a 50cm cable, the High Gain Directional Antenna comes with a 1.2m cable. Longer 3m cables and 5m cables are available for the High Gain antennas only.

3G Antenna Installation

If your dongle doesn’t have an antenna connection, wrap the universal adapter round your dongle and make sure that it doesn’t stop it from going in to your pc/laptop.

Universal 3G Antenna Installation

The High Gain 3G Directional Antenna will need to be positioned so that it is facing your nearest mobile phone transmitter. To help you out, you can use the Ofcom Sitefinder. This will show you where the nearest transmitters are, but it won’t say which networks they belong to, so finding the right one will be a case of trial and error!

That’s it! All done. Use your Dongle or Data card as normal and you should see an increase in signal strength straight away.

Tags: 3G Dongle, 3G signal Booster, Antenna, ariel, broadband antenna, e160 antenna, e160g antenna, huawei antenna, k3565 antenna, MF627 antenna, Mobile Broadband

How-To Guides, Mobile Accessories, Mobile Technology | andysimpson | March 6, 2009 12:15 pm

By Roxie Yasin, February 19, 2009 @ 12:44 pm

Hi There!!

I have just read through your advert for "How to boost your mobile 3G signal" and was very intrested to find that an antenna is availble to increase mobile broadband signals.

Please could you tell me where i could purchase on of these antenna's and how much will they cost??

Thanks again for the information and hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks

Miss.R.Yasin
By Andy, February 19, 2009 @ 5:49 pm

Hi Roxie,

The antenna's are available now from us. I've put a link below for you.

Currently these are priced at 24.47.
http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/cat/Mobile-Broadband.h…
By Andy Strain, February 27, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

Please could you link to the exact product page as I have just spent 5 mins on your site trying to find it to no avail

cheers!
By Andy, February 27, 2009 @ 2:54 pm

There are 5 different ones available, which dongle have you got and i'll put the link on here
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By Dean, February 27, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

I also would like one of these atenna, but my dongle isn't listed. I have a 3 ZTEMF627, and I can't see it listed on your site. I REALLY need one of these boosters as I live in a basement flat!! (I only get one bar 3g at the moment – usable, but poo).
By Andy, February 27, 2009 @ 3:35 pm

Hi Dean, Your dongle doesn't have an antenna connection, so you'll need the universal one – this attaches to the dongle with a velcro strap the same as is shown in the last picture above.

This is the link for it:
http://www.unofficialmobileblog.co.uk/product/181…

I'll update the compatibility now
By Peter Colby, February 27, 2009 @ 6:48 pm

Hi Andy…I have tried for an hour to find a link for the plug in antenna for my 3 mobile dongle. You gave Dean a direct link for the velcro jobby, but try as I might I can not find the correct link. I can't be the only one having this problem. There is no way I can put this item in my basket if I can't find it. HELP !!!
By Andy, February 28, 2009 @ 12:10 am

Hi Peter, I've been looking at the layout on the site this afternoon and agree its not as clear as it could be, so this should be changing on Monday.

Currently you need to click mobile broadband, then select your network provider – you'll then be presented with all the available dongles, just choose yours from those shown.

Huawei Dongles are also listed although the images for these and dongles by other manufacturers won't appear on the category list until monday.

If you still get stuck, please let me know the dongle you've got and I'll post the link for you.
By shaun, March 1, 2009 @ 10:05 am

Hi Andy,

every time i click on my dongle (t-mobile) it says a error has occured!! i cant find if there is a booster for my dongle

please help

many thanks Shaun
By Andy, March 2, 2009 @ 11:26 am

Just an update for you all, I've added a compatibility chart now that shows which dongle works with which antenna:
http://www.unofficialmobileblog.co.uk/which-3g-an…

We're still working on improving the layout on the site to make it a bit easier to navigate.
By Jeff, March 28, 2009 @ 4:53 am

I have a Option Wireless GT Ultra Express laptop connect card. Model number GE0302. My carrier is AT&T. Could you tell me which antenna is the best for this device. I live about 10 miles out of the 3G area. There is a place on the side of the card where something plugs in but I'm not sure if it is for a antenna. I did not see the name of this divice listed in your chart. Can you please help me.
By Andy, March 30, 2009 @ 9:00 am

Hi Jeff,

I've contacted our supplier and tried to find the spec of the card that you've got, but as its not a UK Data Card its proving difficult to track down.

If you can email us a photo of the aerial connection on the phone I can try and match it that way.

Send it to customer.services@mobilefun.co.uk and put FAO Andy in the subject line.

Andy
By David, April 12, 2009 @ 8:14 pm

I have a Huawei K3565 stick would like to know which signal booster I need to buy??

Many thanks in advance.

David
By Andy, April 13, 2009 @ 10:15 am

Hi David,
The K3565 is Branded as the Vodafone USB Stick/Stick Lite so it will need the Universal Antenna as it doesn't have a port to plug an antenna in directly.

Andy
By daniel, April 20, 2009 @ 5:43 am

hello there im wondering about the High Gain 3G Directional Antenna.
whats the difference between this and the clip anntena?
i am with 3 mobile broadband and currently get 0-1 bars of internet
please help
By Andy, April 20, 2009 @ 8:40 am

Hi Daniel,

The main difference is that the clip one is designed to be a bit more portable and is a bit easier to set up signal difference is normally 2-3 bars depending on your network.
The High Gain one is a bit more of a permanent solution – it has to point in the direction of your transmitter, so if you're constantly on the move it'll take a while to set up each time. If you're only going to be using it in one location and can leave it set up all the time, this is your best bet as it will have the biggest difference to your signal. If you're more likely to be using your broadband while your out n about or on trains etc, then go for the clip antenna.

Andy
By Neil, May 25, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

Hi…I use my c902 as an external modem with Tmobile. I connect using bluetooth to my Mac. The problem is that in my flat the signal is pretty ropey to say the least. Can i use your product to boost the signal on my phone? I've been searching online for a while now and cant find any products that will boost the signal to my phone. hers hoping….cheers,Neil
By Andy, May 25, 2009 @ 11:26 pm

Hi Neil,

As your phone won't have an antenna connection, you'll need to use the universal one. It will work on a phone in exactly the same way as it would on a usb dongle, you just need to make sure that you strap it onto your phone as close to where the antenna is as possible.

Andy
By tom, May 31, 2009 @ 5:12 am

i have recently purchased a mobile wireless broadband card but im in a weak signal area. does your product work with external cards ( i wouold imagine i would need some sort of booster that plugs from my laptop to the antenna to the mobile broadband card.
By Andy, May 31, 2009 @ 9:33 am

Which card do you have?
By tom, June 2, 2009 @ 11:12 pm

sierra wireless usb 598 is my model number
By Andy, June 3, 2009 @ 7:08 pm

Hi Tom,

Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to be a UK dongle, so I can't say for certain which one will fit it, but if in doubt, the universal one will work with all USB Dongles
By Bob Bowlby, June 22, 2009 @ 7:13 pm

I have a Dell Netbook (Inspiron 910) with a Dell Wireless 5530 HSPA Mobile Broadband Minicard Modem with a Vodafone SIM card (ie no dongle or external card).

Is there a Booster Aerial for this setup and if so will it boost GPRS Signals as well as 3G signals (my main use will be for GPRS where there is no 3G coverage).

Many thanks

Bob
By Andy, June 22, 2009 @ 9:22 pm

Hi Bob.

This is something that we're still investigating. There isn't an external antenna connection on the laptop, so you won't be able to connect one directly, but if you know where abouts the 3G antenna is that is built into the laptop then in theory you could use the universal clip antenna. These work by an antenna pad sitting above or next to the internal aerial (in a similar kind of way to how an electric toothbrush would charge)

The downsides to using this are that in most cases, the antenna in the laptop runs across the top or down the side of the screen, so attaching anything to it/near it will be quite tricky.

The Clip antenna will work on GPRS and 3G, the high gain antennas are 3G only.
By paul, July 6, 2009 @ 3:12 pm

hi,
just enquiring as to the boost that i will see from each type of antenna?
obviously the high gain antenna will give more but would i see a strong connection with a clip on antenna. i have a 3 mobile huawei e160g, the normal signal is about 3 bars but some days it just doesnt load any pages.
i know my question is the same as how long is a piece of sting and signal will be different in each area but are there many sucess stories with the antenna?
thanks a mil
By Andy, July 6, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

Hi Paul,

I'm afraid there isn't a definite answer as to how much of a difference it will make, as you said signal is different in each area so it's difficult to judge. Having said that, I normally get 3 bars at work and it goes up to 4 with the antenna on. At home it goes from 3 to 5, but I know I'm only about a mile away from the transmitter.

If you want more people's thoughts on them, it might be worth having a look at the reviews page for the antennas:
http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/18115-Clip-Antenna-for…
By John, July 7, 2009 @ 1:24 pm

hi,
i live in ireland and am using a usb stick modem from vodafone, on the pack it says "Huawei E169" an on the modem it says "K3520",
i am currently gettin download speeds of 1.0kbps and 30.0 kbps, i have 3 out of 5 bars of signal. Sometimes i can pick up a 3G signal but its always too weak to connect.

which antenna do you think would best suit me?
will it increase my download speed by much?
By Andy, July 7, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

It sounds like you're only getting a standarg GPRS signal which is why it's slow. The clip antenna will improve both GPRS and 3G signal, but the High Gain one will only help with 3G signal. Have you checked coverage on the vodafone website? If it says you should get 3G signal, then I'd go for high gain, if not then go for the clip one. Can't really say what difference it will make as there are so many factors that can affect it. Overall feed back is good with most customers seeing an increase of 1-2 bars with the clip antenna
By steve, July 13, 2009 @ 3:25 pm

Hi, I use my N95 as a modem on 3, and would like to be able to boost the signal in my van. I am usually static and so think one of the directional ones would be better. how long is the cable? so i could clip it to the roof. do you think this would help on N95.
By Andy, July 13, 2009 @ 3:28 pm

Hi Steve, There's no reason why it won't work, You'd need the universal antenna as there isn't an external antenna connection on the N95, but the clip antenna cable is only about 2 feet long.

We should hopefully be launching a range of antennas that are designed fir use in the car in the next week or two. These will have magnetic bases and longer cables and will probably suit you better.

Keep your eye on the blog for an announcement shortly.
By name, July 29, 2009 @ 8:12 am

Good Job,
By Marie, July 30, 2009 @ 8:30 pm

I only get 2g reception where I am, and t mobile say that they aren't covered with 3g here. Is it worth me getting a booster still? thanks
By Andy, July 30, 2009 @ 8:50 pm

Hi Marie, If T-Mobile are saying no 3G where you are, then it's highly unlikely that a signal booster will make any difference. It might improve your 2G signal, but that won't really speed things up for you as 2G only goes as fast(!) as old dial up internet