27km? Wow. Good news. Been watching videos on this subject matter, but this is the first one that actually included a quantified range. Read through a bunch of the comments too. I think the people that are putting their antennas really high are using much higher grade cables. Something or other I read yesterday for helium had a list of cables going all the way up to one and a half inch diameter cable. Supposedly very stiff and hard to bend, but I imagine that someone could do the thick cable the length of the antenna pole and then switch to a smaller one to make the pass through the wall to the miner. For the people asking about the super long range stuff, some of the people here in the Houston Texas area are using directional, rather than omnidirectional, to reach from the outskirts (60km away) of Houston to all the hotspots in downtown Houston. If you view the "Orbiting Eggshell Skunk" hotspot in Helium's map browser, you can see all their witnesses are in a narrow cone pointed south southeast towards downtown.
Thanks for the informative video, my question is this antenna works with RAK miner: Proxicast High Gain 10 dBi Universal Wide-Band 3G/4G/LTE Omni-Directional Outdoor Pole/Wall Mount Antenna Part# ANT-126-002-
Hello Feras, you are welcome. Here is a link to my blog post. I have a link in there that will lead you to the antenna that I used, and the specs. ntcreviews.com/helium-hnt-network-review/ -Hg
Great review. Not tech savvy with aerials. Is higher better and does the aerial work on line of sight or does it impact results having buildings surrounding it? Eg I can put on roof but need electrician to install power etc. Or I can install on my rear shed (not as high, surrounding trees and buildings) but much cheaper to install (power there and I would install antenna using ladder)
Thank you, nastiedog! Everything that you just mentioned is an option. There are so many variables that I cannot just give one simple answer. With RF, there is a lot of trial and error. My advice is that once you get your hotspot, hook it up with the stock configuration. Once you get a couple weeks of info, adjust from there. -Hg
There are various factors that could impact the radius. Weather, line of sight and even the ionosphere play a part in how the signal travels. It's a tough question to answer correctly. -Hg
Ordered a RAK hotspot miner yesterday... I'm in the middle of hotspot wasteland, with only ONE other active hotspot showing about 13 km away. However - I just happen to have a 40' antenna tower - that'll be interesting. I'll only be the 2nd person in a town with a pop. of about 110,000. So I'm thinking perhaps there will be more folks in the future... Or maybe I'll figure out a way to deploy more hotspots around town. Great video btw... very encouraging.
@@NTCReviews My only concern is - this house was built in 1980 and I have no idea how old the tower is... It looks sound - no visible signs of rust and is anchored to both earth and the end of the house. But I'm a bit apprehensive about climbing it. lol. It'll be a few months before my miner arrives - but yeah I'll let you know and might also have a question or two along the way for you :-)
Maybe use a ladder to bear most of the weight. And definitely have a couple guys over to help support the effort from below. Just make sure that you buy the beer; After. ;-) -Hg
First of all, I went to Rahway Junior High so It is cool to see someone mining in my old county. I ordered my first miner and I wish I had ordered 10. This is amazing. I am using your outdoor antenna blog as well to help me get setup. I am ordering today. I was only able to order from CalChip. Are there any other connectors I should be aware of? BTW ... I'm in the DC area now.
Very cool and great to hear, GSG! As far as the antenna setup, this antenna video will have a lot more detail. I also put links to the components that I used, in my blog post. The link is in the description and pinned in the comment field. I wish you were still in Rahway, we would definitely be able to mine some HNT together. Good luck and keep me posted on your progress. -Hg
very good video. My city has a bylaw with antennae. Do you think I could mount this in my attic to a rafter. Would it still be a better advantage than the 4dbi standard for Bobcat?
Thank you, Lee! I would setup your miner stock for a short length of time and see what kind of results that you get. Then adjust from there. I made a recent video that touches on the subject. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html Let me know your thoughts after you watch it. -Hg
Totally understand that I probably need to test this out to get any solid answers, but just wanted to throw this question out there for anyone that could provide any insight. I'm currently waiting for my miners, but I've purchased a 5.8 dBI and 8.0 dBi to test out along with the stock 3.0 dBi. I live on the 40th floor of a condominium and have corner unit in my building with little to no obstruction around me. My plan was to utilize the 8.0 dBi in my unit to gather as many witnesses as I could. Assuming that all other miners are using 3-6 dBi antennas, do you think I would go right over everyone's signal or would I be able to hit the tops them?
Hello OJ, there is no way to really know until you do some testing. The concept is solid. Let me know how it works for you. Set it up stock for a week, gather data, address from there. -Hg
Very Nice, I am in Toms River waiting on my Nebra. I am hoping despite the many trees in this area I can also reach that distance. What is the approx height of your antenna with it mounted on the garage? Mine will be on the peak of our roof with a pole. Approx 20ft total. Thanks for the video!
Hello NJ BH, my parents are in Point Pleasant. The rule is, the higher the better. But the key is to find out the height of the hotspots that you are trying to reach. There are links to websites, on my blog post found in the description, that will help you to pinpoint the height requirements needed to reach specific hotspots in your area. ntcreviews.com/helium-hnt-network-review/ Take a look, let me know what you think. -Hg
I'm not sure which antenna you are using so I cannot confirm. But as long as the frequencies are the same as well as all the connectors, in theory, it should work. -Hg
On that hotspot I would say 30-40%. It made a big difference. But as my area gets more populated, I will tinker with various dB's and adjust as necessary. Meaning that I will try other, lower dB antennas. -Hg
Hello Aaron, I have been testing a couple of the RAK antennas and so far, so good. There is a link in my blog post to the RAK website. My post is pinned on top of this comment thread. -Hg
Got a question, I don’t know a lot about helium so sorry if this sounds obvious. If I had access to some land in the middle of nowhere that could accommodate multiples of these miners/hotspots would they still earn helium without anyone using the IOT hotspots?
What is the topography of your area like? Are you on a hill/in a dip? Etc. I live in an area with a few hills and unfortunately live at the bottom of one of them. They're about 30ft top to bottom so I'm looking at getting a 3dBi antenna, what do you think of this idea?
Hello Royce, I'm basically at sea level but do have tall buildings around that hinder the performance of my miners. As far as your idea... you never really know until you try, gather info and take it from there. There is no exact science when it comes to RF. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. Remember to get that antenna as high as you can with good line of sight. Good luck. -Hg
Need you to cover using splitters and taps. I watched a video saying something like higher db antennas produce a narrow coverage at greater distance whereas a lower db antenna produces wider coverage over a lesser area. Would be logical to use two antennas at different db levels on one single hnt miner. I don't know much about this, so it'd be cool if you covered this topic. 👍
Thanks you for this video! Im still waiting for hardware. What mghz is that antenna? was looking at an 8dbi 900-933. Would that work with the router. Appreciate the help!
You are welcome, Mark! On this setup, I am using a 10dB antenna. It is working out well for me. But... we always need to adjust. As my area gets more populated, I will most likely go down to a lower dB and see how that works. You should be fine with that antenna, for your hotspot, as long as you are in N. America. There is a link in the description and pinned in this comment field that will bring you to the blog l post on my website. You will find more info and links that can give you more info. Good luck! -Hg
Keep in mind John, that what we really want is those consistent "witnesses." I have gotten witnesses from 45km away. But... it happens every so often and the rewards are minimal. Listen, it's very cool to see and I'll take every fraction of HNT that I could get. However, the goal is to get the consistent contacts and maximize rewards. From what I have gathered in the past few months, by the time that you get your HS, your nearest contact will be Much Closer than 11km. I will be putting out a couple of "Talking Head" videos this week addressing the most frequently asked questions. This one is definitely a popular one. Stay posted if you are interested. Good luck my friend. -Hg
I don't think that it will work well for the Helium network purposes with the "noise" that it would create but with RF, sometimes... you never know until you try. -Hg
@@NTCReviews i have several high rise buildings in a major urban area and looking to set this up but want to maximize coverage. I’m talking 25 to 40 stories high unfettered access on all exposures
You may not need any external antennas at all. Follow the app directions with the stock setup and see how you do for a week or 2. Gather info and take it from there. -Hg
I live in the suburbs, and need to try and reach like 2 miles across a bay to another miner. Do you have a link to where I could find a 12 dbi antenna? Not sure if that is even enough?
Hello Craig, with clear line of site, you should be fine with the stock antenna. Give it a try first, gather info & address it from there. I posted a new video today and I went over similar info. If you are interested, here is the video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html -Hg
@@NTCReviews Thank you. I had ordered a RAK 8dbi antenna impulsively that I plan on getting installed at the highest point of our roof. Will try the stock antenna first. Appreciate the great videos!
Hey! I love ur video!! I have a quick question. So I go on explor helium website and some ppl got witnessefrom over 100miles away and I was wondering how can I able to do that!??
Hi, I'm from Latinamerica and I wanted to ask if you know if you can modify a device that has a frequency different from that of my country, for example, if I buy one that is for the United States, if you can modify the frequency so that it is from Australia
Hello Yesica, anything is possible but you would probably void the warranty on the hotspot. I would definitely contact the manufacturers of the hotspots and see what they have to say. Great question, I would be interested in knowing, if and when, you get a solid answer. If you do, please post it on here. Good luck! -Hg
Hello S, and thank you for the positive feedback. Adding an external antenna has countless options depending on your needs, rules and local laws. It is difficult to make a "responsible" one-size-fits-all video. In my blog post, I list all of the components that I used in this install: ntcreviews.com/helium-hnt-network-review/ Take a look and narrow it down to what you think may will work well for your area. Make sure that your antenna is grounded and get it as high as possible with good line of sight. -Hg
Great video! I am purchasing my first helium miner and was thinking of getting an antenna with it. May I know the radius of the10db external antenna? I live in northlake tx that is quite far from other network. I hope the antenna will give a boost.
Hello MOAT, and thank you for your support! I made a recent video and went over a few of the antenna questions. Take a look at this video before you decide on an external antenna. It may save you some time and money. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html Let me know your thoughts after you watch it. -Hg
Hello Dr. S&R, there are various options depending where you are mounting your antenna. The way that I always ground my antennas (Ham or Hotspot) is to add a 8' grounding rod for each antenna. I then make sure that those rods are connected to each other as well as all the other grounding rods in my home. You can also use an arrestor for a bit of redundancy if you want to "dot all the i's." -Hg
What is the maximum cable extend do you recommend, I will need a 15 meters minimum cable to reach my roof top, do you think is a good option or will I loose effectiveness? Thanks!
Hello Rui, I think that you will experience too much signal loss with a 15m cable. I extended the antenna setup that you see in this video by 3m. But I mounted the hotspot in the attic, near the roof, so that I could cut down on the cable length. The cable that I am using is about 6m total. I feel that I am pushing the limits here with 6m. Estas em Portugal? -Hg
@@NTCReviews sim, estou 😂! Made my purchase from cal chip like everybody(long wait ahead), meanwhile I am already studying good options to amplify the signal. Thank you for your prompt feedback. Nice videos showing your side of assembly.
@@NTCReviews Boa! Encontrei o teu canal por acaso. Nos videos que encontro ninguém fala muito do racio do tamanho da antena vs o cabo ideal. Sabia que ia perder sempre potência com aumento do tamanho do cabo, um pouco por lógica. Estou no centro de Lisboa, edifício de 4 andares, eu vivo no terceiro. Se não colocar antena vai ser muito difícil potenciar mais ganhos, veremos. Cabo ligado á terra é muito importante, vejo que mencionas isso no teu vídeo sobre esta antena mas muito brevemente. Abraço e bom trabalho!
Hey bud, Where do you run the ground wire, as in from where on the antennae to where in the house? Thanks for the video! Hoping when mine comes I can get 5 miles range in suburbs..... closest one is 5 miles away.
@@NTCReviews whats the furthest away "witness" you have connected to? Wondering about expected range in a suburb... hoping an 8db can get me 4 miles if mounted on the roof.
Hello Easy, nothing extra is needed. Just make sure the adapters/ connectors match your setup and you will be good to go. There are links in my blog post that will point you to each component that I used: ntcreviews.com/helium-hnt-network-review/ Good luck. -Hg
@@NTCReviews Hello, thank you so much, i have another question : i found another antenna not too much expensive and the dbi is perfect for me, i need to know if this antenna can work with RAK V2 miner : www.wifi-shop24.com/alfa-networks-aoa-m4g-omni-marine-4g-antenna?curr=EUR dont worry about the different plug, i have many adapters, only i need to know if this antenna work with EUROPEAN VERSION 868mhz of rak v2, i read the description and the frequency is ok, but i dont read nothing about IOT(internet of things) and im not sure for buy it, thank you.
You are welcome. My advice is to get an antenna that is tuned to the exact frequency that your hotspot operates on. That will increase your chances of witnessing other hotspots in your area, which is the whole goal. Other than that, I can only recommend antennas that I have experience with. If not, I would just be guessing and that doesn't help anyone. -Hg
Try the antennas available from RAK. They have been working well for me. The connectors are different from the ones in this review; be sure to note that. rakwireless.kckb.st/8944d84c -Hg
Hello Shawn, there are links in my blog post that lead to all the components that I mentioned here. You can find that link in the description and also pinned at the top of this comment thread. Let me know if you are good to go. 👍 -Hg
Hello Meed, there is a link in the description field and pinned here, as the top comment, that will take you to my blog post. You will find the purchase links to this antenna and more. Let me know how it works out for you. -Hg
How seanek, there are links to all the gear that I used in this install, in my blog post. The link is in the description. Let me know if you need help from there. -Hg
Do you have any experience with a cheaper antenna? I ordered a 20dbi for $60 to try to witness another miner about 12 miles away from me. I haven't received the miner yet but if it doesn't work out i'll probably try a 15dbi lorawan anteanna for more than double the price.
Take a look at this video Conscious, it may help with your situation. Let me know what you think once you watch it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html -Hg
Okay so I'm not really well informed on stuff like this especially when it comes to setting up an antenna so I wanted to know more about the grounding wire. What's it purpose and how do I set it up and "ground it". I was trying to find a vid about this but, no luck....
There are different laws and codes for grounding your antenna, depending on where you live. You would need to find out what the rules are for your area. From there, you can narrow down your search. Grounding rods, arrestors, blocks... are all valid choices depending on your requirements and scenario. There is no One Size Fits All. We ground our antennas so that our hotspots are protected against lightening strikes. -Hg
Like mentioned above, when for instance lightning hits your antenna, it receives to much current having it trapped and causing damage. With grounding you solve this problem by creating conduction from your antenna to the ground via a cable, letting excess current 'safely' flow in to the ground.
Okay ... this is probably the most naive question you've ever read ... Top of a high rise, total line of sight over the whole city, can I mount 4 uni directional antenna (in a square), and connect them individually to 4 Bobcat miners ? 🤔... would this work better than a single omni directional antenna and 1 miner ?
Hello Edwin, initially it was a huge difference. But as my area became more populated, I had to adjust. I went from external 10dB to 5.8db and am now using a 3dB. There is no exact science with RF so continual tweaking is to be expected. I go into a bit of detail on that subject in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html -Hg
I bought this antenna too! After a week, I noticed my miner isn’t observing other hotspots up to 30 km like yours. The height is currently installed outside at 10 meters. How can I check if it’s properly working? Thank you in advance!
Hello Eva, there are a lot of different factors. The network has grown substantially since I made this video. If other hotspots pick up the signal before your hotspot does, they will get the rewards instead of you. The max witnesses per beacon is 25. That may be part of the issue. How is your line of site to these further out hotspots? Are there obstructions in the way? Are you witnessing other, closer, hotspots with that antenna? -Hg
@@NTCReviews Hi! Thank you for your reply. You are absolutely correct there are many reasons why my miners doesn’t have witnesses. I figured out my line of sight to other miners has a high RSSI and the line of sight is terrible. The solution is to increase the height of my antenna and the RSSI will be in a range for witnesses! Yay! :)
Excellent Eva! Glad to hear that you are figuring things out. Keep in mind that with RF, it is constant tweaking as the network evolves. What might work well today, my not work tomorrow. It is part of this game that we are playing and many actually welcome the challenge. Keep me in the loop and let me know how things pan out for you. I wish you the best and thank you for your support! 🍻 -Hg
Thank you Marc, your support is appreciated. 🍻 The length of the coax definitely correlates with the amount of signal loss that you will experience. In my experience with the Helium network, keep the cable length -maxed at 20ft.- Two of my HS currently have that feed length and I cannot complain; when it comes to performance. -Hg
@@NTCReviews thanks for the quick response. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to set up a few where I live. No one currently in my area have hotspots running and I'm not sure I could be seen by the closest one. Keep up the good work 🍻
Hello Marti, all of the components that I used are linked in my blog post. You will find the link to my blog post in the description and also pinned here at the top of the comments. -Hg
Yes Matt, it is highly recommended. The last this you want is to fry your hotspot just because you didn't ground it. It's a pain in some setups but well worth the aggrevation in the long run. -Hg
Hello Adam, the antenna in this video is not from Cal-Chip, so the answer is yes to that. As far as placement, there are too many variables for me to be able to answer that correctly. -Hg
@@NTCReviews makes since. The external antenna part is a little daunting for someone with no knowledge of radio frequencies. That’s where I’ve been getting hung up. I went ahead and ordered the Rak V2 miner just to get some hands on experience. I’ve also found that Rak Wireless sells antennas on their website. Another question I have is, is there a limitation on antenna feeder line length? The longest they have on the Rak website with the antenna is 5 meters. I’m not sure if that will be long enough. Could I create my own with coax and the proper connectors?
My advice Adam is to setup the stock unit for a couple of weeks. See how it does, then take it from there. 5 meters is the recommended cable length max to keep signal loss to a minimum. But keep in mind that there are outdoor units and cases. The options are endless. Gather some info about your local area first. Anything else is just a guess that could cost you time and money. -Hg
There is link in my blog post to this antenna and the other components that I used in this install. The link to my blog post is in the description and pinned on the top of the comments. -Hg
Just bought a miner today, looking into expanding it with an antenna when it arrives. Do you have a video of how you did the grounding wire? just patch it into the house ground? Thanks
Just read this in the comments "As far as grounding, you need to find out the codes, rules and options for your particular area. There are various grounding options but you need to narrow it down to what the code is in your area; then take it from there. -Hg"
Awesome video and great clarity, smooth voice! What parts are exactly inside and outside? Is it only the antenna that is outside, while the hotspot itself is inside? I'd like to do the same, but don't know if it's better to put the hotspot outside, closer to the antenna (using less cables) or get a longer cable, and having it connect to a hotspot inside my house so I can connect my ethernet cord to it as well
Thank you Daniel, I appreciate the kind words! My advice is to set up your hotspot inside your home, near a window, highest location possible. From there, study the data that you will gather over a week or two and then; address and tweak from there. Anything else... you will just be guessing and possibly wasting time and money. Good luck. -Hg
I have found antenna's that are 10db with a wider frequency spectrum, does it matter if its 824MHz-960MHz and not a smaller range? I think it should still work... but have to ask
Hello Gravitron, in theory, the finer the tuning, the better the performance. It will be difficult to guess performance, with that particular antenna, until you actually try it. -Hg -Hg
I have a ground wire running from the external mount to a grounding rod; Highly recommended. I have links to the gear that I used in my blog post found in the description. -Hg
How close do you have to the miner to the antenna? I saw some people putting the miner outside next to the antenna. If you needed to look at the miner, that would be an issue if it’s up there.
Hello Lou, my miners are indoors and I have a coax cable running to the antennas. Basically, the same way most external TV antennas work. I hope that helps. -Hg
I live in Palisades park and not getting good witness. Would you be able to install my antenna on a good location on the house if I pay you for labor ?
Question. I see the pipe mount but what its the mount for the antenna that you are using to the pipe. I ordered on and it came with brackets for U bolts to the antenna but it looks like you have it mounted to a single plate that appears to give it a clean look. Thank you in adavance
Hello Speedy, the base plate for the antenna came with the antenna. I then mounted it to the pipe mount. I have all the components linked in my blog post. You can find it in the description and pinned to the top of this comments field. -Hg
I'd like to get into helium but I'm 25 miles from another hotspot. Is it possible to find a reasonably priced (sub $250) antenna that can push out that far?
Corey, my advice would be to get 2 hotspots if it is in your budget and a 2nd location for the install. With one hotspot, and your current scenario, it would take quite a while for you to get your ROI. -Hg
Can you make a video on types of antennas you recommend. This one is no longer available and many of us are looking to upgrade our antennas but don't have the knowledge how they work. A guide video on antennas would be awesome! :)
If I get some free time, I will definitely give it some thought, ZeeMan. Other than that, your best bet is to go with what the manufacturers are selling. (There are links to them on my blog post pinned at the top of the comments) I have been using a couple of the RAK 5.8dB and have had success with them. But keep in mind that every area is different. What works for one of my hotspots, doesn't work as well for the others. As the network grows, you need to keep adjusting. -Hg
@@NTCReviews Thank you. I was actually able to order the one you did. Looks like they have few in stock now. Just though it would be a good topic to discuss, not only recommending antennas but helping people understand how different frequencies work.. Just a though, thank you for your content so far!
Are you sure you got the correct antenna? I went to your other video and the link provided and I don't see that supporting Lorawan which is what HNT is network is.
The new setting are only for informational purposes. When I setup my miners, those options weren't yet available. Those new options currently have no impact on your network coverage. But, I'm sure that will change in the future. -Hg
If you mean charged, that is because you opted to add those settings for a fee. But they currently have no impact on the performance of your HS. That's according to Helium, when I asked about those features a couple of weeks back. -Hg
Whats a good antenna for south miami with multiple hotspots but closest cluster of miners looks to be 5 to 15 miles away, no big trees in that direction and no large hills?
Hello Ant, before you invest in external antennas, take a look at this video. I go over my experiences, testing various antennas and setups. Hopefully, it will save you some time and money. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html Let me know your thoughts after you watch it. -Hg
Hello Manny, it will work with the Bobcat from what I read. Just be sure to check the connectors. You may need to get adapters or specific cables to work with your setup. Good luck. -Hg
@@NTCReviews noted sir! Thank you so much! I will think about it! Need to convince my friend so another mining install at his house 😂 indeed will pay him too. Hahha.. Once again, thank you!
Hello VPX4, I guess if we all thought that way, none of us would ever drill through our homes. But obviously, many people have drilled through your home already if you have electricity, cable, internet, gas, water, etc. So if you do not currently have water damage nor insect issues, that is because the job was done right. I guess you can always run your cable through a window. You can also follow existing wire runs in your home. But you will still need to seal those openings/holes or you will experience the same issues that you would with freshly drilled holes. -Hg
What is your hotspot name so I can see how far you are reaching other people at? I just ordered my RAK and the closest hotspot to me is 7km, with much more being about 15-20km away. I want to see if that antenna really does the trick as I will definitely need one!
Hello Travis, take a look at this video before you invest in external antennas. It may save yoy some time and money. Let me know your thoughts after you watch it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html -Hg
It definitely is. I know because I had one of these antenna's on my RAK 2 for a month. It did well but that area became more populated, so I went down to 5.8dB. -Hg
External antennas are built to be outside, Mike. Think of it just like a TV antenna setup. The TV is inside and the antenna is on the roof; both connected via a cable. -Hg
Hello Maly, my 2nd hotspot is 1.2km away. Other than that, nothing closer. I hit my 2nd hotspot 9 times out of 10 and reach others, for less rewards, but I witness challenges that without the 10dB, would never happen. I put a 2nd 10dB antenna of the 2nd hotspot... I was no longer able to have my 2 hotspots witness each other. I went back to stock antenna on the 2nd hotspot. But will install a 5dB on 2nd one soon. I'll make a video on my findings if we get enough interest. -Hg
@@NTCReviews That is what I am worried about with the 10 DBi People have been saying the 5DBi is the sweet spot Thanks for posting this information! Also if you could do a video on grounding that would be great!
Well Maly, there is no specific "sweet spot" when it comes to RF. It depends on your 'targets.' If I use a 5dB right now, I'd make much less HNT than using my 10dB. Now... if and when my area gets populated (i.e. My Other Hotspots Finally Come In), I will then switch to a much lower dB antenna so that I can take advantage of the closer, higher rewards earning, hotspots. I had to buy 2 antennas so far, pricey ones. But they paid for themselves in the first 2 weeks. The lower dB antennas are much cheaper and will pay for themselves even faster. If you like this geeky stuff, it's actually challenging and annoying at the same time. But when you get it right, you hear slot machines RING at times. -Cha Ching! Good Luck and enjoy the process. I'll let you know when I figure it out. ;-) -Hg
Hello Kurt, the cable that I used here was recommended by the antenna manufacturer and I was able to get it delivered overnight. 3 Months later, no complaints. -Hg
@@NTCReviews sadly the antennas you link us to are out of stock :( I have 4 bobcats coming in a few weeks, trying to prepare! Any different recommendations?? Thanks!
Take a look at the RAK Wireless link in my blog post. I have been testing their 5.8dB antennas and they work well: ntcreviews.com/helium-hnt-network-review/ -Hg
Hello Leonel, and yes you can. I use this same setup on one of my RAK miners. I haven't used a Bobcat yet so you may want to check the connectors and adapters needed for it to work. I listed all the components that I used for this install, with links, in my blog post: ntcreviews.com/helium-hnt-network-review/ Good luck. -Hg
It's generally not a good idea. But it has worked better for some hotspots than the standard antenna in a lower floor window. All that I can say is, give it a try. -Hg
Hello Bob, I wouldn't know besides the link that I posted in my blog post. Are you sure that you need a 10dB? I made a recent video that touches a bit on antennas. Take a look before you finalize your antenna decision. It may just save you a couple bucks, too. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sU0rwLANcQc.html -Hg
