5G External Antennas UK – Get the Speeds You’re Paying For
5G promises ultra-fast mobile broadband, but the reality is many people in the UK aren’t getting the speeds or stability they expect — especially in rural areas or buildings with thick walls. A 5G external antenna UK setup can massively improve signal strength, unlock faster speeds, and make your connection far more reliable.
The UK’s mobile coverage is constantly expanding, especially in rural areas. You can check your area’s 4G/5G coverage using Ofcom’s Mobile Checker to see if a 5G antenna will help in your location.
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What Is a 5G External Antenna?
A 5G external antenna connects to your 5G router and is mounted outside your home, caravan, or business, where it can see the signal directly from a nearby mobile mast. This gives you:
Stronger, more stable 5G signal
Faster download and upload speeds
Better reliability for video calls, streaming & smart tech
Some people use them at home; others in motorhomes, farms, or holiday parks. If your signal is weak or patchy indoors, an external antenna may fix it.
5G in the UK – What You Should Know
As of 2024, over 80% of UK premises have outdoor 5G coverage (Ofcom)
But only around 25% have reliable indoor 5G signal, especially in rural or stone-built properties
Many areas have mid-band 5G (Sub-6GHz), which can travel long distances but still struggle with walls and windows
Speeds can reach 100–400 Mbps, but only if your antenna and router are up to it
Why Use a 5G External Antenna in the UK?
You live in a rural or semi-rural area
You want to get the most out of your 5G contract
You struggle with slow or unstable indoor signal
You need a connection suitable for remote work, CCTV, streaming or gaming
A 5G external antenna UK setup solves these issues by capturing a stronger, cleaner signal and feeding it to your router.
Types of 5G External Antennas
Omnidirectional – Picks up signal from all directions. Good if you don’t know where the mast is or receive signal from multiple towers.
Directional (Yagi or Panel) – Focuses on one mast. Ideal for poor signal areas — stronger, but must be aimed.
MIMO (Multiple-In, Multiple-Out) – Most 5G routers support this. Always buy an antenna with 2 cables or more for best speeds.
Don’t Guess – Get a 5G Signal Survey First
Before spending money on antennas or 5G gear, we strongly recommend a professional 5G signal survey. Our £25 survey tells you:
If 5G is available at your location
How strong it is and whether you need an antenna
Which antenna type is best
Which direction the nearest mast is
If your existing router supports 5G properly
Alternatively, you can try to run some signal surveys yourself. Knowing where your nearest mast is can make all the difference when selecting the right antenna. Use the CellMapper UK tool to locate nearby 4G and 5G towers for your network.
🏆 Top 5 Best 5G External Antennas (UK Reviews)
Below are OffgridWIFI.co.uk selection of the best 5G external Antennasin the UK right now.
1. Poynting XPOL-2 5G (Directional Wall/Pole Mount)
Best for: Homes, rural properties, farms, and remote businesses needing fast and stable internet
The Poynting XPOL-2-5G is one of the most popular 5G antennas in the UK — and for good reason. It’s a directional MIMO antenna, which means it focuses your signal toward the nearest mast for stronger and more stable internet. Despite the techy name, it’s surprisingly simple to install. You just mount it to a wall or pole and point it toward where the signal is strongest.
It supports all major UK 5G and 4G bands, meaning it will work with your current 4G router and is fully future-proof for 5G. Great for homes and rural properties with patchy signal, and for people who work from home or stream often.
📡 Signal Boost: Up to 11 dBi
🔧 Mount: Wall or pole, directional (must be aimed)
🔁 Compatible with 4G and 5G routers
💷 Price: £140–£160
💰 Value for money: ★★★★★
⭐ Rating: ★★★★★ (4.9/5)
💬 “This antenna doubled our speed and halved our dropouts. Game changer.”
2. Poynting XPOL-1 5G (Omnidirectional Wall/Window Mount)
Best for: People who want easy setup in homes, offices, and motorhomes with average signal
The XPOL-1-5G is a smaller, omnidirectional antenna that doesn’t require aiming. This makes it ideal for users who aren’t sure where the mobile mast is or want a plug-and-play solution. You can mount it on a wall, suction it to a window, or fix it to a pole.
While it offers slightly lower signal gain than directional models, it’s much easier to set up. Perfect for homes in suburban areas or for mobile installations in campervans and caravans. Fully supports all 4G and 5G bands, so it’s ready now and future-ready.
📡 Signal Boost: Around 3–5 dBi
🔧 Mount: Window, wall, or pole, omni (no aiming needed)
🔁 Compatible with 4G and 5G routers
💷 Price: £90–£130
💰 Value for money: ★★★★☆
⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
💬 “Boosted our signal with no fuss. Great for non-tech users like me.”
3. Waveform QuadPro 4×4 MIMO Panel Antenna (Directional Roof/Wall Mount)
Best for: Homes, small businesses, and rural properties where users want maximum speed and reliability without ditching their existing 4G router.
The Waveform QuadPro is a 4×4 MIMO panel antenna, built for top-tier performance. This means it uses four signal paths for a stronger, more stable connection. Designed to mount on a roof or wall, it needs to be aimed toward the nearest mast for best results.
Even if you’re not technical, the included complete kit (cable, window entry, bracket) makes DIY setup straightforward — and it works just as well with your current 4G router and any future 5G router. Users consistently report massive speed improvements, making it a popular and trusted UK choice
📡 Signal Boost: Up to ~9.1 dBi
🔧 Mount: Roof/pole/wall — directional
🔁 4G/5G Ready: Fully compatible
💷 Price: ~£200–£240 (kit included)
💰 Value for Money: ★★★★☆
⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5)
Customer feedback:
“Want faster data rates, greater reliability, and lower latencies?… Join tens of thousands… improved their Internet connectivity
4. Maswell High-Gain 5G Antenna (Directional or Omni Roof/Wall Mount)
Best for: Budget-friendly installs in homes, caravans or workshops with weak signal
This high-gain antenna from Maswell offers impressive performance at an affordable price. It can be used as a directional or omnidirectional antenna, giving you some flexibility depending on where you mount it and your signal conditions.
Ideal for remote or rural areas where standard routers struggle, it supports both 4G and 5G. That makes it a smart buy if you’re on a tight budget today but plan to upgrade to 5G in the near future. The rugged casing makes it suitable for outdoor use year-round.
📡 Signal Boost: Up to 12 dBi
🔧 Mount: Wall or pole, directional or omni depending on setup
🔁 Compatible with 4G and 5G routers
💷 Price: £65–£75
💰 Value for money: ★★★★☆
⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
💬 “Good price and good signal. Didn’t expect this much improvement!”
5. Poynting PUCK-2-V2 (Roof-Mount Puck Antenna, Omnidirectional)
The PUCK-2-V2 is a compact, all-weather omnidirectional puck antenna. Think of it like a “modern hockey puck” mounted on your roof: no aiming needed, and it captures signal from all around. Designed to work straight away with inline mounting hardware and cabling, it’s perfect if you’re not confident setting up directional antennas.
Despite its small size, it packs a serious punch with 2×2 MIMO for 5G/4G, covering all UK mobile frequencies. It connects easily to your existing 4G router and stays relevant when you upgrade to 5G — making it a one-time future-proof investment that’s built to last through all weathers
📡 Signal Boost: 6.5 dBi
🔧 Mount: Roof or wall — omnidirectional
🔁 4G & 5G Compatible: Fully supports both
💷 Price: ~£65–£110
💰 Value for Money: ★★★★☆
⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5)
💬 “Despite its size, it provides excellent performance especially at higher frequency bands.” 5gstore.co.uk+2poynting.tech+2poynting.tech+25gantennas.co.uk+25gstore.co.uk+2unitecom.co.uk+2
Note: Not all antennas work on every band. All the antennas we suggets here will work in the UK. if selecting you own antennas you can use Poynting’s Antenna Selection Tool to filter options by router type, bands, and mounting location — very useful if you want deeper technical compatibility data.
Make Sure Your Router is 5G Compatible
Before buying any 5G antenna, it’s crucial to make sure your router actually supports 5G connectivity. Not all routers — especially older 4G models — can take full advantage of the speeds and frequencies provided by 5G networks.
You can still use these antennas with many 4G routers, but if you’re upgrading or want to future-proof your setup, we strongly recommend checking out our expert guide:
👉 Read our full 5G Router Guide here
It includes the best UK 5G router options, setup tips, and compatibility info to help you get the best performance from your antenna investment.
Final Thoughts: Is a 5G External Antenna Worth It?
If you live in a rural area, own a static caravan, operate a farm or business without a fibre connection — or simply want the fastest mobile broadband speeds possible — a 5G external antenna is one of the best upgrades you can make.
These antennas can:
Massively improve signal strength, even in poor coverage areas
Stabilise your connection, reducing dropouts and buffering
Unlock faster download & upload speeds, especially on 5G networks
Future-proof your network if you’re still using a 4G router
With so many types — directional, omni, roof-mounted, wall-mounted — there’s a solution for every situation. Just be sure to run a signal survey if you’re unsure about mast location or compatibility (we can help with that too!).
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