5G antenna

5G broadband internet is rapidly growing in the UK and the rest of the world. The problem is that not all locations are served equal. By this we mean depending on where you are located will determine how many masts the service provider installs. The further away the mast and the more natural and man made obstacles in the signal way, the weaker the signal will be, the less reliable the signal will be and likely the speed will also be slower.

Is there any way to boost 5G signal

The answer is simple, Yes you can purchase a 5G ready external antennas kit. Please don’t mistake this with if you have no signal at all. There has to be a signal available to boost. If you are unsure if you have a signal on any of the service providers then you will need a signal survey. Find out more here.

4G/5G Full Signal Survey – Mast locations signal strength, speed & kit recommendations
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How do 5G Antennas work?

It depends on the type you purchase. There are two main types for consideration.

Omni Directional 5G antennas

These antennas are great for locations where the signal is strong outdoors but poor indoors. By placing the omni directional antenna outdoors and your 5G router indoors, you can experience at least the same level of signal as outdoors.

The great thing about these routers is you don’t have to point them in towards a suitable antenna. Which makes them ideal for use where the user is constantly on the move, let’s say a motorhome or truck.

The disadvantage of Omni-directional 5G antennas is that they do not offer the same level of gain (boost in signal) as a well positioned directional antenna.

5G antennas (4)

5G directional antennas

If you are located in a poor signal area. For example both poor signal indoors and outdoors. Then you best best to improve your 5G signal hence reliability and speed, is a 5G directional antenna. (please note that you will require a full signal survey in order to understand mast locations and which direction to point your antenna. (Find out more here). 5G directional antennas come in a range of shapes and sizes. The best way to imagine their impact is by comparing it to TV aerial. If you imagine and indoor TV aerial such as hoop shaped ones we placed on top of our tvs in the past vs your external antenna, pole mounted outside your home at height. The difference these 5G directional antennas make is comparable.

Can upgrade your existing 5G router

The answer is maybe. If you inspect your router and can find external antenna ports then yes it’s pretty simple.

For routers that you received from your service provider such as Three, vodafone, O2 and EE it is also likely that these routers can be upgraded with an external antenna port. We have provided some examples of these routers and their antenna ports below.

Other thing to consider when selecting a 5G antenna

When selecting a 5G antenna there are a few other points to consider.

How many external antenna points does your router have?

If there are two points then you will require a 2x mimo antenna. If your router has 4 then you can choose to add an additional antenna or purchase a 4x mimo external antenna.

5G external antenna connector type

Most 5G external antennas have a SMA connector. This is a type of screw connector. Unfortunately most 5G routers are now equipped with a TS9 connector. This is easily solved via the purchase of a ts9 to SMA connector.