Trouble with External Antenna with Sprint's Sierra Overdrive Pro

[unckybob]

I bought one of Sprint's Sierra Overdrive Pros. It is a cellular data device that connects to the inter-net through the cellular data network.<br /><br />I opened an account with Sprint for the device and I am still in the two week trial period. It runs out on Monday, so I still have until then to see if I can make it work.<br /><br />I bought an external antenna:<br /><br />http://www.ebay.com/itm/261079620600?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&amp;_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649<br /><br />My hope is to get external antennas for areas that don't have good service and hopefully get service in those areas.<br /><br />If I connect the external antenna, it seems to have no effect on this device whatsoever. I don't get any more bars or anything. If I drive to an area where I just start to get out of reception and then connect the antenna, I get no improvement in reception.<br /><br />Does anyone have any experience with these types of devices that can help or explain what is happening?

 

[Seraphim]

I've never tried using an external antenna, so I'm afraid I can't be of any assistance.<br /><br />Looking at the ad, it claims to increases the reception (quality?) but does not seem to claim to increase distance. You'll probably need a more expensive booster of some type to accomplish that.

 

[HoboBerg]

Hi Bob I had a Sierra wireless usb card which&nbsp;didn't work so well so I bought the external antenna as well off of ebay (Maybe they sent you the one I returned<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />) I returned both items and went back to Verizon.

 

[gadgetMe]

Not sure, where you are located.<br /><br />If you are east of the Mississippi River you may have better luck with sprint.<br /><br />Out west (where I am) it stinks. and has always sucked<br />an external antenna will help if you are in a metal building, not so much for boosting signal to your card.<br /><br />3 amp boosters with external antennas will work in 90% of the somewhat remote areas (with Verizon), you'll find boosters on the internet, truck stops, there are a variety of models and price points. I have personal experience with smothtalker, wilson, units<br />Also check ebay for a used booster, I just picked up a replacement one for the camper from ebay, new one costs $300.00, &nbsp; ebay&nbsp; $75.00 works good<br /><br />I use 2 of them one in the camper, one in the truck.. since 2005<br /><br />These guys are very good&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wpsantennas.com/"> http://www.wpsantennas.com/ <br /></a><br /><br />Putz<br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[unckybob]

It turns out that this device needs two antennas in order for an external antenna to work. And they only work for 4G.

 

[blars]

Cell antennas are for fringe areas, not for no signal areas.&nbsp; There is only one place I could not connect at all where my cell antenna and amp let me connect, but many places where the connection was slow and unreliable where it helped.&nbsp; Verizon connectivity seems best in the western US, although there are a few areas where AT&amp;T can be gotten that Verizon can't.

 

[offroad]

Make make sure you are using coverage maps to tell if any service is available at all. You can get service if none is there.&nbsp;