Hi, this is a very practical problem, but I didn't know where to ask. I will keep it brief.
I have a SIM7000 cellular module which has a uFL connector that I convert to SMA and use either a stubby 2" antenna or a disk antenna.
In the city, the system works great. When I'm away from the city, it connects / handshakes with a tower ok. When I send an SMS it's usually ok. But when it's passively waiting for an SMS, it doesn't receive it. When it sends an SMS and makes that connection, THEN it sees the incoming SMS and receives it.
I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a powered cell antenna... something that has the SMA connection, but also a connection to power. And would this even solve my problem? I imagine a powered antenna would help in transmission, but not in reception. Is the only way to improve reception to improve the physical antenna design? ie a huge parabolic disk antenna pointed right at a cell tower.
Before you look at the antennae, are you powering down/sleeping your module between transmissions? (what you describe sounds like you've failed to issue a periodic location update).
If its not that, a ground plane might be the right answer.
srnet:
Try a Google search on 'Mobile Signal Booster'.
Thanks, I have, but those are very expensive and would more than triple the price of the project
scrumfled:
Before you look at the antennae, are you powering down/sleeping your module between transmissions? (what you describe sounds like you've failed to issue a periodic location update).
If its not that, a ground plane might be the right answer.
I'm not putting the cellular module into sleep mode or anything like that, but I'm not sure what you mean by issuing a periodic location update. Maybe you're saying that's something the cell module should do for me but powering it down would prevent it from doing that.
I've heard of ground planes, I'll look at some options.
jwallis:
Thanks, I have, but those are very expensive and would more than triple the price of the project
Given the complexity of a 'mobile signal booster' which needs to act as a bi-directional relay at high frequencies there are good reasons for the costs.
There are improvements to antennas you can make, but such DIY non approved modifications would likley be illegal in most places.