Weak or no network
Weak or no network? Move antennas clear of metal, check connections and compare signal outdoors. An external antenna can help once power and SIM are healthy.
Measure before you move anything
Use the device's own signal readout, or a phone on a similar network standing in the same spot. Many cellular devices report signal as bars, a 0 to 31 CSQ number, or RSRP in dBm. Bars are not comparable between devices, so record the raw number and read it again after each change. As a rough guide, an LTE RSRP better than about -100 dBm is usually workable, and worse than about -110 dBm is poor.
Common causes
- Metal all round the antenna. A steel cabinet, gate housing or plant room can block most of the signal.
- Interference. Antennas close to power cables, motors, switching supplies or other antennas pick up noise.
- Connectors and cable. Loose or corroded connectors and long, thin cable lose signal.
- Position and height. Signal can be much better a metre higher or on the other side of the wall.
- Building materials. Foil-backed insulation, coated glass and thick masonry all cut signal indoors.
Fixes, in order of effort
- Power down and check every antenna connector is tight and the cable is undamaged.
- Move the antenna out of any metal, up, and away from motors and cables. Read the signal again.
- Compare with a reading outdoors. If outdoors is much better, mount an external antenna on a short run of good-quality cable.
- Check whether the device can use more than one network. A multi-network SIM can only pick the better network if the device leaves network selection on automatic.
- If one mast is far away, a directional antenna aimed at it may help. That is a job for an installer with a signal meter.
Before you buy an antenna
Check the simple things first: stable power, an active SIM, the right APN, and whether the device only supports a network that has been retired (see the 2G and 3G switch-off guide). Change one thing at a time and avoid unverified programming codes or resets.
Frequently asked questions
Are more signal bars always better?
Bars mean different things on different devices. Record the raw reading your device gives, such as an RSRP value in dBm or a 0 to 31 CSQ number, and take the reading again after each change.
Can I extend the antenna cable?
Every metre of cable loses some signal, more at higher frequencies and with thin cable. Keep the run short, use good-quality low-loss cable, and mount the antenna outside the enclosure rather than extending it from inside.
Will an external antenna fix a device that will not connect?
Only if signal is the problem. An external antenna cannot fix a power fault, an inactive SIM, a wrong APN or a device that only supports a network that has been retired.
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