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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Customers like the performance of the antenna, saying it works just fine for their purposes and improves reception. They say it has medium performance and can shoot the signal over a block. However, some customers have concerns about the reflector material, saying that it's not extremely strong.
Customers are satisfied with the performance of the antenna. For example, they mention it works just fine for their purposes, improves reception, and is easy to install. Some say that it has a medium performance and is able to get a line of sight signal from over one mile away.
"...I connected to one with no issues, and it seemed to work great...." Read more
"Good unit. Really improved my reception. The size in the description is wrong or I was sent the wrong unit...." Read more
"This antenna is great and does what it says. I was able to get a line of sight signal (no trees or obstructions) from over one mile away...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the strength of the antenna. They mention that the reflector is made from is not extremely strong, but it will hold up to medium. They also say that the antenna is cheaply constructed.
"...Do note that the metal the reflector is made from is not extremely strong but it will hold up to medium winds if mounted correctly...." Read more
"...Would eb 5 stars but it's a bit more cheaply constructed than the TP-Link dish." Read more
I tested this out with a 25ft "N male to SMA male RG58" cable and a connection adapter and an "SMA Female to RP-SMA Male" adapter, which allowed me to connect it to an Alfa USB wireless card that I had. I connected it to a laptop running ubuntu, and used airodump to scan wifi and dump the information to a CSV file while I held the antenna and panned it around town for about 30 seconds (I live up on a hill overlooking town). It picked up over 250 wifi hotspots, and I know a couple of them are over 3.3 miles away. I connected to one with no issues, and it seemed to work great. I am actually quite surprised, as I expected a directional antenna would be needed at both ends to connect at that range.
I intend to hook this to a Raspberry Pi, bridge the network to the ethernet port, and hook up a wireless router to get a local wireless network. I am going to set stepper motors up to pan and tilt this antenna, and have the Pi move it throughout the entire range while recording the position with the highest power reading for each network. After that, I will be able to choose a network and have the antenna automatically go to the correct position for that network. Should be a fun project!
Receives HRPT and GOES (HRIT/LRIT) just fine with slight modification. I simply installed a spacer mod to the metal V (note that inverting it is almost as effective and MUCH easier) and zip tied wire mesh to the grid. Note that the latter massively boosts gain. I literally used metal fencing to do this. You’ll want something around 19 gauge/0.5 inch mesh. You don’t want it too big or small though, or you’ll miss the intended frequency range. I forget the calculation but this thickness and hole size worked in it if you’re lazy like me and just want to get HRPT working. The wire mesh mod is not necessary for GOES at all, but can be implemented if you’re trying to absolutely min/max (optimize) your viterbi error rate. At the very least, I’d invert the feed so the V is pointing outward. For the spacer mod, I again forget the exact number, but a small piece of pool noodle foam, some string, and some slip knots worked surprisingly well for this. If you do go with the mod, make sure the V is pointing inward, as you don’t want to extend the dipole out too far. In essence, either flip the metal or do the spacer mod (not both). If the desired goal is HRIT/LRIT then that’s it. If it’s HRPT, then get to cutting and tying mesh down. Or just get a normal dish antenna like normal HRPT people. Or be like me and force something that’s not intended to work to work.
Good unit. Really improved my reception. The size in the description is wrong or I was sent the wrong unit. It's 24 x 30 rather than 24 x24 I don't mind the size except for the wind load on the large unit. My mast is small.
This antenna is great and does what it says. I was able to get a line of sight signal (no trees or obstructions) from over one mile away. Do note that the metal the reflector is made from is not extremely strong but it will hold up to medium winds if mounted correctly. Also note that this antenna is very large, very very large!
I am using this grid antennae to transmit a Wi-Fi signal from my home to my boat house 400 feet away through 120 feet of thick woods. The signal dropped from 100% to 45% at the boat house. The signal extended over the length of the boat house, a span of about 30 feet. The signal is then boosted back to 100% with a router extender. The antennae is relatively light, well built and easy to install. It is mounted on a standard TV antennae pole 14 feet above ground. Because of it size it is a bit awkward to install from a ladder, but the weight is no problem.
I bought this dish for running around doing distance tests for MESH networking. It seems a to be a bit lighter than my TP-Link dish, which is almost identical to this one. This dish was a tad less expensive. Works just fine for my purposes. Would eb 5 stars but it's a bit more cheaply constructed than the TP-Link dish.
Little tricky to put together but works as advertised. Improved signal strength from distant WIFI site enough that I can directly connect. Seems strong and resistant to wind and rain.