This topic

Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 11:16:44 GMT

Hi everyone,

I received my Hybrid Connect (EE 4G backup) device as part of my Halo 3+ package. Setup was easy, all good.

Unfortunately I'm only getting 1 out of 3 bars of 4G signal where I live, which the BT app defines as 'weak'. 2 or 3 bars is considered 'good'.

Perhaps 10% of the time, I will get 2 bars of signal, but even after following all of the positioning instructions, that's about as good as it gets for me. That's to be expected where I live though, not BT's fault.

I have noticed however that the Hybrid Connect has two additional antenna ports on the back. I've ordered a pair of '4G indoor antennas' from Amazon for about £10 and I'm going to plug them in once they arrive - hoping to get a consistent 2 bars at least.

My questions:

- Do BT sell official booster antennas for the Hybrid Connect yet? This would be my preferred option.

- Is there any official guidance (or technical specifications) on what type of antennas can be used to boost the Hybrid Connect? I think I've bought the right kind, but it can be hard to tell.

- Has anyone tried this already and found it helped at all?

Thanks everyone

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

avanix — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 14:20:52 GMT

Need SMA connectors, I got 2 from ebay advertised as 5dbi, took my signal from -115 to -120 down to -99db which is good enough to get about 30Mb over 4G.

Have also placed in a window.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 17:01:00 GMT

Thanks avanix, that's good to hear - the ones I ordered have SMA connectors (with a boost of 10dbi apparently).

My signal is currently -109db, so I will report back with how mine changes once I install the antennas. 30MB over 4G would be amazing though, especially for something that is only intended as a backup.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 12:24:52 GMT

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update. My antennas arrived and I've attached them, very easy to do.

I've gone from -109dBm signal strength to -96dBM. The 4G signal is now sitting comfortably at 2 out of 3 bars, which is what I was hoping for.

I would definitely recommend doing the same if you're like me and you're just on the edge of having an acceptable 4G connection.

To get these ones, I just searched Amazon for '4G sma antenna indoor' and chose cheap ones (£8.99) that I thought looked nice and would match the Hybrid Connect. The deeper you go into the subject, there appear to be really powerful antennas available, but that seemed overkill in my case.

Thanks BT for the Hybrid Connect by the way - real peace of mind now!

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Surboy — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:18:11 GMT

I bought a set of antennas from Amazon and my signal didn’t change at all. Does anyone know if BT have to add /allow their software to pick up the signal from the external antennas instead of the internal?

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

avanix — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:38:31 GMT

what was your signal before?

on mine the signal improved as soon as i attached the external antenna, if the signal is very poor not much is going to help.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:49:54 GMT

Hi Surboy,

As far as I'm aware, there isn't any software component required. As Avanix suggests, once the antennas are plugged in the benefit should be seen immediately (which is what happened with mine).

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Surboy — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:51:33 GMT

Thanks a lot 87lions31!

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:00:15 GMT

Also, I'm not sure if this helps anyone else, but I found this little chart whilst I was doing my research:

I don't know how accurate it is, but it definitely seemed to match my experience:

My 4G signal was -109dB at first (which puts it almost in the poor category). With the antennas it has since jumped to -96dB (which now puts it firmly in the good category).

I assume the Hybrid Connect would need to be -90dB or better before it started showing 3 out of 3 bars signal.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 07:22:36 GMT

One final post and then I’ll only revisit if someone asks a question:

This morning, the signal dropped back down to -105dBi. Still enough to get 2 out of 3 bars, but obviously the router either takes a little while to calibrate, or changes in the weather mean that the signal strength varies.

Either way, still got a nice little boost for external antennas (even if it wasn’t quite as much as I’d first hoped).

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Surboy — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 09:23:16 GMT

@87lions31 thanks for the update. I’m getting a new set of antennas (like yours) today and will report back on the signal strength. I’m hoping there will be some improvement, at the moment it’s around -107dBi.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Trevstar — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 22:45:34 GMT

Hi,
How do u measure the signal strength? any app thanks!

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 09:28:54 GMT

Hi Trevstar,

I use the 'My BT' app on my iPhone.

Once logged in, you'll have to dig down through a lot of different menus. The buttons you need aren't always in the same place on every screen, but either way, these are the exact steps that I follow to check my signal strength:

Your products > Broadband > Set up and manage devices > Hybrid Connect > Hybrid Connect details

...it will then show your device details (including signal strength).

Obviously I'm writing this in March 2021, so it's possible that BT could change the layout of the app in the future. I also don't know whether its the same for Android phones. I assume it wouldn't be too different though.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Trevstar — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 14:35:12 GMT

Hi 87lions31,
Thanks for getting back.
As the additionals antennas helped you.
I am getting just one bar! and it just does not work when broadband is down.
BT is unable to say or sort out the issues with signal strength from EE.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:11:04 GMT

Hi Trevstar,

Yes, I found they did help me - I went from one bar of 4G signal to two bars (just).

I got (SMA Antenna 10dBi 4G LTE Antenna WiFi Antenna High Gain Signal Booster for 3G/4G Router Modem ZTE USB Dongle) from Amazon (they were only £9 and looked like they would match the style of the Hybrid Connect nicely). There are also more expensive options on Amazon (which I assume would be even more sensitive and give even more of a signal boost if needed). The cheap ones did the job for me though.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Bobbybox — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 10:57:44 GMT

HI all,

I've followed the advice on this thread and achieved an improvement in dBa with the external aerials.

I am now at -104dBa (we're in a fringe coverage area in the chilterns with patchy EE network) and now have two bars and a pretty healthy 30mb/s when needed.

The Hybrid Connect and its integration to the SH2 is pretty neat. Works really well, especially now working from home is so prevalent.

Thanks all.

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Trevstar — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:43:03 GMT

Hi Guys,

Just noticed the hybrid connect showing 2 bars on its own for 2 days and now it has gone back to one bar!

Looks like BT Engineers are working on the issues?

BT needs to get this sorted or the hybrid connect will be a failure!

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

87lions31 — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 19:47:55 GMT

Hi Trevstar,

I noticed similar dips in my signal. When I first got the Hybrid Connect (before I bought the antennas) it was at two bars for a day or so, but then dropped down to one bar. When I bought and installed my antennas, it jumped to a strong two bar signal and then a day later dropped down to a weaker (but thankfully still two bar) signal.

My current theory is that the Hybrid Connect takes a couple of days to calculate the average, consistent 4G signal level that you get wherever you've placed it.

Rather than being like our mobile phones (which shows you how strong the signal is second by second), I think it shows you the average so you know whether the place you've put the Hybrid Connect is actually suitable for the long term. That's my best guess anyway.

Did you order any antennas in the end?

Let me know if it helps, I hope it does mate!

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

Trevstar — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 00:58:20 GMT

Hi,
I have gone back to one bar! have to get the antennas sorted soon.
I Will let you know once I try them out. BT is unable to say anything! very strange.....will keep u posted. Thanks!

Re: Hybrid Connect - attaching additional antennas

troysie — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:18:09 GMT

Bingfu 4G LTE Antenna SMA Aerial 7dBi Magnetic Base MIMO Antenna (2-Pack) Netgear TP-Link 4G LTE Cellular Router Gateway Modem Hotspot Wireless Mobile Router Hub

After trying the £8.99 antennae which made very little difference I ordered the above from Amazon. They have a 2mtr lead so I was able to place them outside. After moving them about quite a bit I found the optimum signal which reduced the signal from -109dBm to -89dBm. Excellent Antennae.