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3G/LTE home broadband solution

First I would say forget LTE for now, you are very far away from the coverage area, probably too far unless you have completely clear line of sight to the tower from where the external antenna will need to be placed.

Just in case you still want to try LTE get the Pantech® 4G LTE USB Modem UML290. It has an external antenna port. You would then need an adapter cable similar to this: »3gstore.com/product/2758_pantech···ble.html. You then need an antenna similar to this:»www.wilsonelectronics.com/Produc···egory=28 or »www.zdacomm.com/images/PDF/ZDAGP700C.pdf. Then you will need an amplifier. »www.wilsonelectronics.com/Produc···egory=11

The Pantech modem does not have an Ethernet port. It plus into a USB port. You should probably get a Cradlepoint Router such as MBR1400, »3gstore.com/product/3009_cradlep···400.html , »www.cradlepoint.com/products/bra···d-router. If that is too much router than the MBR 95 »3gstore.com/product/3029_cradlep···r95.html , »www.cradlepoint.com/products/sma···g-router is a great router.

Verizon offers 10GB for $80. It is $10/GB for overages.

For 3G service: First check the Verizon coverage map. Is the location inside the 3G area? Then I would use Millenicom »www.millenicom.com/ and get the Advanced Plan »www.millenicom.com/page/plans#advanced_plan. IGNORE the other plans. The "Unlimited Plan" uses Sprint's overloaded wireless/cellular network, and has a 50GB cap. "Usage over 50 gigabytes in one month will alert our investigative team."

You will get a Novatel USB 760 modem with the Millenicom Advanced Plan. The Cradlepoint WiFi router recommendations remain the same as for LTE. You will need an adapter cable for the external antenna port. »www.wpsantennas.com/359936-anten···dem.aspx The antenna would be a »www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=32451 or »www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=33983 if the frequency of the 3G signal is 850 Hz. Amplifier would be »www.wilsonelectronics.com/Produc···tegory=8.

Here is a good place to start looking for answers and solutions.

»evdotips.blogspot.com/

reply to LoneWolf15
David has good ideas and links, though I think the Cyfre CA-819 Amp Kit does a superior job to the Wilson (I've had both) at a much better price, with everything you need in one package:

»www.maximumsignal.net/store/prod···featured
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... need help? »evdo-tips.com/

reply to LoneWolf15
Thank you all for your advice so far. Really appreciated. David, I agree on the Cradlepoint routers. I've used a few of them and thought they were well done.

I've been looking at some of the equipment, and I want to confirm --will anything that I buy (antennas, amplifiers, etc.) for LTE fall back to 3G (EVDO-B) without issue if the LTE coverage is spotty? Assuming of course, that I'm within EVDO coverage range (which I should be). I'm just making sure that frequency isn't an issue.

What's the highest gain I can get (at a reasonable price) for a residential antenna or amplifier?

What is the best way to find cell tower locations for best antenna pointing? Jim, I saw your link, but I'd probably be looking at a yagi or parabolic antenna setup, which would be separate from that kit.

P.S. Feel free to explain it to me like I'm a four-year-old. I don't do a lot of wireless broadband setups, and assuming this is the chosen route, it needs to be done correctly, as this needs to be a fairly reliable, reasonable performance solution. I'd like to get entry-level DSL speeds if I can, and I don't think I trust the satellite solutions at this time to offer what I need.

With the newest version of the Cyfre amplifier kit , a parabolic or Yagi might not be necessary . Here is a link to the latest independent Third party test.

»www.jackdanmayer.com/Files/Cyfre···port.pdf

reply to LoneWolf15
Interesting, so far.

I've been doing more reading --does anyone make a dual-band amplifier that does both 3G(EVDO) and LTE in the same box? So far, I haven't found that. I could just go EVDO-B, but LTE is expanding, and I'd rather my friend not have to buy equipment twice.

One of my thoughts right now is pairing the Pantec UML-290 with this antenna:

»3gstore.com/product/2923_3g4g_ou···tml#Tab2

This would give me the chance to see what kind of performance could be had with both 4G, or falling back to 3G if necessary, and I could wait to add an amp until I was sure it was needed. The Wilson antenna Dave mentioned is also a possibility; it appears that it supports 3G and 4G frequencies as well.

Thoughts?

There are no amplifiers that support 3G and 4G at this time. Takes a while to pass an amplifier with FCC
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»www.maximumsignal.net/

reply to LoneWolf15
Since when did US Carriers launch EVDO-B?

Perhaps I made a bad assumption. I thought EVDO-B was available, but I could be incorrect and we're EVDO-A only.

reply to LoneWolf15
And hey, if price is no object, why won't he get T1? Should be under $400