Last Fall we got a Sierra Aircard 595 with Sprint service. It quickly became obvious we would need help with reception when in the Boonies so we bought a Cyfre 819 Amplifier setup from Gord at Maximum Signal. On a trip to Florida in January the Amp worked as advertised, bringing signal strength up 15dB - 20dB, which means if there is even a sniff of signal this Amplifier will make it usable. BTW, the Cyfre Amp doesn't get warm, let alone hot like some of the Wilson Amp users have mentioned.

Since we have two Thinkpad 'Puters, last week we ordered the new Cyfre Aircard wireless Router from Gord. It arrived in two days. I can't believe how well this thing works! We are in a "hole" here and Cellphone reception is very poor (part of the time one Bar and conversations have breaks and missing words) but with the Cyfre router the Aircard works flawlessly and fast (we do have EVDO here), even with two 'puters using it. And that was without the Amplifier/external antenna (as a test). Unbelievable.Then I added the new Router to the Amplifier/Antenna setup in Ms Dolphin. The Sierra Aircard now inserts into a slot in the Cyfre Router (which is powered by a 12VDC "cigarette lighter" adapter). A wire runs from the Aircard antenna port to the input of the Cyfre Cellphone Amplifier (which is also powered by 12VDC). The setup has been running in Ms Dolphin in our driveway since installed several days ago and we are using it in Stix&Brix. Operation is Flawless. BTW, the Cyfre router provides Hot WiFi since it is working through two walls and a distance of about 25Ft.

We leave tomorrow for Summertiming so I will post about performance as we go along.

Lew

quote:

We are in a "hole" here and Cellphone reception is very poor (part of the time one Bar and conversations have breaks and missing words) but with the Cyfre router the Aircard works flawlessly and fast (we do have EVDO here), even with two 'puters using it. And that was without the Amplifier/external antenna (as a test). Unbelievable.

So, how does using a router alone improve signal quality? I would think that you would need an antenna and/or amp to improve signal quality - not just a router. What am I missing here...does the Cyfre router have an in-built amp and you plug into it somehow?

No, no built in Amp, hence no actual change in signal strength to the Aircard. I think others here have commented on this phenomenon whereby using an Aircard in a Router somehow (by some Black Magic in that Black Box) causes the aircard to function faster and smoother? In our present location, when using this Aircard plugged directly into one of our R52 Thinkpads there are frequent "slow-downs", sometimes even "stalls" (a Webpage or PIC will load partway and then either slow way down or outright choke) in the data stream. A streaming video is impossible to view. However, when accessing the Web through the Cyfre Router, these problems are either minimal or nonexistent. I have no idea why but assume it has to do with the Firmware/Hardware protocols being more optimal between the Aircard and the Router than between the Aircard and the PCMCIA buss? Maybe someone here has a better understanding of these Black Boxes?

Oh, and I only operated sans Cyfre Amp as an initial test for several hours. Since then has been with the Amp and I don't even know the Amplifier/Aircard/Router system is there. It is transparent and (so far) flawless. Setup was simple mostly relying on default choices. You do have to configure the Cyfre router using a hardwire ethernet connection to a 'puter.

Lew

Lew, it is probably because you are not using VZ Acess Manager. One of the worst pieces of software I have ever used....(Just my opinion.) I recommend a router JUST to avoid using VZAcess manger.

Jack, notwithstanding that we use Sprint, I think you are probably right. I suspect the Sprint Client software (I think that terminology is correct?) for the Aircard is flawed like the VZAcess thing is because the Aircard does work smoother and faster through the Router.

Lew

quote:

Cyfre 819 Amplifier

I'm confused.

The amplifier is for the cell phone, right? And the cell phone is connected to an antenna on the outside of the vehicle via a cell phone antenna adapter?

The router is for the internet connection, which you get via a broadband aircard?

Do you also connect the amplifier to the router? Do you connect the antenna to the router?

A diagram would be most helpful.

The amplifier connects to the Data card which you place in the router , The CA819 works on Data Cards or Cellular phones to improve signal

quote:

Originally posted by GalinAZ:

quote:

Cyfre 819 Amplifier

I'm confused.

The amplifier is for the cell phone, right? And the cell phone is connected to an antenna on the outside of the vehicle via a cell phone antenna adapter?

The router is for the internet connection, which you get via a broadband aircard?

Do you also connect the amplifier to the router? Do you connect the antenna to the router?

A diagram would be most helpful.

I Posted a PIC of the Aircard/Cyfre Router/Cyfre Amplifier on our BLOG:
http://traveldolphin.blogspot.com/
The PIC:
http://bp1.blogger.com/_Z1DTc79Oscw/SE8ba_uFVfI/AAAAAAA...h/Internet+Setup.jpg

In the PIC, the white thing is the Cyfre Router. The black thing sticking out of it is the Aircard. The green box is the Cyfre CA 819 Cellphone Amplifier. You can see the black wire running from the Aircard to the Amplifier. The silver wire connected to the opposite side of the green Amplifier is the Antenna lead heading towards the roof.

We have one external antenna which is connected to the CA 819 "Cellphone" Amplifier. We can then do one or the other, (1) connect the Amplifier to our Cellphone OR (2) connect the Amplifier to our Aircard. Can't do both simultaneously with one Amplifier/Antenna. The Aircard, which is inserted into the Router, has a connection cable between it's external antenna port and the Amplifier. Hope my description and/or the PIC helps.

BTW, I am posting this message from out in the Woods near Traverse City,Mi. The signal is 1XRTT (think dial-up speed) but we are both using our Thinkpad 'puters on the Internet at the same time. And it does work. Slow but usable for both of us.

Lew

Lew, I like your creative mounting arrangement. great use of available space

jim

jim, tnx. In a 21Ft MH you learn to get creative.

Hmm, I've just been informed that this 1XRTT service is so slow that in order for Jan to play Magic The Gathering Online....I need to stop sucking "her" bandwidth.

Lew

quote:

In the PIC, the white thing is the Cyfre Router. The black thing sticking out of it is the Aircard. The green box is the Cyfre CA 819 Cellphone Amplifier. You can see the black wire running from the Aircard to the Amplifier. The silver wire connected to the opposite side of the green Amplifier is the Antenna lead heading
towards the roof.

We have one external antenna which is connected to the CA 819 "Cellphone" Amplifier. We can then do one or the other, (1) connect the Amplifier to our Cellphone OR (2) connect the Amplifier to our Aircard. Can't do both simultaneously with one Amplifier/Antenna. The Aircard, which is inserted into the Router, has a connection cable between it's external antenna port and the Amplifier. Hope my description and/or the PIC helps.

Thanks, a picture is worth 1,000 words!

quote:

Thanks, a picture is worth 1,000 words!

You are welcome.

So we are pretty much in the Boonies (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore) and the Sprint coverage map shows Nada. Service is 1XRTT at One Bar signal strength. We are able to both use the 'Net here with our setup though. While very slow, it is stable. I posted yesterday's BLOG and had no difficulty uploading PICs. We are Happy Cyfre Campers .

With 1XRTT we can't both be on if Jan wants to play a game of Magic, The Gathering Online.

Had a minor catastrophe yesterday when the Cradlepoint 12V-to-5V adapter I was using to power the Cyfre Router went Fizzle. Best Buy had a "universal power adapter" that saved the Day.

Lew

Evidently all EVDO is NOT created equal. We are at Mackinaw City,Mi and have Sprint EVDO here. It is clearly faster than the Sprint EVDO we had in Traverse City,Mi. I surmise that there is less demand on the Tower here than there? Hence the higher speed of our access here?

BTW, We have not been without Internet for a Moment since we left the South Hills of Pittsburgh,Pa. This Thing really works!

Had a minor catastrophe yesterday when the Cradlepoint 12V-to-5V adapter I was using to power the Cyfre Router went Fizzle. Best Buy had a "universal power adapter" that saved the Day.

Lew[/QUOTE]

Excellent idea. I wondered who was doing this as the CradlePoint adapter is priced at an unbelievable high price. I too have a 5 dollar setup from Walmart to power the router.
Dan

The final piece for the setup just became available from Gord at Maximumsignal:
https://www.maximumsignal.net/xcart/product.php?productid=16224&cat=9&page=1
This signal splitter/combiner (basically an electronic "T" intersection) finally makes possible the use of one Amp/Antenna setup with both the Aircard and the Cellphone. This has to be about the best thing since Sliced Bread.

It is interesting to note the variability of apparent speed of the 'Net at different times while using the same Tower. We are in rural Michigan right now using a Sprint Tower at 1XRTT. Last night access was so slow I couldn't load the necessary catalog page at Maximumsignal to look at the new Splitter. This morning No Problemo. When assessing the performance of this stuff we have to remember that speed is dependent on the traffic load on the particular Tower we are using.

Lew