Mifi with external antenna port?

[Dodsy]

I live in a remote location and use a huawei R216z for mobile broadband to wifi. Unfortunately it can only pick up 3g , its located in the window that faces the mobile transmitter a few miles away.

If i take it outside and go a few metres towards the mobile mast it can get 4g so its clear i meed an external high gain antenna.

The R216z doesnt have an external antenna port , can anyone advise me on which mifis have a port ? Ive had a look online and i cant see any that have a port but im probably not doing a good job on google.

Grateful for any advice on a mifi / antenna combo

[hutchst]

Have you considered a proper LTE router rather than a mini hotspot? I don't live in the UK, but I use a TP-Link MR400. You can get them in the UK. It is very stable where I live.

[Slushbox]

What Mr. Hutch said.

4G WiFi routers are common-place now. Most have SMA or TS9 (on Mifis) antenna sockets. Huawei and TP-Link are the two leading UK brands. About £70-£100.

Huawei routers are reputed to have very good internal antennas, so an external might not be needed. Moving the router even six inches can drastically affect received signal strength, as can lowering the Venetian blinds.

Some of the later TP-Link routers have fixed antennas. Check first.

If you need a Mifi for portability, the Huawei E5577 has two TS9 sockets for an antenna. But it's close to the price of a mains powered router, and you already have a 'portable'.

Finding the correct place for an external antenna can be tricky. The window-mount antennas have suckers, so you can find an upstairs window facing the mast for the best signal strength. This might not be the best place to squirt Wifi around the house.

Pole-mount external omnis and directionals are about £150 or so. There are TS9-SMA antenna 'pigtails' to convert router sockets to suit the antenna.

4G routers:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=4g+router&ref=nb_...

[Dodsy]

Good idea , i have just had a look at proper 4G routers, none have an ext antenna port that i can see but im sure if i look at more i will find one. Im just concerned that the internal antennas even though better than a mifi may still not be good enough to pull in 4g

Wifi strength not an issue as the mifi has been proven to reach everywhere in the flat

I have line of sight across countryside to the mast , its just quiet a distance away . Mifi is mounted as high as i can get it in the window facing the mast .

Off to buy myself a router !