Poynting 4G-XPOL-A0001 Cross Polarised 4G Omni LTE Antenna

I recently bought a TP Link 4G Router after our contract with awful BT came to an end. Our router is wonderful and and before we bought an external antenna, our reception was acceptable using the 'rabbit ears' that came with the router. I took a punt and bought a second hand (nearly new) external antenna from Amazon to see if it would make a difference to our internet speeds. It's like night and day! I've shared a screenshot of the SNR, RSRP etc, but all I know that streaming HD videos etc is effortless now and everything loads so much faster. My router states we get 100% reception which is great and I know our local mast is only a few miles away. I mounted it to an outside gutter pipe (I have trust issues with suction cups!) and temporally fed the 2x2 mimo cable through our Livingroom window. A longer term solution is to drill a hole through our wall and feed the cable through there instead. Brilliant! As soon as I mounted it and connected the cables to the router, it worked instantly. There was no need to point the antenna in a particular direction as it's an omnidirectional antenna. ======== UPDATE: Had the antenna around three weeks and still works great. But wondered if I could paint it to blend in with the house a bit better - white stands out like a sore thumb. A quick check on the manufacturers website states that you can indeed paint your antennas, so long as the paint does not contain metal, which would interfere with the radio waves. Bought a can of acrylic UV resistant matte black spray paint and sprayed the antenna and cable....it now blends in with our pipe guttering outside which the antenna is attached to. And we still get 100% signal using the antenna. Brilliant. ======= Update: 16th September 2022 -------- Antenna is still going strong whatever the weather has thrown at it. Record breaking heatwaves to monsoons and thunder & lightning. With regards to the latter, the RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) did drop to -110dBm (normally sits at -71dBm for me), which in simple terms, poor signal strength. This was only for a few days then it reverted back to its regular strength. This is by no means the fault of the antenna, but the torrential rain affects the radio waves to/ from the antenna. Something to keep in mind if you buy one. Otherwise this antenna is still going strong. Worth the purchase. Highly Recommend. -------- Update 1st March 2023 ---------- Back in 2020 I purchased a 4G Router for my parents who - back then - lived rurally. Last year they moved home to the edge of a small town and took their router with them, and continued to use the 'Bunny Ears' antennas that came with the device. Even though they are situated 3/4 a mile between two local phone masts, they were only getting an average of 20mbps down and half that up, but sometimes it was much slower at peak times. I recently purchased this external antenna for them - the exact same antenna I use - and installed it on the side of their house nearest facing the local phone masts. It has more than doubled their internet speeds, the highest being 50mbps down and 30mbps up. It's like night and day! General lightweight browsing was never a problem, but more intense stuff like HD video streaming on several devices, the router was struggling with the use of the Bunny Ears antennas. With the external antenna, it's now in line of sight of both phone masts without the interference of windows or walls. Also the cherry-on-the-cake was the price; A brand new antenna would cost around £80 at the time of writing this updated review. I bought this 'Nearly New' from Amazon Warehouse for around £60. At the Checkout, Amazon added a promotional discount on top and whacked an additional £20 off too! So the final price was around £40! bargain! 10/10 on everything about this antenna.

Well, it works! From a 2or3 out of 5 bars signal on my phone outside this little beauty improved reception to a solid 5 on my 5G router & it delivers a rock-steady high download speed so I’m a very happy chappy. This arrives tightly packed into its box & comes with almost exactly five metres of pre-terminated dual cable as well as hammer-in wall screws & plugs, some clear suction mounts and a jubilee clip for pole mounting plus the instructions. The mounting bracket is plastic but it certainly seems sturdy enough for the job & it was easy enough to mount on the wall where I wanted it. If you need to thread the cable through a wall I would suggest at least a 24mm drill bit because of the connectors on the end of the cable, and if you need cable clips externally the standard twin satellite cable type of clips seem to be a perfect fit. I can see no reason why this shouldn’t carry on doing a good job for a good few years to come but if anything changes I will update this review. So far though I rate this very highly.

I bought this along with a 4G router. As they work as an integrated pair it is hard to review one part without accepting some performance will be won or lost by the other. That being said I have bolted this to the side of my house and the router says I have 100% signal strength; it doesn’t get better than that of course. On the other hand, the mast I connect to is only 550m away from my house with a largely uninterrupted line of sight. Truth be told I probably don’t need this external antenna however I wanted to make sure I had the best results I could get. Why only 4 stars if I get a 100% signal strength? Firstly, the product come with hammer fix fastenings which I don’t like to work with. I would prefer regular screws and Rawl plugs or better yet expanding bolts. I guess the thinking is everybody has a hammer but then you still need a drill and if you have a drill you have a screwdriver. Anyway that alone isn’t enough to lose a star, there are no cable clips with it. It is unescapable that you will be running a cable down a wall at some point so why no clips? I am aware when some people buy a product they expect every conceivable accessory to be included with it at no extra cost however in this case I really do feel five to ten clips would not have broken the profit margin for Poynting. The last issue is perhaps the most irritating. To angle the antenna you must loosen a plastic lock nut under the bracket so you can lift the splines on the main casing out of the retaining collar on the bracket. The nut is stiff to turn which is irritating and given you may well be doing this while on a ladder possibility adds an extra element of danger. It is still because this is also where the cable runs into the body of the antenna enclosure and it has some kind of silicone/rubber/nylon type packing in the hole the collar turns around. This is for weather proofing of course but the extra friction I would imagine puts the cables under extra strain as you turn the lock nut. I would liked to have seen a proper cable gland providing weather sealing and protection for the cable with perhaps an isolated lock nut for freeing the body from the splines for adjustment. In summary we have a product that is easy enough to install but not as easy as it could have been. Is easy enough to adjust but not as easy as it could have been and is well enough made but not as well designed as it could have been. It is worth reading the notes for installers on their website especially in regards of reducing cable strain by attaching it to the bracket and not letting the cable simply hang down and also allowing for a drip loop to allow water to run off (and not follow the cable into your building!). This product works well enough and I would imagine there are commercial/industrial quality products that are better perhaps more robust but at a higher price. This seems to be a consumer product and I guess the design reflects a balance between build quality, ease of use and cost. If you have marginal 4G reception you should certainly get one of these or the directional one if you know where to point it. If you are relying on equipment for commercial use where you can’t risk downtime maybe, just maybe there is a commercial quality unit you should look for.

I live in a fringe 4G area and have tried all sorts of addon 'whip' aerials for my Teltonika 4G router, each antenna set has made some difference in signal and/or stability of the signal - all have been loft installed pinned to rafters. With the router supplied antennas I struggled to get 5 Mbps down and it was flaky. I ordered this external aerial as a 'punt' and, already, am seeing definite benefits. I have just installed it temporarily in my loft while I wait for mounting hardware. Prior to installation of this unit I was using two LTE 'high gain' whips (cheap but effective) and these improved my signal stability greatly and speed increased to over 12Mbps, sometimes 20 but it was still unstable. Several speed tests before and after installation show an average upload improvement of about 20 Mbps (now 40 Mbps or greater), upload has shown about 8Mbps improvement (again this is compared to my router with better aerials, not the originals supplied). I am being conservative with the numbers here. I am quite confident I can improve the speeds somewhat by getting the aerial outside and in the clear and will update this accordingly. I should also say I installed one of these Poynting aerials for a neighbour who had zero 4G signal on her phone handset. We could not achieve a stable connection using a teltonika router with it's supplied magnetic whips. We installed this Poynting aerial upstairs (again in loft space, while waiting for an installer) and achieved a good consistent 21+ Mbps upload / 45 - 61 Mbps Download. Again, I would expect improvement with the aerial located outside in the clear. Both my neighbour and I had been battling with BT to get any service at all, both being at the end of poorly maintained and very long overhead copper. Internet is not a luxury in this day and age, especially out in the sticks. Both connections discussed above are with EE and very much cheaper than a very poor quality landline and ADSL in name only (not to mention the stress of dealing with BT). Mobile handsets can piggyback of the EE connection. I am quite happy with the construction of the aerials, it is supplied with 5M leads terminating in SMA male. The plastics are solid, I can not see anywhere water could ingress and the cables are of sufficient quality to last. I have no qualms about mounting this hardware outside - even in northern Scotland where the weather tends to weed out poor quality hardware. I recommend this product based on 11 years of trying to get BT service without incurring either a coronary or breakdown, several experiments with 4G hardware and 35 years of being a licensed radio operator - not to mention the ability to actually use iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video from these remote wind blown parts.

Product Review: Poynting XPOL-1 V2 5G 3dBi Omni-Directional Cross Polarised LTE 2x2 MIMO Outdoor Antenna I had high hopes for the Poynting XPOL-1 V2 5G antenna given its impressive specifications and the promise of boosting my 5G signal. Unfortunately, my experience with this product was less than stellar. Performance: Over several months of usage, I found that my internal antenna actually performed better in terms of signal strength and stability. Despite being an external antenna designed to enhance 5G connectivity, the XPOL-1 V2 didn't improve my signal as expected. Outcome: Ultimately, I decided to remove the XPOL-1 V2 antenna, and to my surprise, I was able to receive a consistent 5G signal with just my internal antenna. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the XPOL-1 V2 for my specific setup and location. Conclusion: While the XPOL-1 V2 may work well for others, it did not meet my expectations. If you're considering this product, I would recommend thoroughly testing it in your environment before making a decision, as your internal setup might already be sufficient. I hope this review helps others make a more informed choice.

For any camper van enthusiast seeking improved connectivity on the road, the Poynting XPOL-1 V2 5G 3dBi Omni-Directional Antenna has become an essential addition to my setup. I installed this antenna with my 4G router in my camper van, and it has significantly enhanced our download speeds, providing increased comfort during camping trips and rainy nights stuck inside the van. Crafted with quality and performance in mind, the Poynting XPOL-1 V2 Antenna features cross-polarised LTE 2x2 MIMO technology, ensuring optimal signal reception and transmission. Its omni-directional design allows for 360-degree coverage, capturing signals from multiple directions and enhancing connectivity in remote areas. What sets the Poynting XPOL-1 V2 Antenna apart is its ability to double download speeds, providing a reliable internet connection even in challenging environments. This improvement has been invaluable during our camping adventures, allowing us to stay connected, entertained, and productive while on the road. Installation of the antenna was straightforward, thanks to its user-friendly design and included mounting hardware. Its durable construction ensures longevity and resilience, withstanding the elements and harsh conditions encountered during outdoor excursions. In terms of performance, the Poynting XPOL-1 V2 Antenna excels, delivering consistent and reliable connectivity even in remote locations. Its enhanced download speeds have transformed our camping experience, ensuring that we can enjoy our time in the van without worrying about internet connectivity issues. Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with the Poynting XPOL-1 V2 5G 3dBi Omni-Directional Antenna. Its quality construction, enhanced performance, and ease of installation make it an essential accessory for any camper van enthusiast seeking improved connectivity on the road. Whether enjoying outdoor adventures or stuck inside during rainy nights, this antenna ensures that you stay connected and comfortable wherever your travels take you. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their camper van internet connectivity.

Right, not sure where to start really? I've got 3 home broadband and I'm in a poor signal area, getting around 6-7mbps. So obviously to improve the signal, my only option was to try an external aerial. Before I did this, I ran tests. I moved the router around, literally every part of my house, the only increase in signal appeared to be in the back bedroom, but that only increased it to around 11mbps. I thought I would try it in the loft. Not really much better unless I had it right on the apex of the roof, then was getting around 20mbps. Only wanted to leave the router in the loft as a very last resort, so I looked around and decided on this external aerial. When it arrived, I tried it all around the house, paying more attention to the rear, seeing that was the side with the strongest signal. Now I can say with all honesty, it increased the signal strength from 3 bars on the router, to 5 bars (full strength) and on the accompanying app, it went from an orange signal into the stronger green zone. But has for download speeds, made no difference whatsoever. So although I was happier with the stronger, more consistent signal, the speeds didnt work for me. So seeing that I got my strongest signal in the loft, I thought I'd fix the aerial to the chimney breast, right up at the apex. So to first test it I took the aerial and the router up into the loft and tried it.....low and behold, i got speeds of 35-40mbps. The signal strength didnt improve anymore, but the speeds did. So i decided this is where I'd fix the aerial. Now as the cables are only 5m long and i was using around 2 metres in the loft, i had only a small amount to play with in the bedroom underneath. So fixed the aerial, fed the cable down into a fitted wardrobe and had the router on a set of drawers next to the wardrobe. Connected it all up, ran tests and only getting around 16mbps. This literally made no sense whatsoever. On the router, you can set the aerial to internal, external, auto and both. So made sure it was set to external, it was. This was confirmed when disconnected (the light went red). Connected it back up, ran a speed test and 16mbps. So I had a choice, live with the speed or send back. Has it happened, the router wouldn't quite reach the set of drawers, due to the lack of cable, so decided to place it on the top shelf of the fitted wardrobe, push the then spare cable back into the loft and coiled it up. Ran another test and 33mbps. I've been continually testing the connection since (approx a 10 days or so now) and the speeds run consistently between 29-40mbps. Dont ask me how all this works, it makes literally no sense, but for whatever reason the speeds seem to work at it's best, if the aerial and router are as close as possible. Now I am fully qualified in aerials, satellites and networking, and I dont even understand it. If the external aerial works independently to the internal aerial, then theoretically the router could be placed anywhere within the 5m the cables allow, but that simply isnt the case. So my advice to anyone thinking of buying this aerial to improve their download/upload speeds, dont just assume you can screw it to any old wall and expect it to work. You have to try it EVERYWHERE. And also have to try and get your router as close as possible too. Now this was my experience and it may well be different for you? I am in a particularly poor signal area, surrounded by trees and buildings. So my advice would be, spend the full day if need be and try everywhere physically possible. There will be a place it works. I believe all the negative reviews are due to people buying it and screwing it to one place and not getting the results they was expecting. Now to be fair, you would think it would be a lot easier than my experience, but it just isn't. So stick with it, put some effort and time into it and I'm sure you can also make it work for you.

I have gone from landline broadband of 0.2 mbps to over 11 mbps this is incredible given that my mobile phone reception is so poor and only works with a booster. This ariel was simple to connect and worked straight out of the box. It took a little bit of time to find the exact position but if you live in a good reception area my friend who I recommended this product to went from 4mbps to over 90 mbps in rural Scotland. Everything was included in the box and for once a product just worked, with the omni direction and a good dual router its an excellent product. It gives a good consistent speed it will drop slightly in extremely bad weather but so does a mobile phone, it can also be a bit slower at peak times but again that is more to do with the provider than the equipment. If your looking at this product ave no doubts about buying it as it really does work, its well made and has been exposed over the last few weeks to a variety of severe weather situations and it still continues on. I currently have it stuck to the outside of my window and despite the wind and the rain it hasn't moved. With the good results I got I was contacted by a company who said that their ariel could increase my speed to at least 60mbps, well two hours later and they could not match the speed I was getting with this ariel. Their product was over three times the price of this and was actually quite flimsy when I saw it. If you are looking to purchase you will not be disappointed .