Slow connection?

3-minute read
fiber • network • connection

Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything. — Aesop1

Introduction. Link to heading

A decade ago, I first connected to the internet with a 7M ADSL, since then, there has never been any progress in my area.

Between me and the (saturated) exchange, there is 3.78 km of copper.

From speedtest, the surfing speed comes out to be this:

  • 3 mbps download
  • 0.3 mbps upload
  • ~80 ping

The best site to check internet coverage at your address in Italy is FIBERMAP

copertura internet a casa mia dettaglio copertura internet a casa mia In October 2021, OpenFiber technicians show up at my home, with intentions of digging inside private property to place a public cable… google maps detects a public road inside my home…. In the following months, the project was modified and fiber laid up to my meter, but it is still not available to any operator.

Solution Link to heading

Since FWA technology also does not reach my home, I thought of using the 4G network. Problem is that inside my home the cellular network is nonexistent (to make calls I leave the house). In desperation, I found out with a speedtest, that on the roof of the house I was getting 8-9mbps download.

I therefore equipped myself with:

  • outdoor directable LTE antenna
  • LTE modem router with detachable antennas
  • sim with really unlimited data traffic
    Info
    Most operators that provide “unlimited “ sims block traffic once they reach 500 GB monthly. I have changed several and the absolute best is Alpsim, 25€/month.

Installation Link to heading

The installation was very simple, I attached the antennas next to the TV antennas, running the coaxial cable into the attic, where I connected the modem without its original antennas.

After inserting the sim into the router and completing the setup wizard the Internet was working! For maximum performance, directing the antennas well is critical. There are various sites that point out the nearest repeaters to you based on the frequencies of your sim’s operator. I eventually got better by trying: first I pointed north, south, west and east. Then I increased the accuracy with the intermediate cardinal points (southeast, northwest, etc.) by interspersing two or three speed trials with each movement of the antenna.

Tip
Before fixing all equipment permanently, test the network for a few consecutive days to avoid loss of time.

Result Link to heading

  • 35-65 mbps in download
  • 30-40 mbps upload
  • ~35 ping

I have been benefiting from this very powerful (by my standards) connection since July 2020. On weekends the speed tends to drop, but I never have disconnections and/or malfunctions, even when there are more people connected.

If you found this article useful, or if you have ideas for the next one, please contact me!

  1. Aesop, the supposed author of a collection of Greek fables, almost certainly a legendary figure. Various attempts were made in ancient times to establish him as an actual personage. Herodotus in the 5th century bce said that he had lived in the 6th century and that he was a slave. Learn More ↩︎