Tag: bandwidth

The Power of Antennas: A Taoglas Tale

The demand for faster and more reliable internet speeds has reached unprecedented heights. With the advent of 5G technology promising lightning-fast data transfer rates and minimal latency, businesses and consumers alike are fervently adopting the latest hardware to stay ahead of the curve. However, achieving optimal performance isn’t solely reliant on possessing the latest gadgets; it’s also about harnessing the right accessories to maximize the potential of these devices.

At the forefront of this quest for superior connectivity lies Taoglas, a company with a rich history dating back to its inception in 2004. Taoglas has firmly established itself as a premier provider of advanced antenna solutions, revolutionizing the way we approach wireless connectivity. While other companies may specialize in modem and router functionality, Taoglas’ sole focus on antennas has positioned them as experts in their field, setting a new standard for innovation and performance.

Recent tests conducted by 5Gstore.com underscore the profound impact of antenna design on signal strength and data transfer speeds. In one such test, the performance of Taoglas’ antenna model TG.66.A113 was pitted against the stock antennas of the Cradlepoint IBR900 router, yielding remarkable results. Contrary to traditional beliefs that bigger antennas equate to better performance, Taoglas’ innovative designs prioritize efficiency and gain over sheer size, challenging industry norms. The TG.66.A113 antenna has emerged as a game-changer, surpassing expectations and delivering unparalleled results that outshone those of stock antennas.

Beyond the technical specifications, Taoglas’ success can be attributed to its relentless commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. Their diverse portfolio of antenna solutions caters to various applications and industries, showcasing their versatility and adaptability. Whether it’s IoT devices, automotive applications, or industrial automation, Taoglas’ antennas are tailored to meet the unique needs of each sector, driving connectivity advancements across the board.

Furthermore, Taoglas’ collaborative partnerships with telecom companies, IoT device manufacturers, and government agencies have facilitated the integration of their antennas into cutting-edge technologies, propelling connectivity infrastructure forward on a global scale. From smart cities to remote rural areas, Taoglas’ antennas are making a tangible impact, bridging the digital divide and empowering communities worldwide.

Looking ahead, Taoglas remains at the forefront of antenna technology, poised to address emerging trends and challenges. With a keen eye on sustainability, they are committed to environmentally friendly practices, ensuring their antennas are not only technologically advanced but also eco-conscious. Additionally, their dedication to providing exceptional customer support and resources for optimizing antenna deployment underscores their commitment to delivering a seamless user experience.

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The Factors Impacting Your 5G Bandwidth Speeds

The dawn of 5G promised lightning-fast internet speeds, heralding a new era of connectivity. However, the reality often falls short of these lofty expectations, leaving many users frustrated and wondering why their 5G speeds are not as blazing fast as advertised. Several factors can affect your 5G bandwidth speeds, ranging from technical limitations to network congestion. Let’s delve into some key points to understand what could be influencing your 5G experience.

Frequency Band(s) Your Modem or Phone is Connected To

One of the primary determinants of your 5G bandwidth speed is the frequency band your device is connected to. 5G operates across three main frequency bands: low, mid, and high. Each band has its advantages and limitations. Low-band 5G offers wider coverage but relatively modest speed enhancements compared to existing 4G LTE networks. Mid-band 5G strikes a balance between coverage and speed, providing faster speeds than low-band but with middling coverage. High-band, also known as mmWave, offers the highest speeds but suffers from limited coverage and poor penetration through obstacles. Therefore, your proximity to a cell tower and the band it employs can significantly impact your 5G speeds.

Limitations of Your Modem or Phone

The capabilities of your modem or phone play a crucial role in determining the speeds you can achieve. Different devices support different frequency bands, and their performance may vary accordingly. For instance, a device equipped with support for high-band frequencies will likely achieve faster speeds in areas where high-band 5G is available compared to a device limited to low-band frequencies. Upgrading to newer devices that support a wider range of frequency bands can potentially enhance your 5G experience.

User Load at the Cell Tower

Network congestion is another key factor that can affect 5G bandwidth speeds. If too many users are connected to the same cell tower simultaneously, it can lead to decreased speeds for everyone. During peak hours or in densely populated areas, the demand for bandwidth may exceed the capacity of the cell tower, resulting in slower speeds for users. Network operators are continuously expanding infrastructure and optimizing networks to mitigate congestion, but it remains a persistent challenge in densely populated areas.

Limitations on Your Data Plan

Even if your device and the network infrastructure are capable of delivering high-speed 5G connectivity, your data plan may impose limitations. Some data plans throttle speeds after reaching a certain threshold of data usage, while others prioritize certain types of traffic, such as video streaming or gaming, which can impact overall bandwidth speeds. Understanding the terms and conditions of your data plan and choosing an appropriate plan that aligns with your usage patterns is essential for maximizing your 5G experience.

The Speed of Your WiFi or Ethernet Adapter

Lastly, the speed of your WiFi or Ethernet adapter can affect the performance of your 5G connection, especially when using a home or office network. Even if you have a fast 5G connection, a slow WiFi router or Ethernet adapter can become a bottleneck, limiting the speeds you can achieve on your devices. Upgrading to newer networking equipment capable of handling higher speeds can help unleash the full potential of your 5G connection.

As you can see, achieving optimal 5G bandwidth speeds involves a combination of factors. This includes the frequency band your device is connected to, the capabilities of your device, network congestion, data plan limitations, and the speed of your networking equipment. By understanding these factors and taking appropriate measures, users can enhance their 5G experience and unlock the full potential of next-generation connectivity.

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Verizon Speeds Up 5G Network

Verizon has gained early access to the entire 5G C-band spectrum it won at the March 2021 auction. This accelerates the expansion of their 5G Ultra Wideband network, doubling or even tripling bandwidth in some areas. This boosts capacity, data speeds, and allows for 5G Home broadband and Business Internet services. Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology for Verizon, highlights this progress.

“Early access to the remainder of the C-band spectrum puts us another four months ahead of schedule from our original projections. This additional spectrum will make 5G Ultra Wideband available to even more Americans, and will open up more availability of our home and business broadband solutions. The more spectrum we deploy on our network, the more capacity we add for our customer’s to connect.”

Since deploying C-band 5G, over 222 million people in 359 markets now have access. 40 million households can use Verizon’s Home Internet, with 384,000 new customers this quarter. Verizon holds licenses for 140-200 MHz C-band in various markets, deploying 60 MHz in the first 46 areas in 2022. With final clearance, they’ll utilize the entire licensed spectrum for improved bandwidth.

Key Points:

  • Early access to full C-band spectrum speeds up Verizon’s 5G expansion.
  • Bandwidth doubles or triples in some areas, boosting capacity and speeds.
  • Verizon’s C-band deployment now covers 222 million people across 359 markets.
  • Over 40 million households have access to Verizon’s Home Internet.
  • Verizon holds licenses for 140-200 MHz C-band, deploying 60 MHz in the first 46 areas.
  • Full clearance enables use of the entire licensed spectrum for enhanced bandwidth.

For more details, check out the Verizon announcement.

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Enhancing Internet Connectivity: The Power of Bonding

In today’s interconnected world, having a stable and fast internet connection is crucial for both individuals and businesses. These days, just about everything runs on the Internet. Things like our phones, TVs, credit card machines, thermostats, and security systems. When we rely on a single Internet connection we often encounter problems like choppy video chats, slow speeds, or even complete connection failures. Creating business continuity can easily be done by adding a secondary Internet connection. This can be used as a backup when your primary connection fails, which is why it’s normally referred to as “failover.” However, there’s another feature we want to explore with you that also utilizes multiple Internet connections, which is called bonding. 

Failover with a Backup Internet Connection

Using a secondary connection from a different Internet service provider can sometimes be difficult. There may only be one reliable cable, DSL, or fiber Internet service provider available in your area. This results in many businesses choosing a wireless service provider instead. Providers like Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile have nationwide coverage available with easy to install hardware. You can normally have the connection up and running in under 15 minutes. When your primary connection fails, your computers and other devices disconnect temporarily, then reconnect to your secondary network to keep your business operating. 

Due to this temporary loss in Internet, failover is most ideal for users and applications which do not require a 24/7 connection. In other words, those who can afford some downtime. The occasional home user, for example, may not mind having to wait a couple minutes before they can continue checking email or watching a video.  

Load Balancing 

With regards to routers, load balancing refers to the distribution of device traffic (i.e. browsing emails on your phone or playing videos on your computer) across multiple Internet connections. The purpose of load balancing is to optimize resource utilization, maximize speed, minimize response time, and avoid overloading any single Internet connection.

Load balancers act as intermediaries between client devices and the Internet connections they are accessing. They receive requests to access the Internet, distribute them among the available connections, and forward the responses back to the clients. This distribution can be based on various factors. That might be to evenly distribute device traffic across each Internet connection, or use the connection that has the fastest response time. Essentially, the router can intelligently select the best Internet connection to use, or it can split your devices evenly across the multiple Internet connections. 

Still, failures can occur. Any devices connected to a failed connection will need to be rerouted back to an available Internet service, assuming there is one. This creates additional downtime for your devices since they will need to disconnect and reconnect to another service. So, load balancing is most useful for households or businesses that have several users or devices that need to connect to the Internet more frequently and reliably. For example, you would connect some of your devices over one Internet connection and other devices over a second Internet connection. This is mainly helpful with cellular networks that can slow down as more devices connect. Load balancing allows you to alleviate the load on an individual Internet service by splitting your device’s Internet traffic across multiple services simultaneously. 

Poor Service vs No Service

On occasion, you may find your Internet connection to be slow or show intermittent issues like buffering video or choppy audio. Unfortunately, failover and load balancing routers do not have the ability to detect weak or spotty service. They only detect if the connection is available or not and sometimes how the connection performs. When you’re on a phone call, in a video meeting/ chat, or running a credit card, and your Internet connection fails, your call, meeting or transaction stops. You now have to re-establish your call, meeting or transaction over the secondary Internet service. No matter how this is done, it’s going to take time and effort on your part. Luckily, bonding can help you to avoid this disconnection.

Understanding Bonding

Bonding is the process of merging multiple internet connections to create a stronger and more efficient connection. Through specialized hardware or software, these connections are intelligently combined to form a single connection with improved capabilities. Instead of relying on just one connection, bonding distributes the load across multiple links, resulting in increased bandwidth speeds and a more reliable connection. This means instead of your phone call, video meeting, or credit card transaction dropping, bonding allows it to continue over your available Internet connection(s). 

Bonding vs. Load Balancing

Bonding and load balancing are two different approaches to optimizing internet connectivity, though both work by using multiple Internet connections. Bonding involves combining multiple internet connections into a single virtual connection. In this case a network can merge the bandwidth of multiple weak or intermittent connections to create a single, more reliable high-speed connection. It works by combining the speeds of these connections and using a protocol to split network traffic across them. 

Unlike bonding, load balancing doesn’t require specialized hardware or software. It distributes traffic across multiple connections based on predefined settings (called algorithms). When devices connect to the load balanced network they will only use one of the connections at a time. This is why when a connection fails, any device using that connection must stop its Internet activity and restart it using an established connection. Load balancing is beneficial for managing traffic efficiently and preventing bottlenecks in scenarios with multiple users or devices, but will not increase bandwidth speeds.

Bandwidth Speed

Bonding can be a lifeline for individuals in areas with only slow DSL services, for example, which limit internet speed and productivity. By combining multiple slow connections, bonding effectively increases the overall internet speed. It surpasses the limitations of individual links, providing a faster and more efficient online experience. This technology empowers individuals living in remote areas or regions with limited internet infrastructure to access the full potential of the digital world. It is also particularly advantageous for bandwidth-intensive applications like live video streaming or large file transfers.

Reliability and Redundancy

Bonding enhances reliability by providing seamless failover capabilities. If one connection fails, your Internet traffic keeps flowing over the remaining connections. This redundancy and resilience are crucial for critical applications requiring continuous and reliable internet access such as day trading or 24/7 surveillance. 

Let’s say you have a VoIP (an Internet based phone) call established with an important client. If you’re using failover and your primary Internet connection fails during the call, the call is dropped. At that time, you have to connect your phone to your secondary Internet and start the call over. If you’re using load balancing, the call also drops, but the switch to another Internet connection is automatic rather than manual. Of course, failover can also be automatic if you’re using a router that supports this feature. 

Bonding is the only feature that would allow your call to continue without any disruption. In fact, it should be unnoticeable. This is because unlike load balancing where device traffic is sent to individual Internet connections, bonding sends the traffic to ALL Internet connections at the same time. So, if one of those connections happens to fail, your device remains connected to the Internet as if the failure didn’t occur.  Where failover creates some disruption in Internet service, bonding does not.  

Enhancing Business Continuity

Businesses relying on internet connectivity for critical operations can greatly benefit from bonding. For example, Point of Sale (POS) systems, which require a stable internet connection for credit card transactions, can experience significant disruptions if the primary connection fails. By implementing bonding, a secondary connection is readily available to seamlessly take over, ensuring uninterrupted transactions. Bonding provides a failsafe mechanism to prevent potential losses and maintain customer satisfaction. Additionally, businesses utilizing internet-based phone services and video conferencing understand the importance of clear audio and video quality during calls. With bonding, multiple weak and/ or unreliable connections are combined into one robust link. This ensures uninterrupted and high-quality conversations, even if individual links fail.

Unleashing Connectivity on the Go

Frequent travelers or remote workers with limited internet access can benefit from bonding. By leveraging multiple cellular internet connections from different providers, bonding enables faster speeds and increased reliability. If one provider’s coverage is unavailable or weak, the other connections seamlessly take over, allowing users to stay connected without interruption. Whether you’re a digital nomad, a field professional, or an adventure seeker, bonding offers the flexibility and reliability needed to stay connected on the go.

The Solution is Bonding

Bonding is a revolutionary technology that significantly enhances internet connectivity in various scenarios. Whether you’re a business owner relying on seamless credit card transactions and phone services, a traveler in need of reliable connectivity, or an individual struggling with slow internet speeds, bonding offers a solution. By combining multiple connections into a single, more powerful link, bonding improves reliability, increases speed, and ensures uninterrupted connectivity. Embrace the power of bonding and unlock a world of enhanced internet experiences. Say goodbye to frustrating connection issues and welcome a seamless online journey.

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Breaking Down Internet Speed Tests

The internet has become an integral part of modern life, enabling seamless communication, entertainment, and access to information. However, the quality of our online experiences greatly depends on the speed and reliability of our internet connection. Internet speed tests are essential tools that allow users to measure the performance of their internet connections accurately. In this article, we will delve into how internet speed tests work and what each result means.

What are Internet Speed Tests?

Internet speed tests are online tools or applications that assess the performance of your internet connection by measuring various metrics, such as ping time, jitter, download speed, and upload speed. These tests are user-friendly and readily available on various websites, making it easy for anyone to check their internet speeds.

How Internet Speed Tests Work

When you run an internet speed test, your device sends a series of data packets to a server hosted by the testing service. The server then measures how long it takes for the data packets to travel from your device to the server and back, providing key metrics related to your connection’s performance.

Understanding the Results

Ping Time (Latency)

Ping time, also known as latency, is the time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to the server and back. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower ping times indicate a more responsive and faster connection, which is crucial for online activities such as gaming, video conferencing, and real-time communication. High ping times can lead to delays, buffering, and lag.

Jitter

Jitter refers to the variability in the ping times of data packets. It is crucial for activities that require consistent and stable connections, like online gaming and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls. Jitter is measured in milliseconds, and lower values indicate more stable connections.

Download Speed

Download speed measures how quickly data is transferred from the server to your device. It is usually represented in megabits per second (Mbps) or kilobits per second (Kbps). A higher download speed indicates faster loading times for websites, smoother video streaming, and quicker file downloads.

Upload Speed

Upload speed, also measured in Mbps or Kbps, indicates how quickly data is sent from your device to the server. This metric is crucial for activities like uploading large files, video conferencing, and online gaming (for games that require sending data to the server).

What Affects Internet Speed Test Results?

The results of an internet speed test can be influenced by several factors. One such factor is network congestion, which occurs when there is heavy internet traffic in your area or on your internet service provider’s (ISP) network, leading to reduced speeds. Additionally, the type of internet connection you have plays a significant role, as different technologies like DSL, cable, fiber-optic, and wireless offer varying speeds. The physical distance between your location and the test server is also a crucial consideration, as it can affect ping times and overall performance. Moreover, the performance of older devices or those with hardware issues may not be optimal during the test, further impacting the results. Being aware of these influencing factors allows users to interpret speed test results accurately and make informed decisions to enhance their internet connection’s performance.

Tips for Accurate Speed Testing

Achieving accurate speed test results is crucial for gaining a clear understanding of your internet connection’s performance. To ensure the most precise measurements, you can follow these essential tips:

  • Use a Wired Connection: Whenever possible, connect your device directly to the router using an Ethernet cable. Wired connections offer a more stable and consistent data transfer compared to WiFi, which can be susceptible to interference from other devices or physical obstacles. By using an Ethernet connection, you minimize the chances of external factors affecting the test, resulting in more reliable and accurate speed readings.
  • Close Background Applications: Before running the speed test, make sure to close any unnecessary applications or programs running on your device. Background applications may consume bandwidth and system resources, potentially skewing the test results. By closing these applications, you free up bandwidth for the speed test, providing a clearer picture of your actual internet speed without any external influences.
  • Choose the Right Server: Internet speed tests operate by sending data packets between your device and a test server hosted by the testing service. The physical distance between your location and the test server can impact ping times and overall performance. For more accurate results, select a test server that is geographically close to your current location. Choosing a nearby server reduces the chances of data traveling through a long and congested network, allowing the test to reflect your internet connection’s true capabilities.

Becoming an Informed Internet User

Understanding internet speed tests can be helpful in ensuring a smooth online experience. These tests offer valuable insights into the performance of our internet connections, helping us identify any potential issues and make informed decisions about our online activities. By measuring key metrics users can gauge the responsiveness, stability, and overall speed of their connections. However, it’s essential to consider various factors that may influence test results. Armed with this comprehensive knowledge of internet speed tests, users can optimize their internet experience, whether it be for gaming, video streaming, remote work, or staying connected with loved ones around the world. 

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Revolutionizing Connectivity: The Power of Edge Computing

In our everyday lives data is generated at an unprecedented rate. Traditional cloud computing infrastructure is facing challenges in meeting the demands of real-time applications. Enter edge computing, a groundbreaking paradigm that promises to reshape the way we process and analyze data. By bringing computation and storage capabilities closer to the data source, edge computing offers faster response times, reduced latency, enhanced security, and improved reliability. In this article, we will delve into the world of edge computing and explore its transformative potential across various industries.

What is the “Edge,” or “Edge Computing?”

Edge computing is a decentralized computing model that enables data processing and analysis at or near the edge of the network, closer to where data is generated. Unlike conventional cloud computing, where data is sent to a centralized server for processing, edge computing distributes computational resources to local devices, such as routers, gateways, and IoT devices. This approach reduces the need for data transmission to distant data centers, minimizing latency and enabling real-time decision-making.

What Makes Edge Computing So Important? 

Edge computing is crucial because it enables computing processes to take place at the edge of networks, in locations like hospitals, factories, and retail stores, where sensitive data is processed and critical systems need to function reliably and independently of a network connection. This low-latency, on-site processing capability excites businesses as it has the potential to revolutionize various industries and functions. Edge computing allows the integration of the digital world with physical environments, leading to improved customer experiences, enhanced worker training, and the creation of smart, safe, and comfortable environments. By running applications with high reliability and real-time data requirements on-site, businesses can innovate faster, launch products and services more efficiently, and explore new revenue opportunities.

Key Benefits of Edge Computing

  • Reduced Latency: By processing data at the network edge, edge computing significantly reduces latency, allowing for near-instantaneous response times. This is crucial for applications that require real-time data processing, such as autonomous vehicles, remote healthcare monitoring, and industrial automation.
  • Improved Reliability: Edge computing improves system reliability by reducing dependence on a centralized cloud infrastructure. By distributing computational resources across multiple edge nodes, it minimizes the risk of single points of failure. This resilience is particularly vital for critical applications that cannot afford downtime.
  • Enhanced Security: Edge computing offers increased data security by reducing the exposure of sensitive information to potential cyber threats. By processing data locally, it minimizes the need for data transmission over public networks, mitigating the risk of interception and unauthorized access.
  • Bandwidth Optimization: With the exponential growth of data, transmitting all information to a centralized cloud can strain network bandwidth. Edge computing allows for local processing and filtering of data, transmitting only relevant information to the cloud. This optimization reduces bandwidth requirements and minimizes associated costs.

Applications of Edge Computing

Edge computing plays a vital role in unlocking the potential of various applications, starting with the Internet of Things (IoT). By processing data locally, IoT devices can quickly respond to local events and make timely decisions, promoting seamless communication and adaptation within a smart home environment without excessive reliance on cloud connectivity. Moreover, edge computing is crucial for the advancement of autonomous systems like vehicles and drones. These systems heavily depend on real-time decision-making capabilities, achieved through processing vast amounts of sensor data at the edge, which in turn reduces latency and enhances responsiveness, leading to safer and more efficient operations. 

In the realm of healthcare, edge computing shows immense promise, particularly in applications such as remote patient monitoring and real-time diagnostics. By deploying edge devices in hospitals or even patient residences, critical health data can be analyzed locally, enabling faster response times and easing the burden on centralized healthcare infrastructure. With regards to industrial automation, edge computing empowers real-time analytics and control within factories and plants. Manufacturers can leverage edge devices to monitor and optimize operations, detect anomalies, and improve efficiency. This facilitates predictive maintenance, reduces downtime, and ultimately enhances overall productivity in industrial settings.

Challenges and Considerations

While edge computing brings significant advantages, it also comes with its fair share of challenges that require careful attention. One such challenge is scalability, as managing numerous distributed edge nodes can be intricate and demands efficient coordination. Scaling the edge infrastructure to handle expanding workloads and seamlessly integrating it with existing cloud systems presents both technical and logistical hurdles. Additionally, data privacy and governance become critical concerns with edge computing. The local processing of data requires meticulous adherence to data protection regulations and the establishment of secure transmission channels between edge devices and centralized systems to protect sensitive information. Furthermore, the lack of standardized protocols and interfaces in the edge computing ecosystem poses interoperability challenges. The establishment of industry-wide standards becomes essential to fully unlock the potential of edge computing and facilitate smooth integration across a wide array of devices and platforms.

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Boosting Cellular Connection Speeds: How Antennas Can Help Improve Bandwidth

As more of our lives depend on technology and the Internet, it’s important that we have a fast and reliable connection. For wired Internet services, that might not be such a problem. What if you’re relying on mobile broadband Internet service? With the advent of 5G technology, cellular networks have become even faster, offering lightning-fast download and upload speeds to users. However, there are still many areas where cellular connectivity is weak, and users struggle to get high-speed internet.

In order for the cellular service to provide an adequate connection, the cellular device must have a decent signal. There may be good bandwidth speeds too, but both cellular signal strength and bandwidth speeds are quite variable. This is due to differences in things like environment and the frequency in which the cellular connection is broadcasting. So, we recommend users perform a site survey at their location to help determine if an antenna may help. Of course, in some cases users may opt instead for a wireless signal repeater/booster. These come as kits that are made for boosting signals to multiple cellular devices simultaneously.  

An antenna is a device that is designed to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves. In the context of cellular networks, antennas are used to capture signals from nearby cell towers and transmit them to the user’s device. They also send signals from the user’s device back to the cell tower. By using a high-quality antenna, users can improve their signal strength and achieve higher speeds. Want to see how it works? Check out our video below. 

What Affects Cellular Performance?

In cellular networks, the antenna is a critical component that determines not only the signal strength, but coverage area and data rate of the wireless link. The signal strength is a measure of the power of the received signal at the receiver’s antenna. The coverage area is the region around the cell tower where the signal strength is sufficient to maintain a reliable connection with the user’s device. The data rate is the maximum achievable speed of data transfer between the user’s device and the cell tower.

Several factors affect the performance of the antenna in cellular networks. One of the primary factors is the distance between the user’s device and the cell tower. The farther away the user’s device is from the cell tower, the weaker the signal strength, and the lower the data rate. This is because the electromagnetic waves from the cell tower follow an inverse-square law, which means that the power of the signal decreases with the square of the distance from the source.

Another factor that affects the antenna’s performance is the obstructions between the user’s device and the cell tower. Obstructions can be natural, such as trees, hills, and mountains, or artificial, such as buildings, walls, and vehicles. Obstructions can cause attenuation, reflection, and scattering of the electromagnetic waves, leading to a decrease in signal strength and data rate.

Interference is another factor that affects the performance of the antenna in cellular networks. It can be caused by other wireless devices operating in the same frequency band or by noise sources such as motors, generators, and power lines. Degradation in the the signal quality, increases in the error rate, and reductions in the data rate can also be possible.

Types of Antennas

There are several types of antennas that can be used to improve cellular speeds. Each have its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common types of antennas used in cellular networks include:

  • Omnidirectional Antennas: These are the most common type of antenna used in cellular networks. Omnidirectional antennas transmit and receive signals in all directions, making them ideal for use in areas where there are multiple cell towers or where the user’s device is moving around.
  • Directional Antennas: As the name suggests, directional antennas transmit and receive signals in a specific direction. These antennas are ideal for use in areas where there is only one cell tower or where the user’s device is stationary.
  • Yagi Antennas: Yagi antennas are a type of directional antenna that is designed to provide high gain and long-range coverage. These antennas work best where there is line of sight to the cell tower, meaning little to no obstructions in between. They are often used in more remote areas where there is a weak signal and speed.
  • Panel Antennas: Panel antennas are another type of directional antenna that is designed to provide high gain and long-range coverage. These antennas do not require line of sight and are also used in more rural areas.

What Can You Do?

To overcome challenges, and improve the performance of the antenna in cellular networks, several techniques and technologies have been developed. One of the most effective ways to improve the antenna’s performance is to use a high-quality antenna. Specifically, one that is optimized for the specific frequency band and radiation pattern. For example, some directional antennas are tuned to a specific frequency. This generally results in a higher boost than antennas with wider frequency ranges. 

Another technique to improve the antenna’s performance is to use multiple antennas in a system, known as Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO). MIMO technology allows the user’s device to transmit and receive multiple data streams simultaneously using several antennas. This can increase the data rate and reliability of the wireless link. It is commonly used in modern cellular networks to achieve high-speed internet connectivity and support advanced applications. Things like video streaming, gaming, and virtual reality.

Using an antenna to improve cellular speeds is relatively easy, and most cellular modem/ routers come with external antenna ports. Users can purchase a high-quality antenna that is compatible with their device and if needed, connect it using an adapter. Once connected, the antenna will begin capturing signals from nearby cell towers. It then transmits them to the user’s device, resulting in improved connectivity. 

If you’re ready to see how an antenna can help you, check out our guide to selecting the right antenna. The 5Gstore team is also ready to assist you with any questions, Monday thru Friday. Reach us by phone, email, or chat!

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How Much Data Do I Need for My Business?

You may already know that streaming video eats up a lot of data, but what about the important applications you use for business? In this article, we’re going to address some common application types and look at how much data and bandwidth they will require. 

VoIP

Like most things, the higher the quality of the call, the more data and bandwidth it will need. Each service uses a different codec to transform speech into data. Below are some common examples.

  • G.711: uses approximately 1.3 MB of data per minute (78 MB per hour)
  • G.723.1: uses approximately 0.33 MB per minute (20 MB per hour)
  • G.726: uses approximately 0.78 MB per minute (47 MB per hour)
  • G.728: uses approximately 0.48 MB per minute (29 MB per hour)
  • G.729: uses approximately 0.5 MB per minute (30 MB per hour)

As far as bandwidth, a .256 Mbps by .256 Mbps connection should be more than enough for normal VoIP. However, having speed isn’t enough. You also need a stable, high-quality connection with minimal packet loss and latency. You can measure the health of your internet connection by taking a Speed Test that includes latency, jitter and packet loss. Cloudflare’s speed test does just that. Although, once you have the data, how do you interpret it? 

Latency, which is essentially the time it takes for data to reach its destination, is measured directly in the ping time. For an excellent connection, the ping should be under 100ms. For a good connection, it should be under 250ms. Anything higher than that is going to provide poor results. 

Jitter is the time difference between when a packet is sent and received. The longer it is, the bigger the delay and the worse the quality of your calls. Jitter is measured in milliseconds, and a good value is between 15-20ms. If it’s any higher than this, the connection will become laggy, and audio will therefore sound choppy. 

Packet loss is when “packets” or pieces of data traveling across a network do not reach their end destination. In a VoIP call, this will appear as garbled audio with missing information like words and sentences.

Video Calls

As you might assume, video calls use significantly more data than voice calls. There are a number of variables, such as video quality, screen size, and the specifications of the connecting devices. For example: 

  • A video call between two mobile devices uses about 3.75 MB of data per minute (225 MB per hour).
  • A video call between a mobile device and a computer uses about 4.5 MB of data per minute (270 MB per hour)

Here’s a look at usage when we factor in the video quality:

  • A standard definition video call uses an average of 190 MB per hour.
  • A high-quality video call uses an average of 400 MB per hour.
  • An HD video call uses an average of 1.25 GB per hour.

Regarding bandwidth requirements, here are some averages we gathered:

  • 1:1 video calling:
    • High-quality video: 600kbps (up/down)
    • 720p HD video: 1.2Mbps (up/down)
    • 1080p HD video: 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down)
  • Group video calling:
    • High-quality video: 1.0 Mbps/600kbps (up/down)
    • 720p HD video: 2.6Mbps/1.8Mbps (up/down)
    • 1080p HD video: 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down)

Emails

Like online web browsing, checking your email should require no more than 5 Mbps. The amount of data used by emails with attachments can vary based on the size of the attachment. So, based on emails without attachments, you can send and receive 100 and only need 30 MB per month. 

Credit Card Transactions

Credit card transactions require very little bandwidth. On average a minimum of 1.5 mbps download speed and 768 kbps upload speed should be sufficient. Data usage is very small as well. If you were to run 1000 credit card transactions per day, this would work out to be just under 300 MB of data. 

IP Cameras

There are a few factors that determine how much bandwidth an IP security camera system uses. This includes video resolution, frames per second, file compression (e.g. H.264 and MJPEG), and the number of cameras. All four help to determine exactly how much bandwidth you need for your system.

Note that special applications, like facial recognition or license plate recognition, will eat up more IP camera bandwidth, since these applications require higher resolution and frame rate recording.

In our research, we frequently came across the following formulas for calculating IP camera bandwidth requirements. 

Resolution in pixels x Color depth in bits = Bit rate

Bit rate x Frame rate in frames per second = Bandwidth requirement in bits per second

Using the above formulas will give you its raw bandwidth requirement before compression. Audio, communication, and compression protocols also contribute to raw bandwidth, but they generally use a negligible amount. 

As an example, let’s say we have a high definition (1280 x 720 pixel) online surveillance system in true color (24 bit) that operates at 30 frames per second. Based on these formulas, we would have a raw bandwidth requirement of 665 Mbps. However, due to compression, this can be reduced down to as little as 2 Mbps (depending on the compression standard). 

Here’s a quick reference chart based on resolution and compression:

IP Camera Bandwidth Requirement
ResolutionH.264MJPEG
1MP (1280×720)2 Mbps per camera6 Mbps per camera
2MP (1920×1080)4 Mbps per camera12 Mbps per camera
4MP (2560×1440)8 Mbps per camera24 Mbps per camera

VPN

A VPN experiences something called “encryption overhead.” Encryption is a form of security for that connection and can increase bandwidth. Any activity you perform on your computer or network with the VPN enabled will use more data than when it is disabled. The increased amount could be anywhere from 2% up to 19%. The strength and protocols of your VPN will also contribute towards more usage. 

Generally speaking, the amount of bandwidth speed required for a VPN depends on the type of applications you’re accessing. For example, say you’re downloading a large HD movie file that’s 4GB of data. Over a non-VPN connection, the data usage would be exactly 4GB. However, due to the VPN encryption, the data usage will increase. 4GB is actually 4,096 MB of data, so that means you’re technically transferring closer to 4,396 MB in total.

Streaming Audio

Now, if you’re anything like me, you probably have some sort of music streaming throughout the workday. So, while this might not be “important,” it is common enough that we wanted to touch on the subject. There are dozens of ways to stream music these days. Some of the more popular services include:

  • Pandora
  • Spotify
  • Google Play
  • Amazon Music
  • iHeartRadio
  • SoundCloud

Typically, streaming music does not use much data or bandwidth. Although each service differs slightly in the stream quality. So what does that mean in terms of your data usage? If you were to stream music for an entire eight-hour work day, you would use about 1 GB each day. Based on your average month of 30 days, that could turn out to be up to 30 GB of data usage!

Does this seem like a lot of work? Not sure it makes much sense? Well, we made it more simple for users with our data usage calculator. This is an easy way to help determine your usage requirements, and average monthly usage based on common applications like credit card processing and emails. 

Data Usage Calculator example

Looking for a data plan? 5Gstore has data plans available here. Reach out to us for more information by phone, email, or chat!

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What is the Current 5G Experience in the U.S?

Over the course of 3 months (Mar 16 – Jun 13, 2022), OpenSignal gathered 5G data points from each of the major U.S. cellular carriers – Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. This data was put into a report they call the 5G Experience Report, and it was just released. Big surprise…it shows T-Mobile as the winner in most categories. Check out the overall results below.

Taking a closer look, each category was analyzed at the national and regional levels. T-Mobile won with Download speeds over 98Mbps faster than Verizon and AT&T. Overall, the total was 171Mbps. This is T-Mobile’s sixth win in a row. The Upload speed tests were a bit closer, with only a 3Mbps difference between T-Mobile and Verizon. T-Mobile’s total was 17.8Mbps, and again, this was their sixth time in a row to win this category. Verizon and AT&T customers may still want to be hopeful though. They are the only two carriers that are using C-Band deployments. As these deployments increase, we suspect these reports may change. Still, T-Mobile has quite a lead.

Not only do T-Mobile customers receive the best overall speeds, but they can also access them in more places than other carriers’ networks. OpenSignal confirms this by awarding T-Mobile with the best 5G Reach. The report also confirms that T-Mobile has the best 5G Availability. It shows that T-Mobile customers were connected to 5G 2 times more often than AT&T customers, and over 3 times more often than Verizon customers.

With regards to testing 5G Games experience and Voice App experience, the point scale was 0 to 100. This is where Verizon won out against the others, but all were within a small margin. 

According to OpenSignal, “a good Games experience means that the gameplay experience was generally controllable and users received immediate feedback between their actions and the outcomes in the game. Most users did not experience a delay between their actions and the game.”

You may also be wondering what qualifies a good 5G Voice App Experience too. These tests “quantify the experience of Opensignal users when using over-the-top voice apps — such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — on an operator’s 5G network. It uses a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality.”

Want to know more about OpenSignal’s metrics and what they mean? Check out their article here.

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Who Has the Best Mobile Network?

T-Mobile does it for the second year in a row – they’ve beat out Verizon and AT&T in recent tests performed by the PCMag team. They’ve been running these “Fastest Mobile Network” tests for the past 12 years and with this year came some changes. They opted for electric vehicles for the more than 10,000 mile drive across the country. They used new software that tracks dropped calls and provides a better measure of reliability. Also, while previous years were in search of America’s fastest mobile network, they are now on the search for the best network. 

Using the Samsung Galaxy S22+ phone, the team stopped in 30 cities and six rural regions where they compared performance between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Of these 30 cities, T-Mobile won in 18, Verizon won in eight and AT&T won in four. According to the team, “We use people, not square miles, to determine our scores. Rural areas comprise 16% of our score, similar to the 14-20% of the US population classified as rural.”

The reason for using the Samsung Galaxy over other 5G phones? PCMag said, “We’re using the Samsung Galaxy S22+ because it has shown the best network performance in our tests. With its Qualcomm X65 modem, the S22+ can hold onto weak signals longer than phones from previous years, and it supports all the new 5G bands carriers are implementing, including the frequencies AT&T is launching later this year.”

Due to the new software used this time around, the results aren’t directly comparable to those from previous years. For example, both T-Mobile and Verizon see dramatically increased nationwide speeds this year as they expand their mid-band 5G networks. However, as AT&T’s speeds decline, it has added very little capacity while data demands grew.

Looking closer at those speed results, T-Mobile also won here, specifically in upload and download speeds. The carrier was the fastest in 19 cities out of 30, compared to Verizon with nine and AT&T with two. PCMag also reported that T-Mobile is performing better in rural areas, but explained that it still has more rural dead zones in the Northeast than Verizon and AT&T do.

So how exactly is it that T-Mobile was capable of these wins? Their mid-band 5G network. This is what the carrier built from Sprint’s network after acquiring the company for $26 billion in 2020. They’ve also begun using carrier aggregation within the mid-band network to achieve faster speeds. 

For Verizon and AT&T, they are still working on closing the gap by utilizing mid-band spectrum they obtained in a recent FCC auction. Verizon has already gotten started with its 5G network, but AT&T has been waiting for the equipment required to build it out. AT&T hopes to have more 5G network service up and running by next year.

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