Aim Your Antenna using Cellmapper.net

[GeeSag]

Here is a thread on how to aim your directional antenna using Cellmapper.net.

For those already doing this, this will be old hat, and maybe they can share additional tips and pointers.

For those buying any new Hotspot that have antenna ports, hopefully this information might help.

Knowing which direction to aim a directional antenna is challenge.

First: Open Cellmapper.net
Notice it will default to GPS Zero, Zero I.e. the middle of the ocean.
Zoom out enough and pan to the your area.
Zoom in enough to see the geographic region near you.

Second: Select your Carrier (example: AT&T)

Third: Log into your Hotspot and find the "Servicing Cell ID"

Fourth: Click on the tower in cell mapper you think is providing service and scroll down to see if you see that Cell ID.

Fifth: Measure the direction from your campsite to the tower using a compass on the screen. In this case approximately 60 degrees east to north.

Sixth: Aim your antenna in this direction. 60 Degrees
(For those who want to get fancy: Adjust for Magnetic delineation, approximately 10 degrees in this example. Use NOAH web site to find delineation for your area)

Bonus Point: Notice the direction of the cell.
In this case, the cell is aimed 186 degrees and we are 60 degrees, our about 240 degrees from the perspective of the tower. In other words, we are clearly not in the direct path. and since cell towers are most commonly in 120 degree sectors, i.e. 60 degrees plus and 60 degrees minus the main beam, we are right on the edge of this cell. which is also reenforced by the -102 dBm RSRP........In other words......do not expect great cell coverage here. We are close to the cell edge but really right on the edge of a 120 degree cell, and thus getting poor cell coverage at -102 dBm RSRP