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Independent information for agriculture Research Report Kondinin Group MAY 2019 No. 112 www.farmingahead.com.au MOBILE PHONES AND ANTENNAS THE CLASS OF 2019 Price: $95

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Page 1: MOBILE PHONES AND ANTENNAS€¦ · Samsung Galaxy S9 27.5 Samsung Galaxy S8 30 Samsung Galaxy S7 32 Samsung A5 31 Telstra Tough Max 2 32.5 Telstra Flip 2 42 Telstra Signature 2 33

I n d e p e n d e n t i n f o r m a t i o n f o r a g r i c u l t u r e

ResearchReportKondinin Group

MAY 2019 No. 112 www.farmingahead.com.au

MOBILE PHONES AND ANTENNAS

THE CLASS OF 2019

Price: $95

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16/511 Olsen Avenue, Southport, QLD 4215

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To the average farmer, the smartphone is more than just a convenience, but potentially one of their most important

business tools.With so many of us accepting the fact

that we are ‘time poor’, the ability to get work done, check markets, weather information, read and respond to messages and communicate with workers and family members can make a real difference to

farm operations. And with the growing incorporation of sensors and remote telemetry into farm operations, the smartphone is pretty much indispensable.

While there is a lot to be said for having some disconnected time each day to gather our thoughts, it is preferable this is done by choice, and not through a lack of phone reception at a crucial time.

This latest round of Kondinin Group phone tests is required reading for anyone

who wants to maximise the reception of their next phone handset.

None of the phones tested could make a call more than 40 kilometres from the phone tower, with the best result recorded by the clunky Telstra Easycall 4 at 39km. The best smartphone was also a Telstra-branded handset, the Lite Smart, which recorded 36km. Of the popular brand-name smartphones, it was the new iPhone XR on top with 33km.

Reception dialled in on new phonesIt’s that time of the year again when our engineers Ben White and Josh Giumelli take a load of new phones and antennas out to their test track in remote New South Wales to test reception strength. This time round we saw some improvements from favourite phones, plus a few disappointing results as well.

RESEARCH REPORT MOBILE PHONES AND ANTENNAS • RES

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Catching some waves: Kondinin Group engineer Ben White tests a phone by holding it in the air facing the phone tower out on the Hay plains north of Oxley, NSW. On the whole, the cheapest blue tick handsets had the better reception sensitivity.

3www.farmingahead.com.au No. 112 May 2019 Research Report© Kondinin Group – Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without permission. Freecall 1800 677 761

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BLUE TICK COPS SOME STICKWe test phones on the Telstra Next G network as that is the most widely used network in rural areas. Telstra label some of their handsets with a blue tick logo, which is supposed to signify those with the highest reception sensitivity for use in rural and remote areas.

We have questioned the accuracy of this blue tick in the past, and this time round results seem to indicate it is still the case. How can a blue tick Samsung Galaxy S10 score the lowest test result of 28km, while a non-blue tick iPhone XR record a substantially better result of 33km?

Last year it was a blue tick iPhone 8 which recorded a paltry 25km, a far cry from the days of the iPhone 3GS and 4S which could make calls at almost 40km on the test track.

Buyers who are prepared to use any of the Telstra-branded blue tick handsets will find their reception to be strong, and the blue tick on these handsets, an accurate indicator of reception strength. But these phones are not for everyone, as their features, specifications and build quality are not a patch on the high-end units.

These handsets often cost less than $100 when purchased outright as a prepaid phone. They are good value and can potentially be kept in the ute glovebox for a quick SIM-swap in an emergency when reception is needed.

Alternately, fit a high gain antenna to your vehicle and use it with an approved mobile phone repeater such as the Cel-Fi Go. See our antenna test results on page 14 for more information.

SELECTING OUR TEST PHONESThere are so many phone handsets offered by Telstra that it would be impossible to test them all, so we have little option but to use Telstra’s blue tick as a rough guide as to what to test. We also include a selection of popular handsets that don’t carry a blue tick, such as the iPhone models.

There are a range of ultra-large phone handsets, such as the iPhone and Galaxy plus models, that retain all of the same features of their smaller versions, except for a larger screen and battery.

As it is, the current Galaxy S10 and iPhone XR and XS have grown in size to a point where they are hard to fit in your pocket, especially once they are installed in a protective case.

No one in their right mind would use one of these $1500-odd handsets on the farm without a protective case, which makes the size of the plus models utterly impactable. Previous tests have shown near identical reception performance between standard and plus-size models, so we have left them on the shelf. We have also eliminated any other handsets from the test of a similar size.

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THE SIZE CRISISThe growing dimensions of our favourite handsets is a real issue. Even the standard handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 and iPhone XR seem overly large when compared to previous models. It seemed manufacturers for years were hell-bent on reducing the size of their phones, only to now make them larger and thicker.

There are some options, such as the slightly smaller S10e for Android users, or Apple users can go with the iPhone 8 which is still available. But choosing a low-spec, superseded model is not always an attractive choice.

There is no doubt phones have got larger to accommodate bigger screens given the

amount of web browsing an average user performs on their handset.

Samsung have wrapped their screen around the edge of the S10 to increase its size, while Apple got rid of their home button a few years ago, also to maximise the size of the screen.

Once a phone cannot fit comfortably in your pocket, it then becomes an item that needs to be carried, and put down in a convenient place, and potentially left behind when heading out to the paddock.

SHUTTERBUGS WELL-CATERED FORSmartphone cameras continue to evolve, with incredible specifications that were

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Table 1. Phone test results

Manufacturer Model Maximum range from test tower, km

2019 results

Samsung Galaxy S10 28

Samsung Galaxy S10e 30

Apple iPhone X 30

Apple iPhone XS 32

Apple iPhone XR 33

Alcatel U3 35

Nokia 2.1 31

Telstra (ZTE) Lite 37

Telstra (ZTE) Essential smart 32

Telstra (ZTE) Lite Smart 36

Telstra (Alcatel) Essential plus 35

Telstra (ZTE) Easycall 4 39

2018 results

Apple iPhone X 30

Apple iPhone 8 25

Samsung Galaxy S9 27.5

Samsung Galaxy S8 30

Samsung Galaxy S7 32

Samsung A5 31

Telstra Tough Max 2 32.5

Telstra Flip 2 42

Telstra Signature 2 33

Oppo A57 31

Sony Xperia XZ Premium 38.5

Google Pixel 32.5

Nokia 3310 32

Shutter specs: Cameras in smartphones have continued to improve in specification, with the Samsung Galaxy S10 featuring a triple lens rear camera.

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unavailable in dedicated digital cameras not too long ago. Of interest, all photos in this report, including cover images, were taken on mobile phones instead of our regular professional photography equipment.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 features a triple lens rear camera; a 12MP telephoto lens (45 degrees) with 2x optical zoom, a 12MP wide angle lens (77 degrees) with dual aperture, and a 16MP ultra-wide angle

lens (123 degrees). The iPhone XS features a dual-lens 12MP camera with a slightly larger sensor than that used on the X.

Other manufactures are offering phones with even more incredible specifications.

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Table 2. Phone specifications

Manufacturer ModelTelstra blue tick

Operating system

(as released)

Size (mm, HxWxD)

Weight (grams)

Screen resolution

(pixels)

Screen size (inch, diagonal)

Internal memory

(GB)

SD expansion

Power/data connection

Headphone (3.5mm

jack)

Camera resolution (MP, front)

Camera resolution (MP, rear)

Battery capacity (mAh)

Wireless charging

Removable battery Wi-Fi Bluetooth NFC 4GX

Cost, outright purchase

($ inc GST)

Samsung Galaxy S10 Android 150 x 70 7.8 157 1440 x 3040 6.1 128 or 512 Micro SD micro USB 10 16, 12, 12 3400 1349 –1697

Samsung Galaxy S10e Android 142 x 70 x 7.9 150 1080 x 2280 5.8 128 Micro SD micro USB 10 16, 12 3100 1199

Apple iPhone X iOS 11 144 x 71 x 7.7 174 1125 x 2436 5.8 64 or 256 no lightning 7 12 2716 1479 – 256

Apple iPhone XS iOS 12 144 x 71 x 7.7 177 1125 x 2436 5.8 64, 256 or 512 no lightning 7 12 2658 1597 – 2167

Apple iPhone XR iOS 12 151 x 76 x 8.3 194 868 x 1792 6.1 128 or 256 no lightning 7 12 2942 1277 –1477

Alcatel U3 Android 121 x 64 x 9.7 110 480 x 800 4 8 up to 32GB micro USB 2 5 1500 69

Nokia 2.1 Android 8.0 Oleo 154 x 78 x 9.7 174 720 x 1280 5.5 8 up to 128GB micro USB 5 8 4000 129

Telstra (ZTE) Lite other 120 x 50 x 14 86 240 x 320 2.4 0.043 no micro USB no 0.08 1000 39

Telstra (ZTE) Essential smart Android 8.1 126 x 65 x 11.6 125 480 x 800 4 8 up to 128 micro USB 0.3 5 1600 79

Telstra (ZTE) Lite Smart Android 5.1 125 x 65 x 10.4 113 480 x 800 4 4 yes micro USB 0.3 2 1400 69

Telstra (Alcatel) Essential plus Android 8.0 Oleo 134 x 66 x 9.8 145 480 x 960 4.95 8 up to 32GB micro USB 2 5 2000 99

Telstra (ZTE) Easycall 4 other 126 x 54 x 13.7 110 240 x 320 2.4 0.125 no micro USB none none 1900 129

Hire car modification: Engineer Josh Giumelli attaches a high-gain phone antenna to a hire car. Check out page 14 for our antenna test results.

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Chinese manufacturer HTC has recently released the P20, which features arguably the best camera ever fitted to a smartphone.

The three-lens camera system is made up of a 40MP primary lens, a 20MP monochrome lens and an 8MP telephoto lens.

THE NEXT G IS 5GAs our thirst for data speed shows no signs of abating, Telstra is beginning to roll out a 5G network to 200 sites in capital cities and some rural centres.

Data speeds being promised are an order of magnitude higher than those currently experienced on 4G services, but we will need to wait and see if we want some actual figures.

If you are lucky enough to live in or close to one of the selected rural centres, 5G will be an attractive option, especially compared to the performance of the NBN in some of these areas. But there are no 5G handsets available at this stage.

Telstra has an agreement in place with Samsung to offer owners of S10+ handsets a free upgrade to a 5G version when it becomes available, reportedly this year. Unfortunately this offer doesn’t extend to the S10 and S10e handsets.

The LG V50 Thinq, a 5G 6.4 inch screen smartphone with 4000mAh battery will soon be released, as well as a 5G range from Oppo.

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Table 2. Phone specifications

Manufacturer ModelTelstra blue tick

Operating system

(as released)

Size (mm, HxWxD)

Weight (grams)

Screen resolution

(pixels)

Screen size (inch, diagonal)

Internal memory

(GB)

SD expansion

Power/data connection

Headphone (3.5mm

jack)

Camera resolution (MP, front)

Camera resolution (MP, rear)

Battery capacity (mAh)

Wireless charging

Removable battery Wi-Fi Bluetooth NFC 4GX

Cost, outright purchase

($ inc GST)

Samsung Galaxy S10 Android 150 x 70 7.8 157 1440 x 3040 6.1 128 or 512 Micro SD micro USB 10 16, 12, 12 3400 1349 –1697

Samsung Galaxy S10e Android 142 x 70 x 7.9 150 1080 x 2280 5.8 128 Micro SD micro USB 10 16, 12 3100 1199

Apple iPhone X iOS 11 144 x 71 x 7.7 174 1125 x 2436 5.8 64 or 256 no lightning 7 12 2716 1479 – 256

Apple iPhone XS iOS 12 144 x 71 x 7.7 177 1125 x 2436 5.8 64, 256 or 512 no lightning 7 12 2658 1597 – 2167

Apple iPhone XR iOS 12 151 x 76 x 8.3 194 868 x 1792 6.1 128 or 256 no lightning 7 12 2942 1277 –1477

Alcatel U3 Android 121 x 64 x 9.7 110 480 x 800 4 8 up to 32GB micro USB 2 5 1500 69

Nokia 2.1 Android 8.0 Oleo 154 x 78 x 9.7 174 720 x 1280 5.5 8 up to 128GB micro USB 5 8 4000 129

Telstra (ZTE) Lite other 120 x 50 x 14 86 240 x 320 2.4 0.043 no micro USB no 0.08 1000 39

Telstra (ZTE) Essential smart Android 8.1 126 x 65 x 11.6 125 480 x 800 4 8 up to 128 micro USB 0.3 5 1600 79

Telstra (ZTE) Lite Smart Android 5.1 125 x 65 x 10.4 113 480 x 800 4 4 yes micro USB 0.3 2 1400 69

Telstra (Alcatel) Essential plus Android 8.0 Oleo 134 x 66 x 9.8 145 480 x 960 4.95 8 up to 32GB micro USB 2 5 2000 99

Telstra (ZTE) Easycall 4 other 126 x 54 x 13.7 110 240 x 320 2.4 0.125 no micro USB none none 1900 129

HOW PHONES ARE TESTEDThe phone test protocol is a straightforward but effective process, although it takes considerable time to get accurate results. In its simplest form, it involves placing a series of two-way calls at varying distances from a phone tower.

Our test location at Oxley, New South Wales, is bordering on semi-desert, with dead flat topography and few trees. In general, the very best phones can reach almost 40km from the tower, while the weakest handsets fail around 25km.

At each incremental distance, phones are allowed to locate the network, which can take several restarts, or switching in and out of flight mode to prompt them. A successful two-way call is one in which both the caller and receiver can understand what is being said by each other. Handsets are switched to speaker mode and held in the fingertips, up in the air facing the tower, which improves reception.

Hands-up: Phones are placed in speaker mode and held in the air facing the phone tower to maximise reception sensitivity. This is also a good trick when trying to place a call in areas with marginal reception.

© Kondinin Group – Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without permission. Freecall 1800 677 761

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Samsung Galaxy S10e

What we liked: Fingerprint reader on rear Lower cost unit than S10 SD card expansion and IP68 rated More compact size than S10 Wireless powershare can charge

other devices

What we didn’t: Low reception strength Screen not as good as S10 Camera not as good as S10

We say:The budget version of the S10 lacks the optical zoom camera, screen resolution and larger inbuilt storage option, but its more compact size will be seen as a benefit by many. The screen and general construction of the phone are just as nice as the S10, and it doesn’t give up any power to its bigger brother either. And while reception strength is still paltry, it is at least lightly better than the S10.

Price: $1197 (128GB, inc GST)

Samsung Galaxy S10

What we liked: Great screen Ultrasonic fingerprint reader on

front Wireless powershare for charging

other devices SD card expansion and IP68 rated Wide angle three-lens camera

What we didn’t: Worst reception of all phones tested Glass wrap screen and rear prone to

damage Expensive screen replacement Expensive purchase price

We say:A stunningly beautiful phone, the S10 will not disappoint Samsung fans unless they are hoping for good reception. It is great to use, and the tri-lens camera takes spectacular photos. The ability to expand memory with an SD card, the convenience of a 3.5mm headphone jack and lower price make a good case over the iPhone.

Price: $1347 (128GB)$1697 (512GB, inc GST)

Apple iPhone XS

What we liked: Excellent camera Simple to use More compact than other new iPhones Wireless charging IP68 waterproof rating

What we didn’t: Glass back and front prone to damage Facial recognition unlocking can be

tedious Notch in top of screen Battery life could be better Expensive

We say:Its hard to get over the purchase price, but the XS is a beautiful phone to use, with a great camera. Apple fans will love it, but we bemoan the lack of a new smaller, thinner handset along the lines of the iPhone 8. The inclusion of a small 64GB model over a 128GB handset seems an odd decision. Good to see an improvement in reception over the X and the 8 tested last year.

Price: $1597 (64GB)$1849 (256GB)$2167 (512GB, inc GST)

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Apple iPhone XR

What we liked: Lower cost unit than iPhone XS Great to use Best reception for an iPhone Wireless charging IP67 waterproof rating

What we didn’t: Large unit Glass back and front prone to damage Facial recognition unlocking can be

tedious Notch in top of screen

We say:While it has a lower res screen and low spec camera compared to the slightly smaller XS, the XR seems much better value overall. Superior battery life is also a point in its favour, and it had slightly better reception than the XS

Price: $1277 (128GB)$1477 (256GB, inc GST)

Apple iPhone X

What we liked: IP67 rating Wireless charging Easy to use Good camera A bit cheaper than the XS

What we didn’t: Low reception Screen notch is annoying Facial recognition can be tedious Lack of 3.5mm headphone jack

We say:While the iPhone X is technically discontinued, it still compares well with its successor, the XS, although reception is poorer. It is still easy to obtain but it pays to shop around as prices do vary. Still a higher spec phone than the XR.

Price: $1479 (64GB)$1729 (256GB, inc GST)

Alcatel U3

What we liked: Low cost Battery is replaceable Great reception Small, compact size SD card expansion to 32GB

What we didn’t: Slow operation Poor battery life Tiny keypad No 4GX service

We say:Lucky its cheap and has good reception because it is frustrating to use as a smartphone. Has a cheap and nasty feel. We have seen this phone for as little as $25 at Woolworths.

Price: $69 (inc GST)

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Telstra Lite

What we liked: Compact size Great reception Has a torch Very low-cost Battery can be swapped

What we didn’t: Very low spec Tiny tactile buttons Small screen text No SD expansion No 4GX service

We say:Lite by name, the Lite is lightweight and also light on features. A good simple phone if you want to just make a call, but not overly suited to those with less-than-perfect eyesight. The Easycall 4 may be a better option.

Price: $39 (inc GST)

Nokia 2.1

What we liked: Good value for money Decent screen with Gorilla glass

protection SD expansion and headphone jack FM radio

What we didn’t: Small internal memory and RAM Average reception performance Large unit

We say:The Nokia 2.1 is a great option for a low-cost smartphone that doesn’t feel as cheap as it is. If you don’t expect the performance of a top-end handset, you won’t be too disappointed.

Price: $129 (inc GST)

Telstra Essential Smart

What we liked: SD expansion Chunky size is actually good to hold

on to 5MP camera Battery can be swapped

What we didn’t: Highly reflective screen Average reception performance Screen resolution is low

We say:The Essential Smart is a rebadged ZTE product and is a reasonable value smartphone for the money, but the reflective screen is highly irritating. It should have better reception for a Blue Tick phone.

Price: $79 (inc GST)

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Telstra Lite Smart

What we liked: Good reception Grippy edges make it easy to hold

on to SD expansion Battery can be swapped

What we didn’t: Battery life is average Slow operation Poor speaker

We say:Another ZTE product, the Lite Smart is reasonable value but feels cheap and flimsy.

Price: $69 (inc GST)

Telstra Essential Plus

What we liked: Good reception at a low cost Slightly higher quality feel SD expansion to 32GB Battery can be swapped

What we didn’t: Slow operation Light on specifications

We say:This budget smartphone is sourced from Alcatel and is slightly better in quality than the Telstra ZTE units, but only just. It has a nicer feel.

Price: $99 (inc GST)

Telstra Easycall 4

What we liked: Excellent reception Good layout of buttons, large screen Programmable quick-call buttons Loud volume Has a torch

What we didn’t: Easy to accidentally turn torch on No SD expansion Flimsy rear cover No 4GX

We say:As far as simple phones go, it’s a better option than the Telstra Lite, but more expensive. It’s a great choice for older users or technophobes, and is top dog in the reception stakes this time round.

Price: $129 (inc GST)

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Each year, Kondinin Group’s phone testing focuses on identifying the handsets with the greatest reception sensitivity.

But the best way to maximise reception in rural areas is to use a high-gain antenna coupled to a mobile repeater such as the Cel-Fi GO which can

rebroadcast a boosted phone signal inside your vehicle.

But tests have shown that simply choosing a high-gain antenna off the shelf may not give you the best performance.

Tests this time round have shown significant performance differences between antennas with the same rated gain.

PATCH LEADS A THING OF THE PASTPreviously, connecting to an antenna was as simple as plugging it into your phone handset antenna port with a patch lead. While the phone was effectively tethered to the antenna, it did provide good signal with very little loss.

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New tests update antenna performanceIf you plan on fitting an antenna to your vehicle, take care when selecting a new unit. Recent Kondinin Group tests have shown that all antennas are not created equal.

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Reception detection: Kondinin Group engineer Josh Giumelli attaches antennas to the roof of a vehicle on the NSW test track. Results show significant gains in reception can be made simply by choosing the correct antenna. Shown left to right: Black Hawk Trucker Edge and RFI 7.5dBi.

This year is the first time we have tested a group of phones without a single unit sporting an antenna port.

This disappointing state of affairs effectively removes one of the cheapest and most effective methods for improving phone reception.

PASSIVE CONNECTIONS SO PASSIVEA popular method for boosting phone signal with an antenna is to fit a phone cradle to your vehicle with a passive antenna connection.

The cradle contains an electromagnetic induction coil, which effectively transfers the signal from the antenna to the phone. But the connection is typically inefficient, losing between 3 to 6 decibels of signal across the passive connection, and effectively eliminating a lot of the gain in signal strength.

Car cradles are also expensive to replace every time a phone handset is renewed, and can often prevent alternate drivers from using the cradle if they have a different phone.

CEL-FI IS THE GOLike the Cel-Fi repeaters we use in our homes on farms where the mobile phone signal is marginal, the Cel-Fi GO legally repeats the signal in vehicles. The signal received by the external vehicle antenna is amplified and re-transmitted via a paddle antenna in the cab.

The benefits of improving mobile phone signal using a Cel-Fi GO are numerous. Firstly, there is no dedicated cradle required for each different handset so cradles do not have to be purchased for every mobile phone upgrade.

There is no loss in signal from the external antenna through a passive connection meaning the full benefit of the external antenna can be realised. Finally, the signal inside the vehicle can be accessed by more than one handset, meaning passengers also benefit from the system.

ANTENNA PERFORMANCE MATTERSIf investing over $1000 in a Cel-Fi GO, it pays to maximise its performance by choosing the best antenna possible. But

Kondinin Group tests have shown that simply choosing an antenna with the highest gain rating may not give you the best reception for your dollar.

In a similar manner to our mobile phone testing, Kondinin Group engineers made a series of phone calls using five different mobile phone antennas driving away from a Next-G tower until the call was dropped.

Calls were repeated, with connection regained, until the maximum distance from the tower was reached.

While all antennas tested were multi-band units with Next G, 4G and 4GX compatibility, only the 850 megahertz Next G signal was tested for voice calls, being the network with the greatest range from the tower. Manufacturer GME is not represented in this test as suppliers inform us the recent GME acquisition of Laser antennas will see their single offering replaced with a larger range later this year.

Antennas were installed on the roof of a car, offering the installation location for greatest performance. These were coupled to a standard Cel-Fi GO unit for in-car calling.

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Table 1. Antenna test results and specifications

Antenna Distance signal held (km)

Manufacturer specified gain (dBi)RRP (inc GST)

Next G 850MHz 4GX 700MHz 4G 2600MHz

Blackhawk Trucker Edge 6/8dBi v1.5 * 38.3 6 6 n/a $218.90

Blackhawk Trucker Edge Compact 37.1 4 4 n/a $126.50

RFI CDQ7195 6.5dBi quick remove 47.5 6.5 6.5 5.5 $209.00

RFI CD7197 7.5dBi quick remove 47.5 7.5 7.5 5.5 $239.00

ZCG Scalar SGLDB 6.2dBi 37.0 6.2 6.2 n/a $139.00

Note: * features new robust base thread

Duelling antennas: Shown left to right: The Black Hawk Trucker compact and the RFI 6.5dBi antennas.

Antenna test results with specifications and pricing can be seen in Table 1. It is important to note that in many cases the antennas are retailed at a lower cost than the Recommended Retail Price (RRP). Of interest, both the RFI antennas recorded a maximum distance of 47.5km, despite different gain ratings.

Assuming radial uniformity, the measured

distances to the tower quoted in Table 1 translate to significant increases in coverage area. With this assumption in mind, the Cel-Fi GO paired with a quality antenna achieves a substantial improvement in coverage area of the best performing handheld phone in the car.

As we found with our last antenna test, cheaper antennas simply don’t perform

well, despite high claimed specification gain levels.

If investing in a Cel-Fi GO, budget for a quality antenna to extract the best from your communications investment.

For previous antenna test results, as well as a step-by-step guide to installing a Cel-Fi GO, see Farming Ahead 316, May 2018.

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