Just took a drill to my Vodafone K3565

The Vodafone K3565 3G dongle does not appear to have an external aerial connector. Well, it does. Nicely mounted on one of the circuit boards inside, but no corresponding hole in the case.

So, remove SIM, remove two small screws and CAREFULLY prise apart case and check that you have the pcb mounted socket. Obtain a CRC9 connector to RP-SMA adapter or a 3G aerial with CRC9 connector, there are plenty on eBay. I used a 3G aerial + 3metres cable + CRC9 connector for £7.49p inc postage. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item...

Mark out and drill suitable hole, refit pcb, screws and SIM.

Obviously you do this at your own risk!

So in difficult areas, a USB extension cable and the above and you should get a better signal. At 3G frequencies RG174 coax has a high attenuation. You can get CRC9 adapters and use a lower loss coax if you are looking for either a longer coax or lower losses.

Cheers!

Yepp, done this myself on many an occasion - the K3565 is just a rebranded E160 which does have the aerial hole for the connector.

At 3G frequencies almost any coax will have high attenuation.

Far better than having a longer coax is to use a very short coax and a USB extension so the dongle is moved closer to the aerial. Only use a USB cable up to 5m long, any longer then look for an active repeater.

The "long-barrell" CRC9 like you linked to is the best for this mod as the PCB is quite a way from the outside of the case and there's some on eBay with shorter barrells which barely make a connection and come loose at the slightest knock.

Also, if someone has a marginal 3G in a rural area and it's the best broadband they can get then using a directional (not an omni as linked) 3G aerial pointed at their nearest celltower, with a short coax link can seriously improve connections!

In my R/O days at sea, for S-Band radar, coax similar to http://www.signalcontrol.com/products/andrew/Andrew_... was used. (One ship even went to similar diameter for the marine VHF band due to the long run to the top of the main mast.)

Would be ideal for 3G in rural locations, but doubtful whether you can obtain either a CRC9 or even a RP-SMA to fit it...

Cheers!

Still 6dB attenuation per 100M though at 1.9Ghz!

Oh, and what's the regs regarding EIRP for mobile phones, I guess that as the handset self-regulates it's own power then you'd be OK but with a directional aerial then you may go over the limit as the handset will be expecting it's stock aerial and stock gain.......

FYI to anyone interested, there a couple of guides to this
here
http://www.3g.co.uk/3GForum/showthread.php?t=91044
and here
http://www.instructables.com/id/Huawei-E160X-Vodafon...

If heavly into homebrew antenna and more signal, then you can use an old sat dish (with or without directional antenna) I have achieved 10 to15dB gain with dongle mounted on lnb bracket and more with directional antenna and dish combination.
You do need a practical inclination, and much more time than money
If anyone is interested, I can post further info

In reply to a post by Ancient_Mariner:

The Vodafone K3565 3G dongle does not appear to have an external aerial connector. Well, it does. Nicely mounted on one of the circuit boards inside, but no corresponding hole in the case.

So, remove SIM, remove two small screws and CAREFULLY prise apart case and check that you have the pcb mounted socket. Obtain a CRC9 connector to RP-SMA adapter or a 3G aerial with CRC9 connector, there are plenty on eBay. I used a 3G aerial + 3metres cable + CRC9 connector for £7.49p inc postage. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item...

Mark out and drill suitable hole, refit pcb, screws and SIM.

Obviously you do this at your own risk!

So in difficult areas, a USB extension cable and the above and you should get a better signal. At 3G frequencies RG174 coax has a high attenuation. You can get CRC9 adapters and use a lower loss coax if you are looking for either a longer coax or lower losses.

That is great project that you make the SMA pcb mounted socket ,and then using the SMA-CRC9 adapter when there is no any antenna connetions on K3565
Cable RG316 will be less attenuation than RG174.Most antenna extension cable is RG174 .


Cheers!

The Vodafone K3565 3G dongle does not appear to have an external aerial connector. Well, it does. Nicely mounted on one of the circuit boards inside, but no corresponding hole in the case.

So, remove SIM, remove two small screws and CAREFULLY prise apart case and check that you have the pcb mounted socket. Obtain a CRC9 connector to RP-SMA adapter or a 3G aerial with CRC9 connector, there are plenty on eBay. I used a 3G aerial + 3metres cable + CRC9 connector for £7.49p inc postage. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item...

Mark out and drill suitable hole, refit pcb, screws and SIM.

Obviously you do this at your own risk!

So in difficult areas, a USB extension cable and the above and you should get a better signal. At 3G frequencies RG174 coax has a high attenuation. You can get CRC9 adapters and use a lower loss coax if you are looking for either a longer coax or lower losses.

About the The Vodafone K3565 3G dongle ,still we have plenty on the website. You can have a look.

http://rfsupplier.com/

Cheers!

Hi ,Happy Easter day to everyone.
Thank you ,this kind of the 3G Clip antenna will be used and it do not need to be drilled of the Vodafone K3565 or other USB Modem.

See the clip antenna with 5Dbi +3G modem clip ,see the parts :
http://www.rfsupplier.com/8501900900180021002170mhz-...

Just put the USB modem to 3G modem clip ,do not drill the model