WaveForm 2x2 MIMO User manual

by
Your 2x2 MIMO External Antenna Kit is designed, sold, and
supported by Waveform and our team of Signal Specialists.
We’ve helped over 20,000 customers improve their signal
since our company was founded in 2007. We’ve installed and
congured thousands of devices in buildings across the country,
and we’re here to help. If you have any issues at all, please don’t
hesitate to reach out.
[phone]
www.waveform.com
[email protected]
About Waveform
2x2 MIMO
External Antennas
We know, reading manuals isn’t always fun. But we promise it’s worth it.
We’ve helped hundreds of customers improve signal to their cellular routers.
We’ve compiled everything we’ve learned in this manual.
Give it a read before you start: It’ll save you time and help you get the best
performance out of your 2x2 MIMO External Antenna.
PLEASE READ THIS FIRST:
3411 W. Lake Center Dr.,
Santa Ana, CA 92704

Antennas
Depending on what you purchased, your package will contain either a single 2x2 MIMO
Panel Antenna or two Log Periodic Antennas. We recommend using the Log Periodic
Antennas if you have line-of-sight to your nearest cell towers. Our 2x2 MIMO Panel Antenna
may perform slightly better if you’re surrounded by trees, buildings, or hills.
Cables and Adapters (optional, only included with complete kit)
If you purchased a complete antenna kit, the parts listed below will also come included.
J-Mount Antenna
Mount
or
2x2 MIMO
Panel Antenna
2x Log
Periodic Antennas
Optional: 2x Lightning
Protector Kits
Clear bag
Clear bag
Pigtail Adapters
(2x U.FL & 2x TS9)
Twin-RS240 N-Male
to SMA-Male Cables
2x N-Male to SMA-Male
Adapters
J-Mount Bracket
and Hardware
Red bag
What’s in the Box
2

Heads up: Using MIMO antennas to improve your signal can take a bit of patience.
We’d be surprised if you saw better data rates immediately upon connecting the antennas.
Be prepared to spend an hour or two to nd the right location and direction for your antennas.
This manual is based on feedback from hundreds of customers like you. We’ve revised it
dozens of times to make it as helpful as possible and make the process of getting better data
rates as easy as we can.
We promise you’ll be glad if you read it from start to nish before you get started. It’ll help you
save time, avoid the most common pitfalls, and ensure your system works as well as possible.
Who We Are
Hi! We’re Waveform. We’ve been around since 2007, and while we’ve grown a bunch since
then, we’re still a small team. There’s just a handful of us answering texts, and picking up calls.
The four of us pictured below lead support and product development. Feel free to reach out
to us at any time; our emails are all just our rst names @waveform.com
Stuck? Have Questions? Please: Contact Us!
We’re a small team, but we really care about helping you get the best results.
If you’re having issues, please contact us. Sometimes a small tweak we suggest can make all
the difference.
Even if everything goes smoothly, please let us know how your system is performing. We love
getting feedback: Is there any way we could make the install process or this manual better?
Call us at [phone], email [email protected], or book a meeting with our dedicated
support team at waveform.com/meet. We’re available from 9am-5pm PT, Monday to Friday.
Ian (Support) Sina (CEO) Harry (Support)Marcus (Product)
Install Manuals, Who Needs ‘Em?
3

It’s important that there’s at least some 4G LTE or 5G signal outside or on the roof of the
building where you’re installing your 2x2 MIMO antennas, and ideally it should be “usable.” If
you don’t have usable signal outside, proceed with caution, and consider giving us a call.
What Do We Mean by “Usable”?
When you take your cellular router or hotspot outdoors, you should have a reliable data
connection even without connecting your new 2x2 MIMO external antenna(s). When running a
speed test, you should have at least 0.1 Mbps download and upload speed.
MIMO antennas will help condition the outdoor signal and get you better data rates. But if the
signal outside your building isn’t usable to begin with, MIMO antennas might not help.
You can certainly still give the MIMO antenna a shot, but you may still be unable to connect.
Compatibility
First, a quick reminder: Our 2x2 MIMO Panel and Log Periodic Antennas support almost every
3G, 4G LTE, and low/mid-band 5G service in use in the US and across the world. Here are the
bands that each antenna covers*:
*Your router’s supported bands may vary from this list.
Our 2x2 MIMO Panel Antenna supports all
4G LTE and 5G bands between 600 MHz
and 2.7 GHz, including:
B2/n2, B4, B5/n5, B12, B17,
B29, B30, B66/n66
B2/n2, B4, B5/n5, B13, n40,
B66/n66
B2, B4, B5, B12, B25, B26,
B41/n41, B66, B71/n71
Our Log Periodic Antennas support all 4G
LTE and 5G bands between 600 MHz and
6 GHz, including:
B2/n2, B4, B5/n5, B12, B17,
B29, B30, B46, B66/n66, n77
B2/n2, B4, B5/n5, B13, n40,
B46, B48/n48, B66/n66, n77
B2, B4, B5, B12, B25, B26,
B41/n41, B46, B66, B71/n71
CBRS, B48/n48
Before You Start
00
4

This is the process that we suggest using for installing your 2x2 MIMO Antenna(s):
1Read this manual, ideally from start to nish, so that you understand the whole
installation process before you begin.
2Assemble your antenna(s) to your mount (Page 6).Start by assembling your mount and
attaching your 2x2 MIMO Panel Antenna or cross-polarized Log Periodic Antennas.
3Find the best antenna location and direction (Pages 7-9).This step is the most time-
consuming, but it’s worth the effort. Getting it right has a huge impact on your system’s
performance. Make notes of your readings in the table on page 9.
4Verify performance and hard-wire everything (Pages 10-12).Without making any holes
in your roof or walls, temporarily run the cable indoors to your cellular router and run
speed tests. If everything looks good, nalize the cable runs and hard-wire everything.
5Tell us how your system is doing. We really love hearing how our customers’ systems
are performing. Send an email or give us a call and let us know how things look.
How Much Improvement Should You Expect?
In short: It’s hard to say. Many people see an increase in data rates of between 50% and 200%,
but some people may only see 10%. Our CEO often says that despite all the science, wireless
signals often work in “strange and magical” ways.
One thing is for sure, the more locations and directions you try the more likely you are to see
a big increase in data rates. If you’ve gone through this manual and aimed the antenna(s) as
we suggest, but you’re still not seeing much improvement, please reach out to us for help.
What tools do I need?
The mounting hardware of your J-Mount and MIMO Antenna(s) will require a size-10mm
wrench to be assembled and additional fasteners and tools will be required to secure the
J-Mount against your building.
If you are unsure which specic fasteners and tools to use for your building, we recommend
reaching out to a local contractor for guidance.
Install Process Overview
01
5

The pictures below show how your antenna(s) should be secured to your mount. It’s helpful to
have your antenna(s) attached to your mount for the next steps in section 3, so take some time
to get the antenna(s) set up before moving on.
For the best results and to ensure their drainage holes work properly, mount the antennas in
the orientation shown above. For the Log Periodic Antennas in particular, ensure their arrows
are pointed upwards. You can nd more detailed instructions on how to attach your antenna(s)
to your J-Mount at waveform.com/polemount-instructions
Cross-Polarizing the Log Periodic Antennas (if purchased)
If you have two Log Periodic Antennas, angle each antenna 45 degrees in opposite directions
to achieve “cross-polarization”, as shown above. Cross-polarizing the antennas and aiming
them in the same direction is crucial to achieving a successful 2x2 MIMO connection. Treat the
two antennas as a single antenna moving forward.
Assembling the Antenna(s)
02
6

Finding the right antenna position for your 2x2 MIMO antenna(s) is the most important part
of the install. In this section, we explain the best and simplest method for positioning and
aiming. Section 7 covers some more advanced tips that we don’t recommend for most users.
The Goal
Your goal is to nd the best location and direction for your antenna(s). This location should
maximize the data rates from your cellular router. It can take a little patience, but spending
some extra time here can have a huge impact on performance - it’s worth the extra effort.
Set up Your MIMO Antenna in “Test Mode”
Is your cellular router battery-powered, or do
you have a power extension cord?
If so, connect your MIMO antenna(s) directly to
your router and take them both outside to start
testing different locations and directions.
Here’s how to set up your router and antenna(s) in Test Mode if you’re using the adapters
included in the kit:
Can’t take your router with you outdoors? No problem. Just keep your router powered on
indoors and use the included coax cables instead of the N-type to SMA adapters to take your
MIMO antenna(s) outside.
If you’re leaving your router indoors, your speed tests may be limited by the router’s Wi-Fi
range rather than its cellular connection. We recommend asking someone to stay near the
router so they can run speed tests as you try different positions with the antenna(s) outside.
POWER EXTENSION
CABLE
Positioning and Aiming the Antenna(s)
03
MIMO Panel or Cross-Polarized
Log Periodic Antennas
N-type to SMA
Adapters
Optional TS9 or
U.FL pigtails
Speedtests on
hotspot/router Wi-Fi
Connect Adapters/Pigtails
to the cellular antenna
ports on your router
7

Not sure which ports to connect to? Some devices have both Wi-Fi and Cellular external
antenna ports. Make sure to attach your antenna(s) to your router’s cellular ports and not it’s
Wi-Fi ports. If your device has two cellular ports, it doesn’t matter which cable is connected to
which port. If your device has four cellular ports, test which ports give you the best results.
Refer to your router’s manual, our device-specic guides at waveform.com/hotspot-guides, or
feel free to reach our team so we can help you identify which ports to connect to.
Running Speed Tests
Since the goal is improved data rates, it makes sense to use a speed test app to measure your
data rates through your cellular router’s Wi-Fi.
If you’re testing with a phone, download our favorite speed test app (“Speedtest by Ookla”) by
visiting this URL: waveform.com/speedtest. For testing with a laptop, visit speedtest.net.
Go ahead and run a couple of speed tests from a device connected to your router’s Wi-Fi.
You’ll notice your results uctuate a between tests – that’s normal.
Head outside and run 1-2 speed tests for each position and direction you try, then write
down each of your results in the next page.
How to Position & Aim
Finding the right antenna location and direction takes some patience, but spending time to
get it right can have a big impact on your system’s performance. Here are all the locations and
directions where we recommend testing your MIMO antenna(s):
Don’t just go to the highest point of the roof! While signal is generally stronger the higher you
go, there’s also often more interference. We’ve found it’s often better to mount the antenna(s)
on the side of the building where the structure can shield the antennas from interference.
Once you’ve found the best antenna location and direction, move on to section 5 below to
get ready for your nal installation.
8

Use the table below to make notes of your data rate measurements while you’re positioning
and aiming your antenna(s).
Position and Direction Download Speed Upload Speed
Your Data Rate Measurements
04
9

Once you’ve identied the best location for your antenna(s), it’s time to set up a provisional
install. You’ll keep your antenna(s) outside at the location you’ve selected, but run the cables
and test your cellular router/gateway indoors.
Don’t drill any holes in your walls yet! Start with a temporary install and test performance rst.
If you purchased the complete kit with your 2x2 MIMO antenna(s), follow the steps below
to assemble and install your 2x2 MIMO External Antenna kit. If you just purchased just the
antenna, your assembly may look a little different.
Getting the Complete Kit Set Up
Refer to the diagram to the right as needed.
1Secure your 2x2 MIMO Panel Antenna or Log Periodic Antennas to your mount if you
haven’t already. If your kit includes two Log Periodic Antennas, be sure to cross-polarize
them during this step, see section 2 for more information.
2Mount your antenna(s) outdoors in the location and direction where you found the
fastest data rates using the method described in section 3.
3Connect your Twin-RS240 coax cables to your MIMO Panel or Log Periodic Antennas.
OR, If you purchased lightning surge protectors, connect your MIMO Antenna(s) to the
included 5 ft jumper cables, Lightning Surge Protectors, and Twin-RS240 coax cable.
Instructions on grounding are in the next section of the manual.
4Connect the SMA ends of your Twin-RS240 cable to the antenna ports on your router
and hand-tighten the connections.
OR, If your cellular router has TS9 or U.FL ports, install the included pigtail adapters
between the Twin-RS240 cable and your router, and then hand-tighten the connections.
05 Assembling Your System
• Before attempting to route the cables through your building, lay the Twin-RS240 cable out at to
straighten it. This will make it easier to work with.
• A nger-tight connection is sufcient to secure the connectors. Tools are not required to tighten them
and may cause damage.
• Unsure how your pigtail adapters should connect to on your router? Refer to the information on page 8
to help you identify which ports to connect to.
Install Tips
10

2x2 MIMO Panel Antenna or cross-polarized Log Periodic Antennas
Depending on which kit you purchased. Shown with the included J-Mount .
Your LTE/5G router
Connect the cables or pigtails to
the cellular antenna ports.
If you are unsure which ports to
connect to, refer to page 8 for
further guidance.
2x TS9 or U.FL Pigtail
Adapters
Only included in our complete
2x2 MIMO kit.
If your router uses TS9 or U.FL
connectors for it’s cellular antenna
ports, install the relevant pigtail
here.
If your router uses SMA connectors
instead, connect the Twin-RS240
cable directly to the router.
Twin-RS240 N-Male to
SMA-Male Cable
Only included in our complete
2x2 MIMO kit. Length varies by kit.
2x (Optional) Lightning Surge
Protector Kits
Only included in our complete 2x2 MIMO
with Lightning Surge Protectors Kit.
Install outdoors, just before Twin-RS240
cable enters the building.
Connect each Lightning Surge Protector
to the building’s ground with 10 AWG or
thicker grounding cable.
Additional instructions on grounding are
found in the next section of the manual.
11

Before drilling holes in your walls, we recommend running cables temporarily through a
window or door and testing to make sure that everything still works well.
If you’re happy with your data rates, you can start drilling holes and moving to a permanent
install.
If you’re having issues with your temporary setup, or aren’t happy with the performance, don’t
panic! We can help you gure it out. Call us at [phone], email [email protected],
or book a meeting with our dedicated support team at waveform.com/meet.We’re available
from 9am-5pm PT, Monday to Friday.
A Quick Note on Surge Protection & Grounding
We highly recommend picking up a pair of Lightning Surge Protector Kits from
waveform.com/surge-protector to ground your outdoor antenna. They’d be installed just
before the coaxial cable enters your building to protect your router from lightning and prevent
high-voltage power from entering your building.
Both the surge protectors AND your mount itself should be grounded. We recommend using
at least 10 AWG cable. Keep in mind the numbers increase as the cable gets thinner so 6 AWG
and 8 AWG are both okay, but 12 AWG and 14 AWG are too thin.
If you have a satellite or HDTV antenna on your roof already, it’s likely grounded. You can
simply ground the mast and lightning surge protectors to the satellite dish. Alternatively, you
can ground your mast and antenna(s) directly to a grounding rod. Most homes should have a
grounding rod, but if yours doesn’t you can purchase one at a local hardware store.
Even if you don’t purchase a lightning surge protector, it’s critical to ground your antenna
mount, since it’s metal frame makes it a prime target for lightning strikes.
You can nd more detailed instructions on how to properly ground your antenna(s) at
waveform.com/grounding
Weatherproong Outdoor Connections
N-Type connectors are outdoor rated, but water can still sometimes get in and cause issues.
We strongly recommend that you wrap all outdoor N-type connections with stretch-and-seal
self-fusing silicone rubber tape (available from most hardware stores).
Test & Install Permanently
06
12

Advanced Optimization
07
By this point, you should have a really solid understanding of how to aim your MIMO
antenna(s) and get great performance. In fact, we’re convinced that for 95% of people, the
instructions provided in this manual so far are more than enough.
If, however, you’d like to go a little deeper and get technical to optimize your system even
further, here are some general guidelines.
1Look up your nearby towers on cellmapper.net by performing a “Tower search” with
the “eNB-ID” that your cellular router is connecting to. An eNB-ID is a unique cell tower
identier that can often be found in your cellular router’s admin interface.
2Aim your antenna(s) at each nearby tower. Run speed tests for each tower to nd
the fastest bands, and compare speed tests. If your cellular router also supports
bandlocking, band lock it to every band that the tower transmits, and run speed tests
for each tower on each band to nd your fastest band(s) and tower.
3Try enabling multiple bands and using carrier aggregation to nd the fastest band
combination. Carrier aggregation is supported by most cellular routers and allows them
to connect to two or more bands simultaneously. However, it doesn’t always result in an
faster data speeds so stick to a single band if that gets you the best results.
Unfortunately, many devices don’t support band locking or carrier aggregation, and some
don’t list eNB-IDs or any other tower identiers, making these steps impossible. Every cellular
router is so different that we could never cover them all with just one set of instructions.
However, we’ve written up guides for some of the most common devices, you can nd them
online at waveform.com/hotspot-guides. We suggest reading our guide for your router, or
referring to your user manual.
We’re Here to Help!
We know, there’s a lot of information out there and this can get very technical. Don’t be afraid!
If you’re having difculty, aren’t happy with the performance of your system, or you’d just like
a hand, we’d love to help! Call us at [phone], email [email protected], or book a
meeting with our dedicated support team at waveform.com/meet.We’re available from 9am-
5pm PT, Monday to Friday.
13

- Having difculties connecting your U.FL pigtails? Since U.FL connectors are very small and
can be difcult to install on the rst try, we suggest that you use a locking or reverse-action
tweezer to hold the cable in place and a pencil eraser to push the U.FL connector down.
- Are your TS9 pigtails a bit loose? Lightly squeeze the end of the TS9 connector with your
ngers to improve it’s grip. We know its not ideal, but TS9 connectors aren’t threaded or
standardized, so TS9 ports vary in depth between routers and they may not initially stay in
place. While our adapter has been thoroughly tested, it’s not always perfect for every device.
Tell Us How It Works
10
Need Help with your Pigtail Adapters?
08
Some Final Tips
09
Did your installation go great? Are you having trouble aiming your antenna(s)? Do you think
our manual could be improved? Are your data rates not quite what you were hoping?
Please tell us: Give us a call at [phone], email [email protected], or book a
meeting with our fantastical support team at waveform.com/meet.We’re available from 9am-
5pm PT, Monday to Friday.
We’re a small team who loves hearing how our products perform, and helping folks get the
absolute best data rates in any given situation. So please, reach out!
- If you have extra cable, don’t coil it tightly.
If you have extra cable, make sure to keep any cable loops as large as possible to minimize any
negative side-effects (4 ft or wider loops are best).
- If data rates decrease over time, consider re-optimizing your system.
Occasionally carriers will change their towers to broadcast different bands, light up new
towers, or simply turn off existing towers altogether. If your data rates suddenly get worse, try
re-aiming your antenna(s) to get the best results.
14

Hopefully by the time you've nished installing and tuning your MIMO antenna,
you're as excited about this product as we are.
One of our biggest challenges is spreading the word. Most people don't know
that products like our 2x2 MIMO External Antenna Kit exist.
Help us get the word out: Everyone you refer gets 5% off their kit, and we'll also
give you 5% of whatever they spend in cash (via PayPal).
Simply visit waveform.com/referrals to get started.
Excited about your 2x2 MIMO antenna?
Get 5% for each friend, family, or neighbor you
refer.
15

[phone] www.waveform.com
[email protected]
Need help? We’re ready and waiting.
MIMO Antennas aren’t always easy to install. In fact,
getting everything up and running can sometimes be a
pain, but the end result is worth it.
One of the benets of buying from Waveform is our
lifetime technical support on every system we sell. We’ve
installed hundreds of these devices ourselves, and can
walk you through troubleshooting and ne-tuning your
installation for best results.
Simply give us a call at [phone], email us
at [email protected], or book a meeting with our
fantastical support team at waveform.com/meet.We’re
available from 9am-5pm PT, Monday to Friday.
We love helping solve tricky install problems.
v8
3411 W. Lake Center Dr.,
Santa Ana, CA 92704