5G Broadband is great as it can deliver high-speed internet in places without fast fibre broadband and you don't even need a landline or engineer visit.
However, many find themselves with poor 5G signal and this is where external 5G antennas can make a huge difference, as these allow your router to hook firmly onto more distant 5G signals than it would otherwise be able to.
So 5G external antennas come into their own when you experience low 5G signal strength or an unreliable connection. They can provide a much-needed signal boost to achieve the speeds and reliability needed these days.
But be aware, it may sound simple to hook up a 5G external antenna to a router, but a certain level of knowledge is required to avoid buying an antenna that is not fit for purpose.
Before you purchase an antenna, it’s important to see which type of antenna is likely to work in your location and that the router and antenna are compatible with each other.
Do you need an external antenna?
Opting for a high speed mobile network connection for your home broadband can be a viable alternative to fixed broadband. And with 5G home broadband now a possibility, you don’t even need to make any compromises when it comes to speed or latency.
There are potential pitfalls with a mobile broadband solution, however. Your property might not get a strong signal if it’s too far from a mast, while interference from other signals and physical obstructions like buildings (a particular issue with 5G) can also hamper your home broadband performance.
5G networks are designed to overcome these limitations by employing lots of small signal relays rather than a single large emitter. But signal disruptions will still occur.
In these cases where you’re struggling with a poor connection for your 5G home broadband package, an external antenna can be the best solution.
Alternatively, you could consider an outdoor router such as the Three 5G Outdoor Hub or the Vodafone 5G Outdoor Hub. These are installed outdoors, giving them a better chance at hooking on to a 5G signal than a standard indoor router. Below though, we’ll look more at external antennas.
Things to check before investing in an antenna
Before you commit to the idea of buying a 5G external antenna, it’s worth running a couple of practical tests. First, eliminate the possibility that it’s the connection between your device(s) and your 5G router that’s actually causing a lack of signal.
Do this by placing the device and the router close to each other. If this fixes your connection problem, then you know you need to boost your Wi-Fi signal rather than your 5G signal, and that an external antenna is not the answer.
Also, take a look at the positioning of your 5G router. Is it possible to move this at all, preferably higher and closer to a window? If so, you might find that this will positively impact the strength of your 5G signal without the need to invest in an external antenna. Try to avoid having your router too boxed in as well – the more space around it the better it can operate.
It should also be away from electronic equipment like microwaves and baby monitors, which can interfere with the signal.
How do 5G external antennas work?
5G external antennas for routers are small antennas that plug directly into your 5G router. As the name suggests, these tend to be mounted to the outside of your property – preferably nice and high up – and with that positioning coupled with being larger and more powerful than the antennas that are typically built into 5G routers, they can connect to more distant 5G signals, and thereby serve to boost the 5G signal to your home.
Not all 5G external antennas are the same though, and a key consideration is antenna power. This is referred to as ‘gain,’ which is generally measured in dBi (decibels relative to an isotropic radiator). A 10dbi antenna for example will typically be more directional (and longer range in that direction) than a 5dbi antenna, which will typically have a wider but shorter reach.
Things to consider when choosing an antenna
As well as antenna power (detailed above) there are several other things to consider when choosing a 5G external antenna, most notably the following:
Directional or omni-directional antenna?
Directional Antenna
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Pros
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Cons
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Picks up distant signals
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Offers narrow coverage
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Good when you’re a long way from a mast
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Usually only gets a signal from a single mast
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|
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Harder to install
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There are two basic types of external antenna: directional and omni-directional. The difference is pretty self-explanatory – a directional antenna will receive signals strongly (also known as higher gain) in a single direction (or in a narrow cone), while an omni-directional antenna will receive signals moderately well from many or all directions. As a general rule, the higher the gain, the more directional an antenna is.
Omni-directional antenna
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Pros
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Cons
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Potentially 360-degree coverage
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Can't pick up signals from as far away
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Can connect antenna to multiple masts
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Good when there are multiple nearby masts
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Easier to install
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As you might assume, omni-directional is the safest bet for most people, as you’ll be more likely to get a signal, and won’t be overly reliant on a single source. However, those in rural locations who aren’t necessarily blessed with an abundance of strong signal sources might be better served going directional, as these can pick up signals from further away – they just need to be oriented correctly.
Supported frequencies
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Network
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5G frequencies used
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EE
(+1pMobile +Lyca +CMLink +Spusu +Talk Home)
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40GHz, 26GHz, 3.4GHz, 3.6GHz, and 700MHz
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Three
(+Honest Mobile +iD Mobile +Smarty)
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40GHz, 26GHz, 3.4GHz, 3.6-4GHz, and 700MHz
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Vodafone
(+VOXI +Asda +Lebara +Talkmobile)
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40GHz, 26GHz, 3.4GHz, and 3.6GHz
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O2
(+Sky +Tesco +Giffgaff)
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40GHz, 26GHz, 3.4GHz, 3.6GHz, and 700MHz
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When buying your 5G external antenna, note which frequencies it supports. These need to match up with those employed by your 5G network provider. Here in the UK, at the time of writing, 5G connectivity typically operates around the 40GHz, 26GHz, 3.4GHz, and 3.6GHz frequencies for all four major network operators (as well as every smaller 5G network), with some also using 700MHz. However, in future this may change, with operators likely to start offering additional 5G frequencies sooner or later.
Router support
| Router |
External Antenna support |
Antenna type |
|
Three 5G Hub
(ZTE MC888)
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No
|
-
|
|
Three 5G-Ready Hub
(Greenpacket E5-250MA)
|
Yes
|
4 x SMA ports
|
|
Vodafone 5G Hub
(Greenpacket E5-250MA)
|
Yes
|
4 x SMA ports
|
|
EE Smart 5G Hub 7 Pro
|
No
|
-
|
|
EE Smart 5G Hub 7 Plus
|
No
|
-
|
|
National Broadband 5G WiFi Router
(TP Link 5G NX200 v1)
|
Yes
|
2 x SMA ports
|
If you’ve confirmed that you need a 5G external antenna, check with the manufacturer of your 5G router that the model actually supports such an extension. Most do, but not all.
We can tell you though that the current models of the Vodafone 5G Hub and Three 5G-Ready Hub do have antenna ports, as does the 5G WiFi Router sold by National Broadband. The standard Three 5G Hub though (which is what you’ll typically get if you order a 5G broadband plan rather than a 4G one) does not.
Note though that while the above information should be correct for the latest routers from these brands at the time of writing, they do sometimes change the underlying hardware that they provide without changing the product name, so check your router’s documentation to be sure.
When purchasing antennas, make sure that the antenna uses the correct connection type for your router (typically TS9 or SMA). However, you can buy a simple and cheap set of adaptors to bridge the gap if you do find yourself with a mismatch.
Recommended antennas
As long as you follow the above guidelines, you shouldn’t go wrong picking out a 5G external antenna. If we were to offer a single safe and easy pick, then the Bluespot 5G-ready outdoor antenna is a 5G antenna that should work well for the vast majority of UK 5G broadband users.
That’s because it’s been built by a UK company and designed specifically to work with the UK’s 5G networks. It also supports the key 5G frequencies, including the 3.4GHz – 3.8GHz frequency bands and the 695MHz – 960MHz bands, as well as various 4G bands.
For another option, you could consider the Maswell 5G Antenna Outdoor, which works with the 700-6000MHz frequencies and is specifically marketed as being compatible with routers from EE, Vodafone, and Three.
Or there’s the UniteCom High Performance 4G/5G MIMO Waterproof Outdoor Antenna, which supports 698-960MHz and 1710-6000MHz bands, making it suitable for all UK network providers.
These antennas are also well reviewed, so you can be confident that they will do the job. That said, there are loads of other 5G antennas to choose from as well, at a range of different prices. So it’s worth looking into your options – just make sure to check the reviews, and that they support the frequencies you need.
Once you’ve chosen an antenna, you should install it as high as possible (in a stable position) outside your home, so that it has a clear line of sight with no obstacles. If you’re using a directional antenna, then you should also make sure it’s aimed in the correct direction to pick up a signal – this may take some trial and error. Coverage itself can be checked for all mobile operators via our own coverage checker.
