RF External Antenna Setup

Auction Flex sells a variety of external antenna solutions to fit your needs. By using external antennas for your wireless handheld or RF modems, site specific issues with reception can be addressed.

RF transmitters by default do not like to pass through metal walls. Other interference issues can arise from the base station of the handheld being too close to a high voltage line, such as power lines or the main power conduit of a building.

The 900mhz wireless handhelds and the 900mhz RF modems sold by Auction Flex are far superior in this regard than any out-of-the-box WiFi (802.11x) solution sold today. By using 900mhz transmitters, Auction Flex will give you much greater flexibility in placement and extended ranges.

The external antennas allow you to bypass the metal walls of your office trailer, auction topper, or office.

Below, you will find Auction Flex recommendations on antenna usage and placement. We will concentrate on the 2-foot fiberglass mast with its 20-foot extension cable, as it is the most common antenna sold.

With this antenna, height is extremely important. We recommend a minimum of 12 feet from the ground. This can be accomplished with a mast and the included u-bolt kit. This mast can be constructed of any material (including aluminum pool sweep handles that can be inexpensively purchased at pool supply stores in up to 16' lengths) with a diameter of between 1 and 2 inches.

Mounting the antenna at the recommended height or above will net you great gains in useable range for your handheld. Some experimentation with the antenna height may be necessary to adjust for specific site locations. At times, a slight angle towards or away from the primary auction site may be necessary. This angle should be no more than 15 degrees.

The Wireless Handheld comes with a built-in range/site testing function

When you turn the handheld on, follow the prompt to hit any key.

When prompted to Sign On, hit the No ( 0 ) key.

Continue hitting the No ( 0 ) key until you have reached the Site Testing Prompt.

This Site Testing function allows you to test the connectivity of the wireless handheld to the base station. You will see two readings of connectivity as a percentage. The handheld sends two signals to the base station and receive two replies.

You should receive at least 70% connectivity at each prompt. Move about your auction location prior to auction time with continued ??. This will allow you to find any possible poor reception areas caused by under-/above ground power lines or other sources of interference.