LBR20 support for dual polarity external antennas in MIMO configuration

[GundarooPH]

Hi folks,

Looking to buy the LBR20 and cannot find any explicit confirmation that it supports MIMO using dual polarity antenna setups (whereas the Nighthawk M1 specs do state that it supports MIMO on the LTE side of things).

I'm assuming that, because it has two antenna ports, it will leverage the network capabilities and use MIMO if I install it with a dual polarity antenna.

Can anyone confirm (or deny) that?

Thanks,

Danny.

[Blanca_O]

Hi @GundarooPH

Welcome to NETGEAR Community!

The LBR20 has full MIMO function even if an SMA antenna isn't connected.

LBR20 default antennas are dipole antenna design. If you plan to use an external antenna, it should be a dipole antenna as well. Directional antennas should not be used, since it will result in a bad performance because it could not point to a base station directly.

Regards,
Blanca
Community Team

[MEDUCK7]

Hello, Do you have any samples to select for dipole antenna for LBR20?

[jjborje]

Hi Blanca,

Can you explain the reason why a directional antenna would not work? It seems so odd to have external connectors and not be able to point to a base station. 

I was just about to buy the LBR20 and find a directional antenna.

Thanks,

Johan

[GundarooPH]

I second your question Johan.

AFIK a Yagi directional antenna IS a dipole antenna. The definition of a dipole antenna is that it has two even rods either side of the mast to pick up the signal. The yagi antenna is just a set of thse balanced rods.

I suspect that Blanca meant to say that the omni-directional antenna is not recommended (rather than the directional antenna). By definition, the omni-directional antennas are not dipole.

Happy to be told otherwise.

[jjborje]

Thanks Gundaroo,

Blanca, maybe you could confirm?

Thanks,

Johan