Signal Booster's CPE Antenna Guide: All You Need to Know
There are many antennas on the market currently, both for cellular and WiFi signal. If you want to get strong, stable signal wherever you are, you need an antenna. One of newest buzzwords in relation to antennas is CPE, which stands for “Customer Premise Equipment”, also called “Customer Terminal Equipment” in the industry. Find out exactly what that means, how it benefits you, and which CPE antennas we recommend.
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What is a CPE antenna?
CPE antennas are simply equipment that is customer facing. This means that it is found on the customers side of the network. With WiFi, the CPE antenna would receive the signal from the provider, and create a demarcation point between the carrier or provers network, and the customer’s network.
They can also be used to extend the customers network, as opposed to using the carriers' network. If you need to send your WiFi network over a long distance, you would use a CPE antenna.
Is CPE New?
No. CPE equipment has been around for many years. The acronym can be applied to all sorts of things, including cables, routers, antennas and more. In 1934 Bell Systems provided telephones for customers houses, those phones were the original CPE equipment, as they were located on the customers premises, hence CPE or Customer Premise Equipment. The difference now is that modern CPE is designed to improve the customers network, and not just involve equipment at the customers premises.
What are the Benefits of a CPE WiFi Antenna?
CPE WiFi antennas are incredibly strong pieces of equipment designed to send WiFi signal a long way. You can extend and improve your own network dramatically without having to rely on a carriers equipment such as towers. Setting up a CPE antenna at your base point and connecting it to a router will allow you to either send signal to another antenna, or just receive signal from a faraway WISP point. CPE WiFi antennas offer great amounts of gain, good wireless data rates, and robust construction.
Gain is another benefit of a CPE antenna. Gain is the amount of concentration your antenna has when sending a signal. Imagine a lightbulb, with no covering. The light goes in all directions. That is like an antenna with no gain. Now imagine a flashlight where the light is all directed in one directions The beam is stronger, and will reach further. That is what gain does for signal. A CPE antennas is able to direct signal like a flashlight, with a large amount of gain. This means that you can send signal over longer distances, with fewer issues.
Who Can Benefit from a CPE WiFi Antenna?
If you are looking to increase your WiFi network with a point to point system, then a CPE antenna is your best bet. Creating a point to point WiFi connection is one of the easiest ways to send your WiFi Signal to a faraway place, and yet still have that place be a part of your home network. Imagine that you have a farm, with a barn a few miles away. When you are at the barn you still need to be able to connect. Having your own secure WiFi connection in your barn is tremendously helpful.
To do this you would connect a CPE antenna at your farm house, where your router is, and another at the barn. The type of antenna would depend on how far you need to send the signal. Our most powerful CPE’s can send signal a maximum of 12.5 miles with a massive +23dBi of gain. That means that the antenna on your farm house can send a very narrow, concentrated beam of WiFi signal to the antenna at your barn, which would then pick it up and relay it to a router.
Another scenario for CPE WiFi antennas is if you have a faraway WISP station. For example, if you live in a rural area, and you WiFi provider needs line-of-site to connect you, then a CPE antenna is your best bet. As long as your antenna can “see” the WISP station, it can receive signal from it. Remember that obstructions like mountains, trees or buildings can block signal. For a CPE antenna to work it needs a clear, unbroken line between it and whatever it is trying to send or receive signal from. If you are looking to extend your WiFi network to an outlying building or area, or receive signal from carrier’s tower that is far away, the CPE WiFi antenna is your best bet.
We Recommend:
The Tenda 5GHz 23dBi 11ac Outdoor CPE
- Incredible range up to 12.5 miles
- 23dBi vertically polarized antenna
- Wireless data rates up to 433Mbps
- Robust construction
- Simple and flexible installation
- Uses TD-MAX for greater performance
- Centralized management with CPE Assistant
The O8 5GHz 23dBi 11ac Outdoor CPE from Tenda is a high-gain vertically polarized directional antenna designed for long-range P2P and P2MP networking. It has a range of up to 12.5 miles, and +23dBi of gain depending on real world conditions. Extend your WiFi network to distant buildings like sheds, barns or even surveillance camaras. Pair it with another 08 CPE or a WISP station for stable WiFi signal wherever you need it. Snap-lock parts and three-axis alignment make this antenna easy to assemble and point for best performance.
Tenda 5GHZ 16dBi 11ac Outdoor CPE
- Incredible range up to 6 miles
- 16dBi dual polarized antenna
- Wireless data rates up to 450Mbps
- Robust construction
- Simple and flexible installation
- Uses TD-MAX for greater performance
- Centralized management with CPE Assistant
The 06 5GHz Outdoor CPE from Tenda is a very powerful panel antenna that can broadcast WiFi signal up to 6 miles depending on real world conditions. This high-gain dual-polarized directional antenna is designed for long-range P2P and P2MP networking. It allows you to extend your network or communicate with wireless ISPs found miles away. The high-quality waterproof design ensures great performance in any weather.
Contact Us
Should you have any questions about CPE antennas, extending your WiFi network, or any other queries don't hesitate to contact us.
Signal Boosters is a leading provider of cell phone signal boosters for homes, vehicles, and commercial buildings. We specialize in consumer-friendly kits as well as customized RF systems for cellular, public safety two-way radio, DAS, and WiFi.
We’re here to help with any issues you might be experiencing with poor cell service. Contact us today, or call us at 1-800-470-6777.
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