Corner Reflector Antenna test with Gotenna

@giqcass regarding the Cantenna, basically I just created a 7 inch diameter (1/2 wavelength) tube out of the same sheet metal i used for the reflector. Closed one end and then hung the Gotenna through a hole in the top near the back which allowed me to adjust the distance forward/backwards and up/down.

I expected it to work as well, obviously this was a simple/quick build which probably factored into the poor results however I was expecting at least something remotely close to the range from the reflector. Over the three different iterations (only have photos of #1 & #3) i probably sent 60+ test messages from 3.8km away to my 24/7 node and all failed to get delivered. This range/location is very easy for the reflector (fast confirms) therefore i would have thought at least a couple of messages would have been delivered out of the 60+ tests.

Obviously something (diameter, length, distance from back, up/down) is wrong. When i have some more time I will probably revisit this to a least understand what went wrong.

here are some photos





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Thanks for this effort and the reporting. Very interesting.

I suspect that the cantenna needs to have the goTenna Mesh oriented horizontally with the top of the GTM pointing outward. Fractal antennas have some differences from more conventional ones I’m more familiar with, so just a guess, but simple enough to reorient and test next time you are out.

The other potential change might be reducing the diameter of the “can” and reorienting the GTM would also make that easier. I’d try reorienting first, because that’s likely easier than re-rolling the “can.”

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Here are some commercial grade options:

30 Degree Directional Antenna
(902MHz-940MHz):
http://www.mpantenna.com/product/30-degree-900mhz-high-gain-directional-sector-antenna-nlos-08-ant-0910/

60 Degree Directional Antenna
(902MHz-940MHz):
http://www.mpantenna.com/product/60-degree-odas-das-directional-sector-cellular-lte-high-gain-08-ant-0934/

120 Degree Directional Antenna
(902MHz-940MHz):
http://www.mpantenna.com/product/120-degree-900mhz-directional-sector-antenna/

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