How do I get a better WiMAX signal with my CLEAR home modem?
Things to Check and/or do before calling the CLEAR Tech Support Help Line.
Is the Modem near a window? This tends to be some of the best spots to place a CLEAR WiMAX Modem. Since WiMAX works mostly through “Line of sight” to a WiMAX tower, most people find they get the best signal when their Modem is placed in window, preferably one closest to the nearest WiMAX tower. Tip: You can find out where you local tower is by calling the CLEAR help line, 1-888-888-3113.
Try pivoting the modem in various angles toward or away from the window. You may be able to increase your signal strength by as much as 3 bars with this simple adjustment. Quite simply put, rotate the modem ever so slightly up to 180 degrees and notice the amount of lights that light up. That will indicate your signal strength, the more lights the better.
Try moving the modem to a corner in a room. I personally, find that I get one bar when I have the modem in a window, however when I place it in the corner of the room that is closest to the window, I will get 2 to 3 bars.
Are there any large trees, bushes or tree branches near the window where your WiMAX signal comes in your home? Foliage, AKA, leaves, trees, and bushes can act a barrier to the CLEAR WiMAX signal. Many people that have large amounts of plant life outside their window find that their signal is sometimes weakened due to that issue. If so, consider trimming your trees or branches near the window where you keep your CLEAR modem. Another suggestion is to move the modem to another window.
Does your home or residence have a second floor? Consider moving you modem to a higher level, like the second floor in your home. Remember the closer the modem is to a direct line of sight view to a WiMAX tower, the better the signal you should receive on your home modem.
Do you have an attic? I have many customers that have actually put their modem in their attic. Once again, it receives a better signal there for some CLEAR customers as well as it keeps the modem out of plane view. Many people find their household modems to be an eye sore or distraction. By placing your modem in the attic you can rid yourself of that issue and get a better WiMAX signal.
Weird, tried but true methods. I have a customer whom placed his modem in his kitchen window and put a shiny aluminum bowl behind it in order to increase his WiMAX signal from 3 to 5 lights. The reflective properties of the bowl cause the signal to bounce around inside the bowl and give the modem a more concentrated signal.
Do you have any ideas or methods that helped you get a better CLEAR signal with your home modem? Feel free write a comment or send me an email with your ideas,
The Clear Guy
theclearguy@gmail.com
why should i have to arrange my modem near a window and mess around with "line of sight" crap, when your price barely beat Comcast.
I'm on the fringe of the CLEAR coverage area in Gig Harbor, WA. We also have LOTS of LARGE trees surrounding our house. I laughed when I read the suggestion of trimming trees. We're literally in a forest. Anyway, I didn't get any bars at all on my home modem, so I put it outside on my deck. Right now it, and my wireless router, are in a gallon-size Ziploc bag; I have 3 bars and just under 5 megabits. It'll get better. I thought I'd eventually put it in a permanent waterproof box, but I like the idea of the attic. Guess I'll try that next.
I've read several reviews saying that the WiMAX is good for laptops, but terrible for home use. Your suggestions:
– put it in the attic? Ummm… I'm going to drill a HOLE in my ceiling and run a wire up the wall into the ceiling? THAT'S attractive.
- put it in the kitchen widow with a shiny bowl? again – that makes for a GREAT look. Are you kidding me?
- putting the modem in the window… ok maybe I can do that even though when I look out the window I want to see the outside, and not a modem… oh – I've read that the modems are really big and clunky – am I supposed to superglue it to my very narrow windowsill or something so it doesn't fall off?
Oh – just HOW LONG are the cables you provide with the modems? Long enough to move the modem to the corner, outside, the attic, the corner, etc that you suggest?
- Trim the trees and bushes around my house… do you know how much it costs to have one tree trimmed?
- Frankly, I find that you have come up with all these 'creative' ideas to make your product work a little more than ridiculous. I want a product that I plug in and don't have to mess with or baby.
First off, I found your comment very humorous but also very critical. I understand where you are coming from. However, those ideas came from actual customers. For most people in the CLEAR coverage area, they don't have to use any of those techniques, but I have them posted just in case someone may need them.
You must remember, WiMAX was created by humans and since humans aren't perfect, neither are the inventions they create. Thus the first generation of WiMAX might not meet up to all your expectations but you will never really know unless you try it out. That's why they offer a 7 day trial period. As for the cord length, it's 6 feet long, but you can always buy more CAT 5 cord at a hardware store if need be.
Try it out you can even order it from me if you'd like.
Sincerely,
The CLEAR Guy