Using a MIMO antenna outside your building, pointed at the nearest tower, can help you get the fastest LTE data rates possible.

The Cradlepoint COR IBR900 has two SMA ports for cellular on the back, which allow for a 2x2 MIMO antenna to be connected to the device. It also has a GPS port.

We recommend the following MIMO antenna option for use with the Cradlepoint COR IBR900:

There are multiple versions of the OmniRoam. Make sure you choose the 3-in-1 version, as that is the only one that can boost both the two cellular ports and GPS.

Most people think that external antennas primarily help you increase your data rates by increasing the signal strength. But that's not the case.

An increase in signal strength is often less important than other ways that external mobile antennas help.

Here are the three main ways that mobile antennas help you increase your data rates on the move:

We've compiled a detailed instruction manual to accompany the OmniRoam, where we go into depth on the best ways to install the kit.

The OmniRoam has three different mounting options:

• Magnetic
• Adhesive
• Spigot

Choose the positioning that best suits your vehicle's needs. As well as in the manual, you can also find a detailed description of each mounting option in the product video:

Once you're happy with your install, it's time to connect the Cradlepoint COR IBR900!

Disconnect the standard paddle antennas, and connect the external MIMO antennas to your Cradlepoint COR IBR900 via the cellular SMA ports labeled in the image above. Then, connect the GPS antenna to the GPS port.

The cellular cables are purple and the WiFi cables are white. The GPS antenna cable is blue. You can connect them in any order.

Once everything is connected, you're ready to enjoy reliable connectivity on the road!

Cradlepoint's product brief for the COR IBR900

• IBR900 Product Brief

Documentation

• User Manual
• Spec Sheet
• Quick Start Guide

If you've gone through the trouble of installing and accurately aiming a MIMO Antenna Kit, you're likely already getting excellent data rates from your Cradlepoint COR IBR900.

That said, there's always more that can be done! If you’d like to go a little deeper and get technical to optimize your system even further, you can experiment with band locking. First, here are some general guidelines:

1. Look up your nearby towers. This can be time consuming and accuracy is often questionable - we've listed our suggestions in an article on the Best Ways to Locate Nearby Cell Towers
2. Aim your antenna(s) at each nearby tower and band lock the Cradlepoint to every band that the tower transmits. Run speed tests on each band to find the fastest bands.
3. Try enabling multiple bands and using carrier aggregation to find the fastest band combination. Carrier aggregation allows your devices to connect to two or more bands simultaneously but doesn’t always result in an improvement, so stick to a single band if that gets you the best results.

Note: Band locking features, along with firmware updates and remote management features are available via Cradlepoint's "NetCloud" subscription. The first year of this service is included with purchase, thereafter it is a paid subscription.