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GL-iNet 4G Spitz Plus (GL-X2000) External Antenna Guide

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Looking to get the best possible data rates from your GL-iNet 4G Spitz Plus (GL-X2000)?

You’ll want to purchase and connect external MIMO antennas to the device’s two SMA ports and two WiFi ports.

In this guide, we'll:

  • Recommend the best external antennas to use.
  • Show where the ports are located.
  • Explain how to aim the antennas for best results.

In this guide

The Best External Antennas for the Spitz Plus

Using a MIMO antenna can help you get the fastest LTE data rates possible.

The Spitz Plus has two cellular SMA ports and two Wi-Fi ports, all located on the back of the device.

Which of the two different MIMO External Antenna Kit options to use depends primarily on where you're planning to use your device.

If you'll mostly be using the Spitz Plus from home, the easiest choice is DualMini.

Best for home use

Boost your Spitz Plus performance: the Waveform DualMini delivers discreet, high-gain MIMO antennas for faster 4G and 5G.

Read more $199.99

However, this option will only boost your cellular signal. To improve both cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, go with the OmniRoam 4-in-1 - especially if you’ll be using your Spitz Plus in a vehicle.

best for vehicles

Stay connected everywhere: the OmniRoam Omni 4-in-1 brings blazing-fast 4G and 5G to your Spitz Plus at home or on the go.

Read more $229.99

Why External Antennas Are Critical for Improving Data Rates

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 antennas help.

Here are the three main ways that external antennas help you increase your data rates:

1.They Improve Signal Quality

In 4G LTE and 5G networks, signal quality is measured as SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio) or sometimes as RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality).

Improving signal quality has a huge impact on your data rates.

Higher data rates allow your hotspot to communicate using "higher order modulation schemes." That means they can use the same wireless spectrum to send more data per second.

However, there's one big caveat:

In order to improve your signal quality, you need to both aim and shield your outdoor antenna properly. We talk more about this in the next section.

2.They Allow You To Connect On More Bands

Cellular Routers like the Spitz AX support an LTE feature called "carrier aggregation."

Carrier aggregation allows the Cradlepoint router to connect on multiple cellular bands simultaneously.

The more bands you're connected to, the greater the bandwidth, and the higher your data rates.

However, many of the higher frequency bands aren't able to penetrate into buildings. Using external antennas allows you to access higher frequency bands, which are often less congested and offer higher speeds than lower frequency bands.

3.MIMO Isolation

MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology uses signals travelling along multiple paths simultaneously, increasing both bandwidth and reliability in wireless connections.

MIMO isolation is the antenna's ability to handle several data streams at once, cleanly and without interference, leading to quicker data speeds and steadier connections

Our external antennas are specifically designed for superior MIMO isolation, and dramatically outperform standard built-in antennas found in most home devices.

This means you'll see a more reliable connection with enhanced bandwidth, ensuring smoother streaming, gaming, and browsing with minimal interruptions.

Installing External Antennas to the Spitz Plus

Before getting started, it's always a good idea to run a couple of speed tests indoors from a device connected to your Spitz Plus's WiFi. The results will fluctuate a little, but this is the baseline you're trying to improve.

Once you've tested your baseline internet speeds, you're ready to install external antennas.

In the next section of this guide, we'll show you how to connect adapters for external antennas to your Spitz Plus (GL-X2000).

The Spitz Plus has two cellular antenna ports, labeled 4G and 4G. It also has two Wi-Fi ports, labeled WiFi 6 and WiFi 6.

All four of these ports are located on the back of the device.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Adapters for 2x2 Panel Antennas

Step 1: Disconnect the standard paddle antennas that are connected to the two cellular antenna ports. Leave the Wi-Fi paddle antennas connected as normal.

Step 2: Connect the external MIMO antennas to the newly available cellular SMA ports on your Spitz Plus. You can use either port.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Adapters for Waveform OmniRoam 4-in-1

Step 1: Disconnect the standard paddle antennas that are connected to the two cellular antenna ports and the two Wi-Fi ports.

Step 2: Connect the OmniRoam 4-in-1 to the newly available cellular and Wi-Fi ports on your Spitz Plus. Use the labels indicating the cellular (magenta) and Wi-Fi (white) cables and connect each to the right port. The order in which you connect the cables to the router doesn’t matter.

Positioning and Aiming MIMO Panel Antennas

Correctly positioning and aiming MIMO antennas is crucial to getting the best performance to your Spitz Plus, or indeed any other router.

We've actually compiled detailed instruction manuals for our 2x2 MIMO antennas, where we go into depth on the best ways to aim each antenna.

The goal is to find the best location and direction for the antenna(s) to maximize data rates to the hotspot. It can take a little patience, but can have a huge impact – it’s worth a bit of extra effort!

Once you've got your external MIMO antennas connected, you're ready to go outside with your "test-rig".

With each location and direction you try, run a couple speed tests, and make a note of the results. Here are all the locations and directions where we recommend testing your MIMO antenna:

Pro tip: Don’t just go to the highest point of the roof! While signal is generally stronger the higher you go, there’s also often more interference. We’ve found it’s often better to mount the antenna(s) on the side of the building where the structure can shield the antennas from interference.

Once you've found the position which gets you the highest data rates to your Spitz Plus, that's where you'll want to install the MIMO antenna. Go ahead and mount the antenna, run cables inside, connect everything up, and enjoy superior data rates!

Installing the OmniRoam 4-in-1

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.

You don't need to worry about the two units being positioned too close or too far apart - they won't interfere with each others' performance.

As well as in the manual, you can also find a detailed description of each mounting option in the product video:

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

Other Helpful Resources

GL-iNet 4G Spitz Plus (GL-X2000) Resources

GL-iNet Spitz Plus (GL-X2000) Unboxing and Setup Guide

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