I have just purchased an rutx50 for use in my campervan. I have not installed or tested anything yet. On the roof, I have a Poynting mimo 3-15. This has 2 mobile antennas, 1 gps, and 2 wifi antennas.
I have a couple of questions:
The rutx50 will be mounted in a wooden cupboard near the roof (just so you know). Would it be a good idea to connect just a single Poynting wifi antenna to the rutx so that I get wifi outside and inside the van?
Would it be beneficial to upgrade my Poynting 2x2 to a 4x4? I was thinking of the Poynting mimo 3-17. We will be staying in remote areas where coverage is not that great, and so I want to try and get as much benefit from the antenna as possible.
Would it be a good idea to connect just a single Poynting wifi antenna to the rutx so that I get wifi outside and inside the van?
Just to clarify, are you referring to connecting one of the external Poynting antenna’s Wi-Fi connectors for outdoor coverage, and then using one of the stock antennas indoors for inside coverage?
Would it be beneficial to upgrade my Poynting 2x2 to a 4x4?
Upgrading to a 4x4 MIMO antenna like the Poynting 3-17 should be beneficial, especially since the RUTX50 is a 4x4 MIMO-capable router. In remote or fringe coverage areas, having additional antenna streams can improve both download and upload speeds, signal stability, and latency.
Yes, that was indeed what I was thinking of doing, sorry for not being clearer in my original question!
Okay, thanks. Could you please tell me how much of a benefit a 4x4 would be over a 2x2 in remote areas? I’m sure that may be a difficult question to ask, but the cost and effort to remove my current poynting antenna and upgrade it to a 4x4 is rather high - and so I would only want to carry out the process if the benefit would be rather significant. I have to remove sections of the roof from my van, insulation etc.
Theoretically, upgrading from a 2x2 MIMO to a 4x4 MIMO antenna system should provide noticeable benefits, particularly in challenging signal environments. However, the actual improvement you’ll experience in remote areas depends on several key factors.
In general, you’re most likely to see the greatest advantage from a 4x4 MIMO setup when:
You frequently find yourself in weaker signal areas (1–2 bars)
Local towers support 4x4 MIMO and carrier aggregation
You rely on consistent, high-reliability connectivity for critical applications
On the other hand, the upgrade may not be worth the cost, effort, and 2x2 may be sufficient, if:
You’re usually in areas with strong/good signal strength (2-3 bars)
The nearest towers don’t support 4x4 MIMO
Your data demands are modest (email, messaging, light browsing)
Alternatively, before undertaking the significant job of upgrading your antenna setup, it might be worthwhile to consider:
Upgrading to higher gain 2x2 antennas
Optimizing the placement of your existing antenna for better signal performance
Adding a reputable signal booster or amplifier system
In summary, for a van-based setup in remote areas, a 4x4 MIMO upgrade tends to be most justifiable if:
You frequently travel through very weak signal zones
Reliable, uninterrupted connectivity is essential for your work or safety
You regularly use high-bandwidth applications
Your cellular modem supports 4x4 MIMO operation (that complies with RUTX50)
If these conditions aren’t consistently met, you may be able to achieve nearly as much benefit, with less disruption and cost, by focusing on optimizing your current 2x2 system or integrating a higher-gain antenna or booster.
May i add that the advantage of an external antenna also depends on the material the campervans hull is made of? In my mobile home with a polyester hull, my RUT241 positioned inside performed better with the provided stock antennas than with an external +2db Poynting 4G antenna. If your campervan has a steel hull, i expect any external antenna to perform better due to the Faraday effect.