How Do I Add an External Antenna to a VISTA-21iPLTE?

You can add an external antenna to a VISTA-21iPLTE by powering down the panel, connecting the antenna to its cellular communicator, and mounting the antenna. Once you are finished, you should power the system back on and have your monitoring company check the cell signal strength.

A cellular antenna is used when a security system is not receiving adequate cellular signal strength. This is usually the result of the system being located in an area with poor coverage from cellular networks. A cellular antenna will boost the signal strength and allow the system to communicate more effectively.

If you are using a VISTA-21iPLTE System, then you are most likely using a compatible plug-in cellular communicator. The only compatible plug-in communicator is the Honeywell Home LTE-21V (Verizon LTE). This module is designed exclusively for use with the VISTA-21iPLTE, and makes adding cellular communication to the system very easy.

The LTE-21V includes a pair of small stock antennas. These are known as the Honeywell CELL-ANTHB Antennas. These antennas allow the communicator to get a better signal since the module itself will be housed inside a metal enclosure with the rest of the panel. For most users, the two small stock antennas will be all that is needed to achieve an adequate signal.

But these antennas are just used to help the communicator send and receive signals from outside the metal cabinet. They are designed to stick through holes that have been punched through the metal cabinet. The metal enclosure has indentations for this exact purpose. If the system is being used in an area where cell signal strength is generally poor, then you may need to get an external cellular antenna or a compatible cellular amplifier.

Fortunately, an external cellular antenna will connect in the same way as one of these stock antennas. If you have the stock antennas connected, you will need to remove one of them using the included antenna removal tool. Make sure you power down the system before attempting to remove or add a cellular antenna. In this FAQ, we will assume that there is an open antenna slot on the cell module and that the cell module is already connected with the VISTA-21iPLTE System. We will also assume that any necessary holes in the metal enclosure have already been punched out. For more information, you may want to refer to the LTE-21V Installation Guide,

If you are looking for a good antenna to use with the system, then you have a few options available. The Honeywell CELL-ANTSMA is an indoor/outdoor fixed-length antenna that will provide a moderate boost in signal. This antenna includes everything needed to connect with a Honeywell Home LTE-21V. Note that the antenna is permanently attached to a 10-foot-long cable, and its length cannot be adjusted.

If you need something stronger, then you might want to consider the Honeywell CELL-ANT3DB. This is an outdoor weatherproof antenna that will provide up to 3dB of signal gain when mounted properly. We also offer a 5-foot-kit, 25-foot kit, and a 50-foot kit, which all include the CELL-ANT3DB. These kits also provide the extra cables needed to complete the installation. This includes a Honeywell WA7626-CA SMA to N Adapter Cable and a 5-foot, 25-foot, or 50-foot RF antenna coaxial cable. The WA7626-CA is what allows the antenna cable (Honeywell K14207LF, included w/ LTE-21V) to connect with the RF antenna coaxial cable, which will ultimately connect with the antenna itself. The aforementioned kits also include mounting hardware.

Complete the following steps to connect a cellular antenna to a VISTA-21iPLTE:

1. Power down the system. Power down the system completely by unplugging the transformer and disconnecting the backup battery. Check and confirm that the system is completely powered down. If you do not have a backup power supply for your keypads, they should be blank and dark. There should be no LED lights visible on the panel.

2. Secure antenna adapter plate. Before you can get started making connections, you must secure an antenna adapter plate to the outside of the metal enclosure. An indentation on the outside of the cabinet should have been punched out for this purpose. Position the antenna adapter plate over the opening, and align the plate's pin. Push the adapter plate to secure.

3. Connect antenna adapter cable. The first connection that will be made is connecting an antenna adapter cable to the LTE-21V. This adapter cable is known as the Honeywell K14207LF, and it comes included with the LTE-21V Communicator. The smaller MMCX end of the adapter cable will connect with the communicator. The larger SMA end of the adapter cable will connect with the adapter plate. The included washer and nut must be removed from the SMA end before connecting to the adapter plate. Once the adapter cable is connected to the adapter plate, the connection should be secured using the washer and nut. This can all be seen in the following diagrams:

4. Complete necessary connections. You will now make any additional connections needed to complete the process. This will depend on the type of antenna you are using. A CELL-ANTHB Antenna or CELL-ANTSMA Antenna can connect directly to the SMA connection on the outside of the panel. A CELL-ANT3DB will require you to connect the WA726-CA Cable to the SMA connection, connect an RF antenna coaxial cable to the other end of that cable, and finally connect the CELL-ANT3DB to the other end of that cable.

5. Mount the antenna. Now that the connections have been made, the antenna can be mounted. The mounting location will depend on the antenna you are using. A CELL-ANTHB is just mounted on the outside of the metal enclosure. A CELL-ANTSMA can technically be mounted outdoors, but it is more commonly mounted indoors. It should be mounted as high up as possible. The attic is usually a great location. A CELL-ANT3DB is almost always mounted outdoors. The most common location for a CELL-ANT3DB is on the roof in a location with the best access to the nearest cellular tower. In any case, refer to the installation manual for the antenna for mounting instructions.

6. Power on the system. Power the panel back on by first plugging in the transformer and then connecting the backup battery. You can confirm that the system has powered back on by checking for LEDs on the panel board, or checking the keypads.

7. Test cell signal strength. Contact your monitoring company and ask them to check the cellular signal strength for your system. If the signal is strong enough, then no further steps need to be completed. If the signal is still too weak, make any necessary positioning adjustments or get a stronger antenna or a cellular amplifier.