Texecom SmartCom 4G External Antenna: When You Need It and How to Fit It

The upgraded Texecom SmartCom 4G picks up 4G better than before, so many installations may not need any extra hardware. Where the panel sits in an area with weak or no 4G signal, the SmartCom 4G external antenna (JAQ-0003) is the answer: it fixes to an outside wall up to 10 metres from the panel and connects to the communicator through the JAQ-0004 MMCX adaptor.

What is the Texecom SmartCom 4G?

SmartCom 4G is Texecom's cellular alarm communicator. Texecom positions it as the gateway between an alarm system and its connected services: Texecom Connect, Texecom Cloud and Texecom Monitor.

What changed in the upgraded SmartCom 4G

Texecom has announced an upgraded version of SmartCom 4G. The headline improvements are:

• Better reception across all 4G bands. Performance and signal sensitivity have both been improved, and Texecom says that in some cases the usable range from a mast is up to four times greater.
• A new antenna design. Texecom says it is built to give a strong, dependable 4G signal anywhere 4G coverage is available.
• Smarter connection handling. A revised algorithm keeps the unit connected when conditions are poor, which Texecom expects to reduce call-outs.
• Quicker set-up. Installers can scan a QR code to set the unit up in a single step, and a software update makes joining Wi-Fi simpler.
• Signal strength on the local webpage. The communicator's local webpage now shows 4G signal strength, so you can see at once whether moving the antenna helps.

Alongside the upgrade, Texecom offers an external antenna for installations that need a little more signal than the communicator can manage alone.

When do you need a SmartCom 4G external antenna?

Often, you won't. Texecom offers the external antenna as an option for jobs that need extra signal. It is meant for premises where the 4G signal at the panel's location is poor or missing altogether.

A simple way to decide:

1. Install the SmartCom 4G and read the 4G signal strength on its local webpage.
2. If the reading is good, you don't need an antenna.
3. If it is weak or absent, look for a spot within 10 metres of the panel, usually on an outside wall, where reception is better. That is where the external antenna goes.

Because the upgraded unit is more sensitive than before, always take a reading before ordering the antenna.

SmartCom 4G antenna parts at a glance

Installation tips for the external antenna

1. Find the signal before you drill

Texecom put the signal strength reading on the local webpage so installers can fine-tune where the antenna goes. Connect the antenna temporarily, try a few candidate positions and watch the reading before you commit to fixing holes.

2. Work within the 10 metre cable

The antenna comes with a 10 metre cable, so it can be mounted up to 10 metres from the panel. Texecom points out that a longer cable would not add any extra signal strength, so plan your route around the supplied length rather than looking for an extension.

3. Keep the wall hole small

The antenna cable ends in a push-fit MMCX connector, which keeps the hole needed to feed it through the wall to a minimum. Make good and seal the entry point once the cable is through.

4. Fit the adaptor at the communicator

The SmartCom 4G has an SMA antenna connector, so the JAQ-0004 adaptor is needed to connect the antenna's MMCX connector. With 10 adaptors in a pack, installers can keep spares on the van for future jobs.

5. Mount it securely outside

The antenna is designed for external mounting and carries an IP67 rating. It comes with a right-angle metal bracket for fixing to an outside wall. Our product page lists the overall size as 325 x 36 x 155 mm (h x w x d), so check there is space before you mark out. Once fitted, recheck the signal on the local webpage to confirm the improvement.

Got reliable broadband? Consider SmartCom Ethernet and Wi-Fi

Where the premises has a dependable internet connection, the Texecom SmartCom Ethernet and Wi-Fi Communicator (CEL-0001) is another way onto Texecom's services. It links a Premier Elite panel to the internet over Ethernet or 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, uses outbound connections so no router port forwarding is needed, and works with Premier Elite panels running V4.00 firmware or later.

Buying SmartCom 4G antenna parts from Zenith

We stock the Texecom JAQ-0003 SmartCom 4G High Performance Antenna and the JAQ-0004 MMCX Adaptor (pack of 10). You'll find them alongside power supplies and other extras in our intruder alarm accessories, and the full line-up on our Texecom brand page. Planning a new system? Start with our alarm panels.

The SmartCom 4G communicator itself is not currently listed on our website. Please contact us for availability before planning a job around it. Texecom has also announced SmartCom Pro, a newer range that includes a 4G model.

SmartCom 4G external antenna FAQs

Does every SmartCom 4G need an external antenna?

No. The external antenna is optional. The upgraded SmartCom 4G has improved sensitivity and a new antenna design, so the external antenna is only needed where the 4G signal at the panel is poor or missing.

Can I use a cable longer than 10 metres?

The JAQ-0003 comes with a 10 metre cable, and Texecom says a longer cable would not add any extra signal strength. Mount the antenna within 10 metres of the panel, where reception is better.

Why do I need the JAQ-0004 adaptor?

The antenna uses a push-fit MMCX connector to keep the wall hole small, while the SmartCom 4G has an SMA connector. The JAQ-0004 adaptor joins the two and is sold in packs of 10.

How do I check the 4G signal strength?

The upgraded SmartCom 4G shows its 4G signal strength on the local webpage. Use it to choose the best antenna position and to confirm the improvement once the antenna is fitted.

Source: Texecom's announcements of the upgraded SmartCom 4G communicator and the SmartCom 4G external antenna.