Broadband Blackspots: Kells engineer looks to provide viable signal solutions

For those living in areas where high speed fibre broadband remains a long way off, Kells engineer Dwayne Keenan has come up with a viable alternative using the 4G and 5G system.

Dwayne returned to Kells from the UK last year and did research on broadband options for his parents home, explaining they lived down a small road that broadband didn't reach.

Dwayne' background is as an engineer and he spent seven years working as an ROV submarine pilot on rigs mostly on the North Sea. He came up with the idea of working with the 4G network, which he said is very well covered and found a supplier for an aerial that will improve the signal and increased speeds dramatically.

Having just moved back, he didn't have a full-time job and he started up DK Smart Systems seeing demand for this type of option where fibre broadband is not available. By installing the equipment, internet speeds can be increased from around 2mbps up to 70 or 80mbps.

Dwayne also explained that a lot of newer houses have a high level of insulation and the foil on the insulation can stop the signal.

"I did a job in Trim where they had the router out the window in a plastic bag. I was able to get 130mbps for her and she was delighted."

"In one house in Moynalty, there wasn't hardly even phone signal, and I could get 45mbps."

Dwayne explained he will first of all get the postcode and look at the options in the area and what masts and networks are available. He comes out to the property with a test rig and a couple of sim cards to see what speeds are available on the different networks and pick out which one is best for the location. Once this is established, he will install the equipment, which will boost the signal available substantially.