Poynting 5G-XPOL-A0002-10m review
5G-XPOL-A0002-10m Poynting Directional antenna for GSM/3G/4G/5G
By Tom Calder
This is a serious passive antenna for improving reception into a compatible router, not a plug-and-play phone booster. Done properly — aimed at the right mast, matched to a 2x2 MIMO device — it noticeably lifts signal and speed in weak-coverage spots.
- Best for
- Rural or fringe-coverage homes with a 4G/5G router or CPE that has two external SMA antenna ports, aimed at a known nearby mast.
- Skip it if
- You just want better phone signal at home with no technical setup
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- High 11 dBi gain across UK 2G-5G bands (617 MHz-3.8 GHz)
- IP65-rated for permanent outdoor/mast mounting
- Respected industrial-grade brand used in fixed-wireless installs
Worth knowing
- Only works with a 2x2 MIMO router/CPE that has dual SMA ports — not compatible with a phone or a simple repeater kit
- Directional: works best pointed toward the mast with some line of sight, though its beamwidth is fairly forgiving rather than needing pinpoint aiming
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
Poynting's XPOL-2-5G is a directional outdoor antenna that feeds a 4G or 5G router through two factory-fitted 10-metre cables. The figure that matters is the loss in those cables: about 6dB at 3GHz over 10 metres by Poynting's own numbers, roughly half the antenna's peak 11dBi gain. It suits a rural home with a two-port router and a mast to point at; it does nothing for a phone on its own.
What it is
It is a passive antenna: two cross-polarised radiators at plus and minus 45 degrees inside one 265 by 265 by 90mm white ASA box, giving 2x2 MIMO, with no amplifier and nothing to power. Poynting's current specification is for the third-generation V3 and quotes 9dBi at 617 to 960MHz, 8.5dBi at 1,710 to 2,700MHz and 11dBi at 3,400 to 4,200MHz, the range that includes the main UK 5G band. The 10m version (Poynting part A-XPOL-0002-V3-03) weighs 1.73kg with twin HDF-195 cables ending in SMA male plugs, is sealed to IP65, works from -40°C to +80°C, and the included bracket is rated to 160km/h winds. Check the generation before you buy: the listing name uses the older 5G-XPOL-A0002 style, and Poynting says the V2 lacked the 3,400 to 4,200MHz band and 2 to 3dBi of gain.
What the dB figures mean at home
Gain in dBi is how much the antenna concentrates signal towards the mast compared with an ideal all-round radiator; every 3dB doubles the power, so 11dBi is roughly twelve times. Cable loss works against it. Poynting lists HDF-195 at 0.362dB per metre at 900MHz, 0.514 at 1,800MHz and 0.603 at 3,000MHz, so ten metres costs about 3.6dB on the low 4G bands, 5.1dB at 1,800MHz and 6dB near the 5G band, double the loss of the 5m version. The user guide's instruction is to use the minimum cable length needed, and a no-cable N-type variant exists for your own short lead.
Fitting it to a British house
The box contains the antenna, a Z-bracket and backing plate, and an M6 U-bolt and bracket for a pole up to 50mm; wall fixing needs four 6mm wall plugs and screws of your own and a masonry drill. Poynting says to mount it as high as possible with a metre of clearance all round, at least half a metre from other antennas and metal, and never near power lines or when thunder is about. Aiming is forgiving: point the face at the mast, then turn it in 15-degree steps while watching the router's signal reading; Poynting gives a recommended beam width of 120 degrees. Route the cables straight down with no bend tighter than a 30mm radius. Both cables go to the router's two SMA sockets; connecting only one leaves the second MIMO path unused.
How it compares
On the comparison the Poynting XPOL-1-5G-PLUS is the omnidirectional sibling: no aiming, a 5m cable included and a wider 410 to 6,000MHz range. The CEL-FI GO G41 is a different animal: an active booster that is Ofcom licence-exempt compliant to IR 2102.1 and serves one network at a time. And if what you want is calls and texts indoors, Wi-Fi calling over home broadband works on every UK network; our TP-Link Deco M4 review covers spreading that Wi-Fi.
Living with it
Nothing to charge or update: a passive antenna has no firmware, so the only maintenance is checking the bracket and seals. It handles 10W of feed power, has a DC path to ground and is RoHS compliant; Poynting's guide asks for 20cm separation from people for RF exposure compliance. Poynting is South African with a European office in Munich; UK stock comes through specialist resellers. The specification states no warranty length, so ask the seller what they offer.
Our verdict
Buy it if you have a 4G or 5G router or CPE with two external SMA ports, a known mast, and a cable run that genuinely needs 10 metres; if 5 metres reaches, buy the 5m version and keep the signal. Skip it if you want better phone reception, if your router has no antenna ports, or if you cannot confirm which generation you are being sent.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 21 Oct 2026. Sources: Poynting: XPOL-2-5G product page; Poynting XPOL-2-5G technical specification, TS-XPOL-0002-V3 REV 12.0 (PDF); Poynting XPOL-2-5G user guide, version 2.0 (PDF).
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you just want better phone signal at home with no technical setup — try Wi-Fi calling first (free, works on every major UK network), or a licence-exempt plug-and-play repeater kit instead of a router antenna. It's also not the right length if a shorter run would reach your router: 10m of cable loses noticeably more signal at 5G frequencies than 5m does, eating into the very n78 gain you're buying this for — the 5m version (or the no-cable N-type variant with your own short, low-loss lead) is cheaper and performs better if your cable run allows it.
Key specs
| UK legal status | Legal |
| Networks | 2G/3G/4G/5G, UK bands 617-960 MHz, 1710-2170 MHz |
| Coverage | Directional, long-range |
| What it needs | A 2x2 MIMO router/CPE with two external SMA |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for Large rural or period homes (or small offices) with a genuine outdoor signal but a dead zone indoors, where Wi-Fi calling isn't practical.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for The top-of-range pick for whole-home Wi-Fi coverage in a larger UK house — NOT for fixing weak mobile/cellular signal
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Homes with decent broadband but patchy WiFi in back rooms — makes Wi-Fi calling reliable everywhere, which fixes most "no signal indoors" complaints without touching the mobile network at all.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
Does the Poynting XPOL-2-5G work with a mobile phone?
No. It is a passive antenna that plugs into a 4G or 5G router or CPE with two external SMA sockets. A phone has no antenna port, so it cannot use the signal the antenna gathers.
Is the Poynting XPOL-2-5G legal in the UK?
Yes. It contains no amplifier, so it is an antenna rather than a repeater; the licence-exempt rules for powered boosters are about active devices such as the CEL-FI GO G41. It only carries the router's own signal.
How much signal does the 10m cable lose?
By Poynting's figures for HDF-195 cable, about 3.6dB at 900MHz, 5.1dB at 1,800MHz and 6dB at 3,000MHz over ten metres. The 5m version loses half as much, which is why Poynting says to use the shortest cable that reaches.
Does the XPOL-2-5G cover UK 5G?
The current V3 does: Poynting quotes 11dBi at 3,400 to 4,200MHz. Poynting says the earlier V2 did not cover that band, so confirm you are buying a V3 (part A-XPOL-0002-V3-03 for the 10m cable version).
How do I aim the XPOL-2-5G?
Point its face towards the nearest mast, then rotate it in 15-degree steps while watching the router's signal reading, releasing it between readings, and lock it at the best position. Poynting gives a recommended beam width of 120 degrees.
Free alerts for your home
Home Alerts emails you when a power cut, a Met Office warning or a flood warning covers your postcode. Free for your own home. Sign up in a minute.
Start free →