WIFI & Cell phones
- Thread starter FleetToy
- Start date
+1 on the Weboost. I have the "Drive" unit and added their OTR antenna. 1 bar will turn in to 5. I work from my camper using ZOOM for video conferencing and it works well.FleetToy said:
Gentle on my world
Advanced Member
I'm pretty much technologically inept.
Will Musk's efforts to populate the earth's low orbit with internet satellites end up reducing the need for such devices?
Will Musk's efforts to populate the earth's low orbit with internet satellites end up reducing the need for such devices?
Space X is deploying something called Starlink. It is supposed to enter a public Beta later this year. Initially anyway it will be focused on fixed ground stations, not mobile use, but mobile use could happen in the future. This is a little more complex than a satellite phone system like Iridium, you will need a ~50cm diameter antenna that can track the satellites. The upside is you get broadband speed (50Mb +) and the expected price point will be way less than other satellite options.
Professionally I am very excited about this as we use satellite comms a lot in remote areas, and Iridium leaves a lot to be desired. We will see if this becomes viable for personal use.
Professionally I am very excited about this as we use satellite comms a lot in remote areas, and Iridium leaves a lot to be desired. We will see if this becomes viable for personal use.
smlobx
Lost again
We have been using a WeBoost cellular booster on our trip across North America this summer and have been very happy with the results.
It will not create a signal out of thin air but if there is one it will make it usable.
It will not create a signal out of thin air but if there is one it will make it usable.
I'm using the Drive-X RV.
https://www.weboost.com/products/drive-x-rv
Seriously looking to upgrade to a much more expensive and capable unit next camping season!
https://www.weboost.com/products/drive-x-rv
Seriously looking to upgrade to a much more expensive and capable unit next camping season!
Well.... The Weboost (and other such devices) all work great for boosting the signal to your cell phone. The way mine works, I park the camper, hoist the antenna, and if I have even 1 bar I can get 4-5 bars of signal... when I place my cell phone right onto the internal antenna. I then use my phone as a hot spot and can make my zoom calls, get email, etc.
If I want to hold my phone in my hand, the signal boost almost disappears and it really doesn't do anything when sitting around the campfire a few feet away. Plus some cell companies really don't like me using my phone as a hotspot and can/will throttle down my signal.
With a more $$$ system, you can receive cell signals via one or more antennas, and then transmit a strong wifi signal that is usable all around your campsite.
I'm thinking of something like this - https://www.mobilemusthave.com/Ultimate-Road-Warrior-RV-Boat-Internet-Access-Bundle_p_168.html
Vic
If I want to hold my phone in my hand, the signal boost almost disappears and it really doesn't do anything when sitting around the campfire a few feet away. Plus some cell companies really don't like me using my phone as a hotspot and can/will throttle down my signal.
With a more $$$ system, you can receive cell signals via one or more antennas, and then transmit a strong wifi signal that is usable all around your campsite.
I'm thinking of something like this - https://www.mobilemusthave.com/Ultimate-Road-Warrior-RV-Boat-Internet-Access-Bundle_p_168.html
Vic
Thanks Vic.
I was curious because my weBoost Drive 4G-M works intermittently: sometimes it gives great amplification and sometimes I see no improvement. And I have the same problem with the inside antenna - very short range.
I was thinking about getting a better outside antenna; I currently use the supplied 3" stick mounted on the camper roof.
I only use my phone for personal stuff - I'm retired, but would like a little more consistency for getting weather radar, looking at google earth, and personal calls. I use inReach for communicating my status with my family.
jim
I was curious because my weBoost Drive 4G-M works intermittently: sometimes it gives great amplification and sometimes I see no improvement. And I have the same problem with the inside antenna - very short range.
I was thinking about getting a better outside antenna; I currently use the supplied 3" stick mounted on the camper roof.
I only use my phone for personal stuff - I'm retired, but would like a little more consistency for getting weather radar, looking at google earth, and personal calls. I use inReach for communicating my status with my family.
jim
One note of caution, the inside antenna is very low gain for a reason - if it were higher gain you would get feedback from the outside amplified antenna, end up in an infinite loop and the booster will shut down.
I also have the Weboost Drive and find that it works well with the phone within about a meter of the inside antenna. Like others, I just use the phone as a Wifi hotspot to tether an iPad or laptop. The only way I can think of to get better service would be to use a directional antenna on the booster, but it would be a pain to set up as you would need to figure out which cell site you are taking too, and point the antenna at it.
I also have the Weboost Drive and find that it works well with the phone within about a meter of the inside antenna. Like others, I just use the phone as a Wifi hotspot to tether an iPad or laptop. The only way I can think of to get better service would be to use a directional antenna on the booster, but it would be a pain to set up as you would need to figure out which cell site you are taking too, and point the antenna at it.
You are right about the roof providing shielding - that is how these are able to work at all. But it is a tight balance between getting enough gain and not ending up with feedback. I have had mine shutdown due to feedback (there are some red lights that light up on the box to tell you this) when I moved the inside antenna close to an open door on the truck to try and use the phone outside.
Vertical height difference between the two antennas seems to help too, reducing the interference.
Jack
Senior Member
The apps Network Cell Info Lite and LTE Discovery are very helpful to find out which way to point a directional antenna. LTE Discovery also lists neighboring cells. Carriers play a number of games with cell towers. When load is high, they drop calls or don't connect to more distant cell phones. They may also connect you to a tower with a weaker signal if it has more capacity. My experience is that once you connect to a tower it will leave you with it. One of the apps will power cycle your radio which gives you a chance to connect to the stronger tower.
I have an omni-directional antenna mounted on the back corner of our Fleet and a directional antenna mounted on a extensible pole attached to the left rear jack bracket. I simply swap coax connections to the Wilson Amp (WeBoost) when the omni-directional antenna is insufficient. With line of sight I have connected to a T-Mobile tower about 40 mi away. I have read that some carriers/towers may have a range of only about 20 miles.
I have been watching Starlink with great interest. With VOIP, which we have, internet and phone service anywhere.
I have an omni-directional antenna mounted on the back corner of our Fleet and a directional antenna mounted on a extensible pole attached to the left rear jack bracket. I simply swap coax connections to the Wilson Amp (WeBoost) when the omni-directional antenna is insufficient. With line of sight I have connected to a T-Mobile tower about 40 mi away. I have read that some carriers/towers may have a range of only about 20 miles.
I have been watching Starlink with great interest. With VOIP, which we have, internet and phone service anywhere.
If your ground plane isn't great, then the 'trucker' antenna may be better as it does not require a ground plane:
https://www.weboost.com/products/304415
I wasn't sure how well the camper roof was really grounded, particularly when up, so I am using the trucker antenna.
https://www.weboost.com/products/304415
I wasn't sure how well the camper roof was really grounded, particularly when up, so I am using the trucker antenna.
PaulT
Need gumbo
The antenna doesn’t need an electrical ground. It needs an RF ground which is provided by the antenna and coax shield. Depending on the antenna mount, the ground side will be coupled electrically or capacitively to the roof as a ground plane. It’s all magic. Just follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.rando said:
Perhaps, one of the other hams can explain it better. I don’t claim to be an RF engineer, just an amateur.
Paul
Jack
Senior Member
We have the Wilson / WeBoost 4G omni-directional antenna and it has worked quite well. $51
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LW2KT4Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LW2KT4Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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