Cell phone and broadband signal booster

pnichols wrote:
In our RV we use a 12V Wilson cellular amplifier fed by a Wilson cellular antenna on the roof of the RV. Using this setup I can often get Internet access with no bars showing on our cellular phones. With bars showing on the phones, our Wilson setup will often boost what the phones show by one or two bars.

Just because a phone shows no bars does not mean there's no signal present. Always try cellular amplification equipment even though no bars show on phones, as oftimes there's cellular signals present that a phone cannot detect but can be amplified enough to access the Internet through cell tower systems.

x2. I've used wilson amps for years and while there are places they won't get me a useable signal it is a rather rare occurance. Very often we are at places with no bars and the wilson will give me several bars. add a directional yagi antenna and search for a good signal if all else fails. and use SHORT cables to the antenna or permaent mount low loss cable. cheap long cable can have more loss than you gain from the amp. Be wary of some of the ebay external antennas, the y come with 25-50 ft of very losy cable, one I saw had more cable loss than the amplifier gain.