Forum Discussion

kfp673's avatar
kfp673
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2023

Cell repeater suggestions?

Hello all,

Looking for suggestions on a cell signal repeater / booster. My wife and I are both able to work from home and sometimes we work from camper. However, some spots we camp have poor cell service and we use our phones as hot spots for our laptops. This past week for example we were in the PA mountains state park and had 1 bar LTE at our site. Good enough to send emails without attachments but not for Teams/Zoom calls or large attachments. Thankfully, we know this state park well and know if we drive up the hill from the campground a bit we can get 3 bars 5G and hold calls fine. I noticed 2 campers with an expandable pole and white antenna that I assume was a cell extender. Trying not to spend a fortune since it will likely be used 2-3 times per year, but let me know if you have suggestions of repeaters that work well. Thanks!
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Jun 25, 2023
    Wilson has good ones. But 2 people working away from home in a CG sounds wonderful, because when done for the day look at where your are. So why not step up to the plate and get Starlink? Use it at home and dump whatever you now have. Sure it's a few bucks but look at the pros.
  • Bionic_Man's avatar
    Bionic_Man
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2023
    I added a Weboost to our RV two years ago. It’s hit or miss at best. Spent over $500. If I were to do it again I’d just go Starlink. Sure there is a monthly fee with it, but it is so reliable. Much better than the WeBoost.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Jun 25, 2023
    I've had better overall luck getting good cell signals with a dual aimable YAGI antenna set configured as a MIMO set connected to a hotspot. The antenna set has outperformed our previous $600 booster/repeater and the WeBoost prior to that. The MIMO set was about $140.
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Jun 25, 2023
    I used to work out of my coach as a daily basis. Over some years and upgrades, I was a Wilson Fan. (I still have the antenna on the left mirror.) In complete honestly and given the situation today, if it is deductible, go with Starband. Yes, it is more, but it is more of everything.

    Matt_C
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Jun 25, 2023
    first step a high gain cell antenna
    second step a pole to raise it up high
    third step a weboost

    or

    starlink

    It is too bad mesh wifi did not catch on. I did have a high gain wifi antenna and could get about a mile away.
  • routeforty's avatar
    routeforty
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2023
    Dutch_12078 wrote:
    I've had better overall luck getting good cell signals with a dual aimable YAGI antenna set configured as a MIMO set connected to a hotspot. The antenna set has outperformed our previous $600 booster/repeater and the WeBoost prior to that. The MIMO set was about $140.
    Sounds exactly like what we're looking for. I have some lake property for our TT but we only get 1 bar verizon. Could you maybe expound on what you have, where you got it, etc? We're slightly technologically challenged so you might have to go into a little detail if you have time. Thanks, Gary
  • kfp673's avatar
    kfp673
    Explorer II
    Jun 26, 2023
    Thanks all. Star link seems awesome, but as mentioned, this is for 3 or 4 trips per year. Just trying to boost 1 bar to 3 or 4 for a few days. I read some reviews of a few on Amazon and some love and some hate. Also, some claimed better cell call service but no better data which is really what we need. I'll read about weBoost and the others.

    Curious, anyone try the "el-Cheapo" $200 options from amazon? Don't need huge sq ft coverage considering we can sit within 10' of the device. Thanks!
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Jun 26, 2023
    kfp673,

    You can not boost a signal that doesn't exist.

    I preferred an omni directional high gain antenna. A Yagi works better--but you need to know where to point it.

    Get an Omni and a painters (extension) pole and get the antenna way way up.
  • Tom_M1's avatar
    Tom_M1
    Explorer
    Jun 26, 2023
    kfp673 wrote:
    Curious, anyone try the "el-Cheapo" $200 options from amazon? Don't need huge sq ft coverage considering we can sit within 10' of the device. Thanks!
    I have a weBoost Sleek that sells for $200. It comes with a small shark fin omni antenna. The outside antenna has a magnetic mount that's meant to stick to the top of a vehicle. The roof of the vehicle acts as a ground plane. Since RVs typically have a non-magnetic roof you will need something to stick the antenna to such as a pie plate or a piece of sheet metal. The inside antenna is a cradle that your phone sits in. This does an adequate job for me. It will typically give one more bar of signal level.

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