Skool me on cell phone boosters and install tips, please

rr2254545 wrote:
Waste of money - we have stayed at over 400 parks with Verizon and I can count on one hand the parks where we have not had service

Such a helpful post. Boosters are beneficial to folks that need internet in places where signals are too weak. It's fantastic that you don't seem to encounter those places or have a need. Others do. Tip- if you aren't going to add something beneficial, just don't post.

Waste of money - we have stayed at over 400 parks with Verizon and I can count on one hand the parks where we have not had service

…. Currently boondocking south of Crater Lake using a WeBoost ( tried another brand ONCE to cure me from doing that again) …On about our 7th WeBoost installation on different RV’s & trucks… WeBoost has STUNNING customer service to help you with any issues or concerns… Would not be able to get signal without a booster; slow but effective here… Amazon has all the different models for various applications… If you are really out there a Yagi antenna & a collapsible pole are helpful in getting signal ( or hiking to the top of a hill also has worked several times for us )…I’m a very satisfied WeBoost customer…

OK let me describe my DIY setup, first WeBoost RV seems to be the current leader. We have another brand that I not going to mention, it works but how it compares to the leader I have no idea.
The system consists of:
1) Outside omnidirectional antenna. The higher the better. Cell signals are line-of-sight
2) Amplifier and transmitter that goes inside
3) Inside antenna that rebroadcasts the boosted signal. That need to be a certain distance from the outside antenna, 10 or 15 feet.

To get the outside antenna higher you can buy a collapsible antenna pole $100-150. Or buy a 24 foot painters pole at Lowes: $39. Not as convenient maybe. But I am a cheap-wad...heh.
I attached that to the ladder on back of the RV by hose clamping some short segments of PVC pipe big enough for the painter pole to fix down inside. That pole doubles as a flag pole too.

So far this has been 95% effective in getting enough signal to at least do email, most of the time we can watch videos. You will probably need to buy another length of antenna wire, make sure it has the right connectors there are at least three different types. And you can get wire that is too good, I got some that is 3/8 or so in diameter and too heavy to string up the pole.

You can also buy a directional Yagi antenna that boosts the signal more, but you have to point it at the antenna. There are a number of phone apps that will show you which direction the cell antennas are.
That is my non-electronic tech/engineer explanation. The two time we go zero signal were when we were surrounded by 100 foot pines, or down in a valley with high hills in every direction. I am 17 miles outside YNP right now with a good signal.