Wi Fi (Hotspot) Signal Booster

[becker]

I have a WiFi card in my computer and a Verizon Jetpack 4G Hotspot. We are headed out to some isolated areas on a extended road trip. Based on the experience of those of you who are operating under similar circumstances, what else should I have to give my "hotspot" an additional boost to give me more range or a better signal?

Thanks.

[crasster]

If you are far out in the boondocks, you should also look at parabolic directional antennas. There is a bit more setting up, but they can travel many many miles, especially at high frequencies.

[jaycocreek]

I should have added the db gain of the two types of boosters. The Wilson sleek has a 20db gain while the portable Wilson boosters such as the 801201 have a 50db gain and I understand the new 4g booster has a 70db gain..

All this matters as does antenna db gain.

[wa8yxm]

First it is not the Wi-FI you want to boost it is the CELL signal

There are several options.

First... Within limits (In this case the range of the Wi-Fi Hotspot) HEIGHT IS MIGHT.. so if you were to put the JetPack atop say a 25 foot flagpole. it will see farther Or even up on the roof.

Second. you can use a better antenna, or you could, in theory, mount it at the focal point of a parabolic reflector of the proper size (Even a common 18" (or larger) round Sat dish will work nicely) and again as high as possible. This means you need to aim it however.. The bigger the dish, the higher the gain and the sharper the aim.

There are other ways to do it as well and you can use something like a Wilson amplifier as well. Wilson makes some decent antennas and MFJ (Specialises in Ham Radio gear) I believe makes a yagi for Wi-Fi use. Very high gain antenna.

[JetAonly]

Go to the 3GStore. They tell you how to do a site survey. I just purchased a Sleek V and I and enjoying 4G where I had previously been unable.

[jaycocreek]

Living in central Idaho, there are allot of places without cell service... I have both the Wilson sleek and two of the 801201's( AC/DC adapter). The big ones are far more powerful coupled with a Yagi (directional) antenna.... The antennas are important and the more gain the better.

Almost all of the time I can usually get out a text message some where close but solid calls in the boonies are another matter.I'm told by some back country residents since they went 100% digital they lost the ability to make calls they used to be able to make on there amplified bag phones with external antennas on the analog network.

Boon docking requires cell boosters around here if you want to keep in touch even if it's a text message with signals fading in and out with the wind.

[tahiti16]

Pat has a VERY important fact none of the antennas or amplifiers will help if there isn't signal! Both Wilson and the dealer I bought my stuff from had big disclaimers, not small print but big and red, If you don't have signal do not our stuff it won't help!!!

That said since I got and installed our stuff very few places, although sometimes requires cranking up the genset to power the amp while driving looking for a spot so we get a good signal. :B

[wny_pat1]

BobandShaz wrote:

wny_pat wrote:

becker wrote:
We are headed out to some isolated areas on a extended road trip.

Don't know what isolated areas you are headed to, but there are some in western Texas, like around Langtry, where nothing works!

Same in SE New Mexico. Reason we are looking into this..

The Wilson Sleek with the bigger antenna will help, but there has to be a signal. If no signal, then nothing but dead air.

[BobandShaz]

wny_pat wrote:

becker wrote:
We are headed out to some isolated areas on a extended road trip.

Don't know what isolated areas you are headed to, but there are some in western Texas, like around Langtry, where nothing works!

Same in SE New Mexico. Reason we are looking into this..

[wny_pat1]

becker wrote:
We are headed out to some isolated areas on a extended road trip.

Don't know what isolated areas you are headed to, but there are some in western Texas, like around Langtry, where nothing works!

[BobandShaz]

Good info. THANKS

[tahiti16]

This is what I installed, since I work from the motorhome the more places I have a useable signal the more places we can go!

Wilson RV Kit 801245 SOHO Cell Phone Booster Amp 841245

Bought on Ebay a couple years ago now, it is a 3G they have 4G now but crazy expensive and yes your 4G phone will work over it. If there isn't a good 4G signal then phone and jetpack, I use a MIFI, auto adjust to the lower level on their own. Good luck! :B :B

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Best bang for the buck is the wilson's sleek.

[Up_DownDeCoast]

Executive wrote:
I use the Wilson 801245 amplifier with an external antenna. There are two antennas available and I've had success with both.

The first is an 18" magnet mount that I simply attach to a cookie sheet and lay on the ground under the motor, then run the cable thru the engine compartment into the bedroom. The other is a trucker antenna, Wilson 301133, which I mount to a 10' piece of PVC which I attach with bungees to the ladder on the rear of the coach. The cable is run the same as the 18" one.

Inside the coach I have a PremierTek ANT-P8025 attached to the amplifier and I use my phone as the hotspot....hope this helps.....Dennis

Dennis:

If I understand you correctly, you use three different antennas: on the ladder, under the motor and inside the coach. Are they used together or are there certain conditions for which you use one antenna over the others? Forgive me if it sounds like a silly question, but I am a newbie to the mobile WiFi technology.

Thanks,

[Executive45]

I use the Wilson 801245 amplifier with an external antenna. There are two antennas available and I've had success with both.

The first is an 18" magnet mount that I simply attach to a cookie sheet and lay on the ground under the motor, then run the cable thru the engine compartment into the bedroom. The other is a trucker antenna, Wilson 301133, which I mount to a 10' piece of PVC which I attach with bungees to the ladder on the rear of the coach. The cable is run the same as the 18" one.

Inside the coach I have a PremierTek ANT-P8025 attached to the amplifier and I use my phone as the hotspot....hope this helps.....Dennis