My WiFi and Cellular Booster Install

[Rbertalotto]

Well I finally got the cover off my Toy Hauler and installed the WiFi Booster and the Cellular Booster. The project came out great and the performance is simply amazing!

I wrote a whole article about it on my web site as it has tons of photographs and too large to post here.

Let me know what you think!

Www.rvbprecision.com

[wcjeep]

The Wilson /Weboost internal antenna low strength is to protect people in the car. They do sell other products for large spaces. The new Eqo Boost looks interesting. In my towrig, the internal antenna is three inches from two different smart phones while driving. Agree with placing phone on the internal antenna to Hotspot for data and Bluetooth for calls.

[Rbertalotto]

I'm not sure there is any way to make the inside antenna more sensitive in such a small space as an RV without creating oscillation. Best option is HotSpot right on top of the antenna and then WiFi into the hotspot and for voice, bond the cell phone to the antenna and then use wireless bluetooth headset.

I picked up a $39 bluetooth headset at Staples yesterday and tried it out. I could go anywhere in the RV with great reception and about 25' outside and had no issues. Using voice activation to dial was actually quite nice. I had not used this feature before.

[Dutch_12078]

Our WeBoost Drive 4G-M worked fairly well for us in the Florida Everglades this winter, but I was not impressed with the limited range of the indoor antenna side of the system. I'm hoping for much better results when Maximum Signal starts shipping their new MaxAmp system.

[Rbertalotto]

Great video! Thanks for posting it. I added it as a link on my article.

[tmartin000]

Just watch this. This is what I believe is one of the most helpful vids I've seen to date.

Watch this!

[Rbertalotto]

Umm...About that 12' reception issue above...I was totally wrong. I wasn't reading the meter on my phone correctly.

This evening I was out in the trailer playing with the new gadget and my various devices. I found the Cellular Booster is extremely sensitive to the distance between the phone and the indoor receiver antenna as the post suggested above.

Some tests I performed.

With the phone right up against the antenna I saw signal strength of -88 (lower the number the better)

One foot away from the antenna.... -92

Two feet away from the antenna.... -100

Four feet away from the antenna... -103

Six feet or more away from the antenna... -109

Cellular Booster turned off ... -111

This is a huge difference. These numbers are logarithmic. I haven't done the math but the difference between -88dB and -111dB is many hundreds improvement.

So, if you can't sit extremely close to the antenna, or actually tie it to the phone with a rubber band, you will not experience the best performance. If you are using your phone as a HotSpot or are actually using a HotSpot, I'd place it right on top of the antenna and use WiFi to connect to the phone or HotSpot. If you are using the phone to talk, I'd ties the phone to the antenna and then use a wired or BlueTooth headset to communicate.

Obviously, this limited range precludes anyone from using your cell booster unauthorized.

Hope this helps!

[Rbertalotto]

Nice install... Two things... I would use something other than eternabond to secure the antenna on the roof... In 2-3 years the tech may change requiring a modified/new system... And doesn't the Weboost inside antenna need to be within 18 inches of the cell device?

The antenna is secured with it's magnetic base. The Eternabond is simply securing the wire that runs along the roof. The metal plate "ground plane" that the antenna sits on is secured to the roof with 3M 5200 marine adhesive. It ain't going anywhere!

I've been as much as 12 feet from the inside antenna and it is working fine. The trailer is only 19' long.

I would think the WiFi antenna would get better reception mounted up on the roof.
That is where I mounted my WiFi Ranger Sky 2.

The WiFi antenna IS up on the roof. Mounted to the Winegard TV mast. This is a much better solution as it gets it up higher and folds down for travel.

[Triker33]

I would think the WiFi antenna would get better reception mounted up on the roof.
That is where I mounted my WiFi Ranger Sky 2.

[KRumm]

Nice install... Two things... I would use something other than eternabond to secure the antenna on the roof... In 2-3 years the tech may change requiring a modified/new system... And doesn't the Weboost inside antenna need to be within 18 inches of the cell device?

[Rbertalotto]

You're welcome! Hope it helps

[azrving]

Thanks for posting. I just left a great boondocking spot 2 days ago because of a weak signal and figured I would look into a booster.