We Boost?

[Randy]

Has anyone installed a We Boost or similar cell phone signal booster system on their camper?

Thanks

 

[Sweeney]

Yes. Marginally useful at best. Don’t expect huge increases in anything. Mostly in my experience a waste of money.

basically, we went from dropping most calls to a useable voice call. Data rates were pretty much no difference.

 

[rmbrowder]

I have a Wilson Amplifiers WeBoost 4Gx. It has improved cell reliability and internet performance. Don’t expect a great leap but I have been able to make calls from inside the trailer when I couldn’t outside. If you are way out in the woods it will not turn a zero signal into a signal, too far is too far.

 

[Randy]

Thanks for the replies. Caution that it won’t give you a signal where one doesn’t exist is a good one.

Randy

 

[Sweeney]

I have a Wilson Amplifiers WeBoost 4Gx. It has improved cell reliability and internet performance. Don’t expect a great leap but I have been able to make calls from inside the trailer when I couldn’t outside. If you are way out in the woods it will not turn a zero signal into a signal, too far is too far.

How is the base of that mast mounted?

 

[Randy]

I went with the We Boost Drive Reach OTR with magnetic antenna mount purchased from Powerful Signal.
weBoost Drive Reach OTR with Optional Antenna Mag Mount
Top Signal MagMAX OTR Trucker Magnetic Antenna Mount TS432010

Installed a 12 inch square of 430 stainless (18 gauge, Lowcostmetals on Ebay) on the AC cover using a 12 inch sheet of 3M adhesive from Amazon. 430 Stainless is magnetic and holds the magnetic antenna mount very firmly, no conerns with it coming off while driving, I leave it up all the time..
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HP2CEG8/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6782RH1811VXPVTJ6T93?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Finally, I bought a zippered case that holds the all of the antenna parts and mast which breaks down.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JGQVQBU/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_FP4B2HMQ0P6VN55WKGB2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Initially I found it almost impossible to put the antenna up and take it down though because the cable would twist so badly when trying to screw the mast onto or off of the magnetic mount. All of that was solved with a CB antenna quick connect which makes it super easy to put up and take down in a couple of minutes.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G2E1EIO/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_KD45ZMK22XYXKD740XTK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

So far I have tested it in three places that I have camped before. In 2 of the 3 I would usually get one bar or less and was unable to make calls, get internet, stream content, etc. The We Boost worked really well and got me up to 3 bars.

The third place was in the Anza Borrego desert. No bars with or without the We Boost. So as everyone says, you have to have some signal to be boosted, it will not give you something where nothing exists. For those situations I carry a Garmin InReach just for emergencies.

Worth the price? Maybe. For me it is because as much as I hate to admit it, I like cell coverage even when camping, particularity for streaming Pandora which we really enjoy and in case of emergencies.

Cheers,

Randy

 

[Todd Bowen]

I went with the We Boost Drive Reach OTR with magnetic antenna mount purchased from Powerful Signal.

...

Worth the price? Maybe. For me it is because as much as I hate to admit it, I like cell coverage even when camping, particularity for streaming Pandora which we really enjoy and in case of emergencies.

This was a question I had too, thanks for posting.
How did you route in the external antenna to the base unit?

 

[Randy]

This was a question I had too, thanks for posting.
How did you route in the external antenna to the base unit?

No permanent routing. I take it down before I leave, only leave the magnetic mount up premnanently. I use it both inside and outside the camper. The door closes fine with the wire running through it.

One troubleshooting tip - if it doesn’t seem to be boosting or stops boosting, toggling the WeBoost power and putting your phone in and out of airplane mode helps.

Cheers

 

[Sweeney]

Well thought out….I like the mount!

 

[campdude]

No permanent routing ass I take it down before I leave, only leave the magnetic mount up premnanently. I use it both inside and outside the camper. The door closes fine with the wire running through it.

One troubleshooting tip - if it doesn’t seem to be boosting or stops boosting, toggling the WeBoost power and putting your phone in and out of airplane mode helps.

Cheers

Shhhh....don't tell anyone.......I think we might steal this set up & mounting idea...

 

[rmbrowder]

How is the base of that mast mounted?

Sorry I missed your question last year. Here is a picture of the marine ratchet mount:

 

[Sweeney]

I've seen those --- never metal before. I have one but its plastic.

I'm reconsidering my somehwat negitive experience - let me rephrase -- neutral experience -- but that was in a fiberglass not aluminum faraday cage. The other problem is you have to be right next to the inside antenna. Not much of a problem in a CI

I pulled out my Weboost out of storage earlier int he week, so your post is apropos, and will be ordering coax and "SMx" connectors soon. I had all the cables I need, but some worthless human being broken into our rig and stole a bunch of stuff. Ironcially leaving a lot of valuables behind. Who breaks into RVs in a stroage facility in February. meth-heads.

My question of the day: How did you get the cable out of the cabin? I was looking for a bulkhead conenctor similar to the "F" connector CI used to use for the TV Antenna. I'm thinking that was a made in-house by CampInn from a standard "F" coupler. @Cary Winch - Any insights here?

 

[rmbrowder]

I used the campinn tv fitting. I just used it this past weekend at Ocklochonee Florida SP. iPhone 12 5g. One bar boosted to four. Big improvement in streaming. My Wilson booster is not 5g “rated”.

 

[Sweeney]

I don’t have that fitting any more…my 2012 did, not my 2021….I’m trying to find where to get one….but I am leaning towards a permeant install with a mast on the A frame…

come out of the plumbing area out the floor and then along the frame rail…but the garage floor has to warm a few degrees before I consider it…

 

[campdude]

I don’t have that fitting any more…my 2012 did, not my 2021….I’m trying to find where to get one….but I am leaning towards a permeant install with a mast on the A frame…

come out of the plumbing area out the floor and then along the frame rail…but the garage floor has to warm a few degrees before I consider it…

The garage floor nees to warm up...Sweeny ..you are showing your age

 

[Sweeney]

Sad, but true! The ol' bones just can't take the abuse they once could.

Explains why Florida is so popular with the geritol and golf-cart set. Sad part is, I'd complain about the heat.

 

[rmbrowder]

Bumped to ask: Anyone have a good app or software program to recommend to measure cell signal and direction.
Bot this awhile back to connect to a Netgear mif with antenna ports, where the flat plate stuck on the window is not enough.

OpenSignal works pretty good, it has a tower locator and uses speed as a stand in for signal strength if you have an iPhone (no Apps and no built in dB viewer)

 

[Sweeney]

Cellmapper.net isn't bad either. I've checked it a few times and what it reports seems to be accurate to my real world experience.

If you're serious about it, there are hardware devices which make it much eaiser by giving signal strenght using a meter. But they cost in the neighborhood of 700 bucks --- professional equipment.