MikeFromMesa
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2014
- Posts
- 295
I have been trying to find some way to boost the cell data signal I get when camping. My first attempt was to just use an outside antenna with a grounding plane and this gave me about 3 dB of gain. Since I wanted more I next got one of the cradle systems to boost the signal to my Verizon myfi, assuming that I would just use the myfi signal instead of the base cell signal. That also worked, but only gave me about 6 dB and that did not seem like a good buy for the money so I am now looking at full amplifier - rebroadcast systems but I realized that I did not know some basic information about cell signals. Perhaps someone here can help.
I have looked at 3 systems, one from WeBoost, one from SureCall and one from SmoothTalker. Since I know very little about these systems I chose these 3 because they are available through reputable resellers like Amazon and CampingWorld. The basic difference between the 3 systems, from the specs, seems to be that WeBoost handles 5 bands, SureCall 3 bands and SmoothTalker 2 bands. I have talked to the sales/tech people at all of these places and, as you would expect, their suggestions differ so I was hoping that someone here could answer some basic questions.
First, do cell towers broadcast on all bands at the same time? Or do the bands used differ from one cell tower to another and from one part of the country to another? If it is the first, then I would think that it does not matter how many bands your system picks up, but if the second I think it matters very much. If they broadcast all signals do they do so with the same strength?
Second, is it true that 4G signals are no faster than 3G signals once you are more than a mile or so from a cell tower? One of the techs told me that but I have no idea if it is true or if it is "market speak".
I have placed my cell phone in test mode so I can see the strength of the incoming cell signal and it appears that I generally get about -90 dB where I live. That generally seems just fine for voice and data usage since I don't to anything like streaming on my phone. I want to have a signal strong enough to use basic data apps like Skype (with no video), WhatsApp and Viber so my wife can make calls to her family, some of which are in Europe. Is a 3G booster good enough for that? Or should I get a 4G booster (which has been my choice so far).
I plan to use this in our RV, but it is only a small class B so the inside is only about 15 feet from front to back. How far from one of these booster system inside antennas could I expect a good signal?
Lastly, one of these techs suggested that I mount a non-magnetic antenna on the air conditioning case because it is generally the highest part of the RV and because the roof is fiberglass. That seemed like a really good idea but I don't know if running the AC will generate interference with the cell signal picked up by the antenna. Does anyone know?
I know these are a lot of questions but I have gotten so many different answers from the sales and tech people at the different places that I have called that I don't know what is and what is not true and thus I really don't know what the best system for our needs would be. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.
I have looked at 3 systems, one from WeBoost, one from SureCall and one from SmoothTalker. Since I know very little about these systems I chose these 3 because they are available through reputable resellers like Amazon and CampingWorld. The basic difference between the 3 systems, from the specs, seems to be that WeBoost handles 5 bands, SureCall 3 bands and SmoothTalker 2 bands. I have talked to the sales/tech people at all of these places and, as you would expect, their suggestions differ so I was hoping that someone here could answer some basic questions.
First, do cell towers broadcast on all bands at the same time? Or do the bands used differ from one cell tower to another and from one part of the country to another? If it is the first, then I would think that it does not matter how many bands your system picks up, but if the second I think it matters very much. If they broadcast all signals do they do so with the same strength?
Second, is it true that 4G signals are no faster than 3G signals once you are more than a mile or so from a cell tower? One of the techs told me that but I have no idea if it is true or if it is "market speak".
I have placed my cell phone in test mode so I can see the strength of the incoming cell signal and it appears that I generally get about -90 dB where I live. That generally seems just fine for voice and data usage since I don't to anything like streaming on my phone. I want to have a signal strong enough to use basic data apps like Skype (with no video), WhatsApp and Viber so my wife can make calls to her family, some of which are in Europe. Is a 3G booster good enough for that? Or should I get a 4G booster (which has been my choice so far).
I plan to use this in our RV, but it is only a small class B so the inside is only about 15 feet from front to back. How far from one of these booster system inside antennas could I expect a good signal?
Lastly, one of these techs suggested that I mount a non-magnetic antenna on the air conditioning case because it is generally the highest part of the RV and because the roof is fiberglass. That seemed like a really good idea but I don't know if running the AC will generate interference with the cell signal picked up by the antenna. Does anyone know?
I know these are a lot of questions but I have gotten so many different answers from the sales and tech people at the different places that I have called that I don't know what is and what is not true and thus I really don't know what the best system for our needs would be. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.