Cellular Repeaters
- Thread starter Mack4
- Start date
4x4x4doors
Explorer
I'm not but have been considering it. I've also considered one for the house since we live in a (coverage) hole. I'd be interested as well in what folks who have them think.
Stationary installations are fairly straight forward. My company provides Cellular Repeaters and Towers for the Oil and Gas Industry, and while we have done some vehicle installations, you never get the same range as you would with a full blown repeater/tower setup.
A problem occurs when you require a high gain repeater (75-85 dBm) because of the remote nature of your location and you don't have the necessary antenna isolation between your Outside and Inside antennas. Obviously, on a vehicle this is particularly challenging, unless you field a portable tower of some kind.
I recently cobbled together a system that combines the high gain, directional aspects of tower based repeaters in a mobile package. I've been fairly pleased with the results, but it does require the user to flip up and rotate a directional antenna to find signal in really remote areas. I was curious if anyone else had come up with any other solutions.
A problem occurs when you require a high gain repeater (75-85 dBm) because of the remote nature of your location and you don't have the necessary antenna isolation between your Outside and Inside antennas. Obviously, on a vehicle this is particularly challenging, unless you field a portable tower of some kind.
I recently cobbled together a system that combines the high gain, directional aspects of tower based repeaters in a mobile package. I've been fairly pleased with the results, but it does require the user to flip up and rotate a directional antenna to find signal in really remote areas. I was curious if anyone else had come up with any other solutions.
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
Friend of mine is running a booster from Wilson in his semi and his pick up.
Says it works great when there is very low signal.
Only downside is that your cell phone has to stay in the Wilson cradle. No big deal if you have a hands free device I guess.
Been looking into something for my cabin. In the fall/winter (once the leaves are down) I can send/recieve texts, but have to go up on the 'mountain' on the back 40 to make a cell call.
Says it works great when there is very low signal.
Only downside is that your cell phone has to stay in the Wilson cradle. No big deal if you have a hands free device I guess.
Been looking into something for my cabin. In the fall/winter (once the leaves are down) I can send/recieve texts, but have to go up on the 'mountain' on the back 40 to make a cell call.
HillbillyfromAL
Explorer
I have a Wilson booster using a low profile Laird Phantom antenna on my Discovery 2. It works great and I've used it on AT&T and Verizon. Mine doesn't use a cradle but a smaller antenna inside. You have to have it within a couple of feet of that antenna. It's not a miracle worker though, of course there's areas that you won't ever get signal just like any radio. It is well worth the money though. Most of the time when I'm out well past cell phone range without the booster I still have 3 bars, and only loose it in deep ravines and the like. I would suggest a NMO mount and proper antenna placement though.
The booster
The antenna
Which now resides under a Bajarack and soon a RTT so I'll have to see how that effects the performance.
Also the 3G data is faster with the booster. They make a separate one for 4G I believe
The booster
The antenna
Which now resides under a Bajarack and soon a RTT so I'll have to see how that effects the performance.
Also the 3G data is faster with the booster. They make a separate one for 4G I believe
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
Not sure what the other Hillbilly paid, but a quick googly search found the Wilson801201 for just over $200
It's a wireless one. They also have 'direct connect' that connects to the phone via wire, and the cradle set up.
For as often as I'm in the woods, and on the fringe of cell service, I think $200 would be worth it to me.
HillbillyfromAL
Explorer
I paid $239 for the low profile cell phone booster kit off Amazon then got the Antenna and NMO coax for around 40 on EBay. The antenna it comes with is a mag mount and its about 12in tall. The NMO mount with the low profile antenna works just slightly better, but it doesn't catch on stuff either. They make those for Ham radio too but from what I've gathered the only one that's worth anything is the UHF 440mhz. They seem to do well with the higher frequencies like cell phones, and satnav. The booster is definitely worth it if you venture outside your current reception area a lot. I've helped a couple of people make calls for broke down vehicles that wouldn't have been possible without it, except for the Ham radio. If your not into that yet I'd suggest start looking at that too. It's got a lot further range than even the cell booster and fellow Hams are always willing to help out when they can. Autopatch even let's you make phone calls with the right radio but each club/repeater group has their own setup with that usually. As far as an out in the sticks communication device there's probably nothing better.
I'm in a cell-hole myself at home and will be picking up a cell repeater next year, with thoughts of bringing it with us on trips, so this thread will be watched closely. 
Currently looking at something like this: http://jdteck.com/products/repeaters/consumer-repeater-kits/jd55-pr-standard-kit-grey
Currently looking at something like this: http://jdteck.com/products/repeaters/consumer-repeater-kits/jd55-pr-standard-kit-grey
Thanks for the input from both "hillybillys"
I recently purchased a Yaesu VX-7R and am studying for my tech license. Wanted to start with a HT radio and then depending on how quickly I figure it out I'll add a higher powered truck radio. The cell booster is intriguing to me as it makes it easier for anyone in my vehicle to try and get a call out. My wife on her cell, friends in the back seat, etc. Therefore I was thinking the cell booster in combination with my HT radio and an external antenna would be a good starting point.
I recently purchased a Yaesu VX-7R and am studying for my tech license. Wanted to start with a HT radio and then depending on how quickly I figure it out I'll add a higher powered truck radio. The cell booster is intriguing to me as it makes it easier for anyone in my vehicle to try and get a call out. My wife on her cell, friends in the back seat, etc. Therefore I was thinking the cell booster in combination with my HT radio and an external antenna would be a good starting point.
Hillbilly, We run that Wilson unit in our vehicle installations for oilfield consultants and semi trucks, and it is one of the better mobile units you can buy. For mobile applications I wouldn't use anyone else.
We did a trailer based unit for a guy who does Rig Inspections, we used a JDTeck Rural Kit (60db Repeater with a 15db Pre Amp) combined with a Yagi and a Omni-Directional Antenna. It's a scaled down version of our Tower Based Repeaters and should give him significant range in remote areas.
Gaidheal, JDTeck is our principle vendor for our Tower Based Repeater Systems, Dennison is a great guy to work with and their products are top notch. I am currently working on site surveys for a couple of the guys on the forum, if you shoot me your Lat/Long I can give you a site survey for your location as well as an equipment recommendation. That goes for the rest of you guys on the forum, just shoot me a PM or Email with your Lat/Long and I'll run it through our system for you.
-Mack
mmcgowen@topdrivecomm.com
We did a trailer based unit for a guy who does Rig Inspections, we used a JDTeck Rural Kit (60db Repeater with a 15db Pre Amp) combined with a Yagi and a Omni-Directional Antenna. It's a scaled down version of our Tower Based Repeaters and should give him significant range in remote areas.
Gaidheal, JDTeck is our principle vendor for our Tower Based Repeater Systems, Dennison is a great guy to work with and their products are top notch. I am currently working on site surveys for a couple of the guys on the forum, if you shoot me your Lat/Long I can give you a site survey for your location as well as an equipment recommendation. That goes for the rest of you guys on the forum, just shoot me a PM or Email with your Lat/Long and I'll run it through our system for you.
-Mack
mmcgowen@topdrivecomm.com
HillbillyfromAL
Explorer
That's a nice offer there Mack. I'll have to remember the JD Tech stuff for when I buy a house/bunker out in BFE I would imagine that would greatly extend cell phone coverage.
I would imagine that would greatly extend cell phone coverage.gary in ohio
Explorer
what mast system is mounted the camper?