Datsun Man
Member
So within the last month I decided to purchase the WeBoost Drive Reach Overland kit for my truck. What were my goals you ask? Quite simple actually. To simply boost my cell signal enough when I'm traveling. This can include Travel to my folks place in AZ or simply going out and playing on the trails. Well after driving around with it a bit I can say that I am impressed with it and I actually do feel it is worth the money and we will go over that.
Now that's over let's get down to business. When I got the WeBoost I took some time to figure out how I wanted to mount it. Thankfully that was easy to figure out and I had it done in about 2 hours. I still have the Cigarette Plug with the power switch and have it connected to the dash plug that always has power. This allows me to leave the WeBoost on when the truck is off. I can also turn it off when I feel I done need it on.
Right after I got things connected I decided to do a quick test at my home in Elizabeth Colorado. Keep in mind that I use Verizon and where my house is located I can get spotty signal. The moment my phone was connected to the WeBoost and the signal was amplified I could see the results immediately! Before if I wanted to surf the web on my phone like usual, it would take a few to load certain pages. With the WeBoost active and connected I could load them much faster!
The next test was to drive around. First I went down to Colorado Springs for my regular Chiropractor Visits. During that time it was a bit hard to tell, but then again usually have good signal going that way anyway. Next was on the way to work. For me I sometimes go to one of the local Amazon Facilities and repair Forklifts. Well in the parking lot if the one I go to, the cell service sucks. You have signal, but it is extremely weak. Well with the WeBoost it fixed that issue as long as my phone was within the rage of the inside antenna. This made it nice for logging in to work stuff before walking in.
The last test was the most fun of them all. This particular test was me heading up to Wyoming this last Friday for the Backcountry Discovery Route. Leaving from Elizabeth we took the back way through I-70 to Silverthorne and heading up to Baggs going through Kremmling, Steamboat and Craig. During that bit it was primarily pavement, but a lot of Backcountry roads still. During that time I had Cell Service for about 90-95% of the time. While monitoring the cell service through my Radio I was able to determine that it would have been much closer to 60% at best without the WeBoost. Not bad when you think about it. Just for that alone I can say most would see the best results on the pavement.
After we got on the trail I started having a bit of fun seeing what I could get. How did I do my test? Well besides looking at the Radio to see what kind of service I had, I would also bring up the Tread Weather App on my GPS. When I had service I could load the Weather Radar fairly quick. That said I wasnt always able to get Service. During sections 1 and 2 of the Wyoming Backcountry Discovery Route I would say I had Cell Service for about 50-60%. If I didn't have it it would have been much closer to 25%. Still a big improvement when you think about it and for what I was using it for I found it to be worth the money.
Now some are probably wondering what I do when I don't have Cell Service and I need to get a hold of someone in case of an emergency right? Well I still have a Garmin InReach. That is my Emergency Communication Device, simple as that. Have I had to use it yet? Thankfully no and I hope I never have to use it in an Emergency Situation, but it's still better to have it and not need it vs needing it and being SOL.
For those wondering what I do at camp if I don't have Cell Service or Internet? Well for starters I'm already Off Grid. The whole point of getting Off Grid is to get away from the norm and enjoy the Wildlife and Outdoors! The Internet can wait for when I get back home to Civilization. Also I'm not running a business while off grid. I can justify a high price for something I absolutely do not need.
All in all for those wondering if the WeBoost is worth buying? Well I guess it depends on the actual needs. For me I feel it is worth every penny especially since there is no subscription. Now if you are one that runs a Business Off Grid constantly and need to have Internet Access often, then it may not be for you. Just keep that in mind.
First camp, surprisingly good signal to begin with near Baggs. Booster did well when connected.
Going down the trail in section 1 not too far from Boyer Ranch. Without WeBoost I barely has service. With WeBoost I had good service.
Second camp along Section 2 near Kennedy Peak. With WeBoost I might have had service as I pulled into camp. The moment my cell was out of Range for the WeBoost I had nothing. Not a surprise and proof that you can't boost a signal you do not have.
Now that's over let's get down to business. When I got the WeBoost I took some time to figure out how I wanted to mount it. Thankfully that was easy to figure out and I had it done in about 2 hours. I still have the Cigarette Plug with the power switch and have it connected to the dash plug that always has power. This allows me to leave the WeBoost on when the truck is off. I can also turn it off when I feel I done need it on.
Right after I got things connected I decided to do a quick test at my home in Elizabeth Colorado. Keep in mind that I use Verizon and where my house is located I can get spotty signal. The moment my phone was connected to the WeBoost and the signal was amplified I could see the results immediately! Before if I wanted to surf the web on my phone like usual, it would take a few to load certain pages. With the WeBoost active and connected I could load them much faster!
The next test was to drive around. First I went down to Colorado Springs for my regular Chiropractor Visits. During that time it was a bit hard to tell, but then again usually have good signal going that way anyway. Next was on the way to work. For me I sometimes go to one of the local Amazon Facilities and repair Forklifts. Well in the parking lot if the one I go to, the cell service sucks. You have signal, but it is extremely weak. Well with the WeBoost it fixed that issue as long as my phone was within the rage of the inside antenna. This made it nice for logging in to work stuff before walking in.
The last test was the most fun of them all. This particular test was me heading up to Wyoming this last Friday for the Backcountry Discovery Route. Leaving from Elizabeth we took the back way through I-70 to Silverthorne and heading up to Baggs going through Kremmling, Steamboat and Craig. During that bit it was primarily pavement, but a lot of Backcountry roads still. During that time I had Cell Service for about 90-95% of the time. While monitoring the cell service through my Radio I was able to determine that it would have been much closer to 60% at best without the WeBoost. Not bad when you think about it. Just for that alone I can say most would see the best results on the pavement.
After we got on the trail I started having a bit of fun seeing what I could get. How did I do my test? Well besides looking at the Radio to see what kind of service I had, I would also bring up the Tread Weather App on my GPS. When I had service I could load the Weather Radar fairly quick. That said I wasnt always able to get Service. During sections 1 and 2 of the Wyoming Backcountry Discovery Route I would say I had Cell Service for about 50-60%. If I didn't have it it would have been much closer to 25%. Still a big improvement when you think about it and for what I was using it for I found it to be worth the money.
Now some are probably wondering what I do when I don't have Cell Service and I need to get a hold of someone in case of an emergency right? Well I still have a Garmin InReach. That is my Emergency Communication Device, simple as that. Have I had to use it yet? Thankfully no and I hope I never have to use it in an Emergency Situation, but it's still better to have it and not need it vs needing it and being SOL.
For those wondering what I do at camp if I don't have Cell Service or Internet? Well for starters I'm already Off Grid. The whole point of getting Off Grid is to get away from the norm and enjoy the Wildlife and Outdoors! The Internet can wait for when I get back home to Civilization. Also I'm not running a business while off grid. I can justify a high price for something I absolutely do not need.
All in all for those wondering if the WeBoost is worth buying? Well I guess it depends on the actual needs. For me I feel it is worth every penny especially since there is no subscription. Now if you are one that runs a Business Off Grid constantly and need to have Internet Access often, then it may not be for you. Just keep that in mind.
First camp, surprisingly good signal to begin with near Baggs. Booster did well when connected.
Going down the trail in section 1 not too far from Boyer Ranch. Without WeBoost I barely has service. With WeBoost I had good service.
Second camp along Section 2 near Kennedy Peak. With WeBoost I might have had service as I pulled into camp. The moment my cell was out of Range for the WeBoost I had nothing. Not a surprise and proof that you can't boost a signal you do not have.