Cell Booster

[docque]

There is so much new technology out there I thought I would open this up for discussion. We are not full time yet and are trying to do things on the cheap.

We have T-Mobile Home Internet. We are currently at a park where the signal is weak in the TT and stronger outside.

That being said, what inexpensive boosters are out there that I can throw up when we get to a park?

 

[llr2800]

I purchased this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0992FQS9Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and it seems to work well for the price. I added a flagpole holder near the top of the ladder and have the outside antenna mounted on a 6' pole.

If you have no signal then nothing will help.

 

[Soundsailor]

I purchased this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0992FQS9Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and it seems to work well for the price. I added a flagpole holder near the top of the ladder and have the outside antenna mounted on a 6' pole.

If you have no signal then nothing will help.

How did you manage the requirement for a 30 foot separation from the outside antenna to the booster unit?

 

[llr2800]

How did you manage the requirement for a 30 foot separation from the outside antenna to the booster unit?

I don't but probably not too far off. The inside unit it in the bedroom near the TV mount, I use the 2nd coax to bring it inside. I also use this primarily for my hotspot so that phone stays on the valence so they are close together as the signal is still fairly week from the booster although the signal seems a little stronger through out the camper with the booster.

I have a Visible phone that I only use for a hotspot, this goes to my router which doesn't need to be too close to the phone.

 

[Soundsailor]

I don't but probably not too far off. The inside unit it in the bedroom near the TV mount, I use the 2nd coax to bring it inside. I also use this primarily for my hotspot so that phone stays on the valence so they are close together as the signal is still fairly week from the booster although the signal seems a little stronger through out the camper with the booster.

I have a Visible phone that I only use for a hotspot, this goes to my router which doesn't need to be too close to the phone.

Let me see if I understand you, you attach the coax cable from the external antenna to one of the coax connections in the pass-through, and then attach the booster unit to the inside coax connector? That anticipates my second question, how do you get the cable in? A pretty ingenious approach!

 

[llr2800]

Let me see if I understand you, you attach the coax cable from the external antenna to one of the coax connections in the pass-through, and then attach the booster unit to the inside coax connector? That anticipates my second question, how do you get the cable in? A pretty ingenious approach!

Correct, I was planning on running a new cable but thought it was worth a try. The labeling of the connecters was not accurate and took a few tries to get it to work. I may try a direct cable sometime just to see if it helps, when working with weak signals if connecter loss can make a difference.

 

[docque]

I don't but probably not too far off. The inside unit it in the bedroom near the TV mount, I use the 2nd coax to bring it inside. I also use this primarily for my hotspot so that phone stays on the valence so they are close together as the signal is still fairly week from the booster although the signal seems a little stronger through out the camper with the booster.

I have a Visible phone that I only use for a hotspot, this goes to my router which doesn't need to be too close to the phone.

I did not read the 30ft thing but if it is a thing I can't do it. Besides it doesn't say it boosts 5G which is a must.

 

[llr2800]

I did not read the 30ft thing but if it is a thing I can't do it. Besides it doesn't say it boosts 5G which is a must.

I am not at 30' either, your trailer is shorter but if you can get the base all the way in front the ladder to base distance should be about the same as I am using.

Curious, why is 5G a must? 5G varies a lot depending on who is claiming it and unless you are in a city I doubt if you have the original 5G as it was intentionally very short range needing a lot of cell sites.

I believe most 5G is more like 4G+ as it is tweaks to 4G. I don't try to keep up to date on all the phones but I highly doubt if any "5G " devices won't work just fine on 4G too.

 

[docque]

I am not at 30' either, your trailer is shorter but if you can get the base all the way in front the ladder to base distance should be about the same as I am using.

Curious, why is 5G a must? 5G varies a lot depending on who is claiming it and unless you are in a city I doubt if you have the original 5G as it was intentionally very short range needing a lot of cell sites.

I believe most 5G is more like 4G+ as it is tweaks to 4G. I don't try to keep up to date on all the phones but I highly doubt if any "5G " devices won't work just fine on 4G too.

Because I have T-Mobile Home Internet and it will only work with 5G. But I did read that it does boost it.

Ok, on to the 30ft thing. I would attach to ladder but the TV is towards the back of the RV so it may be 15ft since I will get a longer pole.

 

[llr2800]

Because I have T-Mobile Home Internet and it will only work with 5G. But I did read that it does boost it.

Ok, on to the 30ft thing. I would attach to ladder but the TV is towards the back of the RV so it may be 15ft since I will get a longer pole.

There is no need to have the booster close to the TV. I did this as it was almost as far as I could get and easy to get the cable to it.

In a prior post I believe you said the T-Mobile would not allow the home Internet so be used on the road. Did you find more information on this?

 

[docque]

There is no need to have the booster close to the TV. I did this as it was almost as far as I could get and easy to get the cable to it.

In a prior post I believe you said the T-Mobile would not allow the home Internet so be used on the road. Did you find more information on this?

I talked to a Tech and he said that was BS. It could happen that I drop in priority and if I do to call and say I moved. So far it has been good.

Oh, would the internal antennae work if I had it in the pass-through?

 

[llr2800]

I talked to a Tech and he said that was BS. It could happen that I drop in priority and if I do to call and say I moved. So far it has been good.

Oh, would the internal antennae work if I had it in the pass-through?

The internal booster/antennae should work anywhere. The closer it is to the T-Mobile device the better. The Wi-Fi from the T-Mobile device will be much stronger then the cell signal so in that case I would put both in the pass through.

If you need the booster for other devices too it may not be optimal but I believe many devices now support Wi-Fi calling so if yours do it should not be an issue.

I would be interested in hearing how the T-Mobile works over time and in what kind of locations. I used to hear about their poor coverage but lately most people seem satisfied. Not sure if either opinion is correct or maybe both are and T-Mobile made some major change.

 

[docque]

The internal booster/antennae should work anywhere. The closer it is to the T-Mobile device the better. The Wi-Fi from the T-Mobile device will be much stronger then the cell signal so in that case I would put both in the pass through.

If you need the booster for other devices too it may not be optimal but I believe many devices now support Wi-Fi calling so if yours do it should not be an issue.

I would be interested in hearing how the T-Mobile works over time and in what kind of locations. I used to hear about their poor coverage but lately most people seem satisfied. Not sure if either opinion is correct or maybe both are and T-Mobile made some major change.

Well they do not have tons of 5G towers up so that can be an issue. If I need the Internet for work we always look if there is coverage. It is just here I have to go outside to get any bars. But as they add more towers, more coverage.

That and I do not need blazing speeds, just connectivity.

 

[Butcher]

About 10 years ago, I complained that the phone coverage was poor at my home. Long story short, they sent me a free booster. The hitch is that I must return it if I cancel their service. I do not chase deals and prefer a good relationship vs short time discounts. I use their free booster in the 5th wheel and it does a pretty good job. Best of all it was free, except being a loyal T-Mobile customer for 20 years did cost something.

So you could try complaining about their coverage and maybe you can get a free booster.

 

[trailrydr]

About 10 years ago, I complained that the phone coverage was poor at my home. Long story short, they sent me a free booster. The hitch is that I must return it if I cancel their service. I do not chase deals and prefer a good relationship vs short time discounts. I use their free booster in the 5th wheel and it does a pretty good job. Best of all it was free, except being a loyal T-Mobile customer for 20 years did cost something.

So you could try complaining about their coverage and maybe you can get a free booster.

I got one from Verizon around the same time ago... when I received and began to hook it up, it required me to hook it up to my WIFI using my ISP. That was the first red flag.

Then, not only could I use it over my ISPs broadband connection, but other Verizon users could also use it within a certain range, not just me. What? Using my paid ISP to facilitate Verizon calls for me and others? 2nd red flag!

Sure would like to know how my ISP would have felt about a telecom using their cable service to facilitate non paying customers..... and were are not talking just about house guests either, but neighbors and passerbys......

And still probably charge data usage against the plan of those Verizon users using it too. 3rd red flag?

Of course..... they fail to mention any of this when they send it FREE, NO CHARGE to you. Sent it back to them and said NO THANKS! Put up more towers!

Now one could just set your phone to make WIFI calls over your LAN/ISP. Of course, thats not terribly cool either when paying for cell service. But in a pinch....

 

[Butcher]

Mine is not that way. Just basic boosts the signal, no internet needed.

 

[docque]

About 10 years ago, I complained that the phone coverage was poor at my home. Long story short, they sent me a free booster. The hitch is that I must return it if I cancel their service. I do not chase deals and prefer a good relationship vs short time discounts. I use their free booster in the 5th wheel and it does a pretty good job. Best of all it was free, except being a loyal T-Mobile customer for 20 years did cost something.

So you could try complaining about their coverage and maybe you can get a free booster.

Same here and it worked like crap. They said to place it near a window and there was an app that would tell you best placement. Turns out that it was right next to my home internet device. So then I had two devices that got a crappy signal. It was more a repeater than a booster.

 

[huntindog]

There is so much new technology out there I thought I would open this up for discussion. We are not full time yet and are trying to do things on the cheap.

We have T-Mobile Home Internet. We are currently at a park where the signal is weak in the TT and stronger outside.

That being said, what inexpensive boosters are out there that I can throw up when we get to a park?

Not cheap, but I have a We Boost Drive. It was pretty impressive on the North Rimlast year on it's maiden voyage. I just installed a 23" painters pole on the ladder, and attached the Drive antenna to it. I can now raise it higher than I think is stable in wind, but I doubt I will go to full extension much. Just raising it 6' should make it a lot better. We always boondock in remote locations.

 

[docque]

Not cheap, but I have a We Boost Drive. It was pretty impressive on the North Rimlast year on it's maiden voyage. I just installed a 23" painters pole on the ladder, and attached the Drive antenna to it. I can now raise it higher than I think is stable in wind, but I doubt I will go to full extension much. Just raising it 6' should make it a lot better. We always boondock in remote locations.

I am trying to go cheap because once I go full time I don't really care about connectivity. By then maybe Starlink will be better.

 

[DECelt]

I tried one for $300.00 and sent it back the same day. Useless in worded situations. Maybe helpful with clear line of sight.