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Topic: Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater. (Read 812 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Quote from: sedelange –
Installed a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater. The boss doesn't like loosing her internet signal.
Steve, be nice & start another thread to show & tell ! I need to do the same, antenna mount, where is the amp, any cross feed, what model......inquiring minds.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #1 –
I had purchased a Wilson Mobile 4G.  When I was researching installation, I found the currently sell a Drive 4G-M and are soon to release a Drive 4G-X.  I contacted Wilson about the differences and what antenna they recommended for a Fiberglas coach.  Turns out the Mobile 4G and the Drive 4G-M are the same with a different case. The Drive 4G-X is a unit with maximum allowed transmission power. 

Since I didn't want to wait, I connected the Mobile 4G.  Wilson recommended I use the antenna that came with the unit if I wanted data. They indicated I would need a 3" diameter piece of steel glued to the roof.  There is no need to ground the metal as the antenna would ground through the magnet to provide a sufficient ground plane. I currently have the box laying in the cabinet over the passenger's seat.  I mounted the antenna on the centerline of the coach, a couple of feet back from the front.  I didn't want to drill a hole in the roof yet till I see if I get any oscillations when I use the unit on the road.  For now, I have the wire going forward of the awning then above the door drip rail and then into the cabin through the rear of the door opening. I plugged the 12V power plug into the socket by the passengers seat and the wiring for that behind the window trim to the upper cabinet. The indoor antenna mount is currently on the inside edge of the passengers seat and the wiring run with the power wire.  When I turned the unit on, I had four green lights indicating no oscillation.  The phone calls I have made so far are normal, however I am currently in an area itch good reception. The test will be on the way home to Houston Monday.

 If everything works, I will drill a hole in the roof and run wire to the box. I will also run the wires to the power socket and the inside antenna properly.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #2 –
I have the Wilson Sleek 4G with an external antenna. Is this what you mean by "repeater"? My unit is a cradle in which I put the cell phone. It simply takes the incoming signal, amplifies it, and then inductively couples it to the cell phone laying in the cradle. I usually have a Bluetooth earpiece for cell phone calls and have the unit plugged in and tethering other WiFi devices.

The antenna is on the roof "railing" with a skinny coaxial cable running down the ladder and into the engine compartment and up into the bedroom.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #3 –
The Wilson Mobile 4G and Drive 4G have an antenna you mount on the inside of the coach and that allows multiple users. Both my wife's iPad and cell are connected at the same time mine are.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #4 –
The reason I asked is that I have an old Wilson repeater, which usually worked well. But some times it would go into oscillations, and I couldn't get the antennae far enough apart. Now that everything is going 4g or whatever is next it's time for a new setup for the new to us FT. I have a Wilson Sleek also and usually find it adequate, but some time I need the extra reach.

Thanks! 
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #5 –
I won't know about oscillations until I get on the road Monday.  It tests fine, but I am curious what will happen when I get away from the cell towers.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #6 –
I ran ours through the rear bedroom cabinet access panel and out the intake vent (by the backup camera).  Our internet phone sits in that cabinet and I also installed 12v ports in there.  Here are some observations.

* It only barely helps when signal is weak.  I mean seriously if you have a mifi and put it on your roof, the wilson 4g won't do much more for you than that.  Our test setup was at Myakka River state park in Florida and though it helped, it was still really really flaky.  AT&T worked better than verizon with it.
* When you have poor signal, the amp portion gets *very* hot. 
* When you have okay signal, the wilson will get you much better download/upload speeds than you would have gotten otherwise.  This seems to be the real value of this device.

My original installation was a pizza pan from walmart sealed to the top of the rear ac shroud.  Came off first trip.  Bought a new pizza pan and attached it to my wifi pole on the ladder but I found the whole thing does even better without the ground plane.  I think my EMT pole is acting as the other half of the dipole and does a better job somehow.  Got to the next place and found the antenna broken off and just the mag mount still there.  So now I climb the ladder and bring it down every time.  I really don't know where these attack trees come from.

Re: Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #7 –
Trees are one reason I asked Wilson if I needed to use their spring loaded antenna.  The indicated I would get better data reception with the enclosed magnetic antenna. Since my primary usage on the road is for Pandora and Internet connections, I stayed with the stubby antenna.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #8 –
Just drove from Ruidoso, NM to Snyder, Tx across the plains and didn't loose signal once. When I was coming down the mountain from our house, the area that always drops signal worked perfectly. Talked on the phone just to see how it would do.  Very pleased
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #9 –
Another tidbit, if you're like us and use different carriers for voice and data (we use verizon for data and AT&T for voice), you can use a rubber band to attach another device to the back of the wilson 4g and it will be boosted at the same time as the primary device.  Then use a bluetooth headset to actually make a call.  Worked for me in a pinch when I had a conference call.

Re: Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #10 –
Up in the corner of the ceiling looks to be a removable panel running the length of the coach. Is it a cable chase ? Would it be a good location to run the antenna cable?
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #11 –
There are wires behind there but I don't know where they terminate.  They might be interior only. 
 

Re: How to install a Wilson Mobile 4G repeater.

Reply #12 –
Update:  we drove from Ruidoso, NM back to Houston, TX and did not drop the data signal once.  I am going to mount the box permanently and route the wiring out of view. I am still not settled on the best location for the antenna, however the boss was able to have a signal when she rested in the back.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas