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Question on factory cell antenna on U320

October 25, 2016, 09:02:16 pm

I'm studying up for next coach purchase, and planning initial upgrades. 

For 2003 to 2005 U320, where is the cell antenna, and how is the wiring run (where to).  Approx height of the antenna?

I am planning for a antenna upgrade (4G compatible) with  a 4G wireless internet system.  Max Amp RV - Maximum Signal is my plan, and various antennas are available as options.

On my current coach I am using a "trucker antenna" short version.

Thanks for any info on the factory setup.

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Re: Question on factory cell antenna on U320

Reply #1 – October 25, 2016, 09:20:57 pm

It varies because it's spec'd by the person who had the coach built (and they would have been analog antennas).  There isn't a standard location.  IIRC, ours has one near the front cap, one near the bedroom, and also one mid-coach (which we had replaced with a 3G Wilson Trucker years ago since there's a 12V outlet under the sink where we powered our 3G amp when we had one).

To be honest, we haven't needed an amplifier or external cell antenna in years.

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Re: Question on factory cell antenna on U320

Reply #2 – October 25, 2016, 09:36:52 pm

Thanks Michelle.

We tend to camp in very rural locations, and have often needed our roof antenna with current hard wired 3G Cyfre amp connected to a Verizon MiFi to get internet.

 Some places we have been we only had internet through the amp, and zero voice connectivity (LaConner WA Thousand Trails was one).  The PNW has been fairly poor this last year in several  of the Thousand Trails parks. 

I had no idea a FT would have more than one cell antenna on the roof.  Interesting. 

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Re: Question on factory cell antenna on U320

Reply #3 – October 25, 2016, 10:48:33 pm

Most cell phone signal amps come with their own external antennas.  The OEM roof top antenna may work.  The one from the amp supplier may work better..

I put in one of these earlier this summer. Tried a couple of different ext antennas supplied by the manufacturer. It works quite well.  We were on the North Shore of Lake Superior in early October. Not the best cell signal but boosted we were getting 65 mbps down and 45 mbps up.  Pretty nice.

Maximum Signal - The Ultimate Solution For Cellular Reception Problems

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Re: Question on factory cell antenna on U320

Reply #4 – October 28, 2016, 11:04:41 pm

Just a follow up on broad band internet cell signal boosters.

After long research  I went with this for $480 versus the other product (at top)  for $650. weBoost Drive 4G-X Cell Phone Signal Booster | 470510 

From research, boosters actually degrade download and upload speeds in good signal areas.  So in good reception areas turn the booster off.  In low connectivity areas, the booster comes into play.

For now, I am still running my old hard wired 3G booster Cyfre CA318 with a 3G trucker antenna on the roof - tied into a Verizon MiFi - only used in low connectivity areas. 

I'll install the new wireless one when I am in a low connectivity area.

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Re: Question on factory cell antenna on U320

Reply #5 – October 30, 2016, 12:02:44 pm

Just tried a real world test of our new wireless cell signal booster WeBoost Drive 4G-X.  Temp setup, mini magnetic "outdoor" antenna on the dash on a metal ground plane, not on the roof as it will be in the future.  Location Thousand Trails Gordonville TX.

No booster, Verizon signal is -97 dBm, with booster signal is  -64 dBm.  This is with the cell phone and MiFi used to measure signal 2" away from internal antenna.

weBoost Drive 4G-X Cell Phone Signal Booster | 470510 


The power levels picked up by a cellular antenna are fractions of a
milliwatts, so the dBm readout will be a negative number.
–50dBm would be considered an awesome signal.
–60dBm is 10x weaker, but still great.
–70dBm is 100x weaker.
–80dBm is 1,000x weaker.
–90dBm is 10,000x weaker.
–100dBm is 100,000x weaker – and is when you are likely
to start seeing a serious impact.
–110dBm is a million times weaker than –50dBm and is
usually barely usable.
And by the time you see –120dBm, the phone has
probably already given up and switched to "No Service."

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