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Cell amplifier discussion

Added a Wilson Electronics Cell Phone Antenna booster. I actually did this a few week ends ago and have been testing it with a few cell phones. Works great. When it is off, I have about 2 bars signal strength and when switched on and holding the phone near the inside antenna, it jumps to 5 bars.
When we were out in Palo Duro Canyon over Thanksgiving, I had no service at all.
This will help without a doubt. Going to Big Bend soon and will give it a real test.

Wilson Amplifier Store - Wilson Electronics Antennas and Repeaters

I found the best price on Amazon

(Added)it was the Wilson 801201 Wireless Vehicle Amplifier
Chuck & Brenda
2000 U295

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #1 –
Chuck,

Is that paired with an external antenna?

And which model amp?  We have a wired amp attached to our Wilson Trucker NMO antenna on the roof, but our current phones don't have antenna ports.  We might be in the market for a new amp.

Thanks,

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #2 –
Michelle,

We use a Wilson cradle with our iPhone:

Wilson 801215 In-Vehicle Kit with Cradle plus.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #3 –
Quote from: ChuSmith –
Added a Wilson Electronics Cell Phone Antenna booster. I actually did this a few week ends ago and have been testing it with a few cell phones. Works great. When it is off, I have about 2 bars signal strength and when switched on and holding the phone near the inside antenna, it jumps to 5 bars.
When we were out in Palo Duro Canyon over Thanksgiving, I had no service at all.
This will help without a doubt. Going to Big Bend soon and will give it a real test.

Wilson Amplifier Store - Wilson Electronics Antennas and Repeaters

I found the best price on Amazon

When we were in Big Bend last year, the cell service had improved dramatically in the park. With the booster you should have a signal all of the way through the park with the possible exception of Rio Grande Village.

We have been using the Wilson 800/1900 amplifier with an RV/Trucker antenna and a proximity type internal antenna for about two years. I works really well. The inside proximity antenna requires that the cell phones have to be within 12" of the antenna so it is currently mounted by the relciner under the window sill. The amplifier is in the upper cabinet passenger side. I plan to move the external RV/Trucker antenna to the TV antenna mast to get more height while the coach is parked. Right now it is mounted to the Passenger side Hadley Horn so everything will have to be moved to the driver's side.

We use my AT&T iPhone as a hotspot. This system works great for data as well.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Steve & Michelle –
Chuck,

Is that paired with an external antenna?

And which model amp?  We have a wired amp attached to our Wilson Trucker NMO antenna on the roof, but our current phones don't have antenna ports.  We might be in the market for a new amp.

Thanks,

Michelle

Michelle, I think you can order the proximity antenna Amazon.com: Wilson Electronics Dual Band - 800-1900 MHz Slim Low Profile Antenna  and attach it directly to your Wilson amplifier. At least that is the way it works on our Wilson Amp.
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
Michelle, I think you can order the proximity antenna Amazon.com: Wilson Electronics Dual Band - 800-1900 MHz Slim Low Profile Antenna  and attach it directly to your Wilson amplifier. At least that is the way it works on our Wilson Amp.

Kent,

A few years ago I'd pinged Wilson and asked about it.  Ours being a direct connect amp, it won't work with an antenna - it only works directly plugged into a phone's antenna port.  It's 8 years old, so old technology ;)

Michelle
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #6 –
I would like to utilize the existing antenna mount provided by FT originally and already routed to below the dash.  Would the below Wilson Trucker NMO antenna work with the existing FT mount (height and thread) and the Wilson 801201 dual band amp?

Wilson 301133 Dual Band 'Trucker' Spring Antenna

Appreciate any thoughts or experience....
Bill & Deanne Brown
'03 U-320 Previous Owner in Houston

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #7 –
The unit that I installed does have an external antenna which I installed next to the CB antenna.
I wired the battery power over to the TV Antenna booster (located just inside the cabinet with the VCR/DVD Player, on the left side). Seemed like a logical place, being a signal booster switch and all. :)
The internal Antenna is a flat 2X6 in strip about 1/8 inch thick that comes with adhesive. The wire allows you to run this along the side and I have not permanently mounted it yet. I want to test in different locations before I do.

Will post some pictures of the installation if there is some interest in that.
Chuck & Brenda
2000 U295

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #8 –
On my 93, it was a screw off NMO mount They do make a trucker version:
Wilson 301112 Dual Band NMO Mount Trucker Antenna
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #9 –
Bill, I got a magnetic mount antenna with the kit but I used an external Cell Phone antenna that I already had. I just replaced the RG-58 with what was with the kit. There didn't appear to be any difference when I switched back and forth between antennas. Hope that helps.

Chuck
Chuck & Brenda
2000 U295

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #10 –
My Wilson 301112 antenna came with the cable permanently attached. I am not sure about the structure of your original mount. If you can feed the cable down through the mount to the interior, it may work but you won't be able to use the existing cable unless you cut the new one.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #11 –
Speaking of Wilson Amplifiers:  I have a question:  I have model # 811210 (about 4 years old). It has a "universal Connector" that attached via Velcro to the base of the antenna (when we had the Motorola Razr).  It worked well with the Razr, but now I have a Samsung Galaxy Captivate (an Android phone).  There is no "antenna base" on the Galaxy to my knowledge. I can move the velcro pad around the back of the phone with no increase in signal bars. :-(  Does anyone know of a particular cradle sold by Wilson that might work with my model?  Or, any ideas as to how to resolve this issue (short of buying a new amplifier)?
Don Hay
'92 Grandvilla, U-280
The Hayfever Express
Build #4055
'97 GEO Tracker
Life is like licking honey off a thorn.

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Dave Head –
On my 93, it was a screw off NMO mount They do make a trucker version:
Wilson 301112 Dual Band NMO Mount Trucker Antenna

Dave,
Are you saying I can use this Wilson 301112 Antenna without adding any additional Ground Plane to what FT originally provided in 2003 and still get adequate performance?
Bill & Deanne Brown
'03 U-320 Previous Owner in Houston

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #13 –
I have been using a wired booster (Surecall) for years and always got phones with an antenna port until I got the iPhone which doesn't have one. Instead I got the Wilson ultra slim antenna (301143/301149)  Product Details and that works quite well.

In fact, you can lay 2 iPhones side by side on it and both will show more bars, whereas with the wired connector to the antenna port only one phone could be boosted at a time!

Tys

The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Bill & Deanne Brown –
Dave,
Are you saying I can use this Wilson 301112 Antenna without adding any additional Ground Plane to what FT originally provided in 2003 and still get adequate performance?
I believe so... All of the trucker antennas don't require a ground plane. I replaced the analog nmo mount antenna on my 93 with a Wilson dual band and saw a 3 bar increase even without an amp.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
My Wilson 301112 antenna came with the cable permanently attached. I am not sure about the structure of your original mount. If you can feed the cable down through the mount to the interior, it may work but you won't be able to use the existing cable unless you cut the new one.

I see I made a mistake on the model of outside antenna I have. It is in fact a 301133 as Bill Brown stated.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Cell amplifier discussion

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Don Hay –
Speaking of Wilson Amplifiers:  I have a question:  I have model # 811210 (about 4 years old). It has a "universal Connector" that attached via Velcro to the base of the antenna (when we had the Motorola Razr).  It worked well with the Razr, but now I have a Samsung Galaxy Captivate (an Android phone).  There is no "antenna base" on the Galaxy to my knowledge. I can move the velcro pad around the back of the phone with no increase in signal bars. :-(  Does anyone know of a particular cradle sold by Wilson that might work with my model?  Or, any ideas as to how to resolve this issue (short of buying a new amplifier)?

Don, my Amazon.com: Wilson Electronics Dual Band - 800-1900 MHz Slim Low Profile Antenna wireless antenna/cradle works with any phone I have tried. The phone just needs to be within a short distance, 12" to 36" to connect to the amplifier. 12" is best.
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback