Communications - Cellular Signal Booster

While Wi-Fi is welcomed when available, I fall back to my cellular data plan to keep me connected to the Internet when I'm working on the road for services like email and Skype and Zoom conferences.  The challenge with cellular data, beyond the cost, is that lots of objects can absorb cell signals, like foliage, buildings, and even being in a vehicle like my Safari Sahara motorhome.  My Samsung Android phone uses a simple four-bar graphic to indicate cell signal strength.  At two bars you essentially have a really slow 4G/LTE Internet connection. Since the Microsoft Skype conferencing software I rely on is basically streaming audio and video, it becomes useless on two bars. Phone calls work, but good luck following a slide presentation with Skype or Zoom.

Weboost Drive 4G-X RV

My solution to weak cellular signals was to invest in the Weboost (Wilson Electronics) Drive 4G-X RV.

The Weboost "Drive 4G-X RV" Cellular Signal Booster ($499.99 in 2017)

Before we jump into the installation, lets review signal strength.  What bars represent in simplicity they lose in accuracy.  To really understand signal strength you have to monitor DB Gain (decibels gain).  For example, if you were standing right next to the cell tower you'd probably see -50 dbm, and if you were in a "dead zone" you'd see around -120 dbm.  My Samsung phone seems to start reporting two bars when I start seeing -106 dbm to -110 dbm.  Buried in the Mobile Networks menus of my phone is a feature that reports the signal strength in decibels.  I actually downloaded an inexpensive signal measuring app called "Network Cell Info" that I really like.  The app makes it easy to identify where you are getting the strongest signal, and you'd be surprised how moving just a few feet or changing your angle to north (it's really your angle to the cell tower) can make a big difference.

So why all the talk about DB?  A signal increase of just 3dB is two times the power and signal amplification.

• 3dB gain improvement is a 2x signal improvement
• 6dB gain improvement is a 4x signal improvement
• 10dB gain improvement is a 10x signal improvement
• 20dB gain improvement is a 100x signal improvement

How does signal strength in decibels map to 4G/LTE bars?

• 4 bars = -90dBm
• 3 bars = -91dBm to -105dBm
• 2 bars = -106dBm to -110dBm
• 1 bar = -111dmB to -119dBm
• 0 bar (dead zone) = -120dBm

What comes in the box

The installation of the system is very straightforward.  The two antennas, the white external one, and the black internal one need a certain amount of horizontal and vertical separation.  A green light on the black signal booster unit indicates if the separation has been achieved (otherwise a red light reports the antennas are interfering with one another).

Signal booster unit power and antenna connections.

Safari Sahara Installation

I decided I didn't want to drill any new mounting holes into the motorhome's roof, so I opted for a method that used Eternabond tape to fasten everything to the roof.  I started with an aluminum plate painted white that I bolted a marine style antenna mount so that I could lay the antenna horizontal when the motorhome's cover was in place.

Adjustable antenna mount.

Stainless steel bolts are countersunk so the plate will lay flat on the roof.

The Eternabond tape proved to be an excellent approach.  The system is very stable.  Standard PVC pipe and fittings threaded onto the antenna mount provided the mounting surface the components in the box were expecting.  I painted the PVC white to protect it from UV rays.

The white coax was covered in marine white vinyl lifeline covers to protect the coax from UV rays.

Eternabond tape in place, and coax running forward.

The antenna mount folded down so the RV cover can be installed.

The coax runs forward to the fiberglass end cap before entering the motorhome.

With the removal of the satellite dish on a previous project, I had been left with a hole in the front end cap where the wires used to run.  I'd already used the hole for the Wi-Fi cable, so I utilized the same hole for the coax.

Antenna coax entering motorhome.

The white coax connects to the signal booster and the internal antenna is tethered to the signal booster with thirteen feet of coax.  You position the internal antenna near where you plan to use your mobile phone.

Signal booster installed in upper cabinets at the front of the motorhome.

So does it work?

Pros

• Installation was straightforward and the instructions were clear with lots of pictures.
• I'm happy to report that my investment has made a measurable difference.  It has turned a lot of two bar locations into three and four bars.
• Multiple phones can be connected at the same time.
• No configuration of the phone needed.
• Once installed you only need to provide it power and point the internal antenna in the direction of your phone.  No software to install or configure.
• 30 dBm improvement with the phone near the antenna.
• 15 dBm improvement with the phone three feet from the antenna.

Cons

• There must be a separation of at least 20 vertical feet or 15 horizontal feet between the internal antenna and the outside antenna.
• The internal antenna must have a separation of at least 18 inches from all persons during normal operation.
• The internal antenna is directional so you must position it so that the 100-degree horizontal beam covers your phone.
• The user manual says the system operates best when your phone is used within 4-10 feet of the internal antenna but I found that to be way too optimistic.  As I indicated in the Pro section, the best results were achieved when the phone was very close to the internal antenna.
• I wish the internal antenna coax was longer so the antenna could sit on the dining table.  The alternative would be to relocate the signal booster closer to the galley.

Would I buy it again?  Absolutely.

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