
How Cellular Boosters Work WeBoost Cellphone Signal BoosterĪ cellular booster simply increases the volume of the cell signal so that your phone, tablet, and hotspot device can “hear it better”. If you cannot do either of these, then at least connect the antenna to the metal chassis of your RV. Or, you can connect a ground spike to the pole. This means mounting the antenna to a metal pole, and then mounting the pole into the Earth itself. This improves the strength of the cell signal. It’s also best to create an electrical ground for the antenna. Hence, it’s best to mount the antenna units on a long, metal pole. The higher you raise an antenna into the air, the more signal you can capture. Most antennas offers anywhere from a 5 decibel gain to 15 decibel gain. Yagi antennas are usually sold one a-piece, and each can be used either for incoming or outgoing cell signal. One of the antennas has to be turned and mounted at a 90-degree angle from the other antenna to avoid feedback loop (see photo). These involve two separate antenna units, one for outgoing signal, and one for incoming signal. Yagi antennas are the most effective of directional antennas. Directional antennas, however, do a much better job at capturing signal. These are intended to be mounted securely to a vehicle, and will capture cell signal from any direction. If you need an antenna while driving down the road, you will need an omni-directional antenna. Because of this, these antennas can only be erected while parked or camping. These are intended to be turned towards the nearest cell tower. The best antennas are directional antennas. Once everything is in place, your phone, tablet, even your television will connect to it wirelessly. They have a slot for a SIM card which you will need to use your cellular service with. They function just like a hotspot device. Routers made by Peplink are the most popular. Many boondocking geeks prefer to use a router instead of a hotspot device. Hotspots and routers with no antenna ports will not work with an antenna.

This is why you will need a hotspot device or router with two antenna ports, one for outgoing signal and the other for incoming. Cellular antennas designed for 4G networks are capable of capturing signals in a wide of variety of frequencies, hence the acronym “MIMO” (multiple-in, multiple-out). These antennas typically require two wires, one for outgoing signal and the other for incoming. Most boondockers use hotspot devices as their routers. How Cellular Antennas WorkĬellular antennas work by capturing as much cell signal as possible and funneling into a hotspot or router. It will work with all the cellular devices you already have (phone, tablet, smartwatch, etc). By contrast, cellular boosters do not require adding another line. This means having to add another line (phone number) to your cellular service. Both devices require a SIM card from your cellular provider. Note that cellular antennas use a cable that plugs into a hotspot device or router to work properly. The total cost of everything needed may range from $150.00 to $250.00. However, you have to buy the cables, mounts, and poles separately.

These kits include the necessary cables, mounts, and poles.īy contrast, a good cellular antenna can run between $100.00 to $150.00. Cost of a Cellular Booster Versus AntennaĬellular booster kits offered by Winegard and WeBoost can cost between $500.00 to $750.00. They don’t seem to work very well at all where signal is weak.īoth cellular boosters and antennas do not work at all where there is no signal. But in places where signal is average to excellent, they actually make your signal worse.Ĭellular antennas are effective in places with fair to excellent signal strength. Cellular antennas and cellular boosters are equally as effective, though each has its advantages in varying situations.Ĭellular boosters are effective in places with weak to average cell signal strength.

Getting good Internet access while camping is becoming more important for many boondockers.
#PHONE ANTENNA BOOSTER HOW TO#
How to Boost Your Cell Signal When Camping Notice the antennas are turned at 90 degrees to each other. Two yagi cellular antennas, one for incoming cell signal, the other for out. However, each has their advantages and disadvantages when it comes boosting cell signal. Technically, the latter, the booster, works better in most situations. Both can yield similar results, though the former, the antenna, is often cheaper. You can boost your cell signal when camping by either (1) using a cellular antenna, or (2) using a cellular booster.
