What I have found in Cell Signal boosting... is that the Yagi directional antenna & booster,... both have to match the carrier frequency of your network... and the bais of the band towards up link and download frequencies will depend on how well the antennas are manufactured in respect to the 1/4 wavelength of either carrier.
Going to try a similar set up. Just purchased a WeBoost sleek. Want to add the OTR antenna and mount on a pole and attach to the ladder just the same. Definatly a cost savings even after 2 1/2 years after this vid was posted.
Yes using this Yagi Antenna will bring a stronger signal to the cradle but just keep in mind that it would never compare to the wireless kits like the 470510. No matter what you hook up to the cradle it will always be limited to 23db of increase compared to the hugely significant difference of the 50db the 470510 provides
CHiTO I disagree, both this and the kit you mentioned have the current maximum 1watt output amp in them, this is a limitation set by the FCC. The higher gain you are referring to is the indoor antenna and yes it will be higher as it is a more powerful repeater, with the device in the cradle however you will max it out either way. The only way to improve this more is to use a static booster with a higher power (illegal in mobile applications) or get an old 3 watt version prior to when they changed the regs. With any of these new systems the best you can do is improve the antenna because they are all 1 watt.
Mortons on the Move I actually work for Wilson Amplifiers so I am very aware of these units lol the cradle kits are actually only 0.33 watts meanwhile the 470510 is the only vehicle booster that is 1 full watt since 2015 FCC regulations. A 0.33 23db Amplifier will be outshined by a 1 watt 50db amplifier. Cradle kits max out at 23db meanwhile the 470510 has a higher 50db limit. You should try it out and will see way more difference =)
CHiTO Hmm, I'm still not convinced, the passband gain is higher, meaning potentially more power, but individual channel specs are pretty much the same. My understanding would be the 470510 will handle multiple devices better but one device won't be much different at all. I did go head to head with the 470510 last January in Quartzsite and my setup well outshined it. However they were using the stock antenna still so it was not a fair comparison. I would be interested in trying one out with my antenna however. Also testing the surecall fusion soon too.
Mortons on the Move the SureCall Fusion2Go has made a 2.0 version which has been very good for our customer lately. www.signalboosters.com/surecall-fusion2go-2-0-4g-cell-phone-signal-booster-kit/ I’ve tested both out myself and tend to see better performance and faster data on the weBoost version. The set up you got in this video is normally what I recommend my customers but most of them turn it down because it’s for a single user and tend to go with the 470520-RV that we have set up on our website. www.wilsonamplifiers.com/weboost-drive-4g-x-rv-trucker-essentials-kit-470510-rv/
Thanks for this idea! Been trying to find a solution to improve reliability on my tethered home desktop for online classes. We live too far out to get any regular cable or DSL service, and get 1, maybe 2 bars of 4gLTE on a good day. I installed this in my attic a few days ago and have seen peak downloads go from 8mbps to nearly 30mbps. Slow/bad times will no longer drop below 1mbps either, but stay between 2-5mbps. So again, thanks! Has worked out well.
Super helpful and informative video! I live just out of reach of cable, DSL is abysmally slow, satellite internet sucks and cell service is iffy at best. I might try to mount the little antenna to an old satellite dish and point it through the clearing in the trees...
We are stationary in the southeastern Adirondacks (Trout Lake, Warren County). Trying to figure out hte best booster to get so we can have cell service and use the internet too. 470510 the best way to go??
are you connecting the cradle plug to a 12v cigarette lighter in your rv or did you also convert to use a electric outlet plug type or usb? Sorry, bought the Drive Sleek weboost and our travel trailer only has usb and and electric outlets
I'm trying to improve my RV WeBoost DriveSleek system by adding a yagi directional antenna for better reception. After talking w/ tech support at Wilson Amplifiers I bought RG 58 cable and an adapter to plug into DriveSleek booster unit (which sends a signal on to cradle that holds hotspot device or phone). On eBay I bought open-box new Wilson Electronics 314411 Wide-Band Directional Antenna 700 - 2700 (yagi). After spending a good amount of time hooking everything up and mounting the yagi on my old Winegard TV antenna mast, I plugged the yagi cable into the DriveSleek booster and put my phone in the cradle. The adapter works fine (number below). Unfortunately I got NO improvement in signal strength compared to the omnidirectional antenna that came w/ DriveSleek. Both antennas provide the same increase, about 7db. I only tried this in my driveway, under leaf cover, but when I called WeBoost tech support they said this setup will never work. They said the yagi antenna has to be matched to the right booster/amplifier. And that would be none other than the $650 DestinationRV kit they sell (only as a kit). The tech rep also said that the yagi hookup I'm trying would probably "degrade" my signal over time, compared to the omni antenna. Said I would also need to re-install a different type of cable too. Frustrated. No way I'm gonna spend $650. Any ideas out there on how I can make this yagi antenna work with DriveSleek booster? Wilson SMA-Female to SMB Plug Adapter - 970019 WA970019 Wilson RG58 Coaxial Cable 20 feet - WA955822
Some reason why signal boosters may come expensive is due to R&D costs, licensing, patents and etc. But for some people, they would rather invest on "not-so-cheap" signal booster to save time and avoid headaches. If you're one of these people, then Google Search "legal to use mobile phone signal repeater novatel" and grab one to solve your signal issues.
how is this method working for you five years later? im looking into trying this for my camper van but was looking at the drive sleek model due to it being a bit cheaper. do you now if the weboost drive sleek has the port that wilson 400 cable can connect to? and what did you use to clamp the extension pole to the side of your rv?
Hi! I built this tow with the exact components recommended and loved it. However, my booster cradle got damaged by one of my children so Weboost sent us a replacement. They sent us a Drive Sleek Model Booster to replace so now the nipple to connect to the low loss coax cable won't fit. Can you help me figure out how to rebuild the tower using the Drive Sleek? Thank you
got a question for you or anyone who knows; I drive a mail truck on a rural route that has me in the dark zone with no phone service for 5 hrs. along my route. ; can I use my wire whip truck antenna for the cell antenna? instead of the roof mount job., and can you give me more details about where to get some of that stuff you were using to make your own? Is it something you sell? I would appreciate an answer as soon as you can cause I run that route 6 days a week, and 5 hrs. with no service can be a big deal sometimes; especially if you break down.
Tom, thanks for this video! ordered all the parts and pieces and was excited to hook it all up, but it doesn't work. Had to order the new drive sleek cell phone booster from weboost and the way to hook up the antenna cable has changed. the adapter pieces you recommend buying doesn't work. Has anyone figured out if there is an adapter out there that will work?? if not fingers crossed I can return all this stuff!
Another excellent video! Thank you! Your high quality videos will undoubtedly be increasing your subs. I love the way you tackle any and all projects (and sometimes outside the box). Please keep the videos coming!
Glad you like them! We love sharing things like this and have a long list of videos we would like to make...just need to find the time. Thanks for the comment
Sick video! Looking forward to attempting this with my lb1121. I am curious what model # 4g-s you have. If you could reply with that, that’d be wonderful so I find the right one. Also the link for it on amazon is incorrect up above. Great tutorial!
yes it was wrong...its the we Boost Drive Sleek Cell Phone Signal Booster Cradle Mount Holder for Car, Truck and RV Use - Enhance Your Signal up to 32x. For Single Device $199 or save $30 refurbished
Great video. Just a quick hint, get yourself the application SSA Outdoor to monitor your 4G connectivity and nearest tower. That's the way I aligned mine. Cheers.
Depends on your model but I ran it from the cabinet you see in the video behind the sliding doors in the basement, through a small hole into the water connection box and out with the hose. When we are not using the cable I pull it back through the water box and store it inside the basement sliding door near the water heater. This way its an easy setup. We have a power strip in the mirror cabinet we power it from and just leave it sitting on the stair. Its not the best looking solution but it works great and we dont have to put any holes in the rig.
Hmm, well my Samsung s5 fits with its ballistic case, but its tight, Anything larger would not fit however the "Wings" that hold the phone come off and you can put anything on it. We have even put tablets on it for a cell boost.
Will the system work in our 5th wheel without the directional antenna, just utilizing the magnetic antenna that comes with the We Boost? I realize I'd have to install a ground plane on the roof of my fiver, but I like the idea of easy portability between my Tow Vehicle and my RV when parked, so I was wondering if you tried connecting with the given system before you used the directional antenna. Thanks for the excellent video. I just subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to viewing other videos the Mortons.
As long as you have a ground plane it should work fine, we have some friends that use it that way and it works fine for them. The directional will just give you a slightly stronger signal depending on the location. We attempted to use it at first without a ground plane and it did nothing, we also crushed the small cable that comes with it in a window and actually damaged the cable so try not to do that. If you get a second magnetic antenna and install it permanently in the RV it would be an easy swap between the vehicles.
Mortons on the Move , good advice. I wonder if we must use the propriety antenna for dedicated mount or if a good compatible antenna from a different manufacturer would work. I'll let you all know when I find out. Now that Verizon is offering unlimited data at a reasonable rate, this is a must for us. Thanks.
Thank you sharing your experience with us. I'm in dead 4G area. but near area 4G connection works that is 1.5km away. can i boost using antenna like this ?
Great vid! Does the booster allow you to avoid roaming charges? Or, if you're roaming without it, will it allow you to get on your plan network? Thanks!
It all depends on where you are, if the phone sees the home tower better with the booster it usually will hop onto it. Occasionally we have seen it pick up one tower pointed one way and something different pointed another way. If you want to see if it will try to hook up to a different tower, change the antenna direction, then turn airplane mode on and off to reset the cell radio. Then it will pick up the first strong signal it receives. We do this quite often,. It really depends on where you are.
Will this work in home for permanent use? My service goes in and out and I can get service 1 mile down the road what's your thoughts will this work as a permanent home source
It will but it does not broadcast the signal so it has to be on the booster. Really depends on your issue, if you have a hill or large object blocking you it might not help. Since you can get some service I bet this would work great!
Hi Tom, you've been running your system for a yer now. How is it performing. Are you still as satisfied today? Apparently they offer a 75 ohm or a 50 ohm directional your antennae is a 500 ohm. What impact does ohm have in the consideration. Terrific project thank you for sharing.
We use it all the time still. I find it outperforms my neighbors omni antenna every time still. Lower the resistance better transmission. Go with the 50 ohm if you can but the 75 has standard Coax.
I see you have made a list there, sorry. but can I use my whip antenna instead? will that work, or wrong type of antenna? and is there a reason you use all weboost stuff? I'm trying to figure out the best setup for my 26' box truck. If you get the time, could you give me some idea what might be best for me. I don't need a directional antenna for internet; just increased range for my phone. I was trying to find some comparisons between the expensive boosters and the cheap ones. Do you know if those cheap roof mount set ups are any good at all; or do I need to go with the more expensive ones to get much improvement on that dead zone?
Your whip antenna won't work, the frequency is too high/ needs a short antenna. If you have a metal roof the roof mount stubby antennas work quite well. The cradle mount systems can still be a good choice but the new weboost reach does have higher gain. Surcall has some good options that are a bit more cost effective too.
Hey there, thanks for the video. Since you're so smart I thought maybe you could discuss the work around on the new weboost Sleek drive because it has a new proprietary antenna ending. It's called push and click. So I bought all the stuff that you recommended thinking that that included the weboost slick, but apparently weboost has been slick and made it more difficult to avoid buying their full RV booster for the extra $300. I contacted them directly to see if they had an adapter but I'm betting that they don't yet. If you can think of a workaround please let me know. Thanks for all the great videos. I check you out a lot
ran into the same problem, bought all of these parts, but had to purchase the new drive sleek and the antenna/cable adapter doesn't work. Any work arounds?
Probably a dumb question, but would connecting the booster directly to your bat-wing TV antenna be worthwhile? Since we aren't full-time in our rig, I don't want to spend a lot just to connect for vacation data.
Most likely it would not do to much for you but I am not an RF engineer. If it were a patch TV antenna or newer digital antenna i would think it would do more. I assume you would get some gain just because you are picking up from outside but the TV antenna is tuned for a much larger wavelength than the cellular so it will be canceling out much of the gain.... That's my meager understanding from the DSP classes I took years ago in college....
Did you call Verizon consumer help line to inquire as to a free "cell hotspot" to boost your signal in verizon dead spot areas? Do you use wifi calling on your cell phone?
The antenna needs to be tuned to the cell frequency. Satellite dishes are designed for much shorter wavelengths. Antenna design can be complicated but if you learn it you could build a nice yagi for cheap.
We have and would like to get one as i think it would be better in non line of site conditions.... but i have not tested that yet. I have been looking at this one because it uses the same connector as my directional. amzn.to/2pFYkA6
I'm sure those who are lost find this info very helpful but for less that $50 (doesn't include the actual high gain external antenna) and a VERY basic knowledge of DC electronics and soldering you can make your own signal booster?
@@writingforyourfuture5098 Just Google "homemade 4g repeater/booster". Find one that works best for your application and put it together. There so many people out there who make diagrams open source. The thing you have to remember is if you are somewhere that doesn't have any coverage then these won't help you. These boosters just amplify the signal over a small area.
How well would this work with using my cell phone as a hot spot? I only have 2 bars at my home with a -106 db signal. I can't get internet where I live, so I'm debating on using my phone or getting an individual hot spot for internet use as me and my wife can't live without playing video games online or watching Netflix.
We mostly use this for boosting the data and it works great. I am actually currently using internet through this setup. Not boosted we have 1-2 bars -104db 1x net. On the booster and pointing the right way we are seeing 3-4 bars, 4G lte -78db. Put the phone in airplane mode then take it out once on the booster to reset the cell radio and switch over to better data bands.
I give up. After a month of trying to get this to work, I'm raising the white flag. Weboost has changed their cell phone booster unit and it is much more difficult to get it to work now. I have located the connector needed to go from the new unit to the cable, but now am stuck with getting power to it within our RV. We will need to wire a "cigarette lighter" to our battery to make it work. I'd probably be willing to do that, however, the unit won't even work on our truck! we have an F150 which is made of aluminum not metal and so a) the antenna won't stick to our truck and b) there is no metal for it to conduct waves off from. Weboost suggest mounting a metal plate to our truck - yea not going to happen especially as it's a lease! I'm really disappointed and frustrated that I couldn't get this to work and am now forced to buy the more expensive weboost RV model. :(
As I understand it, you don't need to attach metal to your truck. you just need a piece of metal for the antenna to stick to. You should be able to just lay that piece of metal on your truck roof, once you're stationary.
Thank you for the video. I've been trying to figure out internet in a remote location I'm often in. I have verizon and the area is covered by US cellular. My phone pirates off the US cellular towers saying "extended network". This works fine for talk/text but no internet. I would like to keep Verizon but really want internet. Do you think the system you described would be able to pick up a verizon signal?
space radish it's hard to say. is verizon signal nearby? like a short drive, or are you on extended in a very large area? if it's borderline yes this could help. if verizon is nowhere near it will just boost uscellular. the phone will prioritize on verizon towers so when we find ourselves in this situation we point the antenna to the suspected verizon location and turn airplane mode on and off to reset the cell radio. we try this technique with multiple antenna positions. we have gotten the phone to hop to verizon this way, but it really depends on the situation/location, line of site etc..
I have a cabin out in the woods were I only get one (1) bar of service with AT&T. I do have a large directional TV antenna that is mounted on a pole that is about 30 feet high. Can I use my antenna in place of the Wilson Web Boost antenna and get the same results?
So I was planning to use that booster on my backpack (with a portable battery for power) for certain backcountry hikes, but from what you say the antenna will not work without the metal roof. Do you know of any smaller sized antenna I could wire up that would work for backpack use?
That is correct the antenna needs a metal roof. A pizza pan or even some aluminum foil under it will help but thats not great for backpacking. You could get an omni SMA male antenna like this one tho. amzn.to/2s88Gas
If the cradle only boosts the signal for about 2 inches all around, how do you boost your cell signal when not in the cradle? That's great if you are only using it for a hotspot, but I cant see how effective it would be for voice calls. Are you only using it for a hotspot? Enjoy the channel by the way, and we are buying a DRV Sante Fe this year.
We use it for voice calls a lot by using Bluetooth to remote speakers, headsets, computers etc... when we're in really bad service we pile a few devices on that thing.... other options might work a bit better but we have tested out the RV boosters and you still have to be really close to the booster for it to work... we're actually using it right now where our phones see one bar no data without it. With it 3 bars LTE, and I'm online. :) best of luck with the new rig , that's a nice one!
Thanks, that makes sense. Did not think of Bluetooth headset. I can work from basically anywhere I have cell coverage and internet. this sounds like a cost effective alternative. Thanks
Hi! I saw the weboost 4gs is no longer available and the newer version is $399 which makes this DIY obsolete haha. Any update on a different version or brand? Thanks @outdoingstuff
could you help me understand these boosters? in your video you say you canget a signal anywhere. when i talked to we boost they said if i can't make an out going call without a booster a booster won't work. my cabin is in east texas. what are your thoughts? thanks
superma74 we have been in many situations where the phone will just be searching for service, but with the booster pointed in the direction of the nearest tower it works great. How far are you from service and are there any Mountains/ hills or large obstacles in between? It really depends on the situation but if there is signal in the vicinity even if the phone has no service we can get it.
i am 8 miles from totally reliable service. i don't know where the nearest tower would be. ground is relatively flat and wooded. i have at&t and just recently recieved a incoming phone call. i occasionally receive voicemail notices but can't connect to hear the messages. friends with verizon can get phone and internet at odd locations but lose it if they move just inches.
superma74 sounds like a booster with a good antenna like I show in this video would work well for you. You will probably need to spend some time finding the tower with the antenna. But once lined up, I bet it will work great. I think most people do not understand how to get the most out of a booster, so yes weboost is probably being conservative. People like us on the other hand push the limits all the time.
wilson high cost cable is just RG6-UQ lol www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-250-ft-18-AWG-RG6-quad-Shield-Black-Coax-Cable-Spool/3363090 i just saved you money
oh gee, like the weboost device is only $200 on amazon, not to mention all the other stuff. for all that money it better reach to the friggin moon dude!!!
What I have found in Cell Signal boosting... is that the Yagi directional antenna & booster,... both have to match the carrier frequency of your network... and the bais of the band towards up link and download frequencies will depend on how well the antennas are manufactured in respect to the 1/4 wavelength of either carrier.
Going to try a similar set up. Just purchased a WeBoost sleek. Want to add the OTR antenna and mount on a pole and attach to the ladder just the same. Definatly a cost savings even after 2 1/2 years after this vid was posted.
Yes using this Yagi Antenna will bring a stronger signal to the cradle but just keep in mind that it would never compare to the wireless kits like the 470510. No matter what you hook up to the cradle it will always be limited to 23db of increase compared to the hugely significant difference of the 50db the 470510 provides
CHiTO I disagree, both this and the kit you mentioned have the current maximum 1watt output amp in them, this is a limitation set by the FCC. The higher gain you are referring to is the indoor antenna and yes it will be higher as it is a more powerful repeater, with the device in the cradle however you will max it out either way. The only way to improve this more is to use a static booster with a higher power (illegal in mobile applications) or get an old 3 watt version prior to when they changed the regs. With any of these new systems the best you can do is improve the antenna because they are all 1 watt.
Mortons on the Move I actually work for Wilson Amplifiers so I am very aware of these units lol the cradle kits are actually only 0.33 watts meanwhile the 470510 is the only vehicle booster that is 1 full watt since 2015 FCC regulations. A 0.33 23db Amplifier will be outshined by a 1 watt 50db amplifier. Cradle kits max out at 23db meanwhile the 470510 has a higher 50db limit. You should try it out and will see way more difference =)
CHiTO Hmm, I'm still not convinced, the passband gain is higher, meaning potentially more power, but individual channel specs are pretty much the same. My understanding would be the 470510 will handle multiple devices better but one device won't be much different at all. I did go head to head with the 470510 last January in Quartzsite and my setup well outshined it. However they were using the stock antenna still so it was not a fair comparison. I would be interested in trying one out with my antenna however. Also testing the surecall fusion soon too.
Mortons on the Move the SureCall Fusion2Go has made a 2.0 version which has been very good for our customer lately.
www.signalboosters.com/surecall-fusion2go-2-0-4g-cell-phone-signal-booster-kit/
I’ve tested both out myself and tend to see better performance and faster data on the weBoost version. The set up you got in this video is normally what I recommend my customers but most of them turn it down because it’s for a single user and tend to go with the 470520-RV that we have set up on our website.
www.wilsonamplifiers.com/weboost-drive-4g-x-rv-trucker-essentials-kit-470510-rv/
Can the same parts list here be used to connect the directional attenna to the 470510? Are the cables and connectors the same?
Thanks for this idea! Been trying to find a solution to improve reliability on my tethered home desktop for online classes. We live too far out to get any regular cable or DSL service, and get 1, maybe 2 bars of 4gLTE on a good day. I installed this in my attic a few days ago and have seen peak downloads go from 8mbps to nearly 30mbps. Slow/bad times will no longer drop below 1mbps either, but stay between 2-5mbps.
So again, thanks! Has worked out well.
Glad to hear you had success!
Super helpful and informative video! I live just out of reach of cable, DSL is abysmally slow, satellite internet sucks and cell service is iffy at best. I might try to mount the little antenna to an old satellite dish and point it through the clearing in the trees...
We are stationary in the southeastern Adirondacks (Trout Lake, Warren County). Trying to figure out hte best booster to get so we can have cell service and use the internet too. 470510 the best way to go??
are you connecting the cradle plug to a 12v cigarette lighter in your rv or did you also convert to use a electric outlet plug type or usb? Sorry, bought the Drive Sleek weboost and our travel trailer only has usb and and electric outlets
Thank you, I have a remote cabin and will upgrade my exterior antenna as u have, hope to get some gains.
If your not directional yet I am sure it will help. This antenna seems to work better than a polarized directional patch antenna too. Best of luck!
I'm trying to improve my RV WeBoost DriveSleek system by adding a yagi directional antenna for better reception. After talking w/ tech support at Wilson Amplifiers I bought RG 58 cable and an adapter to plug into DriveSleek booster unit (which sends a signal on to cradle that holds hotspot device or phone). On eBay I bought open-box new Wilson Electronics 314411 Wide-Band Directional Antenna 700 - 2700 (yagi).
After spending a good amount of time hooking everything up and mounting the yagi on my old Winegard TV antenna mast, I plugged the yagi cable into the DriveSleek booster and put my phone in the cradle. The adapter works fine (number below).
Unfortunately I got NO improvement in signal strength compared to the omnidirectional antenna that came w/ DriveSleek. Both antennas provide the same increase, about 7db.
I only tried this in my driveway, under leaf cover, but when I called WeBoost tech support they said this setup will never work. They said the yagi antenna has to be matched to the right booster/amplifier. And that would be none other than the $650 DestinationRV kit they sell (only as a kit). The tech rep also said that the yagi hookup I'm trying would probably "degrade" my signal over time, compared to the omni antenna. Said I would also need to re-install a different type of cable too.
Frustrated. No way I'm gonna spend $650. Any ideas out there on how I can make this yagi antenna work with DriveSleek booster?
Wilson SMA-Female to SMB Plug Adapter - 970019 WA970019
Wilson RG58 Coaxial Cable 20 feet - WA955822
Some reason why signal boosters may come expensive is due to R&D costs, licensing, patents and etc. But for some people, they would rather invest on "not-so-cheap" signal booster to save time and avoid headaches. If you're one of these people, then Google Search "legal to use mobile phone signal repeater novatel" and grab one to solve your signal issues.
how is this method working for you five years later? im looking into trying this for my camper van but was looking at the drive sleek model due to it being a bit cheaper. do you now if the weboost drive sleek has the port that wilson 400 cable can connect to?
and what did you use to clamp the extension pole to the side of your rv?
Just found you guys. This is my favorite channel now. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!!
Hi! I built this tow with the exact components recommended and loved it. However, my booster cradle got damaged by one of my children so Weboost sent us a replacement. They sent us a Drive Sleek Model Booster to replace so now the nipple to connect to the low loss coax cable won't fit. Can you help me figure out how to rebuild the tower using the Drive Sleek? Thank you
Do you have any info that is newer than this, or is this what you still use ?
got a question for you or anyone who knows; I drive a mail truck on a rural route that has me in the dark zone with no phone service for 5 hrs. along my route. ; can I use my wire whip truck antenna for the cell antenna? instead of the roof mount job., and can you give me more details about where to get some of that stuff you were using to make your own? Is it something you sell? I would appreciate an answer as soon as you can cause I run that route 6 days a week, and 5 hrs. with no service can be a big deal sometimes; especially if you break down.
What do you use to clamp pole to your ladder ? Btw enjoyed the video. Very informative.
Great video Tom. Great information. Thanks for sharing.
Evidently never been to the mountains of wv
Why not try the app opensignal? It has a feature that points you to the nearest tower. Probably would help with set-up and it's free.
Tom, thanks for this video! ordered all the parts and pieces and was excited to hook it all up, but it doesn't work. Had to order the new drive sleek cell phone booster from weboost and the way to hook up the antenna cable has changed. the adapter pieces you recommend buying doesn't work. Has anyone figured out if there is an adapter out there that will work?? if not fingers crossed I can return all this stuff!
was able to determine that you need a TS9 Female to NK Female connector. found it online through Walmart for $5.85
Thanks for posting this! I will update the description.
Hi Judy, did the TS9 to N adapter work for you? I understand that the drive sleek uses smb connectors, not TS9. Thanks
P G the size fit, but never got a chance to try it out as we were unable to make booster work.
Judy, thanks for the update and sorry you are having all these problems.
Another excellent video! Thank you! Your high quality videos will undoubtedly be increasing your subs. I love the way you tackle any and all projects (and sometimes outside the box). Please keep the videos coming!
Glad you like them! We love sharing things like this and have a long list of videos we would like to make...just need to find the time. Thanks for the comment
What were the two places where you didn't find a cell signal? What is your carrier?
Sick video! Looking forward to attempting this with my lb1121. I am curious what model # 4g-s you have. If you could reply with that, that’d be wonderful so I find the right one. Also the link for it on amazon is incorrect up above. Great tutorial!
yes it was wrong...its the we Boost Drive Sleek Cell Phone Signal Booster Cradle Mount Holder for Car, Truck and RV Use - Enhance Your Signal up to 32x. For Single Device $199 or save $30 refurbished
Great video. Just a quick hint, get yourself the application SSA Outdoor to monitor your 4G connectivity and nearest tower. That's the way I aligned mine. Cheers.
I just downloaded that app but am not understanding how to locate the cell signal with it.....I guess I am a but technically challenged.
Great video, thank you! Do you need any lightning protection with your setup?
We also have a DRV, where did you run it from the inside to the outside?
Depends on your model but I ran it from the cabinet you see in the video behind the sliding doors in the basement, through a small hole into the water connection box and out with the hose. When we are not using the cable I pull it back through the water box and store it inside the basement sliding door near the water heater. This way its an easy setup. We have a power strip in the mirror cabinet we power it from and just leave it sitting on the stair. Its not the best looking solution but it works great and we dont have to put any holes in the rig.
Thanks for this video... How big of phone will fit the cradle?
Hmm, well my Samsung s5 fits with its ballistic case, but its tight, Anything larger would not fit however the "Wings" that hold the phone come off and you can put anything on it. We have even put tablets on it for a cell boost.
high tech there TOM!! Hey its great to see the options.......
Will the system work in our 5th wheel without the directional antenna, just utilizing the magnetic antenna that comes with the We Boost? I realize I'd have to install a ground plane on the roof of my fiver, but I like the idea of easy portability between my Tow Vehicle and my RV when parked, so I was wondering if you tried connecting with the given system before you used the directional antenna.
Thanks for the excellent video. I just subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to viewing other videos the Mortons.
As long as you have a ground plane it should work fine, we have some friends that use it that way and it works fine for them. The directional will just give you a slightly stronger signal depending on the location. We attempted to use it at first without a ground plane and it did nothing, we also crushed the small cable that comes with it in a window and actually damaged the cable so try not to do that. If you get a second magnetic antenna and install it permanently in the RV it would be an easy swap between the vehicles.
Mortons on the Move , good advice. I wonder if we must use the propriety antenna for dedicated mount or if a good compatible antenna from a different manufacturer would work. I'll let you all know when I find out.
Now that Verizon is offering unlimited data at a reasonable rate, this is a must for us. Thanks.
Hello, during the times that you did not get any cell phone signal, was it because of mountains blocking the signal or what was the cause? Thank you,
Yes we were in the mountains. Have had a few more since then and it's almost always mountains or deep valleys
you guys are the best with this tech. much better cost than trying to pay for this with a combined kit.
Thanks! We try to keep our costs down and share it when we can!
Thank you sharing your experience with us. I'm in dead 4G area. but near area 4G connection works that is 1.5km away. can i boost using antenna like this ?
Great vid! Does the booster allow you to avoid roaming charges? Or, if you're roaming without it, will it allow you to get on your plan network? Thanks!
It all depends on where you are, if the phone sees the home tower better with the booster it usually will hop onto it. Occasionally we have seen it pick up one tower pointed one way and something different pointed another way. If you want to see if it will try to hook up to a different tower, change the antenna direction, then turn airplane mode on and off to reset the cell radio. Then it will pick up the first strong signal it receives. We do this quite often,. It really depends on where you are.
Will this work in home for permanent use? My service goes in and out and I can get service 1 mile down the road what's your thoughts will this work as a permanent home source
It will but it does not broadcast the signal so it has to be on the booster. Really depends on your issue, if you have a hill or large object blocking you it might not help. Since you can get some service I bet this would work great!
Hi Tom, you've been running your system for a yer now. How is it performing. Are you still as satisfied today? Apparently they offer a 75 ohm or a 50 ohm directional your antennae is a 500 ohm. What impact does ohm have in the consideration. Terrific project thank you for sharing.
We use it all the time still. I find it outperforms my neighbors omni antenna every time still. Lower the resistance better transmission. Go with the 50 ohm if you can but the 75 has standard Coax.
I see you have made a list there, sorry. but can I use my whip antenna instead? will that work, or wrong type of antenna? and is there a reason you use all weboost stuff? I'm trying to figure out the best setup for my 26' box truck. If you get the time, could you give me some idea what might be best for me. I don't need a directional antenna for internet; just increased range for my phone. I was trying to find some comparisons between the expensive boosters and the cheap ones. Do you know if those cheap roof mount set ups are any good at all; or do I need to go with the more expensive ones to get much improvement on that dead zone?
Your whip antenna won't work, the frequency is too high/ needs a short antenna. If you have a metal roof the roof mount stubby antennas work quite well. The cradle mount systems can still be a good choice but the new weboost reach does have higher gain. Surcall has some good options that are a bit more cost effective too.
thank you so much for this clip. I have been doing a lot of research on boosting my internet and cell. Cost has been my hold up.
Your welcome! I am actually using it right now, almost no signal without it.
Hey there, thanks for the video. Since you're so smart I thought maybe you could discuss the work around on the new weboost Sleek drive because it has a new proprietary antenna ending. It's called push and click. So I bought all the stuff that you recommended thinking that that included the weboost slick, but apparently weboost has been slick and made it more difficult to avoid buying their full RV booster for the extra $300. I contacted them directly to see if they had an adapter but I'm betting that they don't yet. If you can think of a workaround please let me know. Thanks for all the great videos. I check you out a lot
ran into the same problem, bought all of these parts, but had to purchase the new drive sleek and the antenna/cable adapter doesn't work. Any work arounds?
John we figured out you need a TS9 Female to NKFemale connector. I found one online for $5.85
@@judyflier547 how many decibels did you gain with the setup?
Probably a dumb question, but would connecting the booster directly to your bat-wing TV antenna be worthwhile? Since we aren't full-time in our rig, I don't want to spend a lot just to connect for vacation data.
Most likely it would not do to much for you but I am not an RF engineer. If it were a patch TV antenna or newer digital antenna i would think it would do more. I assume you would get some gain just because you are picking up from outside but the TV antenna is tuned for a much larger wavelength than the cellular so it will be canceling out much of the gain.... That's my meager understanding from the DSP classes I took years ago in college....
Tom will the 3G-S work ok? The 4G is unavailable. Thanks
I too have found 2 dead spots... Yellowstone and Devils Den. What was yours?
Yellowstone (Well outside of, In Yellowstone we had service but it was almost unusable) And Tate's hell national forest in Florida.
Stoney Run hollow.
Did you call Verizon consumer help line to inquire as to a free "cell hotspot" to boost your signal in verizon dead spot areas?
Do you use wifi calling on your cell phone?
Were way of grid so there is no wifi around. This booster provides us our internet.
Have the weboost but need a bigger antenna how can i make my own or would a satellite radio antenna work with proper conections
The antenna needs to be tuned to the cell frequency. Satellite dishes are designed for much shorter wavelengths. Antenna design can be complicated but if you learn it you could build a nice yagi for cheap.
Do you get much flex out of the pole? Pretty strong?
Its a bit flexible but plenty strong for the antenna. We have had it up in 50+ MPH winds without problem.
How did you fasten it to the ladder?
Thank you; most helpful information. I enjoy your broadcasts!
Tom have you considered an omni-directional antenna, and if so which one
We have and would like to get one as i think it would be better in non line of site conditions.... but i have not tested that yet. I have been looking at this one because it uses the same connector as my directional. amzn.to/2pFYkA6
@@MortonsontheMove Omni antenna can't reach as far as directional antennas.
Can i use an aluminum type antenna with cable connected to a 3.5mm jack to be inserted to the phone's 3.5mm jack port, to enhance 3G/4G signal???
No the 3.5mm jack is not connected to the radio at all.
will this work with the newer sleek model?
What about lightning protection?
Havent thought of it but it probably would be smart to ground the mast and put a point on the top.
I'm sure those who are lost find this info very helpful but for less that $50 (doesn't include the actual high gain external antenna) and a VERY basic knowledge of DC electronics and soldering you can make your own signal booster?
Would you mind elaborating on this?
@@writingforyourfuture5098
Just Google "homemade 4g repeater/booster". Find one that works best for your application and put it together. There so many people out there who make diagrams open source. The thing you have to remember is if you are somewhere that doesn't have any coverage then these won't help you. These boosters just amplify the signal over a small area.
How well would this work with using my cell phone as a hot spot? I only have 2 bars at my home with a -106 db signal. I can't get internet where I live, so I'm debating on using my phone or getting an individual hot spot for internet use as me and my wife can't live without playing video games online or watching Netflix.
We mostly use this for boosting the data and it works great. I am actually currently using internet through this setup. Not boosted we have 1-2 bars -104db 1x net. On the booster and pointing the right way we are seeing 3-4 bars, 4G lte -78db. Put the phone in airplane mode then take it out once on the booster to reset the cell radio and switch over to better data bands.
would this help my hotpot get better download speeds?
It really depends but if you see slow speeds usually yes it will!
Works great thanks 👍🏻
Wouldn't it be easier to just change to a different carrier?
I give up. After a month of trying to get this to work, I'm raising the white flag. Weboost has changed their cell phone booster unit and it is much more difficult to get it to work now. I have located the connector needed to go from the new unit to the cable, but now am stuck with getting power to it within our RV. We will need to wire a "cigarette lighter" to our battery to make it work. I'd probably be willing to do that, however, the unit won't even work on our truck! we have an F150 which is made of aluminum not metal and so a) the antenna won't stick to our truck and b) there is no metal for it to conduct waves off from. Weboost suggest mounting a metal plate to our truck - yea not going to happen especially as it's a lease! I'm really disappointed and frustrated that I couldn't get this to work and am now forced to buy the more expensive weboost RV model. :(
As I understand it, you don't need to attach metal to your truck. you just need a piece of metal for the antenna to stick to. You should be able to just lay that piece of metal on your truck roof, once you're stationary.
Thank you for the video. I've been trying to figure out internet in a remote location I'm often in. I have verizon and the area is covered by US cellular. My phone pirates off the US cellular towers saying "extended network". This works fine for talk/text but no internet. I would like to keep Verizon but really want internet. Do you think the system you described would be able to pick up a verizon signal?
space radish it's hard to say. is verizon signal nearby? like a short drive, or are you on extended in a very large area? if it's borderline yes this could help. if verizon is nowhere near it will just boost uscellular. the phone will prioritize on verizon towers so when we find ourselves in this situation we point the antenna to the suspected verizon location and turn airplane mode on and off to reset the cell radio. we try this technique with multiple antenna positions. we have gotten the phone to hop to verizon this way, but it really depends on the situation/location, line of site etc..
Yes, it's extended in a large area but I may still try this. Thank you so much for the info and the reply!
Tom, great DIY video. I understood most of it. I have the ability to create a "hot spot" with my car. I haven't tried it yet. (Extra cost. :-)) Ted
What about 5g? Will it work?
I have a cabin out in the woods were I only get one (1) bar of service with AT&T. I do have a large directional TV antenna that is mounted on a pole that is about 30 feet high. Can I use my antenna in place of the Wilson Web Boost antenna and get the same results?
So I was planning to use that booster on my backpack (with a portable battery for power) for certain backcountry hikes, but from what you say the antenna will not work without the metal roof. Do you know of any smaller sized antenna I could wire up that would work for backpack use?
That is correct the antenna needs a metal roof. A pizza pan or even some aluminum foil under it will help but thats not great for backpacking. You could get an omni SMA male antenna like this one tho. amzn.to/2s88Gas
Thanks a lot, that may work! Does that antenna have the same plug in size?
Yes the SMA size, the one in my video uses an adapter to N size
Christian Repenter bbbb
awesome. we are going to look into this
Thank you so much. 💝
If the cradle only boosts the signal for about 2 inches all around, how do you boost your cell signal when not in the cradle? That's great if you are only using it for a hotspot, but I cant see how effective it would be for voice calls. Are you only using it for a hotspot? Enjoy the channel by the way, and we are buying a DRV Sante Fe this year.
We use it for voice calls a lot by using Bluetooth to remote speakers, headsets, computers etc... when we're in really bad service we pile a few devices on that thing.... other options might work a bit better but we have tested out the RV boosters and you still have to be really close to the booster for it to work... we're actually using it right now where our phones see one bar no data without it. With it 3 bars LTE, and I'm online. :) best of luck with the new rig , that's a nice one!
Thanks, that makes sense. Did not think of Bluetooth headset. I can work from basically anywhere I have cell coverage and internet. this sounds like a cost effective alternative. Thanks
thank you!!!! doing it
Hi! I saw the weboost 4gs is no longer available and the newer version is $399 which makes this DIY obsolete haha. Any update on a different version or brand? Thanks @outdoingstuff
you can purchased a sleek used on sites like ebay
So this device in your vehicle only works on one phone?
Any cellular device, we use wifi hotspots
Nice job .
SMA MALE CONNECTOR?
could you help me understand these boosters? in your video you say you canget a signal anywhere. when i talked to we boost they said if i can't make an out going call without a booster a booster won't work. my cabin is in east texas. what are your thoughts? thanks
superma74 we have been in many situations where the phone will just be searching for service, but with the booster pointed in the direction of the nearest tower it works great. How far are you from service and are there any Mountains/ hills or large obstacles in between? It really depends on the situation but if there is signal in the vicinity even if the phone has no service we can get it.
i am 8 miles from totally reliable service. i don't know where the nearest tower would be. ground is relatively flat and wooded. i have at&t and just recently recieved a incoming phone call. i occasionally receive voicemail notices but can't connect to hear the messages. friends with verizon can get phone and internet at odd locations but lose it if they move just inches.
my guess is that we boost is playing it very conservative for fear of over promising and under performing.
superma74 sounds like a booster with a good antenna like I show in this video would work well for you. You will probably need to spend some time finding the tower with the antenna. But once lined up, I bet it will work great. I think most people do not understand how to get the most out of a booster, so yes weboost is probably being conservative. People like us on the other hand push the limits all the time.
thank you atlest you reply me
all the best.... chress
how can we purchase cell phone signal booster please any number to contact
We dont actually sell these, just showing how we use it.
Mustafa Shaik you can call Wilson Amplifiers directly at 1-800-568-2723 or visit their website www.wilsonamplifiers.com to order any Wilson device
I think your definition of 'for the cheap' doesn't really apply internationally
Sounded good until I went to amazon and weboost is $287..
That boosteris still around 300 by itself...
Shops and departments convinced shall has d enounciation.
wilson high cost cable is just RG6-UQ lol www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-250-ft-18-AWG-RG6-quad-Shield-Black-Coax-Cable-Spool/3363090
i just saved you money
oh gee, like the weboost device is only $200 on amazon, not to mention all the other stuff. for all that money it better reach to the friggin moon dude!!!
That is half the cost of a unit pre designed with these capabilities. ~600
*Not Cheap*
Less than half the cost of a comparable system tho.
BLA BLA THIS SAVES YOU MONEY??? BS