Thanks for review. I took a 2 month trip from NY to Texas to Florida and back at the beginning of the year. I tested the Weboost 4G-X-RV with Verizon, ATT, and T-mobile at all the places I boondocked/camped. I tested both an omni and yagi external antenna. The results were interesting. I learned a couple of things: 1st, DB isn't a very useful metric. I used the Speedtest app to check upload/download speeds. You can have great DB, but a crowded/lousy cell tower. After all, how fast you can download or upload a video is what makes the booster useful. 2nd, there was no best network. All three major networks were better at some places. A good portion of the time, the unboosted signal had a better download speed than boosted. Upload speeds were always better with the booster. 3rd, The yagi takes time to set up (and can't be used while driving). In really remote areas with no signal, the opensignal app didn't always give a direction. So you had to hunt for the tower. At one place on the Texas coast, I could only get a connection with the yagi antenna. Most of the time, the extra effort to put up the yagi wasn't worth the effort. The omni antenna provided similiar upload/download speeds. I have a small 14.5' trailer and I had to use the small candy bar antenna instead of the one provided with the RV kit. Since I couldn't get the required separation (getting green leds during boot-up). Weboost was definitely worth having. But having multiple carriers is also important!
Thanks for that great info. Nothing like real world examples. My experience has been similar. There are so many variables that can affect your signal. Of course data speed...well thats another thing entirely. I keep trying different options until I get the best signal at our location. We only have Verizon though.
We just completed 8 weeks in Utah and Colorado and Nevada (Capital Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Rocky Mtn, Gunnison, Ouray, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands, etc). Our results were a bit different in that the 10 stops where we had to use the 4GX-RV WeBoost to get a usable signal, only two had better and more usable signal from AT&T and all others strongly favored Verizon. However, AT&T was via OnStar in our truck while Verizon was by cell phone in the 5th wheel. An AT&T phone on the WeBoost might have been more competitive though the OnStar rooftop antenna is supposed to be a big advantage and we did try pointing the indoor yagi at the truck a couple of times when we could get neither Verizon or AT&T. This relative performance matches two previous 8 week trips to the same region (but including ID and MT) and before having the WeBoost. On those trips Verizon almost always had a better signal on the cell than AT&T in spite of the truck roof top antenna. Also, data was almost always better on Verizon even if AT&T had a stronger signal. When the omni antenna outside was sufficient, we used the yagi inside pointed at the phone. That gave us more workable seating positions for phone call use though it meant moving the yagi now and then. For data the phone was leaning up against the indoor antenna (the black one or the yagi). And, as others reported, we often did not get 4G or usable data even though we were at 3-5 bars with the WeBoost. Voice calls and text always worked with the WeBoost. BTW, my outside antenna (omni or yagi) is at the top of a 9' piece of 3/4" Sched 40 PVC clamped to my ladder. That puts it about 7' above the RV roof.
I am glad to hear of your experience with the Yagi antenna. Very helpful. Multiple carriers are not an option for many of us. That is a tremendous amount of money each month. I think I may go with the 4G OTR kit. Thanks again.
Excellent video Tito. My wife and I are configuring our new 5th wheel for a 2 month journey across the US. We watch your channel constantly for intel and ideas. Thank you for putting in such a wonderful realistic and honest opinion of products and experiences.
Looks like a very good evaluation. You went through the entire installation process, including how to place the pole on the RV. Your evaluation included very clear reception of both devices, which definitely give more crucial information for users. Kudos, sir!
It would be interesting to see how the RV 65 unit worked with the omni-directional antenna from the 4G-RV unit. I say that because the indoor antenna of the RG65 looks more robust, and you also gave the 4G-RV and advantage of being only 2ft away from the internal antenna, versus 4ft away for the RV65 test. I'm not sure if that makes any difference, but from I hear from others, it does.
When Weboost makes an RV specific kit, I wish they would also include a 12VDC power cable that can be hard wired into the RV. Instead we have to hack the AC adapter or run off an inverter.
Airstream Travel Trailer (no slide outs) & never sticking clamp onto aluminum skin... Do you have mounting for A frame trailer hitch? You should make an RV Battery powered telescoping pole that mounts to Hitch A Frame like the electric trailer hitch lift.( plus attachment for American flag). Can you mount flag antennae to a different pole?
Hi! We have a house on Moosehead Lake in Maine, and it is way up there away from the nearest cell tower in an area called Seboomook, which now has trees between us and the nearest cell tower. It used to be a clear shot, but that was several years ago, and trees have grown. I am thinking this is the best option for us- it would be stationary, possibly mounted to the side of a flag pole on its own moveable pole, and we can aim it toward the towers. Satellite doesn't seem to work very well- neighbors have Hughesnet. Ideas are welcome!
The higher the better to clear the trees. As long as you know the location of the tower and can get some kind of signal, you should be able to boost it.
I've been using either Wilson or Weboost for years. What I've concluded is that antenna technology, in general, isn't an exact science. What becomes the issue using a booster for mobile applications, is getting the necessary separation between antenna, which isn't always possible. The telescoping pole is a way of getting that, but I don't like all the plastic on this particular product. What I've found works best is to shorten the "reach" of the indoor antenna, even going with the one about the size of a candy bar and clip the mobile device (phone or hotspot) to it. That has worked best, and consistently for me. The other thing is that, many times you don't need a booster, like when you are physically close to the serving tower. These boosters automatically take care of that, by reducing the gain. But, they are slow to increase the gain when they need to as you are driving. This is why I have several antennas to use. For me, the most confusing thing about these products is working with the menagerie of connectors and getting the right ones. Weboost could do better at helping us with this. My booster has a SMA female to the inside antenna and F female to the outside. But, not all their inside or outside antennas match the booster port type; whether inside or outside. So, you have to adapt using combinations of SMA, F type, or N type. The sure way is to call Weboost for the right parts. Oh, by the way, the "interference" you mentioned is actually oscillation, where the boosted indoor signal is "heard" by the outside antenna and it goes into oscillation ; like you get with a sound system when a microphone gets too close to a speaker and it emits a deafening squeal. Of course, we can't actually hear it in this case. One more bit of advice, ignore the lights on the booster.
That's great info. Thanks! I ended up ordering various SMA, Ftype, or N type adapters from Amazon and have tried various antenna/booster configurations. Right now, my preferred setup is Connect 65 booster, Drive 4gX RV omni external antenna and internal desktop antenna. I primarily use my phone as a hotspot and keep it very close to the internal antenna for the best results. The candybar antenna works just as good for this as you pointed out.
Thanks for the side by side demo it was just what I needed to see before purchasing the RV 65. I also used your link and promo code "RVWITHTITO" to order and that 5% discount covered my shipping costs. So thanks again!!
Hey Tito, Despite the plastic mounts which indicate it is intended for temporary use, us Camp Hosts are often stationary for up to five months at a time in many of these remote campsites. I am trying to determine a better secure mount and I think it would mount very well to the Phat Ladder of my Lance travel trailer which has 1.5" tubes both vertically and horizontally. I can't determine if the base of the pole is 2.5 inches or 3.0 Inches or ??? Various tower and antenna manufacturers make double clamps that would ordinarily work very well in this situation, however when you get above 2 inches it gets tougher to find generic hardware that will fit custom applications. If you could give me a better idea of the diameter of the base mast and the one above it I will go on a search for a double clamp hardware that will work for my application before I order one from Weboost, which they say is out of stock for now. Best, David Knapp
I assume the reason this can be 65db is because it is “stationary” because of the pole. But there is no reason you can get this unit and connect it to the mobile omnidirectional antenna while you are in motion. Will you still get the extra 15 dB gain, or is the directional antenna giving you the extra 15db.
Pretty cool kit, the best option for me is having both external antennas since the booster is always the same. That way if i'm on the edge of signal or driving i can use the omni antenna. If i'm on a very remote location i can simply connect the external antenna
Just noticed that this time the boosters aren't the same. Well I don't know how much of a difference it would make to have a 50 or 65 db using the same antenna configuration. A comparisson would be quite cool. Anyway great video as always!!
I totally agree. The Drive 4G-X RV antenna is great to have on all the time. Not many are going to have both options available, but I'll be the direction antenna with the 4G-X will probably give you more. weBoost has to sell these as a kit to conform to the guidelines set by the FCC. We could certainly experiment though.
I bought the "high-gain" yagi antenna separate from the 4GX-RV. It was about $69 IIRC. If I have even a fleeting bar on the phone I put up the omni. If I see no bars on the phone I put up the yagi. If I'm on the omni I may use the yagi indoors to get more range from the indoor antenna.
I'm in a fixed location on a hill in the country, but cell is weak. This may be an answer for me. Though I might fasten that pole directly to the steel ramp frame on the rear of the trailer. I no longer trust plastic parts outdoors.
Hey Tito, nice channel, good information. Not an RV'er but the segment on boosting cell signals caught my attention; I've been a ham radio operator most of my life, so perhaps a couple of items that might help your viewers. With regards to decibels, for every 3 dB of loss or gain represents essentially doubling or halfing of the signal strength. So without a booster if the signal strength registered is -114dB (or it may be rated as dBi), sometimes read as "114 dB down" or "down 114dB", and with a booster the signal improves to say -111dB, the signal strength has doubled (It's a logarithmic scale). Granted, we're dealing in microvolts so the signals are pretty miniscule, but every little bit helps. So even though we often are in negative numbers when dealing with microwaves (cellular frequencies), we will say that the signal has improved or "gone UP to -111dB". Glad to see there's equipment available to help those folks on the road with ways to stay connected. I set up something that looks like the WeBoost for my daughter and son-in-law who live out in the sticks in Oklahoma.
@@atye04 Some years ago I made a wifi antenna with paperclips mounted on a pencil to improve my coverage from the 39th floor of my building to a free WiFi router at street level (Starbucks). Worked great! People often focus on increasing output/transmit power when in fact putting a fraction of the money into improving the antenna is an easy win. The same is true for the receiving end of the equation. Locally, there's a site I can reach with a vertical antenna but with some "steam" on my signal. When I switched to a directional antenna which concentrates the signal energy in one direction, it's like two people talking face to face, no "steam".
I am trying to find the open signal locator you showed on your video. All I can find are speed test and video test locators. Do you know if the unit you showed on video is discontinued?
I'm wondering if the Open Signal app is as accurate as watching your db as you turn the antenna pole to aquire the strongest signal....Great video as usual!!! Thank you for all the effort you put into your channel! - Hal
I noticed you are running wires down through your sewer vent cap. I assume they are going alongside the vent pipe and not affecting the pipe at all. What is your opinion of that solution? I have to run 4 pairs of 10awg solar wires down that shaft. I think it should be no problem to drill a new hole and make box (like your other video) but keep thinking it might be just as easy to drill holes in the side of the vent cap an dicor it.
Yes they go down next to the vent pipe. I don't use those anymore because the new route through that box is a shorter run. I still left them there though. I definitely prefer the box and conduit through the roof approach.
ok question, the RV 65 boosted to -71 ? and rv 4G- X @ 83 ish, both good but did you think to hook the 4G-X to the antenna from the RV 65 and see if you got the same results of -71? this would tell us if keeping the or buy the 4G- X and just getting a telescoping antenna mount?
Another nice review Brian. WeBoost products have good reviews. I believe when we purchase (I will use your link) that I will stay with 4G X. Great info!!
I'm really considering buying the 65 DB version since I'm really looking to get the most signal boost, but I'm concerned about practicality of the pole, not just the setup but also what to do if there are thunderstorms or lots of wind. We'd be working inside our travel trailer and just because it gets windy or there is thunder, I'd hate to close up the antenna and not be able to work. The 4G X Drive seems more practical from that perspective. Would it be possible to set the 65 antenna up semi-permanently on the roof of the trailer, so that I could continue to use during stormy days? Not while traveling but while stationary. The thought is if I don't have a pole, likelihood of lightning strikes or wind destroying things should be mostly eliminated? Or should I stick with the omnidirectional 4G X? Thanks!
Great review and component layout. I always learn something unique from your vids, Brian. My WeBoost Connect RV 65 kit arrives any day now. I don't really want to drill holes or use stickers on my vintage RevCon RV ("Flatnose Frank"), so I am working on a secure-but-temporary mounting solution. I was looking for width dimensions of the pole. WeBoost didn't have those anywhere, but you did! "2 to 2 1/2 inches" is all I needed to hear from you. This video both provided a great scale of the components, good tips, and the comparison is confidence building.
great video and 10 db is a lot better! haha my question for the RV65 is how fast does the signal drop when u walk away from the internal antenna? Like can I mount it on the wall and get boosted 10-15' away?
Nice comparison with the stationary and Omni directional boosters. Do you still have the Drive 4GX? Is the Drive 4GX a MIMO? Are you considering switching to another booster that supports 5G?
I've been using a Drive Reach lately. In fact Weboost has come out with a new RV model that I'll be reviewing next month. None of them are MIMO. This article should answer your 5G question: www.weboost.com/5g.
I've found the Reach RV works great for most conditions we're in (it's what I'm currently using). That said, the 65 does have advantages in some situations where line-of-site is limited or you want greater range inside the RV.
Nice! I have an older Wilson 4g booster. The outdoor antenna is mounted on a 6' PVC pole that I set up when in remote locations. It hooks to the Motorhome via an external coax cable connector I installed. Inside it goes to a Wilson splitter and to two separate indoor antennas. One in the bedroom and one in the front area. Has been working great. I think I need that pole though. Liking that better. I have to call and see if they sell it separately. Thanks for the info. Best of Luck.
I was thinking of the Harbor Freight Telescoping Flag pole would work as well, (about $70 with flag) have to buy a few pieces to attached securely, but would likely be less then ordered from Weboost. Your view may vary.
A stick of PVC works well if it will fit in your storage area. Mine "hooks" onto the upper ladder steps. Requires some engineering but cost is minimal. PVC should be less likely to attract lightning ... though the coax shield is still there and could still do that.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the info. I can get you a discount when you're ready to buy. Go check out this page on my website (www.rvwithtito.com/weboost-promo-code-2018). Cheers!
In Britain, most of the narrow boats have boosters. Lots of info there on the VLOGS of canal boat owners and on Victron products also. Bob Jarrard OS: Great new site find for me..
If you don’t have the App... Hook everything up as explained. Have someone outside who can turn the pole. Have someone inside who can access the phone. Turn the phone on and then have the person who is outside slowly turn the pole while the person inside watches the signal strength meter on your phone(the Bars). Once your signal strength meter is at its strongest your set. Lock the Antenna booster/pole into place and then your finished. BE CERTAIN to run a Ground Wire for Lightning Safety...! Hope this helps someone... Thanks for sharing this information with us. Have a great day and be blessed. Btw... You have a new subscriber...!
I would say you could set one up in the trunk of your car as long it is A full 12 volt system or less, it would be great for your kids with unlimited cell service on A road trip
Presumably, this works best with a single provider setup, but not so well if one has multiple providers, for example T-Mobile and AT&T hotspots in use at the same time?
Great video as usual! I have the Drive 4GX and the only complaint I have is you need to sit your cell phone within millimeters of the internal antenna to get any boost. Is that the same situation with the new Connect unit? I was told by WeBoost that the close separation is required. I’m curious as to how you and others have addressed this problem with the Drive unit?
RVwithTito That was an option I had not considered or expected for rather expensive booster. 😁 but seriously, how do you then deal with situations when you are driving and need cell service boost? Do you have your antenna non-fixed and drag antenna to you with the custom Velcro attachment feature?
what was the difference in the inside antenna range inside your rv when you compared the connect 65 and the 4g-x-rv inside antenna range ? trying to decide which one to purchase . wanting to see if the indoor antenna is gonna give me better coverage. i know it depends on the signal but if all things are equal looking to compare. thanks
I would assume that if you use your wifi hot spot on your phone that you will have a better internet connection on you device that you connect to your hot spot or does this just give you a better connection for cell phone service?
Have you tested using your cellphone as a WiFi hotspot - i.e., keeping your cellphone close to the internal antenna and turning on WiFi sharing/hotspot? That way, other friends/family could use their devices in/around the RV without worrying how close they are to the internal antenna?
Yes. That's how I primarily use it. We use our tablets, laptops and smart TV all through the hotspot (my phone) that sits in the charger near the antenna.
Brian, Great video as always. Have been looking at these for awhile now and this one looks like the one. Any chance you have tested to see how much range the inside antenna has? Most of the previous versions require your device to be within a couple of feet of the indoor antenna. Just curious, Thanks, Scott
If you really want to know what benefit your getting, try doing a ookla speed test before and after. if your signal boost does not translate to higher throughout there is no benefit. Just cause you have a -60dBM signal by itself means little. You have to know what your SINR is for quality of service. Repeaters are basically garbage in and garbage out. Also It's not ideal to have higher booster gain if you do not need it. There has to be a certain amount of isolation between your donor antenna and your booster antenna you need to have to avoid sending your booster box into feedback scenario.
Brian - Thanks for a great review! One thing I did not see is if the the system is a passthrough system that allows a use to use the antenna without the booster (if that scenario would somehow would give a person a better signal). Thank you!
@@RVwithTito I think I've recently read somewhere that the weBoost has an auto adjusts for the the gain from the amplifier so that it does not create distortion to your signal. So I believe that would not require a person to turn off the amplifier due a concern of too much gain distorting the signal.
RVwithTito the distance from the indoor antenna is all about usability. From others I have seen with the small indoor antenna you have to be pretty close. Looking forward to your follow up.
Reading the user manual on their website, it looks like the exterior antenna needs to point away from the internal antenna. How do you consistently manage this if the mounting point for the pole is fixed, and the direction of the cell tower you need to point the external antenna toward changes? What if the internal antenna and the nearest cell tower were in the same direction? Would you just need to go strap the pole to a tree on the other side of the RV or something?
Great video as usual Brian, very informative. Couple of problems I can see. For one having to take the pole down if the wind exceeds 35 mph. In many places, especially near the ocean and in the deserts of the American southwest when boondocking 35 mph winds are common so either the pole won't be of use or it will have to continually be taken down and put back up. Another problem I see is staying in an RV park and having a pole that goes up 25 ft. Is the park management going to have a problem with this? Also I think it's fair to assume that some handy DIYers are going to say if 25 ft is good then 40 or 50 feet will be even better. What will park management say about a 50 ft pole sticking up from an RV?
Great video, thanks! FYI Harbor Freight has an economical suction device that is about ~4" diameter that is pretty strong. Use two or more of those and clamp the antenna to the fiberglass at any smooth location. Just band clamp to the suction clamps. Three would probably be under $20 with all those ads we all get.😃
I have some suction cups I'll try as well that I believe will hold strong. I wanted to cover the hardware that came with the kit though in this review.
I bought this POS for my RV and I have yet for it to boost a weak signal, often I have to turn it off to use my phone. This is a gimmick or something. I measure by decibels (Network Info app), point antenna by Open Signal app and handheld GPS. This is probably why WeBoost itself doesn't have a "gauge" because it would reveal it doesn't do crap. I had this for a year, tried it in numerous locations most with a weak signal that I hoped to strengthen. Of course you have no way of knowing if it is broke or not working because they supply no way of "testing".
It seems that a lot of the boost is due to the Yagi directional antenna. Is the booster different? Can I use the 4G-X or the RV65 by simply changing the antenna source? Ie. while driving using the 4G-X omni directional, and then when stopped, swap the antenna source and use the Yagi to get better stationary performance. 10 dB is very significant.
RVwithTito we came across a guy who had the omnidirectional 4GX on a poles and holders pole. It worked way better when extended and better than our roof mounted 4GX. I’d love to know if the actual brain of the system is more powerful or is it the same with a different antenna? Great video as always! Happy camping ⛺️
you can get a boost from using a yagi directional antenna instead of an omni directional as long as you can change the antenna wire over to the yagi. Some yagi's use an N type RG58 (i think) ultra low loss cable, wilson uses a F type RG6 low loss cable. figure .7 dB loss of LTE per 10 feet for the F type RG6 cable.that's why wilson doesn't recommend you go over 35' between the antenna and booster.
I considered doing the same, but 4G-X uses a 50 ohm outdoor antenna whereas the RV65 uses a 75 ohm outdoor antenna. While you can physically swap the antennas, there are significant losses mixing 75 ohm and 50 ohm which I believe would negate any benefit. My plan is to put a 50 ohm yagi directional antenna on the 4G-X and I believe that will get me most of the benefit. Also the WeBoost antennas are all wide band which cover all carriers but provide limited db gain since they cover so many frequencies. You can get significantly better antenna db gain if you're willing to buy an antenna tuned to only cover more specific carrier frequencies (Verizon only, etc).
I use the optional yagi on the 4GX-RV when the omni is not cutting it. Yes, a 1.5 SWR (standing wave ratio) from mismatch doesn't help, but the yagi still helps considerably. Using the yagi on the indoor end also helps considerably though you have to move it when you move to a different seat.
The two were only about 10 dB different in your test. I would like to see a test of the drive 4G on a pole that takes it to the same height as the RV 65.
With either one of these cell booster. Can any one that has the same cell service use it. Meaning can your neighbor ride on your boosted signal, whether you want the to or not?
It will boost all signals for up to 5 devices, but only within the 5-10 foot range of the internal antenna. So it's unlikely that others will be close enough.
@@RVwithTito will it boost my signal if i can barely get any signal at all i have AT&T and i have to put my phone in certain spots to get signal wll this help that or not
@@RVwithTito ty then i will definitely be picking one of these up. i travel a lot been to 32 states and been through lots of pain trying to get calls to work lol.
Wouldn't you see the same signal differences even with the input antenna disconnected. It seems like this compares the signal strength of the cell tower compared to the signal strength of the antenna sitting inside. That does not necessarily mean your signal is better to the cell tower. If you were in a place with no cell coverage, wouldn't you still see a strong signal with the booster on?
With absolutely no cell coverage nothing changes. No bars no signal, no nothing with or without this unit. This unit works in both directions. It boosts your phones output power and boosts the incoming signal. Typically the unit does well getting a signal from your phone to the tower (it amplifies the already strong though not strong enough so the tower can see the phone. The signal coming the other way is very weak when it gets to you so amplifying it is more difficult (because the signal is down in the noise and both the signal and noise are amplified). This is why the unit is most likely to work if the phone tells you there is a signal there albeit a very weak one. I.e., the incoming signal is very weak but is above the noise enough for the phone to get bits of it even if not well enough to make a call or do text.
The two indoor antennas should be the same distance from the phone to be an accurate test. So I would expect the 4GX signal would be weaker than the 65 with the indoor antennas the same distance from the phone.
I’m concerned about having to be so close to the inside candy-bar antenna, especially with three people using it simultaneously. Looks like the 65’s inside antenna can be further away. Is that true? I noticed that was the case in the video. Can I add the 65’s inside antenna to the 4G-X to add more inside distance? Or, would it be better to attach one phone to the candy-bar and then use that phone as a hot-spot for the other devices?
You are correct. The 65 unit inside antenna has a greater range. I am sure it would work ok on the 4gx also. I'm gonna try it. I also use my candy bar antenna from the 4gx next to my phone in hot spot mode. That's the best setup allowing us to stream wifi to all of our other devices.
@@georgefenrich4119 Cel-Fi GO X has 100 dB of gain versus 65-70 for the competitors. We're literally 1000x more powerful. That leads to way bigger coverage footprints without need for being right next to the server antenna.
Without a before and after Speedtest the - 83 vs -71 dbm does not mean much. For data speeds I have seen a unboosted -110 signal outperform a -71 signal.
Speed is highly variable and more dependent on the equipment on the rural tower and the load on that tower than it is on signal strength. We've had decent data with one bar and virtually unusable data with five bars in rural areas where a device like this is needed.
I bought the system but am afraid to use the 25' pole for the antenna as I haven't figured out a way to ground the pole. Just seems to me it would make an excellent lightning rod.. NEC calls for an 8' copper rod driven in the ground. Don't think I'm going to do that at each campsite. Any electricians out there with any ideas? When I contacted weBoost they were absolutely clueless on the grounding of the pole!
I'm trying to find out what the difference is between the Connect RV65 and the Drive 4G-X RV cell phone boosters in terms of hardware. Is it only the mast? Mast and antenna? Does the Drive 4G-X RV also boost to the FCC max of 65db? Thanks
how far away from the indoor antenna do you still receive a decent signal. I cannot find anywhere that someone addresses this issue. Most reviewers seem to sit right next to the transmit antenna...I would like to know about walking around camp or around outside of our rv...Thanks...
1 to 10 feet. Once you move beyond a foot or two, the signal starts to fade quickly. The closer the better. You probably won't pick up anything outside or around the RV. The best solution is to mount a hotspot near the antenna, then you can pick up WiFi in and around your campsite.
Enjoyed the video. Ver informative. Could either of these systems be used as a WiFi signal. Or does the device has to be active cell unit . Does that make sense? Thanks. Charlie
We're preparing for an extended trip out west this summer. Cell phone communication is important, but not required for any business. Can this expense be justified?
Tough to answer that one. It's up to you. If your provider has good rural coverage (like Verizon) and stay close to the main roads, you probably don't need one. If you head out into remote areas, then it's nice to have, but these higher end models are not cheap. There are cheaper options like the weBoost Sleek.
I bought the weboost RV 65 because I need to use my phone as a hotspot and work a few hours on the weekend while camping. I can do this right now most of the time if the weather conditions are good. But I am looking for better reliability so I am hoping the RV 65 is my solution.. I'll know later on today. :-)
Hi Brian, Very interesting review. Two or three question: First, what powers both systems, 12v or 120v? Second do you have a price point for both? Thanks Bob
Hey Tito, thanks so much for this video!!! This was the most informative video I've watched yet! I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with: 1. How far apart from the internal antenna does the "hub" thingy need to be? (We have a 21 ft RV, so space is tight.) 2. We boondock a lot...do you recommend wiring it to the battery versus cranking up the generator every time? 3. Does the internal antenna need to be pointing directly AT your workspace? 4. When you compared it to the Drive 4G-X, was the external antenna for the Drive 4G-X on a pole too? We started with the 4G-X because we're very mobile, but it didn't seem to be working properly so WeBoost sent us the RV 65 (but not the pole mount kit). We did a dry run with the RV 65 (without a pole, so about 2 ft above the trailer) and went from about 101dB to at best like 92dB...that doesn't seem that great. It wasn't until we were literally touching our phones to the internal antenna that we got it a little lower. I know it's exponential, but I'm not impressed. Does the pole make that much difference? I'm pretty sure we had it pointed at the cell tower (we used a different app than you to find it). Do you think this is a dud? We've never seen significant improvements like you show in your video!
(1) The booster unit can be anywhere between the two antennas. The antenna separation is what's important. (2) Either way works. I'm still using the 120VAC plug because we're running off our inverter while boondocking. If you can run it off DC (the 4gx plug should work) that should be fine too. (3) The internal connect 65 antenna is directional and should point towards your workspace. The closer the better as you've pointed out. (4) I mounted both on a short pole extending roughly 3 ft from the roof.
Hey Tito! Love your videos and your thorough approach, with the great photos and clarity. I know you want to provide a valuable service to your followers, and you make every effort to do that. I wanted to suggest an additional -- very important -- Use Case for you to think about, and present video results. In all of your tests you are sitting right next to the installed Service Antenna! In the 4G 65 test, you are sitting in front of the *highly-directional* Service Antenna as it points right at your phone! Two feet away you're going to see incredible results. Most boosters are going to look pretty good in that context. But what about 10-20 feet away from the antenna? (Power drops off quickly over space.) What about in the back of the RV? Outside the door? In the cab? If you're always sitting at your dinette table right next to the antenna, perfect. But I don't think that's a fair study. Let's see the boost results around the various points in your RV. THAT is where you will see separation in product quality from GREAT to OK to POOR. The Weboost product you review has 65dB gain, which is the highest they offer in this category. *There are products on the market AT THE SAME PRICE POINT with 100 dB gain.* Full disclosure: I work for a company that makes such a booster (Cel-Fi). :-) THANKS AGAIN! Awesome stuff here!!
Joseph Schmelzer, I checked, the unit you speak of doesn't come with a pole. Also it's several hundred more, so it's not in the same price point. Definitely interested and plan to research this unit. Doesn't look like weboost sells the telescopic pole separate. So one would need to come up with a way to get your unit up in the air and to be able to adjust it's direction. Does it come with a 12v power supply or is one available? I looked and I don't see a 12v power supply option. Also I noticed your system won't work on Verizon 2/3g. Often in bad areas I will still have 3g. I will continue to research your unit, but I'm already in disappointed.
Hi Earl, thanks for the comment. The WeBoost 4G 65 with the pole is 689.99. One can buy a telescoping pole by itself from $15 on up. Check Amazon. The Jackite 16' fiberglass pole for $65 looks pretty cool. A Cel-Fi GO M (100 dB gain vs 65 or 1000+x more power...) is $600. So you have $90 budget to spend on a pole... Yes it comes with a 12V power supply. But before you go purchase a pole, ask yourself why WeBoost went to such trouble to tape this pole to their box, and then ask you to tape the pole to your RV?? Assume you're rural. If you test signal on the top of your RV with a directional antenna, you're going to get N. If you go up 10 more feet with a pole you might get N - a few dB. A little better. Unlikely to be 10dB better, but maybe. Definitely not 20, or 30, or 35. The Cel-Fi booster is giving you 35dB more boost than the 4G 65. We don't need a pole. :-) Verizon has 4G LTE on 100% of its towers. Verizon carries 4G LTE on Band 13, which is 700 MHz, and has the greatest range and penetration - ie you are most likely to pick that band up in a rural context. If you're only getting 2G/3G on your phone it's not the network's fault, it's most likely your phone. Upgrade to a phone from the last 2-3 years and you'll be cooking with Verizon gas! (4G LTE). Thanks again, and SAFE TRAVELS!!
Thanks for review. I took a 2 month trip from NY to Texas to Florida and back at the beginning of the year. I tested the Weboost 4G-X-RV with Verizon, ATT, and T-mobile at all the places I boondocked/camped. I tested both an omni and yagi external antenna. The results were interesting. I learned a couple of things:
1st, DB isn't a very useful metric. I used the Speedtest app to check upload/download speeds. You can have great DB, but a crowded/lousy cell tower. After all, how fast you can download or upload a video is what makes the booster useful.
2nd, there was no best network. All three major networks were better at some places. A good portion of the time, the unboosted signal had a better download speed than boosted. Upload speeds were always better with the booster.
3rd, The yagi takes time to set up (and can't be used while driving). In really remote areas with no signal, the opensignal app didn't always give a direction. So you had to hunt for the tower. At one place on the Texas coast, I could only get a connection with the yagi antenna. Most of the time, the extra effort to put up the yagi wasn't worth the effort. The omni antenna provided similiar upload/download speeds.
I have a small 14.5' trailer and I had to use the small candy bar antenna instead of the one provided with the RV kit. Since I couldn't get the required separation (getting green leds during boot-up).
Weboost was definitely worth having. But having multiple carriers is also important!
Thanks for that great info. Nothing like real world examples. My experience has been similar. There are so many variables that can affect your signal. Of course data speed...well thats another thing entirely. I keep trying different options until I get the best signal at our location. We only have Verizon though.
We just completed 8 weeks in Utah and Colorado and Nevada (Capital Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Rocky Mtn, Gunnison, Ouray, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands, etc). Our results were a bit different in that the 10 stops where we had to use the 4GX-RV WeBoost to get a usable signal, only two had better and more usable signal from AT&T and all others strongly favored Verizon. However, AT&T was via OnStar in our truck while Verizon was by cell phone in the 5th wheel. An AT&T phone on the WeBoost might have been more competitive though the OnStar rooftop antenna is supposed to be a big advantage and we did try pointing the indoor yagi at the truck a couple of times when we could get neither Verizon or AT&T.
This relative performance matches two previous 8 week trips to the same region (but including ID and MT) and before having the WeBoost. On those trips Verizon almost always had a better signal on the cell than AT&T in spite of the truck roof top antenna. Also, data was almost always better on Verizon even if AT&T had a stronger signal.
When the omni antenna outside was sufficient, we used the yagi inside pointed at the phone. That gave us more workable seating positions for phone call use though it meant moving the yagi now and then. For data the phone was leaning up against the indoor antenna (the black one or the yagi). And, as others reported, we often did not get 4G or usable data even though we were at 3-5 bars with the WeBoost. Voice calls and text always worked with the WeBoost.
BTW, my outside antenna (omni or yagi) is at the top of a 9' piece of 3/4" Sched 40 PVC clamped to my ladder. That puts it about 7' above the RV roof.
I am glad to hear of your experience with the Yagi antenna. Very helpful. Multiple carriers are not an option for many of us. That is a tremendous amount of money each month. I think I may go with the 4G OTR kit. Thanks again.
I would like to see a data speed test between the two boosters. There are so many more variables that affect your data speed than just signal.
Excellent video Tito. My wife and I are configuring our new 5th wheel for a 2 month journey across the US. We watch your channel constantly for intel and ideas. Thank you for putting in such a wonderful realistic and honest opinion of products and experiences.
Do you think people will notice this on my Prius?
one of the best informative and useful RV channels on youtube! you make everything seem so simple.thankyou! keep it up!
Thanks Keleb for the kind words. I'll keep em coming.
Looks like a very good evaluation. You went through the entire installation process, including how to place the pole on the RV. Your evaluation included very clear reception of both devices, which definitely give more crucial information for users. Kudos, sir!
Tim Combes Hey thanks Tim. Glad you enjoyed it.
It would be interesting to see how the RV 65 unit worked with the omni-directional antenna from the 4G-RV unit. I say that because the indoor antenna of the RG65 looks more robust, and you also gave the 4G-RV and advantage of being only 2ft away from the internal antenna, versus 4ft away for the RV65 test. I'm not sure if that makes any difference, but from I hear from others, it does.
Thanks Brian....Really awesome video and answered my questions. GREAT JOB!!!!
No problem. There's a newer version (Destination RV). Check out my review here: ua-cam.com/video/AO-dTpZHVoY/v-deo.html
When Weboost makes an RV specific kit, I wish they would also include a 12VDC power cable that can be hard wired into the RV. Instead we have to hack the AC adapter or run off an inverter.
Lee Biggs. The 4GX has a cigarette lighter plug in addition to the 120v plug.
Greg Ridge but the RV 65 does not.
I think the power requirements of this booster are the same as the others (6vdc) so you could probably use the same weboost DC connector.
@@RVwithTito The RV65 now comes with the 12 volt to 6 Volt hardwired power adapter.
Airstream Travel Trailer (no slide outs) & never sticking clamp onto aluminum skin... Do you have mounting for A frame trailer hitch?
You should make an RV Battery powered telescoping pole that mounts to Hitch A Frame like the electric trailer hitch lift.( plus attachment for American flag). Can you mount flag antennae to a different pole?
Hi!
We have a house on Moosehead Lake in Maine, and it is way up there away from the nearest cell tower in an area called Seboomook, which now has trees between us and the nearest cell tower. It used to be a clear shot, but that was several years ago, and trees have grown. I am thinking this is the best option for us- it would be stationary, possibly mounted to the side of a flag pole on its own moveable pole, and we can aim it toward the towers. Satellite doesn't seem to work very well- neighbors have Hughesnet.
Ideas are welcome!
The higher the better to clear the trees. As long as you know the location of the tower and can get some kind of signal, you should be able to boost it.
I've been using either Wilson or Weboost for years. What I've concluded is that antenna technology, in general, isn't an exact science. What becomes the issue using a booster for mobile applications, is getting the necessary separation between antenna, which isn't always possible. The telescoping pole is a way of getting that, but I don't like all the plastic on this particular product. What I've found works best is to shorten the "reach" of the indoor antenna, even going with the one about the size of a candy bar and clip the mobile device (phone or hotspot) to it. That has worked best, and consistently for me. The other thing is that, many times you don't need a booster, like when you are physically close to the serving tower. These boosters automatically take care of that, by reducing the gain. But, they are slow to increase the gain when they need to as you are driving. This is why I have several antennas to use. For me, the most confusing thing about these products is working with the menagerie of connectors and getting the right ones. Weboost could do better at helping us with this. My booster has a SMA female to the inside antenna and F female to the outside. But, not all their inside or outside antennas match the booster port type; whether inside or outside. So, you have to adapt using combinations of SMA, F type, or N type. The sure way is to call Weboost for the right parts. Oh, by the way, the "interference" you mentioned is actually oscillation, where the boosted indoor signal is "heard" by the outside antenna and it goes into oscillation ; like you get with a sound system when a microphone gets too close to a speaker and it emits a deafening squeal. Of course, we can't actually hear it in this case. One more bit of advice, ignore the lights on the booster.
That's great info. Thanks! I ended up ordering various SMA, Ftype, or N type adapters from Amazon and have tried various antenna/booster configurations. Right now, my preferred setup is Connect 65 booster, Drive 4gX RV omni external antenna and internal desktop antenna. I primarily use my phone as a hotspot and keep it very close to the internal antenna for the best results. The candybar antenna works just as good for this as you pointed out.
Thanks for the side by side demo it was just what I needed to see before purchasing the RV 65. I also used your link and promo code "RVWITHTITO" to order and that 5% discount covered my shipping costs. So thanks again!!
You're welcome. Glad it helped.
Hey Tito, Despite the plastic mounts which indicate it is intended for temporary use, us Camp Hosts are often stationary for up to five months at a time in many of these remote campsites. I am trying to determine a better secure mount and I think it would mount very well to the Phat Ladder of my Lance travel trailer which has 1.5" tubes both vertically and horizontally. I can't determine if the base of the pole is 2.5 inches or 3.0 Inches or ??? Various tower and antenna manufacturers make double clamps that would ordinarily work very well in this situation, however when you get above 2 inches it gets tougher to find generic hardware that will fit custom applications. If you could give me a better idea of the diameter of the base mast and the one above it I will go on a search for a double clamp hardware that will work for my application before I order one from Weboost, which they say is out of stock for now. Best, David Knapp
I assume the reason this can be 65db is because it is “stationary” because of the pole. But there is no reason you can get this unit and connect it to the mobile omnidirectional antenna while you are in motion. Will you still get the extra 15 dB gain, or is the directional antenna giving you the extra 15db.
Pretty cool kit, the best option for me is having both external antennas since the booster is always the same. That way if i'm on the edge of signal or driving i can use the omni antenna. If i'm on a very remote location i can simply connect the external antenna
Just noticed that this time the boosters aren't the same. Well I don't know how much of a difference it would make to have a 50 or 65 db using the same antenna configuration. A comparisson would be quite cool.
Anyway great video as always!!
I totally agree. The Drive 4G-X RV antenna is great to have on all the time. Not many are going to have both options available, but I'll be the direction antenna with the 4G-X will probably give you more. weBoost has to sell these as a kit to conform to the guidelines set by the FCC. We could certainly experiment though.
I bought the "high-gain" yagi antenna separate from the 4GX-RV. It was about $69 IIRC. If I have even a fleeting bar on the phone I put up the omni. If I see no bars on the phone I put up the yagi. If I'm on the omni I may use the yagi indoors to get more range from the indoor antenna.
I'm in a fixed location on a hill in the country, but cell is weak. This may be an answer for me. Though I might fasten that pole directly to the steel ramp frame on the rear of the trailer. I no longer trust plastic parts outdoors.
Hey Tito, nice channel, good information. Not an RV'er but the segment on boosting cell signals caught my attention; I've been a ham radio operator most of my life, so perhaps a couple of items that might help your viewers. With regards to decibels, for every 3 dB of loss or gain represents essentially doubling or halfing of the signal strength. So without a booster if the signal strength registered is -114dB (or it may be rated as dBi), sometimes read as "114 dB down" or "down 114dB", and with a booster the signal improves to say -111dB, the signal strength has doubled (It's a logarithmic scale). Granted, we're dealing in microvolts so the signals are pretty miniscule, but every little bit helps. So even though we often are in negative numbers when dealing with microwaves (cellular frequencies), we will say that the signal has improved or "gone UP to -111dB". Glad to see there's equipment available to help those folks on the road with ways to stay connected. I set up something that looks like the WeBoost for my daughter and son-in-law who live out in the sticks in Oklahoma.
I'm in claremore ok. Yea we don't have good signal once out of town. Should have went with sprint there's an aging sprint antenna a mile in the woods
@@atye04 Some years ago I made a wifi antenna with paperclips mounted on a pencil to improve my coverage from the 39th floor of my building to a free WiFi router at street level (Starbucks). Worked great!
People often focus on increasing output/transmit power when in fact putting a fraction of the money into improving the antenna is an easy win. The same is true for the receiving end of the equation. Locally, there's a site I can reach with a vertical antenna but with some "steam" on my signal. When I switched to a directional antenna which concentrates the signal energy in one direction, it's like two people talking face to face, no "steam".
I am trying to find the open signal locator you showed on your video. All I can find are speed test and video test locators. Do you know if the unit you showed on video is discontinued?
I'm wondering if the Open Signal app is as accurate as watching your db as you turn the antenna pole to aquire the strongest signal....Great video as usual!!! Thank you for all the effort you put into your channel! - Hal
I noticed you are running wires down through your sewer vent cap. I assume they are going alongside the vent pipe and not affecting the pipe at all. What is your opinion of that solution? I have to run 4 pairs of 10awg solar wires down that shaft. I think it should be no problem to drill a new hole and make box (like your other video) but keep thinking it might be just as easy to drill holes in the side of the vent cap an dicor it.
Yes they go down next to the vent pipe. I don't use those anymore because the new route through that box is a shorter run. I still left them there though. I definitely prefer the box and conduit through the roof approach.
Excellent review, Tito - thank you for taking the time to produce your thoughtful analysis and findings.
Just Curious if you could not hook up the coax to the cable coax ports and then hook up the booster accordingly??
ok question, the RV 65 boosted to -71 ? and rv 4G- X @ 83 ish, both good but did you think to hook the 4G-X to the antenna from the RV 65 and see if you got the same results of -71? this would tell us if keeping the or buy the 4G- X and just getting a telescoping antenna mount?
Don't know if I missed this, I'd like to know the cost of both antenna/boosters.
Another nice review Brian. WeBoost products have good reviews. I believe when we purchase (I will use your link) that I will stay with 4G X. Great info!!
I'm really considering buying the 65 DB version since I'm really looking to get the most signal boost, but I'm concerned about practicality of the pole, not just the setup but also what to do if there are thunderstorms or lots of wind. We'd be working inside our travel trailer and just because it gets windy or there is thunder, I'd hate to close up the antenna and not be able to work. The 4G X Drive seems more practical from that perspective. Would it be possible to set the 65 antenna up semi-permanently on the roof of the trailer, so that I could continue to use during stormy days? Not while traveling but while stationary. The thought is if I don't have a pole, likelihood of lightning strikes or wind destroying things should be mostly eliminated? Or should I stick with the omnidirectional 4G X? Thanks!
Great use of the blue tape to illustrate what pieces go where.
Thanks!
Great review and component layout. I always learn something unique from your vids, Brian. My WeBoost Connect RV 65 kit arrives any day now. I don't really want to drill holes or use stickers on my vintage RevCon RV ("Flatnose Frank"), so I am working on a secure-but-temporary mounting solution. I was looking for width dimensions of the pole. WeBoost didn't have those anywhere, but you did! "2 to 2 1/2 inches" is all I needed to hear from you. This video both provided a great scale of the components, good tips, and the comparison is confidence building.
Great info!! You are the best at providing RV gadgets reviews!
great video and 10 db is a lot better! haha my question for the RV65 is how fast does the signal drop when u walk away from the internal antenna? Like can I mount it on the wall and get boosted 10-15' away?
It's going to fluctuate based on your overall signal strength. The closer the better on the internal antenna.
i miss the old phones with the external antenna hook up. no need to add any power just that little stick worked great. never was out of service areas.
Did you try the Omni antenna on the pole to see if you would get a stronger signal
GET 5% OFF. Enter discount code "RVTITO5" at www.weboost.com. This is an awesome deal just for RVWITHTITO viewers. Go check it out.
Unless this is NEW NEW I have been looking to get this one for some time now.
Now is that time! :)
Nice comparison with the stationary and Omni directional boosters. Do you still have the Drive 4GX? Is the Drive 4GX a MIMO? Are you considering switching to another booster that supports 5G?
I've been using a Drive Reach lately. In fact Weboost has come out with a new RV model that I'll be reviewing next month. None of them are MIMO. This article should answer your 5G question: www.weboost.com/5g.
Do you recommend the RV65 over the newer weBoost Drive Reach RV (470354) ??? Do you find the Reach RV is good enough?
I've found the Reach RV works great for most conditions we're in (it's what I'm currently using). That said, the 65 does have advantages in some situations where line-of-site is limited or you want greater range inside the RV.
Nice! I have an older Wilson 4g booster. The outdoor antenna is mounted on a 6' PVC pole that I set up when in remote locations. It hooks to the Motorhome via an external coax cable connector I installed. Inside it goes to a Wilson splitter and to two separate indoor antennas. One in the bedroom and one in the front area. Has been working great. I think I need that pole though. Liking that better. I have to call and see if they sell it separately. Thanks for the info. Best of Luck.
I was thinking of the Harbor Freight Telescoping Flag pole would work as well, (about $70 with flag) have to buy a few pieces to attached securely, but would likely be less then ordered from Weboost. Your view may vary.
I don't know if they do. You could also go on Amazon and search for telescoping flag poles to find something similar.
A stick of PVC works well if it will fit in your storage area. Mine "hooks" onto the upper ladder steps. Requires some engineering but cost is minimal. PVC should be less likely to attract lightning ... though the coax shield is still there and could still do that.
I've always heard Uniden is what people want for great boost capability.
We full time, preparing for the Weboost RV65 to compliment our verizon jetpack. Great video as always.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the info. I can get you a discount when you're ready to buy. Go check out this page on my website (www.rvwithtito.com/weboost-promo-code-2018). Cheers!
Is the code still available?
tesslee100 Yes. But I don't have them with me right now. Send me an email and I'll send you a code in a week.
In Britain, most of the narrow boats have boosters. Lots of info there on the VLOGS of canal boat owners and on Victron products also. Bob Jarrard OS: Great new site find for me..
If you don’t have the App...
Hook everything up as explained.
Have someone outside who can turn the pole.
Have someone inside who can access the phone.
Turn the phone on and then have the person who
is outside slowly turn the pole while the person inside
watches the signal strength meter on your phone(the Bars).
Once your signal strength meter is at its strongest your set.
Lock the Antenna booster/pole into place and then your finished.
BE CERTAIN to run a Ground Wire for Lightning Safety...!
Hope this helps someone...
Thanks for sharing this information with us.
Have a great day and be blessed.
Btw...
You have a new subscriber...!
Excellent install Video for a booster !
External setups are the best when your camped WAY out there, thank you for making this Video
Glad you enjoyed it! You're right. You never know what it's going to be like. So it's good to have multiple options up your sleeve.
Interesting info, but shouldn't you have used the same antenna to really compare? I use a yagi with my 4G-X, and get a great boost-
So, I assume that you cannot use it while driving down the road? That’s a huge negative!
I would say you could set one up in the trunk of your car as long it is A full 12 volt system or less, it would be great for your kids with unlimited cell service on A road trip
How about comparing the Surecall Fusion 2Go 3.0 in comparison to the Weboost.
Presumably, this works best with a single provider setup, but not so well if one has multiple providers, for example T-Mobile and AT&T hotspots in use at the same time?
Great video as usual! I have the Drive 4GX and the only complaint I have is you need to sit your cell phone within millimeters of the internal antenna to get any boost. Is that the same situation with the new Connect unit? I was told by WeBoost that the close separation is required. I’m curious as to how you and others have addressed this problem with the Drive unit?
I also have an original drive 4gx and Velcro the antenna to the back of my phone.
RVwithTito That was an option I had not considered or expected for rather expensive booster. 😁 but seriously, how do you then deal with situations when you are driving and need cell service boost? Do you have your antenna non-fixed and drag antenna to you with the custom Velcro attachment feature?
what was the difference in the inside antenna range inside your rv when you compared the connect 65 and the 4g-x-rv inside antenna range ? trying to decide which one to purchase . wanting to see if the indoor antenna is gonna give me better coverage. i know it depends on the signal but if all things are equal looking to compare. thanks
I would assume that if you use your wifi hot spot on your phone that you will have a better internet connection on you device that you connect to your hot spot or does this just give you a better connection for cell phone service?
Both hotspot and on phone internet are good. We use it to stream everything.
You should of done a real world test and see what the difference was on down and upload speeds.
Neat! Learned a lot. Boy, your Channel has come a long way. Keep up the great vids!
Thanks Chris!
Chris DIYer iii
Chris DIYer ii
Have you tested using your cellphone as a WiFi hotspot - i.e., keeping your cellphone close to the internal antenna and turning on WiFi sharing/hotspot? That way, other friends/family could use their devices in/around the RV without worrying how close they are to the internal antenna?
Yes. That's how I primarily use it. We use our tablets, laptops and smart TV all through the hotspot (my phone) that sits in the charger near the antenna.
Terrific. That's what I thought but hadn't seen anyone demonstrate it - just wanted to make sure there wasn't some "gotcha" to this approach.
Brian, Great video as always. Have been looking at these for awhile now and this one looks like the one. Any chance you have tested to see how much range the inside antenna has? Most of the previous versions require your device to be within a couple of feet of the indoor antenna. Just curious, Thanks, Scott
I've tested it up to about 12 ft. It is still boosted at that distance but at a much lower level than 5 ft which is where I did the main testing.
Does one broadcast further within the rv than the other? Basically, how far away from the internal antenna can you be from each?
can you load and play a UA-cam video. one with the crappy signal and one with it switched on so we can see what it does please
If you really want to know what benefit your getting, try doing a ookla speed test before and after. if your signal boost does not translate to higher throughout there is no benefit. Just cause you have a -60dBM signal by itself means little. You have to know what your SINR is for quality of service. Repeaters are basically garbage in and garbage out. Also It's not ideal to have higher booster gain if you do not need it. There has to be a certain amount of isolation between your donor antenna and your booster antenna you need to have to avoid sending your booster box into feedback scenario.
Brian - Thanks for a great review! One thing I did not see is if the the system is a passthrough system that allows a use to use the antenna without the booster (if that scenario would somehow would give a person a better signal). Thank you!
Hmm. Haven't done that.
@@RVwithTito I think I've recently read somewhere that the weBoost has an auto adjusts for the the gain from the amplifier so that it does not create distortion to your signal. So I believe that would not require a person to turn off the amplifier due a concern of too much gain distorting the signal.
I would like to know more about the distance from the indoor antenna results.
Ok Gary. Working on a follow up video.
RVwithTito the distance from the indoor antenna is all about usability. From others I have seen with the small indoor antenna you have to be pretty close. Looking forward to your follow up.
It's a bit awkward, but the yagi extends the range of the indoor signal ... though only to a small area.
Could you run a speed test by Ookla app to see if there's any major differences between the different antennas.
Reading the user manual on their website, it looks like the exterior antenna needs to point away from the internal antenna. How do you consistently manage this if the mounting point for the pole is fixed, and the direction of the cell tower you need to point the external antenna toward changes? What if the internal antenna and the nearest cell tower were in the same direction? Would you just need to go strap the pole to a tree on the other side of the RV or something?
For $15, another pair of mounting brackets MAY be of help. Just be willing to reorient the inside antenna as needed to provide isolation.
Great video as usual Brian, very informative. Couple of problems I can see. For one having to take the pole down if the wind exceeds 35 mph.
In many places, especially near the ocean and in the deserts of the American southwest when boondocking 35 mph winds are common so either the pole won't be of use or it will have to continually be taken down and put back up.
Another problem I see is staying in an RV park and having a pole that goes up 25 ft. Is the park management going to have a problem with this? Also I think it's fair to assume that some handy DIYers are going to say if 25 ft is good then 40 or 50 feet will be even better. What will park management say about a 50 ft pole sticking up from an RV?
What sort of problems are you likely to encounter if any if there are other RVs using the same or similar unit in close proximity?
Great video, thanks! FYI Harbor Freight has an economical suction device that is about ~4" diameter that is pretty strong. Use two or more of those and clamp the antenna to the fiberglass at any smooth location. Just band clamp to the suction clamps. Three would probably be under $20 with all those ads we all get.😃
I have some suction cups I'll try as well that I believe will hold strong. I wanted to cover the hardware that came with the kit though in this review.
Awsome information.
I bought this POS for my RV and I have yet for it to boost a weak signal, often I have to turn it off to use my phone. This is a gimmick or something. I measure by decibels (Network Info app), point antenna by Open Signal app and handheld GPS. This is probably why WeBoost itself doesn't have a "gauge" because it would reveal it doesn't do crap. I had this for a year, tried it in numerous locations most with a weak signal that I hoped to strengthen. Of course you have no way of knowing if it is broke or not working because they supply no way of "testing".
Do you have to order based on your cell phone provider or does it work with all carriers
It works on all carriers.
Ty
It seems that a lot of the boost is due to the Yagi directional antenna. Is the booster different? Can I use the 4G-X or the RV65 by simply changing the antenna source? Ie. while driving using the 4G-X omni directional, and then when stopped, swap the antenna source and use the Yagi to get better stationary performance. 10 dB is very significant.
I plan on doing some swapping to see. I don't see myself using the giant pole. I have a shorter pole mount I made for my 4GX RV mount that I'd use.
RVwithTito we came across a guy who had the omnidirectional 4GX on a poles and holders pole. It worked way better when extended and better than our roof mounted 4GX. I’d love to know if the actual brain of the system is more powerful or is it the same with a different antenna?
Great video as always! Happy camping ⛺️
you can get a boost from using a yagi directional antenna instead of an omni directional as long as you can change the antenna wire over to the yagi. Some yagi's use an N type RG58 (i think) ultra low loss cable, wilson uses a F type RG6 low loss cable. figure .7 dB loss of LTE per 10 feet for the F type RG6 cable.that's why wilson doesn't recommend you go over 35' between the antenna and booster.
I considered doing the same, but 4G-X uses a 50 ohm outdoor antenna whereas the RV65 uses a 75 ohm outdoor antenna. While you can physically swap the antennas, there are significant losses mixing 75 ohm and 50 ohm which I believe would negate any benefit.
My plan is to put a 50 ohm yagi directional antenna on the 4G-X and I believe that will get me most of the benefit. Also the WeBoost antennas are all wide band which cover all carriers but provide limited db gain since they cover so many frequencies. You can get significantly better antenna db gain if you're willing to buy an antenna tuned to only cover more specific carrier frequencies (Verizon only, etc).
I use the optional yagi on the 4GX-RV when the omni is not cutting it. Yes, a 1.5 SWR (standing wave ratio) from mismatch doesn't help, but the yagi still helps considerably. Using the yagi on the indoor end also helps considerably though you have to move it when you move to a different seat.
What are the 4G LTE upload/download speeds? Great review.
The two were only about 10 dB different in your test. I would like to see a test of the drive 4G on a pole that takes it to the same height as the RV 65.
Arrow on my phone points to me and not to the tower.. (backwards)
Tower ==to=>>> Me...
Not Me ==to==>>> Tower
Point the arrow at yourself
Can you tell me how long the pole is when collapsed? Thank you
With either one of these cell booster. Can any one that has the same cell service use it. Meaning can your neighbor ride on your boosted signal, whether you want the to or not?
It will boost all signals for up to 5 devices, but only within the 5-10 foot range of the internal antenna. So it's unlikely that others will be close enough.
thank you
@@RVwithTito will it boost my signal if i can barely get any signal at all i have AT&T and i have to put my phone in certain spots to get signal wll this help that or not
Yes. It's going to give a weak signal a good boost.
@@RVwithTito ty then i will definitely be picking one of these up. i travel a lot been to 32 states and been through lots of pain trying to get calls to work lol.
Wouldn't you see the same signal differences even with the input antenna disconnected. It seems like this compares the signal strength of the cell tower compared to the signal strength of the antenna sitting inside. That does not necessarily mean your signal is better to the cell tower. If you were in a place with no cell coverage, wouldn't you still see a strong signal with the booster on?
With absolutely no cell coverage nothing changes. No bars no signal, no nothing with or without this unit. This unit works in both directions. It boosts your phones output power and boosts the incoming signal. Typically the unit does well getting a signal from your phone to the tower (it amplifies the already strong though not strong enough so the tower can see the phone. The signal coming the other way is very weak when it gets to you so amplifying it is more difficult (because the signal is down in the noise and both the signal and noise are amplified). This is why the unit is most likely to work if the phone tells you there is a signal there albeit a very weak one. I.e., the incoming signal is very weak but is above the noise enough for the phone to get bits of it even if not well enough to make a call or do text.
Great review, but your webpage is not working. Maybe it needs a signal boost. I will check back again.
The two indoor antennas should be the same distance from the phone to be an accurate test. So I would expect the 4GX signal would be weaker than the 65 with the indoor antennas the same distance from the phone.
I agree, his great test and review didn't quite do a proper comparison in that respect.
What about power supply and power consumption of the booster
It uses about 1 amp last time I measured it. Hope that helps.
It would be interesting to swap to the directional antenna on the 4G-X and see how big of a difference that makes.
I've never tried to measure the difference, but it has made the difference between a fleeting signal and a usable one.
QUESTION: About how long is the pole unextended?
Just under 75 inches.
@@RVwithTito Great! Thank you so very much for replying back. Keep up the awesome videos, and have a blessed day
should do a speed test comparison with the different setups and whatnot too. that would be a good bit of info to have.
I’m concerned about having to be so close to the inside candy-bar antenna, especially with three people using it simultaneously. Looks like the 65’s inside antenna can be further away. Is that true? I noticed that was the case in the video. Can I add the 65’s inside antenna to the 4G-X to add more inside distance? Or, would it be better to attach one phone to the candy-bar and then use that phone as a hot-spot for the other devices?
You are correct. The 65 unit inside antenna has a greater range. I am sure it would work ok on the 4gx also. I'm gonna try it. I also use my candy bar antenna from the 4gx next to my phone in hot spot mode. That's the best setup allowing us to stream wifi to all of our other devices.
or use a Cel-Fi GO and get much better performance and not have to worry about where you put your server antenna. :-)
@@joes8888
MORE INFO PLEASE
@@georgefenrich4119 Cel-Fi GO X has 100 dB of gain versus 65-70 for the competitors. We're literally 1000x more powerful. That leads to way bigger coverage footprints without need for being right next to the server antenna.
Without a before and after Speedtest the - 83 vs -71 dbm does not mean much. For data speeds I have seen a unboosted -110 signal outperform a -71 signal.
Speed is highly variable and more dependent on the equipment on the rural tower and the load on that tower than it is on signal strength. We've had decent data with one bar and virtually unusable data with five bars in rural areas where a device like this is needed.
I bought the system but am afraid to use the 25' pole for the antenna as I haven't figured out a way to ground the pole. Just seems to me it would make an excellent lightning rod.. NEC calls for an 8' copper rod driven in the ground. Don't think I'm going to do that at each campsite. Any electricians out there with any ideas? When I contacted weBoost they were absolutely clueless on the grounding of the pole!
I would only add a 4' ground rod. That is long enough. And the plastic holders will keep the lightning from hurting the RV.
Thanks for the re[ply.
what is the recommended distance from the internal antenna? i understand that this is a problem with some units.
Closer the better. Usually within a couple feet for best results.
Don't use the flat cable use the straight cable because each time u have a connection u lose 2 to 4dbs
Hi Tito does this booster will give me more power to my hot spot on my cell so I can stop buffing on my Lenox channel hooked to my mebox?
I'm trying to find out what the difference is between the Connect RV65 and the Drive 4G-X RV cell phone boosters in terms of hardware. Is it only the mast? Mast and antenna? Does the Drive 4G-X RV also boost to the FCC max of 65db?
Thanks
Drive 4GX RV has a 50dB max, an omni directional roof antenna, and table top internal antenna.
Another really helpful video; thanks a lot, Brian!
Where would you store that pole in your class c?
Probably in my rear bumper. I don't use the pole though.
how far away from the indoor antenna do you still receive a decent signal. I cannot find anywhere that someone addresses this issue. Most reviewers seem to sit right next to the transmit antenna...I would like to know about walking around camp or around outside of our rv...Thanks...
1 to 10 feet. Once you move beyond a foot or two, the signal starts to fade quickly. The closer the better. You probably won't pick up anything outside or around the RV. The best solution is to mount a hotspot near the antenna, then you can pick up WiFi in and around your campsite.
What signal are you boosting? Campground WiFi or your own hotspot?
The boosters "boost" mobile signals only...not WiFi.
Enjoyed the video. Ver informative. Could either of these systems be used as a WiFi signal. Or does the device has to be active cell unit . Does that make sense? Thanks. Charlie
Charles, this boosts the signal to a cellular device, such as a WiFi hotspot, but it does not in itself function as a hotspot.
iPhone App, OpenSignal is a good app to finding the best Cell Signal. Great Vid! Best WeBoost product for a teardrop trailer?
We're preparing for an extended trip out west this summer. Cell phone communication is important, but not required for any business. Can this expense be justified?
Tough to answer that one. It's up to you. If your provider has good rural coverage (like Verizon) and stay close to the main roads, you probably don't need one. If you head out into remote areas, then it's nice to have, but these higher end models are not cheap. There are cheaper options like the weBoost Sleek.
Thanks for the cheaper suggestion. We DO have Verizon service.
I bought the weboost RV 65 because I need to use my phone as a hotspot and work a few hours on the weekend while camping. I can do this right now most of the time if the weather conditions are good. But I am looking for better reliability so I am hoping the RV 65 is my solution.. I'll know later on today. :-)
can you use 12V DC to power it instead of 110 AC?
as in why boost up 12 v-dc up to 110 ac. then drop it back down to 12v-dc.
Hi Brian, Very interesting review. Two or three question: First, what powers both systems, 12v or 120v? Second do you have a price point for both? Thanks Bob
The RV65 comes with both as of June 2019.
Hey Tito, thanks so much for this video!!! This was the most informative video I've watched yet! I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with:
1. How far apart from the internal antenna does the "hub" thingy need to be? (We have a 21 ft RV, so space is tight.)
2. We boondock a lot...do you recommend wiring it to the battery versus cranking up the generator every time?
3. Does the internal antenna need to be pointing directly AT your workspace?
4. When you compared it to the Drive 4G-X, was the external antenna for the Drive 4G-X on a pole too?
We started with the 4G-X because we're very mobile, but it didn't seem to be working properly so WeBoost sent us the RV 65 (but not the pole mount kit). We did a dry run with the RV 65 (without a pole, so about 2 ft above the trailer) and went from about 101dB to at best like 92dB...that doesn't seem that great. It wasn't until we were literally touching our phones to the internal antenna that we got it a little lower. I know it's exponential, but I'm not impressed. Does the pole make that much difference? I'm pretty sure we had it pointed at the cell tower (we used a different app than you to find it). Do you think this is a dud? We've never seen significant improvements like you show in your video!
(1) The booster unit can be anywhere between the two antennas. The antenna separation is what's important. (2) Either way works. I'm still using the 120VAC plug because we're running off our inverter while boondocking. If you can run it off DC (the 4gx plug should work) that should be fine too. (3) The internal connect 65 antenna is directional and should point towards your workspace. The closer the better as you've pointed out. (4) I mounted both on a short pole extending roughly 3 ft from the roof.
I always pick up valuable info here. Thx.
Great comparison, thanks for the video.
Hey Tito! Love your videos and your thorough approach, with the great photos and clarity.
I know you want to provide a valuable service to your followers, and you make every effort to do that. I wanted to suggest an additional -- very important -- Use Case for you to think about, and present video results.
In all of your tests you are sitting right next to the installed Service Antenna! In the 4G 65 test, you are sitting in front of the *highly-directional* Service Antenna as it points right at your phone! Two feet away you're going to see incredible results. Most boosters are going to look pretty good in that context. But what about 10-20 feet away from the antenna? (Power drops off quickly over space.) What about in the back of the RV? Outside the door? In the cab? If you're always sitting at your dinette table right next to the antenna, perfect. But I don't think that's a fair study.
Let's see the boost results around the various points in your RV. THAT is where you will see separation in product quality from GREAT to OK to POOR.
The Weboost product you review has 65dB gain, which is the highest they offer in this category. *There are products on the market AT THE SAME PRICE POINT with 100 dB gain.*
Full disclosure: I work for a company that makes such a booster (Cel-Fi). :-)
THANKS AGAIN! Awesome stuff here!!
Joseph Schmelzer, I checked, the unit you speak of doesn't come with a pole. Also it's several hundred more, so it's not in the same price point. Definitely interested and plan to research this unit. Doesn't look like weboost sells the telescopic pole separate. So one would need to come up with a way to get your unit up in the air and to be able to adjust it's direction. Does it come with a 12v power supply or is one available?
I looked and I don't see a 12v power supply option. Also I noticed your system won't work on Verizon 2/3g. Often in bad areas I will still have 3g. I will continue to research your unit, but I'm already in disappointed.
Hi Earl, thanks for the comment. The WeBoost 4G 65 with the pole is 689.99. One can buy a telescoping pole by itself from $15 on up. Check Amazon. The Jackite 16' fiberglass pole for $65 looks pretty cool. A Cel-Fi GO M (100 dB gain vs 65 or 1000+x more power...) is $600. So you have $90 budget to spend on a pole... Yes it comes with a 12V power supply.
But before you go purchase a pole, ask yourself why WeBoost went to such trouble to tape this pole to their box, and then ask you to tape the pole to your RV?? Assume you're rural. If you test signal on the top of your RV with a directional antenna, you're going to get N. If you go up 10 more feet with a pole you might get N - a few dB. A little better. Unlikely to be 10dB better, but maybe. Definitely not 20, or 30, or 35. The Cel-Fi booster is giving you 35dB more boost than the 4G 65.
We don't need a pole. :-)
Verizon has 4G LTE on 100% of its towers. Verizon carries 4G LTE on Band 13, which is 700 MHz, and has the greatest range and penetration - ie you are most likely to pick that band up in a rural context. If you're only getting 2G/3G on your phone it's not the network's fault, it's most likely your phone. Upgrade to a phone from the last 2-3 years and you'll be cooking with Verizon gas! (4G LTE).
Thanks again, and SAFE TRAVELS!!
damn we dont get weboost in india... wohh -71dbm thatz awesome... what about ping and latency test for gamers.... a review on latency test plizz....