Wrace
Seattle WA
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Previously I received some great advice from this forum on how to boost the verizon cell signal at our rural property for use inside the TT in conjunction my androids wireless hot spot and a sleek booster. Previously with the sleek booster alone, it was ineffective.
I ended up purchasing a Wilsons trucker antenna, sticking it on a pole that fits into a receiver on the back bumper of the TT and running the cable through the dinette window to connect to the sleek. This worked exceptionally well and took a non-existent signal and boosted it to two bars consistently and oftentimes three bars at night. This will work well when we camp in the TT.
This year I will be spending quite a bit of time working on this property and will live in the TT at the site while doing so over multiple days. This year most of the time I will be working alone and would like to have a signal to my phone (that I carry with me) in case an emergency call needs to be made. And of course I would like to have said signal inside the TT to use the phone as well. I’ve installed a 110 power post at the site to power the TT and it has another duplex outlet that is available for use for something else.
Because we will be using the TT for camping elsewhere and there will be times that I’m at the property for a day and will not have the TT with me, I’d like to install a stand-alone booster system at the property itself, independent of what I have now on the TT. At this time I’m not concerned with theft at this property.
I’m wondering if there is a weatherproof booster system that I could place at the property and plug into the 110 outlet. My thought is I could purchase another Wilson trucker antenna (for reception of existing cell signal) and mount it in the tree near the power post. Then purchase the booster and booster antenna and mount them in the tree as well. Maybe they make a unit with the booster and antenna in the same housing?
I’m assuming though that there needs to be some separation between the two antennas? In which case maybe the receiving antenna needs to be in another tree and the cable run over to the booster and booster antenna which is placed in the tree by the power post?
There are no structures on the property at this time and while I could build a shed to house the equipment, I’d kind of like the system to be weatherproof on its own if possible. Or if that’s prohibitively expensive, maybe I could build some sort of small box to hold the booster.
Any input would be appreciated.
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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weather proof equipment boxes come in all sizes
check your local electrical supply house like "Granger"
I'm not sure about the availability of localized property wide amplifier
but if you used some thing like Verizon "home connect" cell device (which uses residential phones)
you could place it in the box connected to a residential cordless phone and carry the cordless around the property
as you know. cell boosters/repeaters have to have the antennas seperated by distance and the more power and area to be covered the greater the distance , I have a feeling a two part system, similar to what I described is going to be needed
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wcjeep
Tacoma, Wa
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I think you are going to need at least 14ft separation. I would skip the trucker antenna and go for the Yagi antenna. The yagi is sold by Wilson and is directional. Call Wilson.
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Maxi Signal
Buffalo , NY
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Joined: 02/07/2012
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How big a piece of property are you trying to cover? I have never heard of weather proof amplifiers , but the weather proof enclosure is a very good idea and very easy to find . Such as a pelican case.
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Kart-Racer
Long Beach, CA
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There are many Cell phone amps that are made for outdoor use. You didn't mention the size of the area to cover, cost goes up as coverage goes up. Most will need 20 to 40 feet of antenna separation.
We have had good luck with this unit at an area where its typically 1 bar coverage. PowerMax
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Kart-Racer
Long Beach, CA
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MrWizard wrote:
but if you used some thing like Verizon "home connect" cell device (which uses residential phones)
you could place it in the box connected to a residential cordless phone and carry the cordless around the property
If you have little to no cell phone signal the Verizon Home Connect would be useless, its not an amp.
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Maxi Signal
Buffalo , NY
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Where are these amplifiers that are for outdoor use that are not professional grade and carrier installed ( and I am sure well out of OP's price range ) . Also antenna separation depends on the power of the unit being used , how much area it has to cover and type of antennas being used . You cannot just give a blanket answer of 20 to 40 feet without knowing and taking into consideration all these factors
Kart-Racer wrote:There are many Cell phone amps that are made for outdoor use. You didn't mention the size of the area to cover, cost goes up as coverage goes up. Most will need 20 to 40 feet of antenna separation.
We have had good luck with this unit at an area where its typically 1 bar coverage. PowerMax
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vermilye
Oswego, NY, USA
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Joined: 08/11/2004
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I'd have to agree with George's (Mr. Wizard) solution - a combination of products. If you know where your local tower is located, a yagi antenna aimed at it feeding the Verizon Home Connect connected to a non cell wireless phone would probably be the least expensive solution, and I suspect, will offer far more range than any repeating cell system. My 2.4GHz wireless phone stays connected 300 - 400 yards from my house.
When I was working we used a non cell wireless system from EnGenius that covered a 10 acre area. Although the model we used is no longer available, their DuraFon 1X model states it covers 12 floors, 250,000 sq ft, and 3000 acres!
I'm currently using a repeating cell system in my trailer ( a Wilson Vehicle Booster Kit) that requires the cell phone or data card to be within 5'-7' of the inside antenna. I'm sure there are more powerful systems available, but something that will cover more than a few 1000 square feet is going to be very expensive.
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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Kart-Racer wrote:MrWizard wrote:
but if you used some thing like Verizon "home connect" cell device (which uses residential phones)
you could place it in the box connected to a residential cordless phone and carry the cordless around the property
If you have little to no cell phone signal the Verizon Home Connect would be useless, its not an amp.
maybe I wasn't clear
connect the home connect to the amplifier/booster
then connect the residential phone
no worries about antenna seperation, you carry the residential cordless not your regular cell phone
could also attached an external pa ringer horn/speaker so that you would be alerted to an icomming call by audio tone even if the cordless was to far from the base station
power Max 10,000 square ft of coverage, that equals a square 100fton each side
I think the property involved is much larger than that
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Wrace
Seattle WA
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Sorry, should have provided more info. The main area I'll be working in is about one acre, and it is partially cleared. No buildings or other structures but some large evergreens dispersed throughout.
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