Mobile Cell antennas for your bus......

[Ncbob]

Our friend Dallas broached this topic sometime last year and the was another thread which got morphed into a data link thread so rather than step on anyones toes or resurrect an antique thread I though I'd start a new one and see where it goes.

We're a Verizon user in Nextel country, in the winter, and the coverage (in a word) $ucks. Taking Dallas' advice I invested in a Wilson Truckers Antenna and installed it in place of my old CB antenna. It took a couple of the optional 3/8-24 Stainless rod extensions to get it somewhere near the roof of the bus where the ground plane would be somewhat effective.  The result is that now, thanks to Dallas and his wisdom, we can now sit in the bus and send and receive telephone calls.

Now, for the record, we over 5 miles (as the crow flies) from the nearest Verizon element on whosever tower they rent space on. In town I get 5 bars...here I'm luck to get one and many dropped calls.

Too, I bought the 8 element Wilson Yagi antenna which I will experiment with for a winter base station here in FL. As time goes by I will report on the success of that one. In the meantime we're now functional with a working phone. Been here since October and this is the first time I can sit in the bus and get or make a phone call.  Ain't science wonderful?

I have no stock or interest in Willson, blah, blah....you all know the drill.

Just happy as a clam in central Florida......

Bob

[JackConrad]

Bob,
   Glad to hear you are getting good results with your antenna.  We just purchased a Wilson "through the roof" mount Cell antenna for use with our wireless internet thingy (by purchasing a different adapter, we can also use the antenna for our cell phone). At Flywheelers we had 1-2 bars and very marginal signal (at home we get 5 bars). I installed the antenna a couple days ago, but since we already get 5 bars, I will have to wait till I get to a more remote area to really test it.  We plan to leave sometime next week and start a SLOW trip up into GA, SC, NC, and VA. We don't want to get too far north until we are sure winter is done. Since we stay at several rather remote places, we hope to give  the antenna a good test.  We will post results.  Jack

[Slow Rider]

Bob,

Glad you finally got service, now I can bug ya.

Jack,

If you travels bring you anywhere near Woodbridge (exit 156 on I-95) would love
to buy you a cup of coffee and meet you and the misses.

Frank

[Lin]

Do these antennae need to be attached to the cell phone, or does there mere proximity boost the signal?

[JackConrad]

Do these antennae need to be attached to the cell phone, or does there mere proximity boost the signal?

The Wilson antennas have a coax cable approx. 12-13' long with a "standard" fitting. They sell a multitude of adapter cables that are approx. 1' long. These cables have the "standard" fitting on one end and the correct fitting for the phone/wireless internet thingy on the other end. By purchasing a different adapter cable, we can also use the antenna for our cell phone. The antennas are designed for use in both 800 and 1900 frequency ranges. I do remember seeing that Nextel takes a different antenna.  Jack

[captain ron]

Will it/can it turn National access into broadband or at least speed it up? I'm in a National Access area not real far from Broadband

[JackConrad]

I think that depends partly on what program you signed up for as well as what model phone/wireless thingy you are using. We saw an increase in signal strength, but I do not know what you would get at your location.  Unfortunately, I do not know anyplace that will let you try the antenna before purchasing it.  Jack

[Ncbob]

Ron, assuming that we're on the same page, That's the next item I plan to tackle. I have another Verizon wireless account which is data only for the laptop which has a slide-in card with a built in antenna (as far as I can determine there's no ability to plug in an external) which isn't really doing the job as far as speed is concerned..

I know I'm not the brightest bulb in the lamp when it comes to this sort of stuff but I do have an inquiring mind. Should I find that Verizon offers a wireless card with the ability to connect my antenna to it I will post that info here for the rest of us to learn.

Bob

[captain ron]

Bob, Verizon has an aircard that has external antenae capabilities. Ross Carlisle has one on his bus thats fixed to it. I don't have the right air card to try it out. Ross says it's faster.

[Dallas]

Bob,

Check the Wilson Website for an adapter for your aircard.

If the antenna doesn't unscrew, maybe you can use the adapter that straps to the side of the card.

http://wilsonelectronics.com/Adapters.php