External Cell Antenna

[Andrew Pritchard]

I'm looking for an external antenna for my cell phone, to be mounted on the vehicle...preferrably mag-mount...anyone got any recommendations?

 

[George Tincher]

Well, this post is several months old and I cannot believe nobody replied, but I guess better late than never huh? Hehe.

I will recommend the Wilson Trucker Cellular antenna over anything else on the market. I bought one last year at the recommendation of Chris Sokol and I have been thrilled by the performance thus far.

I actually mostly use mine at home. I live out in a rural area and the nearest cell tower is miles away and the terrain here is hilly. Before getting this antenna, I had no signal here at home at all.

With the antenna, I was boosted to 1-2 bars of signal, which is a pretty dramatic improvement.

But the real gem was the 3 watt amplifier I purchased. With the amp and the Wilson antenna, a phone that use to get no signal here now always maintains 3-4 bars of signal and I have never had a dropped call on my end. I was shocked. It's just like having the old 3 watt analog bagphones pretty much.

But to get this full effect, you need both the antenna and an amp. The antenna costs upwards of $50 and my amp (made by Inteligain) ran around $200. Plus, you'll need an adapter to fit it to the phone, but those are cheap.

IMHO, this was the best investment of 2004 for me and I swear by mine. They really make that much difference! I can only imagine how much your power/signal would be boosted in flat terrain. I now take advantage of my 3500 free night and weekend minutes and also use this cell phone for nowcasting. It has been well worth the money I have invested in it.

I hope this has been helpful. I also apologize for not being around to comment when you posted this back in November. But perhaps it will still be helpful to you or to someone.

-George

 

[Shawn Rutherford]

what phone?

What phone do you use?

Some don't have provisions for an external antenna, others do.

 

[John Diel]

I'm using a Wilson antenna as well. It really helps out on some of the dead spots around North Central OK. I suppose one of the amplifiers George talks about would help in that area too.

I was using a smaller mag-mount 7 dBi gain antenna and it did help out some. They aren't very expensive (about $20) and they do work. The Wilson antenna IS NOT mag-mount though.

I'm using a Motorola Flip Phone with Cingular Service. Sorry, I can't remember the exact model of phone, but it has a small external antenna port on the back that bypasses the built in antenna.

 

[cedwards]

You can buy just the mag mount and just screw in the Wilson Antenna. I got the biggest magnet I could find. It works great.

 

[bill mudd]

just ordered mine - gonna try it w/out the amp ($249 now)
thanks for the tip guys
much appreciated

 

[Andrew Pritchard]

I went and got this...

http://www.cellularaccessory.com/asprdm1994t.html

It's worked great so far. I went to a couple areas near my home that I chased last spring and had problems with service, and recieved a full signal.

 

[JR Hehnly]

I got a wilson trucker and a clamp mount at a local truck stop, they have all kinds of antenna accessories and adapters for most any phone.
I had it clamped to my luggage rack, worked great until an encounter with a downed power line last year. Just ordered an new one, gonna use a magnet mount this time, though...
Really helped with my Sprint reception, I could actually pull over to the shoulder without losing the call! Actually, I had coverage in remote areas of western Oklahoma that I didn't have before.

 

[Jason McKittrick]

Can these external cell antennas and boosters be used to improve the reception I get with my Merlin(Sprint PCS data card)? If not, does anybody know of anything that can extend the range of my data card?

 

[Mike Sharp]

A lot of the data cards have an antenna socket, often visible when you move the antenna to a different position. certainly so with the Nokia branded units.All you need is a patch lead from the card to the external cellphone antenna.

 

[George Flickinger]

Wilson Trucker Celluar Antenna

After reading the recommendations on this site, I purchased the Wilson trucker antennae from a Ebay vendor, and it works great with my Nokia phone! I've tried it out at some low spots around town where I usually only have 0-20% signal strength, and I'm getting 60% plus signal strength with better consistency....highly recommended.....GF

 

[Chris Kridler]

External wireless cell boosters - do they work?

Have any of you tried a wireless cellular signal booster like this?
http://www.wirelessground.com/excarmoanboa.html

Just wondered if they helped at all. The theory is they help boost any phone's signal. If you do use one, does it have to be mounted to a window to work properly, or is the roof OK?

Thanks,
Chris K.

 

[Bill Hark]

Have any of you tried a wireless cellular signal booster like this?
http://www.wirelessground.com/excarmoanboa.html

Just wondered if they helped at all. The theory is they help boost any phone's signal. If you do use one, does it have to be mounted to a window to work properly, or is the roof OK?

Thanks,
Chris K.

Chirs, I've never used this product but I don't quite see how it can work. I suspect it is in the same category as some of those hypersonic pest devices that scare off insects with sound or certain police radar jammers advertised in the back of men's magazines.

I use a Wilson antenna with my cell phone and have had great success. I can't afford the extra expense (and weight of carrying on a plane) of the amplifier but I never missed in during 2004. Of course, it is easier to use a cellphone for voice than for data.

Bill Hark

 

[Alan Broerse]

I too went with with Wilson...last wednesday I went on a storm assignment and was doing 75mph on then turnpike when a large hawk came across the highway and struck my windshield. During the impact..the hawk took out my brand new on the glass cell antenna, then he struck my anemometer taking out two cups. I never found the hawk..antenna or cups. I recently switched to wilson mag mounts, stronger ..shorter profile...better signal that glass mounts........and I added a twin antenna to plug into my laptop using a wireless singular internet card. I like them and am currently field testing them.Alan

 

[mrobinett]

I just installed the Wilson Trucker antenna. My home is somewhat rural, Im used to half strength, its now full strength. I mounted it on a three magnet mount I bought at the hamfest yesterday and I recommend a spring. Im very impressed!

I think most truckstops carry them, I saw them at at least two before picking one up on the way home from Tampa.