Vehicle Amplifers for Cell Signal

[Mikey Gribble]

Does anybody have a preference on what brand to use for amplifers in your car? I just bought a Wilson Electronics one, which I had to return part of it because a cable was broken, but I can still return the whole thing if I decide I want something else. My dad wants me to find one for him to install at his cabin now too, so I want to make sure I'm not buying an inferior product before I commit to using Wilson Electronics. I've always liked their products in the past. Is there even a noticeable difference from one brand to the next when you are looking at amplifer kits?

 

[Mike Weiss]

Mikey, I have a chase partner who has a wilson amp. He loves it...says he get great reception. On March 7, we were in Hutch chasing. He has signal virtually all the time with sprint card.

 

[J Kinkaid]

I woud go with a Rockies amp from Maxium Signal . They have a great customer service and the products that they sell work . They have also avertised on stormtrack in the past

 

[Gordon Spencer]

We like to think we have the best product on the market and most of the Chasers here agree . Here is an unbiased head to head from Escapees RV forum.

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=73459&hl=cyfre+wilson

Also only major carrier approved amplifier and Motorola licensed and apprioved

Does anybody have a preference on what brand to use for amplifers in your car? I just bought a Wilson Electronics one, which I had to return part of it because a cable was broken, but I can still return the whole thing if I decide I want something else. My dad wants me to find one for him to install at his cabin now too, so I want to make sure I'm not buying an inferior product before I commit to using Wilson Electronics. I've always liked their products in the past. Is there even a noticeable difference from one brand to the next when you are looking at amplifer kits?

 

[Mark Blue]

I can vouch for Gordon Spencer and http://www.MaximumSignal.net. I have been using the "Shasta" CA-819 + MAK kit for the last two years and it makes a huge difference with connectivity in BF Egypt. You actually get a custom cable that connects your brand of data card to the amplifier when you order the kit.

This year my wife gave me a Cradlepoint CTR-500 mobile router for Christmas, so I am going to place the router and cellular amplifier in the back of our brand spakin' new Nissan Murano and connect to my laptop via Wireless G. I am stoked about this new setup and the way this chase season is shaping up.

I actually needed help in the field on a couple of occasions and Gordon was very prompt to reply to my messages and resolve any issues or concerns. I really have no experience with other brands like Wilson, but I can say that my orders with Maximum Signal have always arrived in a couple of days and as advertised. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Donald Giuliano]

We like to think we have the best product on the market and most of the Chasers here agree . Here is an unbiased head to head from Escapees RV forum.

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=73459&hl=cyfre+wilson

Also only major carrier approved amplifier and Motorola licensed and apprioved

I doubt ST members care much about "carrier approved" and other marketing stuff (I know I don't), but I can vouch that Gordon's equipment and customer service are top notch. He even went so far as to replace an out-of-warranty Cyfre amp for a friend of mine that we hadn't used much because it didn't work (the amp must have been defective). The new Cyfre amp works great, and in my experience so far seems better than the Wilson amp we've used in the past.

 

[Chris Caldwell]

CELL AMPS - I HAVE TRIED THEM ALL

I have tried 5 brands and have found Maxium Signals AMPS the only ones that actually work as described and advertised. I have to admit after 5 years of using them I still have a Wilson AMP installed in the floorboard but its only there to keep my wifes feet warm on the days were chasing snow storms and its not plugged into any of our cell phones. Seriously folks, the Wilson gets warm enough to keep your hands or feet warm. Kind of scary actually. As for the Maximum Signal stuff it gets me the extra miles I need when chasing western OK, the TX panhandle and even in western Kansas. Your money is well spent on it. I have 2 currently in teh chase vehicle, one for my data card and one for my cell phone, and also one in my wifes vehicle and we swear by them. Just used it last night in Osage County where there is a lot of dead zones.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

You've pretty much sold me on the maximum signal so the wilson is going back.
One other question I was curious about is how do regular external antennas for cell phones and data cards (like the Wilson antenas) compare to using an amp? Do amps work a lot better or is it pretty close. I used to have a wilson external antenna hooked up to my cell phone and it worked great.

 

[Chris Caldwell]

AMPS or ANTENNAS

Sometimes just an antenna will do the job if you have a specific location you need help getting a signal at but if your out chasing for sure go with the AMP and ANTENNA. In fact Maximum Signal has a great trucker antenna that I use and I love it coupled with their AMP.