Wilson Dual Band Antenna Question

[Bill Tabor]

Hey I recently bought an antenna to go with my Sierra Wireless 595U. It's a Wilson 301103 (I believe). It's about a 12" 3db dual band antenna for 800/1900mhz.

It seems really small compared to other antennas I've used. Do any of the rest of you have this antenna? If so, how well does it work? Do any recommend a different antenna?

Thanks

 

[J Kinkaid]

I have the 39 inch magmount 9db gain antenna from Maxim signal and I am still in the testing stage

 

[David Drummond]

I think I have the NMO mount version of that, this one: http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/ViewProductB.php?ID=3

Works great!

 

[Ben Holcomb]

I have that same antenna Bill. It works wonderfully.

I wouldn't worry about getting longer antenna length at those frequencies - it's not going to help a ton. Adding some height might help, but minimally (Unless you can get over the trees)

I really noticed how well it performed back in February in AR when my chase partner that day had a Verizon motorola cell with decent reception and had no service while I have Verizon, and had 3/5 bars I was transferring data like nothing.

I would also suggest getting the dual band inline amplifier (Or foot warmer as it's known to HAM's) if you can afford it. Looks like it's right around $270 right now.

 

[John Erwin]

I also have the NMO mounted unit and have been happy with the results.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

Only the Wilson amplifiers double as foot warmers . Cyfre amplifiers do not over heat and blow the doors of the Wilson stuff performance wise , Just ask any of the Chasers here that have used both.And our prices are better . We sell a full dual band kit - Amplifier , 5DB antenna , AC Adapter , 12 volt cable and carrying case for $199.95

I have that same antenna Bill. It works wonderfully.

I wouldn't worry about getting longer antenna length at those frequencies - it's not going to help a ton. Adding some height might help, but minimally (Unless you can get over the trees)

I really noticed how well it performed back in February in AR when my chase partner that day had a Verizon motorola cell with decent reception and had no service while I have Verizon, and had 3/5 bars I was transferring data like nothing.

I would also suggest getting the dual band inline amplifier (Or foot warmer as it's known to HAM's) if you can afford it. Looks like it's right around $270 right now.

 

[Donald Giuliano]

Only the Wilson amplifiers double as foot warmers . Cyfre amplifiers do not over heat and blow the doors of the Wilson stuff performance wise , Just ask any of the Chasers here that have used both.And our prices are better . We sell a full dual band kit - Amplifier , 5DB antenna , AC Adapter , 12 volt cable and carrying case for $199.95

Not sure about everyone else, but this chaser and his buddies upgraded from a Wilson to a Cyfre Peak Reception Extreme last year for a couple of chases. Unfortunately, we had so much trouble with the Cyfre that we wound up using it as a really expensive paperweight and went back to our Wilson, which has always worked perfectly and continues to do so. This year we picked up a Wilson Dual-band Wireless amplifier, which has taken the place of our old Wilson and is working like a charm.

The only thing we could come up with that might be causing the problem was the fact that the Cyfre doesn't span as many frequencies as the Wilson. We were using AT&T (Cingular at the time), so perhaps other providers didn't/don't have the same problem.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

If you had problems why would you not contact us. I think you will find all the other chasers have exactly the opposite expierience as you. The Cyfre dual band cover exactly the same frequencise as a Wilson and in Fact Wilson has you buy different amplifiers for diferent protocols such as CDMA GSM whereas the CYFRE passes FCC on all frequencies . Wilson has put out different units to cover the various frequencies.If you have the amplifier send it in with your sales receipt and we will test and replace as needed.

Not sure about everyone else, but this chaser and his buddies upgraded from a Wilson to a Cyfre Peak Reception Extreme last year for a couple of chases. Unfortunately, we had so much trouble with the Cyfre that we wound up using it as a really expensive paperweight and went back to our Wilson, which has always worked perfectly and continues to do so. This year we picked up a Wilson Dual-band Wireless amplifier, which has taken the place of our old Wilson and is working like a charm.

The only thing we could come up with that might be causing the problem was the fact that the Cyfre doesn't span as many frequencies as the Wilson. We were using AT&T (Cingular at the time), so perhaps other providers didn't/don't have the same problem.

 

[Chris Caldwell]

No problems like that for me

I have an AT&T(Cingular) card and service and I also have a Sprint card and service and I have chased all of Oklahoma and Kansas and all of the Texas Panhandle and northern Texas and I had no issues with the Maximum Signal equipment. In fact, I had issues with the Wilson products and found them to come up a bit short so my wife installed it on the floor board as a foot warmer on the days we chase snow and ice. Yes, we really did use it for that purpose and it works great for that since it puts off such a large amount of heat. I for darn sure wouldnt give up on the Cyfre products, they work fabulous in Tornado Alley!

<signatures must be set in profile>

 

[Donald Giuliano]

If you had problems why would you not contact us. I think you will find all the other chasers have exactly the opposite expierience as you. The Cyfre dual band cover exactly the same frequencise as a Wilson and in Fact Wilson has you buy different amplifiers for diferent protocols such as CDMA GSM whereas the CYFRE passes FCC on all frequencies . Wilson has put out different units to cover the various frequencies.If you have the amplifier send it in with your sales receipt and we will test and replace as needed.

Whoa, buddy, settle down there, you're making way too many incorrect assumptions. In all fairness, I'm sure you're right about the Cyfre covering all the usual cell frequencies, as I don't know why they wouldn't. If so, however, you might want to reflect that fact on your website.

Anyway, I didn't purchase the amplifier and had no vested interest in the fact it wasn't working since our Wilson was doing a great job, I'm just reporting our negative experience with a Cyfre product (surely such a thing is at least within the realm of possibility). I'm not even certain where my friend purchased the amplifier, although it's quite possible he bought it through your website. Again, however, I spent nothing on the unit and it's not my problem.

Getting into a big debate over this doesn't really interest me, but there's one thing I have to take issue with about your statement above, and that is the assertion that Wilson forces individuals to purchase different amplifiers for different protocols. That statement could not be further from the truth.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

It couldn't be further from the truth go to the Wilson website http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/ListProducts.php?Type=11 and look at all the Wilson direct connect dual band amplifiers they offer all the same power yet different models and yes they will work on all frequencies but they do not pass FCC on all at the same time. All cover 800 and 1900 . But they cannot pass FCC without having seperate models . The Cyfre unit passes on all frequencies and protocols. You call our unit high priced paper weight . Why would someone not contact us and return for another. I admit stuff happens sometimes units go bad . There are over 400 chips on the board . Bad chips happen . They die without explanation . But we back our product up . Tell your friend to return it to me and we will test and replace if there is a problem.

Whoa, buddy, settle down there, you're making way too many incorrect assumptions. In all fairness, I'm sure you're right about the Cyfre covering all the usual cell frequencies, as I don't know why they wouldn't. If so, however, you might want to reflect that fact on your website.

Anyway, I didn't purchase the amplifier and had no vested interest in the fact it wasn't working since our Wilson was doing a great job, I'm just reporting our negative experience with a Cyfre product (surely such a thing is at least within the realm of possibility). I'm not even certain where my friend purchased the amplifier, although it's quite possible he bought it through your website. Again, however, I spent nothing on the unit and it's not my problem.

Getting into a big debate over this doesn't really interest me, but there's one thing I have to take issue with about your statement above, and that is the assertion that Wilson forces individuals to purchase different amplifiers for different protocols. That statement could not be further from the truth.

 

[John Erwin]

<ahem>

I thought this was about the Wilson antenna? Like I said, I've had good experience with the product.

 

[Donald Giuliano]

It couldn't be further from the truth go to the Wilson website http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/ListProducts.php?Type=11 and look at all the Wilson direct connect dual band amplifiers they offer all the same power yet different models and yes they will work on all frequencies but they do not pass FCC on all at the same time. All cover 800 and 1900 . But they cannot pass FCC without having seperate models . The Cyfre unit passes on all frequencies and protocols. You call our unit high priced paper weight . Why would someone not contact us and return for another. I admit stuff happens sometimes units go bad . There are over 400 chips on the board . Bad chips happen . They die without explanation . But we back our product up . Tell your friend to return it to me and we will test and replace if there is a problem.

What on earth does a phrase as vague and meaningless as "...they do not pass FCC on all at the same time" mean? Passing FCC what? Somehow I think the Wilson amps pass FCC something-or-other on all frequencies, or else their products wouldn't be on the market.

As for why my friend didn't send the Cyfre unit back, if this is the reaction he was expecting I can see why he would elect not to bother and just hock it on Ebay instead. Even if the Cyfre were better than the Wilson (which I further doubt after this exchange), the Wilson's performance is more than sufficient for me not to bother risking a response like this from a vendor.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

After using a wilson amp a few years back (I also have a friend who uses a wilson) and now using a cyfre amp (which I bought because nearly every chaser I talked to has a cyfre), the cyfre has outperformed the Wilson in nearly every aspect. I, along with my friend had major issues with the wilson amp often overheating, and quite frequently the signal performance was up-and-down at best. Ran my cyfre for 5 hours straight last week and it hardly got warm!

Donald, Gordon is simply defending the wonderful product he sells. He has by far the best customer service of anyone I've ever dealt with. After ordering my cyfre amp online, he called at home within 10 minutes to confirm that what I ordered was what was best for my equipment. Gordorn knows his stuff about cellular amps and is excellent at customer servive...which is why easily 75% of chasers I know that have ordered amps in the last year have ordered from him.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

Exactly what it says . Notice they have a unit for GSM an another for CDMA. Both units do work on both protocols . But to get around FCC regulations . They make the two units. No one said they force you to buy any unit.
I am just backing up my product . If your friend had a problem with our product I would have loved to have the oppurtunity to rectify it and not have you come here and say it our product is no good. Sorry you do not like my response . I am passionate about the product we sell and also give the best service after the sale. I only wish your friend would have contacted us right away as soon as he felt the unit was not performing as advertised.That way we could have made things right so you and him would have had the oppurtunity to see the difference. Like I said chips go . and there is no explaining why.But we don't want people out there like yourself saying our product is inferior when it is not. Please if your friend still has his unit have him contact me and I will replace even if it is out of warranty at my expense . So you might have a real oppurtunity to compare the units head to head.
To Tim and David , Sorry for the waste of Bandwidth . I guess I will have to make another donation to help with the bandwidth I have wasted here.

What on earth does a phrase as vague and meaningless as "...they do not pass FCC on all at the same time" mean? Passing FCC what? Somehow I think the Wilson amps pass FCC something-or-other on all frequencies, or else their products wouldn't be on the market.

As for why my friend didn't send the Cyfre unit back, if this is the reaction he was expecting I can see why he would elect not to bother and just hock it on Ebay instead. Even if the Cyfre were better than the Wilson (which I further doubt after this exchange), the Wilson's performance is more than sufficient for me not to bother risking a response like this from a vendor.