I set up my directional antenna

[MrNoodly]

After three years of vandwelling, I decided to add a directional cellular antenna to my booster to help me out in some of the places I tend to boondock. I thought about different ways I could mount a mast to my van and had an ah-ha moment. It was rather obvious. I'd use U-bolts through an upright of my ladder rack.





I drilled the holes larger than the U-bolts to give me some slack so that I wouldn't need to loosen all the nuts when I wanted to mount and remove the mast or aim the antenna. Wing nuts mean I don't need a wrench to do it.



I don't have a picture of it, but I also flattened the top of the mast a little to make it easier to drill holes and bolt the antenna to it. 

 

[BradKW]

I hope you post about what exactly the equipment is and how effective you find it.

I'm curious about the mast...is a 4' mast better than a 2' one, but a 12' mast would be really really good?

 

[MrNoodly]

I'm curious about the mast...is a 4' mast better than a 2' one, but a 12' mast would be really really good?

The taller the better to "see" over hills and such.

 

[MrNoodly]

The antenna is a weBoost (formerly Wilson) 700-2700 MHz Wide Band Directional. Then there's 10 feet of WILSON400 Ultra Low Loss Coax Cable with N Male Connectors. A 20' version is also available. Then, to connect the cable to my weBoost Drive 4G-S booster, I needed two step-down adapters: a Wilson Electronics 971107 N Female to FME Female and a weBoost FME Male to SMA Male.

 

[speedhighway46]

Mr. N:

Great pics; surperbe engineering and exacution.

One suggestion; watch for the nuts and wings coming loose and falling off as you reavel. Might be a good idea to either add lock washers or a lock get nut. Better yet; remove the hardware and u bolts when you travel. "Loose hardware sinks windshields!"; especially those following you.

Great job; I will look forward to your comments about performance.

I enjoy your posts, also.

 

[highdesertranger]

nice, how are the results? how hard is it to get a lock on a tower? highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

nice,  how are the results?  how hard is it to get a lock on a tower?  highdesertranger

Right now I'm in a place with a strong signal to start with, but I'll be out in the boonies in a few days where I can test it.

 

[jimindenver]

I look forward to your results too. That is the directional antenna I have been looking at.

 

[MrNoodly]

I think it is this one?
https://store.weboost.com/products/314475

Guy

Or this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DV4JTM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[psytechguy]

Just a heads up on this setup:

I have had the same antenna rig for just under a year, and love it,

BUT..... be aware,

the very stiff, thick low noise cable, in combination with the adapters causes strain at the booster's antenna connection and can eventually cause the connector on the Wilson cell booster to break. Mine pulled the traces right off the circuit board.

This rig needs a pigtail of light, flexible cable between the heavy low noise cable and cell booster as a strain relief. Mine normally sat on a shelf, but every time it was moved or connected/disconnected, there was strain on the booster antenna connection and it eventually failed.

... and a new Weboost booster is $200. I'm bummed!

I attempted a repair, but the traces on the circuit board are so tiny, it was impossible. Surface mount technology. I just don't have the tools or eyesight!

 

[MrNoodly]

This rig needs a pigtail of light, flexible cable between the heavy low noise cable and cell booster as a strain relief.

Something like this, perhaps?

https://www.amazon.com/DHT-Electron...72&sr=8-1&keywords=FME+Male+to+SMA+Male+cable

 

[psytechguy]

Basically, but personally I'd get a longer cable, at least 1 meter long. That way you could wrap it around something and tie strap it. Then, even if the antenna cable gets yanked hard, it won't affect the booster.

I didn't notice on the cable you posted, but I'd definitely make sure and get a pigtail cable with connectors configured where you don't have to use any adapters. Each adapter you add to your signal chain degrades your signal somewhat.

These Weboost antennas do work great! I've been in some pretty out of the way places and still been able to pull up a cell signal when no one else could.

regards,
Mike

Something like this, perhaps?

https://www.amazon.com/DHT-Electron...72&sr=8-1&keywords=FME+Male+to+SMA+Male+cable

 

[MrNoodly]

I was finally out where I could find out how well the setup worked. My JetPack got one bar of 4G by itself but five bars when connected to the booster and antenna. The big test will be to see what it does with a 3G or 1X signal -- or even no service. Guess I need to get more remote.

 

[akrvbob]

 Guess I need to get more remote.

That's never a problem for you! 
Bob

 

[rvpopeye]

If there's really no signal , you will get a really powerful no signal ......just kidding , if there's anything at all of course it will amplify it.

 

[speedhighway46]

Directional antennas aren't effective because they are connected to signal amplifiers (usually gasfet active devices), but because they are directional. That is, there is a heightened lobe in the direction the antenna is pointing, and a reduction in signal to the sides and rear directions. This results in a natural signal "gain". Signal amplifiers are often used in directional antennas to further enhance their performance. The downside of these amplifiers is that not only do they increase the strength of any signal which is there, they also increase the level of the noise floor.

In microwave frequencies of cellphone applications directional antennas can be very effective, providing twice or even three times the strength of signal levels.

Thanks to MrNoodly for his "real world" tests of his directional antenna; "inquiring minds want to know . . ."

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

If there's really no signal , you will get a really powerful no signal ......just kidding , if there's anything at all of course it will amplify it.

The problem is timing.  If the cell tower is too far away your signal doesn't get back to it fast enough and the tower times you out and drops your call.  A signal processing friend tells me that a general rule of thumb is 18 miles (10 µsec).  On busy towers this is shorter and on non-busy towers it could be longer; just depends on how it is programmed.

With a good YAGI antenna, amplifier, and enough height you should be able to pull in a signal from a long way; way further than will be useable.

I've only been using a booster for about 1.5 years, and that with an omnidirectional antenna.  I haven't run into this problem (yet).

 -- Spiff

 

[rvpopeye]

I use a combination of yagi and omnidirectional plus a booster amp on my TV and used them all a lot for wireless mics and instruments at concerts. They all have their uses.
Of course the yagi's are very directional and have to be pointed to work at all.

I haven't tried externals for cell/hotspot service yet and this thread is great to read real world results. I think I remember Bob mentioning antennas somewhere so that might be available reading too.

It all applies to you CB and Hamsters too........(a yagi is a beam , tuned to a different band).

 

[speedhighway46]

Yagi is a specific type of directional antenna, named after the Japanese fellow who invented it. It features a driven element and one or more director elements and reflector element at specific wavelength spacing.

There are other types of directional antennas but the Yagi, because of its performance and simplicity, is "probably" the best known and most popular.

 

[MrNoodly]

I'm up on a ridge in the Wind River Range today, about 15 miles north of Pinedale WY. My phone was showing one bar of 1X. I set up the antenna and, after rotating it around a bit, I have three bars of 4G on my Verizon JetPack. I'm a believer.