Anyone using a cell booster? I've seen the new defenders using the external antenna on their overlanding adventures, and was wondering if anyone here is using the same set up. Maybe WeBoost, for example ?

 

Not in my car. But I have experience with one.

My family has a cabin in a somewhat remote part of eastern Utah. The cabin is next to a two lane state highway that is maintained year round, but it is in a canyon and the cabin is several hundred feed below the highway level in the bottom of the short canyon. 500 yards south of the cabin there is a turn-out where cell phones work, but at the cabin only AT&T signal appears on the analyzer on a cell phone analyzer, and only certain places.

I bought a super cheap booster on Amazon for AT&T/US Cellular/T-mobile. It came with a yagi antenna, cable and a small amplifier with a short whip antenna. I think it cost around $130.

With the booster, voice calls can be heard, but usually the caller can't hear you back. However, we can route the boosted signal into a WIFI hotspot. The hotspot provides usable text, email and basic browsing to connected devices. If we really need to talk to someone we have to go for a walk.

My son-in-law has borrowed a WeBoost unit from his work to try out at the cabin. It cost about $550, it consumes 4X the electricity and provides about twice the bandwidth. When he set it up he put it on a different side of the cabin, and we have not tested the "budget" antenna from that location. I don't have the equipment to test the raw signal strength from the antenna, but I suspect the majority of the advantage of the WeBoost system is in the more powerful amplifier.

In our location, I don't think one of the omni-directional antennas would do the job. But we are really remote. If your usage area has reasonable background coverage and you just need a stronger signal, then one of these might be great. If you are in an area with spotty coverage you will need a directional antenna and might be as well off by moving a couple hundred yards.

 

I see them on many off-roaders and overlanders but it doesn't help when you don't have cell phone coverage (true for the most part of our Land Rover's preferred habitat). Recently Starlink introduced an in-motion system which gives you coverage in almost any place even while driving. $2,500 for the hardware is very pricey, so I'll wait until prices come down. Monthly rates are OK, since I can pay only for the months I use it. If you don't need in-motion, the stationary system is way cheaper. Nonetheless the in-motion is very cool and the antenna mounts flat on the roof. For making traditional phone calls I have a phone app for my land line which I can use anywhere I have Internet. Starlink also teamed-up with T-Mobile which will allow making phone calls and texting messages from your existing T-Mobile phone directly via Starlink satellites in a few years.

 

Yeah......it does seem like an expensive toy. I have T-Moblle, and will wait to see what "starlink" is all about.

 

WeBoost only works if you have cell service? That's a shame. I was thinking about buying one since I work in tech, more nights camping.

 

Yes. WeBoost is just a signal booster. If there is no signal coverage then there is nothing to boost.

Edit: I want to clarify. It boosts the existing signal. This means that one bar will become three or four bars. It may mean that it boosts a signal too weak for your phone to detect to a couple of bars. Especially if you are using the directional antenna and have a good way to precisely aim it.

But, it is not it's own service. It just amplifies your existing cell service.

 

I figured it would be able to pick up on service much farther than my phone, I realize it's not a satellite hotspot. I thought "no coverage" was dependent on the device. I guess I will watch some reviews.