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06-30-2013, 07:58 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Fulton TX
Vessel Name: The Salty Swallow - named by wife
Vessel Model: Private builder - 50' Trawler
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 179
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Cell phone booster - recommendations ?
I will most likely install a cell phone booster system in my boat (I have a Wilson in my truck and it works very well in remote locations) does anyone have any recommendations on what works well in a boat ? How far offshore can I expect a usable signal ? I would think the antenna and its placement would be crucial...?
__________________
Craig 'Aussie' White
'Not all who wander are lost...'
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06-30-2013, 09:02 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Inside Passage Summer/Columbia River Winter
Vessel Name: Alaskan Sea-Duction
Vessel Model: 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 8,050
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Folks I have talked to have a Wilson and state they work good in a marine setting.
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06-30-2013, 09:58 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,267
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The absolute theoretical maximum you could ever reach on a GSM cell phone is 21 miles.
Thats because at over 21 miles from the tower there are timing signals that do not work.
As a full disclosure this is not my first hand knowledge. One of the tech's I work with is a cell guru and he told me this. If he says it about cell phones I have very good confiudence that it it true.
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07-01-2013, 12:02 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Vallejo, California
Vessel Name: Mahalo Moi
Vessel Model: 1986 Grand Banks 42 Classic
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,093
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I also use a Wilson when traveling over the road. I plan to try it in the boat in the middle of July. If this thread is still alive, I'll report back.
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Ray
"Mahalo Moi"
1986 GB-42 Classic
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑβΕ
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07-01-2013, 05:47 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,151
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[QUOTE=ksanders;165857]The absolute theoretical maximum you could ever reach on a GSM cell phone is 21 miles.
Thats because at over 21 miles from the tower there are timing signals that do not work.
As a full disclosure this is not my first hand knowledge. One of the tech's I work with is a cell guru and he told me this. If he says it about cell phones I have very good confiudence that it it true. [/QUOTe
Thanks for the info...I'll have to learn some more before my winter trip..
Wonder if that is a limitation now because of digital phones...the old analog phones with a booster could reach out 80+.
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07-04-2013, 02:49 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
City: Tokyo, Japan / Tampa, Florida / Washington, Virginia
Vessel Name: Mondai Nai
Vessel Model: Nordhaven 55 - 45
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 328
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You may also want to look at Digital Antennas, they are located in Florida and specialize only in all types of Marine antennas. I have had their products for many years, they are very high in quality.
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07-12-2013, 11:15 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Inside Passage Summer/Columbia River Winter
Vessel Name: Alaskan Sea-Duction
Vessel Model: 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 8,050
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07-12-2013, 06:11 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Tokyo, Japan / Tampa, Florida / Washington, Virginia
Vessel Name: Mondai Nai
Vessel Model: Nordhaven 55 - 45
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 328
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Yes it is, they are very helpful if you need to talk with them.
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07-14-2013, 09:32 AM
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#9
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Guru
Vessel Name: Anastasia III
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,716
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Remember that most of the mobile amplifiers count on the steel roof of a vehicle to act as a ground plane. You will need a marine antenna, which usually comes as an additional purchase.
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07-15-2013, 07:28 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: Fulton TX
Vessel Name: The Salty Swallow - named by wife
Vessel Model: Private builder - 50' Trawler
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 179
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Very true Keith and thanks for pointing that out ....
__________________
Craig 'Aussie' White
'Not all who wander are lost...'
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07-15-2013, 08:31 AM
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#11
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Scraping Paint
City: Fort Lauderdale
Vessel Model: CHB 48 Zodiac YL 4.2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,804
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AussieCraig
I will most likely install a cell phone booster system in my boat (I have a Wilson in my truck and it works very well in remote locations) does anyone have any recommendations on what works well in a boat?
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Might be of some interest ... Signal Boosters - Robust Wireless Service at Home, at Work, and on the Road
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09-24-2013, 08:54 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
City: East Coast
Vessel Name: Inspiration
Vessel Model: 420DB
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 232
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I've had the cell booster kit from Digital Antenna and I'm not happy with it at all. Recently I picked up the new Wilson Sleek booster kit and after testing it side by side (one ihpone 5 in the booster cradle and the other iphone 5 a foot or two away) I see no difference. As part of my kit I've purchased the external marine antenna from Wilson, as per their advice. They said that it will work much better than the small standard one made for car.
I was cruising in Long Island Sound and anchored in the spot with poor signal. The Wilson didn't do much at all. On occasion, I would get an extra bar, but it was very spotty (in and out). The other iphone 5 with no booster attached was getting pretty much the same signal. There were times when no-booster phone got 3 bars while the one with the booster still had 2 bars.
When on the hook, I would get very mixed signal 1x, 3G and LTE. The problem was that the iphone 5 with no booster attached was getting pretty much the same mix of signals.
So, based on my test anchored and then cruising I feel that it's a waste of money. I hope that there's something out there that really works. If anyone found something good, please share the source.
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09-24-2013, 09:27 AM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,267
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[QUOTE=psneeld;165891]
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
The absolute theoretical maximum you could ever reach on a GSM cell phone is 21 miles.
Thats because at over 21 miles from the tower there are timing signals that do not work.
As a full disclosure this is not my first hand knowledge. One of the tech's I work with is a cell guru and he told me this. If he says it about cell phones I have very good confiudence that it it true. [/QUOTe
Thanks for the info...I'll have to learn some more before my winter trip..
Wonder if that is a limitation now because of digital phones...the old analog phones with a booster could reach out 80+.
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Yes, it is a limitation of the technology. several years ago we turned down our old analog cell system at the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield where I work. This is a very remote place to say the least. People were very unhappy to say the least.
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