Cell booster antenna May 05, 2019, 07:40:13 pm I want to add a cell booster antenna to the roof of my rig. I am thinking of removing the radio antenna and putting the booster antenna in its place. We do not use the tuner on our radio so I really have no need for the radio antenna. Is my thinking flawed?Randy
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #1 – May 05, 2019, 10:54:48 pm Putting a cellular booster antenna on the roof is a great idea, Randy. But I'm not seeing the benefit of removing the radio antenna in the process. The two antennas have different mounts; they use different cables (i.e., you can't repurpose the radio antenna's downlead for use with a cell antenna/booster setup)... what would you gain?Most folks who install cell antennas mount them in a convenient location on the roof, and then lead the cable indoors using one of the usual methods, such as the fridge vent or a CableClam. 2 Likes
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #2 – May 06, 2019, 10:23:29 am Where do folks typically mount a cell phone booster? Is attaching the antenna to the rear ladder a good idea?
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #3 – May 06, 2019, 12:26:41 pm Quote from: HiLola - May 06, 2019, 10:23:29 amWhere do folks typically mount a cell phone booster? Is attaching the antenna to the rear ladder a good idea?The antennas come in various size and attachment methods. Some antenna have magnetic mounts, other use clamps to attach to a handrail. Both the crank-up TV antenna and the ladder can be used to mount antennas.Our antenna is attached to the ladder. Shown below is Andy's LD with the first directional antenna I built, we have the same setup.Directional cellular antenna | FlickrShort magnetic cell antenna mounted on A/C coverTV antenna mount, shown with a WiFI dongle instead of a cell antenna.You are only limited by your imagination.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #4 – May 06, 2019, 01:27:20 pm Andy, I was not planning on using the wires from the radio antenna, I was going to remove the antenna and use the the hole in the roof to route the wires from the booster antenna. I thought the location of the radio antenna was a perfect location for the booster antenna.
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #5 – May 06, 2019, 03:45:22 pm "I was going to remove the antenna and use the the hole in the roof to route the wires from the booster antenna."The way Lazy Daze seals everything on the roof, removing that antenna is going to be a lot of work. Then you'll have to mount the cell antenna--which may or may not fit the hole you've so laboriously uncovered--and seal up the hole again, making very certain that it can't leak. (I once had a slow radio-antenna leak in my midbath. It gradually soaked the insulation in the overcab ceiling and damaged the ceiling panels. Fixing the damage was a major pain.) Then you'll have to cut a hole in the ceiling to get access to the cable from your newly installed cell antenna.And really, what is so special about that radio-antenna hole? If you like that location, fine--put your cell antenna next to the radio antenna. The method pictured in Larry's post is probably the simplest: get a magnet-mount cell antenna (the most common kind), use sealant to stick a steel duplex electrical box cover plate in your desired location, and stick the antenna to that.Use a CableClam to bring the wire inside. These waterproof through-hull fittings are designed for use in marine applications, a much more severe environment than the roof of an RV. Or snake the cell antenna's cable down via the fridge vent. Either method is going to be a lot less work than removing the factory-installed radio antenna and reusing its hole.Also worth noting: although I know you don't use the dashboard radio (neither do I), getting rid of its antenna isn't going to help your rig's resale value, because reinstalling it for the next owner will be costly. 1 Likes
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #6 – May 06, 2019, 06:33:48 pm My omnidirectional booster antenna is on the left side of my ladder, below the top of the ladder, so it is somewhat protected from an errant branch. I used a CableClam to bring the cable in behind the TV mount in my MB. No leaks, a neat installation, and no problems.Ken F in OR
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #7 – May 06, 2019, 07:17:07 pm I'd rather not mount anything that may interfere with the safe use of the ladder. I installed my cell booster in the rear closet in my coach. The plumbing vent is in the back corner of it, so I fished the antenna cable up through it. I mounted the omni-directional antenna near center on the rear span of the luggage rack, then routed the cable to it and secured it to the rack. An easy install, and it's been there 5 years without any problems. I know not everyone has that option, but it worked well for me.Bill
Re: Cell booster antenna Reply #8 – May 06, 2019, 08:27:27 pm Thanks everyone I’ll keep the radio antenna in place and look for a different route for the booster antenna. I appreciate the info about alternatives.Randy
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Topic: Cell booster antenna (Read 282 times)
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