Wilson Trucker Antenna - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Carstrom · RV-Dreams Community Member

Wilson Trucker Antenna

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Carstrom,
I think you may want the Wilson 301103 magnetic mount antenna.
We've been using it for about year now. The only thing you have to be careful of is low lying trees when you park. biggrin

Fred

Howard · Host

Hi Carstrom,

We have two Wilson Antennas.

One is a magnet mount for the top of the truck. It's fairly small and doesn't have quite the coverage of the larger Trucker antenna.

Then we have the large trucker antenna which we have not permanently affixed to the rig. We have an antenna mount attached to the top of the ladder and I just climb up and screw the antenna in each time we get to a new place and don't have cell coverage. We run the wire through the slideout gasket, so there is no need to cut a hole in the roof.

Things have changed since we bought ours, so I would recommend calling the folks at PrimeCellular.com at (800) 713-3001. Just tell them what you're thinking and they will guide you. smile

jcw · RV-Dreams Family Member

RE: Wilson Trucker Antenna and lightening

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

RE: Wilson Trucker Antenna

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Generally speaking, lightning is attracted to objects that are grounded. Next up is usually the tallest object. If you can bypass both of these it will greatly reduce the odds of getting hit. However, similar to horseshoes and hand grenades, lightning doesn't have to be a direct hit, just being close to a strike is more than enough to fry electronics.

The line I tell folks who are thinking of putting up a weather station and are worried about lightning...air is a great insulator, except for lightning! If you know anything about electricity then you know what I am talking about...

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have high praise for Wilson products, but when it comes to external cell antennas I would tell your that they don't work as well as advertised. First of all the coax connector has to be compatible with your cell phone. Most current model cell phones don't even have a plug for external antennas. Even if you have one that does, adapting the coax plug to the cell phone is going to take some type of special adapter which will cost you extra $$.

If you use an omni-directional antenna - such as the trucker type - it is not going to appreciable improve signal strength regardless of what surface it is mounted on. On the top of a pickup truck is best because of all the surrounding ground plane metal, but you still won't be impressed with the difference in signal strength.

Wilson does make what is called a dual band yagi antenna. It's a downsized version of a tv antenna and it's more effective. But one still will have the cell phone to antenna connection issue and it - unlike an omni-directional antenna - needs to be pointed in the direction of a cell tower to be effective. Anyone who has used a TV antenna will understand that.

I will be glad to give away my extra "trucker" antenna - which is still in its original package - for those who wish to hassle with such a set up. Just pay the shipping and it's yours.

Howard> Since you are have also used the product, please feel free to add , or take away, from any of the above statements.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

We haven't had to use it too often, as cell service seems to be becoming ubiquitous around the country, but I must say that every time we have been in a dead zone and plugged it in, we had service. We can't ask for more.

I agree it's getting more difficult to find phones with the necessary jack outlet, but we managed to find ones at Verizon on our last change. And yes, there was an adapter plug to also switch, but I don't remember that being either difficult nor expensive.

Bottom line - if you are going to go "out there" occasionally, I would advise to get one if phone service availability is important to you.

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Like Fred we also do not need to use our Wilson very often. My cell phone has the right plug and a very small inexpensive (short adapter cord) was around $8.00. DH duct taped a pvc pipe to our ladder an when we need to use it he simply attaches it to the tall pvc pipe. It does work as we have been in some remote areas while in Ca. My cell service is atn't with pc its Verizon. We use the cell or pc seperately.
southwestjudy

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you believe cell phone antennas and amplifiers do not work then I guess you are entitled to your opinion. However, you are sadly misinformed. I have done extensive testing with multiple antennas in combination with different amplifiers. They do work. You may not get as much gain off them as advertized, but it makes a HUGE difference in the ability to use the cell phone - or more importantly - a data card.

If you are in a good connection area then using them will not make a difference in a voice call. It often makes a data connection faster, though.

jcw · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer wrote:
I have done extensive testing with multiple antennas in combination with different amplifiers. They do work. You may not get as much gain off them as advertized, but it makes a HUGE difference in the ability to use the cell phone - or more importantly - a data card.

Jack, have you tested the antenna *without* the amplifier? Is it still worth the expense and effort?

thx...

-- jcw

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have tested both with and without the amp. You definitely get better performance with the amp, but just the antenna will make a difference. Just not as much as with the amp.

I'll give you an example. When we were hosting in Arches last year I only had one amp (I have 2 now), but 2 antennas. I used the amp with the aircard, since that got me on EVDO service, and with just the antenna I was on 1x. For the phone, I used just the antenna. Without the antenna I could not connect a call. With the antenna I had one bar and could connect and hold a call without a problem - no dropped calls at all. So it does make a difference.

IMO any fulltimer that moves around much needs both an amp and antenna. You don't need it everywhere, but you will need it in some (many) locations depending on where you travel. And for an aircard it is almost a requirement - since it improves speeds even when you have a decent signal already. If you have one bar it may still only show one bar, but your data speed will increase in most situations (but not all).

Donna162 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Have to add my "two cents" in here....thanks to Jack I bought an amplifier and two wilson truck antennas, one that we mount on the ladder at the back of the trailer for when we are sitting still and a magnetic one that sits on the truck for when we are moving. I love it and it all works great!!!! I have an iPhone, no external antenna connection, and an aircard, no external antenna connection. When I purchased the amp, I bought a cable that connects from the amp to the back of the iPhone and the aircard with velcro (no extra dollars and no special adapter). I was a little skeptical that it would work but it does. Almost always when I have no service, I can at least get one bar of service with the amp and antenna. I'm not sure but I think the key to getting better service is not just having an antenna but having the amp also. I'm sure the antenna will help a little but the amp adds a lot.